I keep on reading about the 'Security wall' which many correspondents say is not really a wall but a 'fence' I would really appreciate if someone could explain to me if this 'fence' is something like a pretty little hedge or wooden construction strewn with flowers which acts as a line of demarcaction, to high to clamber over or, is it an ugly barbed wire 'fence' with monsterous concrete blocks and watchtowers? (not unlike the Berlin wall)

Richard Devitt, London, UK

There can be no peace there until it is accepted that Israel is, at least part of, the problem. It is a knee-jerk State set up because of (a) European and US guilt for German atrocities and (b) British weakness in the face of a long terrorist campaign, coupled with their peculiar fondness for partition (Ireland, India, Israel - 3I).

The subsequent, and continued, bellicosity of Israel, her arrogant flouting of countless UN Resolutions and her and illegal ruthless occupation of sovereign territories, have done much to destabilise the region.

And now Blair is imposed on them all - Mediocrity added to the mix. Who can hope?

Bill McCann, Suzhou, China

Gilded ghetto?

Where do you get such silly words?

Israel has created an isolated fortress, a garrison state, just like the Crusaders did ten centuries ago.

Israel could have had peace at any time in recent decades had it wanted genuine peace.

What Israel always has wanted, and still wants, is peace on its own terms. Nothing but Israel's terms on the table.

That is impossible. It's just as though the other parties to negotiations did not exist.

People who object are called anti-Semites. Neighbors who object are called terrorists.

Were Israel to magically change its attitudes, peace could be tomorrow.

JOHN CHUCKMAN, Toronto, Canada

Rockets hit Sderot & Israel's western Negev almost daily. Only yesterday, a baby was injured by shrapnel & her relatives hospitalised suffering shock when their home was hit. These rockets are fired from Hamas controlled Gaza so please do not write that "and missiles from Hamas terrain are rarely seen. ". And both the UN & Lebanese army have been unable to prevent Hezbollah smuggling weapons back into Southern Lebanon - only a couple of days ago Nazrallah was boasting that he possessed weapons capable of hitting every corner of Israel.

H Green, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK

I go along with Tim Hames, the Mid-East bottle is at present half full not half empty. Tony Blair's presence is be welcomed by all those that want peace, those who do not, will not be disturbed either way.As many of Israel's enemies are quick to point out, Hamas and Hezbollah were democratically elected, for their electorate's betterment or on an agenda of more death and distruction? Perhaps it is time for the major players and their satellites to consider their position.Should the genie Blair fail to top up the bottle, in a area where WMDs do actually exist, then there will be no winners, however loud their myopic and biased supporters may shout.
As the Indian High Commissioner said at the time of a potential nuclear conflict between his country and Pakistan, "Neighbours who choose not to live at peace with one another, choose to live at war.In
In N.ireland, the bus that Blair drove took ten years to arrive, the Middle East does not have the luxury of such a long journey.

M. fishman, london,

I read with interest your article and withHis Tonyness about to use his vast and succesful experience in Mid East affairs in an already complicated arena I was wondering how deep you have to dig to build an effective fallout shelter

Steve Sinclair, London,

It's good to read something positive about Israel in the UK press today. The security "wall" has reduced suicide attacks in Israel by 98% and only 10% of the security fence is a wall, the other 90% is actually a fence, something that is not often reported. Israel does not implement a policy of apartheid. If one looks at the segregation of people in apartheid South Africa, that was a division of black and white people because the white government was racist against black people. The security fence exists to fight against a security threat, not to stop a certain race of people living their lives.

And to speak with Hamas would only reward them which would in turn make them bolder and to encourage them to use more force against Israel. Israel should continue working with Fatah to resolve the problem that is Hamas.

Michael, Heidelberg, Germany

It seems everyone is concentrating on Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Syria when the resolution will only come with an independent Palestine. It’s not very hard to notice that the majority of Attacks end up in the name of Palestine. Solve the Palestinian Issue before attempting other ventures in the rest of the Middle East is all Blair can do at the moment to win some credibility.

As to your article, I find it repulsive that you might indirectly defend the Israeli Air Bombardment of cities that Killed 1200 Civilians in 2 Months. Arguing that Hezbollah where using Civilians as shields also has no excuse. Lebanese Army has been fighting Fatah Al-Islam for 2 Months in order to not kill innocent civilians.

Being more careful with Choice of Words as you said is vital. And congratulations to you sir, as you are certainly one to choose them correctly; however biased your words may be.

Fadi Aboualfa, Athens, Greece,

Reading this article is similiar to the experience of listening to someone who describes the colour of a car that they've seen as black and then listening to someone else who swears that the colour of the same car is in fact yellow.

According to American, Israeli and French media, there is a huge build-up of Israeli and Syrian forces along the Golan heights. Syria has recalled its citizens from abroad and has armed itself with many thousands of rockets.

The same media note that Hizbullah has rebuilt the weapons systems that they had prior to the 2006 Lebanon war. They also point out that Hamas has 'imported' 12 tonnes of explosives over the crossing that exists between the Gaza strip and Eygpt. Hamas has some 30,000 very heavily armed fighters at its disposal and a mandate to destroy Israel.

Given Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel apparently feels less safe than it has at any time over the last 25 years. How the heck does one reconcile these reports with Mr.Hames report?

Tom Scholes, London, UK

I cannot think of any Israeli foreign policy action which I can approve of in the last 5 years. They all seem based around the idea that the welfare of Palestinians is of no consequence, and that all the resources available in areas where palestianians currently live should be available to Israel. But rather than bother debating this point with your "commentator", I would just note that the real product of the Lebanese "war" was to demonstrate a) how even handed we are in the UK. b) how effective the new anti-tank weaponry available to Hezbollah is c) how effective the IDF airforce is at bombing civilians. The bottom line? Israeli conscipts sitting in Merkevas will have to come to terms with the possibility that the Palestinians they are intimidating are armed with effective anti-tank equipment, and could potentially kill them.

