MEDIATING between parties engaged in a violent conflict can only credibly be undertaken by other impartial parties.

Since, at the very least, the US gives Israel £3bn per year in grants, 60 per cent of which is spent on defence, it can in no way be perceived as impartial - any more than the UK, now that the present Prime Minister affects the same posture as Mr Bush when he states that those who are not for us are against us, axis of evil and so on.

Yet the US continues to send to the Middle East various members of its government to mediate in this conflict as though it takes this possibility seriously.

But which is the rogue state here? And do the US, the UK, Israel and countless others states have weapons of mass destruction or not?

Is it blinkered hypocrisy or psychotic foolishness which prevents the US and UK governments from addressing reality honestly?

WENDY HANDS,

Upton-upon-Severn.