The point that I am making is that Israeli reaction to an everpresent threat of terrorist attack has been, all things considered, rather guarded. The citizenry has not broken with the promise of a separate Palestine. The government has been draconian with Jews who desicrate Islamic shrines or who kill or harm Palestinian civilians. (Atroceties do occur but, when they do, the reaction of the government is swift and sure, which is not always a popular action to a people whose children are, regularly, endangered by Arab extremists) I dont know what steps you would take, were you under the gun. I suspect that you, like everyone else, would react to attacks with whatever steps were needed. The U.S. was attacked and responded by decimating a country because that country may have housed the financier of the attack. Israeli attacks have been on those exact areas that train their attackers. The IDF targets in response. Think Entebe. No one, outside of the radical right, wants this conflict unresolved. The Palestinians should have a state. They are a people who have never had their own nation. Their position, in the Arab world, has always been one of landless servitude. As a leftist, my sympathies are with the poor, the exploited, the traditionally downtrodden. But, I will not sacrifice my family so that their ends might be accomplished and, dear GUEST, unless you are prepared to sacrifice yours, I resent your suggestion that we let down our guard in such a hostile environment as a 53 year old war that shows no sign of ending. I wish you shalom as I wish it for my friends and, God knows, for my enemies. Mike