IN REPLY to Ralph Leavis (Letters, September 16), I was always brought up to believe if people resort to insults instead of factual debate, then you have won the argument.

I write letters to create such debate and hopefully point out certain issues, as done brilliantly by Gordon Clack, in the same issue. (Forgotten Atrocity).

Obviously, I failed miserably in the context of Mr Leavis and his personal insult but I won’t go down the same path, I’ll let your readers sort that one.

I don’t think his point regards Jesus taking the side of the Israeli state, that commits war crimes and crimes against humanity, is at all valid. In fact it is way off line.

Criminal findings were proved by the UN, into the "Operation Cast Lead" by the inappropriately named Israeli Defence Force in Gaza that claimed hundreds of innocent civilians, including scores of children in 2008/09.

I also believe the vast majority of religious people, not corrupted by their particular beliefs, unlike Bush and Blair, support my view regarding what Jesus would be doing.

Again, I write as an agnostic and I’m certain many clergy including Bishops, would support this line.

The targeting of civilians and deliberate killing of people leaving their homes posing no threat and the use of illegal munitions, i.e., white phosphorus, is an absolute abomination and are crimes against humanity.

The fact that Hamas are accused by Israel of the similar crimes and I’ve no doubt some accusations are true, it smacks of a gigantic hypocrisy, taking into account the fact Israel are supposed to be the democracy and Hamas the terrorists.

TIM W SIRET, Evans Road, Eynsham