Aid distribution

In reply to A Soudry (Letters, 12 January), the original topic was Israel's economy and what Scotland could learn from it, not a Jewish state's comparisons within a wider, Balkanised, Middle East. So it is good to see A Soudry acknowledge that any civilised country would be courteous and generous to its neighbours and willing to exchange assets and skills for the benefit of mankind.

A Soudry should also be aware that "Big Satan" is a jazz band. "Great Satan" is the derogatory Iranian term for the United States. I doubt if Iran has received much financial aid from the US in recent years.

N AITKEN

High Street

Kingussie, Inverness-shire