The government of Israel keeps saying their actions in Gaza are justifiable because they are doing it in retaliation for what Hamas has done. Hamas says the same exact thing -- that they are firing the rockets in retaliation for what Israel did in imposing a blockade and bombing their tunnels and leaders. I find both points completely unpersuasive -- yes, including Israel's.

Every day now, I hear someone saying, "What was Israel supposed to do? Hamas keeps firing rockets into their country." So, here is a quick list of the things they were supposed to do:

1. Not break the cease-fire in the first place.

Yes, I understand their frustration with the tunnels, which are used not only to smuggle in food, medicine and goods, but also to smuggle in weapons. But those weapons were not being used until Israel started bombing the tunnels.

What were they supposed to do? Wait until the weapons were used? Yes! That's the point of a cease-fire. I know Israel would not like any of their enemies to have any weapons. From their perspective that makes sense. But Israel doesn't need tunnels for weapons, the US just gives them to them and their weapons are a thousand times bigger.

So, yes, you do not bomb just because the other side might acquire one percent of the weapons you have. Otherwise, you will always be bombing, because it is logical for the other side to try to acquire those weapons for what they perceive to be self-defense.

If you're threshold for starting violence is that the other side is thinking about it (close to the rationale we used in Iraq), then you will always be starting wars. Self-defense, my ass. Those are called first strikes. If you think it's necessary, fine, but don't pretend that you didn't start the hostilities.

2. You are stronger. Don't strike back.

I know people will say that's crazy. You have to retaliate! Otherwise you will show weakness! Again, that is exactly what Hamas says to their fellow Palestinians. "We have to strike back! We can't let the Israelis push us around anymore!"

And what do we tell them? Choose non-violence instead. I must have said that a million times in reference to Hamas and the Palestinians. So, why can't I say the same thing to Israel? Why are the Palestinians the only ones that must choose non-violence? Shouldn't Israel also choose non-violence?

In fact, the strong have a responsibility to be better than that. They can lead the way toward peace because they know if it comes down to all out war, they can destroy the other side.

Sometimes an older brother doesn't hit back his younger brother because he knows he can cause more damage than the little guy. That is being smart, responsible and decent. Hitting a UN school and killing 30 civilians, mostly children, is not being any of those things.

3. Make a peace deal already.

Here is the standard response to this: "We are ready to make a peace deal but the Palestinians won't agree. Arafat walked away from a deal in 2000. They don't want peace." That's horse crap. In negotiations, people accept certain deals and won't accept others. That's completely normal. Ehud Barak also walked away from that deal because he had an election coming up in the beginning of 2001. That's also normal. If people don't like deals enough, they walk away from them.

The biggest dispute was over what percentage of the West Bank Israel would keep. That is a perfectly fair dispute. Either side could have given in and taken a lower percentage. Neither side did.

Could Israel have had a deal if they gave up all of the West Bank, split Jerusalem and gave the right of return for Palestinian refugees? Absolutely. Every single negotiator involved in the process will tell you the Palestinians would have taken that deal in a second.

Now, if I was Israel would I take that deal? No. But that's my point; both sides could have a deal instantly if they gave up a little bit more than they are willing. So, to pretend only the Palestinians are unwilling to negotiate is silly. And right now, Israel says they can't negotiate with Hamas because Hamas won't recognize Israel's right to exist. And Hamas says Israel will not recognize their right to exist (which is true; in fact, Israel just started an invasion to eradicate Hamas). Both sides are ridiculously obstinate.

Again, it is incumbent upon the strong to bend a little, especially if they claim they really, really want peace. But even if you don't want to bend during the negotiations and you want to keep a slightly higher percentage of the West Bank, please don't pretend you didn't have a choice.

Finally, let me ask you this personal question to give you a sense of what people mean when they say Israel is acting disproportionately. Let's say you're walking down the street in your local town and you hear gun fire. You have a vague suspicion that someone is firing at you from a nearby school, would you firebomb the school just in case?

