On 4 December 2008, the Times published a letter by Arab Media Watch member Deborah Fink, entitled "Israeli goods boycott."

Sir, There have been two articles recently (Michael Gove, Dec 1 and Ruth Gledhill, Dec 2) about the alternative Nine Lessons and Carols held at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, last week, neither of which explain why we put on this event.

The event was put on as a wake-up call at a time of year when much of the Western world focuses on Bethlehem, without knowing that it is surrounded by an apartheid wall. Having sung these carols out of doors for six years, we felt that it was time to sing them in an apt, affordable, acoustically good and aesthetically pleasing venue and by doing so, hoped to reach a wider audience. Many churches agreed to hosting the carols but St James’s, which is also a well-known concert venue, was the most suitable.

As some Christians fear accusations of anti-Semitism, it was important for Jews to be involved in the event. Michael Gove omitted to mention that the event was organised by Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods, otherwise how could anyone believe his claim that the event is anti-Semitic? Far from being anti-Semitic, the carols are a protest against Israel’s inhumane occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. Crying out for justice in this way is a very Jewish and Christian thing to do. Israel’s behaviour, and ignoring what is going on, is not.

Deborah Fink

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article5281591.ece