"To the Editor:
Saying “the Israelis kept on building settlements and the Palestinians kept on building hate” is a neat turn of phrase, but where is the symmetry? The building of settlements is a deliberate policy aimed at preserving and expanding the boundaries of Israel. The Palestinians do not build hatred to advance their goals — it festers as a consequence of military occupation and domination. When, for example, Israel “squeezes” the civilian population of Gaza, restricting its access to essential resources to turn it against its own government, surely hatred of Israelis is the inevitable outcome. Maia Ettinger
Berkeley, Calif., June 4, 2008"