Israeli Violence Makes Peace a Practical Impossibility

To date-
1,100 Palestinian deaths-
346 of those deaths...children.

13 Israeli deaths (10 soldiers- 3 of those from friendly fire....)

Hamas has agreed to a week long cessation of activity-

What is happening is Gaza?

See those photos of wounded children and burning schools hospitals and UN offices.Go to any news site. The moster bush remains unashamed to his last by signalling Israel to go head for such a henious crime.

Those narrow-minded bloggers over here dont have the broad heart to accept the follies of their apple of the eye - Israel. But tommorow our children and generations will pride the people of Gaza, who fought bravely for their legitimate rights, and for such a long time, that history cannot produce an example of this kind.

History will judge the greatness of the people of Gaza.

Astoria:

Your facts and figures are truth but those who opted to be "intentional" blind cannot see.

This world is crying for justice if no one heeds then the people will raise for their rights

regards and peace

DanielintheLionsDen :

Climate changes the year around in this world and the life too have phases, think of that time when the end is near,gay life is a past and one will left with shame what he had earned in life.

I did my best to make you understand but alas you do not like my simple words.

900 Palestinians murdered after 18 days.

40% of those women and children.

90,000 homeless Palestinian refugees (ironically- Gaza is ALREADY a refugee camp)

13 Israeli deaths. Not one of them a child.
10 of them soldiers.
3 of those soldiers from their own 'friendly fire'.
A full 23% of the Israeli deaths from their own hands...

Spark1

It is impossible to have an sensible discussion with someone whose only utterances are cliches and plattitudes, expressing bigoties disguised as religious tradition.

You have a mind; think for yourself; say your own thoughts and your own feelings, and do not say merely what you think is expected of you. Since you are anonymous here, you need fear no worldy retribution for your own free thought. And I hardly think Allah will punish you either, for a "sin" that is not a sin.

You will be better off and happier, in the long run.

Coloradodog,

Apparently you did not read the referenced site nor do you listen to the news or pay attention to History, Reality and Truth.

CCNL: Your repeated cut and pastes are lame.

Who made you the expert on who Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed were? Were you there first hand or is this you personal interpretation of things like neochristians cherry-pick Leviticus for their own selfish agenda?

Hmmm, apparently the synopsis of the flaws and errors of Judaism and Islam were inadvertently removed from this discussion, so once again:

The flaws and errors of Judaism and Islam in synopsis form for those eyes that have not seen:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a
mythical character as was mythical Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt.

Many of the 1.5 million Conservative Jews and many of their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

Current crisis:

Realization that the Jews are not god's chosen people.
www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the massacre in Mumbai, the assassinations of Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Current crises:

The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.

Helozcel1

You quote as below:
COW chapter(second chapter of the book) says
*And call to witness, from among YOUR MEN,Two witnesses.And if Two men be not then A MAN and TWO WOMEN* Doesnt it mean *Two women equals One man*

My answer is:
You do not believe in Quran, you are quoting Quran with malaise intention.

Quran announces in its beginning this book is for those who believes.

How can I accept the interpretation of Quran of a
non-believer?

you wrote:
*Muslims are struggling for their valuable civil rights*(Does Muslim know what civil right is)
Would you please give any samples ? In which Islamic country, they are struggling for Human Rights, Women Rights, Economic Rights etc.

Yes, we are fighting for out rights pitched against all the odds and conspiracies which a filthy clan has created not only against the Muslims but against all humanity.
I know better than you, what I mean by civil rights.

I told you in my previous comments, and I repeat with new words. Evil intentions makes a person worthless.

Helozcel1

You quote as below:
COW chapter(second chapter of the book) says
*And call to witness, from among YOUR MEN,Two witnesses.And if Two men be not then A MAN and TWO WOMEN* Doesnt it mean *Two women equals One man*

My answer is:
You do not believe in Quran, you are quoting Quran with malaise intention.

Quran announces in its beginning this book is for those who believes.

How can I except the interpretation of Quran of a
non-believer?

you wrote:
*Muslims are struggling for their valuable civil rights*(Does Muslim know what civil right is)
Would you please give any samples ? In which Islamic country, they are struggling for Human Rights, Women Rights, Economic Rights etc.

Yes, we are fighting for out rights pitched against all the odds and conspiracies which a filthy clan has created not only against the Muslims but against all humanity.
I know better than you, what I mean by civil rights.

I told you in my previous comments, and I repeat with new words. Evil intentions makes a person worthless.

I notice that the link on the WaPo home page to this article is gone. I wonder why?

"The ONLY legal Israel is the lands designated by the UN Mandate of 1948! The rest is occupied land that legally needs to be returned to the Palestinians displaced by the wars! "

So only Israel needs to recognize the 1948 UN Mandate? It was precisely because the Arabs* refused to accept the mandate and launched attacks on Israel that Israel moved beyond those boundaries to secure their safety.

