Your thoughts on the conflict in the Mideast

Do you think the Israeli offensive in the West Bank is an effective way to halt terror attacks against Israelis? Do you think the United States has been an effective leader in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations? Are you concerned the conflict is making a terrorist attack on the US more likely? Share your thoughts.

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The Palestinians lost their land in the 6 day war in 1967. However, they started that war. Isreal defeated them and occupied the territory that they won in that war. Palestinians, get over it...you lost.

jack dempsey, billerica

Sharon is making matters worse by stepping into Arafat's trap. Arafat knows that Sharon is a hot head and is playing Sharon like a tune. World opinion sways in favor of the oppressed and when Sharon orders these massive retalitory strikes he looks like the bad guy. Instead, Sharon should appeal to World Opinion by speaking into the cameras asking for help in controlling Arafat's suicide bombers. Today's media is faster and more powerful than any army in the world (including the US). army.

Geoff, Quincy

We should not support Israel. Because we do support them we are targets for terrorism. What is the reason we support Israel?

Steve Rice, Milford

I think the USA is just doing the wrong thing to fight against terrorists, the fight in Afganistan was needed, but backing up the Israelis against the palestinians is just building a time bomb of hatred against the USA, I love this country because it has given me a lot but I am very disappointed on how the US is handling the situation in the Middle East, In my opinion I think the USA, is backing up a bunch of killers that are abusing the poor Palestinian people, To tell you the truth I am feeling less save to live in the USA, because lots of people are hating us more and more everyday, I will not vote again for Goerge Bush, And I pray for this country and its people, which are innocent of the wrong doing of its leaders. We are just sacrifying to much for Israel, "IT IS TIME TO TELL THEM TO BACK OFF FROM THE PALESTIAN AND JUST GIVE THE PALESTINIAN THEY OWN NATION! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

antonio, dorchester

Why what Israel is doing is called an offensive and what the Palestinians are doing is called Terrorism? Just because one is done by a tank and the other by a suicide bomber? One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter, they are both to blame equally. Until there is a Palestinian State, the "terrorism" will not end. Israel controls the land, control the negotiations, they are the ones the US should put pressure on, not just Arrafat. The State of Israel was created 60 years ago, displacing millions of Palestinians. My question is, were did Palestine go?

Chris, Peabody

So sad that US taking side and not working for peace. How can we look at illegal control of west bank by Israel, and then demand that Iraq honor world court actions? We look as fools to the world. Unless Mr. Bush is careful, we will have entire world against us.

mariannehuston, columbus, oh

I think that the Arabs and especially the Palestinians need to get real! the Arabs (who only support the Palestinians outside of there own(arab) lands) need to push the Palestinians to Peace, Israel can & should do everything in its power to stop the killing of their people, by cowards blowing themselves up. Everyone should relize that a threat like the "suicide bombers" effects everyone, everywere. Take the IRA, they have been fighting for the same thing as the Palestinians, yet they use car bombs and attack mostly politial and military installations, not women and children, that is just an act of fanatical cowards.

Stve, Billerica

The Israeli offensive is NOT an effective way to halt terror attacks. Saying otherwise is like saying that punching someone in the face is a great way to start a conversation. Further, the offensive is not aimed at stopping the attacks. It is aimed taking holy land. The interesting thing to watch is the Church of Nativity. If the Palestinians are able to keep it, it will be called a miricle. Watch for the hand of God in that one. Did you catch it?

Alex, Lowell

I think you US should just stay out of this whole mess. Let is resolve itself, it's not our war to fight. Eventually, the people over there will just end up killing each other off, or just get bored to death of the whole thing. We are just putting ourselves at risk by sticking our noses in this mess. The US should start thinking more about improving our country rather than trying to fight our countries wars.

James, Boston, MA

I believe Americans should be very careful about who we label as "terrorists," especially in the context of this epic Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Suicide bombers on one hand terrorize innocent Israeli civilians, which is awful. Yet, from another viewpoint, they are freedom fighters resisting occupation by any means necessary. Most of us have no idea what the Palestinian's struggle for a homeland entails. This is not meant as an assault on Israel's right to protect herself from extremists. I'm mainly advocating that the U.S. take a more balanced view -- this is extremely complex, and reject President Bush's stark, 'You're either with us or against us' simpleton approach to everything he would have us swallow is terrorism. Israelis, as Sharon showed in the Lebanon -- and everyone seems to 'forget' -- have done their share of atrocities. We need to demand and engage both sides in a political process with the full energies of a Colin Powell -- and stop the one-sided approach.

Ken Brack, Plympton