Madam, - It is predictable that Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, would describe the recent Palestinian attack that killed five Israeli soldiers as "terrorism" (The Irish Times, December 14th), although this much-abused word rightly applies only to the targeting of civilians.
However, it is regrettable that reporter Sharmila Devi should claim that "the upsurge in violence poses a fresh threat" to Sharon's plan unilaterally to redeploy Gaza settlers and soldiers.
Since the death of Yasser Arafat, an average of five Palestinians have been killed daily in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces. Your report implies that this indiscriminate slaughter does not constitute violence, and hence that Palestinian lives are beneath consideration. - Yours, etc.,
RAYMOND DEANE, Chair, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Dublin 1.