To the editor:

In response to the capture of one of its soldiers, Israel has resumed attacks against the government and people of Palestine. At least nine members of the Palestinian government have been taken prisoner, the power in most of Gaza has been knocked out by missiles, bridges have been blown up, Islamic University has been hit by attacks, there have been reports of warplanes flying over the residence of the Syrian president.

Much of this military effort is being waged with equipment subsidized by our government.

How much longer is the United States going to pretend that Israel is a stabilizer in the region? How much longer will we ignore the fact that this type of material support is directly related to anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East? How much longer will we pretend that the capture of a soldier necessitates the bombing of villages?

The Israelis must have a state of their own, but so must the Palestinians. The American government must end military and political favoritism toward Israel and support peaceful solutions in the region with actual neutrality.

Besides being more humane, this might go a long way toward the overall goal in the so-called war on terror. It is impossible to rid the world of hatred of America by military means. Why not actually try to stop being so hateable?

Ryan C. McCarty,

Lawrence