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Hamas draws Israeli fire, Palestinian praise

Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008 1:40 PM
Filed Under:

By Martin Fletcher, NBC News Correspondent 

TEL AVIV, Israel – You would think that Palestinians in Gaza would be upset at Hamas’ provocative stance against Israel, which has brought economic sanctions and contributed to massive unemployment and food and fuel shortages.

It has also brought Israel and the Palestinians closer toward a military confrontation in Gaza that Hamas cannot win.

But instead, polls show that Hamas is tightening its grip on power and growing in popularity. Resistance pays in the polls.

Image: Palestinian journalists comfort each other.
SLIDESHOW: Fighting in Gaza intesifies
Following a storm of Palestinian rockets, Israel killed 120 Palestinians in Gaza six weeks ago and bought a few weeks of relative calm. Now Hamas is back again, firing rockets and ambushing Israeli soldiers. In return they got 20 dead Palestinians on Wednesday and provoked yet more threats from Israel that it would launch a major offensive to clean out Gaza of rockets and gunmen.

However, Hamas has about 20,000 trained and well-equipped fighters ready. That means that if Israel were to invade, it would be long, bloody and painful for both sides. But still, Hamas appears to want this to happen

Border tensions
Anger is building in Gaza not only against Israel, but Egypt. Complaints are voiced more and more loudly against Egypt's refusal to open its border with Gaza.

After Hamas blew open the Rafah border earlier this year, and Gazans tasted the whiff of brief freedom and easier movement in and out of Gaza, they want it again, badly.

Hamas is said to have mined the border wall again, and to have its men in position ready to blow the wall down. Meanwhile, Egypt has reinforced its police with elite soldiers ready to repel invaders. That would be another bloody scenario.

So Gaza is facing a bloodbath on two fronts, against Israel as well as Egypt. In fact, Israel and Egypt are said to be cooperating in their preparations close to the Rafah border. 

Popularity growing
So what is Hamas up to? Do they want a war or is it just a growing sense of desperation at their inability to bring any improvement to the lives of Gazans, a failure that they are masking by building up external threats?

Whatever it is, it's working. Not only is Hamas more popular than before in Gaza, but all indications are that they are growing more popular in the West Bank, too, and that they would win elections for president which are scheduled for January 2009. That prospect terrifies Israel, as well as the head of the rival Fatah Party, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

An explanation is provided by a poll released Wednesday that shows the three most popular leaders in the Arab world are not, for example, leaders of Morocco or the Persian Gulf who have brought stability and prosperity to many citizens. Instead, they are Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Why? They face up to America, and by extension, what they call the "little Satan": Israel.

The conclusion is that the more Hamas faces up to Israel, the more popular it becomes, regardless of the hardship it brings to its people. It's a bluff, because everybody involved understands that Israel has the power to destroy Hamas at will; the question is, does Israel have the will to do it?

The speculation is that the answer is yes, but not yet. Israel's 60th birthday celebrations in mid-May, the arrival of President Bush and other world leaders to join the party, and ongoing military preparations all conspire to delay Israel's attack on Gaza. Nobody doubts that it is coming, though.

Early summer is the best bet for Israel to call Hamas’ bluff. The destruction of Hamas military power in Gaza would serve Israel well, not only because it would weaken the threat from Gaza, but because it would destroy Hamas’ chance of taking over the West Bank through presidential elections. Nobody would be happier than the Fatah leadership and Abbas. 

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Comments

Israel has been amazingly restrained in dealing with the "Palestinians."  If we had neighbors who have sworn to genocide every one of us simply because we belong to a different religion ( and make no mistake this is about religion not land ), would we have been as patient with them?  If we had spent 60 years fighting off repeated genocide attempts and endless waves of terrorism.. would we have given as little response?  I think not.. nor do I think any other country would have either.

Israel has tried making concessions to the "Palestinians" and all it's accomplished is more and more and more attacks.. because the only concession the "Palestinians" really want is the ability to slaughter every Jew in Israel.  Even then one has to doubt they'd be happy, and has to assume they'd then turn their attention elsewhere.

In short, if your enemy doesn't want peace you're only left with the options of war or surrendor.

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:27 AM)

Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have more responsibility here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. I know deep down in places you dont talk about at parties, you don’t want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

John Sheboygan WI (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:32 AM)

Remember:
The Jews are God's Chosen People. No force on earth can wipe them out. Read the Bible. Also, by using the Bible, you can map out ALL of the land that was given to them by God - much more than what they are holding at the present time.

