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The biggest problem for Israel is that there is but a fine line between Palestinian terrorists and innocent civilians. The very same innocent civilians become terrorists when they strap on their explosives belt. So how do the Israelis know when they've defeated terrorism when the terrorists are part of the "innocent civilian" population? New generations are standing in the wings; indeed, those younger generations are already in action, as the suicide bombers become ever younger.

An important difference between the Israeli fight against terror and America's (not mentioned in the open letter to Bush) is that the Israel has negotiable issues with the Palestinians while the US has none with Osama Bin Laden

An important difference between the Israeli fight against terror and America's (not mentioned in the open letter to Bush) is that the Israel has negotiable issues with the Palestinians while the US has none with Osama Bin Laden. You have confounded two disparate issues in the last sentence. To make a parallel, one could say either

Israel has negotiable issues with the Palestinians while the US has none with the Afghan people.

or

Israel has no negotiable issues with the known terrorists just like the US has none with Osama bin Laden.

THat is, put people and people in both places, or persons and persons.

I know you did not have such intentions at all, but this confounding is precisely what the Palestinian propaganda tries to sell. By making the ever so slight substitutions of entities involved and criteria for comparison, to make our war look different from that of the Israelis. Again, this coincidence appears to be coincidental; I do not mean to say that such was your intention.

I liked also your point about blurred lines between civilians and terrorists. Not only the nature of terrorism makes the line blurred, but specific actions of the Palestinians. Specifically, we hear a lot about Israelis blocking ambulances and hindering their immediate access to the wounded. What we do not hear from the press is that the Palestinians have used, several times, ambulances for ambush. If this happened in New Yourk, our National GUard would be doing the same thing at checkpoints as the Israelis do.

Similarly, some suicide --- homicide is indeed better --- bombers have dresseed themselves as Orthodox Jews. I heard (but could not verify) of the cases where they have used attire of Christian clergy for their own means. Now, when Israelis are suspicios, it looks (and reported) as disrespect to the clergy. Unfortunately it is this deliberate "blurring" of lines by Palestinians that cases much of it as well. Rgards, TQ.

An important difference between the Israeli fight against terror and America's (not mentioned in the open letter to Bush) is that the Israel has negotiable issues with the Palestinians while the US has none with Osama Bin Laden

Huh? We could stop supporting Israel, pull our forces out of Saudi Arabia, and end sanctions against Iraq. Why aren't those "negotiable" issues?