The Argus (January 31) devoted a whole page to the comments of Palestinian pacifist Wajdi Mahmoud.

I was sorry to read how his family shuddered at the sound of bombs and flinched at the sound of jets. Maybe you will provide equal covering of how Israelis suffer daily terrorist attacks in every part of Israel, largely by Palestinian youth suicide-bombers incited to commit a martyr's death to obtain eternity in paradise with 72 virgins.

Mr Mahmoud's comments are uncheckable, unsubstantiated, third-hand hearsay. But there is truth in his references to delays at Israeli checkpoints. The scrutiny of Palestinian Arabs is hardly surprising when terrorism abounds. He asks for Palestinians to be treated as equals. If they were to act like decent human beings instead of potential mobile bombs they would be.

He said he believed "setting up a joint state" could attain peace. But that is exactly what Ehud Barak proposed. The offer was thrown back in Israel's face and the suicide-bombers were launched, along with a disinformation campaign. Anti-Jewish hatred has since poured out of every Arab country (and many Western ones) and the Palestinians are constantly incited to perpetuate atrocities against Israeli civilians, particularly women and children.

The blunt reality is surely obvious by now. The Palestinian Arabs do not want peace with Israel. They want peace without Israel.

-Name and address supplied