Truce Supervisory Organization which began in 1949 to explore the possibilities for establishing a permanent peace has yet to find a solution to Middle East hostilities. the roots of which trace back thousands of years. As peace probes continue. so too do border raids and sniper incidents which have flared into the major confrontations of 1956. the Suez crisis. and as late as 1967 with the socalled 9 days war still so fresh in our minds. It is extremely ironic. and I am certain that this view is shared by many others. that a nation which in 20 short years has turned itself from an overcrowded. desert. refugee camp into the prosperous. industrious and forwardthinking democracy that is Israel today. should still be fighting for its right to exist. With Israeli dedication and ingenuity. the arid sands of the Negev now feed a growing population of 2.7 million. This is land that was once considered a total waste. not worth anyones effort to develop it.