IN response to Ralph Musgrave (HAS, Jan 16), I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed the oppression of the Palestinians by Israel has often been described as racist.

It has also been referred to as ethnic cleansing, and compared with apartheid. However, unlike Mr Musgrave, most people take care to accuse the Israeli government, rather than Jews in general.

The misguided and criminal attack on Iraq is not generally described as racist (except by the BNP and al Qaida) because it wasn’t. It has a religious/racial dimension, but it was not primarily motivated by hatred of Muslims or Arabs, much as Osama bin Laden would like to convince us and his followers otherwise.

Mr Musgrave and Mrs S Harnby (HAS, also Jan 16) suggest that Muslims in Britain can incite hatred and violence against Christians and Jews with impunity. This simply isn’t true.

Many Muslims, including imams and those referred to by Mrs Harnby who demonstrated with placards threatening to behead those who insult Islam, have been convicted of inciting racial hatred, and imprisoned or deported.

The definition of racism is broad, covering everything from unintentionally offensive remarks to genocide. Prince Harry’s recent comment has clearly been blown out of all proportion.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.