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Originally Posted by Robert
I disagree with your statement that Israel has shown to be just as stubborn as its enemies, on the contrary, Israel has time and again shown to be the only side willing to compromise.
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Israel has never offered Palestinians a contiguous state, as per their demand. Israel has refused to compromise on the issue of Jerusalem, while Palestinians have offered offered compromises on this issue. Israel has steadfastly refused to negotiate at all on any diplomatic level with the democratically elected government of Palestine. Israel has refused to compromise at all on illegal settlements, and in fact Olmert welcomed over 800 NA and British Jewish immigrants and religious colonialists to Israel just today, on the ceasefire. That is pure stubbornness.
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While Israel has forcefully removed many of thier own settlers Hamas still can't remove the aim of destroying Israel from thier charter
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Two things. The last five years have seen a huge increase in the amount of settlers and settlement activity in occupied Palestine. Pulling back from Gaza had more to do with future military strategy than it did with compromise. It was done unilaterally, not under peaceful negotiation and debate. And Hamas has offered to consider accepting a Jewish state if Israel is willing to finalize its borders. I know this is not what people want, but there is room for negotiation there.
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Israel pulled out of Lebanon 6 years ago, but Hezbollah can't stop launching rockets and cross border raids. Israel's action have shown a persistent desire for peace. Hamas and Hezbollah have demonstrated nothing but a desire for the destruction of Israel.
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Neither can Israel stop their kidnappings and raids and shelling of civilians.
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I also don't understand how you can view Israeli actions as "collective punishment" Israel has gone to excessive steps to avoid civilian casualties.
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Do you really consider cluster bombs
"going to excessive steps to avoid civilian casualties"?
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What other military has dropped leaflets letting people know where they are going to bomb?
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After they have bombed their highways and bridges, and then giving them 24 hours to get out while they destroy their homes and businesses? There is nothing in annals of the laws of the proper conduct of war that allow for that at all. I guarantee you that you could not leave your city and protect your loved ones from air raids, (let alone your home and business) if your roads and bridges were destroyed and you and everyone else in your town or city were all trying to leave at the same time, within 24 hours or less. That is ridiculous. The fact is Israel cleansed southern Lebanon of its human population, which is called collective punishment.
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Unfortunately Hezbollah has shown they are unwilling to fight a war in open terrain, instead choosing to hide behind women and children so they can then blame Israel when civilians are killed. Unfortunately a large number of people in the world appear to have fallen for this tactic and have laid the blame of civilian killings at the feet of Israel, instead of on the heads of Hezbollah where the blame should rightfully be placed.
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Yes, unfortunate. Is that supposed to be an excuse to kill people with no chance of political or military gain? And when you say
"hide behind innocent women and children" do you include the Israelis who hide behind the increasing population of illegal Israeli settlers who buffer Israel proper from the wrath of suicide bombers and rocket shells?
Both parties share lots of blame in these conflicts. They are both guilty of the age old human fault of nationalism and religion, in fact, we all are. I have never been able to figure out why both parties cannot just have one country, one person, one vote. Why can’t we all ditch the dead end of hyper-nationalism and fundamentalist faith?
Andrew