Just wondering. What do you think about the war in Israel and Gaza Strip right now? I was just in Israel I came back 2 days ago so Im sure you're opinions will be very different from mine-----But tell me what you think.
Hamas should not have been firing rockets into Israel. They brought this on themselves.
Having said that.
Israel always over reacts, so Palestinian's should not be surprised. The Palestinian rockets resulted in no deaths, however Israel has killed over 400 Palestinian's.
Palestinians killed with American bombs, bullet, and money.
It's a no win situation for America. I think Hamas only did this to ilicite a responce.
Hamas instigated this. They can't cry foul when Israel fights back. Hamas is a horrible group. It's not getting much coverage, but they legalized the crucifixion of christians. I can't even fathom that.
Israel has at least been up front about what they are doing and where tehy are targeting. hopefully they can bring it to a resolution before too many more people are harmed or killed but I think that like most wars it will only get worse before it gets better.
Hamas started this particular round of attacks - BUT - Israel's constant passive agressive agenda of blocking medical equipment, food, water and humanitarian aid from the Gaza strip totally kills more innocent civillians every year than have died in the past week from rocket attacks. In fact I see blocking access to Gaza as an act of war and total violation of the Geneva conventions...if anyone still cares about that besides me.
A lot of people seem to think Hamas attacked out of nowhere. This is hardly true. I try to be objective about the whole thing but Israel has really lost my respect during the past week...especially in terms of where my tax dollars are going.
What I hate the most though is the fact that truly pro-peace leaders will never be elected on either side. Israelis and Palestinians both want political leaders who wont "sell them out" by conceding anything to the other side. Think about it: Israel's policy has always been 'we will strike back if attacked'. Palestine's policy has always been 'we will strike back if attacked'. Obviously someone is going to need to take the moral highground. Continuing on with the same old failed policies will not yield new results.
I think it's ridiculous that the US gov gives unwavering support to Israel. This is just another instance that reinforces my opinion (for myself).
I'm with azirra.
True.
It would be nice that sometime in the future our foriegn policy will no longer be formulated in Tel Aviv.
I think its great! Hammas officially wants to wipe israel off the face of the planet! They just bit off a little more than they could chew.... i think israel was being nice holding back for so long! But....a time comes when you just have to turn around and punch the idiot bugging you in the face.
Maybe the jews are learning not to just bend over and take it? You know...after the egypt thing...and the german thing....?
I was just in Israel and even though most of what Israel targeted was "The Hamas" Israel still brought necessities for those who were civilians and even brought them into Israel itself for hospital care..I also think it's good that Israel is finally "doing something" about the non-stop rockets in Sderot it was about time and Im positive that if America were to have the same problem they would 500% act on it as Israel (or worse) did.
If the Bush administration hadn't insisted that Gaza have elections, then Hamas would not be in control.
The firing of longer range rockets was deliberately provocative. They knew exactly what the response would be. The Hamas leader who was killed today vowed "victory or martyrdom." The Israelis helped him out with the second part, but took the lives of 18 other people while they did it.
Dead civilians are a terrible price to pay for a political and military ploy. Hamas puts headquarters and arms in the middle of civilian areas knowing full well that they will be targeted and that innocent people will die. The Israelis go right ahead and play into this strategy no matter what the "collateral damage" (I hate that term!)
One more thought - Israel does a lot to keep its population safe by building bomb shelters everywhere. When a missle is spotted an alarm sounds and everybody has to get under cover within less than a minute. That's why there aren't more deaths. If Hamas cared even the least little bit about the people they would do the same and warn them of attacks.
Israel is larger, stronger, better equipped and better provisioned. They are capable of wiping the Palestinian people out in Gaza, and off the face of the earth.
Now is the time to withdraw from the conflict. If Israel is incurring no casualties (and from what I can glean from the news, they are not) It's time to try a different strategy.
Advocate for a Palestinian homeland. End the embargos on oil, food and services. Become a good neighbor and allow the Palestinian people to flourish despite Hamas. Full bellies will do more to end Hamas' control in Gaza, than dead children.
The time for peace and sanity is now.
Hmmm "Palestinian Homeland" .....The Israelis help a lot with neccesities and surely the Palestinians have 22 "friends" and countries that can help them escape the "torture" Israel is causing. If you haven't heard there were even buses in which israelis took out the civilians so they can be in Israel.....How about the "other" Arab countries also be good neighbors and help their fellow "brothers"....Because Jews from all over the world surely help Israelis in need in Israel....
^ regarding the "make Palestinians move to other Arab countries" argument:
Its just not cool to ask someone who can trace their family history back dozens of generations to get up and move off their family farm. Im sorry it happened to the Jews during the Diaspora - it was wrong then too - but two wrongs dont make a right.
