How Israel can reduce tensions in Middle East

AMBASSADOR Modai is wrong if he thinks Israeli oppression of Palestinians is not a recruiting sergeant for al-Qaida (Analysis, Sept 24).

The present head of the CIA, General David Petraeus, said it was in a report he presented to the US Senate in March last year, in his then role as head of US Central Command. He wrote: “The [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of US favouritism for Israel.

Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of US partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR [area of responsibility] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaida and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilise support.”