Why was there an Israel-Gaza war in the first place?

[Jeebus]

Israel wanted nothing more than to live in peace with this independent Palestinian entity. After all, the world had incessantly demanded that Israel give up land for peace. It gave the land. It got no peace.

The Gaza Palestinians did not reciprocate. They voted in Hamas, who then took over in a military putsch and turned the newly freed Palestine into an armed camp from which to war against Israel. It has been war ever since.

What occupation? Seven years ago, in front of the world, Israel pulled out of Gaza. It dismantled every settlement, withdrew every soldier, evacuated every Jew, leaving nothing and no one behind. Except for the greenhouses in which the settlers had grown fruit and flowers for export. These were left intact to help Gaza’s economy — only to be trashed when the Palestinians took over.

But why, given that there is no occupation of Gaza anymore? Because Hamas considers all of Israel occupied, illegitimate, a cancer, a crime against humanity, to quote the leaders of Iran, Hamas’s chief patron and arms supplier. Hamas’s objective, openly declared, is to “liberate” — i.e., destroy — Tel Aviv and the rest of pre-1967 Israel. Indeed, it is Hamas’s raison d’etre.

[WKDWZD]

Israel wanted nothing more than to live in peace with this independent Palestinian entity. After all, the world had incessantly demanded that Israel give up land for peace. It gave the land. It got no peace.

"Israel wanted nothing more than to live in peace with this independant Palestinian entity"... Total bullshyte!

[flyboy56]

The Arabs want a United States of Arabs with Jerusalem as their capital. Arabs have been it very clear Israeli's have no part to play in their plans for the M.E. Or the United States for that matter. They want to see the M.E. get dragged back to the glory days of the 5th century when Mohammed was leading the people.

[soulflower]

There are two sides to every story

[WKDWZD]

There are two sides to every story

But only Israel is lilly-white and pure...

[flyboy56]

Yes, but usually only one is more at fault.

And todays rallying cry is "racists" when all other arguments fail as can be seen by two old white guys going after a helpless black woman named Susan Rice. Yet these two old white guys fully supported Condi Rice. go figure.

[flyboy56]

The news is showing adults and young kids milling around the border between Gaza and Israel taunting Israeli soldiers carrying guns. Who in their right minds would do this, not only to themselves, but bring kids with them as well? Could it be Hamas is forcing the people to become fodder for their world wide attempt at sympathy? If they really cared about the people they would be keeping them away, so where is Hamas?

[WKDWZD]

The news is showing adults and young kids milling around the border between Gaza and Israel taunting Israeli soldiers carrying guns. Who in their right minds would do this, not only to themselves, but bring kids with them as well? Could it be Hamas is forcing the people to become fodder for their world wide attempt at sympathy? If they really cared about the people they would be keeping them away, so where is Hamas?

So you want them to be good little Arabs and stay in their 'prison', do you?

[flyboy56]

Would you place your children in harms way? Me personally, I don't care what the cause might be, I would ensure my children stay as far away from the front line of a war as possible and not become fodder for any cause. I'm guessing you don't have children WKDWZD. The maternal instincts generally take priority in normal parents.

[WKDWZD]

Would you place your children in harms way? Me personally, I don't care what the cause might be, I would ensure my children stay as far away from the front line of a war as possible and not become fodder for any cause. I'm guessing you don't have children WKDWZD. The maternal instincts generally take priority in normal parents.

You are guessing wrong.

I live in a country whose people stood alone for 2 years against the might of Nazi Germany and were unconquered. So believe me, If I was imprisoned in a country that was illegally occupied by another country, I too would fight it with any means available to me... and stick my fingers up to the occupiers.

[flyboy56]

And why exactly does Israel feel the need to occupy Palestinian territory? I have my own idea but would like to hear from others.

[flyboy56]

I'm basing my assumptions on your cold, uncaring response WKDWZD. That's all I had to go on at the time. It's one thing if you as an adult wants to go fight the cause, but leave the children at home.

[WKDWZD]

I'm basing my assumptions on your cold, uncaring response WKDWZD. That's all I had to go on at the time. It's one thing if you as an adult wants to go fight the cause, but leave the children at home.

If it's cold and uncaring that you are in search of, look no further than your beloved IDF. A civised people do not shoot at children because they stick their tongues out or poke their fingers up at them. In my country I can do what the hell I like and you and anyone else can like it or lump it. I do not and will not deny the Gazan people that same right, it's saddening that you do.

[flyboy56]

And now citizens of Egypt are protesting President Morsi's decision to make all of his orders binding and without dispute. Sounds like the beginnings of another dictatorship. Maybe it is the policies of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas that create unsolvable problems for it's citizens and their neighbors.

[flyboy56]

"A civised people do not shoot at children because they stick their tongues out or poke their fingers up at them." WKD

And you know very well you do not know the facts behind the shooting. By associating your own country's history with what is happening in Palestine just might be clouding your judgement.

[flyboy56]

I know President Clinton tried and failed to broker a deal between Arafat and Sharon in the 90's. Arafat, in writing, was guaranteed 98% of what he was asking for, and yet he still refused to sign. The little two faced bastard was seen shaking hands with Sharon, yet all the while knowing he would never agree to any agreement with Israel, unless that agreement included the removal of Israel from the M.E. So you tell me who really wants peace WKD?

[WKDWZD]

"A civised people do not shoot at children because they stick their tongues out or poke their fingers up at them." WKD

And you know very well you do not know the facts behind the shooting. By associating your own country's history with what is happening in Palestine just might be clouding your judgement.

Really? And if Israel associated their own history with their actions in Palestine, don't you think that they would be a tad hypocritical?

Tell me, how old are you flyboy? Perhaps history doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me. We learn and gain wisdom from it, and should put that knowledge to better use. That is something that Israel, aided and abetted by the US, is not doing.

[WKDWZD]

I know President Clinton tried and failed to broker a deal between Arafat and Sharon in the 90's. Arafat, in writing, was guaranteed 98% of what he was asking for, and yet he still refused to sign. The little two faced bastard was seen shaking hands with Sharon, yet all the while knowing he would never agree to any agreement with Israel, unless that agreement included the removal of Israel from the M.E. So you tell me who really wants peace WKD?

The Japanese accepted 98% of the terms of surrender set by the US and still you dropped the atom bomb on them... Twice!

Don't lecture me on morals!

BTW, I believe that we have spoken before, perhaps in a previous incarnation?

[flyboy56]

"Clinton blamed Arafat after the failure of the talks, stating, "I regret that in 2000 Arafat missed the opportunity to bring that nation into being and pray for the day when the dreams of the Palestinian people for a state and a better life will be realized in a just and lasting peace." The failure to come to an agreement was widely attributed to Yasser Arafat, as he walked away from the table without making a concrete counter-offer and because Arafat did little to quell the series of Palestinian riots that began shortly after the summit." Wikipedia

[flyboy56]

And how many American lives were lost libersting your country during WWII? With anger directed towards Americans over Japan during WWII I'm calling you out as a poster fraud. I have spoken to a few Belgium Nazi sympathizers who are still angry at the US for liberating Belgium.

And with Japan, we weren't going to accept anything but an unconditional surrender. And would never stop fighting due to their samurai convictions.