Letters: Israel

Israel should be regarded as a pariah state, with racist policies

Sir: The Hamas-led government democratically elected in Palestine 18 months ago was replaced in March by a government of national unity. Only Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh provides direct continuity, though at considerable risk to his personal safety from the Israeli military and from militant factions whose representation in government is now excluded.

For the Israeli political counsellor, Lior Ben Dor, to describe this still as a "Hamas government" is just a propagandist's trick (letter, 1 June).

In Gaza City a month ago, Mr Haniyeh told MEPs, who defied the Quartet's boycott to seek clarification about his government's programme, that he recognised the right of Israel to exist and respected the 1967 borders, would promote a peaceful way forward, and recognised previous agreements signed by the PLO including the two-state solution.

He disassociated his government from the programme of Hamas, and said he would formally recognise a State of Israel only at the same time as recognition is given to a State of Palestine. All members of the delegation have since called on EU governments to co-operate directly with the Palestinian Unity Government.

Those with doubts should ask themselves what comes next. If the Palestinian Authority is undermined, who do they imagine will fill the vacuum? As radicalisation is fuelled by despair, do they think the alternative is likely to enhance Israel's hopes of security? EU governments cannot continue to make every excuse for Israeli behaviour yet expect Palestinians to respond like angels.

Hopes for a viable, independent Palestinian state are denied by the theft of land and water for new Jewish settlements behind the infamous security wall. Israel has confiscated Palestinian revenues and left the government destitute, kidnapped scores of elected representatives, jailing them without charge or trial with the other 10,000 Palestinians it holds.

We can hope for a time when Israeli and Palestinian states co-exist peacefully, but for the present Israel should be regarded as a pariah state practising the racist policies white South Africa had.

CHRIS DAVIES MEP

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT, NORTH-WEST OF ENGLAND, BRUSSELS

Cardinal resorted to medieval practices

Sir: It is sad to see the Roman Catholic Church reverting to their medieval practices of threat, fear and hypocrisy (report, 1 June). Cardinal Keith O'Brien's threats of hell and damnation against Scottish politicians, if they support an "unspeakable crime" by representing their constituents' concerns, and efforts to frighten ordinary citizens, by declarations of excommunication for those who apply their freedom of choice, are based on hypocritical comparisons to the Dunblane murders of innocent children.

He claims that his opinions on abortion are a matter of morals based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. I understand there is no reference for or against abortion in the New Testament, which is probably why Cardinal O'Brien relies on the Fifth Commandment (for Roman Catholics, or the Sixth for Orthodox and Protestant Christians - except Lutherans - and Jews) "Thou shalt not kill". This indicates its application to abortion is more a Roman Catholic teaching than the word of God.

There are others in a better position to claim the moral high ground than the Catholic hierarchy, considering their willingness to cover up the abuses of their paedophile priests and sadistic nuns against children and single mothers.

I have visited the favelas of Sao Paulo and the Soweto township, witnessed the abject poverty caused by a lack of contraception and learned of the resulting deaths of thousands of babies and young children each year from starvation and illness. The world population will grow 50 per cent, to nine billion by 2024. That alone will lead to a serious food crisis, taking no account of any aspect of climate change.

But still the Pope and his cardinals insist it is a sin to use contraception. So how many young deaths across the world, especially in the largely Catholic developing countries and arising from such unrealistic and inhuman dogma, does the Catholic Church admit to each year? How many daily Dunblanes do they add up to?

Are they willing to use the vast wealth in the Vatican, at Lourdes and other shrines to ease the poverty of those whose ancestors were apparently waiting "silently" for forced conversion to Roman Catholicism?

MALCOLM MACINTYRE-READ

FRSA, CHURCHILL FELLOW, MUCH WENLOCK, SHROPSHIRE

Sir: I welcome the challenge of Cardinal Keith O'Brien on abortion (1 June). I have been researching for a book on a world perspective on abortion and there is at least one finding the cardinal should consider carefully.

