Israel is using a sledgehammer to crack nuts

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Israel is using a sledgehammer to crack nuts
The Nation 
 

Mounting death and injury toll among Palestinians risks further alienating the world community

If all the wars and conflict around the world over these past centuries teaches anything is that how the war is fought will determine how the peace is unfold.

Of course, this logic doesn't apply for the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza where Israeli jet fighters pounded Hamas targets relentlessly since Tuesday in retaliation for the flimsy rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian group and its allies.

More than 120 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured. Not all the victims are Hamas, by the way. By Friday, at least 22 of the victims were reportedly children. No Israeli deaths had been reported.

One can always make the argument that it was Hamas who threw the first stone and Israel was merely responding to the attacks. And it is true that no one country could tolerate rockets raining down on its citizens. Indeed, Israel has done a good job, a wonderful job, in painting the picture that the people of the Jewish state are the victims.

But reality on the ground tells a different story. Let's start with firepower. Israel has jet fighters, apache helicopters and missiles, drones and a nuclear bomb should the government wish to use it. On the Palestinian side, well, there isn't much except ineffective rockets fired from Gaza, which Prime Minister David Cameron described as a "prison camp" because of the fact that all its borders - land and sea - are besieged by the Israeli Defence Force. By the way, most of the rockets fired by the Palestinians landed in open fields. But that doesn't seem to matter in many people's calculation.

If the 2008 and 2012 wars are any lesson, this latest assault on Gaza will lead to more or less the same outcome - back to where they were before the escalation started. Peace, in the end, will continue to be pushed back even further.

Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition government believe he can actually achieve something tangible out of this massive retaliation. Militarily speaking, probably not.

But politically, it is a big dent to the Palestinian unity government between the Fatah and Hamas.

The assault helps Netanyahu's government coalition to remain in tact, especially the coalition partners who have no qualms about doing all sorts of nasty things in occupied territories, including illegal expansion, that could humiliate the country's Western backers.

Besides, Israel has a new friend in Cairo now who probably doesn't think much of Hamas anyway, given the fact that the Palestinian Islamist movement is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Israel can come with all sort of justification it wants but as long as the Jewish state continues to occupy Palestinian territory, violence will continue. It's so sad that the Western countries who are backing Israel are somewhat indifferent to the reality on the ground in Gaza. But as the number of casualties and death counts continue to grow, more and more are coming out to call for a halt to the campaign.

Given the stated political necessities it is inconceivable that Netanyahu will call off his assault.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Israel-is-using-a-sledgehammer-to-crack-nuts-30238364.html

 

[thenation]2014-06-13[/thenation]

[Ulysses G.]

If Hamas stops firing rockets, Israel will stop responding to them. No civilized country would put up with its children being kidnapped and murdered and thousands of rockets being aimed at its cities by a terrorist group that has been calling for its destruction for decades. Yes, Israel's defensive measures are mostly working, but that is no thanks to Hamas, who want to murder as many innocent civilians as they can and have done so before the separation wall and Iron Dome became so effective at stopping their terrorist strikes. 

 

 

This much we know: Israel lives under constant threat from terrorists who would like nothing better than to exterminate the Jewish state that they consider an outright abomination. 
This much we have also come to understand: In polite society, it is increasingly fashionable to roll one’s eyes or outright indict Israel for daring to defend itself against those who aim to indiscriminately kill its people and undermine its right to exist.

The cycle continues as Hamas fires hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities, and Israel responds with far more precise and effective salvos at terrorists. All too predictably, international condemnation is starting to come Israel’s way.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/playing-death-card-article-1.1863872?comment=true

[Cat ji]

We get enough warped propaganda already, no need to add to it. 

[metisdead]

An off topic post containing OTT graphic image has been removed. 

 

Subsequent off-topic post also deleted -- Scott

[shirtless]

I feel sorry for  Israel, they do need to show their strength otherwise these attacks will never end.

[Jingthing]

Maybe not as much the "sledgehammer" as suggested in the opinion piece:

...

So far, as terrible as the Israeli strikes on Hamas have been for Gazan civilians, this remains a limited operation, not the type of large-scale military sweep seen in Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon or 2009’s Operation Cast Lead. Long-range Hamas missiles directed at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem might still trigger a much broader conflict, but not because Netanyahu wants one.

 

 

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-gaza-crisis/2014/07/11/e8c2ec0e-0861-11e4-8a6a-19355c7e870a_story.html

[Pralaad]

Interview with Israeli ambassador to UN late last night.

 

May be the writer of this piece should watch it and answer the only 2 questions he had asked.

