Dear Sir,
Mr Fleming self proclaimed expert' on Middle East affairs and his anti Israel tirades, sanctioned by your paper, brings the Bulletin to the lowly level of a propaganda instrument rather than a medium for objective writings. It is only thanks to number of readers/ contributors to the paper that your readers are able to read a balanced view. Having said this and to Mr. Fleming's article of August 21st, let me make a point or two. The Palestinians decision to cut off negotiations with Israel and go to the UN in September to bid for a star recognition is not going to bring the Palestinians closer to the establishment of a state.
The UN is a morally bankrupt institution, totally ineffective in curing the dysfunctional Palestinian national movement. Israel, however, is united and strong enough to meet the challenge of Palestinian unilateralism. The fate of such initiatives inevitably will result with a veto by the USA and any vote at the assembly - even if 130 nation support it - it is by far more important to examine the list of those nations who oppose it! The UN ineptitude could prove wrong if, for instance, they could bring Gaza (Hamas) and the Palestinians to the negotiating table with Hamas denouncing their policy of Israel denial or worst- destruction. in fact the vote in the UN only manifests its member´s disinterest in the Palestinians cause and aspiration. Raising the YES hand is not a cure to their problems. in fact a NO vote is more likely to induce the Palestinians to press their Reset button. Finally, with the lack of a pragmatic Palestinian leadership the conflict will continue to simmer and October will look exactly as August! No wonder that some in Israel are pleased by the inept leadership of the Palestinians as the longer they persist with their old ways the further they will be from having a state with East Jerusalem as its capital and the larger Israeli settlements will become.
Arye Berest
Palma/Ibiza
Dear Sir, I am writing in response to Wendy Peters' article in yesterday's Bulletin. I am in Majorca on holiday and have been shocked by the amount of Fly Tipping and general rubbish along the roadsides - this is spoiling what is a beautiful island. On the Palma- Puigpuynent road there are several areas where construction waste,even including toilets, have been dumped. On this road, driving through the Poligono Can Valero , there is rubbish everywhere. I hope by bringing this subject to light something constuctive will be done by the Government.
For example, the imposition of large fines,as a deterrent, with the public being made well aware of a police crackdown on Fly Tipping.
Rosie O'Donnell