Israeli-Hamas Conflict

**Valigarmander** · 12-29-2008, 10:10 PM

I'm not sure if anyone's been keeping up with this like me, but in case you haven't, I'll give you the rundown:

There has been an ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine which has since escalated after the 2005 unilateral disengagement plan which removed all Israeli civilians and settlements from the Gaza Strip in southwest Israel. There has been active violence between Israel and the Hamas-dominated Gaza and Palestine, including Palestine's Qassam rocketing of Israel and Israeli airstrikes in Palestine and Gaza.

In reaction to the recent rocket attacks on Israel and failed ceasefire, Israel has led a large airstrike against the Gaza Strip, with the death toll at over 300.

The attacks have drawn criticism from all people, with most outside the conflict calling for a halt to the violence on both sides. Today, Hamas has retaliated with another rocket attack into Israel.

What are your views on this conflict? Personally, I'm not sure if I can agree with either side, with both Hamas' warmongering and Israel's disproportionate and inaccurate retaliations. I'd prefer both sides end the conflict, but I don't see things tapering any time soon.

Darunia00 · 12-30-2008, 06:04 PM

This will not be over quickly, and nobody will enjoy it. Israel will *probably* get what they want here if they push hard enough (and they're pushing pretty freakin' hard), but whether or not it will be worth it in the end is another question.

Philosophically speaking, this whole Zionist thing is a hornet's nest. Nothing is going to be truly and completely "fair" to either side at this stage in the game; somebody's gonna be very pissed off. Given their position in relation to the larger world powers, that someone won't be Israel. To quote our friend Blade, Hamas continues to ice skate up a hill. Whether or not they are entitled to do so is another question entirely. All I'm saying is that this will not be politically productive for Hamas.

**Crazyswordsman** · 12-30-2008, 06:19 PM

As a Jew, I tend to have a pro-Israel bias that I try to avoid coming to fruition, but I usually tend to have more sympathy with the side that got struck first. Both times it was Israel that was attacked (last time by Hezbollah, this time by Hamas), and both times innocent civilians on both sides were killed, Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese alike.

I honestly think the best solution is for the moderates on both sides to meet in secret and form a coalition that would eventually gain power and get rid of the radicals on both sides in order to preserve a peace where both Israelis and Palestinians can participate in government, and there would be a true democracy. I for one would be happy to make a few concessions to Palestinians if it allowed both sides to have their human rights protected, but most people don't agree with me. -CSM

Lurch1982 · 12-31-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyswordsman

As a Jew, I tend to have a pro-Israel bias that I try to avoid coming to fruition, but I usually tend to have more sympathy with the side that got struck first. Both times it was Israel that was attacked (last time by Hezbollah, this time by Hamas), and both times innocent civilians on both sides were killed, Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese alike.

I honestly think the best solution is for the moderates on both sides to meet in secret and form a coalition that would eventually gain power and get rid of the radicals on both sides in order to preserve a peace where both Israelis and Palestinians can participate in government, and there would be a true democracy. I for one would be happy to make a few concessions to Palestinians if it allowed both sides to have their human rights protected, but most people don't agree with me. -CSM

The last time someone tried meaningful and fair negotiations and concessions, PM Yitzhak Rabin took three bullets to the chest and died.

Kil'jaeden · 01-01-2009, 02:08 AM

They could try putting aside the petty things they are fighting over and go on living their lives.

**Crazyswordsman** · 01-01-2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch1982

The last time someone tried meaningful and fair negotiations and concessions, PM Yitzhak Rabin took three bullets to the chest and died.

And I, along with many others, admire him. -CSM

Robotazy · 01-01-2009, 02:46 AM

I've already tried to post in the topic three times with the idea of saying something along the lines of "blowing it up", but I think I'll be more subtle...

Either these two are the dumbest for not going into all out war, or the smartest for keeping America out of it :/

**Valigarmander** · 01-02-2009, 05:24 AM

Keeping up with what's currently happening, I can't say I respect Israel's "let's have a cease-fire, but you go first" idea.

12-29-2008, 10:10 PM	#1
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Israeli-Hamas Conflict I'm not sure if anyone's been keeping up with this like me, but in case you haven't, I'll give you the rundown: There has been an ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine which has since escalated after the 2005 unilateral disengagement plan which removed all Israeli civilians and settlements from the Gaza Strip in southwest Israel. There has been active violence between Israel and the Hamas-dominated Gaza and Palestine, including Palestine's Qassam rocketing of Israel and Israeli airstrikes in Palestine and Gaza. In reaction to the recent rocket attacks on Israel and failed ceasefire, Israel has led a large airstrike against the Gaza Strip, with the death toll at over 300. The attacks have drawn criticism from all people, with most outside the conflict calling for a halt to the violence on both sides. Today, Hamas has retaliated with another rocket attack into Israel. What are your views on this conflict? Personally, I'm not sure if I can agree with either side, with both Hamas' warmongering and Israel's disproportionate and inaccurate retaliations. I'd prefer both sides end the conflict, but I don't see things tapering any time soon.

12-30-2008, 06:04 PM	#2
Darunia00 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Boston Gender: Posts: 4,318 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	This will not be over quickly, and nobody will enjoy it. Israel will probably get what they want here if they push hard enough (and they're pushing pretty freakin' hard), but whether or not it will be worth it in the end is another question. Philosophically speaking, this whole Zionist thing is a hornet's nest. Nothing is going to be truly and completely "fair" to either side at this stage in the game; somebody's gonna be very pissed off. Given their position in relation to the larger world powers, that someone won't be Israel. To quote our friend Blade, Hamas continues to ice skate up a hill. Whether or not they are entitled to do so is another question entirely. All I'm saying is that this will not be politically productive for Hamas.

12-30-2008, 06:19 PM	#3
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	As a Jew, I tend to have a pro-Israel bias that I try to avoid coming to fruition, but I usually tend to have more sympathy with the side that got struck first. Both times it was Israel that was attacked (last time by Hezbollah, this time by Hamas), and both times innocent civilians on both sides were killed, Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese alike. I honestly think the best solution is for the moderates on both sides to meet in secret and form a coalition that would eventually gain power and get rid of the radicals on both sides in order to preserve a peace where both Israelis and Palestinians can participate in government, and there would be a true democracy. I for one would be happy to make a few concessions to Palestinians if it allowed both sides to have their human rights protected, but most people don't agree with me. -CSM

01-01-2009, 02:08 AM	#5
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,132 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	They could try putting aside the petty things they are fighting over and go on living their lives.

01-01-2009, 02:46 AM	#7
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	I've already tried to post in the topic three times with the idea of saying something along the lines of "blowing it up", but I think I'll be more subtle... Either these two are the dumbest for not going into all out war, or the smartest for keeping America out of it :/

01-02-2009, 05:24 AM	#8
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Keeping up with what's currently happening, I can't say I respect Israel's "let's have a cease-fire, but you go first" idea.