On 10 October anonymous writers took a swipe at Kingston Peace Council and me, Noel Hamel, Chair. So I reply.

It would be wiser to be careful whom someone denounces.

Kingston Peace Council was founded by Quakers in the 1930s when British Royalty and aristocracy thought Fascism had some useful ideas. We disagree. So long as I live that is my position. Hamas friends with Egypt? A difficult concept just now because of Hamas’ alleged connections with the Muslim Brotherhood – probably not on the cards any time soon.

Could the "siege" of Gaza, as it is generally understood, be a flexible term depending on the speaker? And someone mistakenly thinks I am a Hamas supporter despite my earlier denial. The Hamas charter is a great hindrance to everyone. It is, if anything, a pipe dream since rockets will not destroy Israel or Jews like me. Fortunately that isn’t all Hamas says.

It agrees to negotiate with Israel in good faith as it withdraws to its 1967 borders; which the whole world agrees it must. I am sorry that Gaza rockets killed or injured anyone, they are such ineffectual ‘weapons’ that it must have been chance alone. Meanwhile the IDF in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank did deliberately kill a number of Palestinians. I don’t defend either, but someone wrongly insists I defend the rockets.

The Gaza rockets are in no way comparable to the massive high-tech weaponry of Israel’s Gaza blitz of course. A reason for the 2,000 deaths, including 500 children, is that it is one of the densest populated areas of the globe; the numbers substantially swelled by refugees who fled Jewish terrorism. Yes folks, Israel was founded on terrorism so fierce that the British army took flight, and Israel created the world’s greatest refugee crisis. It is not in a good place to lecture others about terrorism; and the Israeli army continues the tradition - terrorising the Palestinians of the Occupied West Bank.

History is fine but it can distract us from looking critically at present problems. Signs of better prospects for the future of either Israel or the Palestinians are vanishingly scarce if blitzing Gaza is the solution of choice. No peace and friendship can result. Perhaps I shall meet someone at the synagogue one day and we can discus where Israel might be in 20 years. Will it still be blitzing civilians with massive high-tech weaponry, and will someone still defend it? Kingston Peace Council believes there are better ways of doing things for the benefit of all.

This anonymous correspondence feels a touch rancid so I shan’t continue it. Out of respect for the massive loss of life and horrendous avoidable destruction, which everyone of every faith and none must feel as a terrible tragedy, I prefer to let it rest. No doubt all should be touched and sorrowful at such wanton slaughter and destruction.

However, should anyone, someone, want to help me get an innocent local Muslim from Guantanamo my own address is below.

NOEL HAMEL

73 Northcote Road

New Malden

KT3 3HF  

New Malden

 



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