The inevitability of a US war against Iraq has left the Palestinians in a state of continuous panic, fear, and negative speculation. Should all hell break loose in the Gulf (and it will!), the Palestinian people living in the occupied territories have no guarantees whatsoever that Sharon’s government, which includes some of the most radical elements in Israeli society (Likud, the National Religious Party and the National Union), will not venture into a killing spree, targeting whoever and whatever falls under their definition of “threat to Israel’s security.”

Two years after the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000, the Palestinians have come very close to accepting that the international community is either incapable or unwilling to protect them from Israel’s policies of military assaults, economic strangulation, assassination, and even forced transfer.

Moreover, the increasingly ridiculous US policy of bullying, double standards, and hegemonic muscle flexing has only encouraged Israel to inflict more fatal blows on the captive Palestinians; with the worst scenarios likely to unravel during Bush’s blitz against Iraq. Washington’s continuous support (and at times open support) to Sharon’s policies of harsh militarism continues to confirm Palestinian fears that the international community is only guided by a global rule of lawlessness; dictated by the powerful and unaware/unconcerned with the plight of the weak and vulnerable.

Unless the international community awakens from the insanity that has beset the post-September 11th era, we are doomed to endless conflict, and ultimately to greater betrayal of our humanity.