Secretary of State Colin L. Powell delivered a message to Prime Minister ArielSharon calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian controlled areas. This message was sent as a special envoy, General Zinni, arrived in theMiddle East to help establish a truce between Israel and Palestine.

Over the past year and a half, the policies of Ariel Sharon's coalition government have come under increasing fire from moderates and the world community.Collective punishment and assassination tactics employed by the Israeli government have been met on the Palestinian side with the second Intefadeh and an escalationin suicide bombings and attacks. The sudden spike in violence has raised thespecter of all-out war in the already volatile region.

The Provost Global Issues Lecture series continued last week with Dr. Daniel Pipes, a renowned columnist for both the New York Post and Jerusalem Post. He is recognized as one of the leading scholars on the Middle East. Sponsored by Hillel, the lecture began with a rundown of Dr. Pipe's extensive list of accomplishments and qualifications, not the least of which was a PhD in History from Harvard