 

1. What would you do? What would you.your country do if you were rocketed?

 

2. What did many do?

 

He then answered some of it to make reporters life easier

 

When Russia had a few rockets from Chechnya, Russian went in and destroyed all of Chechnya, the very same Russia who is condemning Israel, the very same Russia that was hit only with a FEW rockets

 

He also mentioned a number of other countries, China, UK, US

 

He stated making piece with Hamas is like US making peace with Osama & Co, 

 

Do i agree? yes i do

 

On a personal note, what kind of barbarians hide 10 000 rockets in the holiest place like a mosque?

 

To answer, the kind that does not hold anything to a value, 

[seedy]

What does Israel expect ?  They invaded the country, and enslaved the resident population..

 

 

[Ulysses G.]

What does Israel expect ?  They invaded the country, and enslaved the resident population..

Really? There has never been an Arab country called Palestine. The Arabs were the ones that started the conflict and they elected Hamas - a terrorist group - to govern them. I'm pretty sure that if they were "slaves," somebody that was not shooting rockets at Israel would be in charge.  

[Carib]

Same old, same old..

[metisdead]

Troll baiting post has been removed as well as the replies.

[seedy]

 

What does Israel expect ?  They invaded the country, and enslaved the resident population..

Really? There has never been an Arab country called Palestine. The Arabs were the ones that started the conflict and they elected Hamas - a terrorist group - to govern them. I'm pretty sure that if they were "slaves," somebody that was not shooting rockets at Israel would be in charge.  

 

 

I seem to recall that after WW2 that the Jewish people, responding to a call from their religion, returned to what they believed was their "Promised Land", evicted the residents, and started to build a country called Israel.

 

With the connivance of the Western world, to the detriment of the resident population.

[impulse]

 

What does Israel expect ?  They invaded the country, and enslaved the resident population..

Really? There has never been an Arab country called Palestine. The Arabs were the ones that started the conflict and they elected Hamas - a terrorist group - to govern them. I'm pretty sure that if they were "slaves," somebody that was not shooting rockets at Israel would be in charge.  

 

You're talking about the same Israel that actually invented Middle East terrorism, right?  The same group of European exiles that were pretty much absent from Palestine for around 2000 years before they claimed their "homeland" back as a divine grant from God?

[Ulysses G.]

Very wrong. There was plenty of terrorism in the Ottoman Empire before Zionism even existed, but the Arabs used terrorism in the Palestine area before the Jews and the Jews responded. Look up the Hebron Massacre. They were also there for thousands of years before the Arabs non-stop, although a lot of both Jews and Arabs from other areas started immigrating in the early 1900s

[Pralaad]

 

What does Israel expect ?  They invaded the country, and enslaved the resident population..

Really? There has never been an Arab country called Palestine. The Arabs were the ones that started the conflict and they elected Hamas - a terrorist group - to govern them. I'm pretty sure that if they were "slaves," somebody that was not shooting rockets at Israel would be in charge.  

 
You're talking about the same Israel that actually invented Middle East terrorism, right?  The same group of European exiles that were pretty much absent from Palestine for around 2000 years before they claimed their "homeland" back as a divine grant from God?

Please provide evidence they were absent and the reason for it, if you can not, then please do not post nonsense and save it for your anti Israel group who invents history, starts to believe it and worst of all expect others to believe it

[seedy]

Antisemitism was alive and well after WW2, in most if not all countries in the world.

 

Facing the difficult question of what to do with the remaining Jewish population in Europe, the Western and Eastern countries, upon hearing that they would like to return to their homeland of aprox 2000 years ago, responded ...

 

Who lives there now ?  No one of consequence, just some Arab people. So let them invade and colonize.

 

This does not in any way negate the Terrorism that the Israeli people have - and continue - to reign on the Palestinian people.

 

If someone came into my country, flattened my house with a bulldozer, cut off my electricity and water, and waged economic warfare on me, I might fire a few rockets too.

 

And I am not Anti anything except Anti Fanatic

[capcc76]

If your going to do something, do it with conviction.

[Pralaad]

Antisemitism was alive and well after WW2, in most if not all countries in the world.
 
Facing the difficult question of what to do with the remaining Jewish population in Europe, the Western and Eastern countries, upon hearing that they would like to return to their homeland of aprox 2000 years ago, responded ...
 
Who lives there now ?  No one of consequence, just some Arab people. So let them invade and colonize.
 
This does not in any way negate the Terrorism that the Israeli people have - and continue - to reign on the Palestinian people.
 
If someone came into my country, flattened my house with a bulldozer, cut off my electricity and water, and waged economic warfare on me, I might fire a few rockets too.
 
And I am not Anti anything except Anti Fanatic

Is this your evidence? lol

[Pralaad]

Arabs and Hamas were winning the PR propaganda for years, always playing the civilian casualties card.

