On Friday, 55 Palestinians were murdered in a Mosque during morning prayer at the hands of a fanatical Jewish settler. We are dumbfounded and filled with remorse. To many, events such as this appear to dismantle the once flourishing peace process. To us, the slaughter is evidence for the necessity of peace.

Tragedies in the Middle East are not new, nor have we seen the last of them. During the beginning stages of the peace process disasters as this were forecasted, because of the attitudes and actions of those who oppose peace.

On one hand, Jewish extremists will do anything to keep their dreams of "Greater Israel" alive. And, on the other, Arab extremists will do anything to prevent the recognition and existence of the state of Israel. Both parties share a common goal -- to scare their respective peoples into a continued state of warfare.

Everyone should understand that this event, and those which preceded it, are not representative of the people -- rather the persons responsible for committing the atrocities.

We stand united to end the violence and continue the peace process -- the last avenue leading to a better life in the Middle East. Which headline did you prefer, the handshake or the slaughter?