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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watch how fast this debacle would end if the united states just walked away.

american, usa

The Israeli offensive will only create more hatred towards them. By blaming Arafat for the suicide bombings Israel thinks it can avoid addressing the real issues that are causing the suicide attacks. The US has been very ineffective. How can we bomb Iraq for violating UN resolutions when me make Israel our biggest foreign aid recipient while it also violates UN resolutions? Israel has a per capita income similar to that of Great Britain, yet the biggest slice of our foreign aid money goes to them. Am I missing something here?

Jay, Boston

I don't think the Israeli's are justified in what they are doing now. They are getting revenge but it will not be productive in the short or long run. The Israeli's should leave the occupied territories and give the Palestinians a homeland. Continued occupation and oppression will not be successful.

Ron, Augusta

Has anyone bothered to read the UN Resolutions of the 20th century? There are no such people as "Palestinians," and there is no such country as Palestine. "Palestinian" lands belong to Israel. Israel is the only country that has ever been a sovereign state in that region. Oh, and whatever happened to Pan-Arabism? Jordan and Egypt just blocked their borders to their "Palestinian" brothers.

Sharon, Framingham

Israeli attacks will NEVER halt the terror attacks. The Palestinians will respond the same way the U.S. responded to the violence done on 9/11 - they will strike back, but the only way they have to strike back is terrorism. The U.S. should remain engaged diplomatically with both sides and cut off all financial aide to both sides until the violence ceases. The U.S. is becoming isolated from the rest of the world. The hostility of the arab world will definitely result in terrorism against the U.S.

Tom, Concord

I am enraged by Israel's actions and dismayed by the indifference of America over the inhumane treatment the Palestinians are suffering with this invasion. I think collective punishment for all is wrong. It will not stop the suicide bombings, only enrage more to do the same. When a whole society is without hope for the future, they will act in the extreme. Israel is as much a terrorist in this as are the suicide bombers.

Judy Stewart, Providence, RI

I am not sure that what Israel is doing is ok. When Iraq invaded Kuwait we had the Gulf War. I think we are right to not get involved military, however we do need to take a large step forward in peace negotiations. I do think that if peace is not achieved in the Mideast the same sort of terrorism will occur here.

Ronda, Shirley

The Jewish Lobby is so strong in this country it doesn't suprise me that we in the US cannot even "see" the other side. Start to question the Israelis and wonder where the Palestinian hate comes from. Our assistance of the Israelis only inflames the arab world and sets the stage for a future Sept. 11th. Our dependence on foreign oil only increases the chances of this happening. This is not the land of the free. This is the land beholden to the middle east because of oil. How will the US get out of this situation? By decreasing our dependence. Will this happen? Probably not.

James Stewart, Boston

I think that as long as Israel follows a strategy of isolating and marginalizing the non-jewish population, we cannot support them. This is rather like supporting apartheid.

Suzanne, Bedford

I think the Israeli offensive is aimed at expansion of its territories into the West Bank and eradicating Arafat and all Palestinians from the area. The "terrorist" idea is just another excuse for Israel to bully the Palestinians. I don't think that there is an effective strategy or method to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Bush's concept of terrorism has yet to be defined clearly. It appears that his use of the term terrorism turned into a witch hunt mentality of which countries to ostracize. US responses in general to international conflicts have always been fairly clear without set goals. Nonetheless, my heartfelt thoughts to all those who have suffered from the suicide bomings.

Bonnie, Boston