THE Middle East problem is the greatest threat to the future of world peace and where unquestionably to has to be resolved over the next five years if humanity has to avoid a major escalation of global conflict.

But this cannot be achieved through the recent speculation that Israel will use strategic nuclear weapons to destroy the Iranian nuclear facilities - for this action would most probably precipitate the start of a global confrontation, as many countries with economic interests would take sides.

Unfortunately there is now so little trust between the West and Iran that politicians are not in a position (on either side) to solve the impasse and where this divergence will dramatically increase over the next few years to a critical state.

Therefore the answer does not lie with our politicians, who now do not trust each other in the least, but through totally independent means where independent advice outside the constraints of national governments is the only way peaceful forward.

Unfortunately our politicians are so blind that they only see themselves in the role of savour.

This standpoint will not work, as it never has done when we look at the history of the Middle East.

Therefore considering everything that is wrong with current foreign policy in the West the solution lies in the hands of independent people who act at the leading-edge of knowledge, who are totally removed from government and who have no vested nationalistic economic interests.

In this way only the foremost independence of thought can achieve the necessary trust required and that can make peace possible.

In comparison, the present path that we tread (which has not changed over the last 50 years with regard to the Palestine problem et al) where the adherence to policies that have always escalated aggressive actions will only fail again.

Unfortunately this time if the concept of the independence of thought' is not accepted and introduced we shall all live to regret the day that the world did not accept this pre-requisite for global peace in this century.

It is time that our politicians realised this.

DR DAVID HILL, Bern, Switzerland.