The Independent & The Independent on Sunday

The Independent & The Independent on Sunday




Letters

21° London Hi 22°C / Lo 12°C
Query: Go Popular Topics




Headlines


Twitter
Follow The Independent on Twitter |



News
UK
Home News
UK Politics
Crime
This Britain
World
from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday
Home > Opinion > Letters
"Letters: the burka";



Letters: the burka



Tuesday, 20 July 2010



Palestinians need outside help



It may well be more difficult for Israelis to comprehend the idea of Palestinian non-violence than for Palestinians to do so. For many Israelis, the very thought of non-violent Palestinian protest goes so far against the grain as to be incomprehensible, lethally suspicious, a violation of a bedrock narrative.

In many cases, Israeli media have actively ignored or obscured non-violent Palestinian protest. Last month, hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians marched together through the streets of Silwan, East Jerusalem, protesting over a plan by the Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat, to evict Arab residents and raze 22 houses for a settler-oriented tourism project.

At a time when use of overwhelming force has cost Israel dearly in its world standing, what will it take for Israelis to re-think the idea that what they have can be maintained only by force, a new kind of leader, a Gandhi, a Dr King?

The only way the Palestinians will ever get their independence is with the help of outsiders. The US never could have won its independence if it hadn't had the help of several European nations, particularly France.

Ted Rudow III,MA

Menlo Park, California, USA





__._,_.___