The turmoil in West Asia has historical roots and has been going on from time immemorial. There is fatigue now, and it is time we saw a permanent solution to the conflict. A mutually agreeable two-state solution is the only way to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict (‘Highway to hell’, October 22).
Also, this time around we should not hesitate to blame Hamas, as it was the militant outfit that started the massacre. Israel has every right to retaliate, but it should ensure that no civilians are killed in Gaza. The cause of Gaza’s misery is Hamas, and not its people, who should be left alone.
The Israelis and the Palestinians should live securely and in peace. Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon should not build animosity towards Israel. The leadership in Israel should address the root causes of socioeconomic deprivation and loss of hope in Gaza.
Arjun Madanan,
On email.
Congratulations on being the first news magazine in India to bring out the Middle East turmoil into print. However, I went through the cover story with a pinch of salt.
I thought you camouflaged the horrors committed by Hamas on the innocent civilians of Israel. You mentioned Hamas terrorists as “Hamas attackers”. You have omitted the treachery and animal instincts of Hamas in invading the territory of Israel, and the inhuman acts committed by Hamas terrorists. Perhaps, you have your own compulsions, but it is at the cost of moral and fearless reporting.
G.V. Prasad,
On email.
Israel’s bombing in Gaza has aroused the sympathy of the world. Even the US is at its wits’ end on how to restore normalcy in the region. The havoc caused in the ongoing war is heart-rending. Saner counsel should prevail on both sides to restore normalcy.
B. Gurumurthy,
On email.
Two things that struck me were how we have sunk to the lowest levels of inhumanity by brutally snuffing out more and more innocent lives—not sparing even young children or the old and taking so many others as hostage.
Second, the future war scenario looks grim and scary. No one can refute that wars only bring death, destruction and misery. Yet, we are living in the middle of long-drawn wars.
Suman Anand,
Delhi.
Russia is trying to bring back colonialism and Israel is determined to show its strength to a much weaker and subdued adversary. We, as mute spectators, are on the fence about the whole issue. What a sorry state of affairs!
Vidita Mehta,
On email.
I wonder whether it is in Israel’s interest to prolong the war as it can completely destroy the rapprochement between Israel and the Arab world. The conflict highlights the need for recognition of Palestinian statehood. In the meantime, there is a need to alleviate the sufferings of civilians who need food, water and medicine.
Kangayam R. Narasimhan,
On email.
Great fast bowler
Glenn McGrath is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He bowled consistently at the right length and troubled legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara (‘Starc is the X factor in this Australian team’, October 22). McGrath is doing a great service by providing useful tips to Indian pace bowlers.
It is worrying that pace bowlers today are not as fast and hostile as they used to be in the 1970s and 1980s. Most pitches these days don’t favour pace bowlers. Crowds also revel in seeing sixes rather than wickets falling.
Tigin Thomas,
On email.
All for Indian pope
Let us hope that an Indian pope succeeds Pope Francis (‘Last word’, October 22). People in western countries have false impressions about India, and it will change only if an Indian priest becomes the next pope. Who had imagined in 2013 that a non-European priest (Pope Francis) will become the pope. Shashi Tharoor is right when he said that regions that were largely non-white are increasingly regarded as the future of the Catholic church.
Santosh Eapen,
On email.
G20 scores
The countries that attended NAM summit in 1983 were developing countries and most of them had no credible democracy (‘Mani-festo’, October 15). The heads of states included dictators of the likes of Fidel Castro and Robert Mugabe to name a few. G20 had all permanent members of the UN plus the most developed countries in the world in attendance.
Achieving consensus on tricky issues like the war in Ukraine, where there are conflicting interests, was commendable. The most sticky issue that NAM’83 had in front of it was the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan and not the Kampuchea one. The summit skirted around the Afghan issue to avoid antagonising the USSR. The outcome of G20 was an agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and there was no such outcome in NAM’83. Sorry, but the comparison does not stack up.
Nithin Shanbhag,
On email.
World-class magazine
THE WEEK is truly a world-class magazine; the only one from India. You provide us so much information on a platter. Any development anywhere and there is a comprehensive article in the magazine in no time. Not just that, you have an array of good columnists. THE WEEK is only going to get better from here. I wish the magazine the best.
Suresh Gowda,
On email.