JD (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:34 AM)

My opinion is that a constant low intensity conflict is truelly what benefits Israel most. Of course Israel doesn't want Carter to talk to Hamas in case it shows that it actually might work, and you won't see Israel committing an all out invasion either, because that might work too. Why? How could we justify sending billions and billions of dollars in military aid to a country that is living in peace? A few dead people a day isn't really that big a deal when you have a population of what, 7 million-ish. At the same time, I don't believe Hamas really wants peace either, lest the Palestinian population lose their need for Hamas. I think both sides are willing to accept the dead in exchange for constant power. Therein lies the rub. As much as I think Israel has to shoulder some of the blame, people lose sight of the fact that "martyrdom operations" i.e. sending suicide bombers into crowds of unsuspecting civilians are probably the most dishonorable form of fighting on the planet. It's a complete dirtbag mentality to attack unarmed people.

Joe (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:37 AM)

this is all bogus

3r68utyeu (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:39 AM)

It is just amazing how many of you want to side with the Palastinians, oh my, they are being repressed..... well why don't you look at it this way...  Every day, rockets, mortor fire, suicide bombers and militant attacks on Civilian Targets come from your neighboring country.  Are you going to just let it happen, heck no, your going to go in and try to stop these people any way you can.  So why is it that you expect something different than what the Israelis are doing.  Israel does not just sit there and fire blindly at Palistinian Civilian targets trying to cause terror like the Palastionians do, they are constantly putting their own people at risk to minimize the Palastinians  causulties.  If Israel really wanting to inflict as much harm on the civilian population as you seem to say, all they would have to do is sit there with artillery and lay waste to the entire strip,  this will never happen, as they do not want to injure the civilian population.  Have you not noticed that when there are civilian caualties, it is because the militants hide amoung them.
It is amazing how you complain about the US and Israeli propaganda, but not about the Arab and Palastinian propaganda, which is 100 times more blantantly incorrect and filled with lies.
One more thing, look at Israel a modern and thriving country and then look at the Arab countries around them, still stuck in the 3rd world, with 95% in poverty.  Why dont they help rebuild the Palastinian country, because they are totally corrupt, they steal the money, sent by the US, not their Arab "brothers" and leave the Palastinains with nothing.  Over the last 30 years, they have received 10s of billians in support, enough money to rebuild their entire country, and what happened to this money, stolen and what was not stolen went to buy, guns, rockets, mortors and explosives. Who is to blame, not Israel, but the Palastinians and their Arab "brothers" themselves.

Open eyes (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:41 AM)

Fact:  Israel left the Gaza strip.  Totally.
Question: What did the 'Palestinians' do with it?  With the agricultural equipment and systems left them (bought with European money from Israel)?  With their chance to show what they can do towards establishing their own state?
Answer:  Nothing.  They destroyed everything.  If they felt they still had to kill Israelis, they still could have done something towards their own state.  Again, Nothing.

Lilly: "But we’ve talked to people who we don’t agree with before. We did it with Rusia."  When did Russia attack us with suicide bombers and rockets?  And the minute they [only] threatened to do so (by establishing bases in Cuba), we began a blockade.

Mr. Rosenblatt:  Right on!

Solomon (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:45 AM)

Israel had refused to recognize that it cannot exist in the Middle-East without US military and economic support. This vital support is slowly disappearing as the American people are getting tired of bleeding their nation's treasury and making enemies of other nations because of its support for the jewish state. For 60 years, the Israel chose to fight the legitimate aspirations of the surrounding Arab states and peoples. They illegally deported hundreds of thousand of Palestinians  from Palestine, attacking neighboring Arab states numerous times and  running an apartheid regime in the occupied territories.  Israel should evacuate all new settlements and return to the borders of the pre-1967 war. There is no other way Israel can survive on its own.

Steven Lukacs, Livovnia, MI (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:47 AM)

I am amazed at all the support that the Palestinians get.  They do not hate Israel because the conditions in Gaza are bad.  They hate Israel and all Jews because they group up learning to hate the Jews and that all their problems are caused by Israel and that except for Israel everything would be good.  Their leaders do want war, because peace would mean that they are out of business.  Iran is building up their missles in reinforced bunkers under poor peoples housing, just like they did in Lebanon.  They want Israel to kill civilians to enrage the Moslem world further. They need to have their hatred of Israel reinforced regularly.  The only thing that keeps the Palestinians oppresed is their belief that their problems are caused by Israel and the only way to achieve what they want is by destroying Israel.  
  If the Arab world is so pro-Palestinian, why are they in refugee camps, not integrated into the countries they lived in since 1948 (except for Jordon).  Why do Arabs live in Israel as citizens if the Israelis hate them so? When Jerusalem was taken by Jordon, all the Jews were driven out.  Why do the Jews let Palestinians live in Israel?  The Jews were all removed from Gaza.  Did that cause Peace?  When they left Lebanon, did that cause peace.  Look at more history than the things that you agree with if you want to realy understand the world.  

Allen Aigen, New York City (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:47 AM)

Luv a good smile. I'm curious how you think the situation should be handled. What plan is going to eventually create a long and lasting peace there? Does it start by opening the boarders and lifting sanctions? What happens as soon as Hammas starts bolwing up busses full of Isreali kids? I am almost convinced that the differences between Isreali leadership and the Palestinian leadership are irreconcilable. So where do we go from here?

