Lots opf things went on over the last 1000 years or more that are now considered to be at the very least, in very poor taste. Using history to justify a bunch of Zionist nutjobs taking pleasure in the killing and maiming of innocents is peverse.



And they're not watching the effects of The Iron Dome, they are watching and cheering Israeli rockets and bombs landing on Palestinian civilians

How many Palestinians celebrated after 9/11? How many celebrated after the three Israeli teenagers were found murdered?



Not the brightest lot are they. Every time they launch a rocket into Israel they get it back 10x. You would think they would get the message by now of what happens when they launch rockets.



I would be on the hill with them. If my way of life was threatened being threatened by the terrorist scum I'd be on the hill with a bag of popcorn and 3d glasses.

And if you were born in Palestine?



Where would you be then? Would you simply allow the Israelis to enter your territory, to forcibly remove you from the home that you have lived in since birth, so that Zionist settlers could unlawfully set up home on what was previously your land?



Given your propensity to cowardice, I reckon you probably would just lay down and get dry bummed

Yes, standards have changed, but we're not talking about slavery or crucifixion or throwing people to the lions. We're talking about nothing more than a group of people watching a spectacular sight and supporting and clapping their own side. This faux outrage is rather pathetic. How very dare they.



You think Palestinians don't watch when a rocket is launched into Israel and you think none of them celebrate when an attack is successful? Would a picture of Palestinians watching rockets strike Israel be more acceptable? I suspect you'd probably approve of that.



I have no particular love for Israel and have enormous sympathy for the cause of the Palestinians. But when things deteriorate like this they're both as bad as one another and the truth is Israel will always hit back harder and more ruthlessly. Hamas and other groups know this and put their own people in mortal danger each time they poke the bear. Again, that doesn't make it right but as things are there will never be a resolution and this cycle will continue.

So if Palestinians aren't allowed to 'poke the bear' what do you suggest they do about Israel stealing their land and restricting entry/exit of the Gaza strip, bearing in mind that even though the international community condemns it, nobody seems to want to do anything about it?

Where did I say they weren't 'allowed'? They can do what they like, but let's look at the status quo: Hamas begin one of their periods of violence and launch hundreds of rockets into Israel. Israel, as they always do and always promise they will, hit back ten times harder with air strikes and often ground activity.



The fact is, far more Palestinians will die than Israelis when theis cycle comes around yet again - what's the count now - around 90 to 0 Israelis? Now, even though I assume you didn't ignore it the first time round I'll say it again - that doesn't make it right and my sympathies lie with the Palestinians - but this cycle of violence is damaging, deadly and completely and utterly pointless. Hamas seem to rely on dead Palestinians to garner international support, Israel adhere to their policy of hitting back harder than Hamas ever can. They're as bad as each other.



Generations of politicians, UN sec-generals, military leaders and other international brokers have failed to solve the problem. What's the answer? I don't know. Realistically, I'm not sure anything can be done. Israel are determined to defend (and expand) their people and borders. Hamas and the other groups are determined to kill Israelis with the ultimate and presently unrealistic goal of taking back their lands. Neither will budge.



What do you suggest they do about it?

According to the BBC website Hamas are hoping that reports and images of wounded and dead Palestinians will elicit both sympathy and funds from supporting/linked groups across the wider area.

But that remains, like a lot of this thread, as speculation.

Israel should let a few rockets hit, let the 'score' get a little bit less one-sided. They'd probably get a bit more support that way and also all the bandwagoners on my Facebook/Twitter timelines looking for a "cause du jour" would have a harder time of deciding how to display their outrage and who to direct it towards.



#StopKony2012 #BringBackOurGirls #FreeGaza

Israel agree to a cease fire, stop bombing just as the cease fire begins then get upset as Palestine are retaliating as the cease fire starts even though they weren't even consulted or told about the cease fire. Have Israel now managed to gain higher ground on the issue or has the "cease fire" been seen for what it really was?



If they both did agree to a cease fire....again, how long would it be before normal service resumed?



What real options are available to halting the violence between the two?

You've asked similar questions twice now, and I asked you directly in return a few posts back.



Perhaps you could try answering the question yourself. Don't be another Chris28, full of critical questions but never any meaningful suggestions.

I'll have a go then.



Instead of allowing ever more settlers to uproot and evict Palestinians, why don't Israel retreat back to the pre-1967 borders, as mandated for years now by the UN?



