So....innocent men, women and children are getting "payback"? This is a terrorist attack by Hamas, backed by Iran. Over 700 innocent people massacred. Over 200 at a music rave for peace for ****'s sake. Literally shot in cold blood. The Palestinians deserve their own land, just as Israelis do. Israel have been too inflexible regarding a two state solution. Israel are arguably more in the wrong than the Palestinians. However, this act is completely indefensible and will set back the Palestinian cause for decades imo. Shame on anyone remotely sympathising with this barbaric act.
Actually Col I believe the 'Palestinian Cause' may actually gain greater significance for the formation of a free Palestinian state from this disaster - as the only way to prevent such atrocities reoccurring although you are right, the killing of innocents can never be justified in any way The US has advised Netanyahu to de-escalate and hold off on any ground invasion of Gaza. That in itself will be perceived as a victory for Hamas. The Iranian aim of making the Saudis think twice about any further rapprochement with Israel also seems to be working. Hezzbollah already have sent warnings via Egypt thay any ground invasion of Gaza will result in a second front opening in Northern Israel / Golan which I can't see anyone wanting. Playing straight into Nasrallahs hands
The problem is Hamas isn't interested in the two state solution. It wants the destruction of Israel. No compromise. And it's followers will keep raping and killing Israeli children, massacring civilians without mercy, until it gets what is unachievable. And Israel will keeping killing Palestinian civilians as collateral damage in their hunt for Hamas terrorists. There is no end.
Also on BBC World Service they are reporting that Islamic Jihad are holding 30 hostages This play by Iran to destabilise the region and make the Saudis think twice may work, the cards are all against Netanyahu right now
I wouldn’t put it past him to still go through with it. There’ll be a lot of Israelis who don’t want that but a bigger than usual number who will and he’s a bit of a populist though ultimately the US will have to give him the green light.
Saudi official statement - The Saudi Arabian ministry of foreign affairs noted the unprecedented situation between certain Palestinian factions and the occupation forces and called for restraint on all sides. But it then recalled “its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights and the repetition of the systematic provocations against its sanctities [holy sites]”. It urged the international community to restart a credible peace process based on a two-state solution.
I'm not so sure that cornering Israel is going to work. Everyone who have sworn to the destruction of Israel is piling in. I don't expect Israel to back down.
It's not about israel backing down Col, it's the Palestinan factions trying to break a cycle of 75 years of oppression. They are pushing the narrative that only a 2 state solution can avert such continued violence. Many in the West concur but not through an armed struggle and definitely not via the terrorist acts over the past few days
I can’t honestly see it. The same conversations have been had a million times and I think this has set back the whole process a lot judging purely by the reaction from people I know of, friends of friends etc. in Israel. People are scared first and foremost but they’ll be angry once things settle a bit. It had never been a better time to be a visibly jewish person in much of the Middle East. The shooting in Egypt hasn’t exactly gone down brilliantly either.
I agree. But there are other factors at play here. This terrorist act was carried out by Hamas terrorists, backed by Iran, who have sworn to wiping Israel off the map. Whilst I very much sympathise with the plight of ordinary Palestinians, this barbarism is going to prod the Israeli bear into terrible retribution imo. It's their 9/11 imo.
Mate Both sides can’t agree on the colour of sh1te. The Palestinian’s do actually want the two state solution. Of course they do. I’ve been in the West Bank and the Palestinian camps in Lebanon and they are beyond description. It would make the hardest of us emotional. Appalling conditions for humans. You simply can’t treat people like that and not expect retaliation. Israel will never agree to the two state solution. NEVER. The country is tiny. If you split it in half it becomes untenable. What the Israelis are doing is systematic, scandalous and dehumanising. It’s genocide and I defy anyone to tell me differently. However….that attack was callous, calculated and can’t be condoned. Killing innocent people going about their business is indefensible. This will continue until the US sort it out. They have to find a solution. The Israelis will not accept an Arab league solution or Middle East solution. The US need to step up here. Hezbollah involvement has to be avoided at all costs. The Israeli - Lebanese war of 2006 was fought to a standstill. The human cost was huge. The timing of this is interesting. The Palestinians sending a message to SA not to normalise relations with Israel. This whole situation also suits Netanyahu as he’s in political and judicial turmoil.
Israel appears to be bowing to US pressure and have now imposed a seige of Gaza rather than any invasion. At the same time Hamas are reporting a number of hostages killed by the Israeli bombing Netanyahu totally ****ed from all sides. Domestic pressure to act will be huge but the repercussions will be even bigger if he does. All the cards with Iran/Hamas/Hezzbollah right now
A nice kosher restaurant in Golders Green has been smashed up so it might not be entirely about the Israeli occupation to some people.
Hamas control Gaza and most definitely won't be content with anything but the destruction of Israel. So, even if Israel offered a two state solution, it would simply strengthen the hand of Hamas extremists to launch further attacks on the pared down Israel. The status quo is the best Israel can get. And genocide is overstating the case. There is displacement for security reasons and, of course, that leads to injustices and human rights abuses. In Israeli assaults against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, casualties can be in the hundreds according to UN and Amnesty sources. Exterminating 6 million people in gas chambers - that is genocide
