Editor,

ISRAEL and Rwanda share the same story of Holocaust and the Genocide against the Tutsi. Both countries have witnessed the cruel side of the history while the world crossed arms and chose not to act and intervene to rescue innocent people who were mercilessly hacked to death every minute.

Again, both countries have learned the hard way and vowed that history will never repeat itself. They have understood that the international community will not hesitate to abandon them once calamities erupt again.

For them, only patriotism of their respective people will guard their nations.

This time, we are cooperating with Israel in business matters. There are a lot of things that we should emulate Israel in, especially industrial revolution, science and technology.

Israel is the shining star in the Middle East, and so Rwanda should become the shining star in East Africa.

Mark Cyamatare, Rwanda

Reaction to the story, "Rwanda, Israel sign deal for stronger ties” (The New Times, June 12)