IN your article on the visit to York of a Palestinian bishop you report he was "forced to flee his home in Nazareth in 1948 when the new state of Israel was set up" (May 18).
Palestinians were not expelled when Israel was set up. Approximately 20 per cent of Israelis are Arabs.
These Arab citizens have full democratic and legal rights and can be elected to the Israeli parliament.
There are many groups campaigning for peace in the region, within Israel and internationally. In Israel there are many cross-community projects and services - hospitals staffed by and caring for Jews and Arabs, just to mention one example. There is a desperate need to focus on the physical and economic security of all the people in the region and to exchange violence for peaceful negotiation.
D Meyer,
Tadcaster Road, York.
Updated: 11:08 Friday, May 24, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article