An Open Letter to The Guardian's "Comment Is Free"

Dear Editors,

Now, first up, don't worry. This isn't in any way one of those abusive missives from a Jewish reader where I take you to task on the Guardian's - or rather, CIF's- blatant bias vis-a-vis Israel/Palestine. While I admit, there was a time when it used to depress me slightly, nowadays I really rather enjoy it: I never cease to be amused when the anti-Zionist commenters protest with the same level of vitriol as their online foes that CIF is slanted towards Israel. And lately, I've been on the edge of my seat, waiting to see which proclaimed head of terror organization will next submit a column. Sarcasm aside, I personally think you're doing a great job holding it all together, mediating what has essentially transformed into an online version of the Middle East Conflict. It can't be easy, and I salute you and send you a very big bottle of Rescue Remedy.

However, lately I've noticed that you've gotten quite fond of certain local columnists, in particular some Jewish immigrants to Israel originally from NW London (spit) who essentially seem to serve as your unofficial "Voice of Reason/Yoof Culture" from the Israeli side, and in that spirit are currently embarking upon a tour of the West Bank, interviewing its Jewish residents and writing up exposés of the choice nuggets they hear, to the general delight/distress of the CIF masses.

Not to overly dismiss the efforts of the brothers-?- Freedman, but I think that it may be time for a change. I propose that you answer the call of many of your commenters, who are requesting for more such exposés- from the Palestinian side as well: I would therefore like to present myself for such a task. I'd be more than happy to write you a series covering the NGO scene in the Jerusalem/West Bank area. And while yes, I agree, there's a small technical hitch that I'm not Palestinian, if you've ever read my blog you will note that I'm in quite an unique position to report from the edge. Further, Palestinians "in the soup", as it were (ie not the myriad finishing their post-Docs at SOAS who tend to grace the CIF pages) aren't going to be as willing to share "street" emotions from here as I am: That delightful Hamas gent who wrote a column last week basking in the post-Johnston glow will never repeat to you sentiments of the like that I quietly observe and absorb on a daily basis.

Furthermore, I'm actually very objective about being positioned in the midst of conflict: Read my archives and see for yourself. And I'm even quite funny sometimes. And I can spell and punctuate correctly (most of the time). Last but not least, I noticed you even pay a token fee for your CIF pieces: While Linda Grant may have dismissed such as sum as insulting for writers, for a Jerusalem-based NGO worker that would be a small fortune. And I'm even British, so there'd be no tax issues.

I do hope that my suggestion is one that you may be prepared to consider favourably: Being as your section of my long-time preferred daily appears to have developed such an obsession for this region, I think your readers will delight at the chance to hear something real, different and vaguely productive- I can even attempt to be optimistic on occasion, should you so desire.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

tafka PP