Madam, - Your Editorial (July 20th) states that "the factions struggling for power in Gaza. . . include a well-organised fundamentalist group around Hamas, who believe in an all-out confrontation with Israel rather than a negotiated peace leading to a two-state outcome"
No Palestinian leadership organisation, Arafatish or otherwise, believes or has ever believed in a two-state outcome. That is why the Palestinian leadership rejected a two-state outcome when offered one in 1937, 1948, 1967 and 2000. Whether the Palestinian people favour such an outcome we have never known because they have never been asked or enjoyed democratic, representative leadership. The Israelis, as you point out, do favour a two-state outcome.
As repeatedly demonstrated by its behaviour, the current Palestinian leadership, like its forerunners, favours a one-state outcome - meaning the destruction of Israel and the creation of the first-ever Arab state on the current Israel/Palestine landmass. Attempting to deal with a group that openly says so, such as Hamas and its ilk, would be more honest and thus probably more fruitful. - Yours. etc.,
TONY ALLWRIGHT,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
A chara, - You say (Editorial, July 20th) that there exists in Gaza "a well-organised fundamentalist group around Hamas, who believe in an all-out confrontation with Israel rather than a negotiated peace leading to a two-state outcome".
Given that Israel assassinated the last Hamas leadership, one can only assume that this is what Mr Sharon wanted. - Is mise,
CATHAL RABBITTE,
Baumgartenweg,
Adliswil
Switzerland.