Thursday, March 21, 2002  FAQ: Shouldn't We Be More "Even-
Handed" in the Middle East? (In response to a European friend)
A touchy subject so let's be clear on the basics. I don't want
to put words in your mouth but I am assuming you mean treating
the interests and motivations of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority as equally valid and morally equivalent. If that is
what you mean then I strongly disagree.  Israel recognizes the
right of Palestinians to self-determination. The Palestinian
leadership has never recognized Israel's right to exist.
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority either tacitly or directly
sponsors the targeting of civilians including schoolchildren
with suicide attacks of unspeakable violence in order to achieve
its political goals. Israel is a secular democracy that shares
the values and heritage of western civilization.  The
Palestinian Authority is not a democracy and does not share our
values of religious freedom, press freedom, or even the equality
of women in society. Moreover, the Pal