Letters: Israeli finance minister’s reaction to Irish decision is an act of vindictiveness

Known for his opposition to Palestinian sovereignty, along with most of the present right-wing Israeli government, he has indicated that this is a response to the European countries’ decision. To my mind, such a response is an act of pure vindictiveness.

So, yet again innocent Palestinians are made to suffer through no fault of their own under the oppression of apartheid Israel. Not only is it not enough to drive the people of Palestine into starvation, it has to be driven towards bankruptcy as well. So much for the ‘only democratic state’ in the Middle East.

It looks as though Ireland, Spain and Norway will have an uphill battle on their hands trying to bring about a two-state solution.

David Murphy, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14

Destruction in Gaza shows the global democracy rule book has been torn up

What Israel’s genocide in Gaza has unleashed is the destruction of the rule book.

Two years ago, the US welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to charge Russia’s Vladimir Putin with war crimes.

Now Joe Biden’s government, through secretary of state Antony Blinken, wants the ICC itself charged because it has dared to charge Benjamin Netanyahu under similar rules.

The United Nations’ status has been even further diminished, as if that were possible.

The UK, Germany, France and some other EU states refuse to condemn the genocide being broadcast to the world on social media each night.

Why should one nation have such a powerful corrosive grip on the so-called free world? What’s the real end game?

No rules and no accountability internationally brings us rapidly into Mad Max territory – a dystopian world where the most powerful lay the rest to waste.

John Cuffe, Co Meath

Ireland’s decision will be a reminder that peace is a priority for our people

The decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognise the state of Palestine is a historic one.

It may not bring peace today or tomorrow, but it will undoubtedly pave the way for a just and lasting solution for peace in the region.

Furthermore, it is an important step in ending Hamas’s reign of terror and any legitimacy it might harbour over the cause of the oppressed people of Palestine.

Hopefully, the Israeli people, if not their vengeful government, will know that peace will always be foremost in Ireland’s mind for the people of Israel and Palestine.

Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin

Old-fashioned coats may be well-made, but they have often seen their day

Sinéad Ryan’s article on her mother’s mink coat (‘What will become of my mum’s chic, sleek mink coat?’, Irish Independent, May 22) reminded me of my late father treating himself to a fine Harris tweed overcoat that only saw the light of day for Sunday wear and other special occasions.

When the coat had seen better days, he handed it down to me.

To please him, I wore it for a few months until (thankfully) it was consigned to the bin.

On the few occasions when I wore it, the names of two French cities came immediately to mind – Toul­ouse and Toulon.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin

Given our excruciating A&E waits, voters should keep healthcare in mind

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the current state of our emergency healthcare services.

As a former nurse, I am no stranger to the pressures faced by medical staff. However, my recent personal experience has left me upset and disheartened.

Last Saturday, I had a fall while gardening and injured my face, requiring some stitches.

Hoping for prompt medical attention, I went to the local accident and emergency unit. To my dismay, I ended up waiting 14 hours before being seen.

During that time, I noticed many others who I learnt had been waiting for nearly 20 hours – a grim testament to the severe under-staffing and inefficiency plaguing our healthcare system.

The nurse who eventually attended to me was shocked at the duration of my wait.

However, she admitted that such delays have become all too common. This is unacceptable.

The thought that it would have been faster to drive to Limerick and seek care at a private clinic is frustrating and revealing of the disparity between public and private healthcare access.

As the upcoming elections have housing and immigration dominat­ing the conversation, I urge the public and our political leaders not to forget the critical state of our health services.

Mary Moloney, address with editor

Late Tony O’Reilly was a good man – may the kind tributes continue to flow

Fair play to the Irish independent for the positive tribute to the late Dr Tony O’Reilly, the paper’s former owner, in your editorial (‘Titan O’Reilly made an impact on so many aspects of Irish life’, May 20).

Kind gestures can sometimes show the innate goodness of people.

For instance, like Dr O’Reilly, the late Mick Doyle – a famous Irish rugby player and a former Irish Independent sports columnist – was chairman of the government-appointed Committee to Report on the Dublin Zoo in 1989/90. I was the committee’s secretary.

Mick Doyle told me he had a high regard for Dr O’Reilly because, when the former suffered a sudden and serious illness in Australia, Dr O’Reilly telephoned to wish him well.

Finally, I think Dr O’Reilly’s Jesuit secondary school education should be taken into account when describing his life and achievements.

I believe neither great fame nor great fortune, nor their opposites, could ever have engulfed him as he had imbibed the spirit of Jesuit education, which can be summarised in four letters, AMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam) – “for the greater glory of God”.

May Tony O’Reilly (and Mick Doyle) rest in peace.

Micheál O’Cathail, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin