An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right
Posted by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief in At TMV. Jan 11th, 2009 | Comments
Columnist Charles Krauthammer argues that Israel is on the brink of destroying Hamas rule in Gaza and that this is a good development – -and that the world should stand back and let Israel do what it feels needs to be done.
Absolutely, mlhradio. Israel must not have the right to do anything in response to Hamas missiles and mortars. How dare they think otherwise? They should just sit there and take it.
Should Israel Be Allowed To Destroy Hamas’ Rule In Gaza?
Absolutely!!!
It 'll fun to read the papers 10 years from now, and hear all the Israelis and their supporters pine for the good old days of Hamas.
JDRhoades
So the war has turned the corner? Palestinian resistance is in its last throes? Jut six more months and the IDF can hang a big Mission Accomplished" banner? Where have I heard this before?
Silhouette
Only if the ancient Scottish celt faith should be allowed to take back Scotland from British rule.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander..!
yes JD Rhoades...you've noticed something...that this current BS on behalf of Israel will still not resolve the matter permanently until a peaceable decision is arrived at where all parties feel they've come away with something of tangible value.
So this recent raid is more about TIMING than about the ruse it's advertising itself to be. And what about the timing? Oh, maybe a certain administration leaving office in the US who struggled like wildcats to find something to rile Iran with in order to "justify" invading their oil fields, oops, I mean "establish an oil-sympathetic...dang...I mean "establish a democracy" in Iran.
You know, to "liberate" Iran from its nasty sense of sovereignty. We could send "freedom fighters" over there to "defeat the terrorists".
I stand by my assertion that jews who bomb on the Sabbath of all days are not, by definition, jews. Faith determines who is a jew and who isn't. You either play by the Rules or you're not a jew. And if the jewish faith isn't behind those bombers.....who is? ; )
pacatrue
One fascinating thing about the Israel / Palestine conflict is that opinions in the U.S. don't clearly follow typical U.S. political lines. At least among "liberals" you seem to get all sorts of opinions as shown in these comments.
Jim_Satterfield
True to a certain extent, pacatrue. I find myself irritated with those who criticize Israel's invasion of Gaza when they fail to acknowledge the purposeful provocation on the part of Hamas. Yet I still consider the greatest obstacle to peace to be the Israeli setter movement's disproportionate influence in Israel and the existence of the settlements. This is of course closely followed by the desire of Hamas to destroy Israel.
Rudi
JS - The Israelis broke the truce with an intrusion into Gaza to destroy tunnels. The Israelis used human shields before the Hamas even thought of it. Both sides are guilty of crimes.
Jim_Satterfield
Rudi,
Are you actually claiming that Hamas wasn't firing missiles and mortars into Israel before the intrusion into Gaza by Israel? What human shields did Israel use?
IDF still uses human shields, in violation of High Court ruling By Arnon Regular
The Israel Defense Forces is still using Palestinians as human shields, in defiance of a High Court of Justice ruling forbiding the practice, Haaretz has learned.
An IDF force broke into Mahmoud Rajabi's home in the Jabel Johar neighborhood in eastern Hebron at about 4 A.M. last Wednesday and forced three brothers to serve as human shields.
Some 15 soldiers, armed with rifles, machine guns and observation equipment, took over the fourth-floor apartment where the 16 members of the Rajabi family live, at least half of them minors. The family consists of Rajabi and his wife, their children and his son Nabil and his children.
Family members said the soldiers ordered most of them to leave, but held three of Rajabi's sons - Nabil, 30, Raja'ai, 19 and Najah, 13 - captive in the apartment. The three were used as human shields
Hamas militants fired more than 35 rockets into Israel today, hours after the Israeli army killed six people in the Gaza Strip in the first major exchange of fire since a truce took effect in June.
The violence came after the Israeli army said its forces had uncovered a tunnel 250 metres inside Gaza that it said militants planned to use to abduct Israeli soldiers.
Israel launched airstrikes that killed five people and shot dead a gunman during an incursion into the enclave yesterday, saying it had done so after militants attacked soldiers who had gone to destroy the tunnel.
Israeli rescue services called the rocket barrage that followed, for which Hamas claimed responsibility, "massive".
An Israeli police spokesman told Reuters the rockets had landed in southern Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The army said its operation did not violate the truce, but was a legitimate move to remove an immediate threat to Israel from Gaza.