What Happens Next?

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  • Posted By: lhpb @ 12/30/2008 5:34:22 PM

    I am truly sorry for the violence that this man and his family must endure. Who did this man vote for? There is a responsibility that goes with democracy. The majority who voted Hamas into power in Gaza, gave their support to them. The people of Gaza allow militants to retreat into their midst after firing rockets into Israel. I see on every blog, Gaza residents begging the international community to intercede and they obviously wonder why they are abandoned. Look to yourselves for the answer. You cannot promote hate and violence against Israel and then expect to be protected from Israeli reprisals. Has the hate grown so strong that you cannot use reason?

  • Posted By: Urbo @ 12/30/2008 5:33:43 PM

    It is a shame that human emotion can so powerfully cloud reason. I find it tragically sad for both sides when people such as poster 771979, who have legitimate feelings, are unable to separate direct cause and effect logic and are willing to perpetuate an eternity of conflict.

  • Posted By: bluemainsail @ 12/30/2008 1:42:14 PM

    To jwcolby:

    First, the Arab world is not the first or only nationality to deploy the use of suicide bombers...Kamikazi's in WWII, Sri Lanka rebels, the list goes on & on. Your civilized world is responsible for more deaths of children in the last 5 years than all of the uncivilized world this past century. So please dispense with this mindless comparison of civilized and uncivilized. Secondly, how much safer are the Israeli's now or after this assault on Gaza. I'd say not much more when the wave of violence with continue unabated from both sides continuing the cycle. Israel has done it's best to starve and deprive the Palestinians of any exsistence only making them more apt to strke back, what other choice do they have when backed into a corner. t's wasn't too long ago in Warsaw when Jewish resistance was lauded, now people doing the same thing are being scorned. I know the majority of Americans agree with your point of view, which is why you and the rest of your ilk only keep the cycle of violence going until it ends up in America. Stand back and realize that Israel is the aggressor and needs to be stopped before we repeat history over and over again. Give the people of Palestine a reason to live instead of condemning them to die.

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 1:46:35 PM

      When you can talk BEFORE firing rockets into civilian areas, perhaps the world will listen.

      • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 12/30/2008 3:24:37 PM

        The rockets will stop when Israel stop killing Palestinian leaders and end the blockade. the rockets have always been a respond to Israel aggression toward Palestinians. If you have followed the sequences of who started first, you will find that Israel stroke the fires and the palestinians fall into the trap.
        If the Israeli leaders truly wanted peace for it's people they should have accepted the 2004 Saudi initiative.
        But they are in a bind because of the 400,000 illegal Jews settlements dotted throughout the West Bank which makes almost impossible to establish a viable and continuous Palestinian state. Palestinians will not settle for a state that looks like swiss cheese. Neither would we

        • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 4:31:33 PM

          "The rockets will stop when Israel stop killing Palestinian leaders and end the blockade. the rockets have always been a respond to Israel aggression toward Palestinians. If you have followed the sequences of who started first, you will find that Israel stroke the fires and the palestinians fall into the trap. "

          Who broke the cease fire?

          There's another way for the rockets to stop, you know. That would be when there's nobody left to fire them. That would be unfortunate, I am sure, but I am fairly certain Israel isn't going to stop unless Hamas does.

          • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 12/30/2008 5:20:28 PM

            its obviously that you are blind on this situation and have no concept of what war is like. I saw in in Nam and I killed in Nam it's there is no remorse as long it's not one of your love ones. But if it was, you will have a different perspective. The palestinians need be to free with or without hamas or fatah for the matter

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 1:47:26 PM

      "Give the people of Palestine a reason to live instead of condemning them to die."

      The ones condemning them to die are the ones who INSISTED on breaking the cease fire by firing rockets.

  • Posted By: 771979 @ 12/30/2008 5:16:21 PM

    It is such a shame and disgrace that the world is looking at this massacre by the Zionist state with shut mouths and blindfolds on, ???See all evil, hear all evil and say no evil."

