Our relationships with Middle East leaders needs to be re-assessed

Thank you Gerard Howlin for distilling the Middle East problem so eloquently and astutely. (‘Verbal attacks on Israel encourage the killing of Jews in Europe’, Irish Examiner, January 14).

“The failure of the Arab states to give leadership and legitimacy to their own people” is never openly recognised or criticised.

Is it because we persist in negotiations and even partnership with these governments, thereby giving them important legitimacy?