Reply #10: As someone who has spent 20 years in the Middle East and tries

[Douglas Carpenter]

to follow and understand events and why they happen:

1. They do not hate Christianity

2. They do not hate America - they admire much about America. They hate foreign hegemony over the Middle East be it American, European or anyone else.

3. They have long accepted that Israel is around to stay but feel that any peace settlement should be based on international law and principles of equality

4. They certainly do not hate everything we stand for. They see a huge disconnect between the rhetoric coming out of America and the reality.

For those who would like to follow Middle East issues I strongly suggest reading regularly Juan Cole. I am anxiously waiting for his comments on the Hamas election which frankly I see as a result of primarily two factors -- First, Palestinians are simply tired of the PLO lead Palestinian Authority for a number of local domestic reasons.--And secondly most Palestinians in the occupied territories simply do not see any hope of a truly viable and independent Palestinians state:

Here is a link to Juan Cole:

http://www.juancole.com/

And here is a link to an excellent article to give perspective by Seth Ackerman title, The Myth of the Generous Offer

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1113