First Washington, now London — kick the PLO out
In finally recognising the refusal of the PLO leadership to take steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel, the US government, reflecting congressional concerns, has ordered the closure of the PLO office in Washington DC.
Meanwhile, the US has emphasised that it continues to believe that direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are the only way forward and will continue in its efforts to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace.
The PLO Mission to the UK, represented by Manuel Hassassian, similarly supports no effort towards such peace talks.
HM Government should now consider a likewise closure of the PLO London office.
Stanley Grossman
Hon Secretary, Scottish Friends of Israel Glasgow
A Corbyn-free zone, please
Last Friday I picked up my Rosh Hashanah edition of the JC, looking forward to the usual mix of politics, culture, community news and at least one recipe for honey cake.
My relaxed mood was immediately shattered by the huge, close-up photo of Jeremy Corbyn on the front cover. And on every supermarket news stand that day there was the nightmare of endlessly repeated Jeremys all staring at me as I passed.
I understand the importance of antisemitism in the Labour Party and, as a lifelong Labour supporter, I don’t underestimate the implications for the whole of the UK. But it was not pleasant to see that face and its scarily ambiguous smile staring at me all the time.
I also believe it gave too much importance to a man who is basically incompetent, heartless and not very bright. It’s like the Guardian having a picture of Donald Trump or Boris Johnson on the front of its 31st December edition to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
I quickly tore off the cover, although it was then quite difficult for the family to find the JC in the pile of newspapers and magazines.
I wish the JC had been considerate of readers’ feelings and put on the cover a happy, positive and optimistic photo — a family with challah, apples, honey, wine and candles would have been obvious but perfect.
Please don’t have a similar cover for Yom Kippur unless it’s to remind Corbyn that it’s never too late to repent.
Helen Mordsley
London N20
While I agree with Prof Sanjoy Mukherjee-Richardson (Letters, September 7) that antisemitism should not just be fought through legal means and publicity but by explaining the contribution the Jewish community has made to the UK and the wider world, there are problems with this approach.
Pointing out, for example, that Jews have won 20% of the Nobel prizes awarded from a world population of only 0.2%,or that Jews are over-represented in the arts and the professions, might actually confirm the common antisemitic trope that Jews have too much power and influence (as happened in Germany).
We are victims of our own success. The best place to dispel prejudice of any kind is in schools, where young minds are still open and capable of change.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor
Cyril Salter (Letters, September 7) is most definitely in the minority — and from his comments a very dangerous Jewish minority with more in common with Corbyn’s cult followers.
He criticises Lord Sacks for “doing his worst in the orchestrated slander campaigns that target Jeremy Corbyn regardless of the facts”. Presumably a similar scrutiny of facts whereby Corbyn one day didn’t attend an event then he did, he didn’t lay a wreath, oops there’s a photo of him laying a wreath. Corbyn is not only a liar and a hypocrite but, since Dame Margaret Hodge spoke out, other people are openly describing him as an antisemite.
I don’t know what stone Mr Salter has been living under for the past three years but to perpetuate the myth of “Mr. Corbyn, someone who has so staunchly fought against racism and prejudice all his political life” is laughable. He fought as a non-entity backbencher for terrorists and undesirables around the world and, as for anti-racist, he is now showing his true colours.
To defend Comrade Corbyn in any way is not, as Mr Salter claims, to be a man who yields to no one in combating antisemitism. More, rather, an embarrassment for those Jews with the guts to stand up to antisemites like Corbyn and his cronies.
As for a disgraceful smear campaign against a decent man, I suggest Mr Salter attends the upcoming Labour Party Conference as a distinguishable Jew and see how warmly he is welcomed.
Russell Ballen
Ilford, Essex
It’s not all bad...
I was disappointed by Ben Barkow’s review of Pogrom, Steven Zipperstein’s book on Kishinev (Portrait of prototype pogrom with pieces missing, JC, September 7).
A whole paragraph on one word in the subtitle but no mention of the superb chapter about Bessarabia and Kishinev.
First-rate social history, full of fascinating facts about rural poverty. Similarly, nothing about the vivid description of the pogrom itself, clear, powerful history-writing which describes the unfolding of the pogrom in great detail.
A key chapter not mentioned at all. These are the two best chapters in a very fine book and they are simply not mentioned.
Barkow then spends three paragraphs on why Zipperstein hasn’t written about the Holocaust or about Nazi Germany. Presumably because he’s written a book about a famous Russian pogrom which took place almost 40 years before the Holocaust, 1500 kms from Germany?
It’s one thing to write a review saying what you don’t like about a book but I think a reviewer is obliged to mention the book’s strengths as well (if there are any).
David Herman
London SW13
Focus on what it was about
It is regrettable that your article on the launch of the Holocaust Memorial (Act now — or this will be meaningless, September 7) focused on an outburst by one individual against one of the invited speakers and her perceived views on antisemitism.
The purpose of this event was to emphasise the importance of this memorial and the reasons why it should be placed in the Victoria Gardens in the shadow of Parliament. All the invited speakers, including the co-chairman and a different Holocaust survivor to the lady you highlighted in your report, emphasised the reasons why this memorial should be sited there, and the cross-party commitment to bringing this Memorial and Learning Centre to fruition. Whatever the views of the lady in question about the suitability of Emily Thornberry to speak at this event, Ms Thornberry was an invited guest and spoke of her full support for this Memorial.
This project has enough people against it without alienating those in favour.
Joan Salter MBE
London
Genealogical inexactitude
Jenni Frazer writes (A respectable man, Sept 7) about the information in her grandfather’s naturalisation file. These documents do indeed give many of us useful genealogical data.
Long ago I viewed those of my ancestors. My paternal grandfather’s petition, made in 1886 (at the young age of 25 while the fee was reduced to £1), gave his nationality as ‘Subject of the Empire of Russia ( Poland)’, his birthplace Warsaw in 1861 and occupation wood turner and carver. His father delayed his petition until 1896, his nationality stated as ‘Subject of Russian Poland’, his birthplace Warsaw in 1842, names of his parents Gedaliah and Easther (sic) and occupation wood turner. Both gave addresses in the East End of London, some of which still exist, and that his referees were respectable. Fluency in English was not then required.
The surname ‘Diamond’ almost certainly had a different form such as ‘Diamant’. This was not given in either petition and I have not traced them yet in the Polish records.
Bryan Diamond
London NW3
