Not about rockets

[subsuelo]

Haaretz

I started to become convinced that the current Israeli army operation in Gaza Strip is not aimed primarily at lessening the barrages of homemade rockets that the armed Palestinian groups fire into southern Israel and the Western Negev. Yet, the offensive seems to be part of many previous incursions and airstrikes, which so far have failed to repress Palestinian rocket squads.

The Israeli army, which claims its operation was meant to target the rocket launchers, had in fact targeted civilians and Palestinian militants, mostly from Hamas, who were killed in direct clashes.

After spending two hours near the eastern side of the Jabalya refugee camp, my convictions were more firm: The Israeli helicopters, which filled the skies, never tried to target rocket launchers, and the makeshift rockets continued to break through the air. Reports say at least 44 missiles were fired at Israel yesterday.


We understand that Israel doesn't accept that its residents in Sderot are being endangered, but on the other hand, the residents of the Gaza Strip are being killed. Up to 18 children under 18 years old were among the dead.

On Wednesday, an Israeli man was killed in Sderot, and Israel seems to be going to kill 100 Palestinians in exchange for the Sderot resident. However, this will not end the circle of violence.

[subsuelo]

1. "The Israeli army had in fact targeted civilians"

Under the guise of defensive operations. They're even ignoring the rocket launchers and just shooting down anything that moves.

Someone please explain to me why the U.S. supports this so strongly?

[azurnoir]

5. Because to be honest we are doing the same

and worse everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's The War Against Terror

[sam sarrha]

2. the problem with an eye for an eye, is that pretty soon everybody is blind...

[breakaleg]

3. This is very disturbing. Sounds like the pretense is being dropped. nt

[pelsar]

6. dumb residents of ashkelon...

why arent they accepting the rocket attacks on the homes quietly......

[pelsar]

4. you got to admit....its takes imagination......

When the five Hamas fighters were killed, Israel should have known that this incident would provoke Hamas into resuming its rocket attacks against Israel

1)...i must have missed the couple of hours when they werent shooting....anybody remember?

2)....so killing hamas members that are part of the military organization that is attempting to kill israelis everyday is now "provoking"

________

stuiped iDF....what were they doing?

[kayecy]

7. ...dumb Israeli voters....

You have to be dumb to keep voting for politicians who can think of nothing but violence when the last 50 years has achieved nothing other than multiplying the number of militants.

[Lithos]

8. You know

The same argument is equally relevant against those civilians of Gaza who politically support groups such as Hamas who refuse to reject the indiscriminate use of violence. Just change the names of the actors.

An "Eye for an eye" diplomatic policy is what keeps this mess going.

The real question is, what will break this cycle?

L-

[kayecy]

10. Agreed.........how about a "Sadat like gesture"?.....this time by the Israelis

[oberliner]

11. Some say that is what Rabin did

Sadly, he met the same fate as Sadat.

[Lithos]

12. Actually Sadat's gesture was not that grand

nor novel. He had actually made similar overtures right after assuming power before the 1973 War. The meeting at the Knesset in 1977 followed a fair amount of quiet discussions which started back when Rabin was still PM (prior to his resignation and the loss by Peres to Begin.) I am under the impression was Begin who altered the initial framework that had been laid down. But even so, there was tremendous risk by both sides.

The problem with negotiating with Hamas is the fact that Hamas lacks a unified political leadership. Hamas is rather a grouping of figures based internally in Gaza and the West Bank and externally in Lebanon and Iran. Those external leaders tend to be more tied to Iran and both extremely ideological and militaristic in their dealings with Israel. Those in Gaza are those whose lot is tied with the people and thus are a bit more pragmatic (they still are Islamist and still militaristic to some degree.). Most of the outreach and conciliatory language came out of the internal groups. The external people, however, control the funds and also represent the more extreme elements inside of Gaza (the armed faction).

This sort of is like when Arafat was in Tunis and Bhargouti was in the West Bank.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

13. The fact is though, that those who voted for Hamas never had the

opportunity to see if their political program could have succeeded.

Wouldn't it have been preferable for Hamas to have had their opportunity, failed or succeeded and been voted out?

The peaceful transfer of power is always preferable to foreign powers dictating regime change, don't you think? I think it's even more important to give them the opportunity they've earned. Let their supporters and detractors judge them on their abilities.

So, do you agree with Behind the Aegis, that this constitutes Israel's attempt to get the voters to do a different way? Insist on new leadership?

[pelsar]

14. they are being judged by their abilities...

Let their supporters and detractors judge them on their abilities.

with their limited choices and limited resources they have shown what exactly are their priorities....its putting religion back into the population...terrorizing those that dont agree and finally lobbing more an more lame rockets at israeli cities and "egging" on the IDF until they finally get the invasion they've waited for.

____

hamas has options, they have chosen the ones that they prefer....

[Name removed]

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[LeftishBrit]

16. You could say the same about the Gazan voters; not to mention ..

British, American and many other voters.

Few people like wars; yet most governments, even elected ones, are far too keen to use war as their solution.

At least, Israeli voters have sometimes elected leaders that tried to reduce the violence; e.g. Rabin.

[Lithos]

9. The Eastern side of Jabalya Refugee Camp

Where the reporter was based was where the IDF ground incursion took place. This incursion was supported by helicopters and aircraft which ostensibly targeted armed militants who were moving against the IDF column; as such the helicopters were indeed not targeting rockets.

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