‘Peace plan’ sets up Gaza for total destruction

The intention of the Trump/Netanyahu declaration is not to bring peace to Gaza (“PM backs Gaza peace plan”, October 1). Its intention is to make Hamas an offer they can’t accept and then allow Israel to move in and complete the total destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian people. Anthony Albanese would do well to stay away from it, or is he trying to butter up Donald Trump before their vaunted meeting in the White House, if it ever happens? Ian Adair, Hunters Hill

As so-called “peace” is being hammered out and ambiguously imposed on the crushed people of Gaza, I am left feeling that Trump is not the only person to be outfoxed by Netanyahu (“Outfoxed by Netanyahu at every turn, Trump got what he needed,” October 1). According to Australian human rights and legal expert Chris Sidoti, who was a member of the UN commission of inquiry that found genocide had been committed in Gaza, Australia has done “precious little” to hold an out-of-control Israel to account. It is past time to impose sanctions and cease trade with a country accused of “mass slaughter”. Mark Paskal, Austinmer

Anyone too pressed for time to read Dr Anas Iqtait’s take on the Trump-Blair-Netanyahu Gaza peace plan (“Tony Blair’s ‘Board of Peace’ is a farce, not diplomacy,” October 1) need only glance at Cathy Wilcox’s brilliant cartoon (Letters, October 1) – both expose its glaring flaws. The plan puts Palestinian survival in the hands of three men implicated in countless deaths – Blair in Iraq, Netanyahu in Gaza and Trump both in Gaza and in poverty-stricken countries deprived of support from USAID. This triumvirate appears to have the support of a diverse cohort of nations, including Gulf states, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey. Strikingly absent from the list is the voice of the Palestinian people. Their fate continues to be determined for them. Along with them, we too must fatefully accept Dr Iqtait’s reluctant admission that “the plan may also be the last available mechanism to halt the killing” and, with Wilcox, keep our fingers crossed. Tom Knowles, Parkville (Vic)

Thank you to Anas Iqtait for the well-reasoned article. The only thing to be said for Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan “is that it may bring the hideous Gazan killing to an end”. There is nothing else in the proposal that gives Palestinians recognition or solace. The “Board of Peace” is neocolonialism in disguise, where the “important” people of the Western world tell the less fortunate what is good for them. Tony Blair’s track record in the Middle East should disqualify him for any involvement in this project. It is hard to disregard Trump’s vision of turning Gaza into a high-tech hub and a Riviera-style resort. After all, there will be no demolition costs – the work has been done by Israel’s military with American support. With Donald Trump as chairman of the board, one might ask what his remuneration might be? It is precisely a proposal such as this that made the commitment to Palestinian statehood by several countries, including Australia, at the recent UN meeting so important. Neil Buchanan, Waitara

Thank you, Cathy Wilcox, for so neatly pinpointing the possible problems with the new plan for Gaza. With all these hurdles, it may be a long process before anything is actually achieved. Fingers crossed. Thelma Frost, Mudgee

Wilcox is a jewel in the crown of the Herald. Who else can encapsulate so succinctly decades of mistakes and misrule under Blair, Netanyahu and Trump in one cartoon. Janet Cook, Waverton

Sizeable oversight

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is adamant: “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon.” (“The Pentagon’s weight problem”, October 1). Obviously, there are no mirrors in the White House. Peter Snowden, Orange

If nothing else comes of the pep talk to US generals and admirals, it was a major gift to satirists and cartoonists around the world. The commander in chief and secretary of war may have just shot themselves in the foot. Mary Carde, Parrearra (Qld)

Pete Hegseth is ignoring the quite literal “elephant in the room” – his boss. Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill

Hardly a horror

Donald Trump’s latest thought bubble, imposing 100 per cent tariffs on non-American-made movies, is a godsend (“Trump has doubled down on his non-US movie tariff threat. That’s a bad thing for cinema”, September 30). Memo to Australian filmmakers: You don’t need to pander to the peculiar obsessions of the American market. Australians and the non-US world love our product. Furthermore, though I long ago developed a strong distaste for all things Hollywood, I now feel completely at ease cancelling my Netflix account. The fodder on offer by Netflix is already, it seems, being filtered through the MAGA lens. The trouble with Americans, basically, is that they believe their own propaganda, of which the American film and television industry is a servile purveyor. Peter Craig, Dulwich Hill

The American movie industry can make as many movies as they wish at home, but we don’t have to watch them. However, in the not-so-distant future, actors will no longer be required as AI will create all the characters and their physical characteristics will conform to a cultural “standard”. What a boring world cinema will become. Helen Howes, Collaroy

Strip-search injustice

Surely most reasonable people would agree that Minister for Police Yasmin Catley’s late acknowledgment of the harm caused to the woman strip-searched by NSW Police indicates a deeply problematic culture within the NSW government (“Strip-search complainants deserve closure”, October 1). We need police, but most of all we need them to operate respectfully, ethically and legally at all times. Police need the government to set the standard. No doubt Premier Minns and his minister believe that uncritical support for the actions of police is good politics, but by insisting police carry out actions against citizens seeking to legally enjoy themselves or to legally protest, the government undermines both police and support for police in NSW. Minns and Catley should show some humility and end laws that bring citizens and police into needless conflict. Colin Hesse, Nowra

In her groundbreaking decision on strip-searching (“Strip-search court win exposes NSW government to massive payout”, October 1), Judge Justice Dina Yehia found that an indication by a sniffer dog does not meet the threshold required for strip-searching, namely serious or urgent circumstances that require it, since this method only leads to drugs being found in 30 per cent of cases. Isn’t it time for sniffer dogs to be given a peaceful retirement? Martin Bibby, Beecroft

Opposite numbers

Ross Gittins praised China for its increase in renewable energy, based on a Climate Council report (“Trump says climate change is a hoax. Are we in safer hands with the ‘commos’?, October 1). The problem is that China’s statistics can’t be believed. Even their premier used his own index rather than the official GDP numbers. Imagine that. You can’t trust a totalitarian communist state that is committing cultural genocide in Xinjiang and Tibet. Who’d have thunk it? Ken McNamara, Wollongong

Safety first

From a risk-assessment perspective, it’s always wise to question when something is deemed safe before proceeding (“AUKUS safe”: Pentagon backs plan to sell subs to Australia”, October 1). Saying AUKUS is safe can be interpreted in several ways: that the exorbitant amount of money we’re sending over the horizon will be secure in a Pentagon safe, or that AUKUS submarines, if and when they surface in the distant future, will be as practical as the Coolgardie safe. AUKUS subs, safe as houses. I’d rather have the houses and feel safe with our own backyard-built defence. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Water menace

If former premier Bob Carr can be remembered for one great deed, it is the banning of jet-skis on Sydney Harbour. Lake Macquarie, like Port Stephens, also suffers from jet-ski hoons who ruin otherwise peaceful locations. Along with the leaf blower, they must be the most annoying invention of all time. The one exception is the water police, who need jet-skis to catch the buggers. Ian Costley, Belrose

Storm in a teacup

Enough with the snide comments about weather forecasters (Letters, October 1). I may not need to understand the minutiae of the Indian Ocean Dipole or the El Niño Southern Oscillation, but I do base my decisions on when to hang out the washing on their predictions, with a peek out the window for confirmation. Keep up the good work. Your calculations are more reliable than a long list of other professions. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne

Support their vows

After 19 years of marriage, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman have separated. But not every married couple that separates ends up getting divorced. The couple married in Australia and our law requires at least one year’s separation before any divorce can happen. How about media commentators encourage the couple to reunite, especially because they have teenage children. Why not focus on reminding them to uphold their marriage vows “for better or worse” – instead of speculating on how their property portfolio will be split (“Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s property empire”, October 1)? Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst

Optus, over and out

The federal government’s and minister Anika Wells’ response to Optus’ totally unsatisfactory management of the critical Triple Zero service does not meet community expectations (“Anika Wells under pressure over Optus saga”, October 1). While the opposition may focus on Wells’ statement that “I am still a new minister” – a response I’m sure she regrets – the real issue is, why hasn’t the contract with Optus been terminated? There is something fundamentally wrong if the federal government’s response to Optus’ 2023 performance failure and the recent fatal outage is to introduce tighter external oversight. It defies belief that Optus hasn’t breached its contractual obligations and the contract terminated. Come on minister Wells, do what needs to be done. Paul McGee, Springwood

Corruption rewarded

I have to agree with the Herald’s position on Gladys Berejiklian (“Corrupt? No big deal. Collect a $200,000 pension”, September 30). It is ridiculous that the state can afford to pay a corrupt former politician $200,000 a year but won’t pay someone wrongly jailed for 20 years more than half of that at Gladys’s rate. I say sign it all over to Kathleen Folbigg. David Earp, Dulwich Hill

How come the government can find $200,000 to give a corrupt ex-premier every year for the rest of her life, but it could only find $2 million for a woman who was robbed of 20 years of her life, after being wrongfully incarcerated following the tragic death of her four babies? I don’t get it. Cecily Grace, Stockton

Business model

It should be no surprise that there is a correlation between sport, gambling and alcohol (“Toxic mix fuelling surge in violence”, October 1). The game of rugby league has long ago moved on from its parochial origins of the local community cheering on their local players. It is well and truly a corporate business that promotes gambling and alcohol. The game is merely the vehicle, the players expendable and the community harm is collateral damage. Bob Edgar, Moss Vale

Mind your manners

With all the current reports of “free speech”, the latest of which is Senator Ralph Babet’s urging supporters to take action against the comments posted by a TikTok user regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination, it may be an appropriate time to recall the definition of “free speech” by the late High Court judge Justice Lionel Murphy. Justice Murphy said: “Free speech is what is left over after due weight has been accorded to the laws relating to defamation, blasphemy, copyright, sedition, obscenity, use of insulting words, official secrecy, contempt of court and parliament, and censorship.” To that, I would add just responsible, thoughtful manners. Ann Grant, Randwick

Positions of no power

My concern, Mary Julian, is that an Australia head of state chosen by the people would indeed turn out to be a cricketer (Letters, October 1). We already have two titular heads of state – the King and the governor-general. Neither have any real authority or responsibility, and neither can speak for Australia or engage in important dialogue at an international level. What would be the point of another expensive figurehead? The only Australian head of state I want to see is the prime minister of the day, like other mature nations. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay

Super (tax) markets

Your correspondent champions Coles and Woolworths because they pay tax from the profits they make from overpriced goods (Letters, October 1). The question is, will the new supermarket underpay its employees and treat customers with disdain? Todd Hillsley, Homebush

History lesson

Speaking of snail mail (Letters, October 1), I also recently received a certificate from a government department in the post. It was from the Department of Education acknowledging 40 years of teaching service. I retired in 2014. Ross Storey, Normanhurst

Fine print

Oh lucky Donna, Jenny and Frank, who are able to buy a print copy of the Herald to complement their online subscription (Letters, October 1). I have moved to Perth, so it’s subscription only for me. How I miss a paper Herald. PS: I still miss Zits comic too. Barbara Stacey, Scarborough (WA)

Why are your correspondents skiting about getting the print copy of the Herald when they already have the online version? To me, having access to the online version saves some trees. These people should rather take a walk to their local library where they can read the paper version, if they must. Pen Layton-Caisley, Marrickville

I subscribe to the online Herald and buy the paper version of another newspaper, so the cats have something to read while on the loo. Jo Rainbow, Orange

Your correspondents are not very economical. If they bought a print subscription, they would receive online access for nix, plus the newspaper gets delivered to the door. John Christie, Oatley

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