DAY by day the violence in the Middle East is growing. As it does, the opportunity for peace looks more and more remote.

It is easy to understand the frustration felt by those who marched in protest into Bethlehem.

They are frustrated at the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships' inability to put aside personal grievances and animosities for the sake of the general good of their people.

And they are frustrated at the reluctance of Britain and the United States to intervene for the general good of the international community.

We share their frustrations.

We need only look at the price of oil, rising as a direct result of the tension in the Middle East, to understand the importance of the region to the rest of the world. Standing back and leaving things as they are is not an option.

It is plain to see that Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon cannot be relied upon to broker a settlement on their own. Their hatred and distrust for each other are too entrenched.

It will take the diplomatic might of the West to break the deadlock and the senseless cycle of tit-for-tat bloodshed.

We do not expect Mr Arafat and Mr Sharon to become best buddies, but merely made to recognise each other's position and accept the inevitability that Palestinians and Israelis will some day have to live side by side.

But until the suicide bombers stay away from Israel and the tanks stop rolling into the West Bank, peace remains a forlorn hope.

DAVE Charlton insists he was trying to raise a smile with his comments during a discussion on the Queen Mother.

While he may not have intended to offend, that is precisely what he has done.

In retailing, Mr Charlton has an enviable record and reputation, based on sound business judgement and acumen.

Sadly, on this occasion, he has displayed a complete lack of judgement.

Some years ago Gerald Ratner demonstrated why it is prudent for businessmen to steer clear of wisecracks.

We sincerely hope Mr Charlton's remarks do not have the same impact on his business as Mr Ratner's remarks had on his.