MrSmirf said:
My friend the end does not justify the means. The thing is more is expected from Israel specially when they are being so heavily funded by our tax dollars over here. Even if they were accidents the frequency of accident death tolls is huge and aren't acceptable to most people with a care for humanity.
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your intelligent contribution to this issue. Its rare and I appreciate the manner in which you've made your thoughts known.
Now that being said...
There's
always going to be civilian casualties when terrorists hide amidst civilians. Israel considers its primary responsibility to protect Israelis. Its unfortunate that Hamas considers its primary responsibility to kill Jews and not protect their own people.
The sad thing about this is neither of the camps (Zionists / Palestinian Nationalists) seems to see each other's plight. Each party is extremely disillusioned to their respective corners.
Israel is not blameless, please don't get me wrong on that.
But in Israel people actually demand accountability from their government. They protest military actions and vote accordingly.
The Palestinian people either have never demanded their leaders act responsibly or they support them. I've yet to figure out which.
This is turning into a zero sum game and the only way out is some cooperation among themselves and being able to put yourself in the prospective of your "enemy" on the issues that stand.
I think Israel has at least tried to make concessions and give the Palestinians something. When Arafat rejected the grand offer, it was made clear to the Israelis they will get nothing for their willingness of compromise.
And recently when Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, what happen? Rockets are now regularly launched from there. Why withdraw from anything when it is only used against you?
Just a side note, imagine this; parts of America being occupied and a new map of the territory being redrawn by native americans and turned into a religious fundamentalist state …do you think Americans would simple bend over and take it up the ass..specially if say even another foreign power like China happens to be funding that expedition? I'd think Native Americans have the same if not even a stronger case they could make about the land being originally theirs.
The USA has been a real country for over 200 years. The "Palestinians" have been part of one empire or another until partition in '48. They should have welcomed it as a recognition of their "identity" instead of attacking Jews.
War will inhibit progress and the standard of living specially when its in your own backyards so I wonder when will these two opposing forces ever learn to work with each other because at this point I don’t think either of the sides is ever going to leave.
The Israelis, I truly and sincerely believe, for all their faults, are actually looking for a partner for peace. Problem is, they can't find one. Fatah doesn't have the guns to enforce any major agreement and Hamas will only agree to limited cease-fires.
The Palistinians needs their "Northern Ireland" moment where they realize they can't win.
