Dear Mr Gove, can you please tell your friend Peter Hitchens that "It is, in short, rather vulgar to notice someone’s class background, let alone to refer to it or to judge someone on that basis." and "Actually, even to remark on the language that someone is using ... is to take yourself down the social scale several notches." But maybe you're right: "those with the most class mind least."

Maybe some toffs get to the top because they belong there.

Philipa, Middle, England

To Athena Murphy:
Since you are so convinced that Israel is the only violator of UN resolutions, what about teh fact that Israel was declared by the UN in 1947, but when the State was declared the Arab states did not accept the resolution? And since we are at it, at what time in history has a Palestinian entity existed? Even Syria regards these territories as Southern Syria. But irrespective of the fact that there has never been a Palestinian entity as such, and that Jerusalem has never been an administration center in all Muslim history in the Middle East, I do think that there should be a Palestinian State alongside Israel, and that this state should abide by various agreements, for example by abolishing terrorism.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East with real fredom of speech. A boycott on this country by a journalist Union of all Unions is more than ridiculous, it's an insult to common sense.

sensei2004

Farid Morgan, Kamigori/Hyogo, Japan

Michael, you are a man of principle and I applaud your decision.

I am not familiar with all the NUJ resolutions and am wondering if they boycott all things British? After all, Britain has not been the nicest guys on the block and have done their fair share of killing and maiming people around the world.

Steve, Toronto, Canada

Why any true aristo calls a spade a toilet - this reminds me of an incident when I was very young (now being in my mid-sixties).

I had been invited out by one of H.M's horseguards with some of his pals and their girlfriends. This was supposed to be a great honoout he was doing me as I was but a mere bourjoise! During the course of the evening conversation, I recollect talking about some food that "had gone off" - there was a deadly silence and all seven pairs of eyes looked at me in wonder, when my escort suddenly said "Off, off, oh you mean orrrfff". I politely corrected him in my naiivity and said" whichever way it was pronounced by them, in my world off was pronounced off and I didn't think there was an r in that word".

I was never invited out by him again - I wonder why?

Jeanine Leon Soon, Wembley, Middlesex

"General Assembly resolutions (passed by a huge Islamic/Soviet majority) are non-binding, there is no such thing as a Palestiniah nationality (as seen by no state ever being in existence when Arabs controlled the land) and the inhabitants of Gaza/West Bank have received billions in aid. They choose to throw it away on fighting Israel and more recently each other.
educating athena murphy, London, uk"

Typical propaganda. Of course UN resolutions are binding. Duh! You can't pick and choose which ones you abide by, however much Israel would like to think they are above world opinion. The resolutions are not passed by a 'huge Islamic/Soviety majority' either!

The rubbish you spout about Palestine is typical guff as well. Of course they are recognised, (as much as you would wish that they weren't). And they have a LEGAL right of return under that minor thing called international law. Sorry.

Get your head out of those books full of myths, they are filling your head with nonsense.

The well educated Athena Murphy, London, UK

Perhaps members of the NUJ should read Israeli newspapers. If they did, they would find a wide breadth of political points of view, healthy critsism of government policies and an openess unseen in other parts of the Middle East. Are they aware that women, Israelis of all faiths including Islam, and gays have freedom of speech, religion and political representation? Apparently not. I applaud Mr. Gove for taking a stand that must be painful.

Lisa Y., Houston, Texas, USA

Athena Murphy and Marco just don't get it: by singling out Israel for unique criticism that is not directed against countries with far worse human rights records, the NUJ is guilty of international bigotry. Israel is, in fact, a flourishing multiethnic democracy that affords all its citizens - Jews, Muslims, and Christians - far better lives and opportunities than those afforded by any Arab or Muslim nation. Shame on the NUJ for jumping on the band wagon of boycott, condemnation, and demonisation of the Jewish State. Mr Gove understands the issues and has acted according to his conscience. He does not need to give anybody any explanation.

Lesley Klaff, Sheffield, England

I must have missed the NUJ's boycott of all the arab countries who forbid freedom of speech, any kind of liberation for women and toleration of other religions. What about arab countries helping the Palestinians? Why is no Palestinian allowed citizenship of any other arab country even if he/she marries one of their nationals. How hypocritical can he NUJ be?

leila, london, uk

"When a country consistently violates international law, ignores countless UN resolutions and continues to treat an entire people as dirt on the bottom of their shoes (the Palestinians are without doubt one of the most subjugated people on the planet),"

General Assembly resolutions (passed by a huge Islamic/Soviet majority) are non-binding, there is no such thing as a Palestiniah nationality (as seen by no state ever being in existence when Arabs controlled the land) and the inhabitants of Gaza/West Bank have received billions in aid. They choose to throw it away on fighting Israel and more recently each other.

educating athena murphy, London, uk

This is my second attempt to make this point. My last attempt, for some reason, was not posted. ....

Athena Murphy and Marco are missing the point: the NUJ's singling out of Israel for unique criticism that is not directed against other countries with far worse human rights records amounts to international bigotry. Mr. Gove understands this and has acted accordingly. He does not need to give any explanation.

Lesley Klaff, Sheffield, England

I applaud Michael Gove's stand. He may be a voice in the wildernesss, but he is one of the more sensible journalists commenting on the Middle East.