Maybe once they do that and assuming Hamas continue to "attack" Israel, they will have some tangible evidence that certain Palestinians do not want peace at all

That would be ideal. Except it's a fantasy. The only way Israel will retreat to those borders is if the surrounding countries attacked and beat them back. They tried that once before and Israel are considerably more powerful now.



So, avoiding fantastical solutions and given the actual realities of the situation - neither Israel nor the Palestinians/Hamas will budge - what can be done?



I think I was pretty close when I said very little. The only effective action for me would be a complete reversal of US support and severe sanctions from the entire international community - economic sanctions, a total travel ban in or out of Israel, a complete trading ban, etc. But that won't happen either. The US is too deeply tied to Israel and the international community is weak.

So we just allow the bully to keep bullying its smaller neighbour?



Given Israel's past, it seems more than a little perverse that it is determined to visit the same privations on its neighbours that its own people suffered many years ago

My suggestion would be the same as cod'ead's.



My take on it is that most of it has stemmed due to Israel simply seeing how much land they can steal in one go without the international community sanctioning them (if it would even happen). Slowly but surely expanding.



All of the recent instability in the region has only assisted Israel in that the governments are so busy sorting their own countries out after 'uprisings' that they haven't got the time or capacity to give to the matter, whether that would help or not.



The problem now is that the situation has gone on for so long that I don't think Hamas will settle for simply claiming back their land anymore. There has been so much bloodshed and so many prisoners taken that I don't believe they can ever be neighbours.



What is a massive shame is that there are successful projects between the two including, but not limited to, a successful joint scientific venture. If only the leaders of Israel weren't so hell bent on grabbing land, and both so excited by rockets.

The American sponsored Isrealis are doing nothing but committing Genocide, but sure, believe all the lies spouted by the western media. Its not hard to find impartial reports, detailing the atrocities committed by Isreal towards innocent palestinians. Yes, Hamas are what you would call terrorists but aiming rockets at a 3 story building in order to kill one hamas member is despicable.



#OpIsrael

What would your solution be? Just let it continue?

You've quoted his solution. For America to stop sponsoring the murderers!



#OpIsrael

He did suggest that, but also stated that it was unlikely to happen so wondered what other solutions he thought there could be.



Whilst I do agree with your sentiment, and you will note from my earlier posts whose 'side' I am on and who started it, it does take two to tango!

Did I say that? I've offered my most realistic solution, even if I think it's unlikely.



What do you suggest 'we' - realistically, not some fantastical vision that simply will not happen - do about it?



Honestly I don't think there's a solution unless one side capitulates completely. Don't make the mistake of assuming that's what I think [ishould [/ihappen.

'Send Israel back to pre-1967' is not a realistic suggestion.





I've offered the most realistic solution I can envisage, even if I doubt it will happen. I'm not sure a solution exists short of the Palestinians capitulating entirely. As I said to fishface, don't make the mistake of assuming that's what I think [ishould[/i happen.



I'm all out of ideas. Perhaps you could come up with something that might work in the real world?

Why not? Pre-1967 before Israel started to expand on to land belonging to another country? Just because it would be difficult, why should it not be a target? The only barrier is the foreign policy of the USA which has been found to be lacking in support more recently.

Jon Snow was on fine form last night. Worth a watch on channel 4 news catch up



#OpIsrael

why doesn't the almighty god intervene and fix these warring nations, surely a few quick thunderbolts and a plague of locust would suffice?

If you don't see why Israel will NEVER go back to those borders, you don't understand the mindset of Israelis. They are too heavily invested in those lands, their entire raison d'être is to secure their historic lands and protect their people.



You don't set out on a diplomatic effort with a totally unrealistic goal. That's just stupid. IMO the best you can expect from Israel - unless the entire international community comes down hard on them - is to allow free movement across Palestinian borders. And Hamas will never settle for that so we'll soon be back at square one again.



The US is not the only barrier at all, Israel is a force in its own right. If the US withdrew support Israel would feel the pinch a little but they have sufficient stockpiles, manufacturing capacity and buying power to get through without too much trouble.



So I ask again - other than unrealistic ideals, what suggestions do you have?

One man's unrealistic ideal is another man's challenge.



Just because the Israeli's have dug in doesn't mean it's impossible to reach a middle ground between the two. I understand the mindset of the Israeli's, but that shouldn't mean that it's OK for them to do what they have/are doing and that nothing should be done about it. Good job people didn't say that about Hitler!*



The qualification that Israel are allowed to take land on the premise of what it says in a story book is ridiculous. Not just because the earths crust is constantly moving.



*I am not comparing Hitler and the Israeli's