Israeli Police Beat 15 year old American Citizen

[The Mad Monk]

Of course, that wasn't like Northern Ireland at all, really. You probably didn't know were the bombs were being built, you may not have known exactly who, and I am certain they had enough concern for their own people that they weren't choosing to build them in densely packed neighborhoods where an accidental detonation would cause a great tragedy.

edit: I'm glad we're on the same page, then.

[Dauphin]

Well. Omagh. But yeah.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

whatever... hey look I'm sava... just getting the post count up

[Uncle Sparky]

embedded... embedded... 'embedded' is a bvllsh!t word. Hamas is embedded in/near schools/hospitals/mosques... and Canada, the US and the usual suspects condemn them for it.
What about Israeli MPs, police, religious provocateurs? Are any of them embedded in residential neighborhoods? Near schools, hospitals, synagogues? Would blowing up their offices and residences put civilians at risk? Of course.
What we need is to have Israel round up the West Bank settlers, give that land back to the Palestinians and sell the PLO accurate missile systems. With the right weapons they could target their enemies, who I'm sure, wouldn't ever be in civilian areas.

[Dr Strangelove]

We're demanding the original boundaries laid out by the UN.

[Ben Kenobi]

Good luck getting Hamas to agree on that. Hamas wants all of it.

[Ben Kenobi]

Would you agree to the original boundaries?

From the river in Egypt to the Euphrates? Absolutely.

[Ben Kenobi]

Also, note in the map how Israel has totally carved up the West Bank to the extent that the Palestinians control maybe less than 50% of the territory is small isolated pockets dominated by Israel's green line and illegal settlements - that's no life, and those are the supposedly acquiescent ones

It was not Israel who declared war in 1947. Actions have consequences.

[Fake Boris]

A timeline that seems to be forgotten.

1) Talks for a unity government were going well
2) The West Bank is controlled by Fatah, whose security forces often cooperate with Israel
3) Three Israeli teenagers are kidnapped and murdered in the West Bank
4) Within 24 hours, Netanyahu knew who the killers were and that the kids were already dead
5) The Hamas leadership had given orders to stay calm (to allow for the unity talks to progress)
6) Netanyahu pretends that the kids may still be alive and that Hamas is responsible (both false)
7) Launches an offensive in the West Bank to "rescue the teenagers", arrests 200 Hamas militants (with cooperation from the Fatah), bulldozes homes (typical Israeli business)
8) Hamas retaliates with rocket fire from Gaza
9) Israeli "counter-offensive" in Gaza

Objective attained. The unity government is jeopardized and the Israeli public opinion has been successfully manipulated.

[Dr Strangelove]

It was not Israel who declared war in 1947. Actions have consequences.

No, it's military organizations simply sent troops into territory designated for Palestine without declaring war, which would have been dificult because no Palestinian government had been formed because the British banned all Palestinian political organizations. As a point of fact Palestine didn't declare war either, there was no political entity capable of declaring war on its behalf. A number of Arabic states did declare war, but they're separate nations.

[Dr Strangelove]

A timeline that seems to be forgotten.
4) Within 24 hours, Netanyahu knew who the killers were and that the kids were already dead

Who? Have they been arrested?

[The Mad Monk]

Marwan Qawasmeh and Amar Abu Aisha.

Hamas members, described as rogue Hamas members and the likely culprits early on, Hamas appears to now be denying that they are involved. They are still at large.

[The Mad Monk]

Frankly, given that they are the likely killers, I'm not sure how (7) would change, except for the rescuing part.

[The Mad Monk]

BTW,

Hamas has ruled out a ceasefire deal unless Israel "lifts the siege" on Gaza, the organisation's political chief has said.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11295945

So apparently, Israel must keep pounding Gaza until Israel accepts Hamas' demands.

[C0ckney]

yes heaven forbid that israel should stop the collective punishment and humiliation of the citizens of gaza.