NO place in the world can truly declare itself safe from the threat of terrorism.

Yesterday's suicide bombs in Istanbul followed attacks on synagogues in the Turkish city at the weekend which claimed the lives of 25 people.

These outrages join New York, Washington, Bali, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kenya and others on a growing list of atrocities.

Yesterday's attack was aimed specifically at 'soft' British targets, probably designed to coincide with the visit of President Bush to Britain.

Attacks which result in the indiscriminate loss of innocent lives must not deflect us from the concerted effort to combat global terrorism.

But they put into context the scale of the challenge we face.

Our response to such attacks must be resolute. Any display of fear or compromise in the face of such heinous crimes will only serve to encourage terrorism.

However, conviction and the use of force alone will not defeat fanatical terrorists.

The only long-term solution is to tackle the causes of terrorism.

Within much of the Middle East there is deep suspicion of the West, in the shape of the United States and Britain.

The prolonged military occupation of Iraq and doubts over the establishment of a new Iraqi government have only served to confirm that suspicion.

Only by pressing ahead with establishing peace, security and genuine self-determination in Iraq will suspicion be lifted.

Equally, the motives of the US in the Palestinian crisis are grave cause for concern.

In his speech in London on Wednesday, President Bush spoke eloquently of his plan for peace between Israel and its neighbours. But until that plan is put into practice, both the President and his country will be perceived by the rest of the Middle East to be aligned squarely behind Israel, regardless.

Suspicion leads to resentment. And it is resentment that is the breeding ground for terrorism.

Remove that resentment then, slowly but surely, support for terrorism will be stemmed, and the terrorists themselves will be increasingly marginalised.