I wish to defend myself against the  attacks of Sameer Hassan in his letter, "No way to hide hatred for Palestinians." (May 8). 

No, Sameer, I do not hate Palestinian Arabs and I've met few Israelis who do. I hate what they have done and what they continue to do. 

I hate that they have refused to live in peace, even when being offered more than their fair share of the Jewish homeland in 1937, 1947, 2000, 2001 and 2008. I hate that today they refuse to even sit down and negotiate with Israel. 

I hate that the children and grandchildren of friends and relatives have to risk their lives and serve in the Israel Defense Force in order to protect us. 

I hate having to make sure I can get into the bomb shelter when they launch 700 rockets at us in less than two days. 

I hate their terror attacks and being reminded of them almost every day, including when I go through the metal detectors at the entrance to the Sharon Shopping Mall where a suicide bomber blew up himself and took along five innocent people and wounded 90 others. 

I don't hate the Palestinians. I just hate that they hate us and won't let us live in peace. 

Alan Stein

Netanya, Israel and Natick, Massachusetts