No Parallel

While the editorial "Unending Terror" appearing in this left-hand column is substantially valid, it is objectionable to present the Palestinian raid on Maalot and the Israeli bombing of Lebanon as parallel acts of terrorism without distinguishing between them. The Israeli action was wrong both morally and tactically, but it was directed at preventing future massacres of Israeli civilians, and its stated goal was to strike at terrorist bases and not at civilians. Though this does not justify the air raids, it differentiates them from the Palestinian attack, the clear thrust of which was at civilians--in this case, mostly children.