    This indiscriminate, inhuman and brutal military force used against already beleaguered Palestinians in Gaza with long economic blockade, cutting and switching off basic necessities of life: medical supplies, drugs, food, water, electricity, gas and fuel etc by occupier is humiliation enough for any bystander to boiling point. On top of that ignominy, the innocent Palestinians, they are not allowed to move around freely and are restricted by ugly barriers, road blocks and security check by the Israeli soldiers at every corner is a misery that would be intolerable and nuisance to any one living in the West.
    By taking this inhumane, uncivilized and indiscriminate military action, Israelis have created millions of fighters who would remember feel sympathy for their brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers in Palestine. This kind of barbaric use of military force, which is seen by billions of people through out the world breeds hatred against the Zionist state and if the Israelis believe that they could intimidate and bully these fighters, they would be silly to assume it. Instead, they have created perpetual hatred amongst the fighters of the future who will be willing to take arms against Israel's occupation and oppression of their people.
    It is so unfortunate and disgrace that the boot-licking and shoe-shining rulers of Arab world are so ominously silent seeing this barbarity.
    And why do the silly Palestinians achieve by firing these rockets at innocent Israelis civilians but to disturb their peace and sleep? Palestinians must by know should know that Israel is a nuclear power with eight most powerful military force and by throwing rockets and mortars can not defeat the mighty army. Israel must treat its neighbours and Palestinians with respect and not as ants and rats to trample and kill.
    The only way that peace can be established in the region is to implement UN resolution 242 and give Israel it deserves and give back to Palestinians what they deserved.

  • Posted By: Marcell @ 12/30/2008 1:56:57 PM

    I lve in a kibbutz on the Gaza border. My children have been living under constant attack from Gaza for eight years. My son is ten years old and does not remember a time without bombs threatening his life. Both my son and his 14 year old sister have already been for psychological treatment, and like most other children in the Gaza border communities, suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My sympathies for your innocent children, however, the Palestinian people have elected an internationally recognised terrorist group to government. What did you expect?

    • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 12/30/2008 3:08:03 PM

      Let's take the current situation in Gaza. The Israelis claim that they have ended the 40 year seize in Gaza yet Israel's blockade has forced 1.5 million people in Gaza to go without food, medical care, heating fuel, electricity, clean water and facilities and infrastructure necessary to life or even a half-way decent standard of living. Israel controls the land, sea, and air preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

      During the past 6 months there has been a cease fire between the two parties but just last month the Israelis violated the cease fire by firing missiles into Gaza killing 6 Palestinians. It was Israel who was the first to break the cease fire, not Hamas.
      Why don't we here about this from the State Department or from the media?

      In response to Israel's violation to the cease fire that eventually killed 29 Palestinians, Hamas fired primitive rockets into southern Israel, landing in open fields, and killing or injuring not one Israeli.
      This ???retaliation??? played in the hands of the Israelis just as they intended it to do in order to justify their immediate attack and to portray themselves as the victims as they so often do.

      • Posted By: Iconoblaster @ 12/30/2008 5:14:08 PM

        Exactly right. Semper Fi!

  • Posted By: jimv960 @ 12/30/2008 1:57:42 PM

    You insult us with your "civilized" demeanor. Your "countrymen"
    kill women and children on PURPOSE. Your compatriots cheered
    when the towers fell. No sympathy is what you will get from the
    American people.None,zero,period.
    Go complain to Hamas.Maybe they will only cut your head off
    for complaining----and not your entire family.

    • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 12/30/2008 3:04:45 PM

      so where the three israeli jewish agents smilling with the background as the towers were burning

      • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 4:29:59 PM

        Any other Klan-created urban legends you'd care to spread?

        • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 12/30/2008 5:13:50 PM

          on 911 a woman looking from the balcony from NJ witness 4 men one with the video camera an three their back back facing the burning towers smilling and laughing. The woman called the cops and it was investigated the camera was confiscated the men all israelis left the their moving business and went back to Israel.
          20/20 reported I'm sure by your favorite hostess Barbara walter the film was never shown on TV so not to anger the American people toward the Jews. The woman who witness was interviewed by ABC described that the men were laughing and smilling with the background of the burning towers.
          reseach it!!

