In response to Philip Roe’s recent letter about “double standards” over nuclear Iran (Emotive items, October 2), I agree that President Ahmadinajad’s remarks are highly offensive, and could be considered threatening, but we need to judge on deeds, not words.

Therefore I would like to remind Mr Roe that Iran has not attacked any other country since the Iran/Iraq war (in which the US and UK gave massive support to Iraq’s Saddam Hussein), while Israel has twice invaded and bombed Lebanon, placed a complete blockade around Gaza, then attacked and bombed it, nearly destroying its infrastructure and killing 1,400* Palestinians (mostly civilians).

The rockets fired by militant elements of Hamas killed 13* Israelis (*figures from the UN investigation of war crimes in the Gaza campaign).

Furthermore, for many years Israel has had nuclear weapons, a fact which is almost never mentioned.

Meanwhile, Israel has made no secret of its animosity towards Iran, and some of its politicians favour a military attack upon that country. It is not too surprising that Iran may fear a possible nuclear attack from Israel.

The letter seems to assume that Arab/Muslim countries are inherently unstable, whereas Israel is “stable”, like European countries. Helen Clarke, the former New Zealand prime minister, who now has a top job in the UN, recently described (in the presence of my daughter) Israel as a “rogue state”. I am much inclined to agree with her.

Margaret Vernon, Kendal Close, Dunnington, York.