By William Safire

The Seder begins with a child asking the traditional Four Questions. But in Israel nowadays, the first question on a child's mind is:
"Will I be blown up by a suicide bomber on my way to school?"Here are another four relevant questions that may be asked:

Why is this war different from all other Arab wars to destroy Israel?
Unlike the other Arab wars, this terrorism is targeting Jewish civilians, including children. When Israel strikes back in self-defense, Palestinian supporters denounce Israel as part of the “cycle of violence,” treating Arab aggression and Israeli defense as morally the same.

This terrorism is but a battle in the war waged against Israel for 50 years. Jews have sacrificed to find peace, but the Arabs refuse, time and again.

Why does Israel “occupy” Judea and Samaria?
Arab armies used the West Bank to attack Israel in 1967. Israel won, and remained in that battle zone.

The UN declared that Israel, unlike any other victorious victim of aggression, should return some, but specifically not all, of the land so close to its vulnerable cities.

These are disputed territories; the term “occupied” reveals a prejudice against Israel's right to “secure and defensible” borders.

If a final peace seemed so close 3 years ago, why can't they negotiate peace now?
After offering too-generous concessions that endangered Israel and divided Jerusalem, a naïve Israeli soldier and an overeager American president were certain an agreement was “so close.” But the Arabs want all of Israel, not just the disputed territories. So long as Arabs believe outsiders will render Israel impotent by imposing a settlement, they will keep terrorizing through the next 10 cease-fires.

“Full normalization” can be rescinded on a royal whim; “full withdrawal” is forever.

Shouldn’t Israel appease the Palestinians so that the Arabs will help us defeat Saddam?
Appeasing terrorists will not persuade Arabs against Saddam.

The Iraqi tyrant subsidizes Palestinian suicide bombing and secretly aids Al Qaeda. This is why Palestinians danced in Ramallah on 9/11.

As Saddam comes under fire, the Iraqi may again lash out at Israel with fearsome weapons. Let’s not forget that the greatest disasters follow in the wake of appeasement.