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Accustomed
to terror As fighting between Israel and Palestine continues, W. David Nelson, the Rosenthal assistant professor of Jewish studies, said in order for a peace treaty between the two, the United States needs to be actively involved. Nelson said the violence has escalated between the factions due to the recent lack of involvement by the United States. “I do not blame the United States for the recent bombings and violence,” he said. “But it is a strong indication that in order for peace, the United States needs to be there.”
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat accused President Bush and the United Nations of ignoring the Palestinians’ suffering. Yushau Sodiq, an associate professor of religious studies, said that when the United States backed away from a Middle East peace process a year ago, more problems appeared. “When the United States backed off, it gave Israel and Palestine encouragement to do what they want and what they are doing is brutal,” he said. “Neither of them are doing the right thing.” Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom Israel blames for one of the worst waves of suicide bombings since the start of the conflict 18 months ago, was trapped in Ramallah headquarters for a fourth straight day Monday, pinned down by Israeli troops and tanks within the walls of his compound. On Monday Bush called on Arafat to put a stop to anti-Israeli attacks. “There will never be peace so long as there is terror, and all of us must fight terror,” Bush said. Sodiq said the blame of all the terrorist attacks should not be put on Yasser Arafat. “President Bush wants Arafat to tell his people to stop fighting and stop the terrorist attacks,” Sodiq said. “The reality is that he is a prisoner right now, and he will not be able to influence anyone from one room. He should be released.” However Nelson said the United States cannot fix all of the problems by itself. “In order for a peace treaty, there must be support from all of the Arab nations in the Middle East,” Nelson said. Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger of Fort Worth Temple Beth-El said he believes the United States has been involved in helping to ease the conflict between the two countries. “I don’t think the attacks have anything to do with the United States,” he said. “The problem seems to be that Israel and Palestine just can’t come to an agreement.” Mecklenburger said he thinks the suicide bombings will continue for a few more days. “I do not think either side wants this butchering, but I don’t see it coming to an end until both sides find a resolution,” he said. Nelson said he hopes a peace treaty can be made soon, but terrorism will not be the answer. “Everyone is frustrated with this situation, and I believe both sides are willing to have peace,” he said. “It is going to take time simply because it is a huge obstacle.” Israeli troops backed by armor intensified an offensive across the West Bank Monday, pounding a Ramallah building with anti-aircraft guns, briefly pushing into the biblical town of Bethlehem and sending the deafening echo of tank shells through Palestinian streets. Spurred by a wave of bloody suicide attacks that claimed more than 40 lives in five days, Israeli leaders said the military drive was meant to smash a Palestinian terrorist infrastructure. Palestinians, for their part, said Israel’s tactics amounted to a campaign of state terror against the civilian population. Troops searching for Palestinian militants and weapons caches carried out house-to-house searches and engaged in running battles with gunmen. In the center of Ramallah, soldiers used vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft guns to pulverize the facade of a building where Palestinian gunmen were holed up, sending chunks of masonry plunging into the street. Israeli forces also moved into the northern Palestinian towns of Qalqilya and Tulkarem on Sunday night and Monday. In the sixth Palestinian attack in six days, a Palestinian set off explosives when police stopped his car at a checkpoint between east and west Jerusalem late Monday, police said. A policeman inspecting the vehicle was severely wounded. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Raul
Martinez IV |
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