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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World

Why I won’t join any march about the war in the Middle East

A Palestinian man weeps for the death of his relatives, 24 October 2023
‘The Israelis don’t understand the Palestinians’ anger. The Palestinians don’t understand the Israelis’ existential terror.’ Photograph: Shutterstock

I have both Jews and Palestinians in my family. I’ve demonstrated about many issues over the years, but I can’t bring myself to join any march about the war in the Middle East (About 100,000 turn out in London for pro-Palestine rally, 21 October). Waving any flag just doesn’t seem to cut it. The Israelis don’t understand the Palestinians’ anger. The Palestinians don’t understand the Israelis’ existential terror. Let us hope that, one day, they will be able to see each other for what we all are: just people.
Wendy Barnaby
Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex

• Got to admire Liam Gallagher’s ego in claiming that the rip-off rock of Definitely, Maybe was the 1990s’ most important album (Oasis: Liam Gallagher announces 30th anniversary Definitely Maybe tour, 16 October). It wasn’t even among the most important of 1994, which had Portishead’s Dummy, Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication, Jeff Buckley’s Grace, and Blur’s Parklife.
Norman Miller
Brighton

• During the 1926 general strike, Winston Churchill attempted to use the BBC as a media organ of the government. He was rebuffed by Lord Reith. We need more top people of Reith’s calibre in this era of widespread misinformation on social media (The furore over the BBC’s Israel-Gaza coverage shows how strong and independent it needs to be, 23 October).
Norma Clarkson-Gorman
Troon, South Ayrshire

• Rishi Sunak is not heading into “the one-year anniversary of his time in No 10” (Rishi Sunak faces backbench discontent a year into his time in No 10, 22 October). Your style guide makes clear that it is, in fact, his first anniversary.
Simon Howard
Newcastle upon Tyne

• There are many Yorkshire dialects (Letters, 19 October), but tha can allus tell a Sheffielder; the only one who lives in an arse.
Neil Hanson
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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