TONY ALLWRIGHT,
Sir, - Your Editorial of January 24th seems to censure George Bush for supporting Ariel Sharon's "dismissive attitude towards Yasser Arafat" .
I am one of (I suspect) many Europeans who believe a dismissive attitude towards Mr Arafat is entirely appropriate. He has been a great revolutionary leader of the Palestinians, but he demonstrated at Camp David in 2000 his inability to grasp an excellent compromise deal when Israel offered it. The intifada is the direct result of his failure. Meanwhile, he is unwilling and/or unable to control the disparate paramilitary groups of disaffected Palestinians who are driving the intifada.
It is time for him to go and to be replaced by someone who can speak for Palestinians with authority (dare one suggest some kind of election?). No doubt this will be a hard-liner whom Mr Sharon will detest, but who by virtue of his mandate will force Israel to negotiate seriously. - Yours, etc.,
TONY ALLWRIGHT,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.