Sir, - Deaglan de Breadun (World News, November 4th) fails to mention that the Palestinian refugee situation resulted directly from Arab nations' aggression in 1948 and 1967. Israel had accepted the UN 1947 partition plan which would have left her with only 12 per cent (5,169 sq. miles) of land allocated as a safe Jewish haven under the British Mandate. Arab nations, with millions of square miles of land, did have the capacity to absorb refugees. Even tiny Israel has absorbed a million Jewish refugees forced to flee Arab lands leaving behind all their possessions and 39,000 sq. miles of land.
Prof Joxe's assertion (World News, also November 4th) that Israel would have peace if she withdrew from the "territories" is false. The PLO was set up in 1964 three years prior to the "West Bank" being gained in her defensive war against Jordan. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Steve Harris, Broadford Crescent, Ballinteer, Dublin 16.