The Palestinians within the Gaza strip would have fared better if they hadn't deliberately destroyed the hydroponic greenhouses and other agrcultural and industrial improvements left behind when Israel forcibly removed settlers and vacated the land as a peace offering.

The Palestinian people still face severe economic hardships and violent oppression. They are deliberately treated like junkyard dogs, beaten and starved by their Arab (and now Iranian) neighbors. Videos and photos of mangled civillian corpses including children, actually killed by premature Hamas detonations intended for Israel are regularly offered to gullible western media and propaganda for Arab news outlets as "evidence" of Israel's disregard for human life.

Never mind that Hamas wages a bloody civil war against al Fatah, deliberately places their troops among civillian populations, schools and hospitals, (a war crime) and targets Israeli civilians, while wounded Palestinian citizens are treated in Israeli hospitals.

*Palestine was a Roman word for a mideast territory they governed. It is derived from the Biblical Philistines, part of the Phoenician sea peoples who settled in the Levant.

Stark1,

COW chapter(second chapter of the book) says
*And call to witness,from among YOUR MEN,Two witnesses.And if Two men be not then A MAN and TWO WOMEN* Doesnt it mean *Two women equals One man*

This verse has another notion as well: Woman is the second class citizen.Yes,absolutely.
It says *from among your men,two witnesses* that means,FIRST,you shall find men/males witnesses,but if you couldnt find Two men,then you may find women.

Stark1,Egyptian,

Submission is not your culture.
Submission came to Egypt and Civilization gone.
Egyptian woman was Cleopatra,not Bogeywoman.

*Muslims are struggling for their valuable civil rights*(Does muslim know what civil right is)
Would you please give any samples ? In which islamic country,they are struggling for Human Rights,Women Rights,Economic Rights etc.

Hi Hadia,

So, in essence you are saying that the fault of all this conflict, pain, death and suffering are those thieving Israeli devils. Sounds like you are a "well trained" student of Hamas teachings.

Hadia, we folks in the rest of the world are not "stupid," nor have we been "under the influence" of either side.

I would just ask you, since, the last ratio of dead, in this present conflict is 14 Israelis dead to 765 Palestinians, why, has your Hamas leadership continued to fire their pathetic rockets into Israel instead of stopping this useless antagonistic act, in order to stop this conflict, that, is, in reality, causing more death and suffering for their citizens, alone.

If I were a leader the last thing in the world I would do is antagonize a foe that is able to cause this much death and suffering to my own citizens. It would be sadistic of my leadership to act in such a way that brings this kind of death and suffering to my own citizens espectially when the antagonistic acts have repeatedly proven to be absolute useless.

Or, is, the fact that 14 Israeli to 765 Palestinian deaths considered a success for Hamas? Meaning, the more deaths of Palestinians in these kinds of conflicts, pays, in the reward of "sympathy cards" "victim" cards..The world can once again cry out..."those big bad Israeli devils" are hurting "the poor helpless Palestinians" once again. I wonder. It certainly looks this way.

The fact that 14 Israelis dead to 765 Palestinians dead is about par for the course in this conflict between Israel and Palestine calls to question the actual mental health of a leadership that would continue to use their own citizens as "sacrificial lambs," in this way.

The great difference in these numbers is not because of the Israel military response to Hamas's continued rocket attacks, it is because the leaderhsip of Hamas willingly, knowingly, and repeatedly puts it's citizens in this line of fire, time, and, time, again, and, for what, really, resistence? It seems that the only thing being resisted by these useless actions is the saving of Palestinian lives by their Hamas leaders...

Hadia, you need to take another look at your research.

themoderate Author Profile Page:

Dear COLORADODOG:

"So I see my comment has been removed that the truth is Muslims hate Jews and Christians and Jews and Christians hate Muslims."

I'm a Christian, and I don't hate Moslems. I don't hate Jews either. Progress is possible. Ancient hatreds do not have to be the dominant script for modern times. We can do better.

_________________________

I apologize for my post being an over-generalization. I believe there are Christians who don't hate just as I believe there are Jews and Muslims who don't hate.

My point is that these religions, by their very exclusive nature, reject the beliefs of other religions. This innate rejection spawns hate and fear. The "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude of the "religious" in general causes division, distrust and ultimately war, death and pain.

By their very nature, Abrahamic religions are punitive and intolerant.

Thank you, Hadia Mubarak, for having the courage to write this article.

We have a humanitarian crises of epic proportions on our hands yet so very little of what is actually occurring in Gaza regarding the Palestinian people is reported in the mainstream media. Why is this happening? The silence is deafening.

The Vatican has stated that Gaza is a concentration camp and I agree. It is important to note that Gaza has been this way for many years, not only the past few weeks.

