WhoÕs the Underdog?
WhatÕs Aggression?
We read about ÒIsraeli aggressionÓ every dayDo we understand what that means?
Most of us students were born at a time when Israel has controlled all the territory on the West Bank of the Jordan river, but that wasnÕt always so.
Perhaps another approach is also called for.
Today we read in the papers and see on the news that the Israelis and the Palestinians are on the verge of a war.
Should we take sides?
Most of us naturally root for the underdog, and, at least on the surface, the Palestinians seem to be the underdog. None of us would like to have a military power occupy our towns and cities with tanks.
But is it really that easy to condemn Israel for taking action when almost daily its citizens are murdered in the streets?
Until a year and a half ago the Israelis and Palestinians were attempting to solve their differences around the negotiating table. The Palestinians have rejected almost all of IsraelÕs offers. Until recently they even rejected the offer to negotiate. (See the Khartoum declaration.)
¥	Yes, Israel should cease to occupy Palestinian territories after a negotiated settlement that addresses Israel's security concerns.
¥	Yes, a Palestinian state should be established.
But the Palestinians cannot shirk their responsibility for the situation that has developed.
The Palestinian leadership rejected the state offered (in U. N. Resolution 181) in 1948 and joined in the Arab WorldÕs attack against Israel! If the  current Palestinian leadership would act forcefully against terror, instead of encouraging and organizing it, both parties could still be sitting in a civil manner around the negotiating table.
LetÕs not be too eager to support the underdog- just because he appears to be the underdog.