The Palestinians have become impatient over the last few years, losing confidence in the process and its diplomatic way. They are becoming convinced that the process will never win them a homeland. The militants want to go out and fight for what they might not be able to win peacefully. They would like to purge ‘their’ land of Israelis and would like to see them govern themselves. Terrorism is a crucial part their strategy. They hope to break the Israelis will by their own will to sustain their struggle.

Israel will go to any length to ensure their security. They believe in doing things their own way and in making their own future. It is justified as an unfortunately political and military necessity. It’s no good having faith unless you’re ready to fight for it. That means attacking sometimes not just defending. It means dirtying their hands. It’s a small price to pay for the sake of the future. In its own way it’s another type of fanaticism.

Israel will continue to make the sacrifices necessary to secure its own strategic needs. Israel’s decision to undertake further operations on Palestinian territory may show the flawed conceptual underpinnings of the Israeli decision makers but even if such operations fail, Israel will not allow such failure to deter it from redressing wrongs that ultimately endanger its security. It is doubtful even with such an extended and intensive debate within Israeli academic and intelligence circles and in the media those responsible for such decisions will end such schemes. They will never bow to internal or external pressure and will continue to take concrete counter-action as and when necessary. It’s a dirty world and people will continue to play dirty games. To think otherwise would be naïve.

Again, the suicidal bombers strike terror into the very heart of Israel and the political temperature rises. The Palestinians are in a mutinous mood, they are surly and defensive. They have an absolute ruthlessness and total dedication to the cause in which they believe. It is a tenuous situation and further trouble will ensue. I begin to wonder if peace can be achieved if the atrocities continue? In such a climate of deep-seated hatred the Palestinians are fast becoming unwanted anachronisms. As things stand, there is very little sign of the troubles abating and I remain apprehensive. I sincerely hope my worse fears will not emerge and that they will not be torn asunder.

Yesterday’s terror was brutal and senseless The bus bombing in Israel has not cowed the Israelis nor made them weary. The Israelis have moved beyond the anger and fury, I sense complete and utter rage. Yes, it creates tears and horror for those involved but the Israelis have come to accept the horror of random death with the fatalism of those who live with the fear of it on a daily basis. Such bombings only enervate the Israelis into further action. Each outrage makes them stronger and more resistant to terror. How can peace be achieved if such outbreaks of terrorism continually occur? The Palestinians can never win - unless the Israelis, in momental rage at a heinous irrational act, go berserk.

You cannot separate the nuts from the zealots, the truth from madness. There is hate, filled with such a single-minded pitiless intensity on both sides that gravitates to the ultimate extreme. I've seen the effect of such rage on people. I also know that it projects them into that region of uncaring, which lies close to the borders of madness, a state which is characterised by implacability. Hate can be an oppressive bedfellow.

I ask myself if people in Israel and Palestine can accept the of idea of peace and are capable of adapting to the changes it involves? Are they willing to inter-act with one another? Can they, both the Israelis and Palestinians, afford to be charitable? They will have to demonstrate an ability to change to accommodate peace. Their bellicosity will have to change. Neither have accepted the inevitability of peace.

I ask myself will further acts of terrorism and counter-action be worth the tears and pain? Both the Palestinians and the Israelis are destined to suffer, unless they can change. The answer lies in their hands, only through them will change come. Many will continue to weep at the dawn and dying of each day. Tears, plenteous and free will continue to flow before peace is reached and they will continue to be filled with consuming pain as they move deeper and deeper into the flowing dark of the utter madness of retaliation and counter retaliation.

The Israelis are politicians no different from other politicians and I do try and look at the Israeli Government with a certain amount of detachment by seeing them straight on rather than behind a screen of moral righteousness. God is so often a justification for the worst of what we want to do. You write that everyone becomes, in victory, obsessed by the moral factor. Have you now become my moral guide through moral and ethical minefields? War has never been considered immoral at the highest level of responsibility - merely wise or unwise in the event you lose or your aims are not fulfilled. I would argue that if there is an absence of morality then it’s morally reprehensible to attack. You were very clear when you pointed out that Israel did not use - contrary to some versions - nor intended to use, such direct force against civilians and I don’t doubt that a number of people in Government have called it “embarrassing” but all in all it’s still an damning critique.