The Palestinians had the land for almost 2000 years. People tend to develop roots to a place on that kind of time scale. Hell, Europeans have only been in North America for 400 years and look how attached we are to the place.
And Israel's money isnt coming primarily from Jews all around the world. Its coming from American tax payers. Israel is part of our "defense" budget.
Naturally when Germany commits unspeakable, atrocious crimes against humanity resulting in a genocide specifically targeting Jews (and gays, communists, trade unions, people of Romanian and Polish descent, people of African descent, the mentally ill and others) the Palestinian people are the ones who should pay the price for what Germany did.
Naturally.
I can totally see that if a group of countries tells the United States that we have to give up our territory in order to provide a homeland for a religious (or other) group that another country has persecuted in such a manner, we will say, O, OK, that is fine! and we won't object at all to having no sovereignty over our own affairs, no rights, and we won't mind being deprived of food, medicine or other supplies if they blockade us. We will be perfectly fine with all of that.
It's kind of weird how upset Arabs are about events in the middle east since the end of WWII.
/cluelessness
Hamas is a terrorist organization. Plain and simple. Not a bunch of friendly folk, especially in regards to Israel. They don't care for Christians either, but that's another story. Hamas has made their goals crystal clear--they want to wipe Israel off of the map, and replace it with an Islamic state in all of Palestine.
Surprise, surprise. Israel is fighting back. Shocker. It frustrating that neither government will likely back down. Hamas wants to destroy Israel and Israel doesn't want to be destroyed...there isn't a good solution to the situation. Hamas can call a cease fire, but they would just use that time to prep for the next attack, and Israel knows this. We all know this. It's what they do.
It is sad to hear of the deaths that have occured because of this conflict.
ktcort13, do you have any links to news stories or anything about Hamas crucifying Christians? I don't know that that's unfathomable, but it certainly is atrocious.
Original Post by armouryfadida:
Hmmm "Palestinian Homeland" .....The Israelis help a lot with neccesities and surely the Palestinians have 22 "friends" and countries that can help them escape the "torture" Israel is causing. If you haven't heard there were even buses in which israelis took out the civilians so they can be in Israel.....How about the "other" Arab countries also be good neighbors and help their fellow "brothers"....Because Jews from all over the world surely help Israelis in need in Israel....
It is Israel's place as the stronger, more powerful nation to help Palestine thrive.
Israel maintains an offensive pose rather than a protective one. Were they to advocate for Palestine, where no other Arab nations have (except when it suited their power agendas), they would win the hearts and minds of the Palestinian people and organizations like Hamas and Hezbolla would have no more power base.
Original Post by ktcort13:
Hamas instigated this. They can't cry foul when Israel fights back. Hamas is a horrible group. It's not getting much coverage, but they legalized the crucifixion of christians. I can't even fathom that.
It's not getting any coverage by anyone other than a few radical conservative bloggers. I did find a link on one of those sites that links to a page that is completely in Arabic, as if that's evidence for English-speakers.
I did find this:
Hamas Official Denies Decision to Impose Islamic Law in Gaza Strip
There is already a Palestinian homeland. It's called Jordan. It was established when the British partitioned the territory with the intent that all the Palestinians would move there, and that all the Jews would stay in Israel. Of course we all know how well that worked in India and Pakistan...
The people historically considered to be Palestinian are not liked by many other Arab nations. Jordanians hate Palestinians, and would not tolerate their permanent presence in Jordan.
That's why the Arab countries all decided to hand over the historically Palestinian lands for the creation of a Jewish state. The Palestinians were the poor, transient people of the region and considered to be expendable.
The Middle East is a quagmire of complicity and power envy. The royal families in power care only about retaining their power. If Israel were suddenly to convert to Islaam, they would perpetuate another reason to despise them.
Creating a common enemy for all Arabs, rich and poor, alike, assures the royal families' position is never questioned or challenged.
Original Post by crazineko:
Hamas has made their goals crystal clear--they want to wipe Israel off of the map, and replace it with an Islamic state in all of Palestine.
Hamas wants to destroy Israel and Israel doesn't want to be destroyed...there isn't a good solution to the situation.
LOL...sorry but take a look at this link and tell me who wants to wipe who off of the map. Actions speak louder than words.
True "Palestinians" in all are people from Jordan, Syria, And Egypt.
But Israel has to care for itself it has no where else to go, But Palestinians have 22 places to flee too. Jews can also trace back 2,000 years to Israel in the same way as Palestinians could there are many Jews that have been living in Israel for centuries too. Well....What about America, America took a lot of land from people who lived in settlements for many years and for seperate purposes than than of Israel's too.... so I don't think anyone has a right to say that "Israel took away land"----The Jews needed a place----Improved it----Put it to use---Sounds familiar doesn't it?
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