The thinking surrounding the Hamas/Israel conflict is far too binary.

[berg80]

One should be able to recognize the recent, horrific acts by Hamas on the Gaza border and simultaneously acknowledge Israel's decades long mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories without being accused of being a sympathizer of Hamas. Does Israel's oppression of Palestinians justify what Hamas did? Of course not. Is it something that needs to be addressed as part of any future negotiation between the two sides? Yes.
One step in the right direction would be for Israel to stop expanding the settlements in the territories along with sacking Netanyahu.

Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

 

[LordBrownTrout]

You're referring to more western media propaganda. Israel left gaza in 2006. Hamas is a terrorist group. There are innocent people who are trapped in gaza and suppressed by hamas. Hamas controls gaza. These are all facts.

 

[Votto]

The Palestinians had Gaza, so it was not occupied, so one of the first steps is to end the endless lies

Oh, and they are not an apartheid state either.

10 Reasons Israel Is Not An 'Apartheid' State

Tyler Levitan's recent Huffington Post Canada op-ed entitled "Israel's Actions In Palestine Are The Definition Of Apartheid" is a perfect example of how when baseless accusations are left unanswered, they risk becoming accepted as conventional wisdom.

www.huffpost.com

So when you are dealing with the other side steeped in lies, what is there to talk about?

 

[SeaMajor7]

"The Jews were warned, verily, Inshallah."
- The Qur'an

 

[gipper]

One should be able to recognize the recent, horrific acts by Hamas on the Gaza border and simultaneously acknowledge Israel's decades long mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories without being accused of being a sympathizer of Hamas. Does Israel's oppression of Palestinians justify what Hamas did? Of course not. Is it something that needs to be addressed as part of any future negotiation between the two sides? Yes.
One step in the right direction would be for Israel to stop expanding the settlements in the territories along with sacking Netanyahu.

Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

Unfortunately many Americans know nothing about the terrible treatment of Palestinians, nor do they know of the numerous atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians for decades. They do know a lot about atrocities committed by Muslims against Israelis.

Proving Americans are the most propagandized people on the planet.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Any reasonable and cerebral person realizes that there is great risk to Americas global status if China, Russia et al are viewed as the most balanced. They are also the greatest benefactors of this war. Israel and its citizens would be the biggest loser if this transfer of influence and power occurs and America loses vital ground.

Israel deserves to exist, Hamas doesn't, but its people do. It has been almost 80 years, both sides need to find a way forward and the world needs to voice this more loudly than ever.

A new government in both countries would be a wise and prudent outcome.

 

[Oddball]

Unfortunately many Americans know nothing about the terrible treatment of Palestinians, nor do they know of the numerous atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians for decades. They do know a lot about atrocities committed by Muslims against Israelis.

Proving Americans are the most propagandized people on the planet.

The Palestinians are treated even worse by their own....There's a reason that Gaza has been referred to as an open-air prison.

 

[ReinyDays]

"The Jews were warned, verily, Inshallah."
- The Qur'an

The Bible says that too ...

 

[berg80]

Hamas controls gaza.

Absurd. Israel controls both border crossings, the water supply, the supply of electricity, the movements of the residents of Gaza.

 

[berg80]

I'm posting this for context so the board can consider the past actions of Israel. Which is not to say Hamas hasn't done atrocious things too.

On 5 August, Israel launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and its armed wing, destroying or damaging some 1,700 Palestinian homes and displacing hundreds of civilians. The Israeli army and Palestinian armed groups committed apparent war crimes during the three days of fighting. (See State of Palestine entry.)3

According to the UN, 49 Palestinians were killed, including 31 civilians. Amnesty International established that Israeli forces killed 17 of the civilians, including eight children. Seven civilians, including four children, were killed by a rocket that misfired apparently launched by a Palestinian armed group. On 7 August, an Israeli missile, apparently fired by a drone, hit Al-Falluja cemetery in Jabalia refugee camp, killing five children and injuring one, in an apparent direct attack on civilians or indiscriminate attack.

West Bank​

Israeli forces killed 151 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and injured 9,875, according to OCHA-OPT, amid a surge of military incursions that involved excessive use of force, including unlawful killings and apparent extrajudicial executions.4 Defense for Children International-Palestine reported that Israeli forces or settlers killed 36 children across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

I'm posting this for context so the board can consider the past actions of Israel. Which is not to say Hamas hasn't done atrocious things too.

