Rob Halfon - I made no secret of runway opposition

8/2/2019 Rob Halfon - I made no secret of runway opposition

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16 June 10, 2010 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR email: star@hertsessexnews.co.uk

 Aid ships attacked in

international waters

POST: Star Letters, 6 West Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 1JW EMAIL: star@hertsessexnews.co.uk

SIR, Robert Halfon claims the media presented a “one-sided view' of thedisastrous Israeli storming of the Gazarelief ships (Star, June 3).

On the contrary, the media, cowed by whatthey know will be instant blanketcondemnation from all Israeli organisations,

 presented a mealy-mouthed on-the-fenceview of what happened.

Halfon claims that all would have been wellif the flotilla had only obeyed orders to stopand unload its cargo. The ships when

invaded were sailing in international waters,not in Israeli territory. Those on board werean international group of Palestiniansympathisers and, in spite of Israeli bluster,no weapons were found on board.

The passengers offered no resistance onfive of the ships. On the sixth a small groupwaited with improvised weapons – sticksand poles. The Israeli commandos had machine guns as well as tasers and rubber 

 bullets which, according to a British passenger, they fired at anyone a bit slow to

obey orders.

This has been a PR disaster for Israel, aswell as a tragedy for the families of thedead. Instead of bowing to pressure and ending the blockade thay say they are intenton boarding future ships in the same way.

Here are some questions for Mr Halfon. Bywhat right does Israel blockade Gaza? Whyhas Israel closed nearly all the crossing

 points into Gaza, effectively depriving the population of food and other necessities, aswell as stopping them working outsideGaza? Why have they confiscated cementand wheelchairs, among other things, from

the flotilla when they know that these thingsare needed for rebuilding homes destroyed 

 by Israel’s frenzied attack on Gaza last year and to enable those disabled in the attack to

 become mobile?

And why does Israel claim that everyonewho speaks out against their persecution of the Palestinians is anti-semitic? This is aquestion of human rights.

Israel is incredibly rich compared to other states in the region, being dependent on USsupport. It also possesses many nuclear weapons. Why is it afraid of people whohave nothing?

Barbara Burge

Seeleys, Old Harlow

Illegal blockade isa barrier to peaceSIR, It comes as no surprise that RobertHalfon, a member of Conservative Friendsof Israel and a former supporter of ArielSharon, should come out in support of Israel’s commando attack on an aid shipheading for Gaza attempting to break theillegal blockade.

Mr Halfon says that he deplores the loss of life and injuries to both sides. Yet it escapeshis notice that most of the injuries and all of 

the deaths were peace activists aboard theaid ship.

Early in 2009 Israel’s military launched anall out war against the people of Gaza.Weeks of bombing resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 people, 20,000 buildingsdestroyed and left 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza economically stranded.

Eleven people in Israel died as a result of rocket attacks fired from Gaza.

Unless the economic blockade is lifted toenable much-needed supplies and construction materials to help the Palestinian

 people rebuild their shattered lives it isunlikely that peace and security for either the Israelis or the Palestinians can ever beachieved.

Mary SolomonChurchfield, Harlow

I made no secret ofrunway oppositionSIR, I thank James Gamble for his concernabout Stansted Airport ( Letters, June 3). Theimportant thing to note is that a second runway would not just have meantdisruption to our villages but to Harlow aswell.

However, I understand Mr Gamble’s concernabout jobs. The reality is that most airlines

did not want a second runway because it waseconomically unsustainable. The currentrunway is only being used at 50 per centcapacity.

It should be noted that just 5.5 per cent of  jobs at Stansted Airport have gone toHarlow residents because the airport’srecruitment focus has switched to north and east London, offering free/subsidised coachtravel for new employees.

Many airport employers have also focused 

on overseas recruitment, particularlyattracting employees from central and eastern Europe.

As most people in Harlow and the villageswell know, my opposition to a second runway at Stansted is shared by thousandsacross the constituency. It is something Icampaigned for in three general elections.

Ultimately, issues like this must be settled democratically at the ballot box. For many

years the Conservatives have promised toscrap the second runway at Stansted. I stood openly on that pledge and am glad that theGovernment will keep to it.

Robert Halfon MPLatton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow

Leisurezone signa capital offenceSIR, With regards to last week’s Star reportabout the Leisurezone (“Delay hit centrewill open this month,” June 3), I read withinterest that it is decribed as a jewel in thecrown, state of the art and the envy of 

neighbouring towns.Surely if this is the case, shouldn’t the nameof our great town that adorns the side of thisnew sports complex have been spelt with acapital ‘H’ and not a lower case ‘h’?

Is it just me that thinks that if we are goingto promote our town, then let’s at least getthe grammar right and spell it with a capitalletter.

Steve Pittaddress supplied - Editor

SIR,As a former member of theEuropean New Town Platform I amaware of how successful our relation

has been in securing European moneyfor local projects in the past.

The process was that Harlow wouldmake joint bids with other towns inEurope and that’s why, via our oldregeneration unit, we joined the ENTP.

But the EU changed the applicationprocess over three years ago and I nowquestion why the council is still apaying partner, let alone the president.

Our Conservative-run council, underthe leadership of Andrew Johnson,appears to have decided that Harlowofficers time and resources can be usedto support the role of the president of the ENTP. It appears the only source of information about this decision is from

a Tory twitter website.Currently, Harlow Council has lost itway on the development of the towncentre. It has been a major player inthe development of the much-delayedLeisurezone and has overseen thedestruction of most of the localcommunity group by withdrawingfunding and support.

We also know the Government istalking about a massive reduction inspending on the public sector.

So with all this happening, why is theleader of Harlow Council the presidentof a European organisation that we, thelocal taxpayer, have to pay for with novisible benefits to Harlow? Why is hespending money he claims the councilhasn’t got on trips to Greece with acouncil officer?

When I was part of the ENTP thepresident was in Brussels every monthattending some meeting or formal do.So who pays for our leader’s travel andhotel bills? And while he’s away who isin charge?

This is simply crazy.We have a Torycouncil that claims it has no money andis closing down services but itsleadership can afford overseas trips.

The solution is simple. Either MrJohnson gives up his role as presidentand work for Harlow or he should be

sacked as the leader of Harlow Councilto enable him to spend more time inBrussels.

Councillor Tony DurcanRundells, Harlow

Council shouldn’tspend our moneyon trips to Europe

EDITORIAL

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