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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You have to look back to early 1970's to see what the "big" picture is here. Palestine has every right to defend itself.. I hope those who are blindly following Bush/US and supporting Israel in this and future conflicts gain insight and knowledge before speaking out in any form of media. USA needs to re-examine its policies towards other nations and its resulting actions.

D, boston

I think the US people should think about the source of the conflict: Israel's cold blooded efforts to kick the Palestinian people out of their own land and leaving them no place else to go. Then they should comment.

Sarah, JP

The U.S. has favored Israel as far back as the early 20th Century in this conflict, and in effect had a large role in the creation of the conflict itself. Israel is taking a stance only because it knows the U.S. is supporting them, and Palestine will find themselves in a more and more desperate situation as they try to reclaim their land. I'm afraid this won't end the terrorist attacks, which are the only means of warfare left to an impotent country.

Nathan, Plymouth

Both, Israelis and Palestinians have faced death in the recent past. Both have lost innocent civilians to this bloody conflict. But, to simplify the situation and assume that an Israeli offensive into the Palestinian territories will end terrorist attacks in Israel is simply naive. The current situation in the Middle East did not begin 2, or 20, years ago; rather it has it's origins prior to the formation of the state of Israel. For many centuries people of Christian, Judaic and Muslim origin lived in the region relatively peacefully. That was the case until the state of Israel was formed in the late 40's. For approximately 10 years prior to Israel's formation there began a series of terrorist attacks by Muslim (The Muslim Brotherhood) and Jew (The Irgun and Stern Gang), alike. Until these two groups can sit down at the negotiating tables and pound out a resolution, despite any ongoing attacks, then Israel will continue to see the horrifying effectiveness of suicide bombers; likewise, the Palestinians will continue to see counter-terrorist operations taking place in their homeland. With a concerted effort by forces outside of the region, namely the US and EU, there can be a resolution to this crisis. President Bush must stand firm in his support of Israel's right to exist, but he must not blindly align this crisis with the US War on Terror. This crisis has too much riding on it to label it in such an amateurish fashion. I believe that the region will fall deeper into a chasm of despair without strong, proven leadership from outside of the region.

Casey, Medford

I have suspected since he took office that Mr. Sharon would attempt to incite an ever increasing conflict, and he has done exactly that. The random killing of Palestian civilians is state sanctioned terrorism and is equally evil as the violence carried out by the Palestians. The lack of response by the U.S. to the Israeli violence and destruction of property has emboldened the Israelis, and led to further bloodshed. I strongly suspect the perception that the U.S. supports violence against Islam and Arab countries has been decidedly reinforced, which will lead to further terror attacks against the U.S.

robert, wellesley

the logic for israel entering palestinian territories is the same as our's for entering afganistan: the government is knowingly aiding terrorists who are affecting countries beyond their border. there is no other path but to punish the supporting government.

tony nelson, salem, nh

All I have to say is, why should the United States assist the Palestinians in any way, shape, or form, after they danced and celebrated and passed out candy in the streets on September 11?

Doug, Weymouth

I am sick of supporting Isreal. They are as gulity as Palestine in regards to terrorism. The only reason our government backs Isreal is for the Jewish vote. Create a state for Palestine already and get Isreal out of there before we get attacked again.

steve, cambridge

911 had something to do with the way the US handle the Middle-East. As the mediator, one can not be biased and the US has been doing it from one admistration to another. The Palestians request for internation force to monitor the violence, but the US opposes it. US government creates problems for our citizens. What have been happenning in the Middle-East, can also happen in the US if the US would not stop being biased. I pray that this will not happen and hope our goverment need to be fair. The Israel offensive will only cause more attacks. The US mediation has not been effective.

Hank, Beverly

The only way to halt "terror" attacks in the West Bank is for Israel to leave land that wasn't theirs to begin with. This is not a US problem. This is Israel's problem. How would you like it if the rest of the world decided to turn New England into an entirely new country and give it to a group that has been more or less nomadic for the past couple of millenia? And then that group decided that New England wasn't enough.....?

Mike S, Weymouth