Israel's morality is high

Letters

Editor: In the editorial "A question of morality" (Bulletin, Aug. 23), you mention that Israel must show itself to be better than "terrorist thugs." This is a valid and arguable point of view.

However, in the same editorial, you mention that Israel's High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction temporarily banning what is referred to as the "neighbor procedure" – the procedure that your editorial criticizes. Whether thoughtlessly or wilfully, you fail to point out that here we have the exact behavior of Israel that does show the state to be better than its neighbors. What other country among Israel's neighbors has a high court that can question the activities of its army? Can you imagine Yasser Arafat or Saddam Hussein or the various princes of Saudi Arabia permitting even the existence of an independent high court? Or, if one existed, allowing it to criticize the army? The thought is laughable.

This does not mean that the Israeli army is perfect. In times of war, all armies sometimes do regrettable things. But in Israel there is always somebody, either the high court or the Cabinet or the Knesset or the free press or Israel's own human rights groups on the lookout to preserve what decency is possible in life-threatening situations.

Of course Israel holds itself to a higher standard – and I would venture to say not only than its neighbors but also than that of most of the rest of the world. I leave your readers to remind themselves of some of the exploits of Britain and other allies at the end of the Second World War. Or, much more recently, of the American carpet bombing of Serbia. These are just two examples.
Do not fear for the moral standing of the state of Israel. It is high.

Naomi Frankenburg
Vancouver

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