Israel Withdraws Most Of Its Ground Troops From Gaza Strip

[CatWoman]

Source: Huffington Post

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel withdrew most of its ground troops from the Gaza Strip on Sunday in an apparent winding down of the nearly monthlong operation against Hamas that has left more than 1,800 Palestinians and 60 Israelis dead.

Even as Israel said it was close to completing its mission, heavy fighting raged in parts of Gaza, with at least 10 people killed in what U.N. and Palestinian officials said was an Israeli airstrike near a U.N. shelter. The United States lashed out at Israel, saying it was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" attack.

And with Hamas officials vowing to continue their fight, it remained uncertain whether Israel could unilaterally end the war.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/israel-withdraws-troops-gaza_n_5645981.html

[BillZBubb]

1. Somehow I don't think Hamas will just stop since Israel (reportedly) is withdrawing.

Israel will maintain its cruel blockade of Gaza, so Hamas will continue its actions.

Israel will try to salvage something from the worldwide political debacle they've created for themselves by blaming Hamas for continuing to attack them even though they withdrew. It won't work. People are now wise to Israeli propaganda. The Luntz "Israeli Project" propaganda lines aren't working anymore.

[former9thward]

9. If the blockade is the issue

why no rockets into Egypt? Not a one. Is the Egyptian blockade less "cruel"?

[Iamthetruth]

11. Great point

That no doubt will be lost to many. They actually think hamas would live peacefully with Israel if only Israel left the Palestinians alone.

[TeeYiYi]

2. Israel isn't done. "It's not a withdrawal"...

...They plan to continue the airstrikes.

"It's not a withdrawal," Israeli Cabinet minister Amir Peretz told Channel 10 TV. "It's setting up a new line that is a more controlled line with the air force doing its work." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/israel-withdraws-troops-gaza_n_5645981.html

TYY

[4now]

3. Israel will continue to murder civilians

They will just do it from a distance.
So they won't have to kill anymore of their own soldiers.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. "the U.S. State Department condemned the strike in unusually strong language"

"The United States lashed out at Israel, saying it was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" attack."

Is this true? What is the source? If true, this should be major news next week and probably will drive a political confrontation between Dems and Gops. McCain is already putting on the pancake make-up for TV.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. That was from an AP report

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014861911

[840high]

6. Hamas will continue.

[happyslug]

8. Yes the present Israeli Government just strengthen the hands of Hamas

The problem with Israel, it wants two things and they are INCOMPATIBLE. These are peace with the people of Gaza and the ability to defeat the people of Gaza at any time. These are simply incompatible.

To have peace, the people of Gaza must see that violence will make they life less good, and right now that is NOT the case. Thus to have peace with the people of Gaza means giving the people of Gaza complete control over Gaza, including the right to trade with the world WITHOUT going through Israel of Egypt. Gaza is a rich curricular area which can export such products through its port, if Israel would permit such exports, but exports also means imports and Israel has said all imports into Gaza must first come through Israel. If Israel would permit such free imports and exports, the Gaza economy would boom. It has a good off shore fishing area, it has food to export, its need to import fuel. If left along Gaza would quickly become a garden spot on the Mediterranean Sea, in many ways a mini-Israel.

The problem is such free trade means the people of Gaza will also want to import what it things it needs to defend itself. Such imports would mean Gaza may some time in the Future be able to defeat any Israeli attack, and Israel is NOT willing to accept that, for if Israel can NOT attack and thus control Gaza, Gaza would also be able to attack Israel.

Now, just because some future Gaza could attack Israel, does NOT mean that some future Gaza WILL Israel, for by that time Gaza would be booming and you would have pressure from the people benefiting from the boom NOT to risk that boom with a stupid war with Israel.

Thus a rich and prosperous Gaza, man be an economic threat to Israel (The same goods would be exported from both), it would only be a military threat if its economic situation would not be harmed by any such war.

On the other hand, getting Gaza to that level means Israel must take RISKS, including that the people in Gaza who hate Israel for what Israel has done to them since 1967 doing stupid things, like firing rockets. Until such people start to see such actions will lead to economic harm to them, they will continue to attack, for such attacks are the only way they can show that they object to the present conditions in Gaza.

Instead of trying to improve the economic conditions of Gaza, Israel has become so worried about the hatred of the people of Gaza to Israel that Israel keeps feeding that hatred, but doing stupid things like the present war on Gaza.

A good policy Israel should adopt to Gaza is as follows:

1. Open up the Borders of Gaza, even if that means Iran can ship in missiles
2. Leave Hamas parade its weapons, such weapons on parade while being paraded can not be fired on Israel, and Hamas will what to keep such weapons back for future parades.
3. If a rocket is fired from Gaza, tell Hamas about it and file a written protest, only fire on the firing position if the rocket launchers are still they.
4. Pay informers about such rockets before they are fired. If Hamas does not do anything, attack such rocket launchers, but
5. Open up Gaza Airport AND sea port

Leave Gaza BOOM, sooner or later they people of Gaza will want to balance they hatred of Israel with maintaining the economic boom. Then and only then will Israel have peace with Gaza.

