Again, I say there are those on both sides who are extremists. You can seemingly only see the stubborn extremism on one side. I agree that there are fundamentalist groups that would like to see Israel destroyed. From those that I know who have lived in the West Bank and Gaza ( Jews and Israelis among them ), support for these groups is far less than you imagine. But I agree that those attitudes exist. What you fail to recognize, is that the same type of racist, hateful attitudes exist among Israelis, towards Palestinians. There are many Israelis who want nothing more than the extermination of all the Palestinians. There is openly racist talk and discussion of transfer among Israeli politicians and in the press. There is widespread and overwhelming support in Israel for the terror tactics used by Sharon's military in Palestinian towns and cities. Racism and religious fundamentalism exists on both sides. It exists in a climate of fear, that is a result of this sickening and ever increasing level of violence. Increasing the repression and violence towards the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories will only increase the level of hatred and violence. Likewise, the suicide attacks in Israel only further increase fear and support of the Sharon tactics. The question is how to end the cycle. You and I fundamentally disagree on how to reach peace. Just as I do not believe that the attack on Iraq will make Americans safer, I do not believe that the attacks on Palestinians will make Israel any safer. In fact, it is the violence that fuels the extremists on both sides. The fundamentalists on both sides would run out of support, if the violence ended. They would be pushed to the fringe. So the question is again, how to end the violence? You think more violence is the answer. I disagree. The true path to peace lies with those on both sides who are already working together, to reach a just and lasting peace through a compromise.

A website that I neglected to mention earlier: www.parentscircle.israel.net ( bereaved families on both sides of the conflict working together to create understanding )