I am a relief worker and have just returned from Gaza and find most of the posts illinformed offensive and plainly bias and agenda driven.
Firstly currently the Red Cross and 11 other Human Rights organisations are demanding Hamas allow them access to the Kidnapped soldier and proof that he is alive.
Hamas have ignored all the norms of warfare by refusing to allow REd Cross access , even the Nazis in WW2 allowed the REd Cross confirmation as to wether prisoners were alive or dead.
I spent at least 2 weeks in Gaza and mixed with many other relief workers and I what I have experienced is a conflict between the Palestinian factions and the serious mistreatment of Palestinian Christians and obvious bias against non Muslims.
It is common knowledge that the Palestinian militants fire their rockets form within civllian areas in the hope that Israel fire will kill civillians to help their PR in the international community.
I also travelled to Israeli Jerusalem and spoke with many Israeli-Arabs who overwhelmingly all agree they would much prefer to live under Israel governemnt than any Palestinian/Arab government. We can see now with the Arab spring, no doubt Libyan , Syrian Egyptian or Tunisian Arabs would be happy to like their free Israel- Arab brothers and sisters.
It appears to me the Israel-Palestinian conflict is fuelled by hatred of Jews by the Islamic/Arab world and we have seen the hatred between SUnNi and Shea Muslims and racsist treatment of Christians and non Muslims . It is partly a religious war Muslims dont want Jews or Non believers in their part of the world that there is no doubt.
In my Opinion as long as Hamas is in POower the problem will never be solved .

Gilad Shalit's plight does bring to mind another Israeli who was kidnapped and spent twice as long as Gilad in solitary confinement and was only released after 18 years, one Mordechai Vanunu.

Extended solitary confinement is indeed a deeply inhuman thing to do to a person.

For a man that has just returned from Israel seeking an audience with Gilad you don't know too much. Israel doesn't recognize Gilat as a prisoner of war that is the first point. The second point is that Hamas isn't bound by the terms of the Geneva conference as it isn't a signatory. Third I wonder if you spent much time taking care of the thousands of uncharged Palestinians who are in Israeli jails. I don.t believe a word you have written as I am familiar with the Red Cross it helps the Palestinians in refugee camps in Lebanon as a result of ethnic cleansing by Israel. The Red Cross is a much respected apolitical organization you are neither.

Ulis it is irrelevant wether you believe what any one writes on this website, I do agree with you that the Red Cross do great work I do not work for the Red Cross I am a volunteer that works for a NGO .
Judging by your over the top advocacy for the Palestinians and seemingly hatred for the Jews and Israel you are obviously too close to the subject to be taken as a serious analyst

I did make a mistake about the Red Cross and 11 Human rights groups there are 12 Huamnrights groups that are demanding Hamas act compassion.. see below there are other sources as well to verify

See also Twelve Human Rights Groups to Hamas: Allow Red Cross to See Shalit <http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=226406> - Tovah Lazaroff (Jerusalem Post)

An apology would be accepeted.

Thanks Ray for your input and on the ground observation that most wise analysts would agree with , after all that's why Israel has so much support including from Australian both sides of the house.

I think many here have gone off the track the issue is GIlad Shalit .
The Palestinian prisoners in Israeli Jails are there because they have targeted civilians they are clearly terrorists and belong in Jail.
It is irrelevant whether Hamas is a signatory to anything they are a bunch of Thugs who ignore everyone's human rights including their fellow Palestinians Christian and Fatah members included.
I agree with Ray as long as the Palestinians choose to have a Islamist Mafia leadership who repeatably say they will never abide by the UN 1948 Charter [181 ?] One state for the Arabs One state for the Jews the Israeli/Palestinian,ARab , Muslim conflict will never be resolved .
Israel should build the security barrier higher and longer and let the Palestinians fight amongst them selves.

Well said Ray.

I am both amazed and disturbed at the hate and vitriol from the anti-Israel lobby. They are clearly uninformed or worse, understand that they are peddling falsehoods but remain happy with their racism.

If you scratch an anti-Zionist deep enough you are sure to find an anti-Semite.