This is a response to Assata Richards' letter on Friday about why we "must understand why some use violence."

The letter referred specifically to how the daily "lessons" the Israeli citizens learn is the "price" for not "gaining a deeper understanding of the oppressed." Clearly, Israel is not completely blameless for Palestinian frustrations. To say otherwise would simply be wrong.

But I read about Palestinian commercials inviting children to be "martyrs." I heard how Palestinian school children selected the Tel Aviv disco bomber as their hero. I saw pictures of 3-year-old Palestinian children carrying assault rifles at rallies.

According to a CNN interview, these school children had no idea that most of the 21 victims of that suicide bombing were teenage girls. Instead, the state-controlled Palestinian media only deified the bombers. And was a 3-year-old child already so "oppressed" as to grab a gun? At that stage in his life he already "had nothing to lose?"

I am surprised that Ms. Richards, as a sociology student, does not seem to realize that this violent disposition was more likely intentionally instilled by a leadership that encourages such hatred.

This is the same Palestinian leadership that was recently under investigation by the European Union for deliberate incitement in Palestinian school textbooks. And this is the same Palestinian leadership that still financially endorses families of suicide bombers. Come to think of it, I think I understand quite clearly why too many Palestinians turn to violence.