ONE can almost write the script as this tragic conflict goes on.

With an almost wearying repetition, Hamas fires rockets into Israel, Israel responds, Western politicians say Israel has the right to defend itself.

Then innocent people start dying and with the help of a cynical media looking for a good picture or story, the crescendo of animosity towards one side or the other appears, as can be seen in the letters page of July 11.

This cycle of madness, hatred and unyielding violence has brought nothing to either side apart from destruction, death, hopelessness and deep sadness.

We are at a point of utter despair, but I do take comfort from an article which appeared in the Jewish Daily Forward on July 6, which drew attention to the meeting between families of the murdered Israeli teenagers and the murdered Palestinian teenager.

The uncle of one of the Israeli teenagers stated: “the life of an Arab is equally precious to that of a Jew. Murder is murder, whether that murder is Jewish or Arab.”

Similarly, Palestinians from the Hebron area visited the mother of one of the slain Israelis.

He also mentioned an initiative spearheaded by Jews and Muslims to transform July 15, the Jewish fast day known as 17 Tammuz, into a joint fast day for people of both religions who wish to express their desire to end violence in the region.

David Lyon, Kingfisher Close, Huntington, York.