Professor Rose agreed to take part in a Question & Answers session. Her answers to a selection of questions from the many hundreds submitted are below.

Some questions have been edited for length and content.

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What about the calls for the destruction of Israel?
All very persuasive, however, you failed to mention another major player in the current conflict, namely Iran. If you check out the websites of either Hamas or Islamic Jihad you will find a call for all Arabs to destroy the state of Israel. Iran arms and supports both of these organisations.
Richard Lee

It was one of the objectives of the film to insist throughout that Israel was a nation founded on fear and that those fears are real, although Israel’s military strength and her status as favoured nation in America leads me to believe that there has been no risk of Israel’s annihilation.  Calls for such annihilation must be condemned.

I do not in any way support Hamas or Islamic Jihad, but think we should try to understand the conditions among the Palestinians, who unlike Israel do not have a state, which allow these groups to flourish.

It was the main point of the film to argue that it is America’s partisan support for Israel, and for the dangerous policies currently being pursued by Sharon, that if anything place the nation in danger

What can Europeans do to moderate US-Support?
You mentioned Britain's historical role, but what, if anything, do you think the British Government or the European Union could be doing to try and temper or ameliorate America's behaviour?
Tom Sperlinger

A very good question. I feel a great deal is up to Tony Blair who has indeed said that the Middle East conflict must be resolved before any war against Iraq. The big question now is whether he will stick to this even if Bush insists on going to war i.e. will Britain have the strength to break with the US on this issue.  I do feel that on this, and many other key matters of global policy, environment etc. Blair is in a position to make a real difference by siding with Europe but I am not confident that, in the final analysis, he will do so.

Should peace start with the Palestinians cease-firing?
How will peace ever be achieved if bombing and aggression is accepted?

The peace process has to start from both sides not just the Israeli side. Surely if the so-called Palestinian government cannot control its people and stop the violence and suicide bombers how can peace ever be reached? Perhaps you might like to answer this question???
Leslie J Harris

There is no question of accepting bombing and aggression but the conflict is unequal.  Israel is a state with a powerful military complex. The Palestinians have no state, and very limited military and economic resources.

There is indeed a vicious spiral for which both sides must take responsibility, but I do not believe the Palestinian leaders will be able to bring the violence against Israel to an end until there is a real prospect of a Palestinian state

What can I do as an individual?
As a bystander to the Middle East problem, white, middle class and non-Jew, how can I personally make a difference in what seems to be an intractable problem?  Is it possible for an individual like me to do something to influence the United States to take a different stance?
Yours sincerely
Rosalynde Price

This is a crucial question.  Gush Shalom have a wonderful site which you can subscribe to which regularly gives addresses in the US and elsewhere to which they request that you write in support of the peace movement and to exert pressure on key figures in the US. Their address is: info@gush-shalom.org and their website is:  www.gush-shalom.org

What about the faults of the Palestinians?
I agree with you that the occupation must to end to see a peaceful solution, but you seem to ignore where the basis for the inhumane acts of Palestinian terrorism comes from. It is not due to the 'desperation' of occupation but from the incitement from schools and mosques.

Why did you abstain from even investigating the roots of Palestinian hatred towards Israel, namely indoctrination from every media source, in favour of revealing only Israel's mistakes?
Godfrey Arnold

The programme did say that the Palestinians have been ill-served by their leaders and that there is an idolization of suicide bombers, also that suicide bombing must be condemned as it has been indeed by vocal Palestinians. I agree that these acts are inhumane.

I am also sure there is hatred being condoned but feel we have to ask from where it arises. This round of suicide bombing started in response to the Israeli reaction to the outbreak of the second Intifada notably the shooting by the Israeli army of the twelve-year old boy.

It is I believe a response to the desperation of the situation, the apparent hopelessness, especially under the leadership of Ariel Sharon, and the daily humiliation of the Palestinians, which we were able to see with our own eyes while we were filming.

Can you suggest a good book list?
I wonder if you might suggest bibliography suitable for a non-specialist on this subject?
Jane Hamilton

There are some wonderful books on this topic from which I have learnt enormously:

On the British Mandate period:
Tom Segev, One Palestine Complete

For the general history of Arab-Israeli relations:
Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall ,Benny Morris, Righteous Victims

On American-Israeli relations:
Noam Chomsky, The Fateful Triangle

On the history of Palestine:
Edward Said, The Question of Palestine, and on the peace negotiations and their failure, The End of the Peace Process

Should you want to go further back into the history of Zionist thought: Arthur Herzberg The Zionist Idea is an anthology of writings by all the major Zionists

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