Rory Hassler's story on Israeli-Palestinian violence was markedly biased against Israel and one-sided in its presentation. Of particular issue is the so-called "debate" over terrorism versus freedom fighting.

Let me make it absolutely clear that when innocent civilians are targeted—as militant Palestinians from terror groups such as Hamas and Yasser Arafat's own Fatah do—that action is terrorism. No freedom fighter guns down innocent pedestrians at a bus stop. No freedom fighter attacks a young girl's bat mitzvah celebration. No freedom fighter blows himself up in the midst of teenagers at a disco or among families at a mall. These horrific acts, like all of the violent acts of Arafat's supposed Intifada, are acts of terrorism, committed by terrorists.

I also challenge Nabil Sarhan's assumption that Americans do not understand the situation in Israel. We, too, have been attacked by terrorists, and I think we understand very well what it means to be targeted by religious fanatics. Just as Israelis have struggled against terrorism for more than 50 years, Americans now fight the same battle, one we shall eventually win. If Israelis and Palestinians want peace, it is the responsibility of their leaders to work toward a resolution of conflict. It falls directly on Arafat's shoulders, as the internationally recognized, sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, to curb the violence and stop the terrorism.

Only after that happens—when Israel's security can be assured—will Israel be in a position to consider lifting restrictions in Gaza and the West Bank and to eventually grant the Palestinians their own state.