• MARTIN Plaut calls us to back Israeli protesters as they demonstrate against the Israeli government, (Using the term ‘apartheid’ in respect of Israel is a distraction, January 19).

How can we, including members of the Labour Party, help? Here are four suggestions:

• First, support one or more of the Israeli anti-occupation groups, Breaking the Silence (former soldiers against the occupation) or Zochrot (Remembrance – of the nakba, the expulsion of the Palestinians on which the state of Israel was founded) for example.

• Second, link with a Jewish group in the UK actively involved in protesting against the Israeli occupation.

Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), clearly founded as it is on a strong thread of biblical values as well as being among the most critically vocal protest groups, stands out. As do Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Na’amod.

• Third, ask the party to rescind the warnings / suspensions / expulsions – including that of Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi – against 50 or so Jewish members of the party.

Such action does not sit well either with Mr Plaut’s call or with the Labour leader’s stated aim to “abolish anti-Semitism in the party by attacking its roots” which seems to include attacking a large number of left-wing Jewish members.

Finally we may learn from Neville Alexander, who, even more than Mr Plaut, had a lifetime’s experience in protesting against South African apartheid. His work will be discussed in this year’s annual lecture on “the ongoing ethnic cleansing faced by Palestinians” organised by the Centre for Palestine Studies at SOAS on March 3.

TOM SELWYN, NW1