Urge candidates to sign Israel pledge

There are many issues that will determine how people will cast their vote in the general election.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd May 2017, 13:27 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:40 BST
Israel is a democracy with religious and press freedom. Above its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with his British counterpart Theresa May, at Downing Street in February. Photo: Peter Nicholls/PA WireIsrael is a democracy with religious and press freedom. Above its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with his British counterpart Theresa May, at Downing Street in February. Photo: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire
Israel is a democracy with religious and press freedom. Above its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with his British counterpart Theresa May, at Downing Street in February. Photo: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire

May I ask your readers to add to their considerations one of the most intractable problems of recent decades, the Israel/Palestinian conflict?

In recent years the international community, including Britain, has attempted to solve this dispute by admonishing Israel for defending itself while ignoring violent Palestinian transgressions and an associated lobbying movement that acts like a school bully.

That’s a flawed strategy.

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Israel is a democracy with religious freedom, an unfettered press, equal rights for all its citizens and a strong trade union movement. And like any democracy it has a fundamental duty to protect its citizens from harm. The men and women of violence will only be stopped when democratic nations stand firm against terror.

So I’d ask your readers to consider asking the general election candidates in our area to sign A Pledge for Israel. A document that recognises the achievements and the challenges that this small nation faces in the maelstrom of the Middle East.

Because peace will only be found with honesty.

You can send the Pledge for Israel by visitingwww.israelbritain.org.uk/news.

John Grills,

Belfast BT16

Related topics:IsraelPalestinianBritain