This is a radical change. If you dont recognise this you just havnt been paying attention.

Harry, London, UK

"...declared goals were too ambitious, and it was publicly stated that fighting would continue until they were achieved. But the authorized military operations did not enable their achievement."
(Winograd Commission, Preliminary Report, April 2007)

Difficult to reconcile the above with the statement of Tim Hames that Israel was the military and strategic victor, and especially so as the two soldiers taken in the incident that sparked the conflict have not been recovered.

The deaths of hundreds of civilians makes a claim of political benefits sound hollow.

Jan Jansen, Amsterdam, Netherlands

An interesting and insightful analysis from Tim Hames.

Israel is now enjoying a period of quiet with its neighbors, international political support, and economic prosperity that it hasn't seen for a long while. This is a time when Israelis will be willing to take risks. So, yes, it is a good opportunity for a new widely respected Middle East peace envoy such as Tony Blair.

And regarding Mr. McGregor's comment above, it would really be foolish of Israel to "pull down that disgraceful wall" which protects Israel's citizens from Palestinian terror. The wall will come down when the Palestinians are ready for peace.

And, Mr. McGregor, comparing Israel to apartheid is ridiculous, ignorant, or both. Israel has Arab chief justices, Arab members of parliament, Arab government ministers, Arab army officers, Arab diplomats, and Arab industrialists, writers, scientists, and more (though, of course, it still has much to improve).

Ehad Ha'am, Ra'anana, ISRAEL

""IF Israel really wants peace then an act of good faith would be to pull down that disgraceful wall of shame that bespoke 's apartheid"

THe wall is a sad state of affairs,however the reality is since it has been up suicide bombing has effectively stopped.How anyone can blame the Israelis for wanting to stop suicide bombers frankly beggars belief.

the truth, manchester,

if Hamas really wants peace ,ALL they need to do is accept israels right to EXIST.

steven, london, uk

I had to double check on the author of this article, I thought it must have been written by Alistair Campbell. How on earth can the Lebanon situation have improved the chance of peace in the region, not only have the Palestinians splintered, there is now no unified authoirity to negotiate with, Hizbollah, is still deeply entrenched in the Lebanon, the non combatant population of the Lebanon & Palestine are now more deeply embittered than ever at yet another dose of Western 'impartiality' and Israeli force, not to mention the increasing influence of Al Queda in the area. Your correspondent feels that Blair of all people can bring peace and stability, as he argues the situation is now more conducive to peace. Its enough to make any sane person weep!

Kevin Sullivan, London, UK

Any who can describe the Wall that Israel is building as 'so-called' reveals his bias.

Tim Kirby, Great Easton,

While much of what Tim Hames writes is true, he is not correct on two points. First, although we rarely hear about them, not a day goes by without Hamas rockets or missiles being fired from Gaza into Israel, usually targeting the town of Sderot or the wider Negev. Second, it is a fact that Hezbollah is rearming in southern Lebanon, thanks to the Syrians. Israel does indeed want peace; Hamas and Hezbollah are committed to Israel's destruction, and both organizations have kidnapped and still hold Israeli citizens. Let them release Gilad Shlit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
Tony Blair has his work cut out!

B. Harris, London,

The flood waters must have got to McGregor of Tunbridge Wells. Hamas' stated aim is to destroy Israel. They have no interest in peace. The wall has slowed down the Fatah suicide bombers. The UK protects Islamist militants.

Tony, Edgware,

'Wall of shame', M McGregor? As Tim Hames has said, the 'wall' (mostly a fence, but never mind) has helped to protect Israel from suicide bombers. Incidentally, of course, it has saved Palestinian lives, by protecting Palestinian children from the pressure to become suicide bombers themselves. Unless you think that the deaths of Palestinian children is worth it in order to kill Israelis, in which case the shame is yours.

Harry Goldstein, London,

A government principle objective is to protect its citizens. Why should Israel pull down a wall which has been successful in preventing suicide bombers. Every other previous effort be they giving control to the palestinian government, peace negotiations or pulling out of gaza failed. The wall must stay to protect the Israelis and to try and keep some form of stabilty in the region.

Anthony Stern, London, UK

It's good to read something positive about Israel in the UK press today. The security "wall" has reduced suicide attacks in Israel by 98% and only 10% of the security fence is a wall, the other 90% is actually a fence, something that is not often reported. Israel does not implement a policy of apartheid. If one looks at the segregation of people in apartheid South Africa, that was a division of black and white people because the white government was racist against black people. The security fence exists to fight against a security threat, not to stop a certain race of people living their lives.

And to speak with Hamas would only reward them which would in turn make them bolder and to encourage them to use more force against Israel. Israel should continue working with Fatah to resolve the problem that is Hamas.

Michael, Heidelberg, Germany

This is the most sensible and intelligent article on the Arab-Israeli conflict I have read in years. Mr. Blair's success in bringing peace to Northern Ireland could be repeated here. Like the IRA, many Palestinians, and not least Mr Abbas, are beginning to realise that they can achieve a great deal more by peaceful means (negotiations, etc.) than they ever could by violence.

David Capitanchik, Aberdeen, Scotland

IF Israel really wants peace then an act of good faith would be to pull down that disgraceful wall of shame that bespoke 's apartheid. And include Hamas in discussions as to ignore them is fatal.£Everyone constantly thinks it is ALL down to Palestine doing as told...or else.

M McGregor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent