here's the text of a letter i sent to yellowtimes.org and to letters@guardian.co.uk. forgive the inconsistency in not writing it in lower-case - i hope it'll be published:

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Some time ago I sent an e-mail to Charles Kennedy MP, leader of Britain's Liberal Democratic party in protest at his refusal to support his party frontbench member Dr Jenny Tonge MP who had expressed an understanding of why some Palestinians have become suicide bombers.



While I cannot quote directly from my email, I can quote from Mr Kennedy's reply, in full:



"Dear Colleague



Thank you for your e-mail regarding Dr Jenny Tonge MP standing down as Liberal Democrat frontbench spokesperson for children. Please accept my apologies for the long delay in replying and also if you receive more than one copy of this message.



Jenny Tonge MP has long been vocal on the plight of the Palestinian people and I have consistently supported her work on international development. Asking her to step down as frontbench spokesperson on children's issues does not detract, in any way, from this position.



However, there can be no compromise on comments that justify, or give the appearance of justifying, the use of terrorism and suicide bombings which target and kill innocent people.



As the leader of a political party, I expect all my frontbench spokespeople to ensure that their comments reflect the principles and policies of the Liberal Democrats, especially when speaking on a public platform.



Jenny is entitled to express her opinions in a manner she sees fit and will, quite rightly, continue to express her views and represent her constituency as a values (sic) back-bench Liberal Democrat MP. Indeed, Jenny herself has welcomed the freedom she will have as a back-bencher to speak her mind.



The situation in the Middle East is complex. The Liberal Democrats believe in two fundamental principles, which need reasserting as often as possible if this conflict is to be resolved.



The first is that the State of Israel has a right to exist in peace and security within recognised and guaranteed boundaries. And the second is that the Palestinians are entitled to justice and a viable homeland. These concepts are to be found in UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and they survived through the Madrid conference, the Oslo Agreement and Camp David.



I am committed to this position and will continue to press for a resolution to the conflict that respects the rights and liberties of both groups.



The Liberal Democrats will not shrink from making strong criticisms of the policies followed by the Israeli Government, nor will we shrink from opposing the scourge of terrorism wherever it is found.



Thanks once again for writing and I hope this reply helps with your concerns.



Yours sincerely



The Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP"



It all sounds immensely sensible and *nice*, but Mr Kennedy has completely forgotten something, vis his statement that "the State of Israel has a right to exist in peace and security within recognised and guaranteed boundaries". He does not, you notice, give Palestine the same support, he simply says "the second is that the Palestinians are entitled to justice and a viable homeland". This is not offering the same thing to Palestine. A "viable homeland" is not the same as "guaranteed boundaries". Just as "entitled to justice" is not the same thing as "a right to exist in peace and security".



His comment that "Liberal Democrats will not shrink from making strong criticisms of the policies followed by the Israeli Government" is probably true - most Liberal Democrats will criticise the Israelis - it's their leader who won't.



He completely ignores the fact that Israel started ethnic cleansing in 1948 and has continued it until the present. He ignores the fact that Israel is building a wall to separate Palestinians from their farm-land and water supplies. He ignores the fact that four times as many Palestinians die as Israelis through the actions of the Israeli "security" forces. He ignores the fact that Israel is in breach of many UN resolutions demanding that it return inside its "recognised and guaranteed" borders. He ignores the fact that Israeli soldiers drive their tanks over inhabited Palestinian homes, killing the occupants. He ignores the fact that Israeli soldiers deliberately target Palestinian children for murder. He ignores the fact that Israel is the aggressor in this case and is the invader of Palestine and that the Palestinians are fighting for their liberty, land, homes and childrens' lives.



That the leader of Britain's third political party, a party which was formed from two social democratic bodies, appears to be so openly pro-Israeli and apparently indifferent to Palestine's plight, gives me great reason to fear for a decent and liberal political discourse in the UK and for any hope of British politicians being of any assistance in bringing peace to the Palestinians and their release from Israeli oppression.



Anthony Berrow
tony_berrow@operamail.com

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the e-mail also included the e-mail addresses of many, many recipients, leaving us all open to a lovely little spam attack by any pro-israeli little cunts who get hold of a copy of it - nice one charlie boy.