Zionism is based on an overly nationalistic view

I am writing re Charles Hayes’ contention, (Letters 22 June) that anti-Zionism is not the same as anti-Semitism, the first being a moral stance and the latter being, “pernicious..”. 

It would appear to be self-evident to even the most casual reader of history, Messrs Kevin McCarthy and Clive Hyman, (Letters 23 June), like most Israel supporters, appear more interested in clouding the issues with acidic-like comments to Mr.Hayes, rather than realising that Zionism has also had opposition from within Judaism because of its obvious nationalistic philosophy.

Indeed the early Zionist leaders knew this and had vengeful words to say against religious Jews, eg: Vladimir Jabotinsky, founder of the terror gang the Irgun in Palestine, spoke of a “... nasty people.”, ultra-militant Zionist Uri Zvi Greenberg said

“Those loathsome Jews ...”, or David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, who said religious Jews were “... living parasitically off ... an alien economic body.”

Charles Hayes can rightly criticise Zionism as these thoroughly deplorable sentiments point up the difference between Zionists and the religious community from which they sprang.

Charlie Murphy

Dundrum

Dublin 16