This time around they fcked up by openly admitting using civilians as human shields, furthermore openly encouraging and forcing civilians in the line of fire.

Big mistake , huge, which will cost them all

[seedy]

 

Is this your evidence? lol

 

 

This is my understanding of the history of the beginning of Zionism.

 

Evidence - this is not a court of law.

 

I am sure of one thing only - you can not live for ever.
 

[impulse]

Please provide evidence they were absent and the reason for it, if you can not, then please do not post nonsense and save it for your anti Israel group who invents history, starts to believe it and worst of all expect others to believe it

 

 

Jews lost their control of Palestine around 2000 years ago.    You have anything to refute that?   Post it.

[Ulysses G.]

Facing the difficult question of what to do with the remaining Jewish population in Europe, the Western and Eastern countries, upon hearing that they would like to return to their homeland of aprox 2000 years ago, responded ...

You do not seem to have a much of a grasp on history. The Balfour Declaration was signed in 1917 - well before WW2 - promising the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. That was not too long before the time that Arabs massacred Jewish families in Hebron and demanded that Jews that had been there for thousands of years leave. The Jews started fighting back, won numerous wars that the Arabs were responsible for, and the rest is history.

[Ulysses G.]

Please provide evidence they were absent and the reason for it, if you can not, then please do not post nonsense and save it for your anti Israel group who invents history, starts to believe it and worst of all expect others to believe it

 
Jews lost their control of Palestine around 2000 years ago.    You have anything to refute that?   Post it.

Nice dodge. No one said that they controlled it for all that time. Only that they continued to live there. Until Israel was formed, there had been no country there for centuries.

[Ulysses G.]

Is this your evidence? lol

 
This is my understanding of the history of the beginning of Zionism.

You are about 100 years off. It started long before WW2.

[seedy]

 

. The Balfour Declaration was signed in 1917 - well before WW2 - promising the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

 

 

And what was done between then and the end of WW2 - Sweet FA

 

Until the question was raised of what to do after the war ...

 

Very convenient - we will use the Balfour Declaration as our excuse. Get them out of Europe. Problem solved.

 

I am not Pro Arab, or Pro Israel.

 

Just Anti Bully

[seedy]

This time around they fcked up by openly admitting using civilians as human shields, furthermore openly encouraging and forcing civilians in the line of fire.

 

 

I do not condone this any more than I condone the actions of Israel.

 

But to believe that one is right and the other is wrong is simple minded at best.

[Lancelot]

I can only imagine the reaction if Cambodia was lobbing rockets into Thailand.

 

Or if Ireland was doing the same to the UK.

 

Ditto for most any country on planet earth.

 

But let's not pass up another opportunity to condemn Israel for defending her self...

[Ulysses G.]

I am not Pro Arab, or Pro Israel.

Thou doth protest too much. It is pretty obvious which side you have taken.
By the way, plenty was done between The Balfour Declaration and  WW2. The Arabs and the Jews were fighting each other and both sides were fighting the Brits. There were lots of negotiations going on about such matters as making Palestine one country with two peoples with the Arabs in control of the government. As usual, the Jews accepted and the Arabs refused and kept on with the fighting, which, of course, they eventually lost..

[Ulysses G.]

But to believe that one is right and the other is wrong is simple minded at best.

Just like WW2. 

[kingalfred]

If Hamas stops firing rockets, Israel will stop responding to them. No civilized country would put up with its children being kidnapped and murdered and thousands of rockets being aimed at its cities by a terrorist group that has been calling for its destruction for decades. Yes, Israel's defensive measures are mostly working, but that is no thanks to Hamas, who want to murder as many innocent civilians as they can and have done so before the separation wall and Iron Dome became so effective at stopping their terrorist strikes. 
 
 
This much we know: Israel lives under constant threat from terrorists who would like nothing better than to exterminate the Jewish state that they consider an outright abomination. 
This much we have also come to understand: In polite society, it is increasingly fashionable to roll one’s eyes or outright indict Israel for daring to defend itself against those who aim to indiscriminately kill its people and undermine its right to exist.
The cycle continues as Hamas fires hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities, and Israel responds with far more precise and effective salvos at terrorists. All too predictably, international condemnation is starting to come Israel’s way.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/playing-death-card-article-1.1863872?comment=true

israel fired rockets into buildings they KNEW had women and children.57 seconds after giving a "so called warning" 29 Children murdered since last tuesday, all in the name if the 3 Israeli teenage boys murdered. The fact is Israel is a terrorist state, albeit a democracy,and occupying land illegally. The USA bankroll it because its politicians have to get elected with the Jewish vote. Palestine will get more help with armaments and money because of this and Israel wont be safe or deserve to be.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/10/gaza-israel-war.html.
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