Two state solution?
► Lord Cameron’s statement that the government is open to recognising a Palestinian state before any agreement has been reached between the parties involved, for an entity that has no defined borders, functioning government or institutions of statehood, goes against the accepted protocols for a western democratic country.
The timing of the announcement was appalling, and a deliberate insult to the Israeli government and Israeli citizens, who are united in the need to continue to prosecute the war against Hamas.
Given that the corrupt Palestinian Authority cheered on Hamas, this intervention should be seen as rewarding it and Hamas by granting them territory from an act of war, marked by a depravity that has shocked the civilised world.
It is a reminder of the high handed “Camel Corps” Foreign Office attitude towards Jews during the British Mandate, and is also untypical of the previous philo-semitism of the current government.
Equally shocking has been the silence of the supposedly representative democratic Board of Deputies of British Jews, which latterly has taken to opining on political events which have nothing to do with Jewish affairs.
Even if the Board’s leaders’ policy is an eventual two state solution based on a final status agreement, the idea of an imposed Palestinian state is anathema to the majority of Anglo Jewry.
It is to be hoped that the new leadership of the Board this summer will herald a representative body which is more loyal to Israel, regardless of which political party holds power there.
Colin Rossiter
London WC2A
► Why does James R Windsor (Ideological conflict, Letters 2 February) think that a Palestinian state formed under a two state solution would have to be carved out of Israel’s heartland? Which part of Israel, other than the hotly disputed but territorially very small East Jerusalem, does anybody suggest would go into a Palestinian state?
The West Bank and Gaza, which Israel felt the need to occupy after its successful defence in the 1967 war, are the regions in question and they have never been part of the Israeli state. Jordan and Egypt had taken them over in 1948 but made peace with Israel decades ago.
Mr Windsor points to insincerity on the part of the Palestinian Authority, believing it wishes for Israel’s demise, yet that body was set up by agreement with Israel 30 years ago and, in spite of much acrimony and violent clashes on its territory, maintains day to day relations with the Jewish state.
Israel was, of course, set up in acceptance of a two state solution, which came to grief as its enemies tried to rub it out. As we remain steadfast for Israel today, how can we at the same time deny a neighbouring nation the right, in principle, to its independence?
Jeff Lewis
Whitefield M45