Just last week you were so proud of that movie based on suicide bombers. You're a hypocrite! One day he is for one side, the next day he's for another. Save it.

What a trite sentence. It's been repeated time and again since 9/11. But is it really true? Who is this Hanania guy to speak in the name of Islam? The ways of the Prophet Mohammad are clear -- look to the Qur'an and the hadith and you will see what true Islam is. There will be no compromise with the unbelievers and the enemies of Islam, except as a tactic until dar-al-Islam can be achieved. The Western attempts at westernizing and liberalizing Islam are pitiful -- all part of the colonialist mindset ("our ways are better/ more moral than yours"). And nobody buys into this deceit except the Westerners -- there are still millions of true Muslims out there ready to give their lives in jihad.

to blame Israel for all their problems instead of rooting out the problems from within. Israel is not to blame for Hamas or its popularity. A sick, twisted society that teaches its kids to want to be suicide bombers is to blame. As Senator Hillary Clinton called it, it's child abuse. Small children are trained to hate Jews and carry out terrorist attacks "in the name of Allah." There are even summer camps where they train the kids for paramilitary operations. And regular TV broadcasts on PA-sponsored TV (not Hamas-sponsored) that depict Jews as evil and worthy of destruction. THIS is why Hamas is so popular, not Israel.

And if we had known that Hamas would turn out this way we would have never let them form in the first place. We didnt ''nurture them'' as you say. Hezbollah did that. We just let them form without stopping them. This was our mistake. We cant say: we will never negotiate with terrorists. We negotiated with the PLO after all. If they stop attacking us they can do what they like. Provided its on their side of the barrier. But they should know that the ones with blood on their hands will be killed.

you continue to be a voice of sanity in a sea of the insane (except when you praised Vanessa Redgrave). This is more like it.

You have no idea what is going on. You do not know what you are talking about.

"Clearly, some might wonder how an Islamic organization like Hamas can continue to grow in popularity, especially in the wake of Sept. 11." Yet you would like us to ignore or forget who was dancing that day.

this article is hard to agree with in that militant islamic fundamentalist groups exist all over the arab world and muslim world, and israel is just in one tiny part of the region. it seems more logical to say that a trend of extremism throughout the muslim world is to blame for organizations like hamas, rather than blaming israel. logically, if israel was to blame, extremist movements would only exist in the immediate vicinity of israel.

Just know that we know that you are not mohammad and not muslim, we know because you use the same language of pat robertson and extremist christian zionist in 700 club, Islam is more than Jihad and put every body in Da Elislam, the is the modest relisgion that attracted everybody from all over the word,

NOWHERE. Because none of them disagree with "hijacking the religion." Another arm-chair apologist editorial.

There are things in this piece that I disagree with, but also things that needed to be said. * The rise of Hamas is not primarily a reaction to Israeli actions, but rather primarily a reaction to Fatah corruption and PA anarchy. * Hamas trades on its image as being "clean." * Hamas is, unfortunately, the only group in the Territories that displays any discipline. Palestinians value this during a period of anarchy. * Hatred of Israel is also a factor, but at a time when polls show a majority of Palestinians favoring negotiations, Hamas' ideology of violence is not the deciding factor outside of their hard-core base. * However, there are many points here that needed to be said. I agree 100% with the last 4 paragraphs, in particular. Mixing religion, politics, violence and social work together, as Hamas has done, eventually leads to vicious tyrrany and intractable problems until the Gordian knot can be sliced.

Writing a column is an enlightening experience. Most people seem to read only what they want to read, and worse, only interpret what they wish to be to their liking. I didn't say Israel was responsible, I said they share in the responsibility among other factors. The Palestinians have a great responsibility in the rise of Hamas and that is the obvious point. They condone it, to some extent. As for the "dancing in the street" episode ... one woman in glasses doesn't represent all the Palestinians, unless you are "mejnoon" :) ... she was dancing in the streets after learning of the attack, one lady. Maybe you would like us to elect her on Wednesday as our president? At least she would hand out cookies and candy as she attacks Israel? And for Jenny the censor, I didn't endorse suicide bombing. Hollywood films are just that, films. You watch, try to understand, and maybe even you can learn something from it. Still, to Jenny I sing with glee, "Zippidy doo dah, zippidy yeah! My oh my what a wonderful day." :) Thanks Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

Hanania writes: "Hollywood films are just that, films. You watch, try to understand, and maybe even you can learn something from it." One could make exactly the same kind of disingenuous point about Nazi propaganda movies. Maybe you would feel a little differently if the women and children being murdered by the bombers were not Jews but Palestinians.

