Electoral Tool

I read with interest ‘40 years is enough’ (Special feature NI 400).

Israeli politician Shimon Peres said recently that a Middle East settlement may not be a political one. I disagree. The worst excesses of Israel since its inception have been due to proportional representation, allowing small religious zealot political parties to dictate policy in return for power. This has led to polarization of ideas in the Middle East.

In order to secure peace in the Middle East we must have a first-past-the-post system in Israel. Anti-Arab policies will then be moderated, and thus settlements can be negotiated more willingly as all groups concerned are pulled away from extremism and toward the centre ground. A small change in the constitution of Israel will make all the difference to the quality of life in the Middle East.

Andrew Kadir-Buxton Hatfield, England