ALTHOUGH I don't always agree with his conclusions I invariably find Bill Bishop's letters more entertaining than the usual diet of local news.

In his latest missive Bill complains about the behaviour of the Israeli Government and some units of the Israeli army and I do not intend to defend the indefensible.

In mitigation it may be that the underlying reason for their behaviour on this and other occasions has its roots in the holocaust.

Having experienced near extinction the Jewish people are probably determined that it will never happen again and defend their borders accordingly. Now that the USA are openly supporting them I don't foresee any change in the Israeli attitude.

That said, however, let's put the blame for this latest confrontation firmly where it belongs, namely at the door of Hamas. They were the ones who convinced the Palestinian people that it would be a great idea to confront the Israeli army and try to breach the border.

They were the ones who pushed women and children ahead of armed militia.

It does not appear to matter to Hamas how many Palestinians die. In a perverse way to get maximum publicity the more that die the better.

The hospitals were overflowing with the wounded and could not cope yet Hamas were still exhorting Palestinians to continue the confrontation the following day.

Fortunately most Palestinians had the sense to stay at home.

Not content with the bloodbath, however, Hamas are now shelling Israel knowing full well that it will invoke a response which will result in even more Palestinian casualties.

Bill says that he used to admire the Jewish people for surviving the holocaust and winning the 1967 war against neighbouring Arab countries. Nothing has changed since then Bill, Israel is still surrounded by hostile Arab countries whose avowed intention is to obliterate it.

The only difference now now is that their main enemy Iran is almost in a position to carry out that threat.

Would Iran carry out its threat to destroy Israel? Who knows but you cannot blame Israel for not wanting to hang around to find out. The pattern for the foreseeable future is likely to be the USA and Israel, from time to time, carrying out air strikes to degrade Iran's nuclear capability.

Finally critics have got to ask themselves what would have happened if the Hamas militia had breached the border? I does not take much imagination does it?

JAMES MARTIN,

Cocklaw Street.

Kelty.