I think everyone agrees that it would be nice to turn loose a neutral peace-keeping force in the Mideast. And, the "dogs of hate" are loose, with no beginning, middle or end to the senseless violence.

Would a UN peacekeeping force guard the Israeli settlements which are on Palestinian land in violation of the UN sponsored agreement signed by Israel? In that case they would be enforcing an illegal status quo, and no Palestinian could allow that. You wouldn't, I wouldn't. And how could the UN enforce such a grievous and blatant violation of a signed UN agreement?

Would a UN peacekeeping force NOT guard those settlements, reverting to the legal borders? In that case the Israelis couldn't let them in. You wouldn't let them cut off the settlements, and I wouldn't let them do it if I were Israeli.

It's a mess, because of those settlements. Illegal settlements.

Now, we know what happened in that Israeli settlement. The Israelis let the press cover it. We aren't able to find out if there were women and children shot or bulldozed in Ramallah, Jenin or the others. The Israelis wisely keep out journalists. And Sharon, this time, undoubtedly would haul off the bodies. He got burned a couple of times by leaving them. Well, that and we don't trust any source which isn't Israeli.

The Israelis deny using Palestinian civilians as human shields, for instance, but admit to forcing civilians to knock on doors for Israeli soldiers in case someone shoots through the door. What, pray tell, is a "human shield"?

It's easy to be fed up with both of 'em. I expected the Israelis to be civilized, though.

Arf