Leon - among the BEST things for Israel and for Palestine - for the Jews, Muslims, and Christians in this "holy land" is to PROMOTE and SUPPORT education. Have you looked at the type of university Bethlehem University is? www.bethlehem.edu You will see that it is NOT a "breeding and recruiting ground" for anything of the sort that you said - rather it is a place of international acclaim inspiring innovation and creating the future in a mutually respectful, peaceful and just way.

Let's see if we can "go forward" and look at the facts of the individuals involved -- yes, Gilad is being held. Is it wrong. yes, Jawdat Michael, Dana Tarazi and Odeh al-Jeldeh are being held. It is wrong. Perhaps all four of them are "hostages" or "prisoners" - whatever. They all are being "held" - and it is wrong. So, 3 kids from Gaza (Jawdat, Dana, and Odeh) - who are Palestinian - want to study at a Palestinian university - internationally acclaimed Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu) ... let's go forward for a better future!

Some say let Jawdat Michael, Dana Tarazi and Odeh al-Jeldeh study in Gaza or in some other Arab country. Why not in the West Bank - the "other part" of their own country - Palestine? Since when does one country (Israel, in this case) make decisions about where a student can study in his or her own country? (Palestine = WB+G)