THE actions of the Israelis in Palestine seem to have a lot in common with the way Americans colonised the west.

The bows and arrows of the Native Americans were no match for the Gatling guns and Winchester repeating rifles and they were defeated and herded into reservations. Likewise, Palestinians have been herded into the narrow strip of land that is the Gaza strip, their puny rockets no match for the F16s, tanks and missiles.

There are similarities even in the language. Native Americans were considered to be “savages” much as Israelis seem to consider the entire population of Gaza as “terrorists”.

For “pioneers” that drove the Native Americans out of their traditional lands read “settlers” that build on land that was once farmed by Palestinians.

“The only good Indian is a dead Indian” was a common saying in the 19th century. Israelis are now calling for “Gaza to be bombed into the Stone Age”.

No wonder then that the US remains a staunch supporter of Israel.

Seggy T Segaran, The Pastures, York.