Can somebody explain the most recent Israel/Palestine conflict?

[Giselle]

Everything is so complex; I'm so lost. Can somebody please explain the background and reasoning behind this MOST RECENT conflict between Israel and Palestine? Thank you!

[Lady's Human]

Complex?

Failry simple, actually.

Hamas keeps launching rockets into Israeli territory, using civilian areas of Gaza as launch sites, and by doing so endangers both the civilians in Gaza and the people they're launching them at.

Israel decided they've had enough.

They're removing the immediate threat to their security, as any rational state would do.

[sasvermont]

Although I did not write this, I copied it from TheYoungTurks website and it makes sense to me:

If you're a conservative reading this, I know what you're thinking - typical liberal. Part of the blame America first crowd. How could this war between the Israelis and Palestinians be America's fault?

First, I love America. I chose to be an American. I think this is the greatest country on earth. And part of what makes it great is that it is self-correcting. It can take criticism and use it to make itself better. It is a country confident enough to not shout down dissenters.
So, let me offer you something you hardly ever hear in the American media. The American government had a great deal to do with the outbreak of violence in the Gaza Strip right now. The Bush administration demanded - against the advice of nearly every expert in the field and the Israeli government - that the Palestinians hold elections. They did. Hamas won.

When Hamas won, we could have pulled them in toward the direction of political action and reconciliation. Instead, we chose to isolate them, start a coup against them (read this terrific article in Vanity Fair about our attempt to overthrow Hamas) and further radicalize them. We made a mockery of the idea of democracy. We proved to them that we never meant a word of the so-called Freedom Doctrine. We only wanted elections in which our guys won.

This kind of hypocrisy has consequences. It sends a message that democracy and voting doesn't work. And our botched coup against Hamas had the effect of sending the message that violence is the answer. If you don't get your way, the proper course of action is to try to change the results through use of force.

We should have never insisted on the elections that everyone - but the inane Bush team - realized Hamas was going to win. It's not that elections are a bad idea, but it was too early in this instance. We should have laid the groundwork for Palestinians to vote in a direction that would have led to more constructive solutions. Instead, as usual, Bush was lazy and insisted on getting his way right away.

And if we were going to have elections, we absolutely, positively should have recognized the legitimate results of those elections and dealt with the consequences. In fact, this might have pulled Hamas into a governing role that demanded more pragmatism and a less radical outlook. It's easier to be a radical when you don't have to get anything done.

And on the Israeli side, we never urge caution. We always encourage over-reaction. Before Israel started this assault on Gaza, there was one Israeli casualty since the end of the cease-fire. Within the first couple of days of the Israeli assault, there are already 62 Palestinian civilians killed. And five more Israelis killed from more - not less - rocket fire from Gaza.

So, the attack has not accomplished its objective of stopping the rocket fire from Hamas - in fact, it's made it worse - and it has also killed a disproportionate number of civilians in Gaza. I do not find the argument that these civilian deaths are just "collateral damage" persuasive. It's easy to call them collateral damage when they are not your kids.

Which American would stand by and let another country bomb our cities, kill our children and then accept the excuse that the enemy was targeting military complexes but they just killed our kids as simple collateral damage? Would that sound persuasive to you if you lost your family members? Your wife? Your grandfather? Your daughter?

The US government's immediate reaction was to say all of this was Hamas's fault and that Israel was 100% justified in retaliating in any way they saw fit. And it wasn't just the Bush administration; Democratic leaders put out nearly identical talking points.

So, what does this lead to? More bombings from Israel and a further escalation of the circle of violence. We are not doing Israel any favors by encouraging their most hawkish instincts. Violence begets violence. They will never have peace of mind as long as these seemingly endless cycles of violence continue.

Of course, Hamas and Israel are also responsible for their own actions. It would be absurd to claim otherwise. But we can give them the right incentives and disincentives or the wrong ones. We can either push them toward reconciliation and settlement or we can push them toward more violence, war and mayhem. We have done the latter, for which we must take responsibility.

No doubt the next time a Muslim fanatic attacks American interests, we will say, "Why do they hate us?" The answer is very clear. We have pushed them toward it. They are ultimately responsible for their actions. But we must also be responsible for our own.

[Giselle]

Okay, so now that I'm up to point with the current situation...Who wants to give me a brief, concise, cogent background on the ENTIRE thing?