Gordon Beers (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:50 AM)

Unfortunately we live in an imperfect world.  The truth is that this is not about politics, peace or anything else logical. It is pure, irrational hate. Check out the comments by Richard Rosenblatt (posted 6:09 yesterday), he's right. Israel tried to talk their way to peace many times, but it takes just 2 or 3 crazies willing to blow themselves up to undo months and years of talks. Israel has over reacted many times as well, but they are faced with 5 nations around them who still demand their total annialation. I notice most of Israels critics come from countries which have no concept of that type of threat. None of the participants in this conflict can win. When hate rules the playing field, there are only degrees of losing. Pity those who are trapped in this cycle, don't perpetuate the hate.

Benson, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:54 AM)

It's funny to see people talk about the "boot of occupation". I only see Israel take action when they are attacked by rockets raingin on their cities, when their chidlren are bombed on a bus, worshippers blasted to smithereens in a temple or old folk wasted in blood at an outside resturant.

I believe the Israeli people want peace, and only the hatred of Hamas and other terrorists keeps this thing going.

Isreal does not call for the destruction of the Palestinians. they re-opne borders as soon as the suicide bombers allow and let Palestinians work and live among them even though any one of them may blow themselves up as well as the people aroudn them. Yet, these haters' stated goal is the destruction of Israel.

If you had an enemy like that, what would you do?

It's idiotic!

Michael Buie (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 10:56 AM)

It is absolutely disgusting that anyone is rooting for someone as vile as Hamas. He would rather right Israel than help his own people! Wake up, anti-Israel dolts! The reason why Israel is so quick to attack 5 times harder than whatever their latest attacker did is because they have to. Face it: If you were surrounded by countries who wanted to wipe you out for as ridiculous a reason as your religion, you would tend to want to attempt to deter attacks by landing a heavy blow on whatever country tries to attack you. I commend Israel for having the will and courage to keep their nation-state together in the face of this brain-washed hatred of the Islamic people as they have and, to be honest, it's one of the very few things I agree with the Bush administration on. If you actually wish for Israel to lose this fight, you are obviously not thinking very deeply about the situation, or you're an idiot.

Dr. B, Baltimore (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:00 AM)

The irony of what America stands for and what they support from a thug regime posing as a goverment as 'Isreal' speaks volumes at a hieght of hipocracy.

Nate Johnson, Tallahassee, Florida (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:05 AM)

Israel might be able to bulldoze houses and destroy the infastracture of Gaza, but it will never destroy the will of the people. Israel will eventually draw us into a far bigger and bloodier conflict merely for the fact that we back them.

F Dukes, Los Angeles California (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:06 AM)

its funny, and im not trying to take a side here but, what is the solution, maybe the usa should switch sides maybe we could loan hamas some nukes, then they could wipe isreal off the map, cause anyone who thinks that there goal is anything other then that is an IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!  thats the whole reason they forcefully took power...  there gonna continue to fire rockets at isreal untill isreal cant take anymore and they invade and kill them all, and for hamas that is the ultimate victory!!!!!!  the whole world is gonna condemn isreal and hamas will look like poor souls who were just minding there own buisness and trying to live peacefull lives.....they know by provoking isreal that they are putting the same people's live's at risk that they claim to represent!!!!!   everyday palastinians...  i see a one sided argument here... take the peace talks, isreal was supposed to halt construction and abbas was supposed to reing in hamas millitants, but he turns his back on the rocket squads, and isreal keeps building, but ALL THE CRITICISM goes to isreal for breaking the deal.... which yes they are but how do you straight faced claim that the palastinian side is honoring there part? if im an honest palastinaian i should be able to live without boarders, and if im an isreali i should be able to go outside without wondering wether or not im gonna be on the bus with the crazy SOB with a bomb strapped to his arse....

jason pa (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:09 AM)

Every single one of you people that have written ANTI -SEMITIC rant's, obviously don't read the BIBLE or believe in GOD. You wouldn't be so quick to bring destruction upon you own heads if you had . The Lord promised to bless those who bless ISREAL and DESTROY those who persecute them! This is why the US has had such a great standard of living as compared to the rest of the world. But....as you can see by alot of the postings here ,that not only has AMERICA started bashing Isreal they also have gotten away from GOD. As a consequence we now are beginning to suffer POVERTY, HUNGER,HOMELESSNESS and our standard of living is plummeting at a disasterous rate and we brought it on ourselves, BLAMING ISREAL!!! That is the most uneducated thing I have ever heard an americans say , OUR problems are Isreals fault and not our OWN crooked GOVT is about as ignorant as you can get! Where do you come up with that kind of NAZI/MUSLIM reteric anyway? JIHAD is a war against the free world,It's one and ONLY goal is to FORCE all mankind to worship ALLAH and if you think it's not your either part of the LIE or in complete DENIAL.And to blame ISREAL is ABSURD, Wake up AMERICA

Buddy Russell (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:10 AM)

I just hope that there will be stoppage to the injustice and genocide afflicted to the Muslims in Palestine by the Israeli Occupiers.  We here in the US do not see the severity of what is afflicted to the Muslims in Palestine because our media is controlled.  Why don't we see what how the Israelis sit in their towers and shoot anywhere and everywhere.  Why don't we see the bullet scarred buildings in Muslim areas?  Imagine yourself living in this type of environment, an environment worse than jail, even worse than the internment camps that the jews were in during the supposed holocaust.    

