As is commonly known, the major power broker in Lebanon is Syria, the true occupying power in Lebanon. Indeed, after the recent Hizbullah terrorist attacks, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright called Syria and requested that they put a stop to the terrorism in Lebanon. We agree with the SAS that the current state of affairs is tragic. We call upon them to join us in protest against Syria and the terrorist organizations within Lebanon that it supports, according to the Feb. 14 edition of the New York Times. The Syrians are hurting the interests of both the Israelis and Lebanese civilians, all of whom desperately want an end to the occupation and violence.

Only with the recognition that the conflict is historically-based and incredibly complicated can the one-sided rhetoric end and meaningful debate begin. We pray, along with the Society of Arab Students, for a speedy end to this bloody conflict and for a broad-based and permanent, just peace in the Middle East. Our hearts are with the wounded and the families, Israeli and Lebanese, who have lost their loved ones over the course of this tragic conflict.

Jonathan M. Gribetz '02 and James A. Goldfeier '02 are co-presidents of Harvard Students for Israel (HSI). Benjamin A. Flusberg '01, a past president of HSI, and Rachel L. Brown '01, co-president of HSI also contributed to the writing of this piece.