tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231025971179579698.post8303206490556756459..comments2024-03-09T05:02:14.656-05:00Comments on The Second Age: Uncertainty About the Middle East ConflictNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11221202230365353676noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231025971179579698.post-37831524962798070462009-01-08T20:51:28.348-05:002009-01-08T20:51:28.348-05:00First of all, I applaud you for tackling this topi...First of all, I applaud you for tackling this topic, as it is also something I feel iffy about discussing, if not for my confessed lack of overwhelming knowledge on the subject then for the passions it arouses in many people.<br><br>To begin with, I believe that Israel had few options in terms of diplomacy vs. military action. Hamas put them in a tight situation and military action - to an extent - seems to have been called for in this instance.<br><br>One thing seems to be clear: the only viable solution at this stage in the game (i.e. the 21st century) is a two-state solution. Let's not forget that Hamas does not represent Palestine - it may claim to, but in reality that is not the case. That would be like saying Al Qaeda speaks for the Muslim world. This is not an Israeli-Palestine problem (strictly the military action - the humanitarian aspect of it can certainly be framed in this way), but an Israeli-terrorist group problem.<br><br>It bears repeating: the military response should not be framed in a Israeli-Palestinian conflict framework. The civilian deaths on Gaza's side bring to light the occupation of Gaza by Israel, but right now the goal is to bring down Hamas, not Gaza as a whole.<br><br>I hope that once the Hamas rockets issue is resolved (and I hope that day comes soon, and it looks like it might with international pressure for a truce mounting), then we need to look at the relationship between those in Gaza and Israel to prevent something like this from happening again. Hopefully putting that relationship under the microscope will lead to a viable two-state solution.kanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10729005879354847365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231025971179579698.post-4829147930725635982009-01-09T01:26:18.181-05:002009-01-09T01:26:18.181-05:00The thing is, though, it wouldn't be like Al Q...The thing is, though, it wouldn't be like Al Qaeda representing the Muslim world, because a majority of Hamas leaders were democratically elected in Gaza, whereas Al Qaeda doesn't have that level of legitimate political power anywhere. That's part of what makes the situation in Gaza so scary--the people of Gaza, for the most part, sympathize with Hamas's message. The Palestinians of Gaza exhibited their support for a radical response to Israel by putting Hamas in power three years ago.<br><br>In other words, at this point, it could be that Hamas and Gaza are inextricably linked, and trying to isolate and "bring down" Hamas could prove impossible without bringing down Gaza with it. And that is already starting to happen, as schools are being destroyed under the pretense, as Israel contends, that Qassam rockets were fired from them.<br><br>Hamas laid a politically savvy groundwork in Gaza for several years, provided desperately needed social services, built trust in the Palestinian people, and won over their votes.<br><br>And I commend your optimism, but I fear that the international pressure for a truce is something we've seen innumerable times already. Even cease fires between these two peoples are hardly observed. A truce seems more and more unlikely, especially now that Israel has killed hundreds of people in Gaza, many of them civilians. I don't see how a people that already hates Israel in the first place--and one that is lead by what we deem terrorists--would be willing to suddenly abide by a truce. Israel already withdrew from Gaza completely in 2005, but that wasn't good enough. Will creating an internationally recognized Palestinian state really solve these problems?<br><br>As you can tell, my mind hasn't become any clearer about any of these issues. But thanks for helping me think about them.Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11221202230365353676noreply@blogger.com