Walter Wolfgang, Former member, Labour party NEC; vice-president, CND; national steering committee member, Stop the War Coalition
(Aged 91, Walter came to Britain in the 1930s as a Jewish refugee fleeing anti-semitism in Nazi Germany) -
"I am a Jew, committed to the Jewish religion and the ethical values of justice, mercy and compassion. As such, I deplore the Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza. I hope that the present ceasefire will eventually lead to a wider agreement.
It has come to my attention that the deputy lord mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Ali Ahmed, has been reported to the south Wales police by the Liberal Democrat opposition, on the grounds that he referred to rockets fired by Hamas against Israel as “toy rockets” and that this reference was offensive to the Jewish community.
It would have been preferable, that instead of using the words “toy rockets”, he has said that “the damage done by Hamas is not comparable with the Israeli bombing on the people of Gaza”; that may have been more explanatory. However, the sentiments that he expressed are the sentiments shared, not only by many Jews like myself but also of some Israelis with regard to their own government.
There is no need for the deputy lord mayor to resign. He is a man who has a strong commitment to ethical principles."