"Zippidy doo dah, zippidy yeah! My oh my what a wonderful day." Unfortunately, it is not such a wonderful day for the many hundreds of Jews, including a number of Holocaust survivors, who have been permanently maimed by these murderers. Nor can it be a wonderful day for the many parents who mourn their children and children who must mourn parents.

Ray, surely a smart person like you would first and foremost blame the corruption of the PA for the success of Hamas. The PA is not trusted by many Palestinians and Hamas is not seen as corrupt - its pure uncorrupt terror to Israelis and compared to the PA its seen as uncorrupt to Palestinians (but why do they fail to realise the missery that terror has brought them? Hamas is more of the same!!!). I usually enjoy reading your columns, but you failed to highlight the obvious in this one here. Keep writing.

"As for the "dancing in the street" episode ... one woman in glasses doesn't represent all the Palestinians, unless you are "mejnoon" :) ... she was dancing in the streets after learning of the attack, one lady. Maybe you would like us to elect her on Wednesday as our president? At least she would hand out cookies and candy as she attacks Israel? " Ray, you are the one who is Mashnoon. Just ONE lady dancing? Maybe I should remind you that the Palestinians are currently electing someone known by the nickname, "Hitler" and electing a mother who sent a few of her sons off to suicide bomb themselves and Israelis. Ray, you are as outside the loop as Spielberg, so please spare us "And for Jenny the censor, I didn't endorse suicide bombing. Hollywood films are just that, films. You watch, try to understand, and maybe even you can learn something from it. " I SAW Paradise Now. Did you? Remember the end? Did they show the carnage that results from suicide bombing or did they show a white screen? I learned a lot from that film- that only Palestinians matter and not the people they kill by blowing themselves up. Take care.

Probably because the majority of the talkbacks tend to be to be better thought out than the tripe you publish. Looking beyond the actual typo ridden articles, you seemly glide between right and left playing both sides against the middle for what? The pseudo buzz of sensationalistic journalism? Since this is the Opinion section, how about taking an actual stand on something and offering YOUR opinion. These constant contridiction pieces are hardly as thought evoking as you seem to think they are.

Hamas MAY SAY it is driven by religion and the superiority of Islam over Judaism and Christianity. But in the case of Palestine, it is driven by one thing only, recognizing without blinders that all talk aside, Israel intends to slowly exterminate the Palestinians. Israel talks peace, but it doesn't act peace. You don't talk peace and take the other's land at the same time. That immediately tells them you are a liar. Hamas will be docile as a baby the moment Israel truly show the Palestinians that Israel fully recognizes Palestine's right to existence as a nation, and it needs enough land area and natural resources to sustain itself economically, and proves if, for example, by giving back the 700,000 olive trees it has taken from Palestinians, and seriously figures out a way to guarantee right of return, and voluntarily sees to it the both Israel and Palestine get the same per-capita distribution of water. As it stands, everything points to Israel wanting to exterminate the Palestinians because what comes out of Israel's mouth has nothing to do with the barbaric way Israel treats Palestinians on a day-to-day basis.

Dear Mr. Ray Hanania, You will always find an excuse to absove the serial murderes claiming the Palestinian Arab identity from any sort of responsibility. You will always try to see the good, human side to those who murder the innocent people in Israel. Is there is a human side to Al -Qaeda terrorists? Why don't you tell the Americans about the Al-Qaeda humanity? The only reason the Arab street in Gaza or Jenin supports the Hamas savages is because the Jews don't treat the Arabs the way the Arabs treat the Arabs let alone the Jews. When Jews will learn to speak the language of the enemies and when the Arab mothers in Ramallah will be afraid to send their kids to school just like the Jewish mothers in Tel Aviv or Haifa then the Arab street will decommission the terrorists but not until then.

You can give your land back to the Indians. While you drink their water, eat their food, let them live a life in poverty, on a reservation. Don't look to far over your shoulder. There might be a mirror. And you will see that you are committing the same atrocities, that you accuse the Jews of in Israel. It's funny how those mirrors reflect the same image, that you claim the Israeli's have! It could be called hypocrisy. Or self Hate. Are you one of those Jew self haters Jerrold?

Hamas reflects the goals of Islam. Namely, the destruction of Israel. Their popularity has nothing to do with Israel placing “stumbling blocks.” It has everything to do with religious fundamentalism and the Moslem intolerance of a non-Islamic state in their midst. The essence of the problem is the conflict between Islamic and Western civilization. Palestinian supporters of Hamas cheered when 2000 Americans were murdered in the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. Israel has offered the Palestinians a state on several occasions, but they rejected the offer. Why? Because, like Iran, they want to wipe Israel off the map. Don’t blame Israel for the rise and success of Hamas. Put the blame where it belongs, i.e., with the Palestinian Arabs.

sympathizer/Arab tries to present himself Jewish. Learn to be a little less transparent #19, than play the games.

The Corruption of the PA is a contributing factor NOT THE SOURCE. Extremist critics of the Palestinians (some here on this list) would want everyone to focus on that because it takes the sharing of blame off of Israelis. But the fact is the corruption only surfaced as an after-thought issue. Frankly, the corruption is not a problem at all when it comes to doing what is right, especially when you think that in Israel, no one seems to use corruption as a reason why we shouldn't negotiate with Israel. Palestine is not yet a state, but just a quasi government. If Arafat and others did not protect zealously the assets of the Palestinian people, it would have been plundered long ago. And, I don't hear anyone ... not anyone ... challenging the corruption of Hamas, which is far worse. They raise money in secret, spend it lavishly on themselves and their supporters, use it to separate Muslims from Christians, and build edifices in the name of Allah (God -- same word for those who don't believe) that discriminate against other human beings. We all know the reality of what's happening, but few seem willing to admit it. By the way, when will Israelis accept their responsibilities? Palestinians are doing so more and more. I would be more encouraged if I heard other Israelis and Jews admit the wrongs they have committed. Or, are you guys like a "virgin birth," without sin :) I'll the truth even when it hurts, both sides. Because my dream is a Palestine and an Israel living together in peace, with the extremists all silenced, controlled or incarcerated where they belong. As for our histories, you have yours, I have mine. We each have a right to whatever we wish to believe. Let's not let a violent, ugly history on both sides stand in the way of a peaceful future for all. Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

Too many good points to pass up ... so here is a second note :) Palestinians and Arabs are not responsible for the Holocaust, so quit using it when it is convenient to make an argument, and then standing in righteous indignation when someone else brings it up in a way you dislike. The Holocaust was sacred and way above anything that has ever happened. Maybe the closest thing is the massacre of millions of Combodians. But to compare Hitler to anyoen in this conflict is wrong, on both sides. You demean the Holocaust when you trivialize it as politics. Films by the Nazis are NOT the same as films made in a free society where people can watch, think and respond anyway they wish. There is even redemption int he Nazi films, showing how desperate with their lies they really were. Movies provoke people to think. As for the Nazis, why don't you attack the real supporters of Nazism and anti-Semitism? The Europeans. The Poles. The Germans. The British and the Americans who didn't want to intervene until they were attacked? Don't be pypocritical and don't trivialize the Holocaust. It even insults me, because I know beyond the politics, the Nazis were going to exterminate the Arabs next. Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

Nice try Ray, but I'm not buying it. Palestinians attack and Israel defends. Palestinians are the source of the agression here in Israel. I believe that you know this. After all it is your people who have been blowing up resaurants, discos, buses, etc over the last 5 years. Ray, its time for you to "get real" and cut the crap.

He is a Palestinian Arab from Chicago. Whatever that means.

Palestinianism is indeed responsible for the Shoa. Had the arabs allowed Israel to come into being in 1930's, there would NOT have been one.

This Hanania person dreams about destroying us like the rest of the Arabs His more subtle and refined style of arguing just makes him more dangerous.

the Holocaust never happened anyway... Most jews rather than resist the Nazis did their best to keep their heads down till it was too late