Dear Critic,

«Could this be true also

Israel is an occupying power, and as such doesn't have a 'right' to self defense, and Hamas is the 'resistance' militant force for Palestinians, who can't even get UN troops to protect them because of America's UNSC veto.»

This may be true for the West Bank.
I condemn Israel's occupation of the West Bank.
Whether or not that means that Israel has no right to self defence there could be the subject of another interesting discussion.

But Gaza?

Israel was not occupying Gaza, Israel has no interests in Gaza, yes Israel once occupied parts of Gaza, but it left them long ago, in 2005, forcibly evacuating the last of its citizens from there and wished the Gazans well.

Does the stain of occupation last forever? Would you also claim that English tourists in India have no right to defend themselves because India was once under British occupation?

The West Bank and the Gaza strip are not related: Israel took the West Bank from Jordan and the Gaza strip from Egypt. Under Netanyahu, regrettably, Israel would still refuse to hand back the West Bank to Jordan, should they ask for it (which they don't), but should Egypt at any moment agree to take back the Gaza strip, then even Netanyahu and his coalition would joyously kiss their hands. Even today in the midst of fighting, should Egypt declare that they want the Gaza strip back and re-assume responsibility for it, then Israel would happily be out of there at the drop of a hat.

"But it is becoming increasingly clear that the war is
in pursuit of a second goal:"

Maybe it's clear to people who swallow the antisemitic bunk being rolled out by Hamas sympathisers. Israel has consistently sought peace, but has consistently been subjected to hatred and violence with the objective of eliminating Jews from the region. Until Israel's neighbours acknowledge and condemn this I don't see any possibility of peace.

Hi Yuyutsu,
"Whether or not that means that Israel has no right to self defence there could be the subject of another interesting discussion."

- I think it goes without saying that every person and every nation has a right to self-defence.

That interesting discussion may be:

- Whether ANY Palestinian resistance group (whilst under Israaeli occupation) enjoys a 'right to attack' in the same way Israel claims a 'right to self defence'.

- Secondly whether 'self defence' does or does not include attacking (not defending) targets in Gaza protected by international law in regards to human rights and collective punishment on a civilian population.

Hi AC,

Hamas wants civilians to be killed and makes no effort to protect them whilst conducting war on Israel. Foxy claims a secret agenda of occupying the Gaza strip. Do you agree with this conspiracy theory? Here is Robert Spencer discussing the real history as opposed to the antisemitic, ant-immigrant, pro-terrorist rubbish being spouted by Foxy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDs58krKXm0

The former Israeli defence minister Moshe Dayan
once said:

"Our American friends offer us money, arms and advice.
We take the money, we take the arms, and we decline the
advice."

These words have become only more resonant in the decades
since they were uttered.

Until the United States and Europe formulate a strategy
to make Israel's circumstances less desirable than the
concessions it would make in a peace agreement - they
will shoulder responsibility for the oppressive military
regime they continue to preserve - and fund.

When peaceful opposition to Israel's policies (nad its not
antiSemitic to criticize them) is squelched and those with
the capacity to dismantle the occupation don't raise a
finger against it, violence invariably becomes more
attractive to those who have few other means of upsetting
the status quo.

It is only through pressure on the parties that a peaceful
partition of Palestine is achievable.

But too many insist on sparing Israelis and Palestinians the
pain of outside force, so that they may instead continue to
be generous with one another in the suffering they inflict.
(sarc).

"When peaceful opposition to Israel's policies (nad its not
antiSemitic to criticize them) is squelched and those with
the capacity to dismantle the occupation don't raise a
finger against it, violence invariably becomes more
attractive to those who have few other means of upsetting
the status quo."

Yes, and I'm sure that some of your best friends are Jewish too Foxy. For me, the most convincing point of where the blame lies is this:

* If Israel's enemies put down their arms there would be peace. If Israel put down her arms their would be genocide.

That is the reality that Israel faces in preserving its existence. Revel in your hatred and antisemitism Foxy.