I find it interesting that Teo categorises comments made towards Israel as being anti-semitic in his letter Disturbing views on Israel .

The fact is that most international newspapers, even the New York Times , recognise Israel as being unhelpful in peace negotiations. Let's really take a look at the facts of the Palestine - Israel crisis.

First, the killing of Hamas leader, Ahmed Yassin, was clearly a move to provoke Palestinian anger. In such a situation, there can be no claims of ignorance. For decades, Israel has killed Palestinian leaders from various factions, even those who had never considered suicide bombings.

"Following the death of local Tanzim leader Raed Karmi on Jan 14, 2002, the Fatah changed its modus operandi from shooting attacks on roads to suicide bombings in Israeli cities, and terrorist attacks against IDF checkpoints." (Ramallah as a centre of terror - Israeli Defence Forces spokesman)

This statement failed to note one key aspect. Raed Karmi did not merely 'die'. He was killed in what was widely assumed to be an Israeli assassination attempt. A few months earlier, in September 2001, Israel launched a missile attack on his car in which two others were killed.

Mark Lavie, of the Associated Press , noted that: 'His death had been preceded by more than a month without Israeli civilian deaths - the longest such period since fighting erupted in September 2000 - and it swiftly put an end to the lull; 11 Israelis and an American died in a string of revenge attacks." (Israel rethinking targeted killings - Associated Press )

After killing the Hamas leader, Israel went into high alert even before any threats of retaliation, and then threatened Washington that any retaliation from the Palestinian side will result in non-cooperation from the Israeli side in the US peace process.

Teo wrote that: "It is the aim of everyone, I hope, to create a situation where the two states of Israel and Palestine would be able live peacefully side by side as outlined in the 'road map' and the Oslo accords."

Here is where the problem lies, Teo. Palestine has yet to have a state of its own. Ariel Sharon has been working to stall the plans for a Palestinian state by 2005 by evoking attacks from the Palestinian side. Also, he has yet to live up to his promise to retreat from certain areas of Gaza.

Now, Sharon refuses to promise not to kill Yaseer Arafat. This will no doubt bring about more anger and retaliation on the Palestinian side. The Israelis have no intention of allowing the road map to peace to go through. It is not in their interest to see the Palestinian state come to be.

Teo also rejects Tan's suggestion for a 'republic of Palestine' where Israelis and Palestinians would live together side by side as ludicrous at best because Israel is already a recognised country at the United Nations.

Indeed, Israel is recognised by the UN and should stick to its recognised borders.

Yet they move in their army, taking what isn't recognised by the UN as theirs. Sharon's government needs to steal land for Israel from almost three million Palestinians who right now lack food, clean water and medicine.

It doesn't matter if Israel is a democratic country or not. That does not make them more deserving then the Palestinians to a better life. They are suppressing and denying that to the Palestinians and that is one fact that no one can deny.