You’ve asked if Israel is in imminent peril. Israel is at a crossroads as it has often been in the past. Historically, Israel has managed to survive all the storms but the peace process is barely on track and the situation will worsen during the months ahead due to stupidity, reaction, intolerance and hatred. I feel the brooding abyss widening. Israel’s enemy will be herself in the long term and their fate may be sealed by their own perversity. These will be days of doubt and of final decision which will mark the turning period in the history of the Middle East. They will continue to move from crisis to crisis impelled by the force of circumstance and they will act more hurriedly at times than wisdom demands. Israel may be flawed but I still believe, nonetheless, that with wise counsel they can overcome the difficulties ahead. There are a handful of good, caring and compassionate people working in Government who understand the perils that lie ahead for Israel but they are few and far between and they will be working in an environment of political and bureaucratic indifference and even hostility.

Nothing has changed in the past few years ...

I have watched with horror of what is happening in Palestine and Israel. I perceive the pointlessness of it all, the random killing, the certainty of death and the futility and stupidity of it all. I sometimes wish for silence in a world, which is forever filled with an eternal cacophony of noise. If only the world were a better place and men behaved with humanity. Why is there such a great chasm that divides us from one another and no matter however hard we try why are we beyond helping one another?

I look and think where’s the goodness in this world and if it is there why doesn’t it reveal itself? If it were a slightly better place or its pressures and prejudices didn’t drive people apart perhaps there would be less dreadful suffering. I desperately try to cling to my beliefs in the hope that the world will find surcease from the rage that consistently gnaws at its very core. If I can’t believe then where’s the hope? I ask myself if there’s no hope where will it lead? The cruel and malicious indifference that we confront has a human face and soul. Will we stare into the faces of the dead and recognise that we’ve created the dead face of the world?

The suicide bombers have led to the death of so many innocent Israelis and the Israeli retaliation has lead to the death of so many innocent Palestinians. What has it achieved but further hatred and bitterness, grief and hopelessness where they find themselves locked in by reaction and counter reaction. Both the Israelis and Palestinians are desperate people and desperate people will continue to strike out blindly in their rage.

Do the Israelis and Palestinians have a general aversion to peace, which is leading to avoidance? Fear, ignorance and prejudice are very hard to overcome. Too many unsatisfied needs remain and tensions are at boiling point . Nothing seems to work nor will anything solve the remaining problems whilst the Israelis and Palestinians remain bloody-minded and recalcitrant. To have a chance of succeeding the peace process will require the transformation of ideas that are alien to their respective cultures and will demand a reassessment of objectives and a revaluation of the actual peace process itself. I believe they have ceased to look at the world as independent observers. They have, in a sense, become obsessed with themselves. It has to do with blood and roots, and elemental loyalty.

The Israelis are a people who have been under siege, scorned, rejected and hemmed in with hate for generations. Hatred is like a noose, it can hang your enemy but in the end it will strangle you also. They need reminding of something they’d rather forget – their conscience. If they lose the power of forgiveness they will lose the beat of their hearts. If they cannot find the spirit of forgiveness the soil will not prosper but turn to dust and in the end there is no wall, no table, and no people. Only desolation.

Will they sink into the grey, endless twilight? Will they go down fighting, hurling missiles that they hope will reshape Israel anew; will it give them a new morning to walk into, fearless and happy, a new world before them? Such death causes conflict! Yes they can overcome and shatter the Palestinians bow them down like trees in a wind but they will never be free. Never be able to walk in peace and the hatred that surrounds them will remain and the very fact that the threat remains may be enough to doom them.

I ask myself the question “Would the fate of the peace process be different if Yitzak Rabin had survived?” He was a consistent supporter of the peace process and whatever his illusions he was determined to bring peace and align the Palestinians for the future security of Israel. He died too soon to know what could have been achieved. He died by the hand of one of his own and fell prey to the agenda and power plays of others within Israel - this is where his death has led …