These past 30 years definitely kept me busy. Somewhere in my senior year at the University of Buffalo, much to my buddies' amazement, I went kosher, put on Tefillin, even started observing the Sabbath.

I was introduced to a young woman named Gittel from Detroit. Not the "Fiddler-on-the-Roof" sort of arrangement, mind you, just an honest blind date. Now, seven kids later, thank G-d, we are surely occupied. I also managed to complete my doctorate in special education, write some books and even make some music.

But even while living the good American life (convertible sports car, circular driveway, ski trips, the whole nine yards) I kept thinking of going back to make good on my 1971 promise.

Several of our own kids have, in fact, come to Israel. Our daughter Elisheva studied at Bar Ilan's program for American students, but I was even more impressed when she was hired as a waitress in an Israeli restaurant. Our son Yisroel, Sruli for short, participated in a summer learn/tour program. And Yossi, all of 15 years old, was there twice already, and dreams of becoming a pilot in the Israeli air force.

Seriously.

But it's my eldest son, Aron Moshe, who motivated me. He just finished four months of basic training with the IDF's Nachal - an army program for individuals with 'religious needs'. Besides his army training, his unit takes Torah classes and he prays three times a day. He got one week off before continuing with advanced training, so Gittel & I didn't think twice, and went to visit.

It was Gittel's first time. It could have been mine too, for we cried tears of joy as the plane touched down at Ben Gurion airport. At long last, I was fulfilling my personal promise.

I am grateful we came. First, of course, to spend time with our son. Our hearts swelled with pride seeing him in an IDF uniform. Even his tallit prayer shawl, is army green! I must admit, we felt safe. Having Aron Moshe with us was like traveling with a private security guard. A sharpshooter, he carries a modified M-16 with the scope & night vision piece.

Secondly, I was glad to experience Israel first-hand, to dispel all the lousy PR in the media. Before these latest horrific attacks, Israel was the blamed party. The country was portrayed as a gloomy, depressing and hostile place. It seemed as if Israel was running scared, hiding under the covers.

We found the very opposite, and it seemed like a special mitzvah to add to the bustling streets, crowded busses, and cafes filled with conversation, laughter and music. We made a point ("davka" as Israelis say) of eating at Sbarros and strolling the Ben Yehuda mall, both terrorist targets. Having been away so long allowed me an objective "before & after" perspective. How much Israel has grown and developed.

How big and busy the cities are! In '71, there was hardly a major shopping mall, a bowling alley, a ski resort, or kosher Burger King! And so many of those dry, barren hills throughout the countryside are now filled with communities of all sizes, shapes and colors. The second matter was just as blatant. I was astounded at how close the Palestinian areas are to main nerve centers of Israel. Jericho is only a half hour from Jerusalem. The West Bank minutes from Jewish communities.

The Abu-Sneh hilltop overlooks the small Jewish community in ancient Hebron, home of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. The Arabs used this hilltop to shoot at the Jews below. One of their 'brave' snipers murdered a baby here.

If only these Arab places were friendly and the inhabitants wanted to live in peace with Israel. But most are openly hostile. The Palestinian media and schools preach hatred towards Je ws and Israel, and their youth are brainwashed to become holy martyrs, aka - suicide bombers.

It's high time for some honest soul searching. Israel has given so much for the sake of peace, year after year, accord after accord, deal after deal.

Yet this has not caused peaceful condition. Quite the opposite. The difference from '71 to 2001 was obvious. I found the Arabs much more resentful, in spite of having received so much. As we extended our hand in friendship & good faith, our 'peace' partner tried to cut it off and then ask for more.

I urge PM Sharon to stand strong and follow the American strategy of handling terrorists. The US is not negotiating with Bin-Laden, or offering, say, the state of New Jersey to the Taliban as a homeland if they will behave. No, the US will hang up the boxing gloves and replace them with diplomatic silk gloves when the job is done and the terrorists are silenced. Israel, thank G-d, has the capability to do the same and should.

Wiping out terrorism, going after the organizations & states that support it, is not only for Israel's benefit, but ultimately for the security of the world at large. Those Arabs who choose to live in peace in Israel, well and good. Israel is a diverse country with abundant opportunities.

On those Arabs who advocate violence and hatred should suffer the consequence. No longer just an outsider, a tourist, but a father of an Israeli soldier, I urge the government to strengthen and beautify the entire country, including our 'settlements' and holy sites. Any self-respecting nation preserves its time-hallowed and honored treasures. It was heartbreaking for Gittel & I to learn first-hand about the archeological destruction by Arabs on Jerusalem's Temple Mount.

This is another of their attempts to rewrite history and destroy historical proof of a Jewish connection to Israel. It was only recently that they tried to stop the opening of the Western Wall tunnel tour, with violence and bloodshed.

When the Taliban destroyed the stone statues of Buddha, the free world was up in arms. I listen, but don't hear the same forceful protests concerning the temple mount travesty. The silence is deafening.

We were equally saddened that the tomb of Joseph is now under Palestinian control and off-limits to Jews. In fact, after Israel gave this piece of real estate to the Arabs, another 'peace' deal after more rioting and violence on their part, they proceeded to destroy the place, including a nearby Torah center, and build a mosque there and forbade Jews to enter!

We'd be crazy to entertain joint ownership of Jerusalem and its holy sites. Arabs and Christians now have freedom of access to all places under Israeli control. When things were reversed and the Arabs were running the show from '48 -'67, Jews weren't allowed into the Old City. Enough said.

The PLO and their cohorts have shown their true colors. They cannot be trusted and have failed miserably as peace partners, and failed their own people. They are not 'peace' partners, but 'piece' partners. They want more and more pieces of a pie that is not theirs to begin with. While the whole world seems to be refining itself, learning to grow & share in this amazing technological age, Arafat & Co, are unwilling to do so. They function like the Taliban, priding themselves in violence and murder like fighters of the Middle Ages.

Like my grandma Grace used to say; with friends like these, who needs enemies? Finally, do not take my word for it, but go visit this incredible country yourselves. Bring some extra water and climb Massada. Pray at the Wall in Jerusalem. Stroll through the neat shops on Ben Yehuda. Float in the Dead Sea, teeming with all sorts of life enhancing minerals and salts. Check out the artist shops in Tzfat. Visit the thousands of holy & historic sites throughout this enchanting land. And definitely get great kosher pizza at Sbarros.

When I recently left Israel, I bent down again to kiss the ground and make a promise. Thirty years? No way. It's gonna be tough to wait 30 days!

Dr. David Lazerson, www.drlaz.com