Ahmed, S.I., NY (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:11 AM)

 "blessed are the peacemakers..." That is still a good matra . The American revolution on the intellectual basis was led by two men who the British typified as "terrorists" John Adams and Thomas Jefferson one a Unitarian and the other a Deist who couldn't stand the Church of England or organized religion or the parlamentary system. Hamas was elected to power by the majority of the people but we and the Israeli government say we only like free elections when they come out the way we like. We and the Israeli government have given away the moral high ground worldwide on this issue. I think we care as a people but I don't think the Israeli government cares or do they think world opinion applys to them. Carter should continue to do his bidding no matter what the candidates or the Fourth Reich Whitehouse says or some "nut jobs" who want to pull his passport

george a. hilborn,birmingham,michigan (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:16 AM)

First of all:  Yes...  It was Golda Meir who said "There will be peace when the Arabs love their children more than they hate the Jews."
Some history:  Yes... The Jews returned(!) to Israel and they did so with the full agreement of the UN.  And they returned to an EMPTY and WILD land.  Look at it now... And it was David Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weissman who agreed to get whatever was given to them while the Arabs always said NO!!!...  And they still do.  Meanwhile Israel is flourishing while the Palestinians have done NOTHING except rely on the UN for food while their Arab brothers(?) stood by and let them rot in their squalid camps.  And in the final analysis Hammas is popular because it DOES SOMETHING instead of NOTHING... In case you haven't noticed, being a 'fighter' living off the population is much easier than actually WORKING for a living.  You'd be astounded how much the Palestinians can gain by saying YES just once.  The bottom line is that if I am armed and someone comes into my home and takes a shot at me, I'll shoot him whether he missed me or not.  And that's what Israel is doing and it is very well armed, thanks G-d.  Yes, yes and yes.  It's high time Israel has cleaned out the Hammas snakepit infrastructure and allowed Abbas to say Yes so that peace will have a chance in the ME.

David Pressler, Northridge, California, USA (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:17 AM)

The world stands by as another HOLOCAUST takes place.  Only now it's the Palestinians who are suffering with little power and a few weapons.  (Does anybody remember the Palestinian kids throwing stones at the Israel TANKS!!!)

INFECT TRUTH (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:23 AM)

"And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." ...Genesis 12:3.   Why do you think America is the "Blessed Nation" we have come to know?  God Bless America??  If you are unhappy with US support of Israel, so be it.  Move to Iran if you'd like.  United States' doom will come the day it drops support of Israel.  "Cursed be everyone who curses you [Israel],
and blessed be those who bless you [Israel]."(Gen 27:29)  



JerUSAlem (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:26 AM)

Let's all remember that the "real terrorists" were the Jews (pre-1948)now Israelis and the massacres they inflicted upon the Palestinian Arabs and the British residing in Arab Palestine. The Israelis are our "allies" what a joke !!! When has Israel ever helped the United States ? oh yes they did destroy the USS Liberty in 1967 and claimed it was an accident. Israel also used Jonathan Pollard to steal more government documents from the United States than anyone else. Oh let's not forget the AIPAC and the Israeli lobby running the US CONGRESS and SENATE. Of course the billions we give Israel to kill and destroy Palestinian lands and homes are OK. Enough said. Bravo to Jimmy Carter and the real Nobel Peace maker.

A Proud American (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:32 AM)

     I'm really happy to see that majority of americans know that there media is spreading anti-muslim propaganda. Bravo!.
     I know that the muslim countries have neglegible unity which can be clearly seen by the closing of its borders by egypt. I wish if we could unify ourselves just a little we can end this conflict easily and I feel very ashamed that we have been unable to this in the past 40 years.
     When you bomb a population for so long they are bound to defend themselves one way or the other. The children who are seen wearing hamas head bands are born in this state of conflict, have seen their houses being blown apart and their parents killed so what else can you expect from them?
     These atrocities against the palestinians have been going on for ages now and someday I am sure the rogue state of Israel will pay for it.  

