I'm saying this with a lot of conviction, and a very real possibility that the fighting will continue tomorrow morning, when the ceasefire ends.
Israel left Gaza. Hamas has not allowed any meaningful amount of time to pass without firing rockets at our communities. They say it's because of the blockade, but if you belive them you are a fool. Sure, they want the blockade lifted, but mostly so they can get Iranian weapons, so the next war will be even bigger. If they truely wanted to lift the blockade, all they needed to do was STOP launching rockets. After a year Obama would have forced Netanyahu to lift the blockade. In two years, Netanyahu would be sent to the opposition and the peace process could resume.
The same process killed by Hamas in a string of some 30 suicide bombings in the 90s.
They don't want a solution, they want us dead in the ground. Any other face they show is just a tactic. And the international media collaborates with them out of fear for their reporters on the ground.
let's talk about that blockade, then. you will have to tell me what terroristic purpose musical instruments, A4 paper, cardamom, and meats can be used for, as these are all banned from import into Gaza. along with other things like crayons, blankets, mattresses and and wheelchairs. can you envision having a meaningful existence without a bed to sleep in? or fresh food, even on an irregular basis? you have the luxury of taking these things for granted, but are quick to blame the Palestinians for Hamas shooting rockets into Israel. when you give people nothing but despair and hunger to look forward to, you can't act like you are surprised when they find a way to fight back.
this is remarkably similar to the language used to dismiss every single peace deal since Oslo. Israel has continually denied that they are not an honest broker for peace, but their actions tell a completely different story. always talking about how intractable the Palestinian position is, and how "we can't accept these terms unless the Palestinians stop doing ____". yes, the Palestinians have their own version of this, but they are not the ones who have helicopter gunships, nuclear weapons, and a guaranteed $4 billion per year welfare program from the US. at some point Israel must deal honestly with the Palestinians and give them something to look forward to besides death from above. bombing the shit out of civilians and putting up bigger and better walls between the two sides is never going to bring about the peaceful resolution Israel keeps insisting it wants.
"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman
