Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Reviews PERSONAL VIEWS

Palestine: the assault on health and other war crimes

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7471.924 (Published 14 October 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:924

Rapid Response:

Isreal; a state of terrorism

I am amazed of some of the harsh responses to Sommerfield article.
Some people find it very convenient to forget that Israel itself was
founded as a result of terrorism. Early leaders of the State of Israel
were wanted terrorists themselves. Israel brought terrorism to the Middle
East. Some blame the Palestinian for not having a leader (as Mandela) to
make peace, with whom? Sharon? His history is tarnished and he would not
fool anyone even if he tried to associate himself with the free leaders of
the world. His tactics are meant to terrorize the Palestinian people to
submission and he does not deny it. Not mentioning the IDF which has all
the equipment but lack the moral values. Apart from killing innocent
civilians they also killed POW in their custody in 1967, they bombed
schools, factories etc. Has anyone heard of an Arab country targeting a
civilian institution in Israel during any of the Arab-Israeli wars, Israel
did.

The point is the solution. It is all in the hand of the occupied
power and their supporter in the US. But Sharon said that terrorism should
not be rewarded (as if returning people’s rights is a reward) but it is OK
for Israel terrorism to be rewarded by establishing their own country and
maintain it by American help.

I only wish people on both sides (including the US) would conclude
one day that what is happening in the Middle East is scandalous of
historical magnitude and they would force their leaders to do something
about it.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

24 October 2004
Gamal Aly
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Locum Ophthalmic Surgeon