I am not a disinterested observer of the morass in Palestine. I was, for three years, a member of a kibbutz near Afula (about halfway between Haifa and Jerusalem). I am a supporter of the Jewish state. I believe that the Jewish people have a righteous claim to this land on grounds of original ownership (as defined historically), legality (as ordained by the United Nations in 1948, when the formation of a Palestinian state was opposed by the Arab League and the Palestinians, themselves) and morality in having produced the only democracy, civil rights, women's rights and organized workers' rights that area has ever known. I am proud to be a Jew and a Zionist. That said, I must add that I have never opposed a neighboring Palestinian state. For many reasons, some more altruistic than others, the vast majority of Israelis do not oppose an independent Palestine. Israelis do not want to be in a constant state of war. What the hell do you people think we are, nuts? What we do oppose is a state under the control of those sworn to end our existance. Egypt, today, is not such a state, nor is Jordan or, even Syria. Those Arab states are strong enough to control their borders and their fruitcakes (as we contain our merry band of zealots). Arafat is just not able to offer the security that Israel has a right to require of a recent enemy. If you anti-zionists who disguise yourselves as human rights activists want to end the conflict, why dont you urge the UN to guarantee the security of a region whose map they drew fifty three years ago? (Come to think of it, where were you Palestinian rights advocates all those years they were being exploited by Egyptian, Lebonese and Syrian absetee landlords, or is it only Jewish behavior that sticks in your craw?) Mike Miller musicmic@rcn.com