  • Posted By: aanshasi @ 12/30/2008 2:19:11 PM

    Some of the comments made here are simply barbaric and stated without any concern for the well-being of others much less a demonstration of the ignorance of many in our country. This article is written to illustrate the unbearable conditions ordinary Palestinians living in Gaza have had to live through for years at the hands of the Israel occupation and since 2005 in a virtual prison with little to no access to the outside world. To understand the current situation one cannot overlook the roots of the problem which I will simply summarize but saying this: Occupation and living without rights or freedoms engenders desperation and naturally resistance. If you cannot grasp that statement then you have been blessed to live in world of relative peace and would be wise to read-up on your history before making your voice heard (as much as I value freedom of speech there is a distinction between ignorance and voicing one's opinion).

    • Posted By: HAL-9000 @ 12/30/2008 2:59:56 PM

      The lack of freedom and such in Gaza is terrible. However this situation is unique in the history of the occupation since 1967 because Gaza for the past several years has largely been in control of its own affairs. Hamas has had an opportunity to do something no Palestinian resistance movement has ever had since the occupation: Forget about Israel for the most part and worry instead about the abhorrent conditions in Gaza. The current sanctions in Gaza are a direct result of rocket attacks on Israel over the past several years. Those sanctions and the resulting suffering in Gaza are a reaction to, and not a cause of, Hamas rocket attacks into Israel. I really find that situation bizarre, the only reason Hamas is there is because Israel lets it exist. Yet Hamas insists on trying to eliminate Israel, despite a complete lack of ability to do so...an no plan to even constitute a society with that capacity at some later date. Its just stupid, like a midget constantly picking a fight with Hulk Hogan - by almost harmlessly nibbling on his ankle and screaming obscenities - when all Hulk wants is for the midget to mind his own business for once. Every now and then the Hulkster loses his temper and kicks the midget across the room, and everybody gets mad at the Hulk for beating up on a poor midget. Then when the midget comes to, he scurries right over to Hulk's ankle and starts nibbling again. This all goes on while the midget is dependent on Hulkster to feed and cloth him, or let the others do the same. The midget never expresses any desire to feed and cloth himself, the only desire the midget expresses is a pathological, irrational need to continue nibbling Hulk's ankle and get kicked again. There is no more screwed up relationship between two polities than between Israel and Hamas,

      • Posted By: Iconoblaster @ 12/30/2008 5:13:02 PM

        It is absolutely NOT true that the rocket attacks from Gaza are unprovoked. Gaza is a ghetto, a prison, in which the occupants are held under siege in their own land. Israel has attacked them MANY times, even during the Hamas cease-fire. The claim that Palestinian counter-attacks are not provoked demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the history that led the Israelis and the Palestinians to this point. In 1947-48, 3/4 of the indigenous population of Palestine were driven from their homes so that the Zionist movement, asserting national existence as the Jewish State of Israel, could have the land, and the Zionists indeed seized about 72% of Palestine. In 1967, Israel seized the rest. In both instances, tens of thousands of Arabs were driven into refugee camps, some in the occupied territories, some outside the country entirely. THAT is the initial crime...ethnic cleansing: genocide...over which the entire subsequent conflict has continued. Until that initial wrong is recognized, and SOME sincere effort to provide a measure of justice for the victims of that wrong is made, there will be no peace. And Israel doesn't WANT peace, anyway, as much as it wants the land...ALL of it... and without its Arab inhabitants. Anyone see where this is going?

  • Posted By: Robbs @ 12/30/2008 5:06:06 PM

    How about we just stay out of this one. My God, let them settle their own problems. Return to the '30's and isolation.

  • Posted By: Iconoblaster @ 12/30/2008 4:51:58 PM

    In this article, if anyone is looking, is the entire Israeli strategy...as it has been since the end of 1947... to drive the Palestinians from Palestine, and claim it all. When overt violence is politically impossible or inconvenient for Israel, the officials of the Jewish State simply content themselves with making life difficult or impossible for Arabs in the occupied territories...and when it IS politically convenient or possible, Israel attacks, destroys, kills and sows terror. The author of this article is finally reacting as the Israelis intend: leaving. Israel has always claimed to want peace, but their actions show they have always wanted the land....ALL of it, and without the Arabs who lived on it...more than they ever wanted peace.

