SIR – ON August 31, it was announced that about 1,000 acres of land in the West Bank has been claimed for the state of Israel.

The land, south of Bethlehem, is considered as being Israeli property because it is in the neighbourhood of an existing Israeli settlement.

Yet, Palestinians consider this one further appropriation of land that they see as theirs; land which would potentially make up a future state of Palestine, in common with much of the land on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

The continued appropriation and building of settlements on Palestinian land surely diminishes further (perhaps intentionally?) any future chance of a two-state solution being secured.

As a spokesperson for Palestinian President Abbas said, calling on Israel to cancel the latest appropriation, “This decision will lead to more instability. This will only inflame the situation after the war in Gaza.”

When will the West intercede in persuading Israel to halt these ‘appropriations’ seen as land-grabs by the Palestinians?

David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose