The Editor, Sir:

Peter Espeut's brilliant article of August 16, 2006, "Fundamentalism again!", is a true reflection of what is going on in the Middle East. He says that on face value it is obviously a Jews vs Muslims war. But he develops an hypothesis backed by evidence that it is really a Christian Zionist vs Muslim war; a religious war aiming to 'hasten the second coming of Jesus Christ'.

The Jews believe, biblically, the land is theirs so they will kill at will to have it. The USA's fundamentalists are aiding them because they (the fundamentalists) believe, like the Jews themselves, that the Jews are God's chosen people. Espeut highlights that the killing of former Israeli Prime Minister Rabin for giving land to the Palestinians and current Prime Minister Sharon's coma are strikes from a vexed Israel-loving God on leaders who are giving away what was given by God to them.

All this may sound savage to us here in Jamaica and we may say, 'Well, that's USA, Israel and Palestine's problem'. But truly, don't we in Jamaica read the same Bible, particularly The Old Testament, as these Jews and U.S. fundamentalists.

God a warmonger

The Old Testament has repeated cases of 'God telling Israel to kill and conquer people's land'. This is where they get this present day action from. In fact, the first man who tried to compile a Christian Holy Book, Marcion, in 150 AD(before this, Christians used the Old Testament of The Jews as scripture), was excommunicated from The Church because he discarded The Old Testament, saying the God featured there is a warmonger, a "lower demiurge" merely. He, in turn, only used The gospel of Luke and The Letters of Paul. He thought all other books were suspect for one reason or another.

The fact is though that fundamental Christianity as we know it today would be expected to support Israel on matters like this because The Holy Bible, The Word of God, is both Old Testament and New Testament. And these are the things God told his chosen people to do against the 'unchosen ones'. So before we go condemning Israel's actions, let's check the core of our own belief system.

I am, etc.,

NICHOLAS ALEXANDER

nic7lex@hotmail.com