You know what the answer to that question is, if you're a decent human being. No way. You might be scared out of your mind. You might be afraid for your life. But you are not going to throw a bomb into a school full of children just in case (especially when you're not even sure that's where the shots are coming from). You would be called a psychopath if you did. But today, we hear excuses like, "Hey, that's what happens in wars." Maybe, that's why it is incumbent upon us to try a little harder to avoid them. So that we don't all act like psychopaths when they start.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/19590

with all due respect. hamas are the ones who refused to extend the "truce" and abide by their commitment not to fire rockets at israeli civilians...

no country would tolerate random rocket attacks against their cities regardless of how much more powerful they were militarily. nor should they.

anger over travel restrictions and limits to prevent arms trade are no excuse for hamas to launch rockets at israel. israel has a right to live in peace and an obligation to protect her citizens from terrorist attacks.

what were they to do? confront terrorists, destroy the arms smuggler's tunnels and stop the rocket attacks...now down to a handful a day...it is almost over.

all countries who have endured terrorist attacks the last few years understand this.

I wonder why Egypt has the Palestine border blockaded also?

Egypt in particular has come under harsh criticism for not opening up the Rafah crossing, the only access to Gaza that does not go through Israel. Its opponents accuse Egypt of joining Israel in blockading the territory in an attempt to remove Hamas, which took control in the tiny coastal strip in 2007 in fierce battles with loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Aboul Gheit repeated Egypt's argument that it cannot open Rafah unless Abbas' Palestinian Authority - which runs the West Bank - controls the crossing and international monitors are present.

http://mingle2.com/topic/show/194793

because border control does not equate to blockade?

I doesn't appear that common sense rules either side, with the powers that be and the people who back and support them. I also appears so far that most people will never see Israel as part of the problem, even if proved by a majority.

This whole blaming Israel fiasco will be looked upon with alot of criticism many years down the road.Anyone with half a brain can plainly see that the UN and many other countries do not give a rats a** about Israel and would like to see it destroyed.Lets face it with out the United states as big brother Israel probably would have been invaded by many other countries.

There is no logical explanation other than many countries want Israel destroyed by these facts....

1.Israel has been hit thousands of times by both rockets and suicide bombers.Nobody lifted so much as a finger to help Israel with this problem nor did they punish Hamas in any way.Israel should have dropped bombs after the first missle but they were patient and civilized.

2.Hamas is a terrorist origination not only dangerous to Israel but to the world.Clearly if they did destroy Israel the other middle eastern nations would go on a rampage to destroy any other countries that did not follow their warped logic.Not to mention other American hating countries such as Venezuela,China,and probably Russia would join in the fight resulting in World war 3.

3.Israel is the only country in history that has been told that it is wrong to defend itself.This warped logic does not make sense at any level.The UN and others want Israel to stand down and allow Hamas to continue pounding Israel until they are elimanated.Even during this war and even after Hamas refused to cease fire Israel is still blamed even though they are taking attacks right and left.

4.The media has taken the side of Hamas over Israel.The media has used every excuse to blame Israel 100% for this war.Little is mentioned that Hamas is launching rockets in schools,houses,and other public areas where they know mass civilian casualties will occur.


We have been taught that history repeats itself.This is never more true than what is happening today.Many years from now when children are learning about what happened to Israel during the Hitler extermination,they will also wonder why in the world anyone would protest Israel and support Hamas.At least if I am telling some child the story of Israel's war I can say that I was one of the good guys who supported Israel.

Israel dropped 14,000 on Gaza in one year.as compared to the much fewer fired by Hamas over a period of 7 years. With, again, many more civilian casualties to the Palestinians.

The ratio for years was 1(Israeli):25(Palestinians).

The thing that has world opinion against Israel is NOT that they defend themselves. It is the hugely disproportionate response.

ie;In a civilian area receive fire from 1 apartment in an apartment building.....level the building (causing damage to nearby structures as well which also house civilians) .





UN and individual nations have also stated that Hamas must cease firing rockets into Israel.





The State of Israel did not exist between 1939 and 1945.