Force Alone Cannot Win This Battle

I agree 100% with this post. However, a problem exists with others who will say, "Well, should the militants live in a separate area with a sign that says, 'Terrorists live here'"? It's a snide and disingenuous position, but that's what they will say.

Why, no matter what the Pal militants due to Israel, does so much of the world side with the Pal's? Why do they say, "Well, it's wrong for Israel to shut off water and it's wrong for Israel to erect the fence/wall and it's wrong for Israel to make a land grab and most of the Pals' problems are caused by Israel"? Why, for the rest of the world, is Israel the demon? Can someone give me an honest answer?

I think all this could have been averted, or at least mitigated, if Israel had taken a firm stance against "Land for Peace" in the very beginning. The Land was given by G-d. Israel assured the Palestinians that they were to be treated as citizens as long as they obeyed the law of the land. But no, politicians caved in, and we continue to have debacle after debacle.

Israel likes to potray that it is always the victim by harping on factoids of history. Everyone else can do the same to explain their actions. But only Israel can get away with unhuman actions, with its political clout and military might and with American support. A good mix of high handed, hard headed ideology.

factoids! plo, hamas,etc blow up innocents without being provoked, they have no power only because the powers in iran, saudi arabia, etc make sure they have no education, tell lies, and pay $$ to send children in as homicide bombers. any arab would pick an israeli hospital if hurt, and know he would be cared for with compassion, but no israel can feel safe, let alone cared for, in an arab medical setting. until the outside arab countries came in and created the terrorist state, israelis and arabs lived together, worked together and even played together. the "palestinians" (a made-up term) created the problems with the encouragement of men who wouldn't do the acts themselves, let alone send their sons and daughters

To paraphrase the American novelist Tom Clancy, when he wrote the book "The Sum of All Fears," in reference to what should be Israel's position vis-a-vis its Arab enemies: when your avowed enemy threatens you with phy- sical extermination day and night, no defensive measure is extreme. Well said Mr. Clancy

I would wager that if Israel went into Palestinian area, and wiped out every adult in a military manner (no shooting prisoners), no Arab or Muslem country would do anything in public but whine. Privately they would probably be glad someone else did the dirty work. Frankly, the laws of war make every Palestinian over the age of 16 a valid military target unless they are naked with their hands up. That is the legacy of terrorism.

Shameful! Every power has justified its overwhelming disproportionate violence on the right of self defence while refusing to understand that the other side perceives them as an occupying force. What is the difference? killing is still killing - whether undertaken by cowardly brainwashed teenagers or trained men in uniform. If you read history - you will know how close a parallel there is between Israel in the Middle East and Europeans in American West in the 19th century and the sad story of Native Americans. But denial and ignorance is not an Israeli trait either - the Palestenians are ignorant of history as well. There is proof enough through Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King - that the only way to win - against an overwhelming violent power with unjust laws - is that of non-violence. Absolute non-violence. The Only Way! Non-violence.

"...the only way to win - against an overwhelming violent power with unjust laws - is that of non-violence." The Jews of Eastern Europe found that somewhat lacking in the last century, as did those who found every Arab nation in the region poised on Israel's borders as the British withdrew and the partition fell. Not everyone can be shamed into playing well with others. Were that the case, the return of Gaza would not have been met with such treachery.

For Windbender - Just as you believe the Jews of Eastern Europe found the way of non-violence lacking - the Palestenians - rightly or wrongly - perceive Israel as an overwhelmingly violent entity. If one wants peace - it is necessary for us to see how the other sees us - not how we think they should see us. Unfortunately and sadly - Palestenians - fixed in their determination and belief that they are fighting an unjust occupation - see parallels in Israel's overwhelming and disproportionate responses to Palestenian aggression (read resistance)- in which innocent Palestenians almost always get killed (never mind the standard spin of targeted killings) - and the indiscriminate killing of civiliians in WW2 by Germans of French / Belgian villagers if a German soldier was sniped at or if there was an attack against their soldiers. Don't you see the sad situation? Gandhi once said - an eye for an eye will make everyone go blind! Israel is more worried about winning the hearts and minds of everyone else except the Palestentians!

Samee X, If the Palestinians had used non-violence, they would have a viable state by now, and a genuine friend in Israel. Too bad maintaining the conflict was so useful to countries like Saudi/Wahabi Arabia.

Since the gas chambers worked so well for the Germans, and we already have the towel heads in camps, maybe we should take the next step.

No. Force alone cannot win this battle. What will win this war is a firm belief and support form world Jewry. Unequivocally stating (and believing), that Israel IS the land of the Jews, that the Jewish people have very much a right like any other nation to define themselves as they see fit in their own piece of "real estate". That this right is as inalienable as the rights of Americans to America, the French to France etc. By acknowledging that Israel may make some practical errors in governance or legislation once in a while is legit. By living in Israel & joining the local political process one might even bring about some change. But both the Israeli left, the ultra orthodox, the centrists, the Jews all over the world, must agree that Israel is not always wrong and that its right to exist in a sustainable country is an absolute right. Once this happens there will be no need of force. A united front is stronger. That is what the Arabs have. That is why they are gaining on us. But they will never really win, because morally we are in the right.