Madam, - Fred Johnston's claim (May 30th) that Norman Finkelstein was deported from Israel "because of his outspoken criticism of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians" is untrue. Despite his relentless and virulent attacks on Israel, Finkelstein has entered the country many times without incident, most recently in 2006.
He was detained in Ben Gurion airport on this occasion because of his meeting in January with senior Hizbullah officials in south Lebanon - which, from Israel's perspective, amounted to openly consorting with an enemy force wedded to its destruction.
He was interrogated, not about his support for the Palestinian cause, but about his self-declared solidarity with Hizbullah and its war against Israel which, despite the May 2000 evacuation of south Lebanon, he categorises as a "defence of their homeland". He was also questioned about whether he had contacts with al-Qaeda operatives. His failure to give what Israeli security services described as "a full accounting" of his jihadist links led to his deportation as a security threat to the state.
This may appear "undemocratic" and "outrageous" from Mr Johnston's ivory tower, but to me it seems plain common sense. - Yours etc,
SEÁN GANNON, Irish Friends of Israel, Ontario Terrace, Dublin 6.