I note the graphic of the missile aimed at the pram. But let's bear in mind that Hamas are the ones explicitly threatening to kill Jewish children in retaliation for(admittedly) heavy handed Israeli behaviour...
Condemning Israel doesn't mean letting Hamas off the hook - as far as I'm concerned they're reactionaries. The difference is that something like 13 Israelis have died in 10 years of rocket attacks whereas nearly 1000 Palestinians have died in two weeks. Israel's action is driving desperate people into the arms of Hamas and further suicide bombings and attacks will inevitably continue.
But there is also a growing body of evidence to suggest that Hamas are using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and residential homes as "shields" against attack - a disgusting and cowardly tactic.
There are two simple questions really:
How do you negotiate with an enemy who denies your right to exist?
And how do you fight with an enemy that doesn't just hide - but actively uses - the civilian population as cover?
You only have to look at the mentality of Hamas chiefs who use their own children as suicide bombers to see that they are quite capable of doing this kind of thing.
The problem with the Left is that it runs the risk of providing Hamas with rhetorical and moral cover, so even if you don't agree with them or like them - by demonstrating you play directly into their hands.
To Draig: Equating random albeit deadly home-made rockets with the hi-tech assault on an entire population is strange, to say the least.
Hamas were on ceasefire with Israel last year - that suggests a willingness to talk. All wars end with peace negotiations (witness Ireland or South AFrica, where jailed "terrorists" like Nelson Mandela and Gerry Adams became part of a new government). Unless Israel is proposing more ethnic cleansing such as we've seen in the West Bank, there will have to be a peace deal.
Equally strange is the idea that we should not do anything against Israel for fear of being seen as Hamas apologists. Were anti-Iraq war protesters apologists for Saddam? That was the taunt of Bush, Blair and the pro-war lobby against the Left. It's disappointing that you've effectively sided with them.
Well, Israel declared a ceasefire, and surprise surprise, the next day Hamas were back firing rockets. We all know they are a proxy for Iran, whose leader has made explicit his desire to nuke Israel (how he intends to do that without harming the people of Gaza or the West Bank is anyone's guess).
I've made it perfectly clear that I don't condone what Israel are doing. But it pays to read up on your history. Gaza and the people who live there has been used as a proxy by Arab nations seeking to destroy Israel for 50 years. As far back as the 1950s it was Egypt, today it's Iran. Israeli forces who took Gaza in the 1950s were shocked at the state of squalor and poverty the people lived in.
Hamas WANT to pick a fight with Israel. That's why their firing the rockets again. Anyone who thinks Hamas will ever have a willingness to negotiate with Israel just doesn't understand the mentality of Islamic fundamentalism. Their aim is simple - to wipe Israel off the map.
In the meantime, it's the ordinary people of Gaza who suffer for the machinations of others. And the idea that Israel is engaging in "ethnic cleansing" I'm afraid is equally ludicrous.
I note the graphic of the missile aimed at the pram. But let's bear in mind that Hamas are the ones explicitly threatening to kill Jewish children in retaliation for(admittedly) heavy handed Israeli behaviour...
ReplyDeleteCondemning Israel doesn't mean letting Hamas off the hook - as far as I'm concerned they're reactionaries. The difference is that something like 13 Israelis have died in 10 years of rocket attacks whereas nearly 1000 Palestinians have died in two weeks. Israel's action is driving desperate people into the arms of Hamas and further suicide bombings and attacks will inevitably continue.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that the Israeli response is disproportionate.
ReplyDeleteBut there is also a growing body of evidence to suggest that Hamas are using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and residential homes as "shields" against attack - a disgusting and cowardly tactic.
ReplyDeleteThere are two simple questions really:
How do you negotiate with an enemy who denies your right to exist?
And how do you fight with an enemy that doesn't just hide - but actively uses - the civilian population as cover?
You only have to look at the mentality of Hamas chiefs who use their own children as suicide bombers to see that they are quite capable of doing this kind of thing.
The problem with the Left is that it runs the risk of providing Hamas with rhetorical and moral cover, so even if you don't agree with them or like them - by demonstrating you play directly into their hands.
"http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/13/wickrematunga-final-editorial-final-editorial
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't you protesting about what's going on in Sri Lanka? Or aren't my people important?
To Draig: Equating random albeit deadly home-made rockets with the hi-tech assault on an entire population is strange, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteHamas were on ceasefire with Israel last year - that suggests a willingness to talk. All wars end with peace negotiations (witness Ireland or South AFrica, where jailed "terrorists" like Nelson Mandela and Gerry Adams became part of a new government). Unless Israel is proposing more ethnic cleansing such as we've seen in the West Bank, there will have to be a peace deal.
Equally strange is the idea that we should not do anything against Israel for fear of being seen as Hamas apologists.
Were anti-Iraq war protesters apologists for Saddam? That was the taunt of Bush, Blair and the pro-war lobby against the Left. It's disappointing that you've effectively sided with them.
There will be protests in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea at around the same time too.
ReplyDeleteWRECSAM - Protest, 12 noon, Queen Square
NEWPORT - Protest, Assemble 1.30 pm, Old Kwiksave Carpark in Pill to march on John Frost Square
SWANSEA - Protest 1 pm, Castle Square
CARDIFF - Protest 1 pm, Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street
To Plaid Whitegate:
ReplyDeleteI missed this one, but I'll reply anyway.
Well, Israel declared a ceasefire, and surprise surprise, the next day Hamas were back firing rockets. We all know they are a proxy for Iran, whose leader has made explicit his desire to nuke Israel (how he intends to do that without harming the people of Gaza or the West Bank is anyone's guess).
I've made it perfectly clear that I don't condone what Israel are doing. But it pays to read up on your history. Gaza and the people who live there has been used as a proxy by Arab nations seeking to destroy Israel for 50 years. As far back as the 1950s it was Egypt, today it's Iran. Israeli forces who took Gaza in the 1950s were shocked at the state of squalor and poverty the people lived in.
Hamas WANT to pick a fight with Israel. That's why their firing the rockets again. Anyone who thinks Hamas will ever have a willingness to negotiate with Israel just doesn't understand the mentality of Islamic fundamentalism. Their aim is simple - to wipe Israel off the map.
In the meantime, it's the ordinary people of Gaza who suffer for the machinations of others. And the idea that Israel is engaging in "ethnic cleansing" I'm afraid is equally ludicrous.