THE next few weeks might see the beginning of the end in the Middle East conflict.

Yesterday the UN deadline requiring Iran to cease uranium enrichment ran out with the promise of sanctions if it was not met. Incidentally Iran, one of the world's biggest crude oil producers, imports 30 million litres of petrol a day. Perhaps this is because money is being spent on weapons development instead of a new refinery - understandable when you consider that a rocket carrying 50 litres of unleaded packs a lot less punch than a 500 kiloton nuclear warhead.

Over in Gaza, in between ceasefires negotiated with Fatah, Hamas is firing salvo after salvo of rockets into Israel, prompting the inevitable reply. Meanwhile it looks as though Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will lose his job to Benjamin Netanyahu, an avowed hawk and a man who is more than likely to take a dim view of Iran's intentions and the actions of Hamas.

I confidently predict two things.

First of all, a region-wide war will break out by the end of the summer.

Secondly some well known HAS correspondents will place the entire blame at Israel's door.

David Lacey, Newton Hall, Durham.

I AGREE with Pete Winstanley (HAS, May 17) that the Palestinians certainly have a grievance against the Western powers, but suicide bombings and internal fighting do nothing to help their cause. They only assist Israeli propaganda.

To suggest that the US and UK invasion of Iraq inspired a rise in al Qaida terrorism is not creditable when one takes into account the celebrations and "death to the West"

chants by Muslim fanatics that were heard in the wake of the Twin Towers bombing. This happened 18 months before the invasion.

I'm sure that if Mr Winstanley saw the hero worship these bombers were afforded he would realise that it is successful waves of terrorism that inspire others to their jihad and not the West.

I was also surprised that Mr Winstanley argued for a "twopronged approach" against terrorism. Surely the third prong is Islam itself. It must take a responsible stance and assist in removing the cancerous growth in its midst.

Kev Mcstravick, Darlington.