A Plan of Attack For Peace

It is crucial that one has her/his facts straight about Israel???s war on Gaza. What events brought about this dreadful situation? What needs to be done to make it stop? These questions will be answered in the content of this article, using concrete facts from a variety of news sources.

Let???s first investigate the recent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The cease-fire began in June 2008. The terms were as follows:

1. Israel would drastically reduce its military blockade of Gaza.
2. Israel would halt all military incursions into Gaza.
3. Hamas would halt all rocket attacks into Israel.

From the outset of the cease-fire, Israel did little to ease its military blockade. As a result, Gazans continued to suffer from a lack of food, fuel, financial aid, electricity, clean water, medical supplies, and more. This has been, inarguably, an attack on innocent Palestinian civilians.

??? Gaza faces a humanitarian "catastrophe" if Israel continues to prevent aid reaching the territory by blocking crossing points, the head of the main UN aid agency for the Palestinians said on Friday??? Israel had restricted goods into Gaza despite the truce, which calls on militants to halt rocket attacks in return for Israel easing its embargo on the territory??? Israel also held up deliveries of European Union-funded fuel for the power plant, which generates about a third of the electricity consumed by Gazans... Ailments associated with insufficient food were surfacing among the impoverished coastal strip's 1.5 million population, including growing malnutrition.
--Haaretz Israel News, Nov. 21, 2008 [1]

??? A former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has told the BBC she was taken aback by the "terrible" conditions in Gaza on a recent visit. Mrs Robinson said it was "almost unbelievable" that the world did not care about what she called "a shocking violation of so many human rights"??? Israel tightened a blockade on Gaza after Hamas took control there in 2007??? "Their whole civilisation has been destroyed, I'm not exaggerating," said Mrs Robinson???Israel says the blockade, under which it has allowed little more than basic humanitarian aid into Gaza, is needed to isolate the militant group and stop it and other militants from firing rockets into Israel. Israel came to a truce with Palestinian groups in June this year, but Mrs Robinson said this had had little effect on people's lives and "just brought a bitter taste in the mouth".
--BBC News, Nov. 4, 2008 [2]

4 Israelis dead in Hamas missile attacks, over 500 Palestinians dead and counting. Over 100 dead reported to be children, 30% of the casualties (dead and wounded) kids according to the volunteer doc from Norway. Is the life of a Palestinian child worth less than an Israeli child, worth less than Jett Travolta (no disrespect to the Travoltas, who deserve our heartfelt sympathy for their loss). The Israelis have blockaded humanitarian aid of food, medical supplies bc they don't care about the Palestinian lives, be it the ones they kill directly or indirectly thru blocking aid. Why do we as Americans support this and think that allying ourselves with this brutality somehow either benefits us or is the "right thing to do"? Do we somehow think that this oppression and senseless slaughter is justified and that these Palestinians are somehow less human bc W labels them "terrorists" and so this is deserved, even the suffering and slaughter of little kids? Israel lost its moral and ethical imperative with their longtime oppression of these people, and by supporting them the US will follow suit.

Why does noone seem to get it? It is far less important to be "right" than it is to stop the violence. What has happened has happened. It cannot be changed. What are we going to do tomorrow? thats ALL that matters. I want my children living in a stable society. You cannot justify taking lives on either side. STOP IT. Is it always "us" vs "them"? We're all on this planet only onlce for a short time. It's all us. We're just too ignorant to wake up.

dari, Who could ever say who really has the best claim to what in this region?

The object is peace for all. If that would do it, one could choose to see it that no one 'gave' anyone anything. Peace would be good for all, and it would be worth much.

The dilemma is how to get everyone to agree how to cooperate and get along.

Right or wrong has no answer.

When the planes flew into the twin towers, interspersed with the horrific scenes of human suffering and dispair, the Palestinians were dancing in the streets in celebrations that went on for days if not weeks. They chant "Death to America" and will do so until they draw their last breath. This is not what God had in mind. Hama's jab and run tactics of lobbing rockets into Israel to incite them into defending their people will have to stop before any peace can be had. There will also come a time when neither side can look to big brother and plead "help us, look at the mess we've made". That time may be here today. God help all of you and your suffering children. Put your history books down right now and forget about the past mistakes of "All" of you. You will write history from this day forward with your actions. Put the gun down, go home and hug your children. Tell them killing is wrong. Your idealogy and faith is known by God, you don't have to prove it in blood. He will remember those who set the first example of love, and reward you beyond your wildest dreams here, now, today. Anyone can pick up a gun, real courage is putting it down. No matter how bad it gets, the one thing that can never be taken from any of us is dignity and respect for human life. If that's the predictible answer, so be it. It's all we have as humans.

Omar and his ilk are just so upset that Israelis have the "gall" to defend themselves........those idiotic Zionist pigs should never be allowed to defend themselves.......here......hold this apple while I shoot this arrow at it sitting on your head. Talk about being a moron.......I for one think Israeli should not worry about the rest of the Arab world......(which believe it or not...do not care about Israel's survival....(I know big surprise there)......)..............Oh by the way Omar......."The Reason" why western Europe cares so much is there own embittered "non integrated" Islamic populations are present there.........

Omar and his ilk will always use the "victimization" card as there reason to defend Hamas and there rocket throwing ways......They will never agree in any way shape or form Israel's right to use even a "water pistol" to defend themselves.......they're solemn belief is that the "Zionist pigs" should just stand there.......with an apple on their heads ....and wait for them to shoot an arrow at them.......in fact......the best analogy would be Hamas the simliarity to Hitler's 3rd Reich (albeit without the military capability).........just imagine if Hamas had a "PROPORTIONAL" ability to launch attacks......oh wouldnt that be GREAT OMAR.........I just wish a katusha / kasim rocket......could fly up your ass.......YOU PIG

A while back, I was watching a filmed newscast of a verbal confrontation between some Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, who were trying to harvest their olives. Apparently some Jewish settlers from a nearby Jewish settlement had come over to harass them. I remember in particular a Jewish Rabbi pointing a finger in one of the farmer???s face saying, ??? This is our land! God gave us this land! Of course, the Muslim fundamentalists can be just as irrational.

If you remember the story, Jacob and his tribe left that land voluntarily for better times in Egypt. Several hundred years later Mosses led them back saying he was commanded by God and with God???s ???promise??? that the land was to be given to the Jews. Of course this was done with a lot of bloodshed and destruction of the peoples then living there. Remember, Moses is said to have wrote the story (first 5 books of the Old Testament). Could it be a self serving story?

Isn???t it Ironic, that in today???s age that same thing is being repeated and with the same illogical justification, and with the same reasoning (promised land) based on a story that is without validation of any sort!

It is really sad that so much pain and destruction is being created, not only in Palestine but in the rest of the world because of religious stupidity and disorder.