    • Posted By: alkinsb @ 12/30/2008 5:02:36 PM

      This is the bottom line and the real casue of this conflict.

  • Posted By: darthbenny @ 12/30/2008 4:46:51 PM

    Great story, even though I am saddened by the violence that has been unleashed on civilians, it is time for Hamas to stop the senseless attacks. They started these attacks, then when Israel pushes back they cry foul play. You can't wake a sleeping beast and expect them to roll over and go back to sleep. It's time for Hamas to leave Gaza. Israel is done letting Palestine threaten their people. Israel has a chip on their shoulder, and why shouldn't they?

    • Posted By: Iconoblaster @ 12/30/2008 4:57:16 PM

      You may be right about Israel being a Beast. Its certainly acting that way. But it is unrealistic to demand that HAMAS take control of the situation, and stop the rocket attacks, even while you are DESTROYING any means by which Hamas might actually do as you demand....the Israelis are again attacking Palestinian police stations... if Israel REALLY wanted the Palestinian authorities to comply with Israel's putative demands, Israel wouldn't be attacking police stations...yet they do, just as they did during the second intifada, when there was a Fatah Palestinian government. Don't you get it? Israel DOESN'T want any Palestinian authority to actually take control... don't forget that Israel helped CREATE Hamas for the same reasons (divide and conquer) that they now have for playing off Fatah against Hama. The Israelis are not sincere about peace, and CERTAINLY not about any two-state solution.

  • Posted By: darthbenny @ 12/30/2008 4:56:06 PM

    I'm sorry but I dissagree Iconoblaster, if you've been watching the news, HAMAS has called on all Palestinians to fight with all means necessary including Martyrdome... Martyrdome? are you kidding me? Suicide bombing. Sounds like terrorists to me. And that is just wrong... Absolutely wrong...

  • Posted By: darthbenny @ 12/30/2008 4:45:57 PM

    Great story, even though I am saddened by the violence that has been unleashed on civilians, it is time for Hamas to stop the senseless attacks. They started these attacks, then when Israel pushes back they cry foul play. You can't wake a sleeping beast and expect them to roll over and go back to sleep. It's time for Hamas to leave Gaza. Israel is done letting Palestine threaten their people. Israel has a chip on their shoulder, and why shouldn't they?

  • Posted By: bighappy @ 12/30/2008 4:36:32 PM

    You want to emigrate - then emigrate if your arab brothers will not shot you on the border. Or runt to West Bank, they live in relative peace and security.

  • Posted By: Mr Funk @ 12/30/2008 4:17:56 PM

    Mr. Jaber -

    Thanks for your insightful article. If I may comment... At the end of your article you add "... and nobody in the civilized world cares." Truth is, whether we make excessively aggressive responses or not, we do care. But we lack a way of helping the Gaza-based Palestinians to pull themselves out of their current situation. But one way might be - like it or not - to understand the Hulk Hogan metaphor posted by HAL-9000 @ 12/30/2008 2:59:56 PM.
    Please hear me out. I have no great love for Israel. I happen to find some of their attitude toward the rest of the world to be excessively belligerent, self-centered, and disproportionately victimized. But Israel is going to and should continue to exist and most of Palestine's trade in the peaceful future will be with the Israelis. To grow the society that the Palestinians deserves, such trade is required. It won't be until trust exists that this is going to happen. Given the current attitude and actions, I don't see much opportunity to build this trust.
    Sure, I'd pity the poor midget attempting to take down Hulk Hogan, but pity is not what's needed or wanted. Instead, keep your pride, but please let your society know that its time to start to act in its own best interest. Having one's primary purpose of kicking Hulk Hogan is certainly not it.

  • Posted By: josemarti @ 12/30/2008 3:20:36 PM

    A pox upon both houses.