There are only five countries with very low abortion rates, below 10 per 1,000 females aged between 15 and 45. These are Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Tunisia. Each of these countries gives women the right to choose an abortion in the early months of pregnancy.

In Latin American countries where abortion is illegal the rates are much higher, and enormous numbers of women present at hospitals for post-abortion care.

I believe it is time for the Catholic Church to change its approach and support abortion and contraceptive rights.

COLIN FRANCOME

EMERITUS PROFESSOR, MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY, LONDON NW4

Sir: Has it occurred to Cardinal O'Brien that forcing politicians of the Roman Catholic faith to adhere to a narrow social agenda could be counterproductive to his desires? If British voters resent Church interference in the political process, they might resist voting for Catholic candidates.

Leaving aside the issue of whether the cardinal would want to encourage anti-Catholic bigotry, if fewer Catholics held office, obviously Church influence on political discourse would be diminished, not increased.

DAVID OLSEN

OXFORD

Too many being held in custody

Sir: Your analysis of the reasons behind prison overcrowding ("The Big Question", 31 May) misses a few crucial elements.

First, the use of indeterminate sentences has been much higher than anticipated. Some courts use this new sentence almost automatically for offenders convicted of specified offences, rather than making considered judgments based on evidence that the offender is a serious danger. The result has been many people going into prison with no idea of when they will come out.

Second, there are far too many people being remanded into custody. Fortunately, this is an area which is starting to be addressed, with strong bail support schemes that enable the court to grant bail with conditions, such as the one run by Nacro in Yorkshire and Humberside, gaining government support.

Finally, there is much anecdotal evidence that people on licence from prison are being recalled to custody for very minor breaches, such as missed probation appointments. These people have committed no further crimes and yet are being sent back to prison at an alarming rate.

Lord Falconer appears to have grasped the idea that the government cannot build its way out of this overcrowding crisis. He now needs to start making a strong case for alternative sentences in the community for low-level offences, as well as diverting women and people with mental health problems from prison.

Not only does this make financial sense, because the cost of custody (about £50,000 a year) far outweighs that of community sentences, but it makes sense for public protection by reducing re-offending rates.

CHRIS STANLEY

HEAD OF POLICY AND RESEARCH, NACRO, LONDON SW9

Zoos are relics of a bygone era

Sir: The sad death of Xiang Xiang, the first captive-bred panda who was released into the wild ("Historic attempt to release captive-bred panda into the wild ends in tragedy", 1 June) comes as no real surprise. Reintroducing captive-born animals to the wild is a complex and largely unpredictable process.

Despite claims made by zoos, many reintroduction programmes from captive-bred populations of "wild" animals have been attempted and nearly all have failed.

Zoos increasingly make claims about conservation and high-profile expensive captive-breeding programmes in an attempt to justify their continued existence in the 21st century. But the reality is that most animals bred in zoos are shipped off to other zoos, not returned to the wild.

We believe zoos, safari parks and aquaria are relics of a bygone era. It is time to stop exploiting "wild" animals as exhibits and start respecting them, using conservation funds on protecting them in their natural habitats.

ROSS MINETT

DIRECTOR, ADVOCATES FOR ANIMALS, EDINBURGH

Beware of kneejerk responses to terror

Sir: Your leading article (28 May), "An attack on civil liberties that won't make us safer", is apt, rational and reflects firm opposition to the strong-arm measures proposed by Tony Blair to tackle the threat of terrorism. The debate between authoritarian and democratic methods of governance is never-ending.

Heinous acts such as the 7/7 in London periodically accentuate this debate. The sensation, suddenness, tragedy and drama associated with such incidents generally evoke a kneejerk response, mostly from the votaries of authoritarianism. Those in media and among the intelligentsia, who cherish values such as democracy, civil liberties and human rights must close ranks and fight this dangerous philosophy.