Asfand Ali, Peshawar, Pakistan (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:34 AM)

Israel does whatever it wants, as long as the US government and media keep supporting it. Israel has been condemn in the UN General Assembly many many times, the only reason the Security Council cannot enforce it is because we, the US veto it all the time.
They also kill children, bystanders, journalists, then they regret it and call it collateral damage. They also developed and posses WMD, therein Iran's desire to do the same.
Israel's Zionist government, Hamas, and Hezbollah are all terrorist criminals, that would have found the way to fix their own disagreement by force or talks, long time ago, if the US wouldn't be there to mess things up. After almost 40 years of American meddling in the Arab-Israeli conflict there is no peace, just more innocent deads.



oea (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:45 AM)

I would like to recomment the book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" by former president Jimmy Carter.  You will find that he is probably one of the formost experts on the middle east and one who would like to bring about a just peace.  He points out many of the things that Israel has been doing in violation of international law and the hardships they impose on the Palestinian people.  Unfortunately there are many extreme right wingers in Israel who do not want peace, they just want more land, especially Jerusalem.

David, Los Angeles (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:46 AM)

The level of anti- Semitisim and ignorance evident in about 90% the comments on this article is increadible.  The most glaring example being reducing THOUTHANDS of Kasams that fell on southern Israel to 4.  But I gues the aninimaty of the web makes this kind of blind hate eazer to spew.

Ilya, Southfield, MI (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:51 AM)

I truly beleive that if anyone dislikes America so bad that they have the right to leave and go where they wish to go, and the people of the Grand Ole U.S.A. would probably pay for their ticket one way. This is the greatest nation in the civilized world and we probably help more people around the world than anyother country and what do we get in return?    When the U.S.A. has a disaster I've yet to see any other4 country help us as we help them. If we have to get out of other countrys then lets just keep all of the good deeds also.

bill willey (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 11:59 AM)

I AM WONDERING WHY THE U S WHO ARE ALWAYS GOING DEMOCRACY CAN'T ACCEPT HAMAS WINNING THE ELECTION THAT THE UNITED STATE WANTED

ERIC (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:02 PM)

Mr. Fletcher,

Your analysis is terrible. The idea that an Israeli battle with Hamas will detroy Hamas is very shorsighted for a reporter with your experience.

Hamas wins because they are the only party in Palestine who understands that with peace must come dignity. Something that Fatah is learning the hard way with their recent "peace discussions" with Israel. Israel does not negotiate it takes, and quite brazenly.

Do you know why Israel is called the little Satan, it is because of their ability to get away with murder and humilation, and then talk about peace and love all the while they take the water and land, and rights of Palestinians.
And that hubris on their part reflects on us, because we protect Israel.
Your analysis shows that you have lost your objectivity. Time to report about Queens NY.

Demian (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:05 PM)

"Storm of rockets" from Gaza???  So less than a couple of dozen home-made very-short-range rockets is a storm???

Bull crap.

Same Israeli nonsense and propaganda as when Israel sent hundreds of sordies into Lebanon destroying apartment buildings, bridges and bus loads of people.  

When Hezbollah sent scores of missles into Northern Israel, in response to the outrageous Israeli bombings of Lebanon, AND ALL WE HEARD FROM THE MEDIA WAS, "HEZBOLLAH IS BOMBING ISRAEL!!".

Over 1000 Lebanese died, almost ALL civilians.  About 100 Israelis died, 80 were troops.

And let's not forget why Hamas hates Israel - Israeli land theft and ethnic cleansing.

Israel lies, its neighbors die.

SAY NO TO APARTHEID (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:08 PM)

I hope Israel will win ! Anybody with a working brain should see these arab camel jockeys don't want to do anything else, but kill jewish people. They don't want to work and have a nice country. I am not jewish, but if I was the PM of Israel I would wipe off the map the Hamas controled Gaza and I would take care of Iran and Syria too. I am really bothered by people not looking at things from the side of Israel. These jihadist a..holes should be killed. Don't take prisoners, kill 'em on site. Those who hate jews, because they have all the money, just think for a minute, they are going to school to become someone worthy a doctor or a lawyer. It is all because family is important to them. They are the ones who don't mind spending money for there children's schooling. In there world FAMILY comes first. You don't see jews blowing up planes, do you? People here in the US do not realize what they go thru every day, not knowing when will the next rocket come or when will someone blow up a bus full of kids. Just stop for a minute and think how would you feel if here in the US you would have to fear going shopping or getting on a bus, because you don't when one of these terrorist will get you blown up. Go Israel! Take no prisoners, take no s..t ! Send the jihadists to see the 72 virgins. They might even meet Mohammed in Hell!

Gabor B, Seattle, WA. (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:23 PM)

Israel has the right to defend itself.  Hamas should learn to spend their multi million funds more effectively, to wit: Infrastructure, hospitals, factories, encourage enterpreneurship, build roads, schools, universities, plant gardens, beautify their land, make the land productive, this will encourage their citizens be proud to be human who love life and want to live in an stmosphere where music, art and culture thrives. Where the  sounds of war and destruction are heard no more and their children become people who strive to thrive in an enriching social fabric.  Learn from Israel, don't destroy it, emulate success and banish fear.