Bill Moyers recently spoke up about the atrocities that are being committed in Gaza. I am wondering when our journalists and television reporters in this country will have the courage to do the same. The world is waiting.

Ms. Mubarak's essay demonstrates how tribal affiliation trumps logic in this horrible protracted conflict. Ms. Mubarak writes"

"This question makes three inaccurate presumptions. First, it presumes that Hamas' ideology remains the primary obstacle to a two-state solution (an independent Palestinian state and a secure Israeli state), whereas the complete opposite is true. Israel's military occupation of the West Bank in defiance of international law (i.e. UN Res. 194 passed in 1948, Res. 242 passed in 1967, and Res. 338 passed in 1973, to name a few) from there
She says the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is the primary obstacle to peace. Israel's presence in the West Bank is what the negotiations are all about, not the obstacle to peace. Thus, the statement isn't even politically logical Peace will come when the Palestinians can govern themselves and decide on what terms the Israelis can withdraw from the West Bank with a guarantee that rockets will not sail from there into Israel . If Ms. Mubarak thinks that the Israelis can simply withdraw without painful concessions from both sides, then she is merely parroting Arab propaganda slogans. Can she really be a researcher at a university center for interreligious understanding while lacking basic political understanding.

In her later critique of the situation in Gaza she doesn't even mention Hamas' hate filled rhetoric, the goals of its anti Semitic charter, nor the rockets that it is launching into Israel. I can understand her tribal solidarity with other Islamic Arabs, but I can't understand how she can be studying for a degree in interfaith relations at Georgetown with these illogical and intolerant takes on a dreadful and dealy interfaith conflict.

Mubarek's factual errors - obvious to anybody with a decent knowledge of the facts of the situation - are too numerous to mention. That alone makes the act of reading her article a waste of time.

Saying it's the Palestinian's own fault that they are taking ridiculous civilian casualties really is the height of moral cowardice. They are refugees crammed into refugee camps by the country that has seized and occupies their land. Hamas doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist, just as Israel doesn't recognize Hamas' right to exist, yet both are murderous facts on the ground and are responsible for those they kill.

When Isralis bomb schools and police stations and family homes, it is not because the Palestinians hate themselves. Shame on the apologists for mass murder on either side. Shame on Israel for killing civilians to sway an election.

In point of fact, the Jewish towns being rocketed by Hamas are not Israeli cities! They are illegally occupied Palestinian cities, illegally seized Palestinian lands! The ONLY legal Israel is the lands designated by the UN Mandate of 1948! The rest is occupied land that legally needs to be returned to the Palestinians displaced by the wars! There is no "Realties on the Ground" to overrule international law! There is no "biblical" power that gives these Zionists some extra-legal right to steal land, abuse the owners of these lands, and create Palestinian gulags where they claim absolute totalitarian rights over all aspects of these people’s lives! There is no basis for declaring any rights to "self-defense" when in fact they are merely defending their illegal and immoral occupation and apartheid policies of genocide! These illegal and unjustified murders in Gaza are just that: Murder, Terror, Genocide, and worse!
Any solution to this American and British created mess needs to be based on law! American political blackmail, while perhaps a reality on the ground, cannot be allowed to subvert basic and fundamental human decency! The Zionist lust for lands of others cannot be allowed to succeed as it is not lawful and Israel does not recognize any international law restricting its rights to brutal, barbaric and immoral acts of destruction!
It is shameful and unacceptable that America, a nation which has law as its core value, a nation predicated on freedom of all faiths to be practiced without restrain, a nation that glorifies the fundamental truth that ALL people are created with inalienable rights to freedom and the pursuit of happiness.. should support and encourage these inhumane acts of terrorism!

Please think before you write. Fourth most powerful military in the world. Great propaganda to scare the enemy with but I was just laughing with Israelis over the notion. Israel has only 6 million people.

So, there is the US military (300 million people), Russia (240 million) , China (1.3 billion), India (1 billion), UK (60 million), Germany (80 million), France (60 million), etc.

I think China may have more people in the military than Israel has citizens....

Here is the truth:

Error (NPR, "All Things Considered," Peter Kenyon, 1/26/04): In a crushing display of military might, the world’s fourth-largest army swept back into the West Bank cities it had vacated during peace talks with the Palestinians.

Correction (2/5/04): In a story that aired January 26th on the strategy of Israel’s military to head off Palestinian attacks, we said that Israel’s army was the world’s fourth-largest. There are various measures of military strength, but, measured by manpower, Israel ranks 13th according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Dear COLORADODOG:

"So I see my comment has been removed that the truth is Muslims hate Jews and Christians and Jews and Christians hate Muslims."

