Carmen Cerra has given us yet another “Poison Ink” depicting Israeli violence against Palestinian youths. This is the latest in a long series of illustrations along the same line stretching back as long as I have been at Iowa State, and I am tired of it. I sympathize with the Palestinians. A lot of American Jews do, as only recently has there been a Jewish state of Israel.

The problem is the Palestinians don’t seem to have a rational way of doing things. The Palestinians insist that they are the only people being wronged, meanwhile they are conducting a terror campaign against the Israelis with far greater impact than that of the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States.

Yes, the Sept. 11 attacks were staggering and tragic, but what has happened since then? A terror attack here is an oddity, and the very few that happen are magnified by it, and there is no fear of an attack say, this afternoon on Central Campus. The Israelis live in fear of attacks every single day of their lives.

The Palestinians have shown no restraint in their attacks, aiming at schools, buses, even hospitals.

And then they claim they want peace. I don’t condone some of the actions the Israelis have taken; they have gone overboard, but they were led to it, and they are in a situation where they can show no fear or weakness. In this situation any attack must be met with the highest level of force practical.

That is why the Israelis shoot first and ask questions later, not because they enjoy killing innocents, not because they enjoy killing children, but because everyone in the country feels like their back is against the wall.

Maybe Cerra should visit Israel; there’s a military cemetery outside Jerusalem with people as young as 14 that may give some insight into the national character. If their 14-year-olds aren’t too sacred to be held out of combat, then the Palestinians, who conduct wanton acts of terrorism against targets like schools and hospitals certainly shouldn’t expect their teenage youth to be left out of it.

Hey Carmen, how about showing the other side? The Israelis are under attack too.

Dan Zelman

Junior

History