In reply to Rafiek's letter, Hamas democratically elected , there is nothing rational that can be gathered from his anti-Israel-Western sentiment. Indeed, immense time and effort has been spent to research the Middle East crisis and to say the least, it certainly did culminate with the July 12 event, if Rafiek truly understands what 'culminate' means.

The uneasiness of the other Middle Eastern nations towards Israel could have begun gradually when the latter re-settled in that land in the late 19th century. While Israel (dominantly non- Muslim) continues to be a thorn in the flesh to all the other Muslim-dominated nations in the Middle East, it is downright absurd and unjust for Muslim nations worldwide to advocate the total annihilation of the Jews from the land they have existed from time immemorial.

History recognises the existence of the nation of Israel in the Middle East long before Islam came into existence. The crux of the matter is that Israel arose from a land thousands of years ago and that land is the land they now occupy upon returning from the Diaspora. Now, what is wrong with that?

It is true that Hamas was democratically elected by the people of Palestine, but that still does not negate the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. May I ask who else is more qualified to brand an organisation as terrorist-affiliated other than the ones who have suffered the insanities of such organisations? Can Rafiek assure us that he, Malaysia or Asean has a better criteria to pinpoint a terrorist organisation than the US? Let's face the fact, unless you have been bitten, you can never really understand the one who bites.

Despite having won the election through a democratic process, Hamas cannot be said to represent the best government in Palestine, having had terrorists' affiliations. The same is applicable to the US since a minority of its citizens believes it is unjustified to wage war against Iraq. What Rousseau pointed out in his book, The Social Contract clearly explains this: 'The general will is what people want for society. But people do not always know what is best'.

Rafiek evidently has a very shallow inkling of the 'it takes two hands to clap' theory. Understand this - the war would not have erupted if there was no retaliation from either nation, period. It does not matter if Lebanon or Israel made the first capture. There would be peace if either nation knows how to employ diplomacy rather than resorting to vigilante acts.

I sincerely beseech every reader not to be influenced by anti-Israeli-Western thinking but rather to formulate their own thoughts and ideas on the matter. By the way, Israel has done us Malaysians no wrong.