I'm a Christian, and I don't hate Moslems. I don't hate Jews either. Progress is possible. Ancient hatreds do not have to be the dominant script for modern times. We can do better.

spidermean2:
helozcel1:

In so many places Muslims are struggling for their valuable civil rights. They are fighting against devil and darkness. so do not be inspired by false propaganda after all it is promoted, by spending millions of dollars.

Palestinians are oppressed by ruthless Israeli regimes and Hamas merely shows resentment to that.

No funding as you suggest of Hamas provided the US should too stop sending lethal ammunition to Israel, which is used against innocent citizens.

Helozcel1.

Hate for an opponent’s religion could turn into “personal grudge” think over it. Then you can mock her credentials and her position “two women = one man” as you wrote. I know neither you are so simple nor you are very innocent. The reader is very sensitive and never misses the intentions with which one pens his thoughts.

So I see my comment has been removed that the truth is Muslims hate Jews and Christians and Jews and Christians hate Muslims. These punitive, un-compromising Abrahamic religions always have and always will be the source of death and pain.

kevin1231,

Hamas broke their own self-imposed ceasefire.

Of course our military operation was planned way in advance. Countries don't sit back and wait for their enemies. They plan different scenarios.

Peace will be achieved without the jihadi terrorists.

It is pure hogwash to suggest that recents events were caused Hamas firing rockets into Israel.
The recent clash was deliberately created by Israel by Israeli assassins who went on killing binge before Hamas reacted.

This military operations by Israel was planned way in advance. Hamas firing of rockets was in reaction to Israel killing of several of its members. And why shouldn't Hamas strike Israel? After all, they are fighting Israel occupation of their lands, an occupation that has made the lives of palestinians a living hell. All Israelis should be forced to live under conditions similar to those exist on Gaza.

It is clear that if peace is to be achieved, there must be military means developed to challenge Israel, else there will be no peace. From Arab perspective, it makes sense for them to acquire nuclear weapons to counter the nuclear threat from Israel. But Arab governments are corrupt, I do think they are capable of mounting any serious challenge.

The simple fact is that the Philistines could have had a state in peace, but chose war on MANY occasions- INSTEAD:

The Philistines would have had a state IN PEACE in 1937 with the Peel Plan, but they violently rejected it.

They would have had a state IN PEACE in 1939 with the MacDonald White Paper, but they violently rejected it (and Jews would have even been restricted from BUYING land from Arabs).

They would have had a state IN PEACE in 1948 with UN 181, but they violently rejected it (and actually claimed that the UN had no such mandate!).

They could have had a state IN PEACE in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza from 1948-1967 without any Jews- because the Arabs had ethnically cleansed every last one; but they violently rejected it. In fact, that's exactly when they established Fatah (1959) and the PLO (1964).

They could have had a state IN PEACE after 1967, but instead, the entire Arab world issued the Khartoum Resolutions:

A. No peace with Israel
B. No recognition of Israel
C. No negotiations with Israel

They would have had a state IN PEACE in 2000 with the Oslo Accords, but they violently rejected it- as always.

The Arabs will just have to learn to "make do" with their own 99.9% of the Middle East- including all of the oil, and stop trying to steal OUR tiny 1/10th of 1% without oil. The Philistines won't have a state here in Israel, and if they don't stop their violence, they won't even exist here anymore. They will be gone.

And THEN there will be peace.

You're like the guy who murders his parents and then cries for mercy from the court on account of being an orphan.

This started because Hamas ended the truce and began launching rockets into southern Israel. They did this knowing that if they pressed Israel enough they would provoke a savage reprisal that would inevitably result in the deaths of innocent civilians - especially given Hamas' despicable habit of launching rockets from nearby hospitals, schools, apartment blocks, etc.., where return fire has a good chance of hurting innocents.

What is happening in GAZA is horrible, but the Palestinians need to wake up and take some responsibility for what is happening to them. One sided rants like the above commentary don't help.

This is the same old tripe. Gee, the Israelis are really mean to us just because we try to kill them all.

I have always believed that Israel is not interested in any peace settlement. The only thing it is interested is in greater Israel. If that means killing all the palestinians and all arabs, so be it. Why else would Israel stockpile nuclear weapons? It behooves not only all Arab countries develop military, economic and political to challenge Israel hegimony but all international community must do the same. Israel poses a danger to international peace and security.

Asslamo alaikum..

First of all i am not agree on many points of this article but i really appreciate the writer effort ..

I would like to share just one thing that we all know that wars cannot bring peace what Israel is doing in Gaza is simply making conditions worst for their people and for his future because missiles and walls cannot be a certificate of Peace in area..

Second thing we here in this part of world always feel and this is true too that these problems can be solve soon if the so called international community leave their double standards .. and do not support the injustice in any part of world .. like what USA and UK doing in current attacks on Gaza supporting the un human act of Israel.. and second UNO should not act like a rubber stamp for USA ..