Yael- Phoenix Arizona (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:26 PM)

Israel has the right to defend itself.  Hamas should learn to spend their multi million funds more effectively, to wit: Infrastructure, hospitals, factories, encourage enterpreneurship, build roads, schools, universities, plant gardens, beautify their land, make the land productive, this will encourage their citizens be proud to be human who love life and want to live in an stmosphere where music, art and culture thrives. Where the  sounds of war and destruction are heard no more and their children become people who strive to thrive in an enriching social fabric.  Learn from Israel, don't destroy it, emulate success and banish fear.

Yael- Phoenix Arizona (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:28 PM)

Im disapointed in the article but impressed by the responses. You take away the few racist and ignorant coments from both sides of the spectrum and your left with some thoughtful insight. In a country were commen sense is usualy drowned out by nationalism and religouse intolerence its good to see people using there head. The idea that you can kill everyone that disagrees with you is just crazy. Isreal and Bush gave hamas power by tryign to isolate fatah and arafat before he died . History in the muslim world shows that even if you could destroy hamas (you cant)a more radical militarized force would spring up in its place.example hamas,hezbolah,islamic jihad/Iraq,the Iranian revolution after we removed a secular government and replaced with the shaw of iran. lets stop making these same mistakes over and over were already suppling military aid to all sides in iraq sunis, rival shiites partys, kurds(while supporting turkey attacks on the kurds) increased military aid to saudi arabia to combat the increased power and influence of iran(thanks to ill planned invasion of a neihbor) and increased military aid to Isreal to combat the increased military aid to saudi arabia ????/? dose this make any sence? We throw money and bombs at our problems overseas, while ignoring our problems at home. Both situations are getting worse.

chuck st. paul mn (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:29 PM)

There have never been any angels in this conflict. Realize that Hamas is and always will be dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Complaints about the restrictions that are placed on them is misguided and a waste of time. They take and utilize any opportunity and/or method to attack and kill Israeli's. Yes, that even includes hiding the explosive materials they need in the bedding, clothing, luggage and automobiles of the individuals that are being transported to medical facilities over the border. Nobody should fault the Israeli's for being suspicious of anything and everyone that crosses the border. Israel on the other hand (and I will never understand by the way) never seems to miss a chance to poke the Palestinians in the eye by building more settlements, roads, etc. when it is totally unnecessary. It's hard to make their case when they knowingly break international as well as their own laws building illegal settlements. As a non-Jew American that lived there for several years I was able to look on the entire issue from both sides. I have to say again, there are no angels in this conflict.  Lastly, NEVERY BELIEVE ANY AMERICAN MEDIA COVERAGE FROM ISRAEL. ESPECIALLY ANYTHING FROM NBC.  

Dog, DC (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:32 PM)

Emotional comments on both sides of the argument. Consider some facts: 1. Taba Accords- Clinton,
Arafat. Per Dennis Ross negotiator: PLA got 98% of what they wanted, but the deal said "the war is over." Arafat negotiators tell him to do. He walks out.
2.  Israel unilateraly exits Gaza without a deal. Hamas sees this as weakness and starts firing rockets into Israel instead of rebuilding.
3.  Lebanese Rafie Harari, who is against Syrian control of Lebanon is murdered on Feb 16, 2005. The suspect is Syria. Anti-Syria demonstration in Lebanon
on 3rd anniversary/ 2008.  By "coincidence" top
Syrian/Iranian terrorist Imad Mughniyah is assasinated
day before in Syria.  This forments Pro Syrian demonstrations in Lebanon same time as the Anti-Syrian demonstration.  Syrians blame Israel for the Imad murder..in the heart of Damascus, in daytime.
Sure. Israel does it to take away limelight from Anti-Syrian demonstrations in Lebanon. Get a brain.  Syria was always the spoiler in the Middle East peace process.


Al, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:37 PM)

The Arabs have engaged in a long and successful propaganda campaign against democratic Isreal since the 1950's.  One of Yasar Arafat's relatives had a compact with the Nazi's to wipe out the Jews in the region should Germany win the war. They regularly recycle Nazi anti Jewish literature.  Their religion is a religion of death.  There are no Palistinians, only Arabs.  Mark Twain commented that the region (Holy Land) was nearly devoid of people and now all these Arabs, who are not welcome back into their original territory now located in Jordan, want to clain right of return.  More propoganda.  Religion of death.  And has been so since it's inception.  

Matt, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:42 PM)

Ahmed, those bullet-scarred buildings are a result of retaliation from when Hamas relentlessly rains down rockets on Israeli towns.

I would bet my next paycheck if Hamas nor any other middle-east country fired another shot, rocket or blow up a bomb at Israel, Israel would not attack them.

Are  you willing to bet your paycheck on Hamas not attacking Israel under the same conditions? I think we all know the answer ...

