For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Friday, January 09, 2009

We read with great interest the position written by Nidal Ibrahim (“Israeli actions prolong the violence,” @issue, Jan. 1). Ibrahim explicitly recognizes Hamas as the root cause of the current conflict. We agree with him that “the Palestinians in Gaza suffer from an acute lack of responsible and accountable leadership.”

Hamas is a terrorist organization that has not only hurt the cause of peace but has in fact hurt and killed many of its own citizens. Like Ibrahim, we hope for a quick resolution, bringing peace to Gaza and southern Israel.

JUDY MARX

Marx is executive director of American Jewish Committee’s Atlanta Chapter.