IT is increasingly difficult to see incidents like the Israeli bombing of the United Nations school in Gaza and the massive destruction of homes and families in this very small congested territory as just collateral damage ("Israeli forces accused of shelling school", The Herald, July 24).
This is punishment.
It has happened repeatedly in the past, also with UN premises attacked. It can only be understood as a deliberate strategy to make a point, and that point is that the Israeli state doesn't care about international opinion because it knows the United States will back it whatever it does.
It can kill or imprison whomever it chooses, it can take Palestinian land unlawfully and it sends agents abroad to assassinate or kidnap.
As soon as there was the announcement a few weeks ago of political co-operation between the PLO and Hamas, it was entirely predictable that a conflict situation with Gaza would be planned by the Israeli Government.
The least we can do is to boycott Israeli goods, companies and cultural and academic links unless it is with individuals who have actively worked for justice for the Palestinians.
We sustained this for years with South Africa. It is time for a co-ordinated campaign.
Will the city of Glasgow take the lead again?
Isobel Lindsay,
9 Knocklea Place,
Biggar.
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