Madam, - It is not often that I agree with every word of an Irish Times Editorial, but your piece on the Middle East talks (September 12th) is spot on.
You are particularly courageous to insist that "to retain credibility [ the international quartet] should reconsider its boycott of Hamas and along with the Arab states encourage political talks between that movement and Fatah to better reflect Palestinian public opinion. Without Hamas involvement a durable agreement is not possible."
The one word with which one might quibble here is "retain", for it is highly questionable that the so-called "quartet" has ever possessed any credibility.
From an Irish point of view, the constituent of the quartet that has performed most disappointingly is the EU, of which our Government has become a singularly passive member. Europe has a unique responsibility towards Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs (Muslims and Christians) alike, and betrays that responsibility ignominiously by merely hanging on to the coat-tails of the US. - Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Dame Street, Dublin 2.