I've been filled in here and there on the Israel/Palestinian conflicts before, but I never fully understood it.

Thank you guys for educating me! I do appreciate it We are members of the ENTIRE human race and world. It only makes sense that we educate ourselves on people other than ourselves. Novel idea, right?

[Lady's Human]

No matter what someone posts about this conflict, someone will disagree with it.

[RICHARD]

At the end of the Second Grand War of the Planet, The displaced Jews were set into the area that is know as Israel.

I may be wrong on the facts about this-someone with a better understanding
of the area's history will set me straight!

After the war there were tons of Jews who escaped the persecution at the hands of Hitler and needed sanctuary. The Brits sectioned off areas in the ME for them and there were Arabs/Palestinians who were 'disenfranchised' -kicked out.

That area became Israel.

In Jerusalem, there are three different religions represented with landmarks that are important to each faction. The Palestinians have always laid claim that the area belongs to them and they are a refugee peoples. No other nation/government in the area chose to absorb them/assist or provide any kind of relief to the group. The Arab/Muslim community espouse an idea of 'brotherhood' but cannot make good on it, they don't want to Palis anywhere near them

The Hamas is a terrorist group of gomers who make it a habit of perpetuating the 'war' against Israel by shooting rockets, bombing and all that crazy shiat that has been going on for years.

If I remember correctly, the Palestinian refugee camps are the longest 'running' set of peoples who are living in a twilight zone because of the politics and stupidity involved. The Hama capitalize on that fact by setting up schools, medical aid and food to the people in the area. They then culitvate young people to 'help' them drive the state of Israel off the planet.

The Hamas bomb the Israelis, the Israelis fire back and the Hamas run around crying and biatching that they are the good guys and the Israelis are evil.

There was a 6 month cease fire that expired a few days ago so the stupid Hamas decided to fire it up again!

[Edwina's Secretary]

There are three sides to every story - his, hers and the truth. The problem is to figure out which is which. This one is so complicated and filled with emotions and religions and ancient history. Everyone believes they are right and the other guy is wrong.

I will not join this one as I am not that knowledgable in the area. Plus the euphemistically named "collateral damage" makes me sick. Except to say...Hamas IS the democratically elected government. Democracy can work many ways.

I suspect some people who know less than I will express opinions nonetheless.

[caseysmom]

It is hard to discern the truths since anything you read is slanted one way or another. I did read the autobiography of queen noor, she is an american who married the king of jordan.

She is an educated elequent story writer and did sort some of it out and did have some information that we are not necessarily given in the west.

All in all its a bad situation and I don't see it getting better.

[RICHARD]

I will not join this one as I am not that knowledgable in the area. Plus the euphemistically named "collateral damage" makes me sick.

Instead of CD try, People that get dead because THEIR people are morons.

Technically not very accurate but it's nicer than being caught up in the Blast Radius of a Hellfire Missile.........But, why do the Palis allow those morons to build 'military' bases near schools, hospitals and mosques?

Tell me, huh?

--------

I can hardly wait until the New President takes over. Then we can blame him for the American War Materials being used by the Israelis.

Just like the stuff we sold to Saddam.


No exchanges without a receipt!

[Lady's Human]

I suspect some people who know less than I will express opinions nonetheless.

And that was appropriate how?

Just returning fire, that's all.

[lizbud]

Oh, by the way, I did find one explanation of the conflict. It's a CBS article.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4690817.shtml

[sasvermont]

It is not so simple.

http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm

[Edwina's Secretary]

Instead of CD try, People that get dead because THEIR people are morons.

This btw...was the kind of crap I was referring to. People who get dead because THEIR people are morons?

Disgusting.

[caseysmom]

This btw...was the kind of crap I was referring to. People who get dead because THEIR people are morons?

Disgusting.

That is most likely the same logic the folks used who blew up the world trade center, I sure don't think that way.

[Grace]

Richard got the basics down for you.

After WWII, The United Nations Special Commission on Palestine recommended that Palestine be divided into an Arab state and a Jewish state. The commission called for Jerusalem to be put under international administration The UN General Assembly adopted this plan on Nov. 29, 1947, owing to support of both the US and the Soviet Union, and in particular, the personal support of US President Harry S. Truman.

As you can imagine, the Jews loved this plan; the Arabs not so much.

On May 14, 1948, the British left; Israel declared they were an independent state, and the modern wars began. Israel and the Palestinians have been fighting ever since.