Security measures in Israel are sad, but a necessary reality of life

The lack of facts in Betty Purcell’s article (November 2) is more than compensated for by fiction. A few examples will suffice.

1.

If every man, woman and child in the West Bank is under the control of the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority (PA) would not need EU direct financial support to pay its civil servants. Nor would the PA be collecting tax revenues.

The division of the West Bank is still governed by the Oslo Accords (Area A: Palestinian civil/security control; B: Palestinian civil/Israeli security control; and, C: Israeli civil and security control).

Approximately 1%-2% of Palestinians live in Area C; the rest live under the PA in Areas A and B.

2.

Ms. Purcell compares the restrictions in the West Bank with that of apartheid South Africa but fails to note the difference.

Apartheid South Africa was about racial segregation. The measures in the West Bank are the result of terrorism. In my experience, security measures in Israel are a sad, but necessary, reality of life.

3.

Far from the settlements growing apace, the number of units annually has dropped since Ehud Barak was prime minister.

The settlements, among other things, Ms Purcell argues, is not the mark of a country wishing to live in peace with her neighbours.

Yet history shows that settlements are not an impediment to peace talks or a peace treaty. For example, Israeli settlements in Sinai did not stop Sadat making peace with Israel in 1978-1979.

David Newmark

Athy

Co Kildare