Zvi Bar-el's article, "In fair territory" Nov. 20, 1998 lays out the
dynamics of what is actually going on in Southern Lebanon.  This week's
loss of three soldiers is part of the routine this country has become
accustomed to.

It is easy for the government and the Army officials to refer to women who
take to the streets and demonstrate as a group of hysterical mothers of
soldiers.  In a very rational state, I read Zvi Bar-el's article along with
many others this week-end. I only received further reinforcement that
staying in Southern Lebanon continues to be a catastrophic  mistake.  On a
very emotional and personal level, I watched the faces of my children and
their friends as they sadly mourn the loss of a friend blown up by the
Hezbollah.
Where is the accountability for these terrible losses?  How can our
soldiers be expected to have motivation after each Hezbollah victory is
seen as a terrible mistake that calls for another investigation on our
side?  How often can they mourn for dead friends and go out and very
possibly face yet another "mistake" themselves?

Yasser Arafat is now the Prime Minister's partner in peace.  Everyone
knows what a lengthy, painful process that has involved.  Shouldn't we
learn from previous experience how to talk to the enemy?  Must we
perpetuate the horrors of Southern Lebanon so the Army has somewhere to put
practice into action?