Michael Buie (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:43 PM)

I don't see why americans, will blame the american government or Isreali goverment for being in the wrong.  Saying that there the cause for all the disruption, it just blows my mind.  Would any of you that think this crisis is our fault (Americans and isreal) are hyprocrates.  If you had a group of murders that lived in a section of town, where they repeatedly came into your nieghborhood and killed civilians and shot mortors into the middle of your nieghborhood, you would demand that the goverment protect you.  But since it is happening somewhere else, then it's not your care, and you can sit comfortable at your computer and say the hamas aren't a bunch of radical murders. That is so ridiculus, isreal is trying to live in peace on there land, that they fought for, to provide their citizen a safe place to worship and raise there children.  The isreal should be praised for showing restraint and working towards peace, not criticized for trying to protect themselfs.  It disgraces me that there are so many thoughtless and and anti-americans in america.  Maybe the ones that think hamas are the good guys should all pack up there stuff and live with them, then tell me that they are the innocent ones.  I doubt that the anti-americans wouldn't last more than a day there, once you take away your MTV, and your Desperate house wifes, and everything else your freedam in america offers you. That just shows you don't appreciate what you have till it is gone. Like I said if you don't like america, then move we will not be one bit dissapointed about you leaving us.

Proud american, for justice and peace.

Chad Major, St. Cloud, MN (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:44 PM)

The Arabs have engaged in a long and successful propaganda campaign against democratic Isreal since the 1950's.  One of Yasar Arafat's relatives had a compact with the Nazi's to wipe out the Jews in the region should Germany win the war. They regularly recycle Nazi anti Jewish literature.  Their religion is a religion of death.  There are no Palistinians, only Arabs.  Mark Twain commented that the region (Holy Land) was nearly devoid of people and now all these Arabs, who are not welcome back into their original territory now located in Jordan, want to clain right of return.  More propoganda.  Religion of death.  And has been so since it's inception.  

Matt, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:45 PM)

Michael Johnson, Stamford CT speaks true

Michael Buie (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:45 PM)

When Hamas was elected, the U.S. AND the European Union wanted them to renounce violence and the goal of the DESTRUCTION of Israel.  They refused.  When Israel pulled out of Gaza and tore down all Jewish settlements in the strip, Hamas continued to ambush Israeli soldiers and fire rockets into Israel.  Hamas' only reason for existence is destruction and warfare.  They feed upon the death of their own people, because it facilitates their desire to vilify Israel and continue the fight.

Arabs are their own worst enemy.  They have perpetuated the Palestinian situation since '48 by maintaining Palestinian refugee camps and helping to fuel the conflict so that they may continue to have a "legitimate" grievance against Israel.  They cry outrage at the Palestinian situation, but none of them wants to take them in.

Entities like Iran have no issue with sending Palestinian children to their deaths in order to further their goal of "wiping Israel off the map."  You all cry about the injustice the Palestinians suffer, and blame it all on Israel, yet say nothing about their Arab brothers who use them happily as fodder to continue the conflict.  Egypt will not open their border with Gaza...what does that say?

I am not holding Israel up on some pedestal either.  They have done many harsh things in this decades long conflict.  But I call it as I see it.

Groups like Hamas and Hezbola DO want war for war's sake.  Every time things start to get quiet, they make sure they provoke Israel into killing some civilians in order to generate global condemnation and stoke the fire again.  The three most popular arab "leaders" can only exist in an atmosphere of conflict and hatred.

Oh and let's not forget, it's all in the name of "god".  This giant fiction is the biggest farce of all.  Strange how this "god" character has yet to help its chosen people (on either side) carry the day.  The human race is still such a primitive people.

P.M. New Jersey (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:46 PM)

HAHAHAHAHAHA, A Frigging Pakistani venting about Israel, Pakistan is one of the poorest places on Earth while India prospers, sound familiar, why are 90% of the world's poorest countries Muslim? Maybe hatred just doesn't cut it, maybe having indoctrination instead of common decency doesn't cut it, when all of these pariahs accept peace, they will obtain grace, until then, let them eat *#it and die

Keith Milliner, Far Rockaway. NY (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:46 PM)

If Jimmy Carter has the same success with Hamas as he had in th U.S. when he was president, we will not have to worry.  They are all doomed

Pat Frey (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:50 PM)

Israel was attacked in 1948.  Israel was attacked in 1967.  Their enemies get what they deserve.  If the Palestinians want a homeland, let them go to Jordan or Syria, and let them see how welcome they are there.  No ones asking those countries to give up any land.  If Isarel wasn't attacked in the six day war, the West Bank wouldn't have become a "spoil of war"  too bad for the aggressors. They should have left Israel alone.

John Doe (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:52 PM)

Let me see here. Hamas lobs rockets into Israel and doesn't expect a response? They really do need to get out of the sun there. What do they expect Israel to do? What would you do? These guys don't want peace. if they really wanted peace and better their people they would stop this crap and sit down at a table work out a real deal. This whole thing of they can't get along? Look at all the different cultures we have in the USA and we do pretty good. Yes we have our problems but it's not too bad. Palestine would be in great shape and would even make millions from tourism and such if they cut the bombings. From what I have read it is a beautiful area. It is a religous area for more than just them. They should be capitalizing on this and profit from it. Their people would be educated much better. Fed better and support from almost every country in the world.

