Please can I go back to the title of this thread - Who are the Terrorists?..... Seems to me that folks tend to bog down in explaining why their side isn't, and the others are, then we get historical excuses for it. Let's get back to basics. What do we accept as a general definition for terrorists?

Is a terrorist organisation any group whatsoever who, for whatever reason, is determined to use acts of violence on the general population of any state, or region, or district, for the purpose of imposing their will on the governing authority, or population of that territory?

If so, and other nations wish to stop them carrying out their murderous attacks, then maybe we should ALL take steps to do it, and not just talk about it and say tut-tut, how shameful. The UN (I know, I know, but it's the best thing we've got at the moment...) member nations could place peace-keeping forces into Israel to keep the Israelis and Palestinians from each other's throats, and then use international law to try peace-breakers and those responsible for artrocities. And yes, I do include Arafat AND Sharon and any of their associates who might be involved. Didn't something along those lines happen in europe a while back? Let's try it again... Some kind of positive action could also defuse an increasingly dangerous situation elsewhere if governments encouraging terrorists and extremists in neighbouring states were to be called to account and united military strength used to enforce a stand-down?

It's only a suggestion, folks. Now where's the nearest fox-hole.......