Palestinians were given a strip of land that they really did not deserve; they trashed it; they elected a blood-thirsty terrorist regime to govern them; they raped, murdered and butchered the people who gave them that land. They do not deserve to have the land.

Had not Israel ceased “occupying” Gaza in 2005, the land would not be in ruin, and Palestinians would have had a life without Hamas.

Israel should have stayed in Gaza. There would have been no war. Now that there is a war, Israel should not have agreed to a ceasefire, which gives the impression that they are losing. The cease fire is a win for Hamas. ‘Never negotiate with terrorists’ has always been a strength.

If this ceasefire continues, Hamas will always be there, and Israel will continue to be under the same continuous threat.

Netanyahu has told Trump that America is Israel's greatest friend. In this case, maybe not. Trump wants to end wars, but can't end the constant threat to Israel.

The exchange of hostages is a farce. About a dozen Israelis released, but around 1,900 Palestinian ‘lifers’ let go.

The way things are going, it will be ‘back to business’ for Israel in the same way it has been since 1948.

Of course Trump's plan to see off Palestinians to Arab countries could solve the problem, but the howling from the UN and other anti-Israel groups will probably put the kybosh on that. It's not just Hamas and terrorist-supporters who want to end Israel.

Hi Paul,

"For political reasons the state of Israel was imposed on the Middle East by the victorious allies post WWII."

By the United Nations no less, along with the creation of surrounding states, which shortly afterwards declared war with the objective of removing Israel from the map.

"There was no consideration given to the Palestinian people."

Not true. Many of the so called "Palestinians" were labourers from surrounding areas like Egypt. Most of the Jewish migrants were fleeing almost certain death from the war in Europe. Nobody wanted them. Some of the argument that comes out about the Jews in Israel here could come from the rwnj handbook which you rail against. Why is such argument okay for Jews?

We can argue about the positions of Israel and Palestine
as much as we like. Positions have become hardened and
emotions run high especially when the tensions in the
region, here in Australia, or on this forum rise.

World leaders will now have to deal with the reality
of a new US president in the next four years.
A new leader who appears to be divisive. And they will
have to decide if the old alliances still hold.

As for Israel? If Australia and the international
community cannot prevent the US and Israel from
following through with the so-called "Trump's Gaza
plan" then we shall see international law and a
rules based order being consigned to the dust-bin
of history.

One thing that needs to be acknowledged is Israel's
current apartheid regime. Whether they live in Gaza,
East Jerusalem, and the rest of the West Bank, or
even Israel itself, Palestinians are treated as an
inferior racial group and are systematically
deprived of their rights.

Israel's cruel policies of segregation, dispossession,
and exclusion across all territories under its control
clearly amounts to apartheid. The international community
has an obligation to act.

Israel cannot be excused and given immunity to continue
to ignore international law and do what it wants claiming
self defence - when it is not the victim but the abuser
in of the areas under its control

we shall see international law and a
rules based order being consigned to the dust-bin
of history.
Foxy,
That's what some of the more switched-on European countries have started to distance themselves from. Italy in particular with the Albania situation !