I am not surprised by the decision to censor Steve Bell’s cartoon about the shocking death of Razan al-Najjar in Gaza, though I think the decision was unnecessarily sensitive (The editor, the cartoonist, his image and her decision,Open door, 25 June). However, people do treat the state of Israel differently from other states when they are reacting to its policies, actions and activities – more carefully, more sensitively, with more self-censorship; and sometimes with different standards. We all understand the reasons for this in relation to the history of the past century, not least here in Europe. But perhaps it is time we all found ways to better bring the state of Israel to account for its actions and so treat it in the same way other states might expect to be treated.

Tony Greaves

Liberal Democrat, House of Lords

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