Nobody is suggesting that Israel should ignore rocket attacks. It has never been a suggestion, and duvasa's post doesn't suggest that anywhere in it.
We know that what they're doing certainly isn't saving lives in the short term. Rocket attacks on Israel have only increased since this military campaign began, let alone the hundreds of people that are getting killed in Gaza. It isn't my responsibility to prove its a strategic misstep long term. If some group/country chooses to use violence, violence that is predictably going to kill hundreds of innocent people, the burden of proof is on them to show that it will save lives. Who the hell is asking Israel to ignore Hamas? Are those the two options: do nothing, or pummel the Gazan population? If the history of the US and Mexico was analogous to Israel and Gaza/West Bank, I would expect the US to address Mexico's legitimate grievances before it starts bombing innocent civilians.
Well what Israel is doing is trying to permanently stop the attacks. If they did what the anti-Israeli defense experts suggested, Hamas would simply stockpile even more weapons to fire at the end of the next meaningless cease fire.
This is a long term mission, not a short term one. They want to permanently disable Hamas's capabilities.
Great. Is what they're currently doing going to achieve that? We don't know, and nor do they. So not only are they not preventing or slowing down attacks in the short term, there is nothing even close to certainty that Hamas will be disabled. In fact, many predict that this will make Hamas more powerful, or if not that inspire other radical groups to replace them. Those who choose to use violence must always justify it, and it must always be a last resort. Punishment is never a suitable justification for killing civilians. There must be a very strong case that it is the only feasible option to deter imminent or future attacks. That is not happening; it's not close to happening.
Yeah, thats what they want ...but no amount of firework is going to do the job. Thats why this mess is doing nothing but killing innocent civilians.
The fact that you actually think that this will have any affect but to embolden Hamas tells a lot about the logical reasoning capabilities of the pro-Israeli side.
Do yall have a better idea? What exactly should Israel do? You say it's a measure of last resort or whatever, but what else can they do? Israel has to defend herself, one way or another.
It was pretty much summed up by Livni herself when she was asked that exact same question and she said "We are out of options!" At this point I think Israel is just flexing its muscles and attempting to punish Hamas and Gazans for their transgressions. At some point, when you are "out of options" as Livni said, an eye for an eye becomes the only feasible policy. The Hezbollah conflict showed that the IDF was incapable of stopping rocket attacks on Israel, in fact rocket attacks intensified as the conflict dragged on. While Hamas does not have the military arsenal or smarts of Hezbollah, I imagine the outcome will be the same for Israel as far as failing to stop rocket attacks from Gaza. You have to assume Israel knew that going in, but thought they would try any ways due to domestic pressure to do something, anything. It is just frustrations boiling over
Both sides must be willing to come to terms on and agree to a ceasefire. Israel needs to be willing to make certain concessions, particularly on the blockade. Israel wants to maintain its leverage over the "peace process", and its willing to sacrifice the lives of numerous innocent people with this siege to keep it. That attitude needs to change. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45350
Do you seriously think it works this way? If this were the case, Israel would have maintained its policy of targeted assassinations. It simply wasn't effective. You don't defeat extremism through further violence. That should be common sense. These groups have no concrete hierarchical organization where the loss of one hub would bring down the entire network. It's a revolving door. The only options are full-scale genocide or some peaceful means. Israel's current course of action only breeds more violence and marginalizes the moderate voice. And history has shown us the Palestinians will not just give in and accept their conditions.
Seriously, that's not good enough. If Israel wants more moderate voices to take leadership in Gaza, it has to do so by stopping the bombing, showing good will by working towrads rebuilding the Gazan economy, and restoring their faith that a "peace process" is achievable.
Remember they have tried this also, and it didnt work. Maybe after Hamas is weakened they can try it again.
ACtually ISrael has never done that in recent times. There have been periods where the Palestinians have stopped bombings, and missile attacks for over a year, yet Israel didn't follow through with any of their pledged concessions. Despite the Palestinians putting a stop to the terrorist attacks Israel did not significantly ease restrictions, or give up the land in the so called land for peace strategy. I think one of the problems is Israel is all stick and no carrot. The Palestinians have most definitely not been perfect but when there are long periods of peace then Israel needs to make their agreed on concessions. When they don't follow through with that it doesn't give any incentive to Palestinians to pursue a more peaceful means to achieve its goals.
