Ray, I agree with your sentiments. Hatred results from break down in communication resulting in misunderstanding. It also is the product of two peoples demonizing each other as in the case of Israelis and Palestinians. Many people have preconceived ideas about what they think a columnist's writings means to them. This only exacerbates hate in many cases. This often results in columnists being quoted out of context in order to give grist to the mill of the biased writer in many cases.

I wouldn't take the responses that you get as any real indication of anything-- Certain columnists--especially the more eloquent ones, such as yourself, or writers such as Amos Oz, or political figures such as Shulamit Aloni or Avraham Burg, m touch a raw nerve in some very disturbed people. Instead of dealing with the issues at hand, these people attack ad hominem, often in avery crude way. It's very strange indeed--those who most likely would be the best interviewees for Charlie Rose's PBS interviews often awaken respones from people who would otherwise be at home on the Jerrry Springer show.

I enjoy your mix of topics and views. I don't always agree with them, but they do make me think. It also has helped me better understand the "Moderate Palestinian Voice" as you put it on your web page. This one is very interesting. I think readers should focus less on small parts they dislike -- I happen to like Benjamin Netanyahu, but am not driven to anger by your criticism of him -- and readers should focus on the bigger picture of what ou are writing. I wish there were more Palestinian writers like you. I think it's because of your Christian background, your isolation and criticism from extremist Muslims, and your history of relationships in the Jewish community. (People do read your bio). I'd like to know more from you about the growing tensions between Christians and Muslims in the Palestinian territories and how you interpret them. Robert

You an Arab that's all. Jews were the first to be called "Palestinians." http://www.sullivan-county.com/id3/palestine.htm

I know you have your point of view. So do us Israelis. Like I said last time, if people are stupid enough to think that you would have an Israeli perspective on these issues then theyre pretty stupid. Its like saying me as an Israeli would have a Palestinian view on things. Im not palestinain and youre not israeli. So what? The point is to try UNDERSTAND each others point of view. We dont have to agree on everything, just understand. The next step is to agree to disagree on some issues, without resorting to violence, and work on what we can. What we cant sort out we probably never will and thats ok, as long as theres no violence. My wife has a temper, let me tell you, you dont want to get on her bad side! Boy oh boy, when the sh1t hits the fan you know all about it! But sometimes we agree to disagree on somethings. The rest we sort out. So, the same idea is good here too between us neighbours, Jews and Palestians. and for Daisy #6, yafa sheli: pull your head out the sand. Either that or stay in the US and keep you mouth shut with your head in the sand. Or even somewhere else if you prefer. Keep up the good work Ray Shalom haver :)

Im not familiar at all with your articles, nothing personel just reading opinions on ynet rarely generates any warm fuzzy feelings if ya know what I mean. But Im suprised you have taken the time, frankly to write about nothing. Could it be you cant bring yourself to write about how after Israels gestures, palestinians show theyre true colors by burning down synagogues? Or pehaps the extra large parade of arabs parading theyre weapons by the thousands seething for jewish blood? You know what - safer to criticise some of those who make commentaries on your articles. maybe it should be called New Age journalism?

I have't read your articles lately but years ago I did read a biographical account. When exactly did you become a Palestinian. Seems like you were a Lebonese back then when your family came to the US. And when did you forget that they Jews were your only friends back then. I did read some pretty harsh articles aginst the Jews of Israel. Suddenly you have become a moderate Palestinian. Is it economics?