As long as USA and their allies did not leave and did not change their way of thinking towards outer world and specially towards muslim world .. they cannot bring peace in world , so this time we wish and we suggest too that new Government of USA should bring the real change in their double standards polices and bring the real change in their way of dealing and imposing their views on outer world.. other wise peace in world will be a dream..

Regards
Peshawar(Pak)

Asslamo alaikum..

First of all i am not agree on many points of this article but i really appreciate the writer effort ..

I would like to share just one thing that we all know that wars cannot bring peace what Israel is doing in Gaza is simply making conditions worst for their people and for his future because missiles and walls cannot be a certificate of Peace in area..

Second thing we here in this part of world always feel and this is true too that these problems can be solve soon if the so called international community leave their double standards .. and do not support the injustice in any part of world .. like what USA and UK doing in current attacks on Gaza supporting the un human act of Israel.. and second UNO should not act like a rubber stamp for USA ..

As long as USA and their allies did not leave and did not change their way of thinking towards outer world and specially towards muslim world .. they cannot bring peace in world , so this time we wish and we suggest too that new Government of USA should bring the real change in their double standards polices and bring the real change in their way of dealing and imposing their views on outer world.. other wise peace in world will be a dream..

Regards
Peshawar(Pak)

This piece suffers from blatant misrepresentations. Mubarak writes,

"For the first time, Hamas leaders declared on several occasions their willingness to recognize the state of Israel if Palestinians enjoyed their independent state."

where the text "Hamas leaders declared" is a link to this article:

http://middleeast.org/launch/redirect.cgi?num=188&a=82

which she uses as support for her claim. Yet the article only has this passage:

"Clare Short, who served in the cabinet of former British prime minister Tony Blair, asked Haniyeh to repeat his offer. He said the Hamas government had agreed to accept a Palestinian state that followed the 1967 borders and to offer Israel a long-term hudna, or truce, if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights."

which states, as has been discussed many times elsewhere, that Hamas is offering a long-term truce - not the recognition of Israel - in return for "a Palestinian state that followed the 1967 borders."

And this passes for a balanced analysis of the situation? Let's at least get the basic facts right . . .

What do Hamas and Hezbollah hope to accomplish with their continuing hostility toward Israel? Face it: Israel is a given, a done deal. Israel is not going to go away. Even with the pittance of support from Iran, H & H cannot hope to win.

Lest we forget, Israel and the PLO came to terms more than ten years ago and made some first steps toward a peace treaty and a two-state solution. Since then, H & H have stubbornly rejected the PLO initiatives and demonstrated a continuing hostility toward Israel. To what end? How can they hope to win anything by firing rockets and killing the odd Israeli here and there?

KEEP THE FAITH - APARTHEID WILL END!

I have faith that people will see Gaza for what it is - a concentration camp administered by Israel.It is full of people driven from the land they once owned in Israel because the cannot be permitted citizenship or the right to vote. This is based solely on their ethnicity and religion. In sum, it is what it appears to be - an apartheid concentration camp.

Those who live in Gaza are, by any military definition, unarmed. Whenever it pleasures Israel, they will slaughter the civilian population of Gaza because they are defenseless. It cost Israel nothing. Unarmed people have no defense against F16 warplanes and computer guided bombs. No argument changes this fact.

An an apartheid regime is a criminal regime. The world knows this. Israel knows this. Peddling hatred under the guise of self-defense changes nothing.

We can all hope for peace, work for peace, pray for peace, speak for peace. Without peace in our hearts, there will be no peace.

When the fighting is over, when the day is done, when the arguments are stilled - Gaza will remain. The only question is whether it will continue as an apartheid concentration camp or will it be free and equal - an electorate of race and privilege or a franchise of equals regardless of race or religion?

End apartheid, end the imprisonment of Gaza, end the politics of hatred, provide political and military equality - that is the beginning of peace in the middle east.

Ah, now we hear from those who danced in the streets on 9/11! Hamas has vowed to destroy the state of Israel and launched rocket after rocket into Israeli civilian areas. Now that they are paying up in blood the price of a Yorkie attacking a Rotweiler, we should have sympathy. Get serious! There can be no peace with an enemy that disputes your right to exist. A few more thousand of Hamas will soon be martyrs -- maybe we should dance in the streets, but we surely shouldn't mourn.

Thanks, Ms. Mubarak, for your courageous and largely accurate views. It must be very difficult for you to see the current suffering in the Gaza. The Israelis, backed by their best friend, the United States, bear the lion's share of responsibility for the atrocities that have been committed against the Palestinian people. What has and continues to happen to them is morally, ethically, and legally wrong and flies in the face of fairness and justice. I hope that the American government comes to its senses and forces a just Mideast peace.