[former9thward]

10. Gaza will never be an economic threat to Israel.

Please name one of Israel's neighbors that are "rich and prosperous." And Gaza does NOT have food to export.

[happyslug]

13. Gaza can, if it is developed, but no one is willing to do so without an abilty to export

And right know, Israel refused to permit ANYTHING to be imported or exported without checking it first, AND restricts imports to the bare necessities. Gaza (Ancient Philistine) is one of the richest set of land in the world, which is true of much of the Mediterranean coast, the nearest of the coast provides adequate Fresh water from rain and seepage from the sea (Sand filters out salt) for farming. The sun is overhead most of the time, so you have plenty of sunlight in addition to water. As you hit the southern border of Gaza you hit areas when such water sources cease and it becomes desert.

Just a comment that Gaza is rich farm land, not the Nile Delta or anywhere near the Nile, but close to the coastal areas of Israel, and for the same reason, Sunlight and water.

[former9thward]

14. What about before 1947?

I assume there is someone else to blame. The fact is that the land designated for the Jewish state was largely barren land with little resources. Israel made it into what it is today. The Arabs have done little with their states for 1500 years.

[Comrade Grumpy]

16. You don't really study history much, do you?

"The Arabs have done little with their states for 1500 years."

[former9thward]

18. Not only do I study history but I try and experience it.

You would not be able to name a country in the Middle East region I have not spent time in, Comrade....A common complaint from the 'man on the street' in the Arab world is the fact the rest of the world has passed them by. Their respective governments tries to shift the blame for this with various conspiracy theories which are legion there.

[stranger81]

19. Spent time in peaceably,

Or as a soldier?

[happyslug]

17. International Trade was quite small prior to the 1960s.

Yes, trade existed, but I always like citing the US Navy report to how many US Army Divisions it could supply during WWII, and the number was 100. The US Army thought it could raise 267 Divisions, but decided NOT to given the restrictions as to how many could be shipped overseas. Also remember, the fuel consumption of a US Army Corp (100,000 men made up of 3 Divisions AND support for those divisions use up as much fuel as a modern US Army DIVISION).

After WWII and continuing to this day, we have seen a massive expansion of transport so we can get Grapes from Chile in January, something unheard of prior to the 1980s.

I point this out, for all of the Countries of the Middle East have had massive improvements since WWII, tied in with the massive increase in international trade. Gaza has just missed out on it for since 1967 it has been occupied by one of those countries that benefited from that increase in trade.

Israel is the main source of CUT Diamonds, machine cut for use in industry, Israel's Galil Rifle was the preferred Rifle in Central and South America (The Israeli army uses the M16 for the US gave them away to Israel and then purchased the Galil for Central and South America for it was considered the best weapon in such jungle areas). Israel exports fruits and other crops to Europe.

For centuries, farmers of the region have grown varieties of citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, oranges and lemons. Citrus fruits are still Israel's major agricultural export. In addition, Israel is one of the world's leading greenhouse-food-exporting countries. The country exports more than $1.3 billion worth of agricultural products every year, including farm produce as well as $1.2 billion worth of agricultural inputs and technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Israel#Agriculture

I point out Israel, for it did not boom till the post war era, a time period where was under Egyptian and then Israeli control (prior to 1967 under the control of Egypt, but bordered on two sides by Israel, and since 1967 under Israeli Control).

[kelliekat44]

7. That's so they don't kill anymore of their own soldiers when they begin bombing again. nt

[Nye Bevan]

12. OK. Let's see now if Hamas really wants peace (nt)

[BillZBubb]

15. Pretty ridiculous post, there, Nye.

Hamas doesn't want peace at the expense of allowing the Israeli blockade of Gaza to continue or to allow the occupation and taking of the West Bank land to continue. Hamas, in their counterproductive way, is fighting for their nation.

Until Israel returns to the 1967 borders and honestly negotiates a fair and just peace, Hamas, or someone like them will keep up the fight.

[hack89]

21. Hamas will have to demilitarize before the blockade is lifted

it is best for both sides that Hamas does not get more powerful weapons that can actually threaten Israeli cities. It will be a real war and the end of an Palestinian Gaza.

[BillZBubb]

22. And if Hamas and the Palestinians unilaterally disarm, what stops the Israeli landgrab?

All the fighting for the past few decades is due to one thing: Israeli's occupation and slow ethnic cleansing of Paletinian lands.

What alternative do Palestinians have? Either they have to surrender and let Israel take what it wants, or they have to have a way to FORCE Israel to bargain in good faith. The Israeli right wants to annex all the key parts of the West Bank and is doing so. The Israelis won't stop without a fight.

[hack89]

23. Hamas will never be strong enough

To challenge Israel. Nothing is stopping Israel from taking all the land they want.

[Corey_Baker08]

20. Sounds Alot Like President Bush's 'Mission Accomplished' Strategy

pretend like the war is over and hope most in the media forget about it....