August 1, 2006
By Rebecca M. Budner

To the editor: As a Jew who cares deeply about the well being of Israel, I have found the last few weeks very troubling.

I fully support Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas and Hezbollah rocket attacks, as well as take action to save Israeli military soldiers from kidnappings.

At the same time, it troubles me that the Israeli government has chosen (with U.S. support) to go beyond reasonable levels of self-defense in creating undo suffering among both Palestinian and Lebanese civilians.

Some say that Israel is intentionally creating civilian suffering on both fronts in hopes that the Palestinians and Lebanese people will turn against the extremist elements in their midst (Hamas and Hezbollah), essentially choosing their own children over war and terrorism.

This strategy will not solve this conflict; only a cease-fire with Hezbollah, return of the kidnapped soldiers from Gaza and Lebanon, and a negotiated, two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority will bring the peace and security the Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese people deserve.

The United States is not helping the situation by essentially encouraging Israel to do our war-on-terrorism bidding, at the cost of Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese lives.

Continued violence will lead only to more violence and support for extremist groups.

Only through diplomacy will Israel and its neighbors be able truly to resolve these issues.

Unfortunately, diplomacy will be impossible until this round of violence stops. Thus, I believe that the United States and its allies must heavily involve themselves in facilitating a cessation of all violence between Israel and its neighbors.

Rebecca M. Budner
Portland