I have in recent years read extensively on the history of Palestine,including works by Israeli historians who have obviously had access to official documents-ironically much of the information showing the aims and methods of the Zionist enterprise come from these sources.Lack of access to Arab nations official records has helped the Israeli propagandists reinforce a lop- sided history of this 100 plus year Zionist theft of Palestine-the poor defenseless Jews,bravely resisting the murderous Arab hordes-a version I adhered to for the first half of my life,and many-including significantly,many AMERICANS still believe.Right or wrong,hope for a viable Palestinian state rest in no small way in changing the ill-informed public perception of both the history and the present gross imbalance of power in favour of US backed,nuclear armed Israel.