APARTHEID IS NOT PROPAGANDA - ITS CRIMINAL

Sadly, Israel has two problems to solve.

The first, and perhaps most serious, is the Israeli apartheid government which operates the largest concentration camp in the world at Gaza. The United Nations defines apartheid as a crime against humanity and ranks it with genocide. Israel knows this, but feels it has little choice since it would cease to exist as a state on the principle of one-man, one vote and full legal and political equality for its Arab population. It is simple outnumbered and therefore, if you are not a Jew, you are not equal. It is racial preservation no different than the apartheid policies of the Afrikaner National Party and for essentially the same reasons.

The second problem is the imbalance of weaponry. Israel will never treat seriously with an unarmed population incapable of adequately defending its interests. The political temptation to define Palestinian interests solely in favor Israel is far too great. Simply put, there is no military reason to make any real political concession. Palestine, in Israeli terms, must be dealt with by diktat. A state too weak to defend itself, let alone its interests, commands no bargaining power in the middle east. Israel will take whatever it wants.

Home made rockets, AK47s, suicide bombers, these are all hopeless against the firepower of a modern military state. Israel, if anyone, knows how very hopeless it is because it was not so long ago that roles were reversed and they were the bomb throwers!

Israel makes certain that the Palestinians remain unarmed and militarily helpless for if they possessed equal weapons, Israel would withdraw in fear and destroy the Palestinian people with its very substantial nuclear arsenal.

In the present Gaza conflict, there is no equality, no true test of arms or honor, no resolution of political questions, it is merely a vicious, unconscionable slaughter - 4 Israeli dead against thousands of Palestinians - a slaughter to maintain supremacy, to maintain apartheid, to maintain a ancient military theocracy.

Under these conditions, any people is justified in its use of force to fight apartheid - it is a criminal act under international law. In this Hamas should be supported by the United Nations and all good people who oppose apartheid regimes.

Hadia Mubarak must be commended for her restraint and spirit for she full well knows that it is American technology, American training, American F16s, American cluster bombs, American targeting systems, and American military planning that is slaughtering Palestinian women and children. It is a terror war of shock and awe to break the spirit and crush the faith of the Palestinian people and most important, to deny them the weapons and support necessary to fight an ugly, racist, hate filled apartheid regime.

The end of Israeli apartheid government is the beginning of peace in the middle east.

It takes more courage to make peace than to wage war...It also takes TWO willing parties...
Hamas has provoked this reaponse by repeatedly firing rockets into Israel, for the admitted purpose of killing anybody there. Israel response is understandable. It is the direct result of their fiasco in Lebanon. This time, they strike a heavy blow to Hamas.
Unfortunately, Israel is not innocent either...The illegal theft of Palestian territory by so-called "settlers" is a shame tolerated by the israeli government. This government needs the support of its ultraright to survive.
The situation is not simple, but terrorism on one side and lack of restrain on the other side will just make two loosers.

CCNL :

you are dont know nothing about ISLAM & about prophet Mohammed the best person in the humanbeing & this is true with the all evidences from you( in past ), us & history
go to the history (( true history )) & you will see

There are a couple of questions that need answering here:

1. When was there ever a Palestinian State where Israel is? What was it called and who were any of its rulers? (Note to check your Bible here for the other part of the story.)
2. When did the Palestinian people first move to the area? I figure 1300 years ago versus well more than 2500 for Jews. Am wrong?
3. If there are people living on $2/day for food, imagine how much they'd have if double and triple that were not being spent on munitions.
4. When the people of Gaza voted for rulers who advocated violence, what was it they expected?
5. If various Arab states (there are more than 20 who give no aid to their 'brothers') actually cared...why do they preach hate and support it in madrassas? Oh, and they still give no aid.
6. If these same Arab states want accommodation at this late date, why has it taken them from 1967 until now to recognize the borders that existed three wars ago? And then...why do they add the tag that they also want a capital in East Jerusalem...which they lost in 1967?

I really wish that we could see an end to violence. I wish that Israel would make it easier for Arabs to live on the land. Mostly, however, I wish that Arab 'nationalists' who want all Jews to be thrown into the sea, would go away. If that takes Israeli guns, so be it.

Ms. Mubarak, you appear to believe everything you see on Arab satellite TV. You do realize, don't you, that you're viewing 24-7 propaganda?

Hadia,
you state that "By recognizing the state of Israel, Hamas had relinquished the Palestinians' historic claim over 78% of what was previously considered Palestine.".

