29 MARCH 2003, Page 23

From Jeanne Zanger Sir: I want to express deep gratitude

for giving your readers the opportunity to read Melanie Phillips's article. It saddens me that a great nation like Great Britain should allow the mistruths, lies and distortions about Israelis to be promoted in its press without rebuttal.

No matter where in the world there is a serious crisis. Israeli doctors, nurses, medical staff and even civilians go there to assist in the reconstruction and the healing. Israelis have brought to the world the cures for innumerable diseases, often putting themselves in harm's way. Visit the Hadassah Hospital, or any other hospital in Israel, and you will sec Arab patients even exceeding the number of Jewish patients being treated with utmost skill and care. And Arab homes which were formerly Bedouin shacks are now surrounded by paved streets, schools, playgrounds and stores, all because of Israel's government. Jeanne Zanger

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA