Letter from Larry Shapiro, Calgary, to Editor of Globe and Mail re the false claims made against Israel and "settlers' by Mark MacKinnon in an April article, May 1, 2026

Re: Settlers push for 'Greater Israel' more boldly on the borders, Hardline movements with allies in Netanyahu's cabinet - and a biblical vision for the Middle East - have designs on more than just Gaza and the West Bank, Mark MacKinnon, April 25, 2026, Globe & Mail

May 1, 2026

Dear Editor,

Unlike Palestinians who attack Israelis and are never brought to justice by the Palestinian Authority, indeed are financially compensated for their violent acts, and what's more grotesque, made into folk heroes by the Palestinian community, Jewish settlers who commit crimes are arrested, investigated and tried in Israeli courts.

Settlers do not run Israel even if there are some government officials who sympathize with their ideology. Settlers convicted of crimes, indeed most settlers, are looked down upon by the Israeli public who have other things on their minds such as diving into their bomb shelters at all times of the day, not to mention wondering why they even need bomb shelters in the first place.

There s no greater Israel policy. If there was, considering Israel's military might, it could have absorbed half of the Middle East including Gaza, but it has not expanded its borders by one meter. Israeli troops stationed in border areas in Lebanon Syria and Gaza are there for security purposes not for geographical expansion.

The West Bank is the name Jordan gave to Judea and Samaria, two areas in which Jews have lived for 3500 years, 2174 years before the establishment of Islam.

In recognition of the substantial Arab population, Israel has presented 5 separate land for peace proposals to the Palestinians, only to have all 5 rejected without a genuine counteroffer. The Palestinians claim all Israel is theirs, (from the river to the sea) and will never agree to live alongside the Jewish state.

Larry Shapiro, Calgary