Violence in Israel.

There has been more violence and turmoil in the Middle East. More lives have been lost. Israel has acted aggressively in defending what it sees to be in its interests. Palestinians and their supporters have acted provocatively and pushed Israel into a corner. Israel reacted as it has become accustomed to: with force. It has become a predictable cycle. Palestinians and their supporters provoke Israel and Israel responds with force. The Palestinians always lose.

Opinion is slowly starting to turn in the Palestinians' favor. Israel's harsh responses have begun to cast them as a bully in the eyes of many. Rightfully so. There is no need to fire or launch commando raids on unarmed ships or commit air strikes on Palestinian villages to root out sporadic rocket fire. Israel has a sophisticated military. They have many options at their disposal. Bombs, tanks and artillery should not be high on their list. Still, the Palestinians seem to take some encouragement when Israel bombs or shells them. Indeed, it seems at times they deliberately seek to provoke Israel into a harsh and disproportionate response: a tried and true guerrilla tactic that Israel continues to fall for.

Violence has achieved very little for the Palestinians. More often than not, it has proved counterproductive. Provocation has had some success in the press, but has gotten them little on the ground. Perhaps it is time for the Palestinians to adopt a different approach to the problem. What the Palestinians need is an Arab Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King. What they do not need is Hamas or another Arafat.