It is a grave breach of international humanitarian law for either side to target civilians.

No, it isn't. Hamas has been doing it for years. Hezbollah did it, and nothing happened. Worse, you're threatening Israel with nothing it hasn't already faced. I'm sorry, I know you're a good guy with his heart in the right place, but legalisms are useless here. If you're not going to muzzle Hamas, don't even think about restraining Israel.

Time lines don't matter when it comes to Israeli hardliners. A document from 20 years ago is more relevant than news articles from 2 years ago.-- Chris Sinnard

And our charter the Constitution is how old? Is that less relevant than news articles? Keep up the good work.

"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."--Hamas Charter

So your contention is that the civilian Israelis are also a legitimate target? Israel is a democracy, no? -- ondelette

If you're Hamas, it would seem so. If you're supporting Hamas it would also seem so. If you're Israeli and tired of being attacked, it's time to attack in return. It's still true that the aggressors make the rules of engagement. Which is why all this is so stupid.

Hamas attacks civilians, then hides behind their own for PR purposes waiting for Israelis to respond. Using one's own citizens as human shields tells me that killing Jews is way more important than pursuing peace and prosperity. I think it's safe to say that Israelis wouldn't put up with that like the Palestinians do.

Like I said, for supposedly smart people, you sure don't act like it. It certainly doesn't reflect well on the validity of your positions. Why should I listen to guys who rely on insults? Only people with limited minds do that.

When I demand the brutal murder of a thousand people, I tend to want to be as informed as possible about their circumstances.

The circumstances are easy. The leadership of this group has been shooting rockets at civilians for years, and the light casualties is just a reflection of incompetence rather than intent.

Now then, the Israelis aren't going to let Palestinians run around loose because experience shows it's dangerous to Israelis, right?
The Palestinians aren't going to stop being dangerous because they want to kill Jews and exterminate Israel, right?
Does that pretty much sum up the situation at this moment?

Well, today is going to be part of history, and the same situation can exist for days, months, years, decades, and centuries. But it's your people getting bombed for all that time. Not the Israelis. Regardless of your history, perhaps you should consider the future for a change. Is refusing to acknowledge Israel and cease the aggression from your side too much to ask for, to change the present? It's your choice.

You really are a simpleton and as Glenn notes incapable of typing without lying.

So you say. Meanwhile it's documented here that you, Glenn and the rest of the minions, can't seem to write anything without slurs and insults. For supposedly smart people, it demonstrates otherwise.

So do you really believe the prime motivator for all Palestinians is to kill Jews rather than have peace and prosperity?

Not all, but enough to keep Hamas in power. And yes, their inability to recognize Israel tells me they would rather fight than surrender and move on. Of course the ideal seems to be exterminating the Israelis and then living in peace and prosperity.

Did we Americans who knew based on facts that Iraq was not a threat to us have any power to stop America's military adventurism?

You mean did the peaceniks have enough power? No, because everyone else disagreed and you folks didn't have the ability to convince anyone otherwise.

Do you actually think the average Palestinian has the ability to affect Hamas' actions any more than we did GWB?

You were in the minority, much like Palestinians who want to recognize Israel. The majority seems to be siding with Hamas. Ergo they are responsible for the resulting conflict. If the opposite is true, Palestinians against Hamas will have to hold elections or rebel.

do you think the relatives of innocent civilians killed by our oh so well-intentioned "liberating" bombs will just let bygones be bygones forever?

If they want peace and the pursuit of prosperity, they will. It's their choice.

Would you if you and yours were on the receiving end of European or Chinese "bombs for glorious democratic socialism reforms" which many of your countryman were in favor of but not you necessarily?

That's exactly what my family did after the Civil War. Nobody liked it, and hard feelings persisted, but they picked up and rebuilt. It's the only reasonable thing to do.

And on your peace and prosperity meme: would that prosperity be the type where Palestinian indentured workers travel 8 hours a day to do Israel's shit work for a pittance and aren't even allowed to sleep in Israel?

It's a start, just like the Irish and Africans and Chinese had. Life gives you opportunities, what you do with them is up to you. What makes the Palestinians better than our immigrants?

Or would it be the prosperity of rebuilding your land from rubble while hoping your kids don't step on an unexploded cluster mine in the process? Or maybe the type where you have some say over water rights, or electricity generation, or free travel?-- rrheard

Oh boo frickin hoo. The Palestinians have had ample opportunities to make peace, and fumbled them all. They are their own worst enemy. And as long as they refuse to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, they are getting what they deserve.