March 11, 2002

What is the future of the war in the Middle East? Ultimately, those who believe in Biblical prophecy already know. But in the meantime, what is happening is a war of attrition.

The so-called Palestinian side, which could live in peace and prosperity if they abandoned their objective of destroying Israel and the Jews, thinks it can wear down Israel and the United States. They are willing to die and to kill others, including civilians. They think those TV images will cause America to pressure Israel into pulling back while the other side continues the war. It's happened before and may again.

There will be no agreement because Israel's enemies want all the land and none of the Jews. Period. No negotiations that produce less are acceptable. The so-called "right of return" of so-called "Palestinian exiles" is a formula to flood the region with more people who have the same goal as Yasser Arafat. That's a fact. And no amount of propaganda can change that. I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

But in the meantime, what is happening is a war of attrition. The so-called Palestinian side, which could live in peace and prosperity if they abandoned their objective of destroying Israel and the Jews, thinks it can wear down Israel and the United States. They are willing to die and to kill others, including civilians. They think those TV images will cause America to pressure Israel into pulling back while the other side continues the war. It's happened before and may again.

There will be no agreement because Israel's enemies want all the land and none of the Jews. Period. No negotiations that produce less are acceptable. The so-called "right of return" of so-called "Palestinian exiles" is a formula to flood the region with more people who have the same goal as Yasser Arafat. That's a fact. And no amount of propaganda can change that. I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.