Response backs up my points on Israel

After some very general statements about occupation and oppression which she seems to think, wrongly, the AWL would object to, Linda claims we "picketed" a PCS meeting (we leafleted it) and that we accused her of lying about Hamas.

Since she doesn't specify what the accusation involved, all I can say is that we regard Hamas as an utterly reactionary, anti-working class, anti-women, anti-gay, anti-semitic and anti-Israeli chauvinist force. Why doesn't Linda stop dodging and say what she thinks?

Linda goes on to demonstrate with perfect clarity what is wrong with so much of "left-wing" opinion on Israel by singling out zionism as racist (why more than other nationalist ideologies?) and treating all Israelis as an undifferentiated bloc, as if there are no political or class struggles in Israel.

But perhaps most nonsensical is the claim that I was "putting up a smokescreen" by "accusing some on the left of believing Israelis don't have the right to self-determination" - an accusation she immediately goes on to prove by arguing that "Palestine supporters take the position" that Israel must be "dismantled."

I'd urge Star readers to revisit my original letter (M Star May 30) - Linda has amply confirmed my point.

Sacha Ismail
London SE23