Please take a minute to thank Gerard Baker, US editor and assistant editor of the Times, for a good commentary on 30 March 2007 entitled "'Israel right or wrong' is not a grown-up debate."

It is rare for sympathy towards the Palestinians to be expressed in the commentary pages of the Times, so please let the newpaper and Baker know that such views are welcome and should be encouraged.

Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk, gerard.baker@thetimes.co.uk and / or post your comment in the feedback section at the end of the commentary. Please be concise and polite, and BCC letters to info@arabmediawatch.com. If you want your letter to be published in the newspaper, indicate this in the subject line of your email (do not copy and paste the subject or contents of this Action Alert) and provide your full name, address and contact details. Letter-writing tips can be found at:

http://www.arabmediawatch.com/amw/MediaLobbying/LetterWritingTips/tabid/134/Default.aspx

The full commentary is available at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article1588756.ece

Following are extracts:

"In American political debate, saying something sympathetic about the Palestinians is evidently now deemed unsayable. Even as mild and neutral an observation as noting that Palestinians are 'suffering' is considered a gaffe somewhat akin to expressing a kindly word for KGB pensioners."

"...it is striking that it is much easier for an Israeli to say things critical of the Israeli Government than it is for an American to offer the same critique. No one questions the anti-terrorist bona fides of those who express concern for the plight of the Palestinians..."

"The belief that the Jews must be returned to the Biblical lands of Judaea and Samaria before the world can end has driven up support for an aggressive Israeli approach to its neighbours in the Holy Land. Those of us who are not evangelical Zionists will feel a little queasy about that idea."

"...the rules of American politics mean it is impossible for politicians to express sympathy for Palestinians in their plight or to argue that Israel must bear at least some responsibility for alleviating it. Playing by those rules might pave the way to the White House. It will never smooth the way to Middle East peace."