Appeasement of Evil

The Times                        May 29 2008

The Editor, letters@thetimes.co.uk                                    

Sir, Jimmy Carter is not as "adored abroad" as Bronwen Maddox supposes (Times). His unsubstantiated tally of Israel's defensive nuclear capacity (in a sea of external threats to its existence) is no more likely to be accurate than his description of that country as an "apartheid state." This dangerous nonsense defiles - not defines - the region's only nation where all colours and faiths enjoy freedom and legal equality - even women. Its Arab citizens have Parliamentary parties; become Cabinet minister, diplomat, Supreme Court judge and university professor. And Mr Carter could find no segregated bus or park seats (as once shamed America) but many mixed Jewish, Muslim and Christian charitable enterprises.

Notwithstanding UN, EU, UK and US proscription, too, Ms Maddox egregiously backs Carter's hobnobbing with Hamas, a violent movement that murders opposing fellow-Palestinians as well as Israeli citizens (Jew and Arab) indiscriminately. Why?  Because it was elected, she points out.  So was the equally intimidating Mugabe. So was Hitler. With similar moral equivalence she supports Carter's desired approach to Iran, a state with offensive nuclear ambitions to create a new Holocaust (while denying the old one).

With a myriad others I flew with the wartime RAF to keep tyranny at bay. My less fortunate comrades must turn in their graves when they see how persuasively appeasement of evil can be sold to our people today.

Yours faithfully

Walter Leaf