Israel believes Palestine has a right to exist, they gave them self-rule in 2005 in Gaza. Every time the Israelis have bowed to world pressure to give back to the Arabs, what it has taken in wars initiated by the Arab states, it has been met by increased attacks and more vociferous calls for Israel's annihilation.

What is it about Hamas' terrorist operation that has you so worked up. Even the most of the Arab regimes aren't supporting Hamas and more than likely are cheering on Israel, viewing Hamas as a threat to stability. Calm down Timmy2000

Your entire post is a disaster. Nevertheless:

They "gave them" self-rule? How noble (and I note your exclusion of the West Bank). What sort of "self-rule" is it when Israel controls land, air and sea corridors, and prohibits supplies of food and medicine?

Even the most of the Arab regimes aren't supporting Hamas and more than likely are cheering on Israel, viewing Hamas as a threat to stability.

Yeah, and who are these "regimes" (a word you chose)? Those responsive to US aid (and I'm thinking here if Egypt and Jordan). So? It's in the interests of those regimes (but not the people) to support such stupidity.

As for Timmy2000, don't be offended that I'm not offended (I'm not). I struggle to be a bigger person.

~Are you saying that the Hellfire attack in Pakistan was an attack on women and children?

No. I'm saying it's a bit disheartening the number of women's and children's bodies they've been pulling out of the rubble of U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

~Are you saying that Hamas does not routinely place its offensive assets in close proximity to the women and children of Gaza?

They live there. All of them.

~Are you saying that the U.S. should not attack Al Qaeda in Pakistan, lest we encourage people in Gaza to join and/or support Hamas?...

No. I'm saying the routine brutality in the Middle East is an acknowledged recruitment aid for the radical Islamists.

... If so, are you articulating a disagreement that you have with the incoming Obama administration?

They haven't lifted a finger yet. When they do act, I'll certainly make my voice heard if I disagree with their policy.

Gawd, you're dense....

Cheers,

"For everyone slamming Israel.........

how would you react if Canada and Mexico started firing rockets into the US?"

If attacked by Canada in particular I would imagine that an American of any degree of savvy would respond like us Brits if attacked by Belgium. Yawn deeply and be bored to tears of course.

Next?

If they can't rule in Gaza and cease in their attacks on Israel how are they supposed to rule the westbank or any of the occupied territories! Palestinians have no right to statehood if the can't abide by the law of nations, primary among them being recognition of other states sovereignty.

If they can't rule in Gaza and cease in their attacks on Israel how are they supposed to rule the westbank or any of the occupied territories! Palestinians have no right to statehood if the can't abide by the law of nations, primary among them being recognition of other states sovereignty.

And where do you mention Israeli intransigence in Gaza, specifically? Nowhere. Again, if Israel controls land, air and sea corridors, if Israel prohibits food and medicine shipments (and they do), then what possibility exists for Hamas, Fatah (or anyone else) to successfully govern the area? None.

This garbage about "the law of nations" is a sad joke given that Israel is determined (obviously, given their behavior) to thwart any Palestinian effort at genuine self-rule.

You know this to be true. Stop lying to yourself.

Thanks for your interesting link. I did not mean to whitewash the role of the Jews in Soviet history. Quite the contrary. My remark about the Mensheviks (known in comparison to the Bolsheviks as "the party of the Jews" as the Bolsheviks were "party of the Russians") was only an attempt to be historically accurate about the actual causes of the Russian Revolution. In the decades after the Revolution the Jews played a tremendously outsized role as managers in the Soviet state, including many morally dubious positions in the security apparatus.

This great historical process is further relevant insofar as many ex-Soviet Jews are now forming the West Bank settlers who will likely vote for Bibi Netanyahu next month and are the people Livni, Barak, and Olmert are trying to appeal to by invading Gaza now.

I can hardly stop laughing long enough to type this. What did Hamas do these past three years for their citizens! Nothing except arm themselves to continue their war of "liberation". I guess Israel is wrong to find a problem with that. Maybe if they acted more like a government and less like the terrorist organization they are Israel would get out of their way.

I can hardly stop laughing long enough to type this. What did Hamas do these past three years for their citizens! Nothing except arm themselves to continue their war of "liberation". I guess Israel is wrong to find a problem with that. Maybe if they acted more like a government and less like the terrorist organization they are Israel would get out of their way.

You have a peculiar sense of humor. Do I need to say (I guess I do) that I'm not a supporter of Hamas? Even so, Hamas has provided some social benefits (medical and nutritional, but scanty) notwithstanding Israel's efforts to prohibit that.

You're a fool if you think "if they acted more like a government and less like the terrorist organization they are Israel would get out of their way."

Do you really believe that? If so, you're a bigger fool than me (and that's really saying something).

The Israeli government DOES NOT WANT an independent Palestinian state. That would confer a legitimacy upon these people that Israel rejects. Why is that so hard for you to understand? Let me put it this way: what is the outcome of a Palestinian state that comprises Gaza and the West Bank? An end to settlements. What will an end to settlements produce in Israel? A political bloodbath between those who agitate for a Greater Israel and those who don't. What do Israeli politicians seek to avoid (and, presently, exploit)? The same.