On 5 August, Israel launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and its armed wing, destroying or damaging some 1,700 Palestinian homes and displacing hundreds of civilians. The Israeli army and Palestinian armed groups committed apparent war crimes during the three days of fighting. (See State of Palestine entry.)3

According to the UN, 49 Palestinians were killed, including 31 civilians. Amnesty International established that Israeli forces killed 17 of the civilians, including eight children. Seven civilians, including four children, were killed by a rocket that misfired apparently launched by a Palestinian armed group. On 7 August, an Israeli missile, apparently fired by a drone, hit Al-Falluja cemetery in Jabalia refugee camp, killing five children and injuring one, in an apparent direct attack on civilians or indiscriminate attack.

West Bank​

Israeli forces killed 151 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and injured 9,875, according to OCHA-OPT, amid a surge of military incursions that involved excessive use of force, including unlawful killings and apparent extrajudicial executions.4 Defense for Children International-Palestine reported that Israeli forces or settlers killed 36 children across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

These were in response to hamas and terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, there will always be civilians that are caught up in hamas horrific terrorism.

 

[Oddball]

These were in response to hamas and terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, there will always be civilians that are caught up in hamas horrific terrorism.

Especially so when they're used as human shields.

Even though the Israeli Likuds are douchbags, even they aren't hiding military HQs beneath hospitals.

 

[ReinyDays]

Wow ... yeah ... lots of different parties at the table here ... to wit ...

The Russians ...

Someone's keeping Syrian tanks from crossing the border ... what a mess ... it's only 200 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus ... and that road is known for lightning strikes ... strange bedfellows indeed ...

 

[Auld Phart]

One should be able to recognize the recent, horrific acts by Hamas on the Gaza border and simultaneously acknowledge Israel's decades long mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories without being accused of being a sympathizer of Hamas. Does Israel's oppression of Palestinians justify what Hamas did? Of course not. Is it something that needs to be addressed as part of any future negotiation between the two sides? Yes.
One step in the right direction would be for Israel to stop expanding the settlements in the territories along with sacking Netanyahu.

Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

which is why we need to stay out of it.

 

[Oddball]

Wow ... yeah ... lots of different parties at the table here ... to wit ...

The Russians ...

Someone's keeping Syrian tanks from crossing the border ... what a mess ... it's only 200 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus ... and that road is known for lightning strikes ... strange bedfellows indeed ...

The hard core Muzzies hate Assad too....He's an Alawite.

 

[luiza]

One should be able to recognize the recent, horrific acts by Hamas on the Gaza border and simultaneously acknowledge Israel's decades long mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories without being accused of being a sympathizer of Hamas. Does Israel's oppression of Palestinians justify what Hamas did? Of course not. Is it something that needs to be addressed as part of any future negotiation between the two sides? Yes.
One step in the right direction would be for Israel to stop expanding the settlements in the territories along with sacking Netanyahu.

Come on OP .
This is the USMB , not some Think Tank or a resting place for thinking people .
This place is for the "All Things Binary" World Champions .

 

[iamwhatiseem]

One should be able to recognize the recent, horrific acts by Hamas on the Gaza border and simultaneously acknowledge Israel's decades long mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories without being accused of being a sympathizer of Hamas. Does Israel's oppression of Palestinians justify what Hamas did? Of course not. Is it something that needs to be addressed as part of any future negotiation between the two sides? Yes.
One step in the right direction would be for Israel to stop expanding the settlements in the territories along with sacking Netanyahu.

Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

Wrong
The Palestinians elected Hamas to lead them.
The Palestinians repeatedly elected PLO leaders that FIVE TIMES refused to compromise with Israel.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

You're referring to more western media propaganda. Israel left gaza in 2006. Hamas is a terrorist group. There are innocent people who are trapped in gaza and suppressed by hamas. Hamas controls gaza. These are all facts.

Facts which must be ignored by politically correct antisemites.

 

[Oddball]

Wrong
The Palestinians elected Hamas to lead them.
The Palestinians repeatedly elected PLO leaders that FIVE TIMES refused to compromise with Israel.

They "elected" Hamas the same way that Iraq "elected" Saddam numerous times.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

They "elected" Hamas the same way that Iraq "elected" Saddam numerous times.

Yeah, remember that, 99 percent of the country "voted" for him and proudly showed their ink stained thumbs. Coming soon...............to a theatre in the US