While the usual justifications and blame-shifting is still being vigorously propagated by the worldwide Israeli propaganda apparatus, it would appear that on the ground Israel has abandoned all pretence of any measured response to the ineffectual Hamas rocket attacks.
The civilian death figures in Gaza have reached levels which would indicate that this time Israel has decided to end the standoff once and for all and to hell with the dead children.
People who have never bothered to learn the history of the rise and ride of the Jewish state of Israel and its treatment of the native Palestinians are easily distracted by the rationalisation depicting this as some sort of contest of moral values.
The actual situation is one of occupation and progressive annexation by a ruthless and vastly superior military power which has inexorably dispossessed the weaker state to an extent that the concept of a ‘two-state-solution’ has become just a political figleaf.
In fact numerous Israeli political figures have admitted this reality, and to many of them it has always been the objective.
Palestine is a country under hostile military occupation and as such Hamas (with all its faults) can be categorised as a justified resistance movement, but of course they are Arabs and not to be considered in the same category as say the French in WWII.
Tom Tabart, Bangalow
This is another letter of lazy lefty opinions mostly without any basis, and you talk about Israel having a propaganda Apparatus !!. Another example of completely understating the actions of Hamas and overstating of Israel response.
“ineffectual Hamas rocket attacks” so i guess if your house is being bombed. If there was a direct hit you and your family would be dead, but the bombs only hit the front yard or next door. You would be giving a little smirk and think that’s OK its just “ineffectual rocket attacks” and get on with the day. Yeah right.
You mention people who do not know the history of the area, well my friend you are one of them. Here is the more recent history.
Ottoman Rule 1570 – 1920
British Mandate 1920 – 1948
1948 (UN backed) state of Israel declared – Just one other small point on that statistics are that in 1948 82% of the population of Israel/Palestine was Jewish. So your claim that Palestine is a country under hostile occupation lacks credibility.
You want to help Palestinians, speak out against Hamas a totalitarian movement which espouse the destruction of Israel and the institution of Sharia law. They took over Gaza in 2007 by killing Fatah members and supporters. They are a murderous,callous organization which already subjugates and terrorise their own people into obedience. (Not some quirky uncles with with some faults as you put it)
If you think Israel wants this conflict you could not be more wrong. My suggestion is stick to local politics.