Some of our most eminent architects (News April 19) are taking a “moral stand” in reprimanding Eduardo Souto de Moura for accepting an award from Israel, notwithstanding its government’s “escalating war crimes” — though which alleged crimes, which war or which escalation they do not say.
I suggest their “moral” position needs to be taken with a sizeable pinch of salt. Several list projects in countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates whose rather less than “moral” human rights standards are a matter of record. Stones should not be thrown in glass houses, however well they may be designed.
Eli Abt
London N3
Who is the bully?
It is good to learn of Mira Bar-Hillel’s commitment to the Palestinian cause but confusing when she claims that those encouraging Eduardo Souto de Moura to refuse the Wolf Prize are “gagging and bullying” people (Debate April 19).
Nobody is “gagging” Souto de Moura and hopefully if, as he implies, he shares Bar-Hillel’s view that the Palestinian people deserve justice then he will at least take the opportunity at the prize-giving to speak out against Israel’s criminal and immoral activities. This is quite the reverse of gagging.
Whatever the intentions of the founders of the Wolf Prize it is clear that it is now used cynically by the Israelis, with a $100,000 bait, to promote themselves as civilised and democratic in the world of scholarship that is increasingly distancing itself from them.
As for “bullying”, given the grossly uneven struggle between Israel — with its limitless military and diplomatic support from the US — and the Palestinians there is no doubt who the bully is and who are the oppressed.
Bob Giles
Islamorada, Florida
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