MEBDA,
I am no apologist for Palestinian violence.

But to use your tone and reasoning 100 odd civilians dead is OK (just so long as they're not Israeli.) Not to mention the hospital that is hobbled from saving lives by Israeli intent. Of course Mossad are an entity of extra ordinary international moral integrity quite averse to manipulation of situations outside international law or cease fires. e.g. Man hunt and wrongful executions of Palestinian innocents like the man in Norway.

BTW Jewish is a religious determination NOT a national one.

I have a Jewish daughter who has recently returned from Years in Israel and swears never to sanction the prejudice etc. that is rife there. She is proudly Jew but despises the hypocrisies that are "Israel’s justifications.”
When I read your post to her she said it is YOUR Attitude that needs 'the mote removed'.

Just because you don't agree with someone that doesn't give you the right to question the integrity or authenticity of what is written via personal and irrelevant insulting attacks designed to avoid any meaningful objective examination. Lowenstein’s et al’s personal religion has NOTHING to do with the issue. The hatred/ loathing are in your mind, not his or mine. I seek a fair resolutions positions of power etc are irrelevant to that end. Negotiation is best between equals otherwise it is simply one side dictating the terms and by definition that is imposition. Ultimately a forced solution never lasts.

BTW Right and wrong are among the first victims in a war neither side is ever blameless.

Jindy, has it ever occurred to you to read a few books on a subject before parading your profound ignorance? Maybe you could begin by reading Antony Loewenstein's excellent My Israel Question.

The resettlement of holocaust survivors in a 'jewish' old testament promised land set the stage for this deplorable state of affairs with the Holocaust survivors Zionist leadership morphing into the Nazi's they escaped from.
Without support from Britain and the USA the present impossible situation would not prevail.

A two State solution will not resolve the problem with fundamentalist extremists fanning the flames of dissention at every opportunity
There is not likely to be a solution during the Presidency of Barack Obama who has already indicated his unequivival support for Israel.

I have indicated in other forum that the time is right for the United Nations to review the veto rights of the Five Permanent members and seriously set out to correct the mistakes of 1947-48
Firstly the lack of consultation with the Palestinians and
Secondly the green light for the establishment of a Semitic state instead of a secular one.

The United Nations does not have a great record when dealing with difficult racial issues but that is the forum where a solution must be thrashed out without the USA & Britain being allowed to veto the efforts.

Over two-thirds of the worlds population is without tertiary education, and it's not always as financially available as you might think, even in developed countries.
You shouldn't knock someone for the guts to express their opinion, reguardless of how simple and ignorant it is. Everyone has a different perspective.
However am looking for further information so thanks for the tip.

I was researching Cognitive Dissonance for an article when I came across something I had been working with before. We need the duality of who we are not to tell us who we are. An example given was that fundamentalist Jews needed Hamas to be Jews, and that Hamas need the Jews to give them their identity.
Neither the Jews or Hamas are as alive as when they are fighting each other. There is nothing like conflict to give identity.
Fundamentalist Jews and the Palestinians share a common root to their religions, and a common ancestry. They are more alike than different. They also share a common attitude to war. If they are not fighting they are not alive. If there is nobody else to fight they fight each other. Fighting for both has become a cultural necessity. It has been going on for four thousand years and if anyone ever finds a way to change the attitude of either the Jews or Hamas it will be a miracle.

oHHHHH my... STEWTH is back.. *ow_r_ya_moit*?

I find it fascinating that in the midst of all these disturbing goings on in Israel/Gaza..... so many of us are looking for "Mr Right".. i.e...the good guy and the bad guy..and different posters have different opinions about this.

WE NEEEED TO THINK BIG PICTURE ... sorry but true.

Unless we examine the framework for these events we will just be pushed and belted from side to side..this way and that like an inexperienced and docile dodgem car driver at the mercy of 'Satan and his cohorts' in the black cars.

FRAMEWORK.

1/ Israel is there.
2/ Israel is there to stay.
3/ This is theologically and territorially anathema to Muslims.
4/ This is an insult to Mohammad and his many victories in the past.
5/ This is a reversal of the victory of Caliph Omar who Muslims love to love. Specially it is a reversal of KHAYBER where the last Jews were conquered on the Arabian peninsula.
6/ Mohammad/Umar's spiritual descendants HAMAS have openly declared they plan to 'evacuate' (ethnically cleanse/genocide) 'Palestine/Muslim lands of all Jews.

You need look no further in understanding this conflict.

If this is understood, there will not be any more grasping at straws trying to identify each jot and tittle of 'WHO BROKE' the latest ceasefire.... specially considering that Abu Abir from Gaza said:

"The cease-fire offers a period of calm for our fighters to recover and prepare for our final goal of evacuating Palestine,"
That was in 2006!

But we don't need to go anywhere other than the HAMAS charter..which is abundantly clear on their goals.

The state of war exists because of competing claims to land believed to have been given by Allah/God.

There can only be ONE earthly solution.... a total victory for one side or the other, which means brutal total war and ultimately the complete evacuation/re-location of those who would do the same to your side.

Personally, I believe HAMAS is trying to drag Israel into an unwinnable (for HAMAS) fight they believe will create a united Arab war against Israel. (yet again)