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Truth about Israel

LAST month Peter Smith wrote yet another letter criticising Israel.

No problem with that, providing the facts he presented are verifiable.

However, he did not do that. He claims there are 50 laws that discriminate against Palestinians. Not true - talk to both Jews and Palestinians who live in Israel and they will tell you that this is nonsense.

He claims that a Ha’Aretz correspondent stated Israel is an Apartheid state. Really? Palestinian Arabs go to the Army and they are Supreme Court Judges and successful doctors and lawyers.

Space will not permit me to answer the rest of his accusations. But I will cite the UNHRC as an unbiased body within the UN, it is made up of Islamic nations who have passed a couple of resolutions against North Korea,Yemen, Saudi Arabia and spent more than 75 per cent of their time condemning the only democracy in the region with more than 70 resolutions.

Even the new Secretary General refused to accept a new report from them condemning Israel and the US and the UK are considering withdrawing funding because of their blatant bias against Israel.

The integrity of the UNHRC has been proven to be compromised and is not a trustworthy source for information.

I recall from my last correspondence that I asked Peter Smith for his solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. He ignored it, so I am asking him again, because it is obvious he does not believe the State of Israel should exist.

So Peter, what would your solution be? Forced deportations? To where? Should the Jews be run into the sea, as Hamas and Hezbollah believe? What’s your anti-Zionist plan?

How do you regard Hamas and Hezbollah - terrorists or freedom fighters? I notice you say nothing about the brutalisation of their own people at the hands of these organisations.

One final thought Peter, since you have written advocating “minority rights” - feel free to do so in Gaza, or anywhere in the Arab world. I am quite sure they will find you a lovely little cell where you could live rent free for a number of years.

STEVE JACK Parsonage Court, Highworth,

We are together in this

AT A time when we are supposed to be uniting against terrorism, why is Barrie Hudson keen to create divisions and emphasise the idea of ‘them and us’?

He says “today and every day, we walk along pavements and drive along roads and use public transport and live in homes which are all vulnerable to terrorist attack.”

I live in Swindon and work in Parliament and here is a news flash for him: MPs and Government Ministers also use roads and live in homes vulnerable to terrorist attack.

Only six Cabinet Ministers have protection which includes an armoured car and security detail. These include the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Northern Ireland Secretary.

All of the other MPs walk the streets and use public transport. In fact, for a role which is vilified and where death threats are the norm, many have argued that MPs should be given more security.

MPs themselves have argued against this, claiming being approachable is a crucial part of their role.

So I am sorry Barrie that this doesn’t fit in with your ‘them and us’ agenda.

And I am sorry that you continue to push the idea MPs should be judged on where they were brought up and where they went to school.

But in light of the events last week, this is all irrelevant. The only them and us that should exist is our society and the terrorists who wish to destroy it.

KATIE BENNETT Swindon

Amazed by cyclists

AS A frequent user of Dorcan Way in both a car and a 7.5 truck I am amazed at the number of cyclists ignoring a perfectly good cycle track running alongside the road.

With cyclists bemoaning the fact that drivers hate them, is it any wonder they do after the local council spends millions of pounds tax payers’ money on these cycles lanes only for the people they are intended for to totally ignore them.

The next time I hear or see an accident involving a cyclist they will not be getting any sympathy from me.

TERENCE RICHARDSON St Ambrose Close, Swindon

Blair is one to blame

HOWARD March’s letter (Mar 28) tries to blame the Conservatives for our current state of permanent austerity.

The British economy first became out of balance when Tony Blair refused to support MG Rover when it got into financial difficulty in 2005.

The economy in Britain never recovered and this led to the banks collapsing in 2008.

Without MG Rover our manufacturing base was too small and we are now running the worst trade deficit in the developed world.

If Howard March is searching for the cause of our economic problems he should look at the mistakes of the last Labour government.

The mistakes made by Tony Blair mean that Britain must remain in a permanent state of austerity.

STEVE HALDEN Beaufort Green, Swindon

Information please

ON AUGUST 29, 2016 Swindon Advertiser printed an article about Les Onslow, 90, who worked at the Vickers, South Marston during the war.

My late father, Samuel Harold Watson worked on Spitfires at Vickers during that time after moving to Swindon from Stockton-On-Tees after my mother died in January, 1938, when I was two days old.

He met and married his second wife, Joan James, from Ebbw Vale, whom I was told worked on munitions at Vickers. We know nothing of father’s time there and wondered if Mr Onslow had any recollection of either of them.

My father would have been in his late 20s. His notebook states he was a fitter Number 535 Section 6. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email achurchill@swindonadvertiser.co.uk S STABLER Swindon