Joe (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 12:55 PM)

What a shame that our government supports the subjugation of the Palestinian people through gifts of weaponry. Is this the dream of our forefathers, to support our bloated standard of living at any cost through military threat? It's a sad day in America. Let's have the truth. Let's take care of our own country through true technological improvements to sustain and better our world, instead of using a puppet government to exert control on the middle east to secure our supply of polluting black sludge pumped from the sands. We have the technology. When will the people wake up and stand up?

Damian Pelster, Burlington, Kentucky (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 1:10 PM)

I am dismayed to read a lot of lies and revsionism in these comments. Typical of some jews and supporters of zionism who comment here, they attack Palestinians personally and accuse ALL Palestinians of being unresonable and death mongers. Nothing is farther from the truth. Most Palestinians are actually reasonable and nice hospitable people. In 1948, the united nations  partitioned Palestine into two sections (illegally in my opinion) nevertheless, the armed jews in Palestine immediately siezed that opportunity and through force of arms occupied both the Palestinian and Jewish sections. They did so without regard to the united nations rule of partition. The israelis later pre emptively struck using their built up army and air force and occupied the west bank (belonging to Jordan) and Gaza and the sinai penninsula both belonging to egypt. They also occupied the Golan heights belonging to Syria. In 1973, egypt struck back and recaptured the sinai penninsula and destroyed the barlev lines that were advertised as impenetrable by israel. The U.S. conducted an airlift and sent a lot of weaponry to israel awhich continued the war and were able to defend themselves against the advancng egyptians. In 1982 israel invaded and occupied south lebanon and held on to it for almost twenty years. Had it not for the Lebanese resistance, they would have still been there today. A lot of people on here will tell you that jews bought Palestine and that Palestinians left on their own. That is nonsense. There were israelis massacres like deir yassin where entire villages were wiped out and innocent Palestinian civilians were outright murdered and driven from their lands. The revisionists will use every plausible story to implant doubt into the minds of the casual reader but the TOTALITY of evidence is clearly against israel and the jews who simply invade and conquer by force of arms. israel only negotiates with the strong and tramples the weak. Hamas has learned this lesson and has instilled the thought of wiping israel out into the minds and hearts of Palestinians simply because they clearly see that NOTHING else will get them their freedom. They are fighting an enemy hellbent on destroying them slowly by choking them and by committing a genocide in slow motion against them. We have all seen the way the israeli offensive forces kill innocent Palestinian civilians DAILY in Gaza claiming that seven year old boys are actually Hamas leaders and are involved in firing rockets. The american media which is controlled by zionism furthers this distortion of the truth by ommitting facts and advertising the myth that ALL Palestinians are evil people who just want to kill israelis. This is absolute nonsense and anyone who believes that is simply brainwashed by the media machine in the U.S. Remember that we have been subjected to a slanted version of the truth for a long long time and it will take an intelligent subjective mind to be able to put things into perspective and see the reality of the matter. Meanwhile, let's hope that we all figure out the real truth behind this divisive and extremely delicate issue. God bless the poor souls who died and were murdered on both sides!

Lee (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 1:13 PM)

Israel has talked to the Palestinians countless times. They never kept a promise. The word compromise does not exist in their vocabulary.

There is no rational reason for the chaos that is going on in Gaza today. After the Israelis left the Gaza strip nearly three years ago, there was a golden opportunity for the Palestinians to build up infrastructure, economy, a functioning embryo state.

Olmert was voted into office in order to take Israel out of the West Bank. That was his agenda.

What happened instead? Hezbollah and Hamas attacked. How can you expect Israel to leave the Westbank when the population centers of Israel are less than 100 miles from the West Bank with its brutal rhetorics and weapon fetishism?

I'd love to see all you clever left wing Americans when rockets are raining on your homes, schools and kindergartens, day in, day out. And the world bleats: keep still! don't react! you might hurt one the guys who launch these rockets!

We've had enough, really.

Israel proved to the world that it's able to make peace and keep peace - the Sinai peninsula is larger than Israel itself, and Israel gave it to the Egyptians in exchange for peace. Israel made peace with Jordan.

Had the Palestinians less inclination to terror and violence, they would sit in their own snug state long ago, and all would be well.

Does anyone here at all remember why Israel occupied the territories in question? Did anyone here hear about the Six Day War, an attack on Israel?

Without Arab attacks on Israel, none of this had happened. By simply accepting this tiny speck of Jewish State, the whole ME conflict had never happened.

It makes me really sad to see Americans talk like Europeans, knee jerk automatic support for the Palestinian narrative, Palestinian lies. I expected more from Americans, somehow. ...

Northern Light in Israel (Sent Friday, April 18, 2008 1:14 PM)



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