Léonie De Dreux-Crawford, Mullumbimby
With regard to Mr Wakil’s letter, you edified Mosab Hassan Yousef.
To put the record straight, yes, Mosab was the son of a high-ranking founder of Hamas.
However, Mosab is no peace maker. Arrested by the Israelis, Mosab became a collaborator for the Shin Bet, an arm of Israeli intelligence, and betrayed his family and friends. He was given a lot, not only cash, for his efforts, but clothes, and they paid for his education.
In his own words, Mosab spoke of his father as an example of humility, love and devotion. On one occasion, when arrested by the Israelis, Mosab’s father was handcuffed and hung from the ceiling. He was subjected to electric shocks until he passed out, and was almost beaten to death. But Mosab’s father was strong, never giving the Israelis any information that would hurt his Palestinian brothers.
Mosab, who later became a fundamentalist Christian, was welcomed into the USA and became a part of the Christian Zionist movement, making lots of money from the pulpit.
Danny, you know very well what is really happening in Palestine. I appreciate and respect your loyalty, as it appears you are of a Jewish background. I too would stay loyal and support family and close friends, but not to publicly exonerate the criminal actions of the Israeli state. I would do what I could to point out Israel’s cruelties, breaches of human rights and trashing of international law.
All your arguments have no value, they go up to the ether and evaporate. They are a distraction from the real purpose of the Zionist government. What is the goal? The creation of a greater Israel? A return to the biblical Old Testament boundaries?
All the talk of peace, two states, one state is a convenient smokescreen. There are so many great, well known, brave and principled Jewish scholars like Shlomo Sand and Ilan Pappe, for example, who expose the atrocities of the state you support, and who advocate for the Palestinians.
I’m almost 80 years of age, and have spent time in the West Bank. West Jerusalem is like a European city. Tragically, ancient Palestinian culture is slowly but surely being destroyed.
I have amongst my friends, both Israeli’s and Palestinians, of whom I love and value very much.
All the best Danny.
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. 
