Sir, - The experienced Israeli PR machine is moving into overdrive. The Israelis' claim that Palestinian parents are sending out their children to shield sniper fire has, it seems, two purposes. Firstly, they appear to believe that this justifies their shooting children. Secondly, it seems to reinforce the Israeli hardliners' belief that Palestinians are subhuman. The reality is that the Israeli army is highly trained in riot control. If children are being used as pawns by Palestinian snipers, they are still only children and there is no justification for this Israeli over-reaction, just as it is impossible to make sense out of the bombing of an Israeli school bus.
Mark Sofer, the Israeli ambassador, claimed (November 22nd) that the "preliminary ballistic investigation clearly shows" that the car in Mary Robinson's convoy was hit by "a stray Palestinian bullet".
Am I being cynical when I wonder who carried out the investigation? - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Chris Andrews, City Hall, Dublin 2.