re: The Gaza land invasion (Day 46) ...

GFY.

With something that has a large diameter.

As long as Hamas doesn't do anything stupid, I think Israel is ready to call it mission accomplished.

ETA: I've already got your heart. No need to run up the score.

You're going to make me work for it huh?

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It was not by accident that Hamas took control of Gaza from Fatah. It is much easier to hate and tear down than it is to build. Ignorant people are easily steered and will generally follow the path of least resistance.

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Certainly plays a very large role. Israel doesn't do anything to prove their hate wrong either.

I believe the change back to Fatah was only six months to a year away because all Hamas did was build tunnels with the precious building material that did get it. They made rockets instead of infrastructure. Gaza was seeing the consequences of voting based on hate and we're beginning to want a new direction.

The conflict now allowed hate to unify again around Hamas.

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Hamas has taken over Gaza and used those poor people for everything they could get out of them.

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And frick them for it! I'm critical of Israel but I hate Hamas. I just don't believe Israel can oust them without Gaza wanting it. That result just leads to something just as bad or worse.

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Not all Arabs. Just those who take up arms against America or Israel.

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Disctintion noted.

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For even one Israeli to die at the hands of a terrorist is reason enough to act. It's a hard lesson for Israel's enemies but it's necessary.

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I understand the necessity of a response to attacks from Gaza. They can't send a message that they can get to the bargaining table without cost by violence.

I question the wisdom of the extent of this response. A more measured takes the pot off the heat. Better to let it simmer and work to see a political change than give Hamas a stronger political position.

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It's only because Israel has an "Iron Dome" of defense that the rocket attacks haven't been catastrophic.

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Right, which is why Hamas is far from an existential threat.

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I strongly disagree. Israel certainly knows who has nuclear capability and who doesn't. Therefore, the U. S. knows.

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I'm saying unless someone is crazy enough to nuke Israel and ensure their nation be glass, the USA isn't going to let Israel fall to conventional forces. Talk about destabilizing for the entire region and talk about very bad for the Jews there. Not a win for us.

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I don't think Israel wants to place their very existence in the hands of a fickle democracy such as America or anyone else for that matter.

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Hence their military might for such a small nation. With implicit US backing for a truly dire threat, Israel is more than capable in self defense.

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I think that is a very important point that you're not giving much weight to. When someone wants to kill you just because of who you are, well, what hope is there for compromise?

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Well Britian dropped them in a very hostile neighborhood and Israel went about a hostile takeover to claim their land. Their existence there was certain to create some friction.

I think you give the hate too much emphasis, especially given their lack of ability to do any significant damage due to it. In the long run that oppertunity and a better life is worth more to people than blind hate. The hate stems from their perceived injustice of Israel's existence and the very real shitty conditions within Gaza that Israel has a hand in and is a very easy scapegoat. Eventually people choose life and oppertuniy over hate.

Now if you can't keep a lid on violence and invite a response from Israel or Israel prods them into a reaction, it worsens the situation and reopens the festering wound of hatred.

Perhaps I'm too young and optimistic but I don't see any path but more of the same exploitation and senseless murder if the current path continues. Israel has the power and it's in their best interest to work to improve the economy of Gaza and maybe build a little trust.

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Well, I have my views and you have yours. This is just an exchange of them.

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Of course. It's just a bitch typing all of this on my phone.

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Israel just wants to be left alone.

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I sympathize with that. They're never going to be left alone with the humanitarian crisis their embargo on Hamas has in large part caused. (Not that Hamas didn't play a role as well, given the whole rocket thing)

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Israel couldn't afford to wait on the Gazans to change their minds about their leadership. Hamas was on the verge of an awful attack on Israelis living near the Strip. Hamas had great incentive to carry out the atrocity.

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I'm aware of the need of response. I just don't think it needed to be a month long urban warfare situation. Tactical bombings like it started. Shoot the rockets out da sky. Close off any tunnel exits they can find. Special forces if necessary but a more surgical responce. Boots on the ground mean thousands dead for not much of an obvious benefit.

In fact, it set the Hamas downfall back in the minds of Gazans when a touch more restraint could have yielded a less dead civilians. IMO.

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I guess you'd have to be an Israeli to see just how big and close at hand the Hamas threat was. Hamas forced Israel's hand by mounting such a large effort.

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That Israel was effectively dealing with before the ground invasion started.

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The first connotation of existential is "of or relating to existence," so, no, I think you're mistaken. Hamas certainly posed a major threat to Israel's existence.

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This is where we differ. Hamas are a bunch of thugs but the prospect of them taking Israel out is laughable with Israel's vastly superior military and supreme wealth difference. That's not to say Hamas aren't a threat to innocent Israelis, but the very existence of Israel is a stretch.

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Anything that's very bad for the Jews is bad news for everybody, and I'm not talking about just nuclear weapons.

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I know. It's why I don't want Israel taken out of the region. It's why I'm even ok with our military support.

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They can't do major damage to Israel because of Israel's might.

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Right. Hence the not a threat to their existence point.

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Yes, youth does promote optimism. It also amplifies idealism, nationalism and a sense of invincibility. Experience shows that the current path will continue.

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I know realistically nothing will change, but I hope so and beleive there's a chance.

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Israel cannot save the Gazans from themselves.

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Agreed.

Israel shouldn't do things to put undue pressure on them either.

Scwheeeeet.

Now we're getting somewhere.

the dark area looks like a kitty cat with a curled tail, walking on coals with his hind legs.

Ignorance is bliss... right?

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the dark area looks like a kitty cat with a curled tail, walking on coals with his hind legs.

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Damn ... it does!

There's a silver lining in every clou..... errrr, bomb blast in Gaza I guess.

Think about the irony. Black cats are bad luck. Cross their path and .... well, in this case one walks over you in the fallout.

Didn't read the thread? frick off. You like to hit and run? You read the last posts of a thread and insert your brilliance?

Eat shite and die in a hail of bullets.

I don't give a shite what you think, weirdo. Go frick yourself.