MARTIN Axford (Letters, September 5) accuses the Kirk of introducing a divisive land claim by having a plaque dedicated to the "City of Jerusalem, Israel" on the glebe land at Luss.

In fact, contrary to the partisan United Nations, international law recognises Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people because their ancient connection to the city is unique.

They have historical roots dating back over 3,000 years, never relinquished their historic rights and have been the largest ethnic group in the city for more than 200 years.

Roman, Byzantine, and other successors such as the Ottoman Turks lacked a continuous and undisturbed presence in Israel that would relinquish the Jewish claim to the land.

At the time of the Balfour Declaration there was no Palestinian nation and the land was sparsely populated by Arabs, of whom many had migrated within recent history.

Finally, the Blackstone Memorial proclaimed Israel - including Jerusalem - to be the "inalienable possession" of the Jews "from where they were expelled by force."

This was signed by Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court Melville Fuller in 1891.

Rev Dr John Cameron,

10 Howard Place,

St Andrews.