Gazans, Israelis react to truce

David M. — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:26:20 GMT

Despite all the hardline talk from Israel and Hamas, violence does not work for either side: Israel's policy of siege of and attack has not stopped rocket attacks and Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza have not convinced Israel to end its siege. Quid pro quo negotiation is the only way for either side to get what it wants.. forget the rejectionist preconditions to negotiation. Hamas has shown signs of moderation, particularly during its 16-month ceasefire during the Palestinian election. The US and Israel's attempt to boycott and shut out Hamas has only led to a return of the cycle of violence and many more Israelis and Palestinians dead. Its time to talk. Even Hamas would have to change it hostile stance to Israel and deliver on security guarantees to Israel, if Israel would put on the table a genuine end to the siege of Gaza that would allow Gazans the freedom to trade with the outside world and rebuild their economy. Too bad Israel didn't negotiate such a bilateral agreement with Fatah in 2005 and instead decided on a messy unilateral withdrawal...perhaps we could have avoided all this violence an/or Hamas coming to power.

In the meantime, let's hold our breath and hope the ceasefire holds. Inevitably there will be slip ups on both sides; let's hope cooler heads and restraint prevails and the ceasefire continues. Finally, for the sake of the people of Gaza and Sderot and southern Israel, let's hope the wisdom of talking to enemies prevails. And let's be ready to stop the extremists and hardliners on both sides who will try to sabotage ceasefire & negotiation and try to return us to the futile logic of violence.

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

a registered investment advisor, Potomac, MD — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:48:16 GMT

I am happy! I hope this truce will last.

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

Akber A. Kassam. Minneapolis, Minnesota. — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:43:29 GMT

I very strongly believe that our next president who win the White House must take the first responsibility to meet unconditionally with foreign leaders with those countries which our present administration has labbled them as terrorist for the past 8 years.

Nations like Iran, Syria, Iraq, Labanon, Palestine, Cuba, and others in which America has most the intrest, these nations are not terrorists, they love America and people of America, only the problem is that they don't agree with presedent Bush and his administration's on one-sided foreign polices on various isses, by breaking-off our diplomatic relations for the past 8 years with such nations has not solved any of our problems.

Engaging in honest dialogue is not an act of surrender, it is act of strength and commonsense. This is our time let us embrace it and begin a new renewal. I tell you this because there are plenty of blame to go on our direction for the past 8 Years. The time has come for blams to end.!!!

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

Belinda Baxter London (UK) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:12:18 GMT

Peace must be found in the Middle East, now, having said that, we will not see a real, lasting peace as long as socio-economic disparity reins in Palastine, unemployment is a huge issue, young males, wonder aimlessly all day long, without anything to do, thus you know the rest of the story, nothing to do, stupidness will follow.

I hope they are able to get their respective acts together, but I doubt it.

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

Kurt Casey Liverpool (UK) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:27:10 GMT

It is destined to fail- when one of the sides main objective is too wipe the otherside off the face of the world- doomed failure must be the only result- maybe a new generation of Palastine thinkers can arise and put end to this violent agenda.

By the way on a recent trip to Lebanon, I came away with two thoughts;

1) Really good food!

2) Some of the most Beautiful women in the
world!!!!

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

Jack Canfeild — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:32:06 GMT

Israel, had been battling these people for over 2000 years, it will never end, it goes back to Issac and Ishmael and a bond servant woman and it will never stop.

I'm with Kurt Lebaneese Girls are gorgeous.

Gazans, Israelis react to truce

Muha illa' Sulliuman Kuwait City, KU — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:39:50 GMT

I hope Israel will learn to live in peace, war is no good, along those lines we are happy in Kuwait because Bush is on his way out and Mr Obama is going to get troops out of Iraq, American troops have brought much misery to my country, so many innocent Iraqis have been killed by American Troops thru collateral damage its incredible, much more than Saddam- I hope the kuwaiti's and the Blessed Emir raise oil to $20 a gallon in the states as retribution to Bushes lies and aggresion.