A tubular, narrow and unidirectional approach will never contain the evil of terrorism and may actually provide fuel for it. We seem to forget that it is perfectly possible to combat terrorism while preserving democratic norms; in fact that is the only way to successfully tackle this menace.

This "hydra headed monster" cannot be contained with the "Rambo" approach of Bush/Cheney and definitely not by destroying international conventions and the democratic fabric of society. Such an approach is counterproductive in most instances.

It is a great misfortune, and this approach finds an ally in the person of Tony Blair. I sincerely hope Gordon Brown does not follow his predecessor's philosophy, and British democratic traditions are retained.

DR KAILASH CHAND

ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, LANCASHIRE

Less Shakespeare, more Churchill

Sir: Robert Fisk (Comment, 2 June) makes two salient points almost in passing, that our modern world remains shaped by the tumult of the Second World War, and that Winston Churchill's wartime speeches contain superb examples of 20th-century English prose.

Churchill should be part of the National Curriculum for English in secondary schools. At the risk of heresy, I suggest less Shakespeare to make way for him. Pupils would benefit. Churchill's writings are rich yet instantly accessible and illuminate a crucial period of British, and world, history. Keep Shakespeare in drama lessons, if you wish, but his continuing deification within English departments squeezes out contributions by others of a more modern voice.

And a plea to all in education: please don't call children at primary school students; the notion is risible. Children in school are pupils, those who go to college and beyond are students.

JULIAN PIKE

CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Make MPs pay more

Sir: Our political masters (of all parties) are keen to point out the evils of buying cheap alcohol from supermarkets. Perhaps they could set an example and increase the price of drinks in the House of Commons bars, which I am led to understand, have the cheapest booze in the whole country, subsidised, of course, by the taxpayer.

MIKE MITCHELL

HOVE, EAST SUSSEX

Indian banana-skin

Sir: Joanna Blythman does not know her onions ("Your guide to food miles", 31 May). I have been selling fruit and vegetables for 27 years and have never seen a Saudi Arabian tomato, an Indian banana or a South African carrot. Her purple sprouting broccoli is confused with her calabrese and her Welsh onion is confused with her spring onion, which is an immature onion or Allium cepa. When was the last time anyone sent apples or bananas or any of the run-of-the-mill produce by air?

JO WIDDICOMBE

TORPOINT, CORNWALL

Just so, m'lud

Sir: Following your story on allegations that the Attorney General had told the Army its soldiers were not bound by the Human Rights Act when dealing with Iraqi prisoners (29 May), and his somewhat defensive reply (30 May), he was asked on 2 June on Radio 4 what legal qualifications and experience an Attorney General needed. His reply was: "The Attorney General has to be able to find his way around the law." Well, well. And which way do we take that, Lord Goldsmith?

LESLEY DOCKSEY

DORCHESTER, DORSET

Acid remark

Sir: The Beatles were indeed inspired by LSD when making Sgt Pepper but Ed Caesar's assertion (30 May) that Aldous Huxley's book, The Doors of Perception, was also inspired by LSD is not the case; the psychedelic agent referred to in that book was mescaline.

LUKE HOPKINS

CARDIFF

Out of tune

Sir: There is a small but important error in the recording information given in the report on Yusuf Islam (25 May). His original Island Records album (recorded as Cat Stevens), Tea for the Tillerman (1970) did not include the song "The first cut is the deepest". This song, covered by several artists, most notably PP Arnold and Rod Stewart, was a track from the album New Masters (1967), released on Deram Records.

DR DAVID SANDS

HEAPEY CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE

Flushed with rebellion

Sir: Recently, in a certain YHA hostel loo, I came across a notice reading, "Please do not flush anything other than toilet paper down the WC". I was perplexed, but read on. "Bins are provided for sanitary towels, tampons and other litter." Nevertheless, my innate rebelliousness overcame my Asperger's and I performed the usual offices in the usual manner.

DAVID WHEELER

DALSTON, CARLISLE