Israeli elections
Jane Prinsley rightly emphasises that the Israeli election showed a passionate commitment to democracy, with a 77 per cent turnout, thousands of expatriates flying in to vote, and a whole plethora of issues discussed in addition to the main concern, security (Reality of Israeli democracy is far more complex than Emily Thornberry seems to realise, October 30). It will surprise many that not only do Arab citizens have the vote, but they achieved 19 potentially influential seats in the Knesset. And the election was largely free from incident and fair.
But if, after such a civilised example of electoral practice, Israeli voters are still unable to unseat “Mr Security“ – the man on whose watch the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust occurred – and oblige Benjamin Netanyahu to face charges of corruption, as seems likely, then how effective is this democracy?
Unsurprisingly, diaspora Jews had no influence whatsoever over the outcome. It’s difficult enough effecting change in one’s own country of birth.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor
So many of us – those who live here with family in Israel and those whose children made aliyah and help guard the state of Israel – understand the reality of who is voting and accept that’s fine. However, I didn’t realise that the strictly Orthodox can vote even though they don’t send their sons to guard our land and prove their loyalty. They want the benefits without the commitment. Any new government needs to change this without delay.
Norma Neville
London Nw4
For the first time I followed the Israeli election with great interest.
My only disappointment was that unlike UK senior political leaders neither Netanyahu, Eisenkot or Rabbi Yosef [of the Shas party] took the opportunity to mention to voters that they were Jewish and what occupations their fathers had.
Llewellyn Gaba
Cardiff
Home grown
Starmer’s ill-timed recognition of a Palestinian state followed by Burnham’s early castigation of Israel must have lost Labour some support. Was it therefore with recovery in mind that they introduced a budget minimally reducing the tax on our beloved pickled cucumbers?
Barrington Black.
London NW 3
Reparation claims
I see the prime minister is under pressure to compensate the Commonwealth for the sins of earlier centuries. In the spirit of fairness, may I submit an older claim?
In 1210 King John locked up the Jews of England at Bristol until they promised him 66,000 marks of silver, which was more than the Crown collected from the whole kingdom in a year.
One Abraham of Bristol was relieved of a tooth a day until he agreed to pay. In 1290 Edward I finished the job by expelling us altogether and keeping whatever was left.
By my rough reckoning, a year’s revenue today comes to about £1 trillion. I haven’t tried to work out 816 years of interest, partly from generosity and partly because my calculator ran out of noughts.
We would be reasonable creditors. We’d accept payment in instalments, or in kind: the freehold of Old Jewry in the City would be a nice gesture. We are prepared to drop the dental claims.
Once the account is settled, Mr Burnham might like to send Copenhagen an invoice for the Danegeld. The Normans, I suspect, will be harder to get hold of.
I shan’t hold my breath. But I would be glad to hear from Mr Burnham on what principle one ancient wrong earns a cheque and another a shrug.
Shimon Cohen
London N2
To get more from opinion, click here to sign up for our free Editor's Picks newsletter.