Well, Arafat has a constituency which justly hates the Israelis. He has systematically terrorized them for as long as he's been able to do so.

I know you think that the Palestinians should say that they did strike at Israel any way they knew how, and were bad and "asked for it", and let bygones be bygones. I trust you'd do that, and be grateful for the lesson taught. Some of the Palestinians, though, have "cojones". (I think my neighbors and I would probably spend the rest of our lives taking on anyone who had done that. I hope so, and I don't think we'd want the folks who would just give up the way you want the Palestinians to in the area.)

He has Israel occupying 9% of his land and building. (Which 5 states would you let Mexico take over and still be willing to declare "peace"?) How does he declare "peace" with that going on? What would the rest of the Palestinians say? Is it possible for the Palestinians quit dramatizing their situation, even if it included suicide bombers, as long as their being driven out of their own land? Seriously, is it possible for anyone to have so little pride, besides you folks who want them go just stop?

How about letting the Palestinians have an army. What do you want to bet there would be no suicide bombers?

I know, I know. You'd give up 9% of the lot your house sits on and declare peace gladly. See the above re "cojones".

Has Sharon created a situation where the hate will not be over during the lifetime of the people he has brutalized. The "Sharon Doctrine" - if it doesn't work, if it breeds hate, do it harder.

Arf