REGARDING Middle East issues, as a holder of the Palestine Mandate until 1948, historically, Britain does have a moral obligation to this area.

The original two-state solution dates back to 1921 when Winston Churchill gave three quarters of the original territory of Palestine to create modern Jordan, the remainder being intended for the Jews, although Britain back-pedalled on its promises to the Jews because of the growing importance of oil in Arab countries.

Sadly, the war of independence led to population displacement of both Jews and Palestinians, but while the Jews were accommodated in Israel, the Palestinians remained in squalid refugee camps, many in Jordan, from where they were expelled after importing terrorism to that country.

Ignoring Palestinian rights or terrorism, and casting aspersions on Israel's most ancient of claims to nationhood does not help either party.

It also serves as a dangerous distraction from the threats we face from the situation in Georgia, where Russia threatens a vital pipeline that brings oil to the West and from Iran, an oil supplier with nuclear ambitions.

Also (when the Olympic Games are over) from China, which as well as illegally occupying Tibet, has enormous energy requirements and consequently has strategic interests in Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burma. Plus the Chinese would like to regain Taiwan.

The delay in establishing the State of Israel was all about oil, and it is likely that any future global conflict will be too.

Ann Farmer, Woodford Green.