July 21, 2006
By Dolores Taller

With family in Israel, and friends in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, I’ve observed the growing violence in the area with pain and concern. The escalating violence between Israel/Hamas and Israel/Hezbollah shows the fragility of the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict and its potential for a disastrous regional war.

If allowed to continue, more innocents in all the affected area will be victims.

As an American Jew who supports Israel, I believe international and U.S. intervention is critical to allow cooler heads to prevail, halt the escalation, provide opportunities for the affected parties to negotiate return of captured prisoners, and begin steps toward a negotiated settlement of the Israeli/Palestinian and Arab/Israeli conflict.

Continued military action is futile and dangerous. Only a just and comprehensive settlement that acknowledges the rights of all the peoples to safety and freedom, can assure security and peace for all.

Dolores Taller,
Berkeley