Jerusalem Massacre

[Theland]

Once again Jerusalemites are victims of terrorists, but the anti Semitic United Nations cannot agree to condemn this outrage as an act of terrorism.
How should Israel react to this crime?

[Oneeyedvic]

Why did the United Nations not agree to condemn the attack (which killed 8 people) - because Russia said asked how bad an atrocity needed to be (is 8 people killed an atrocity) and because Libya (and several other countries) felt it fair to also include Israel's attack last week that killed many more people including children.

Hardly anti Semitic sentiments.

[Theland]

At the risk of sounding blase, the Palestinian deaths were, "collateral," and not intended victims, as Israel went after terrorists and terrorist facilities. This atrocity in Jerusalem was intended to hit random victims just as long as they were Jews.
So, how should Israel react to this terrorist crime?

[Gromit]

Theland,

I didn't notice you condemning anyone on here last week when a lot more than 8 civilians were killed. Maybe you think blowing palestinian children to smithereens is an acceptable consequence of the bigger fight against Hezbollah.

Doesn't your book say something about an Eye for an Eye. Maybe that is the problem. Both sides are following 2000 year old codes which encourage war rather than avert it.

[Theland]

What should Israel do in the face of daily rocket attacks from Gaza, given that they withdrew from Gaza on a promise of peace?

[Theland]

The Pals promise even more "peace" if Israel withdraws from the West Bank.
Should they?

[R1Geezer]

Gromit: Bl00dy muslims bring it all on themselves, if you poke a tiger do not be surprised when it bites your head off. If they stopped doing these rocket attacks and other acts of terrorism then Israel would not be retaliating. It aint difficult is it, why are they so dim that they cannot see the correlation?, err... we fire a rocket, big plane comes over and bombs sh1t out of us, mmmm better not fire rocket then! It aint rocket science.... ok perhaps it is!

[Quinlad]

A tiger is a wild animal - and you wouldn't expect it to exercise rational thought, or logic or human decency.

I would expect those qualities from a supposedly right-minded democratic government. But if you want to tar them with the animal brush....

[Gromit]

This is the perfect response from Israel...

The Israeli government has said that it will not let the killing of eight students in Jerusalem derail peace talks with the Palestinians.
Arye Mekel, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, said discussions would continue with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who denounced the shootings.

[Theland]

And Abbas holds a constitution demanding the destruction of Israel. Nice eh?

[Gromit]

"Abbas holds a constitution demanding the destruction of Israel"

No he doesn't!

Mahmoud Abbas does not himself hold any constitution, and certainly not one calling for the destruction of Israel. His party, Fatah has no such declaration in its constitution either.

Yasser Arafat signed the Declaration of Principles with Israel in 1993 which declared a mutual recognition between the PLO and Israel.

[Theland]

The P.L.O. constitution regards the occupied lands as ALL of Israel, not just Gaza and the West Bank.

[Gromit]

Abbas and Fatah make no such claim. Fatah is recognised as a legitimate party and not a terrorist organisation. Fatah is a member of the PLO which is a supposedly confederation of all the political parties in Palestine. In reality, Hamas and Fatah have themselves become enemies.

The PLO constitution (it isn't really a constitution) does not make one reference to Israel. Its emblem does show a map of all of Israel and should be changed, but you know how difficult it is to change a flag or an emblem.

The demands of the PLO have changed over the years, and the two state resolution is seen as the only viable option.

[keyplus90]

Can anyone tell me why Israel and west are so determined not to accept Hamas's government even though they have won the elections there and according to Democracy are entitled to make a government? Simple question Can any one answer that please.

[Theland]

Hamas are bloodthirsty killers who celebrated last night, because eight Jews died. This when Abu Marzen was condemning it.

[Gromit]

keyplus90

Tricky thing democracy and in this case, the palestinian people got it wrong. Hamas are more hard line and do use terrorism against the Israelis. Dividing your enemy is a classic tactic and the Israelis will be very happy with that outcome.

On an optimistic note, if a negotiated peace with Fatah on the West Bank can be made to work (there does seem to be finally some momentum internationally for this) and the lot of the palestinian people there improves dramatically, then hopefully they will turn their backs on Hamas.

[Theland]

As Shimon Peres just said on the 1pm news. "If there were no rockets, there would be no bloodshed."

[keyplus90]

So in other words. Democracy differs from country to country. Because West and Israel do not like Hamas so they want to declare that "Palestinians Got it Wrong". What if Iraqis say English people got it wrong in case of Tony Blair "He has gone Now" but just for argument sake, would we listen to Iraqis and sack Tony Blair even if he has got majority of our votes.?

[Theland]

Yes, the Palestinian people in Gaza got it wrong. They elected Hamas, who are more concerned with using their own people as political pawns in their declared war on Israel. Their own people are suffering in large part through the actions of Hamas.

[Gromit]

keyplus90

Democracy is the same the world over. However, the palestinian people elected a government which advocates war and terrorism. The international community has to live with that, but it does not have to endorse or help it.

[keyplus90]

Why International comunity does not ask Israel to vacate the occupied areas. Even UNO admits that Israel has occupied Palestinian ares. What would you do if someone kicks you out of your home, then they come there on regular basis and kill your children playing outside just for the sake of fun, they stop the supply of your food and medicine even when you are under the sky and you are already crying for help, you do not have jobs, you do not have any future because of the sanctions.

All that has happened for over 60 years and still is going on.

You have few stones in your hand and few people who say that we should make the life difficult for the people who have done that to us. Would you follow those people or would you say that we should wait until the people who have not done anything so far might do something.