Those whose vocation is fund-raising will see only a magnificent gift of pounds 20m. Others might put it differently: the university has been sucked into an obligation to find pounds 18m for management studies which, to put it mildly, it might have preferred to devote to an alternative purpose. Our euphoric fund-raisers will say that Mr Said's gift will act as a magnet for further donations Maybe. We don't provide enough high-quality facilities for our athletes, or enough training opportunities for them to succeed. So, the Government is leaping into the breach to sort things out.

Good. But isn't it curious that the PM doesn't expect the free market to solve the problem? The liberal ideologue is quickly replaced by the keen interventionist when the issue is close to his heart.. Everything that has happened in the Middle East over the last half-century shows the strength of Palestinian nationalism. Whatever Israeli hopes and Palestinian fears, this makes it impossible for Mr Arafat to preside over a Palestinian Bantustan. Even if Mr Netanyahu, like Mr Peres, goes hand-in-hand with Mr Arafat the conflict will continue until the Palestinians achieve self-determination.. We haven't said this often lately, but three cheers for the PM.

A new national sports academy, help for sports in schools; these are great ways to spend the extra National Lottery cash This is something John Major feels passionate about We in Britain don't pay enough attention to sport, he says. If this were on offer it would be easier for Mr Arafat to sell concessions over Jerusalem and settlements to his followers. The Palestinian Intifada in 1987 showed that the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza could not be maintained without immense efforts by Israel. Even if Mr Netanyahu were to return Israeli troops to the cities and towns they evacuated last year he would have to fight a small war to take and hold them.Nothing can really be achieved without granting a Palestinian state. In 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon to eliminate the PLO, with disastrous results for itself. Both Israelis and Palestinians have tried to do so with a fair measure of success Hamas and Islamic Jihad exploded their suicide bombs. Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli settler, killed 29 Palestinians in a mosque in Hebron.