Letter to The Editor - Critics of Jews in public forums have a commensurate duty to avoid giving unjustified and unnecessary offence

To The Australian        Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is right in principle that Jewish people, like all other religious and/or ethnic groups, should not be immune to public criticism ("Criticism of Jews 'is free speech'", 19/11). Moreover, questioning "the Holocaust death toll" is not unethical if it is based on evidence and reasoned argument and is not malicious. Jews and their friends should ensure that the term "anti-Semitic" is not misused to shut down open debate in areas where Jewish interests are involved. On the other hand, critics of Jews in public forums have a commensurate duty to avoid giving unjustified and unnecessary offence - and to balance negative comment by noting the wonderful contribution made by Jews to human culture and civilization.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic