Teach the history

Dear Editor:

Why is it that whenever we are frustrated with the Middle East we bash Israel? 

Colonizers? Occupiers?  Apartheid?  Really?  One in every five citizens of Israel is Arab, with the full rights and privileges of all Israeli citizens. The Israelis totally left Gaza in approximately 2005, when the terrorists seized control of that region.  The only time they entered Gaza was to bring sick children and adults to Israel’s hospitals for medical treatment.  

Where are the adults, teaching the history of the country to every child, so they don’t go off the rails and don terrorist clothing and call for Israel’s destruction?

When Britain decided to restore Palestine to its original people, the United Nations created a tiny sliver of a country for the Jews, who have lived on that land for over 3,000 years. It was created by drawing a line around the communities which were primarily Jewish, resulting in an odd hourglass-shaped nation that is extremely difficult to defend. 

 They are the Indigenous people of the area, restored to a fraction of their original homeland that was called the Land of Israel for centuries. The day after it was created, it was attacked by neighbouring Arabs who disagreed with the United Nations decision.  It has had to fight to maintain its existence ever since.  

As for the current war, Hamas could end it any time by laying down their arms and releasing the hostages that they haven’t killed.  Israel is doing its best not to harm civilians. Did we demand our World War II troops stop fighting while the Nazis were still fighting?  

Claudette Stevens,
Southgate