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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Arafat says he wants peace and a Palestinian homeland, and then walks away from a deal that would have given it to him. Israel rightfully insist that the Palestinian Authority crack down on terrorists, then they tie the PA's hands and use the PA's ineffectiveness (and supposed unwillingness) to justify taking matters into their own hands with military action. There are no absolutes in this struggle. No side can be considered "right". Both sides want the destruction of the other, and the rest is all posturing. That being said, I think Israel's handling of the situation only serves to make matters worse (which might be playing to their long-term plans). For evidence, one need only look at history. This conflict has been going on for decades, and it's as bad now as it's ever been. A reasonable person might question the effectivenes of Israel's dealings with the Palestinians.

Greg, Newton

If history serves me right, it was Truman who gave a piece of land so that Israel could establish a homeland. They in turn kept taking more land. If it is so wonderful over there, then why don't the American Jews who support Israel go and live there. I am of Irish heritage and I do not expect this country to support($$) my opinion of what should go on with the Catholic and Protestant conflict.

Eileen, Framingham

Of course the Israelis are justified ... if you question this, do you not also need to question the US's right to pursue terrorists in Afghanistan? (Last I checked, somewhere between 75% and 90% of Americans approved of our actions in Afghanistan, I believe.) And if the Israeli current course of action is not the most effective, I don't know what is. They've spent decades saying "Okay, please stop bombing us and make nice. See, we gave you some land. Please make nice." It didn't exactly work, making concessions to terrorists, and thus does not make for a palatable alternative to systematically tracking down the terrorists where they live. If the UK, France, Canada, Japan, Germany or any other US Ally was being infiltrated on a daily basis and dozens of its citizens were being murdered, slaughtered, every week ... would the US even *think* about speaking against our ally's right to defend itself? I will not now deny that the Palestinians' should have an independent state (despite my feelings on whether or not this is right or appropriate). But NOTHING justifies the Passover massacre ... for anyone not Jewish (or even if you are), imagine someone coming into your Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter dinner and blowing themselves and 22 of your closest family members and friends to pieces. Would you feel any need to sit down at a table and discuss with your adversary some payment you would make to him to ensure he didn't do it again? The U.S. has a policy -- we do not deal with terrorists. Thank goodness the U.S is FINALLY realizing that we can't expect Israel to just sit still and make deals with terrorists, either.

Jake, Framingham

No, No, and Yes. I've totally lost respect for the Isreali leadership ... and the US Administration for backing them. Although they are using modern, hi-tech weaponry (helicopter gunships, missiles, tanks, etc.), I view the Isrealis' attacks on the Palestinians as no less "terrorist" than the suicide bombers. I've seen NO effort to approach a negotiated settlement. Their policies are and wrong-headed and pig-headed.

Peter, Wakefield, MA

I think the incursion into Ramallah is the least effective way to end violence and restart constructive peace negotiations in the Middle East. The only thing Israel has accomplished is to destroy the very infrastructure that is needed to track and sequester would be suicide bombers. What Israel is doing right now only serves to anger more Palestinians and enable extremists to recruit more willing volunteers to sacrifice their lives. Furthermore, I think what Israel is doing is against international law. Israel is in the process of committing crimes against humanity by ignoring the Geneva Convention. The fact of the matter is that Palestine is a recognized and independent nation that is under military occupation. Mr. Arafat is a democratically elected leader of Palestine and he is under siege by Israel for wanting freedom and liberty for his nation and his people. I do not consider the suicide bombers terrorists because of this fact; I believe they are freedom fighters. Afterall, their acts of death is the physical interpretation of one of our sacred phrases that was the battle cry when we fought for our freedom and liberty from British military occupation--"give me liberty or give me death". If we condemn the suicide bombers as terrorists, then we must look to our past and call the Continental Army as a terrorist organization and label the British occupation as a war on terrorism.

Jin Zhang, Westford

I sometimes wonder what can motivate someone to hate another so violently. It amazes me that a strip of desert can have the whole world watching as two sides fight endlessly. I do not believe that there will ever be a suitable solution presented to either Arafat or Sharon because I sincerely feel that neither side wants peace. If they did, then the peace accord sponsored by Clinton (and it did include the offering of an independant Palestinian state) would have been accepted by Arafat. This lack of resolution is not, however, a justification for terrorism or suicide attacks. Both sides should be ashamed that a place so holy is being stained daily with the blood of innocents.

Trisha, Boston

I think Israel is pouring gasoline on the fire. The Palestinians aren't backing down. The US has been totally ineffective. Bush's rhetoric only serves to polarize things more. This isn't the Wild West. He should temper his comments.. I feel that we're probably going to see an increase in terrorist attacks against Americans, whether on our own soil or anywhere overseas.

Suse Schoener, Dedham

we would not stand for and we don't stand for people blowing up people with human bombs and vehicle bombs, and neither should the israeli people!

ken burke, new ipswich new hampshire

Sharon's brutal and continued offensive against the palistinian population and authority is as militarily innefective as it is morally bankrupt. The US government is being shamefully marshalled by Sharon and is making no effort whatsoever to support any peace effort in the region! Yes, this makes further terrorist attacks on the US not only likely but almost certain. People who have lost all hope and respect for themselves are bound to join the ranks of suicidal terrorists. Bush insists in aggravating this situation with his Axis-of-Evil idiocy which will turn the rest of the Arab nations against the US!

Jules Verme, Cambridge

Israel needs to take a long, hard look at U.N. Resolution 465 (from 1980 no less) that determines all territory occupied after the 1967 war as having "no legal validity" and the practice of settling parts of its population in those territories as "a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention"

Manny, Medford