Israel's bombing of Gaza
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Israel's bombing of Gaza
| Fri, 01-09-2009 - 6:11pm |
I was wondering how you ladies felt about the recent outbreak of violence in the Middle East. I have to admit that at first I didn't know much about the situation, but the more I read about the history that lead to this particular conflict, the more I think that Israel is markedly in the wrong and the US is wrong to blindly support anything they do. Now I also think that Hamas is definitely in the wrong, but Israel's response has basically been horrifying. Here is a link to a post on a blog that I really like that basically sums up what I have come to feel about this situation, much more elegantly than I could say it.
http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/2009/01/eye-for-eyelash.html
Thoughts?



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And just what was Israel supposed to do?
Just continue to get rocketed and bombed???????????????
Israel should kick the baddies sorry butts into the stone age!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does no one remember the crap they went through in 2000?
I DO!
Cnon
I think what's unfortunate is that the Palestinian people are stuck. They are dependent on Isreal, their cause is continuosly exploited, and they are painted as terrorists, when in fact it is their cause that has been used by terrorists.
On the other hand, Isreal has been subject to horrifying acts of terrorism. Does anyone remember, years ago, the news story of the bus bombing where gunmen surrounded a city bus after a suicide bomber blew himself up onboard, executing any survivors of the bombing that tried to escape? These were kids on there way to school and people going to work.
It's just a mess over there. I do think the US gives too much unconditional support to Isreal, and has not worked diligently enough to create a palestinian state. This is too bad, because the terrorists would blow a GASKET if they lost the chance to exploit THIS cause.
Let me get this straight... Hamas is publicly dedicated to the total distruction of the state of Israel
You wrote:
Let me get this straight... Hamas is publicly dedicated to the total distruction of the state of Israel (it's in their charter), and Israel, the party that isn't dedicated to the extinction of their opponent is to blame?
Want to explain that one to me please?
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I'll give it a try... I'm not saying that Hamas is not to blame. All I am saying is that Israel has gone about their retaliation in the WRONG way. What is happening right now is that Israel looks like a huge bully - they're not bombing Hamas, they are bombing Gaza which is, essentially, a prison to the people who live there. Not only are these people trapped on this land, but they are unable to get the necessary supplies to survive and build a functioning society because of sanctions by Israel.
Now, Hamas is most certainly in the wrong - they do not really care about the palestinian people and are using the aggression of Israel on these essentially helpless people to further their cause and to "prove" to the palestinian people that any violence against Israel is totally justified. Let's not forget that Hamas is a DEMOCRATICALLY voted party. Why would the palestinians vote a violent group of terrorists into power? Well - imagine that the tables are turned. Let's say that America is being treated by its neighbors the way the Gaza strip is being treated by Israel. Would we elect someone to power who promised to negotiate with said neighbors to bring peace or would we elect someone who promised to obliterate our neighbors from the map. Based on the public outcry against all muslims just after 9-11, I think the answer to that is obvious. These people (civilians) feel wronged by the state of Israel - therefore they want their elected government to take action against them. Imagine if George Bush had stood in front of the country after 9-11 and said that we are going to peacefully deal with Al Queda and negotiate with them so that everyone is happy. Would Americans have stood for that? Of course not.
Here's another scenario to consider. Let's say that Cuba decides that it has a rightful claim to the state of Florida. Now Cuba is not really big or powerful enough to take Florida from the US, but let's say it had international allies that were big and powerful enough to give them the courage to try. Something like this almost happened with the Cuban missile crisis. (Not that they wanted Florida, but that they were emboldened by powerful allies to act in a way that was clearly ridiculous). We were outraged by this. How dare Russia come into our "sphere of influence" and try to take up arms against us. Never mind that we have tried to invade Cuba a number of times, and have even claimed land on their island for our own against their wishes. Shouldn't that give them the right to fight back against us - apparently not.
What Israel has done is horrifying and, ultimately, AGAINST their own best interests. They are merely adding fuel to the anti-Israel sentiment that already infuses the middle east - all in the name of retribution, NOT in any kind of constructive way that will ultimately solve this conflict. The normal, everyday citizens of Gaza pose no immediate threat to Israel. Their continued slaughter of these people is sickening and inhumane. And all it is doing is strengthening Hamas's position.
Again - Hamas is bad. Their purpose is bad. But guess what, Israel is also bad in this case. I'm not saying that the US should never support Israell. When Israel is acting in an internationally responsible way, then we should absolutely support them. However, the fact that we BLINDLY accept anything that Israel does to its neighbors, while neglecting to accept that those neighbors ALSO have a right to defend themselves, we are playing favorites in a very dangerous game.
All people have a right to live. Israel wants to wipe the palestineans living in Gaza off the map just as much as Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map. Neither one is in the right and us picking sides just makes everything more convoluted and makes the arab nations more furious with America.
Anyway, just food for thought. I don't claim to have all the answers to the middle eastern conflict - I don't think anyone does. But it is important to see things from all perspectives. Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes, as the saying goes. Imagine you lived in Gaza. How would you be feeling right about now?
Also - seriously read the blog post and the comments. The poster (and many of the commenters) is much more eloquent than me!
~Ashley~
~Ashley~
All people have a right to live. Israel wants to wipe the palestineans living in Gaza off the map just as much as Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map. Neither one is in the right and us picking sides just makes everything more convoluted and makes the arab nations more furious with America.
This isn't entirely a correct statement.
All people have a right to live. Israel wants to wipe the palestineans living in Gaza off the map just as much as Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map. Neither one is in the right and us picking sides just makes everything more convoluted and makes the arab nations more furious with America.
But we can't play nice with terrorists--That's what got us the '93 World Trade center bombing and the Cole and 9/11!
Cnon
Actually, if I'm not mistaken, Hamas leaders were elected into power IN SPITE of their militant, terrorist, anti-Isreali history, not because of it.
The leading party (I want to say Fattuah??) was so corrupt, that many basic services, including security, were being provided on a neighborhood level by Hamas. It was sort of, I imagine, like the Black Panthers, who were both militant but also worked to improve their own communities with some very positive projects, and supplementing services not adequately provided by the state. I think the palestinians knew there was a risk, but they were willing to take it for the sake of voting the corrupt party out.
They have paid for that choice dearly.
Some blame the international community for cutting off aide and failing to recognize Hamas as a legitimate government ruling party. Some blame Hamas, for failing to play like the big boys once they got to the "grown-ups table". Some blame Isreal for its hard-line stance. And many blame the Palestinians for choosing...unwisely.
I think all of the above have contributed to this mess. But I also think the palestian cause is a smoke screen, and not just for terrorists. There are many legitimate arab nations/leaders who want Isreal gone. Our blind allegiance to them has probably kept them around for as long as they have been, if not given them a bit of the old "little dog in a big man's hands" syndrome.
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