UN must act
From Mr. N.K. Abdul Kalam, Abu Dhabi.
The conflict in Palestine raises many questions about the sincerity of peacekeeping efforts. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, the UN intervened to get Iraq out and restore Kuwait's sovereignty. The same happened in Afghanistan.

But in Palestine the UN is turning a blind eye. As real peacekeepers it should have taken action against Israel. The only way to stop Israel is sanctions and isolation. Bush said Israel's fight is self-defence, but what about the Palestinians? Why was Israel excluded from America's list of terrorist organisations, but the PLO included?

Why hasn't Chapter Seven of the UN Charter not been implemented against Israel ("Mohammed urges UN to stop Israeli 'butchery' " Gulf News, April 10)? It is time for the UN to end Israel's carnage.

No one else
From Mr. S.A. Brown, Abu Dhabi.
The letters in this and other newspapers make me wonder what has become of humanity. It isn't that there isn't compassion in many of the letters; rather it is the hate that is also evident. So easily writers seem to condemn a whole nation because of action or non-action.

What can the U.S. really do in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Can they stop the attacks any more than you or I? While they can try to influence the Israeli and Palestinian governments, in reality they can't do any more than that.

I wonder how many writers consider what other governments (European, Asian and Arab) are doing to stop this effort? Although there is a lot of posturing by all parties I don't see a lot of action out there by any side.

I am an American yet have lived most of my life overseas and I support the right of a Palestinian homeland. But I also know that only the parties involved can settle this issue and the parties involved are Israel and Palestine.

Acceptance
From A Reader, Dubai.
I cannot understand why erudite leaders of the Western press have been unable to explain why Israel's incarceration of Arafat has not stopped the Palestinian suicide bombings. It was fairly obvious to most that the Palestinians were going to act unilaterally because of the lack of progress in obtaining their rights to their homeland.

Israel still points towards Arafat as the instigator despite their assurance that by "cutting him off" from his aides they would prevent the bombings. History will judge Sharon ironically as a close ally to Hitler because of his intense hatred of a people.

No matter what Arafat says, unless Israel and its American backers realise that the people will not stand for injustice there will be no solution to innocent people being killed. There is, unfortunately, only one party that can stop this: it is Israel and it must accept the proposals that Israelis withdraw completely from the Occupied Territories and accept the Palestinians' right to a homeland, otherwise the bloodshed will continue.
* Name withheld by request.

Israel first
From Mr. B. Dauphin, Abu Dhabi.
Israelis must pull out, while Palestinians' only hope is peaceful protest. I get tired of statements by "pro-Israeli" elements that always condemn the action of Palestinian "terrorists" while making a pretence of condemning Israeli "actions".

Blame for this conflict is not equally shared. Suicide bombings are wrong but the vast degree of blame rests with the occupying force, Israel.

There has to be Israeli action first to liberate areas under its illegal control. Suicide bombings, anger and hatred in the hearts of Palestinians will subside only when Israel pulls out invading forces and abandons illegal settlements. The ball has been in Israel's court since the start of the Intifada and will remain there until a viable Palestinian state is allowed.

Yet the violent reaction of Palestinians will never succeed in improving their lot. The regrettable truth is that they are the "vanquished" - for the moment - and their options are limited. The only effective weapon is to take the "high ground". With peaceful resistance and perseverance - in the manner of Mahatma Gandhi - greater powers in the world will eventually rally to their side.

Non-violence
From Mr. A.A. Jowkar, Dubai.
The acts of a despondent few suicide bombers have earned them the epithet of "terrorist" and alienated the just cause of Palestinians. The Palestinian leadership must condemn the acts of suicide bombers unequivocally as reprehensible.

Moreover, Arafat must put away his handgun, cast away his military attire and choose non-violence as his only means to achieve victory. Like Mahatma Gandhi, he must advise his people that civil disobedience without violence will triumph over brutal force. It is futile to engage in violence against an opponent that is far stronger and ruthlessly oppressive. Civil disobedience and non-violent protests can bring Israel to its knees. Al Aqsa Intifada can achieve moral victory only through non-violence.

It is a sin
From Mr. C. Benk, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
I would like to see this paper stop being used as a canvas for people to preach their hatred. I understand it is difficult to do, but if the Palestinian problem is to be solved then people should remember their humanity.

You have to address all the issues, not ignore the misdeeds of those with whom you sympathise. I support the Palestinian cause and in no way support Israel. What the Sharon government is doing is deplorable. I am certain that if the international media were to be allowed into the Occupied Territories Israel would most likely be internationally condemned for war crimes.

However at the same time I do not support suicide bombings. I understand the helplessness but I do not believe these bombers should be called martyrs. Someone like Nelson Mandela was a martyr. He too faced hopelessness and he lost most of his life unjustly. God gave us our lives and it is for Him to decide when our lives are over. It is a sin to kill yourself and to kill anyone with you.

The obverse
From Mr. M. Iqbal, Dubai.
If the Palestinians' struggle against oppression and occupation is to be branded as terrorism, then the American war of Independence, the French Revolution, the Indian Independence movement against British rule, the brave and determined struggle of the French resistance against the Nazis, the struggle of native South Africans against apartheid have to be called as acts of terrorism. Thus, George Washington, Charles Andre De Gaulle, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Nelson Mandela must be labelled as terrorist.

Patrick Henry's famous line "Give me freedom or give me death" must be branded as terrorist propaganda. Heroes are Ariel Sharon, Moshe Dayan, Menachem Begin, Adolf Hitler, Slobodan Milosevic. By this token all struggles against oppression, occupation, tyranny are acceptable only if they serve Western and Israeli interests.

Comprehensive
From Mr. M.M. Mohammad, Fujairah.
Letters to the Editor and the editor's comments are informative. Sharing readers' views are interesting. The editor's replies provide comprehensive details and helps clear readers' confusion. So it should not upset anyone.

The factor that provokes some readers to criticise this more comprehensive wa