Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill more than 200

Israel has not let Palestine import currency or goods, thus all that is aval is what Hamas has smuggled in...ya, empowering Hamas works for Israel.

There will be no intifada because the Palestinians have been too beat down......Israel will continue to beat and beat upon the Palestinians until the Arabs have finally had enough and end the abuse through military means.

Israel's actions are also highly proportional. They are only doing what is necessary to eliminate the threat.

Oralloy wrote:

Israel's actions are also highly proportional. They are only doing what is necessary to eliminate the threat.

No. This latest attack is a misguided over-reaction - a politically motivated act in a highly volatile situation. The Israelis (say nothing of the Palestinians!) will come to regret that this was allowed to happen.

Israel's actions are also highly proportional.

They are only doing what is necessary to eliminate the threat.

I disagree. This bombing campaign has been way too long in coming.

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Israel's actions are also highly proportional. They are only doing what is necessary to eliminate the threat.

No. This latest attack is a misguided over-reaction - a politically motivated act in a highly volatile situation. The Israelis (say nothing of the Palestinians!) will come to regret that this was allowed to happen. Nothing but grief will come (to both sides) from this.

What overreaction? All Israel is doing is bombing the terrorists

I really doubt there will be any regrets on the part of the Israelis.

If the Palestinians regret it, maybe they need to do some soul-searching about all the evil things they've done over the years.

Israel can not claim self defense because the response has not been proportional to the threat

The Arabs can end this because the Persians, the Turks, and the Russians (maybe China as well) will support them.

The Arabs can neutralize the Americans by threatening to take all OPEC contracts off the the dollar....letting the dollar crash. Given our oil addiction and our debts this would ruin us.

America would sacrifice Israel if pressed.

oralloy wrote:

Israel's actions are also highly proportional.

No it's not. 100 tons of munition in a few hours is not a proportional response to the rocket threat

and it's counterproductive to the goal of eradicating Hamas.

oralloy wrote:

They are only doing what is necessary to eliminate the threat.

If these actions they are taking would actually eliminate the threat I'd be all for it. But if you follow this area of the world closely enough you should be under no illusion that this kind of bombing can eliminate the rocket threat (they just can't do that from the air) and would know that Israel is not making their citizens any safer this way.

In the last 7 years Israel suffered around 16 fatalities from rocket attacks. A third intifada would be a much greater danger to Israel's citizens than these rockets represent. The last intifada has been dead for quite a while now,

oralloy wrote:

I disagree. This bombing campaign has been way too long in coming.

What are you on about? They had a cease fire till just last week.

I get it, you are just one of those guys who just picks a side and cheers, and doesn't bother to acquaint himself with any nuisance like details.

What are you on about? They had a cease fire till just last week.

I get it, you are just one of those guys who just picks a side and cheers, and doesn't bother to acquaint himself with any nuisance like details.

That's why Israel is preparing for a big ground invasion.

As I recall, the last intifada died out when Israel put up the wall to prevent suicide bombers from getting in.

How will a new intifada be able to achieve anything?

Oralloy wrote:

What overreaction? All Israel is doing is bombing the terrorists

not every palistinal is a terrorist, they are potential terrorists. Israel is killing many innocents, and they are scum for doing so.

Oralloy wrote:

I really doubt there will be any regrets on the part of the Israelis.

Of course, because they are stupid...there will be plenty of time for regret ofter the survivors from a destroyed Israel have the clarity to ponder what happened.

Oralloy wrote:

If the Palestinians regret it, maybe they need to do some soul-searching about all the evil things they've done over the years.

The Palestinians have been outdone on the evil scale by Israel.....in a pissing contest as to who is worse Israel has already won.

It is also possible that Israel has decided to act against Hamas now, during the last days of a friendly Bush administration in the United States.

The United States is arguably the only outside power Israel deeply cares about. President-elect Barack Obama is seen in Israel as being more sympathetic to the Palestinians.

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What are you on about? They had a cease fire till just last week.

I get it, you are just one of those guys who just picks a side and cheers, and doesn't bother to acquaint himself with any nuisance like details.

Exactly. It's all just a game (like football!) about which "side" oralloy is on! He enjoys the excitement of a good conflict!

But he can support his chosen side & "fight" for it from the comfort of an internet forum - from the comfort of a safe life where these horrendous things happening in Gaza couldn't possibly happen to him.

You neglect trivialities like disengagement, that they abandoned their occupation of the territory was a big factor. They can't stop this kind of shelling without occupation, but for the reasons I've already wrote about they can't sustain that and maintain their national identity.

The Palestinians are asking for it.

Quote:

It is also possible that Israel has decided to act against Hamas now, during the last days of a friendly Bush administration in the United States.

The United States is arguably the only outside power Israel deeply cares about. President-elect Barack Obama is seen in Israel as being more sympathetic to the Palestinians.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7801657.stm

very likely, Israel being STUUUPID. Obama does not have precedence to protect, thus bad behaviour from Israel now makes it easier for Obama to let Israel be sacrificed. Normally Presidents feel some compulsion to uphold the previous American position, but seeing as how the Bush Admin was such an incompetent group with nothing but disasters on its record Obama is completely free to change course as he thinks best.

I'm siding with Israel because they are the good guys and the Palestinians are evil.