In the Israeli-Palestinian struggle both parties have failed to acknowledge one important point; that is, that both parties are victims. The Jews are victims because they were forced to leave their homes and were scattered in the Arab countries and in Europe. They were truly turned into a nation of refugees, by the colonialist interests of the Roman Empire and other alien forces in the Middle East. The Palestinians are victims because it was convenient for the Jews and other super powers at the time to solve the Jewish problem by taking back what the Jews see as their lands and throwing the Palestinians out of them, thus creating another nation of refugees. Thus, the solution for one injustice has created another injustice: the situation of the Palestinians today is the same as the situation of the Jewish people until the creation of Israel. Thus, we are both victims.

      If the Jews and the Palestinians both understand that they were both victims of alien interests in the region and understand that both nations are here to stay, then a fair solution to this crisis between two sister nations is possible.

      The Jews have nowhere else to go, and the Palestinians too have nowhere else to go. If we acknowledge this, then it will be evident for us that we may keep shedding each other's blood to no end at all. We have to make peace because we both have a right to this land and we both come from the same origin. We both are peace loving and peace seeking nations, and I believe that we can live together and learn from each other.

      Arabs and Jews are much closer to each other than we think. Arabs and Jews don't really hate each other with that unrelenting hatred that sometimes appears to be so deep there is no way of breaking it. Jews lived in Arab countries and they were respectable citizens. They were educated and reached key positions in their states. Arabs too are living a good life in Israel and have access to higher education The Arabs have never hated the Jews. The Arabs have never systematically hunted the Jews or tried to annihilate them, as some extremists try to mislead us into thinking. Jews also never hated the Arabs and never tried to destroy the Palestinian people systematically.

      It is very sad that the leaders on both sides have chosen the "easy" way to solve their problems. It is easy to hate and it is easy to destroy and it is easy to kill. It is difficult, however, to love a different human being especially if he doesn't speak your language. It is hard to build and it is hard to talk instead of fighting, but history and all the holy books teach us that peace is the only guarantee of a nation's security and prosperity, the only way to achieve a future clear of disaster and holocaust.

      If the silent majorities in the Arab and Palestinian camp and in the Jewish camp raise our voices, we will drown out the voices of extremists on both sides, and we will be able to reach the peace that most of us want. We are much stronger than we think. The extremists shout loudly, but we too must know how to shout. And when we shout our voices will be much greater than theirs.

      Intellectuals are usually silent people who prefer using their heads instead of their fists and throats, but when the matter is life or death, it is important to speak out. However, letters and words are not enough. We have to be more active in making peace. We have to take people out of their homes and out of their jobs and off their desks. We have to take them to the streets. We have to show the stupid extremists on both sides that the majority favors peace over war, love over hatred and progress over destruction.

      When people understand that the writers who create their novels and poems and national heritage, the scientists who create new technologies for their nations, the doctors who treat their illness and many other important and talented people are for peace, they will follow us.

      If we fail in doing so, then the extremists on both sides will lead us like cattle to be slaughtered in this war and in future wars. We, our children and our grandchildren shall never be safe because the sword never puts an end to hate and as long as there is hate on both sides there can never be security for any side at all.

      In 1995 Yitzhak Rabin and other great people in the Jewish camp stood on one platform and sang a song for peace. A crowd of more than a hundred thousand cheered for them. I refuse to believe that one bullet of one lawless criminal has put an end to the dreams and the vision of hundreds of thousands of people if not millions in both camps. That is not realistic. We are reasonable and intelligent people. We must never accept it. The people have not changed. They still crave for peace. These same people are the people who will make peace come true. We have to take them back to the streets and we have to give them hope.

      Certainly, all this bloodshed taking place today must one day lead us again to talk seriously about peace, and to make peace. Both nations are deeply wounded and very tired. However, it is very sad to wait for many thousands or more of people to die on both sides before we have peace. It is sad for us to spend billions of dollars killing each other and wait until we are so poor and beaten that we have to sit and talk because we can't take it any more. Intelligent people should put an end to this disaster before we reach that point.

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