I'm with you on the two-state solution though that won't happen with current leadership on BOTH sides. Both people need to give up something as realistically Israel will never agree to right of return and Palestine will want the settlers out.
The current war IS a rotten shame and it will be disproportionate. Many many more Palestinians will die than Israelis. They already have. It is a fact and raising disproportionality is a valid humanitarian and Geneva Conventions concern. As is bombing cities. We're throwing all that out. To me that's pretty damning evidence of Palestinian dehumanization.
I think a lot about what people there are going through. I remember the bombing of the refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982 and the outrage I felt. Similar to the outrage today against Hamas. A wrong is a wrong no matter the side. Except that a wrong against Israel always results in a disproportionate response and heavier loss of life.
That's what happens when the match is between a mighty military with the best weapons money can buy and a rag tag terrorist outfit that has to manufacture much of its own weaponry or smuggle it in. They dont have a Fortress of Zion or vast underground bunkers and hangars financed by the U.S. They can't defend their people from bombing with an Iron Dome.
As for provocation, the Palestinians may respond that they've had 75 years of it. On the daily. For Israel, this horrendous attack can't be borne and nobody can blame them for responding. But we can and should blame them for their treatment of the Palestinians all these years. I mean just look at how they are treated, the conditions they endure. A perfect breeding ground for terrorism.
I don't know the solution but I see no good come out of this rush to a war that ignores basic humanitarian concerns and creates more victims and likely more terrorists. There has to be a better way.
My comment you cited was discussing a comment that the crumbling infrastructure in Gaza was the fault of Hamas. This opinion seemed to be based solely on a video of Hamas using water pipes to make bombs. My point was that a propaganda video is not a good basis to form such a sweeping opinion. It was not demonstrated to me that the commenter was armed with any facts on this issue.
I get your underlying point about being respectful. My apologies to anyone offended.
I will gladly dig up my sources and send tomorrow for anyone interested.
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