But Hamas has never officially recognized Israel.
In fact, Hamas charter calls for Israrel's destruction.
Since Hamas won the Palestinian elections , its leaders have repeated several times that they are not planning to recognize Israel's right to exist.
For instance, during the interview with "Al Manar TV", Mahmud Zahar, one of the leading Hamas officials mentioned that "he dreams of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it...I hope that our dream to have our independent state on all historic Palestine (including Israel). This dream will become real one day. I'm certain of this because there is no place for the state of Israel on this land".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
How do you expect Israel to negotiate a peace agreement with Hamas (or the Palestinian people that elected it) when this organization wants to destroy Israel and "throw the Jews into the sea?

This is typical of the commentary on both sides of the issue. This one-sided view of the conflict is held as an absolute.

HAMAS has no desire for peace in that region, except on their own terms. Otherwise, they wouldn't fire rockets into Israel. The only way to peace is if someone on either side recognizes their own side's actions result in continued conflict, and they cease those actions. Unfortunately, the other side would see that as weakness, and continue to pursue their aims at the expense of a possible peace.

Hadia

You are described as a researcher. research means "search again." Your post is one that will be lost with the millions that say "Israel's wrong" or "Hamas is wrong" or "Palestinians are wrong." There's nothing that says you've re-searched anything. Your search is like a scratched record.

Most Americans are neither anti-semites nor zionists, just people who have listened to this senseless fighting and rhetoric for decades. Take another look and get back to us when you find a small way to bring this insanity closer to closure. We've tried and failed. We don't know what to do, and a lot of us think that all you and your opponents want to do is blow each other up until the end of time, all the while pointing at the other guy...

Hadia

You are described as a researcher. research means "search again." Your post is one that will be lost with the millions that say "Israel's wrong" or "Hamas is wrong" or "Palestinians are wrong." There's nothing that says you've re-searched anything. Your search is like a scratched record.

Most Americans are neither anti-semites nor zionists, just people who have listened to this senseless fighting and rhetoric for decades. Take another look and get back to us when you find a small way to bring this insanity closer to closure. We've tried and failed. We don't know what to do, and a lot of us think that all you and your opponents want to do is blow each other up until the end of time, all the while pointing at the other guy...

Hamas should never have attacked Israel, since Israel is much stronger. Hamas is paying for its twisted ideology with the blood of the Palestinian people.

Hadia,

I'm pleased with your passion. But yours is a tired diatribe. For an interesting novel take on the Gaza situation check out www.thepinchednerve.blogspot.com. The author doesn't address who's right or wrong (neither is), but offers a practical untried step once the hostilities have ceased.

Eat some kassams.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC news, the president-elect stood by comments he made on a trip to Israel last July, when he said that "If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that. I would expect Israelis to do the same thing."

When asked if he would say the same in Israel today, Obama said, "I think that a basic principle of any country is that they've got to protect their citizens."

Comparing his approach to the Middle East to that of previous administrations, Obama suggested that he would not be making a clean break from the Bush policy. "I think that if you look not just at the Bush administration, but also what happened under the Clinton administration, you are seeing the general outlines of an approach."

The current war is nothing but an attempt by the corrupt Israeli leadership to torpedo Obama's intention to bring peace to the region. You want to tell me these clowns couldn't have waited 2 more months until Obama was in office to make their case? Israel is not America's friend, but a back stabbing traitor.

Hadia Mubarak,

Your refusal to hold Palestinians responsible for their own plight... where has it gotten you? So rant on. Typical.

asizk,

Why dont Arabic countries help Hamas ?

Where are the arabic volunteers in Hamas ?

I have just learned;Panelist's homeland country,Egypt permits Israeli warplanes to use Egyptian Air Space

I may be so ignorant ,but teach me....,teach me the difference between so-called Palestinians(Arabs in Israel) and Arabs.There are Twenty Arabic States,isnt it enough ?

themoderate,

It does not look like you are following up on the Gaza news:

Over five thousand Palestinian eyes vs. thirteen jewish eyes.

Does that tell u anything??? Apparentlly,Hamas's fire crakers are useless but a good mask for the ususal jewish barbarities and savagry.

Two things really annoy me about postings on this issue - one is the claim of Israeli genocide - look up the meaning of the word - Israel is attacking a hostile foreign "country" who has been attacking Israel with rockets. If the Israelis were really engaging in genocide the death toll would be in the 10's of thousands or more. Does anyone actually believe that the U.S. would sit around and wring their hands if missiles were falling in San Diego having been launched from Tijuana?
The other thing is the bait-and-switch that many Muslims do on this issue. The author conveniently pretends that Hamas and the Palestinians just want to get along and are being harassed by the Israelis. If you just look at the Hamas controlled media in Gaza, they are advocating the total destruction of Israel. They are raising a generation of children to believe that "suicide bomber" is a legitimate career opportunity. All one needs to do is check out the "Martyr Mouse" videos on YouTube. The author either is unaware of this or cynically chooses to ignore it. Jews and Israel are demonized in the entire Arab world - how is peace possible when one side is committed to the annihilation of the other. The Muslim world shows one face to the Western Media, but has a completely different face internally. They have managed to make a art out of supposed victimization. The Palestinian situation is horrible and there needs to be a solution that both sides can live with, but all the nonsense about Israeli "genocide," and the idea that the Palestinians are just poor innocent victims who just want to give peace a chance will not help.

