Letter: Palestinians are still waiting

ALTHOUGH THE Sharm el-Sheikh agreement may enhance the political reputations of Barak and Albright it is hardly likely to give much hope to the Palestinians, particularly those in the diaspora ("A faltering step on a bloody trail", 5 September). No mention is made in the agreement of the possibility that even a small number of refugees might be allowed to return to their homes, yet any Russian who is married to someone whose maternal ancestors were Jewish is admitted to residence in Israel without question.

The right of the Palestinians who wished to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours was established in UN Resolution 194 more than 50 years ago. Is it not time that the "ethical" foreign policies of Western nations were applied to the Palestinians?

CHARLES HUGHES

Felixstowe, Suffolk