Letter: Unjustly dim view of Israel
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ROBERT Fisk sees through a glass darkly ("Israel's 50 years of shame", 4 January) and appears incapable of recognising or representing the real progress that has occurred in relations between Israel and her Arab neighbours.
Fisk sees only a "poisoned agreement" between Israel and the Palestinians, and "opprobrium" for King Hussein over Jordan's peace treaty with Israel. In fact, we are witnessing the difficult start of a regional renaissance grounded in the fundamentally pragmatic realisation that peace is the only option.
This is not starry-eyed optimism: the peace agreements have already withstood brutal tests, including more than 40 terrorist attacks by Islamic radicals against Israeli civilians which have taken hundreds of lives since the signing of the Declaration of Principles in September 1993.
Moreover, the overwhelming majority of these attacks occurred not when the going was tough but when the most visible and tangible progress was being made, including the handing over of major cities on the West Bank to the control of the Palestinian Authority.
Not surprisingly, Israelis opted for a more cautious approach, and the attacks have radically diminished. Progress now is slower and less spectacular, but there is relative security and, contrary to the view through Fisk's prism, there is progress.
This month alone, Israel is expected to announce a further redeployment in the West Bank, while, less conspicuously, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on three technical committees are working out security arrangements that will permit the development of a seaport and airport for Gaza and an access road linking Gaza with the Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank.
Helen Davis
Britain Israel Public Affairs Centre, London WC1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments