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Israel could take a giant step in the right direction by rolling back its illegal settlements, ending the blockade of Gaza, and having serious negotiations with Hamas.
David, Israel did just that a few years ago when we left Gaza. We removed all troops, dismantled the settlements, and even left tremendous hothouses which we had built so that there would be an immediate source of exports for the Gazans. We left Gaza with land borders under Egyptian and Palestinian Authority control. True, we patrolled the sea & air, but that was only because they had been used by Arafat & Co. to smuggle in massive amounts of weapons. But if the terror had stopped, there would have been no reason not to open them also.
What happened? Hamas opened fire on Fatah. Palestinians destroyed the hothouses. And the rocket fire, which had started years before, intensified.
In short, your plan and mine (I was *for* it) failed big-time.
So, we're left with negotiations with the PA, and rocket fire from Hamas, who explicitly and adamantly refuse on principle to negotiate (read their charter).
So, David, what's your plan now?