  • Posted By: jimv960 @ 12/30/2008 3:07:35 PM

    aanshasi ,
    Sorry,your words are empty, murder and genocide
    is what Hamas stands for.Murder and genocide is what
    Hamas IS. Don't presume to "educate" us. The world has
    decided that cutting peoples heads off while they scream
    on videos (shown to their families) is disgusting and
    barbaric.
    aanshasi , I am not a jew or an Israeli. I am a mainstream American,
    an Obama voter, and one of 300 million who will turn middle eastern capitals to
    radioactive talcum powder if you dare try to re-enact the ovens
    of 1942-45. Hamas loves to cut the heads off family men?
    Lets see if they have what it takes to face American/Israeli multistage
    (thermonuclear) weapons. And yes,I DO group Hamas/Iran/Al Q'aida in one big
    stinking murderous cabal of scumbags.

    What makes you so angry----is that you cannot run away from the
    world's image of terrorism. Having been convicted in the court of
    world opinion of said charge----NOW you want
    to escape the STIGMA of that terrible shame.

    YOU CANNOT. The Israeli strikes on Gaza are brutal, deadly, and frightening.
    ...........but unfortunately---completely necessary.



    A peace loving American......who has had enough.

  • Posted By: Vigilance @ 12/30/2008 2:29:45 PM

    All the moderate Palestinians are leaving Gaza, or have left long ago. Who wants to live somewhere like that? So, only the hardliners remain, and then, more bombs, more intifada...

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 2:53:23 PM

      Or, if you want to look at it another way, less targeting restrictions for Israeli bombs.

  • Posted By: aanshasi @ 12/30/2008 2:19:28 PM

    Some of the comments made here are simply barbaric and stated without any concern for the well-being of others much less a demonstration of the ignorance of many in our country. This article is written to illustrate the unbearable conditions ordinary Palestinians living in Gaza have had to live through for years at the hands of the Israel occupation and since 2005 in a virtual prison with little to no access to the outside world. To understand the current situation one cannot overlook the roots of the problem which I will simply summarize but saying this: Occupation and living without rights or freedoms engenders desperation and naturally resistance. If you cannot grasp that statement then you have been blessed to live in world of relative peace and would be wise to read-up on your history before making your voice heard (as much as I value freedom of speech there is a distinction between ignorance and voicing one's opinion).

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/30/2008 2:52:33 PM

      "This article is written to illustrate the unbearable conditions ordinary Palestinians living in Gaza have had to live through for years at the hands of the Israel occupation and since 2005 in a virtual prison with little to no access to the outside world. "

      If they aren't allowed access to the outside world, then how is the author of this article leaving?

  • Posted By: JeftaV @ 12/30/2008 2:16:08 PM

    good article, Hasan Jaber! Finally a real voice out of Gaza instead of hundreds of third-party-information through international media. I'll pray with you that no ground offensive will be started. Your family be safe.

  • Posted By: Natalie Rosen @ 12/30/2008 1:53:12 PM

    My mother had a saying. You lie with dogs and you get up with well you know. It astounds me that the violence plagued Arab world sits mainly silent when time after time after time after time atrocities and the most bestial of acts are committed by Islamic fanatics. Think about it for a second. IF the Arab world had let Israel be, just let it be in 1948 and more than that just think if it took the opportunity to work together and to use Israeli brilliance and western advancement just think they just might be living and working together in a good place for humans to be; in a place that everyone would want to visit. Their families might just be thriving.

    Instead, no way, they just could NOT let the Jews be. And to this day the world especially the left wing (of which I consider myself a part) stays silent about the brutality the Arab world visits not ONLY on Israel but on their own people! If there were NO Israel do you think Israel would be at peace? NO WAY. Hamas would be splitting Fatah's head, some other fanatical group who thinks they have the truth.

    Where were the crowds in the street with fury about Mumbai, or Spain or suicide bombings EVERYWHERE? I hear a lot of silence. But holy cow when Israel tries to say no more and defend itself wanting simply to be left alone the world suddenly is screaming what they think is their righteous indignation.
    The Jewish people will NEVER NEVER NEVER again submit to the onslaught. NEVER! You will reap what you sew. Believe it. The game has changed and the Jewish people changed it for themselves.

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