The root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is clear. During the 1948 war, nearly 800,000 Palestinians fled in terror or were expelled from their ancestral homeland and became refugees. This was the beginning of the state of Israel. President Truman recognized Israel almost immediately and began economic and military support. Israel then refused to allow Palestinians to return and confiscated or destroyed their land. Israel took most of Palestine from the Arabs and then blamed the Arabs for resisting. 

Criticism of Israel by U.S. Christians is often seen as harmful to the Jewish people, even if the criticism is true. American Jews and Christians alike should be outraged at the genocide in Gaza and the brutal apartheid in the West Bank. The United States has been one-sided and biased for Israel. It has prevented any other nation from playing a role in the peace ­process. In the face of genocide in Gaza, the U.S. has proposed a peace plan without the participation of Palestinians.  

Despite the U.S. government’s hostility, many Palestinians have felt a strong attraction toward the U.S. They believe that someday U.S. policy will change in favor of justice for the Palestinians. I am aware of several Palestinian families that have migrated to the U.S. and to Germany. A graduate of Bethlehem Bible College has become a minister in a Wisconsin Presbyterian Church. I believe many Palestinians see the U.S. and its people as a source of inspiration and hope for a better future. 

Stan George, Reedley, Calif.