With horror I read in last Sunday's edition that the Irish government is to proceed "with a multi-million euro contract" with Israeli weaponry company Elbit. At what point, I wonder, will our current government discover its sense of morality and begin to do the right thing?


The invasion of Gaza in winter 2008, which caused the death of 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians, caused minister for foreign affairs Micheál Martin to express his outrage.


The theft of Irish passports by Israel for use in the killing of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai last February was further deemed a "serious matter" and prompted the expulsion of an official from the Israeli embassy in Dublin, while the murder of nine humanitarians attempting to break the siege on Gaza led to Taoiseach Brian Cowen issuing strong condemnation – yet defence minister Tony Killeen is quoted as saying, "The issue of boycotts or sanctions against Israel or the cancelling of contracts with specific Israeli companies is not something that the Irish government supports at this point in time."


What exactly does this apartheid state have to do before the Irish government considers sanctions against Israel? Drop a bomb on Gaza, perhaps?


Thankfully this disdainful news was offset by the announcement last week that over 150 Irish artists have pledged not to perform in Israel until it complies with international law and universal principles of human rights. I am full of admiration for them all and utterly ashamed by our current government's inaction.


Trish O'Rourke,


Dublin Road,


Mullingar, Co Westmeath


From Gerry Casey


The government decision to proceed with a contract for an Israeli firm to supply military equipment to the defence forces of this state (News, 15 August) is shameful. Israel is a rogue apartheid state founded on and maintained by sectarianism, racism, land and natural resources theft, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. It continually defies UN Security Council Resolutions and breaches international law.


Israel must be taught that there is a heavy price to pay for its war crimes, human rights abuses and continual denial of freedom and sovereignty to the Palestinian people. It's time the Taoiseach shut down the Israeli embassy, expelled its ambassador and all its so-called "diplomats", banned all Israeli products and pushed for international sanctions against Israel similar to those imposed on apartheid-era South Africa.


Gerry Casey,


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