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No Israeli
‘shoot-to-kill’ policy
• The New Journal’s coverage of the inquest into
the death of Tom Hurndall in Gaza was very one-sided (‘We
will pursue Israeli officers through court’, April 13).
The Israeli soldier who killed Hurndall, Taysir el-Heyb, was
from a very poor Israeli-Arab family. He volunteered to join
the Israeli army, but only just scraped a pass in the army’s
psychology and competence tests. However, they decided to admit
him, apparently because of his family’s difficult circumstances
and loyalty to the country.
Immediately after the shooting, Taysir phoned his commander,
reporting that an armed man was approaching his post and refusing
instructions to halt. The commander gave him permission to fire.
A few minutes later, he reported that he had shot the man in
the head. Taysir also persuaded another Israeli-Arab soldier,
Aymad Atawna, to back up this false account.
The authorities initially believed Taysir and Atawna, and thus
gave out untrue information. They subsequently carried out a
further investigation which led to the prosecution, conviction
and imprisonment of both soldiers.
These circumstances do not support the charges of a deliberate
policy of the Israeli army to shoot unarmed civilians or of
a general lack of control.
The Israeli authorities may have tried too hard to treat fairly
a member of a minority. This does not deserve the harsh criticism
to which they have been subjected.
Israel is not an outpost of US foreign policy in the Middle
East. Had Israel done what the US wanted, it would have left
Gaza years ago, Taysir would not have been there and Hurndall
would not have been shot. Israel follows its own policies in
pursuit of its own objectives, in particular its survival as
a safe haven for Jews, who continue to be vilified and victimised
in many countries around the world.
JONATHAN, CAROLINE, JACOB,
CAMILLA and GABRIEL TURNER
Shirlock Road
NW3
• I fail to follow how the shooting of Tom Hurndall
could be referred to as a “group in the Israeli military
is out of control” by Sir Gerald Kaufman MP speaking on
the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Another of his cockamamie and
crackpot statements.
The offending Sergeant Taysir Hayb has been convicted to eight
years for manslaughter, now subject to appeal, when I trust
sense will prevail with mercy for a soldier who was acting as
he had been trained.
In the heat of conflict, you can’t expect men who have
been civilians themselves, when trained as soldiers, and especially
in this case as “snipers”, not to shoot to kill.
Tom Hurndall knew what he was getting into and anticipated the
risk. He ignored Foreign Office advice to keep away from an
unpredictable and dangerous situation where his presence as
a photographer could be provocative.
And not dissimilar to an agent provocateur, he was obviously
a very brave young man but like many young men in dangerous,
exciting situations, with the dedications to a cause, trying
to save children, act naively and foolishly thinking it won’t
happen to them.
It should be remembered that the Palestinian Militants, who
are not in uniform were renowned for encouraging the presence
of children in hot-spots of “shooting”, using them
as cover, and would like nothing more than an incident where
they create an opportunity for a sniper to break cover.
I have sympathy for the Hurndall family; perhaps they can in
time instead of dominating their lives with heartache and aggravation,
ask themselves – what would Tom have liked them to do as
Christians? Support the appeal of the Sergeant Taysir Hayb for
mercy and have compassion?
The New Journal is in the wrong in trying to encourage a call
for a public outcry, together with Kaufman’s cry for sanctions.
It would be far better, together with the Hurndall family, to
create and promote a memorial in the name of Tom Hurndall: this
could be a sports park or playground to be shared by both Palestinian
and Israeli children to help and foster improved relations between
the youth looking forward to Peace. I am sure such a project
would get support.
S MICHAEL BRECKER
Address supplied
• In your editorial comment, you press for the extradition
to the UK of those Israeli soldiers responsible for the shooting
of Tom Hurndall (Army out of control, April 13).
You describe Israel as an outpost of US’s policy. Israel,
like most European, and some Middle-Eastern countries, is an
ally of the US. However, Israel’s actions are driven by
the defence of its very existence in the face of continued threats
to “wipe it out of the face of the earth”.
JACOB BRAUNER
Helenslea Avenue
NW11
• Tom Hurndall went to Israeli-occupied Palestine to
help Palestinian children who face daily naked aggression from
the Israeli army. He was targeted because they knew Tom was
helping innocent children and his presence could provide a truthful
account of the crimes committed by the Israeli army.
I fully agree with your editorial comment which asks that our
government must take the case seriously and not only should
Tom Hurndall’s killer be extradited to this country for
trial but also those who issued the orders.
I also appreciate Sir Gerald Kaufman MP’s words in daring
to openly criticise Israel, urging Israel to abide by international
law and international decency.
The New Journal’s skillfully compiled story, covering the
inquest last week, shows the Israeli army targeted Tom. It was
not the act of one Israeli soldier who fired on Tom but the
policy of the “targeted killings” which was practiced.
Dr SALIM HAIDRANI
North Gower Street,
NW1
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