PETE Winstanley (HAS, July 10) offers little in the way of hope for the people of Palestine and in particular the 1.5 million who live in Gaza. He finds the thought of an Egyptian incursion to end the strife and impose stability, law and order as "fanciful".

Well, this idea has been floated by numerous commentators and, while controversial, could receive a high level of support on the streets by a population clearly crying out for an end to the violence perpetrated by both Arabs and Israelis.

At a stroke, such a move could defuse the cross-border conflict that currently seems to have no end in sight. It would not mean the absorption of Gaza into Egypt unless and until the people were consulted and agreed by a substantial majority.

With regard to the West Bank, it is, of course, essential that Israeli settlements constructed since 1967 are handed over - there can be no permanent peace until this step is taken.

However, the Israelis do not have a monopoly of evil as Mr Winstanley's letter tends to indicate and the onus of responsibility for opening constructive dialogue and the negotiation of a binding agreement should not be laid exclusively at their door.

David Lacey, Durham.

PETE Winstanley is correct in saying Egypt is not going to march into Gaza (HAS, July 10), although it once did, in 1949 in a land grab with Jordan which annexed the West Bank at the same time.

Where I disagree with Mr Winstanley is that I reckon the West Bank is large enough for a viable state if one considers it from the pre-1967 borders (approximately 3,500sq miles), then it is considerably larger than Luxembourg, (999sq miles), which is considered to have possibly the highest standard of living in the world.

The case of Israeli settlements is not so clear-cut as some make out.

Often, entire Palestinian villages and farmers rely on these for their economic livelihood. Should they be dismantled and the occupants evicted, it would cause serious hardship for some.

No one should talk to Hamas, which would not talk to Israel anyway, as it does not recognise its existence and I am sure, that if this were 1939, Mr Winstanley would not advocate talking to Nazi Germany after it had so ruthlessly overrun Poland.

B Kidd, Stockton-on-Tees.