Since 1967, when Israel unlawfully occupied the West Bank, there has been great conflict between Israel and its second class Palestinian citizens that the Israelis have been repressing.

Israel says it needs the West Bank as a "buffer" between it and Jordan, just like the Gaza Strip is a buffer between it and Egypt, and Golan, between it and Syria.

Buffer or not, Israel has continuously mistreated the non-Jews who occupy these territories, and created continuous strife and conflict.

Today, as Hamas attacks Israel it is simply expressing its need for autonomy, and for Israel to leave finally at least the West Bank. Israel needs to withdraw from all occupied territories and give the Palestinians what the Jews lacked for so long - a homeland. Of all people the Jew should understand the Palestinian need for autonomy and a homeland.

This conflict will be bloody, and no doubt Israel's superior military power and backing from the United States will allow it to inflict great harm on the Palestinians, but the conflict will continue as long as Israels fails to recognize a long term solution that includes Palestinian autonomy and the return of illegally seized lands.

Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation

Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, replied, �That�s a good question.