Reported by a medical student living in Egypt as a rebuttal to this essay by Tova Berkley.

I have lived outside of the Middle East for most of my life, I only recently returned. Until I came to Egypt I didn't hear very much about the daily struggle between the Palestinians and the Israelis. When I came here, I started seeing terrible things. I started to see the casualties of this war that people rarely hear about outside of the Middle East. I am a med student and I see many of the cases that come to Egyptian hospitals from Palestine - the casualties span all age groups, from infants to adults.

The killing is terrible, but not knowing what might happen is not as bad as knowing that when you step outside your door the chances of being shot at are nearly 100 percent. I've heard Palestinians talk about being beaten, shot at, and threatened on a daily basis. I can't help but think that this horrible and consistently brutal treatment is the cause of the current escalation of violence.

You ask what the suicide bombing has brought? Politically speaking, it has brought nothing. But to the people of Palestine it's a desperate message to the Israelis. It is their way of saying that they're tired of seeing their children, family and friends shot at and killed. They are saying that they're tired of being driven out of their homes and homeland. They are finally fighting back and making it clear that they are tired of having to face each and every day knowing that it could very well be their last. Palestinians were shot at while they were praying - naturally they feel that violence can strike them dead anywhere and that anything is possible.

I'm not trying to be one-sided or anything, I am merely trying to show that there are two (or more) sides to what is going on between the Palestinians and Israelis, and that there are senseless casualties on both sides. I think that the whole war is terrible and absolutely worthless. The killing should stop, that's what everybody thinks. Like you, I ask myself how many more have to die from both sides and both races before anyone starts making any changes.

Guide Note: This is a first person account of the war in Israel told from the perspective of an Egyptian observer. Teen Advice invites anybody with an opinion on this topic, whether they live in Israel or abroad, to submit their perspective on this topic. The purpose of the "My Story" features is for teens to share their life experiences and feelings. We hope that this sharing will open up a better understanding of the struggles faced by teens living in different parts of the world. Perhaps today's teens can accomplish the peace that seems to allude the adults currently in control -- after all, today's teen could be tomorrow's great leader!

Editorial Note: the US commissioned Mitchell Report suggests that the vast majority of the casualties in this conflict have been Palestinian. In a May 21, 2001 CNN.com article on the Mitchell Report it was stated that, "In the past seven months, more than 500 people have been killed and over 10,000 have been injured." [ Read the Article]. In a second CNN.com report it is stated, "More than 500 people -- mostly Palestinians -- have been killed since the fighting started." [ Read the Article].

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