Given that the vast majority of the rockets don’t reach their destinations, and the amount of Israeli civilian deaths pales in comparison, the incredibly disproportionate response of the part of the Israeli army is nothing short of a crime.
Hamas is wrong for lobbing rockets indiscriminately into Israel. But rockets aren’t the only way to cause violence and death; Israel kills children too by poverty, it’s just not as noticeable as rockets. As and far as innocent human shields are concerned, this is the official line of the Israeli authorities (and the media lets them repeat the mantra over and over again). Frankly, given that Gaza has packs 2 million into a region designed for 200,000, it doesn’t matter where they shoot from…Palestinian civilians surround the rockets anyway—no shields needed. And the population density is Israel’s doing.
Israel must:
- lift the blockade and give the Palestinians a chance to live like human beings
- Get to work on bringing Israel back to its 1967 borders. Currently, they are occupiers.
The Palestinians are not blameless either…they must:
- Disavow the terrorist actions of Hamas—terrorism does not help their cause in the long run
- Recognize Israel; while I believe the creation of Israel in the way that it was created was a mistake, there’s no going back, Israel is here to stay. Time to negotiate, and work toward a two-state solution with real power sharing.
True, Hamas talks of wanting to wipe Israel off the map, but Israel wants the same—they just don’t say it. That’s why they’ve creeped closer and closer west, seizing more and more regions settled by the Palestinians over time, and building more settlements. Of course they are resented by the Palestinians. In fact, I believe they view the Palestinians as sub-human anyway, and they see the children as future combatants against Israel; therefore, why not kill them, too. Do not underestimate the hatred on both sides.
On that note, the Palestinians in the past
have recognized Israel as a legitimate state. But have the Israelis acknowledged—or will they ever acknowledge—the existence of the Palestinian state?
haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.579701
It’s funny how on these boards people so often mistrust the media for their biases. But those same people will blindly agree with the pro-Israeli commentators and journalists, without putting themselves into the shoes of the Palestinians. What Hamas is doing is wrong, too, but no one should be surprised that people resort to violence in times of desperation.
This is complex stuff, and I urge everyone to try to inform themselves first before crystallizing their opinions. Keep an open mind. Read some accounts and opinions from the Palestinian point of view. Read history. I am still trying to understand this mess, I am still reading, inquiring, and learning.
Does Israel actually think their game plan of leveling Gaza to rubble and killing women, children, and the infirm is going to help their game plan in the long term? Is Hamas scoring points either? No on both counts. This madness has got to stop, but both sides need to come to their senses and be realistic about what it would take for both sides to live in dignity and prosper.
Where is Gandhi when you need him most?