Palestinian leadership disconnected from real politik

Daniel Teegan’s reaction to the increasingly tense situation between Jews and Arabs in Israel and the West Bank is sadly typical but not surprising as he instinctively blames the rising violence on “the ‘dumb’ political mind behind the racial and cultural status of Israel’s control” (Letters, October 8).

The inability of the IPSC to denounce horrific acts of terror against Jews and justify them as examples of a heroic freedom struggle is well established. This is part of a global narrative which has succeeded in depicting Israel as an apartheid state that discriminates against its Arab community.

This stance distorts and denies the reality of Israel’s position where the non-Jewish population has full political equality with their Jewish counterparts. Moreover, this reality despite clear social and cultural problems, gives Israeli Arabs a far superior economic standard of living, political choice, equality of gender and sexual freedom than any of their contemporaries in the wider Arab world.

Mr Teegan’s attitude reflects the aforementioned anti-Israel propaganda, and by doing so, bypasses the long-established two-state solution that has been the bedrock of a political resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Mahamoud Abass’ rejection last week of Netanyahu’s offer of unconditional two-state negotiations reflects this strategic change; however, it also reflects the disconnect from real politik that has come to increasingly define the Palestinian leadership.

Dr Kevin McCarthy

Kinsale

Co Cork