Sir, - Denyse Woods (letters, November 1st) appears to have fallen for the propaganda line that the opening of the Hasmonean tunnel in Jerusalem provokes Arabs "because of their concerns for their own religious sites and national aspirations.
Anyone who has actually been in the tunnel (I was there five years ago) knows that it runs away from, the Muslim religious sites, and in no way threatens those sites or Arab national aspirations.
When I was there, one entered the tunnel at the Western Wall, walked several hundred metres along the imposing massive cut stone blocks that constitute the base of the Temple wall, only to turn back and come out the same way. The sole difference now is that the top end of the tunnel has been opened into the Via Dolorosa, this enabling one to leave the tunnel without having to go all the way back to the Western Wall. How this could possibly provoke anyone - unless they are looking for an excuse to be provoked - escapes me. - Yours, etc.,
Knocksinna Crescent,
Dublin 18.