Travel to and from Israel by Israeli Arab citizens is tenuous at best due to the heightened conflict. The situation is one of discouragement and grief for those of us who have earnestly sought peace. Because of the political philosophy and its outworking, triggered by Mr. Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount, many peace organizations within the boundaries of Israel have suffered losses of support. While shooting children in the head and upper torso is clearly a policy of eliminating numbers of persons from the land, the ultimate goal is to so heighten the fear of the remaining Arab population as to force, as was done in 1948, another exodus from the land.
Every conflict further weakens the capacity of Arab resolve to remain in the land.
As long as super-powers like the United States favor at all costs the actions and intents of the Israeli government, no just or lasting peace agreements will be possible. The Israeli peace camps have collapsed. Many have abandoned hope. The House of Hope, however, is working through this dark time with determination not to cave in to the pressures generated by the intense conflict. Children are left in our care with the knowledge that they are protected responsibly and away from the atmosphere of fear and the discussions of their elders about the internal and external war crisis going on.