Tired old anti-Zionist rhetoric shows the ignorance of many. Palestine as a country does not exist. The people in the territories have been down-trodden for many years it is true, but it has a lot more to do with their own belief system (i.e. destroy Israel, bomb and maim) and in-fighting than anything else. To equate Israel with apartheid is a nonsense. It is usually people who have never been there who shout the loudest.

The same people who are anti-Israel are making life difficult for Jews in this country - would these people like to say where is the fairness in that. Hypocrites.

Genie, Leeds,

Israel should strictly abide by the boycott by:

Not permitting any members of NUJ to enter the State. This will ensure that all NUJ members abide by the boycott and no member of NUJ inadvertently spends any money in the state.

Confiscating all cell phones, laptops, GPS units, medicines and other technologies or products developed or sold by Israel from all British journalists that enter the State. This will assist the NUJ in enforcing the boycott.

Stuart, Morgan Hill, California

Well done Michael! I decided against re-joining the NUJ when I came back to Britain from abroad in 2001 because a Google search showed a disproportionate tendency by this little organisation to push to the front of various anti-Israel activities. At the time - before the safety secured by the so-called Separation Barrier - Jews were being blown apart on the streets of Israel with tragic regularity. Despite polite pressure from my journalistic colleagues I declined the opportunity to finance those who would morally and politically support Jew killers. And I can't accept the argument that one has to be in the union in order to fight against its radical agenda. NUJ members are part of society and can be approached by anyone with a reasonable argument, whether a fellow member or not. The NUJ vote is an example of how much time and money is wasted by the union movement in pursuing left-wing causes in the hope of radicalising their members.

Calev, London,

I want to commend Mr. Gove on his decision to leave the NUJ in protest of its boycott of Israel. First it was the AUT, then NATFHE, and now the NUJ. What have these unions got against this beleaguered country? It's a good thing that there are people like Mr. Gove who are prepared, as a matter of principle, to take a stand.

Lesley Klaff, Shheffield, England

in the old days (so i like to imagine, at least) a free press mattered in the sense that it allowed citizens to know what was going on and subsequently to put pressure on their respective government to act to some extent with regard to and for the will of their people. These days, with people being apathists (sic - I overheard the word from a native German and like it ) and generally thinking of money, status, celebrity "news" etc. etc. above other (moral) concerns, governments have more 'freedom' to do as they wish (generally filling their pockets and inflating their egos at the cost of humanity) and can be (quite) open about this. It is no coincidence that with the decline of civil society, a politician is no more likely to be kept in rein of morality by 'his' society than a miscreant on the street reprimanded by a fellow citizen!

Marco, bhm, uk

To Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK:
If "pardon" is an implicit criticism of those who say "eh", then I'm afraid "eh" is an implicit criticism of those who have developed the faculty of speech, in differentiation to animals who merely push air through their voice box, emitting a noise.

Marco, bhm, uk

'so' long as it cuts

Ismael Klata, Edinburgh,

Excellent, Athena Murphy, excellent! I'm not sure what thought process (even this is an assumption) Mr Gove had in his decision - from my perspective, it seems as if, incomprehensibly, he has decided that freedom of the press is the one value in this world to be fought for, at the cost of any other value - such as human life, human rights, etc. etc. etc. If you feel this is the place, Mr Gove, and I think it is an entirely suitable place, an explanation would be appreciated.

Marco, bhm, uk

Finally, a journalist with some integrity. Congratulations on leaving the NUJ for the reasons you did.

LB, London,

Well, regarding Sarah Montague - of all people - as "cut-glass" tells us just about all we need to know about Mr Gove's points of reference.... back to the trawlers and the orphanage, Michael!

Ben , London,

When a country consistently violates international law, ignores countless UN resolutions and continues to treat an entire people as dirt on the bottom of their shoes (the Palestinians are without doubt one of the most subjugated people on the planet), and when that country is fully supported economically and militarily by the world's superpower, it is up to ordinary people across the world to try to take any small steps possible to show that this is unacceptable. I applaud the NUJ on the passing of this motion and urge others groups and organisations of conscience to follow suit.

The world fought apartheid South Africa and now the world must fight Zionist brutality.

Athena Murphy, London, UK

I"m reminded of Charles Laughton's Henry VIII complaining that "Manners are dead" while tossing a half-eaten chicken over his shoulder.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

I was at the NUJ conference and the vote was passed by a very narrow majority.
Please do not throw out the baby with the bathwater - the NUJ is still an excellent union and it is a mark of our democracy that people can still put forward (and unfortunately win) motions like this.

Charlotte White, Chesterfield, UK

"Toilet" is OK here in Yorkshire, as is "mum". I make an exception for "pardon", since it is unnatural, affected, and an implicit criticism of those who say "eh". Oxford usage is "I'm sorry".

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

It'd be silly to deny that the class system exists and that all of us (members of whatever social class) abide by some rules that differentiate us from others (i.e. fish knives).

This said, however, the fact that people criticise Kate's mum because she chews gum is embarrasing. On top of this, if real aristocrats such as William (or Prince Felipe of Spain, who married the divorced grand-daughter of a taxi driver), do not look down on their girlfriends, why should we do that?

Excellent article!

Enrique, Oxford,

As I was once told at school, education is knowing which knife and fork to use. Class is not giving a damn as long as it cuts.

Tom Holmes, London, UK