Dear Antoun,

Courtesy does seem useful in these times. The reason I took the time to respond in depth is that, unlike many people with your assertions about the sexual violence and assessments of Israel, you are speaking out against Hamas and even, as in your latest comment, thinking of ways to take them down. So although I would say we passionately disagree on facts and assessments (to the extent I find some of your statements hard to stomach, as you find mine), there is some area of common ground here, namely around taking out Hamas. And I share many of your assessments of Netanyahu, as does a high % of the Israeli population. Barghouti is indeed an intriguing figure; what portion of the Palestinian people of West Bank view him favorably? Ditto for people of Gaza. I ask with genuine curiosity. We need moderate leaders on both sides and a loss of power to the extremists on both sides.

Amiel