In your editorial { "Where is Mr. Bush in this Mideast crisis?" Aug. 11} , dealing with with the tragic killing of Palestinians and Israelis and the continuing threatening conflict, you,quite rightly, ask : " How to break the cycle?" The answer is quite simple. There must be international pressure to bring an end to the illegal Israeli Occupation of Palestinian territory, that has been allowed to stand for over 34 years in defiance of international law and Security Council resolutions. This brutal occupation has subjected the Palestinians to humiliation, collective punishments, torture,expropriation of their land, uprooting of their trees and demolition of thousands of their homes, all in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. International law entitles all peoples under occupation to resist foreign occupation.

You, quite rightly, question the lack of active response from Washington which "can exert that pressure...and has the necessary diplomatic muscle" to do so. The US claims to uphold international law and the UN Charter, yet continues to provide Israel with the bullets , rockets, F16's and dollars that allow this illegal occupation to continue and the abhorent killing of Palestinians and Israelis.