Alhadeff and Burd complain about criticism of Israel by FastBuck$ and myself (In Defence of Israel , Byron Shire Echo Letters, January 18).
The headline is inappropriate as it is Palestine not Israel that needs defending.
Israel’s non-WMD military might is ranked 16th from 126 countries (http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=israel).
Against Israel’s advanced weaponry Palestine boasts slingshots, scissors, kitchen knives and thousands of rudimentary rockets which damaged some Israeli roofs; Gaza has been repeatedly blitzed, razed and will be uninhabitable by 2020 (http://www.gazaincontext.com/).
‘Israel is an apartheid state implementing a Matrix of Control which transforms the Occupied Palestinian Territory into probably the most monitored, controlled and militarised place on earth.
It epitomises the dream of every general, security expert and police officer to be able to exercise total biopolitical control.
In a situation where the local population enjoys no effective legal protections or privacy, they and their lands become a laboratory where the latest technologies of surveillance, control and suppression are perfected and showcased, giving Israel an edge in the highly competitive global market’ (Jeff Halper, War against the People: Israel, the Palestinians and Global Pacification, p.143).
Al Jazeera’s covert investigation into Israel’s infiltration of British politics revealed shocking plans to ‘take down’ the UK’s deputy foreign secretary over his criticism of Israel’s settlement policy in the occupied West Bank (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/uk-mp-urges-probe-alleged-israeli-interference-170108132151019.html).
No doubt this infiltration is also happening in Australia and is a threat to national security.
Israeli journalist Gideon Levy says that most Israelis are ignorant of what is happening in Palestine even though they may be just half an hour away.
Be assured Mr Burd, Byron Friends of Palestine will help educate brainwashed Jews and Israelis coming to Byron Bay.
Gareth W R Smith, Palestine Liberation Centre, Byron Bay
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
