Yes, the Arab countries, and I am not sure that Lebanon is officially, totally one, should do and should have done more. Also the Palestinians are not blameless, certainly for the violence, but also for refusing to leave the camps and be repatriated elsewhere, if I am not mistaken. I am no historian and am never mistaken for one. However, she is an educated woman, and she or her editors should know, as I know, as anyone who does a baby-level internet search knows, that referring to making the desert bloom, particularly referring to oranges and olives, is very insulting to Palestinians and their trials. They were world-famous for their oranges, and I have personally made the accidental aquaintance of two now elderly Palestinians who had and lost orange groves. It is like ripping their hearts out. So I find the title of this thread to be either serious or insulting, and I find the editorial to be both true in some respects but also insulting. There is no reason to insult people when it is not necessary. It might be necessary to insult Palestinians for their violence, but it is not necessary to insult them for their agricultural prowess or seeming lack thereof.   What do I know...I am only Irish (American).    mg