Ms. Mubarak,

What would HAMAS have done to humanity if allowed to move their rocket assaults farther north into heavily populated regions? Would you and do you condone such an offensive? Would you also speak of the atrocities which might occur there and come to the aid of innocents slaughtered in those regions? What provoked HAMAS' rocket attacks - attacks which can only be meant to harm and terrorize humanity? Should we not be calling for a complete cease fire and the rejoining of all peoples in that region in a spirit of charity and justice? OR will we continue to justify their actions by calling out the obvious result of warfare and then pointing fingers and blaming others for things which we, ourselves, have the full power to resolve peacefully and justly? Why must infinite justice be seized immediately in this generation? Can't we allow peaceful relationships with freedom of religion to evolve into a community of true charity over a series of generations - would faith and trust allow us to do so? If we really loved God and really wanted to do His will, wouldn't we exercise patience and win through peaceful means? Doesn't love actually conquer all? But where is the love and charity? Where is it? Isn't it true that all of this fighting is being done WITHOUT and OUTSIDE of the true will of God? If love is absent from an endeavor - like firing hundreds of rockets in hopes of terrorizing and murdering or for revenge - then so is God absent, and without God, we can do nothing.

Let us gather the best moderate Islamic, Jewish and Christian clerics and ask them, "What would God want us to do?" and then let us promote God's will to the responsible governments. Let us not promote their and our own depraved, corrupted or biased wills. Let us not judge others for something for which we all share equal blame. Let us listen to God instead, for He is always correct, isn't He?

Thank you for your valuable participation in this panel.

Thank you for your insightful and perceptive article, Ms. Mubarak. Unfortunately, we Americans are too stupid to hear you. Despite the fact that Hamas's missile campaign has killed at most 20 people, we still consider Israel's genocidal response to be a proportionate use of self-defense. Americans are the stupidest people on the planet, and our unconditional support of this evil regime will lead to our downfall.

Hadia Mubarak is quite right. The U.S. and Israel have Palestinian blood on their hands. If Barack Obama doesn't change the current Israel-right-or-wrong U.S. foreign policy, he will too. Arab hatred of Americans is the result of this demented foreign policy, which arms Israel to the teeth, then turns a blind eye to its continuing theft of Palestinian lands and its continuing oppression, humiliation and murder of Palestinian civilians.

CCNL

M A D M A N
Your phobia is pitiful

When ever two parties have dispute the matter is solved through a forum of justice - in present situation it is UN.
Unfortunately inspite of lofty claims of most modern civilization on the matter of morals human progress is utter failure.
Where is an honest third party mediation?
Both parties do have their own claims but it is up to the honest mediator to find the solution to the problem.
What a joke that the mediators such as USA it-self sides with the Israelis.

If the matters will be solved through force then today is your turn and tomorrow will be mine.

It's notable and sad that in this entire diatribe not once Hadia make reference to the Hamas actions of intentionally launching missiles at civilian targets.

It is amazing that one would criticize Israel for not doing enough to minimize civilian damage when the clear and stated goal of Hamas is to do civilian damage.

The West Bank ruled by Fatah is indicative of what can happen when Palestine and Israel start to work toward a peaceful two-state solution - and Gaza ruled by Hamas is a clear example of what happens when terrorists bent on the destruction of Israel take power.

The Palestinians have continually proven that they are themselves’ worst enemies. Their first mistake was to rely on the inflated promises of their sister Arab states whose only true contributions to the Palestinian cause was hot air. Electing a fanatical revisionist bunch of bearded men with a 7th Century Hijaz desert mentality was merely the latest in a long series of wrong turns that got them to where they are now.

Since Zionists first started settling in Palestine the Palestinians have had numerous opportunities to focus on development and peaceful coexistence. If they make $2 a day, its the fault of their leaders, not Israel.

Long before Israel became a close ally of the U.S. the early Jewish settlers were creating a strong local economy. They continued to grow and prosper while surrounded by hostile nations and through several wars.

Palestine, even after 1968, had had much more potential for development than Israel. It had allies nearby, not half-a-world away. It has a higher birth rate. It has supporters flush with oil money.

Palestine has a lot more to gain from peaceful coexistence than it could gain from conquering Israel. Its time for them to give up the rockets and the suicide bombers and focus on education and their economy.

Israeli Violence Makes Peace a Practical Impossibility
Arab Violence Makes Peace a Practical Impossibility

An eye for an eye fills the world with the blind.

There must be a better way.