There is no right course to peace in the Middle East

Frankly, I’m irritated by the degree of criticism Keir Starmer has attracted over Gaza. If there was a “right course to steer” there would already be peace in the Middle East, bearing in mind the resources expended already trying to find a solution. 

If more accomplished operators such as Tony Blair and Barack Obama have failed, what chance does someone who is relatively inexperienced in international affairs have at finding this “holy grail”? Starmer is the right man to solve Britain’s immediate problems; Palestine on the other hand has been a problem for at least 60 years, and may well be so for many more tragic years to come. Criticising political leaders on this subject is like castigating an alchemist for not yet being able to turn lead into gold.

David Smith

Taunton

Can the Tories see just how dangerous it is to set aside unilateral provisions of an international treaty? The government did not hesitate to criticise the European Convention on Human Rights for interfering with their Rwanda policy. Now we have Trump saying that as president he would ignore key provisions of the Nato treaties and encourage Russia to invade allies.

What will Rishi Sunak do if this behaviour continues from world leaders? What if France and Spain declare that, since they are sovereign, they are pulling out of a key treaty, specifically the Open Skies provision, and in the future, no British flights to Rwanda will be allowed to overfly their territories? It’s a long way by boat!

John Bailey Preston

Lancashire

The announcement of the big banks’ profits, which are expected to reach as much as £47bn, proves once again that they have put their own financial interests over that of customers. Profiteering practices have won again as they continue to forgo a fair and transparent deal to consumers.

Despite increased pressure in Q4 for banks to pass rising rates to savers, it has not been enough to dent rising profits and we’ve seen signs interest rates will drop out of proportion when the Bank of England lower the base rate over the coming months.

As we approach the new financial year, we need to do better as an industry and learn from past mistakes. Competition in banking is increasing, and customers are starting to choose differently and demand better. Traditional banks need to acknowledge this shift in power before they get left behind.

Andrea de Gottardo

London

Soon a High Court in London will decide Julian Assange’s fate. Two judges will decide whether the WikiLeaks founder will still be able to lodge an ultimate appeal, or will end his days in an American jail.

In my opinion, Assange has committed no crime. His only fault is to have revealed some of the crimes of the rich and powerful of our time.

American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere have destroyed millions of lives and ruined these countries for generations to come. No one has been prosecuted. And yet Assange is being punished for having published evidence of crimes and cover-ups committed during these wars.

He is charged under a treason law dating from the First World War in 1917. Can one betray the laws of a country that is not our own? Is American law universal? To accept it would be to dangerously open the door to the arbitrariness that comes with unchecked power. Tomorrow, another powerful state could arrogate to itself the right, under the law of the strongest, to prosecute a foreign journalist, researcher or rights activist accused of breaking its law.

Under international law, depriving someone of their liberty is an exceptional decision, which must be duly justified to ensure fair proceedings. Yet, presumed innocent like any accused, Assange has been imprisoned without trial for almost five years as a dangerous criminal in a high-security prison near London. No release on bail for him, under judicial supervision, pending the outcome of proceedings that are clearly dragging their feet and taking their ease with time – the short time of a man’s life.

Christophe Peschoux

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