Sir, - Most people of my age (75) welcomed the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Some of us, during the latter part of 1944 and the early months of 1945, had witnessed a small part of the suffering inflicted by the Nazis on Jews and others in occupied Europe.
However, during the past 25 years or so, many of us have become turned off by the arrogance and aggression of the Israelis. The Irish Times is to be commended for publishing the forthright expose of Israeli aggression by Vincent Browne and Kevin Myers.
World political leaders, including Dick Spring, have - in the past - failed to criticise Israel for fear of being accused of anti semitism and of offending the US.
It is now time for the United Nations to force Israel to withdraw from the territories occupied by them since 1967. Israel, with its awesome military might does not need buffers to protect its legitimate territory.
Because of the unfortunate history of the Jewish people there is a reluctance to criticise them but the time has now come to point out that the Israelis have shamelessly and cynically exploited the Holocaust during recent years for political and territorial gain. - Yours, etc.,
Ursuline Court,
Waterford.