Letter: West Bank PO

Sir: Your festive report on the busy post office in Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire (24 December) indicates that the original Christmas Bethlehem is in Israel. In fact, it is in the West Bank and is one of the main towns of the Palestine National Authority.

This point is not merely of postal interest: important issues of land, justice and peace are involved. As the new millennium dawns, large numbers of people may make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem and post their Christmas mail there. It will be important for them to appreciate who is doing the franking.

STEPHEN W NEED

Southampton