The distortion of democracy in Gaza As with religion, democracy (Duncan McFarlane, Letters, December 27) may be embraced as a force for good or can be distorted and exploited as a force for intolerance, extremism and evil.

The distortion of democracy in Gaza As with religion, democracy (Duncan McFarlane, Letters, December 27) may be embraced as a force for good or can be distorted and exploited as a force for intolerance, extremism and evil.

In Gaza, "democracy" has merely served to corrupt the very meaning of the term. Palestinian violence against Palestinian, verging on civil war, has resulted in many Palestinian deaths and from an Israeli perspective has produced nothing but daily acts of belligerency. It has seen the launching of 970 rockets and 1200 mortar shells into Israel from Gaza since the start of 2007.

Far from embracing the benefits presented by democracy, the governing body of Gaza has interpreted the powers conferred upon it as a licence to commit acts of civil violence within its own territory and also acts of aggression against a neighbouring state. This ongoing violence also negates the first condition of the Road Map for Peace, which specifically demands an end to Palestinian violence as a prerequisite to the entire peace-seeking process. Instead, while Israel continues to supply power, fuel, medication and food to Gaza, Hamas resolutely remains committed to Israel's destruction.

If Mr McFarlane were to read the terms of the various agreements to which Israel and the Palestinians have subscribed, he would discover that the Palestinians have fulfilled none of the prime requirements while Israel has at least started to meet its undertakings. Hamas, in particular, continues to justify its world image as a terrorist organisation.

Despite Mr McFarlane asserting that Palestinians "must quietly fade into exile in poverty in refugee camps", it is noteworthy that there has recently been a sharp increase in the number of Palestinians seeking permits to remain in areas under Israeli administration. Hundreds of Palestinian Arab residents of East Jerusalem are actually applying for Israeli citizenship, as talk of a possible re-division of the city gains momentum.

M Green, 103 Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow.