I also travel to Israel every year but it is mostly to see my son and visit my sister (near Tel-Aviv). All my time, energy, money is spent on them…sorry, I don’t go to any show while in Israel but I suspect you are good, I have heard of your awards. I agree and disagree on many points: 1) Yes the Palestinians People exist but no, there is no such country called Palestine. The name, (they called it Palaestina I think) was given by the Romans to a piece of land given to the Jews. Here is a bit of history from the Internet: Current status Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and neighboring Arab states eliminated Palestine as a distinct territory. With the establishment of Israel, the remaining lands were divided amongst Egypt, Syria and Jordan. 2) Yes most Israelis WANT peace, they just can't envisage living the rest of their lives in urine smelling shelters (Sderot, Galilee, etc) and it is my belief, and that most of Israelis that the main stumbling block for a real lasting peace (and I know it can be achieved) are the governments on both sides...Olmert/Hamas blood thirsty gang/Abbas. 3) It is not "in us" Jewish People to celebrate death, chaos, conflict murder and destruction. In that respect, you don't know the Jewish Nation very well. As bad and evil as Sadam Hussein was, it broke my heart to look at the photo of him with the rope around his neck. My first thought was for his remaining daughter and his wife with whom I am sure he was not the devil re-incarnated. On the other hand, when a bus full of kindergarten children blows up and there is blood and death all around, you see Palestinians men, women and children alike dancing of joy and distributing candies and sweets...you want to tell me this is not a savage nation? 4) The Palestinians terrorists do blend their struggle with religion as they knife Jews in Jerusalem (my son told me, he lives and studies there) and yell "Allah Akbar" (G-d is great) while doing it. And if these fanatics did not mix religion with their terroristic views, then explain why they forced the two foreign journalists to convert to Islam or risk getting their head chopped off? 5) I don't know if Israelis like criticism or not (who does?) but I can tell you one thing for sure, I do my fair share of criticism in the direction of Olmert and his gang as I don't think they are good for Israel. Even sometimes my posts don't get published but I don't care, I vented just by writing. Overall, I tend to believe that Israelis and Jews in general are a little bit more humans than the people they constantly fight with who shoot first and ask questions later. A Jew entering ANY Arab country has less chance (if any at all) of survival than the other way around and that's the plain truth. You know the famous words of Golda Meir way back when. She said “there will be peace in the Middle East when Arabs love their children more than they hate us”. And it is very true for today, when little Palestinians kids are taught from Kindergarten on that it is a good thing to kill a Jew, that they and their family will go to Haven (never mind the 72 virgins, they are too young to understand, lol). I too, have hopes for 2007 to be less bloody than the previous 60 years...one can always dream, can't one? Phew, that was a long reply, I hope they publish it because it touches on both side. Shalom, Salaam.

I don't agree with everything ... but, I think your courteous manner demands respect even if I don't agree. I can respond to the points I disagree with if you want, but I suspect you already know the feeling. I think that there are individuals and groups on BOTH sides who are bad, but Israelis are better at making their bad look good, while our bad always looks worse and more representative of our people. I think we will have peace when the Israelis also stop hating us as a people because of the actions of a few, and start loving peace in its complete sense for both sides, not just themselves. I know many Israelis talk about peace and I believe it is genuine, but it is usually about peace for themselves and "whatever" for the Palestinians. Anyway, attitude is important and I think both sides have their hurdles to overcome. I opposed the murder of Saddam Hussein mainly because killing himt he way we did makes us look like the tyrants we claimed he was. But Saddam Hussein was no friend of the Palestinians even though a FEW have protested and chanted in his support. The majority of Palestinians do not support him, but sympathize with anyone unjustly killed. I hope one day Palestinians will speak out more against the killings of Israelis, and maybe one day too, more Israelis will speak out agianst the killings of Palestinians. During the Vietnam War, several of my friends fled to Canada to avoid the war. I decided to enlist even though I opposed it, but also entered the Air Force to avoid the Army service. But I have much family who live in Windsor, Canada. Peace and best regards Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

Why is everyone ignoring the FACT that our Arab enemy killed Jews before there was a State of Israel, and again before there were any so-called "occupied territories," and that it is still killing Jews? These so-called "Palestinians," an invented term previously referring only to Mandate-era JEWS, are no one to talk to.

very boring Ray. No wood , no chew.

"the main stream". They got 70% of votes in the elections.

maybe the holy land won't exist by the time you get there. Saddam's last words had something to say about Palestine being the holey land.

He assumes things which are simply not true such as..."But Saddam Hussein was no friend of the Palestinians even though a FEW have protested and chanted in his support."..A few..??? Seemed like more than a few.

Maybe one could ask what aspects of Saddam Hussein Palestinians might choose to support. After all, the USA aided Saddam Hussein even while knowing that he was murdering his own people. Also who were the Palestinians NOT supporting when they sided with Hussein? Would it be logical for Palestinians to support the USA, the country that is a major block to their freedom, a prime supporter of Israel? Was it not psychologically logical for Palestinians to feel some schadenfreude when Iraqi rockets fell on Israel, to think NOW Israelis can experience the fear many Palestinians feel daily in the Territories? When one's enemies suffer it's fairly normal for people to feel some delight in it. Weren't many Americans and Israelis feeling schadenfreude at the capture, trial and execution of Hussein? We are indeed a barbaric and unevolved people. If only we could move past this us-versus-them mentality and realize that WE are all on this earth together as human beings. Then we might learn not to seek vengeance or wish for the pain of others. When we feel connected to others we wouldn't wish anything for them that we wouldn't wish for ourselves. But people living in fear, especially in survival mode, tend to regress to fight/flight/freeze kind of thinking. Sighhhh We live in an age where the politicians know the power of fear and use it to control their citizens. Sad state of affairs.... wonder what atrocities this fear will give birth to this year.... Happy 2007! And yet, I must not give up hope ....... so I do hope and pray that 2007 will be a more loving and peaceful year. Namaste.