looks like its going to kick off in the middle east.....

[stokemaveric]

israel have killed the hamas most senior military leader in gaza..this could get nasty...

[Ric.ror]

Didn't the Iranian president vow to wipe Israel off the face of the map or push them all into the sea?

[Raleigh]

infundibulum.

Arab citizens of Israel are non-Jewish Israeli citizens whose cultural and linguistic heritage or ethnic identity is Arab. The traditional vernacular of Arab citizens, irrespective of religion, is the Arabic language, or more precisely, the Palestinian dialect of Arabic. Most Arab citizens of Israel are functionally bilingual, their second language being Modern Hebrew. By religious affiliation, most are Muslim, particularly of the Sunni branch of Islam. There is a significant Arab Christian minority from various denominations as well as Druze, among other religious communities. Israeli Mizrahi Jews are not considered to form part of this population.
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the Arab population in 2010 was estimated at 1,573,000, representing 20.4% of the country's population.
The majority of these identify themselves as Arab or Palestinian by nationality and Israeli by citizenship. Many have family ties to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Negev Bedouins tend to identify more as Israelis than other Arab citizens of Israel.
Most of the Arabs living in East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967, were offered Israeli citizenship, but refused, not wanting to recognize Israeli sovereignty. They became permanent residents. They are entitled to municipal services and have municipal voting rights.

So, 20% of the people that Hamas are attacking in Israel are from their own ethnic group. This is apart from those they kill in Gaza if they consider them not loyal to the cause.

How else do you describe groups who are so fixated with hate that they murder their own people that do not support them in their madness?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

While there is no way that I condone Hamas firing random rockets into civilian households in Israel, it is worth remembering that the very homes that are being bombed were likely stolen by Israel during their constant encroachment onto the Gaza Strip.
There is argument on both sides in this, which makes for an impossible situation.

[DTCwordfan]

So, stoke, what are the odds on an Iranian nuke before Christmas, or an Israeli retaliatory strike.

[plautus]

I wish I were better informed. The Jewish people have suffered great wrongs throughout history, so have the Palestinians. Can those wrongs be righted? Doesn't look like it.

[brionon]

The Arabs can't live in peace with each other. There was Never a chance that they could live in peace with non Arabs Innit ?

[Raleigh]

infundibulum.

I was trying to make it clear that it is not Arabs per se that are being fought. It is those Arabs whose sole aim is to annihilate Israel; without caring that a large minority in Israel are also Arabs.

When Israel left Gaza they also left fully functioning greenhouses so food could continue be grown. One of the first actions of the new residents was to destroy these facilities. Another example of 'mindlessness'.

[jake-the-peg]

In Baz's haster and excitite ment to call me clueless and defend Israel's assassination of foreigners he seems to have avoided comenting on this

http://en.wikipedia.o...g_David_Hotel_bombing

Perhaps he or any other Pro-Israelis would like to comment on it

98 people were killed in it and has been called one of the most lethal terrorist attacks of the 20th century

So I repeat - Pot calling the kettle black!

[Brenden]

How far back are we allowed to go jtp - your item was in 1946, at the time when Israel was fighting for their own sovereign state. Yes they did commit atrocities but I admire what Israel has done in their country, considering it was almost barren land. they worked in kubbitz with the Jews coming from all over the world to help. They are now a thriving nation someting the palestinians i fear could never aspire to.

[jomifl]

Unusually I agree with Sandy. Brenden, there is nothing admirable about the state of Israel, it is no better than the nazi Germany that persecuted the Jews (as well as gypsies and homosexuals, now forgotten because they don't have the political leverage). Many Jews are ashamed of their 'Fatherland'.

[jomifl]

Brenden, the only reason Israel is thriving is because it is or has been very heavily subsidised from abroad (USA, Estée Lauder group) and exploits the indigenous Palestinians. If Palestine had been subsidised to the same extent it would be a paradise.

[FredPuli43]

Back to the OP, nothing will kick off, according to the American former diplomat and specialist in the area, on BBC5 last night. His view was that both sides make their point by these shows of force and then everything settles down again to an uneasy truce. Hamas is being blamed, but the reality is it's groups of fundamentalists, over whom Hamas's leaders have no control, who are responsible, not that Hamas is making any noise in protest. The people launching rockets can't hurt Israel by destroying anything of strategic significance. They know that. Israel knows that. Israel makes a big show of force and the whole affair dies down again.

[plowter]

So, we've had the Arab Spring increase oil prices.
Global oil prices fell before the American election.
Wars in the Middle East always affect oil prices.
Who will benefit from any increase in oil prices?

[jomifl]

It all goes back to the events described by Sandy, until those injustices are rectified there will be no end to the hatred festering in the middle east. The Iranians think that one nuke will solve it, which it won't.

[percypineapple]

would Iran would be commiting suicide if it tried to nuke Israel? I am sure they know the retaliation from other countries would be quick, but, would anyone have the nerve to nuke them in return? have they weighed this up? 50/50 chance of survival, just needs a gambler to push the button and launch.