Steele doesn't think that people should be able to defend themselves.

Hi Steele,

I wonder if you inadvertently equate 'Palestinians' with 'Hamas', and 'Hamas' with 'Islamists'; and 'Islamists' with Islamist terrorists', and thereby end up somehow equating the Palestinian struggle for a State with apologising for ISIS ? Or at least for Hamas ? As a PLO-inclined person, I don't think I equate Palestinians with Hamas, I think of the Palestinian dilemma as more secular and nationalist.

For all it matters, I support a two-state solution, with minimal Israeli settlements on the West Bank, a Palestine which should either unite with Jordan or set itself up as an independent state, and be done with it. Bit late now though.

Joe

Dear Is Mise,

Of course I do. Israel has slaughtered, maimed and wounded hundreds of mostly unarmed Gazans protesting at the border.

On Thursday an incendiary device was floated into Israel from Gaza under a bunch of balloons. In retaliation Israel launched missile strikes on military targets within Gaza. Gazan snipers then killed two Israeli soldiers and fired their own missiles. Israel intensified its bombing killing and wounding women, children and unborn. The Gazans replied with missiles.

Israel of course once again targeted government official's homes as is there normal tactic, no regard of course for the families inside.

"It leveled the homes of several militant commanders, saying they were used to store weapons or as operational headquarters, and fired on a number of Palestinians it said were engaged in launching rockets."

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/05/world/middleeast/gaza-rockets-israel-palestinians.html

When Israel attacks the Gazan government officials even though they were not the group responsible for the balloon launch then I fully understand the Gazans defending themselves. It appears you do to.

Dear Loudmouth,

How on earth am I apologising for ISIS?

Hamas was originally elected by a majority of the Palestinian people.

The battle with Israel has caused their support to grow. The Gazans saw off the Israeli settlement within Gaza but those on the West Bank have seen their land illegally occupied and a hundred thousand Israelis moved on to their lands.

It is pretty obvious that the Gazan people do not want settlements to once again erode their land and Hamas would seem to be the only group prepared to make sure that doesn't happen. I don't blame them.

Stele,

"Of course I do. Israel has slaughtered, maimed and wounded hundreds of mostly unarmed Gazans protesting at the border."

Which is in the same mould as Gandhi's Salt March.

Provoke and then use the resultant violence to one's own ends.

Those who provoke violence are more guilty than those who are provoked.

Dear Is Mise,

Is this what is going on here?

http://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2193425987373599