Many people have been killed in the recent conflicts, as Israeli military forces and Palestinian rioters continue to trade fire. Many times the battles take place in settlements and camps where many innocent bystanders have been killed, including women and children. “According to the UN Children’s fund, as of yesterday morning, 22 children under 18 years old had been killed and 1,000 wounded by Israeli soldiers firing tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and standard ammunition at protesters and the gunmen who are sometimes in their midst,” (Richburg, 12 October 2000). Many of these children were innocent bystanders who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Violence broke out in late September when Ariel Sharon, a former Israeli Defense Minister and rightist Nationalist, visited a holy place in Jerusalem regarded by Jews as the holiest spot in Judaism and the third holiest spots in Islam by the Muslims. “His visit infuriated Arabs, who hold Sharon responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by the Israeli-backed Christian Lebanese militiamen in Beirut refugee camps” (Hockstader, 30 September 2000). The violence that began in Jerusalem, killing 4 Palestinians and wounding over 200 from either side, eventually spread from the West Bank and Gaza Strip to towns and cities inside Israel itself, where it escalated even more. As the violence entered the third day, many started to wonder if negotiations could ever resume, looking at the present extent of violence and casualties. “ ‘We’re starting to ask if the Palestinians want peace,’ said Maj. Gen. Ytzak Eitan, commander of Israeli forces in the West Bank” (Hockstader, 2 October 2000). Many Israeli’s are beginning to think that this is all part of a Palestinian plan to get what they want; any way they can. According to Keith Richburg (12 October 2000), Israeli officials feel that the rising number of casu...