to #9 -- there is no economic benefit AT ALL in writing about Palestinian-Israeli issues. None, believe me. But there is a spiritual and ethical benefit to find the middle ground, even when people continue to trash. And no, I NEVER made it a habit of attacking "Jews" and have ALWAYS criticized political and government policy. As for the Lebanese thing, I'd be proud to be Lebanese, but dad is from Jerusalem, mom is from Bethlehem, and Hanania is from Judaism. :) to # 8 ... I did write about the Synagogues. It was wrong to burn them down. But the small handful of extremists in Gaza control the silent majority of sheep there who are afraid, frustrated and still have no real hope for a future. to #7 and my friend Duv: You are absolutely right. We have to accept that we each have different histories, narratives, etc. We can't let those differences prevent us from working towards a mutually better future. I can't disagree with you even when I might disagree with you :) to #6 ... yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah. to #5 -- honestly, I don't grow daisies at my home. They look too much like dandelions, which is an unwanted weed. to #1,2,3 and what happenedf to 4? :) Thank you. We don't have to agree about the past. We don't have to always laugh at the same things. We don't have to even like each other. But, we should be able to find a way to live together in a future without violence from both sides, and that allows both peoples to have respect. thank you all Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

I know people here in the USA that were born in Jersualem, 1927, PALESTINE get it?? PALESTINE PASSPORTS. ARE YOU READING DAISY????? so for all you land thieves that are trying to take away a land,a peoples , their OLIVE orchards, their dignity-and squeeze them behind an UGLY SICKO WALL and make up some SHOAH excuse, you make me ill, and Hopefullly the USA dumps your welfaring bigotted butts. and for those that like to remember the holocaust- try remebering the BUTCHEr of Beirut Shatilla Lebanon massacre in 1982- you know just to keep things balanced and to be aware of ALL war crimes including your own..

My family is Jewish and have lived in Svat for hundreds and hundreds of years. Most of my family speak arabic so they could speak with our palestinian, and druzim neighbours, and the neighbours learnt to speak ivrit too. This is my land too. I fought for it, four and a half long bloody years heyl hayam. You are a childish idiot. BOTH sides have done some bad things. We shouldnt have to pay for mistakes of our forefathers. Likewise the palestinians shouldnt have to pay for the mistakes of their forefathers. We can try make peace, but it requires two willing sides. If you have nothing constructive to say, and only negitive things, then rather shut up. Ata yodea klum. Meeyfo ata? US? Europe? Lech habayta!

In English a dud is something not very good. is your dud short for David? I think we should be talking about present Palestinian Arabs . They are the devils because they are the ones who strap bombs on and kill innocent Israelis. The present ones are the ones who burned the synagogues left in Gaza and it is the present ones who are lopping missiles into Sderot. and Ashkelon I can well appreciate that you and your family are Mizrahim and used Arabic. I have no quarrel with the language but you only helped prove my point that Jews have always lived in that territory renamed Palestine by the Romans. When I lived in Israel in the late 50's my best friend's mother could trace her family in Jerusalem all the way back to the time of the 2nd Temple. Her paternal grandfather who was a scribe walked from Yemen to Israel.

Duv is short for Duvdevani. Its my surname, and you cant even read mein Brumhilda. All my friends call me Duv. You are incorrect in assuming that all palestinians are violent. Some are, some arent. There is no ''present palestinians'' as you say that are all prone to violence. Thats a complete over generalization and the height of arrogance. Ok so what they did was not ok. We've made some mistakes too. I can assure you that the ones who continue on the path of violence will be dealt with in a very harsh way. We''re not exactly having a holiday when we go on miluim every time. My wife has trouble sleeping everytime I go, because she knows what we are doing, even though I dont tell her, she knows, its hard but we do it because we have no choice. We're not playing games and messing around here. Ray has his point of view. You dont have to agree with eveything he says, just understand. If you disagree thats ok. I disagree with him sometimes also. You can agree to disagree. He is not a terrorist and hes not violent either. I promise you we will find the violent ones, like we have been doing all these years, and we will kill them. They leave us with no choice. But we must at the same time reach out our hand in peace to moderates like Ray, and I say moderate because even if his views conflict with ours, he is not violent, and not a terrorist. So he gives you a moderate headache sometimes. Big deal. I suggest that you, on your high horse in US do the same. You might just learn a thing or two. Shalom

To say that the Washington Post is biased is just another way of saying the each newspaper, television station, radio station and anything to do with the media is biased. Have you ever met a person who is not biased by the very culture they come from, their education, their parent's education and even where there parents come from. People in general, psychologically speaking, can only be so open minded, if they are even willing to admit that the other side "might just" have a point, and then the baised part of them kicks in.

"We should learn to live together".... We wanted. But they didn't want. Years of blind hatred. In one of the articles the arab girl said: "Isralians are Isralians". Yeah! 100%! And Palestinians are barbars on this Land. By the way, stop making a mess in people's minds. This LAND has never been their land and I hope will never be. This holy place is not a place for bandits to live. ALLAH ACHBAR in Hebrew translation (as it is heard) is "the mouse has gone". It's a joke. But I hope the joke will soon come true and they will vanish from this LAND forever, these sons of Hamman. I wish them good luck but in some other place of this world. And besides, they will be paid back for sure. I want to reccomend some tolerant people, who are not acquainted with THEIR Mentality: Don't believe any word they say and never turn your back on them. They understand only power. These are not partners for constructive dialogue.... Here is a good example of palestinian "honesty". PALLYWOOD and their french friends. http://www.seconddraft.org/movies.php

In reading Mr. Hanania's latest column, I have to agree with him more and more. Both sides have the good (which is terrific), the bad (which is the filth of life) and the ugly (which is the ycck of life). However, I need to state something that has been erroneous for decades. According to newsreels as far back as the 1930s, not one Arab was ever considered to be a Palestinian. Even in text, not one Arab person from the 1930s until the 1960s was ever called a Palestinian. A Jew was mentioned to be a Palestinian. But the late Arab-Hitler (my term) Arafat took this term when being known as an Israeli was becoming more in vogue and used it for Arabs in the region. Prior to that - Arabs were known as Arabs from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, or Egypt. I'm sorry if this offends some, but it is fact not fiction. I'm very sorry that the leadership of the Arab world consists of those who do not respect life at all. I'm sorry that the leadership of Israel also does not respect good quality life as can be witnessed by certain events. Aiwa, ana yehudia. I am sure some have already guessed that - and perhaps is cursing at it. For the sake of our miracles (and that is what I call my children who are in deed that) and their miracles it has to be us to take control of the situations away from the leaders who can't lead and we have to stop with the lies of the past to work for the future. Also, we need to use humor but not at the expense of others' lives. We just can't allow the prejudices of our leaderships to blind us and our children. Enough bloodshed has been done. How many more innocents need to be destroyed before we say enough? Tell Abbas to finally take a walk through Aushwitz and denounce his blindness regarding what my families have suffered. We should also tell Sharon to face his public and stand trial for crimes against humanity. Then we can allow new leadership who DOES want to work for peace, and not what others tell us to do. Am I right or wrong? Shalom/Shlama/Salaam/NAMASTE! Hinda

Thanks for the nice way you expressed your view #17 ... but My late father, George Hanna Hanania, came to the US in 1926 on a "Palestinian" Identification document that was in fact his passport. It was issued by the British Government. Prior to that, y grandfather, Hanna Mousa Hanania, came to the US on an Ottoman Passport which identified him in 1892 as "Palestinian Arab." For every Jewish person who denies Palestinian identity, there are five who deny Israeli identity. It never existed until 1948. But rather than stoke the fires of hatred, shouldn't we respect each other? Why concentrate on denying the other? Denying the other is simply a Freudian act of self-denial -- in otherwords, when you deny someone else, it comes from insecurity about yourself. Best regards Ray Hanania www.hanania.com PS ... using the term Nazi and Hitler to disparage others is also a tragic slide into hatred, also. I hear so many Arabs use the term Nazis and Hitler to describe Israelis and that is unfortunate. (In my worst moment of emotion in the Spring of 2002, when the killing was at its worst, I described Sharon as a Nazi, but at least I later apologized for misuing the term Nazi which minimizes the significance and the uniqueness of the tragedy of the Holocaust. Let's avoid that and others like it, shouldn't we?)