http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28660958 That really says it all, although I'm sure that a great deal more will be said. Approximately $1000 for every man, woman and child in Gaza. Those that have lived through the attacks, that is. This expensive act of vengeance has not only cost over a thousand lives, it has destroyed the last refuge these people have. These people have suffered a "9-11", that, considering the proportion of population and GNP, is actually far worse. Israel's government should be held accountable for these costs incurred in defiance of world protest.
Where is your condemnation of Hamas, the elected leaders of Gaza, whose acts on behalf of those Palestinian people precipitated Israel's response? The dividends of peace will benefit everyone. Israel is doing what I would expect any nation to do, defend its people from outside attacks. They should not pay for having damaged the tools Hamas uses to attack Israel. It is a shame that the victims in this are the innocent Palestinians who just want to live in peace with Israel. It is a shame that people are not supporting the Palestinian people, but instead are siding against Israel in its war with Hamas. I have little sympathy for those who support Hamas, be they Palestinians or others. Those people are the enemies of innocent Palestinians and peace among peoples. Israel is sworn to protect itself and its citizens. Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel. The contrast between what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank makes that pretty clear.
Honestly, my belief is that Hamas' violence has been blown out of proportion. I have actually condemned the rocket attacks in several posts, I can dig them up if you need me to. Israel and its supporters are condemning Hamas enough for all of us. And they do so with disregard for any mitigating factor, such as the desperate struggle of their people, the corruption of Fatah, and the manipulation of Palestinian politics which created Hamas in the first place. I'm too tired of this to cite any sources at the moment, and they don't convince partisans anyway. The lines are clearly drawn on this. The rocket attacks have not done a fraction of the damage done this past few weeks by the IDF. I don't understand why this fact falls on deaf ears. Hamas killed a dozen, so the IDF kills 1000? What happened to an eye for an eye? The short answer is that I am under no obligation to condemn Hamas, but for the record, I am opposed to violence on both sides. That doesn't change the injustice of killing at rate of a hundred to one.
Where do you get the idea that Israel is only allowed to be a competent as Hamas? What kind of silly logic says I can only respond to your attacks by doing the same exact amount of damage you did to me. This is not a fantasy land this is war. The purpose of this war to make Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel, something they continue to do. When Hamas was elected they had the opportunity to recognize Israel, honor previous deals made by the Palestinians and work towards peace - they refused and attacked Israel instead. Only in fantasy land is that behavior ignored and rewarded with free access to follow through on the Hamas promise to destroy Israel.
Actually it wasnt the palestinians that were responsible for the original funding and educational school money that hamaz recieved and this is the disturbing part of it all. You are also correct about the corruption of fatah and this has caused the complete disenchantment of the palestinian people. We need a true her like Yitzak Rabin to step foward. That is a guy i respected so much. Its a shame what happened to him.