In response to Ms. Barber's letter on Friday about the Middle East, let me first say that I am one of the people you speak of. I have family in Israel that I worry about when I should not have to. I worry that they will be injured by terrorists attempting to blackmail Israel even further toward ultimate destruction.

You claim that "the Arab world will not back down to watch Israel take the land that belongs to the people." Well, that is all well and good, except the Arab world cares nothing about the Palestinians. It only comes down to whom they despise more, Israel or the Palestinians. Israel is the only country willing to take the Palestinians in.

It is a matter of fact that many of those refugees left what was then Palestine at the request of the invading Arab armies. The Mufti of Jerusalem called for all Arabs to leave the area so they would not be caught in the battle when the Arab armies invaded. They voluntarily left their homes, thinking that all the Jews would soon be dead or gone. And then there is the fact that despite this, they were offered citizenship in Israel. Yet the majority of them refuse it.

You also say that the Arab world is not waiting for the destruction of Israel. Tell that to Saddam Hussein, or perhaps you, Ms. Barber, can erase the section of the Palestinian charter that still calls for pushing Israel into the sea.

Israel has made more concessions than anybody should expect of them. The "Palestinians" have given nothing in return. Land for peace is nothing short of blackmail: I won't blow you up if you give me all your land.