5 JUNE 2004, Page 32

Bush and the Jewish vote

From Joseph Palley Sir: While I share Sir Crispin Tickell's distaste for George Bush's foreign policy ('The West is like the Great Satan', 22 May), he is wrong to blame Bush's unconditional support for Israel on the Jewish vote or lobby. British Jews are as well organised, well funded and numerous relative to population as American Jews. British prime ministers are more evenhanded over Palestine because, unlike US presidents, they do not have to appeal to the Christian fundamentalist view, widespread in America, that Jerusalem's holy sites belong in Western hands. For the same reason the Democrats, including John Kerry, have been no less pro-Israel.

Joseph Palley

Richmond, Surrey