In spite of Tim being the MP for the neighbouring constituency he still finds the time to reply to me.
Three cheers and when will I get a reply from Woodcock?
Dr. Geoff Dellow
The Coach House
Union Lane
ULVERSTON
LA12 7BU
Our Ref: Dell001/3/ag
15 June 2010
Dear Geoff
Thanks very much for your kind words of support and for your condemnation of the recent Israeli atrocities.
I entirely endorse your sentiments on the appalling actions of the Israeli forces and I shall certainly press for the strongest possible response from both our own Government and from the President after the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
TIM FARRON MP
From: Geoff Dellow [mailto:gd@tygh.co.uk]
Sent: 02 June 2010 15:59
To: Tim Farron MP
Subject: Israel
Tim,
Congratulations on being re-elected.
I trust that you're being given some responsibilities in the new coalition.
You would be a great asset.
Today I'm writing about the UK response to the present Israil conflict with
the relief being sent to Palestine.
The UK government should in my opinion support the Flotilla and condemn
Israel in the strongest possible terms.
It should also turn its criticism towards the USA who appear to condone the
Israel behaviour.
Being very supportive of Palestine is the way forward of avoiding terrorism
in this country.
The money, which must be in the region of a billion pounds, spent on
surveillance and police action would be far better spent on alleviating the
suffering of people on the Gaza strip.
Second to Global warming , I believe that the Israel/Palestine conflict is
the most important problem that we as bystanders face.
We must urge those representing our country to take a firm stand against a
country who are totally out of control in their aggressive attitude to
Palestine.
Could you tell me what you are able to do on my behalf?
I hope that the Liberal Party and through them, the Coalition, have
formulated a policy of what they will do when subsequent flotillas approach
Gaza. I trust that this involves very strong diplomatic pressure of the
highest order in order to give Palestinians some hope that the rest of us
care.
Geoff Dellow
3 comments:
On the face of it, Israel's action is deplorable. But it is easy for us secure in our own country (at least as secure as any nation can expect in a world where terrorism exists), to take the side of Israel's avowed enemy. But we must understand how this has come about historically, and accept our own part in producing this deadly situation. Not only that, but the way the richer countries of the world have exploited the poorer nations. Giving aid is a self-satisfying gesture, giving equal trading opportunities is another matter altogether.
Back to historical Palestine.
WE supported the Jews in establishing a nation of their own. For hundreds of years they had been dispersed around the world, and because of their own distinctiveness (Religion is inseparable from who they are) and ability to 'achieve' they have been persecuted just about everywhere they have settled. I will never forget the films taken when the allies opened the gates of the extermination camps and liberated the living skeletons, the piles of rotting bodies, the medical experiment centres, the gas chambers and ovens where bodies were disposed of. Skin lampshades, torture for fun, labour camps that treated humans like disposable items. In the past, Jews have had their problems in this country too — we must never forget that. Even now, there are those who have an avowed hatred of them.
A dream of going back to what was once their homeland and becoming again the nation they once were, was realised when Israel was set up. We were part of that.
It may be hard for us to understand this need Jews had. But we choose our religion, and we are a mixed race. If we settle elsewhere we can mix fairly easily. A Jew is born a Jew and part of the Jewish race with a history going back as far as the Palestinians. (As any reader of the Old Testament will know.) The Jews made the desert bloom again. They are hard-working and successful.
Now what do you do if those you have fought to get established refuses to acknowledge your nationhood and avows to remove you from their land? What do you do when they fire rockets every day into residential areas? When they hide out among homes the other side of the border and smuggle in arms in every conceivable way?
Israel was willing for the aid to be delivered through its own port and agreed to make sure it got there. But that was not what was wanted. It was a deliberate ploy to break Israel's embargo. Some on that ship wanted a fight because that is what they do to support the Palestinian cause. Dying in conflict earns more than 'brownie points' for Islamic extremists. We should know this from acts of terrorism all over the world. We have to realise that what we call terrorists are part of a small branch of Islam that intends to bring down Western civilisation and dominate the world.
The rest of my comment (it was too long to be accepted)
I do NOT agree with the way Israel has treated the Palestinians. They had no right to extend their settlements, and the West has much to answer for too — no use blaming the Western Jews for dominating policy as regards Israel. We always want someone to blame.
But Israel's past should make them more sympathetic to what has now become largely a displayed people.
But passiveness in the past ensured the holocaust. Israelites are not just Jews, they are a people with a homeland. From the ashes came a different people rooted more in historical strength of conflict and possession of land.
To my mind, those who organised this deliberate breaking of the embargo have much to answer for too. They played straight into the hands of those who not only want to see the downfall of Israel but of the whole western world.
Now we could argue that much in the western world is rotten, full of greed and lacking in morality. Christianity is a mere word for many, a cloak to hide misdeeds for some, but life and health to others. It is the foundation of democracy and believes all men to stand equal before God. At its best, it takes health and healing around the world, at its worst it causes conflict!
In extremists eyes, all but themselves are infidels. Old, young, babies - are all legitimate targets. (Curiously, rather like the IRA and others when bombing shopping areas or markets)
Israel needs to be understood and supported, while, at the same time, put under pressure to give freedom and comfort to those it shares the land with. But is this possible when an enemy, determined to destroy and kill, is allowed freedom to come and go?
Don't we try to stop terrorists working here?
Or maybe you and others don't think Israel has a right to exist?
I have said enough on the subject.
Thanks again, Gladys, for your thoughtful comment.
The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan is an excellent book that covers this topic. It is very well researched and attempts to be impartial by expressing both sides of the story of living in this area of the Middle East.
It comes down, in my view, on the side of the Arabs and I find that many of my Jewish friends agree that Israel is in the wrong.
They support organisations like Jews for Justice for Palestinians who appear to be behind the attempt to break the blockade.
The Israelis in my opinion have provoked the reaction to them by their neighbouring Arab countries.
They need to tone down their aggressive stance and give major concessions to Palestinians.
Only by doing this can they look forward to a life without continuous fear.
We likewise need to make it very clear that we refuse to support their aggressive non-conciliatory behaviour making out that the problem is with Hamas.
Only by taking this stance can we in this country hope for a future of living alongside people with loyalties to Arab countries.
However I have strong reservations to those coming from other countries to live here. We should in my opinion be supporting people who tend to travel here by helping them cope in their own countries.
We sadly are too burdened with our own (self-inflicted) problems to have the moral/mental reserves to offer such support. In practice we have to be made to face up to these world problems by having those that are suffering, come and state their case by living here on our doorsteps.
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