Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

I see a lot of heat in the above discussion but not a lot of light.
I just cannot come to a conclusion about the current events. While I am a firm believer in the right of Israel to exist (in peace) as a sovereign state it goes without saying that I believe a Palestinian life is worth no less than an Israeli life.

Over the years, Jewish people I have spoken to, have said there will never be peace and I am convinced that the military action being taken cannot stop missiles being launched against Israel. The Russian Grads are fired from the back of a lorry and the Qassams can be built in any workshop and fired from a field/car-park/rooftop, so Israel has no permanent launch site to target. The only thing military action can achieve if to force Hamas to 'wish' to stop the practice.

It is interesting to see people on this thread talking about disproportionate action by an overwhelming stronger force; yet were these not the same people who supported Russia's invasion of Georgia (equally disproportionate in terms of military power) probably on the basis that it was anti-US. What would have been a proportionate response to 8,000 missiles fired at Israel over the last 6 years?

Every sovereign state has the right, in fact a duty, to defends its citizens; what would you do if you were the Leader of a country which had been subjected to this, yet had massive military might at its disposal?

When Israel withdrew its armed forces (and its own civilians by force) form Gaza in 2005, it feared this would happen. It is for the same reason that Israel clings on to the Golan Heights, which would pose an even greater threat from Israel's enemies.

Certainly, the border wall has done much to reduce the number of suicide bombers but the problem of the daily missiles remains.

My strongly held belief that if there were no rockets/mortars from Gaza Israel would be happy to stay within its own borders; - but even if Israel was to stay within its own borders Hamas would continue to fire rockets. This is how I determine who is the aggressor. However, as I said earlier, I do not believe the current bombardment will solve the solution and I cannot begin to imagine the fear and despair now being felt by the Palestinian people.

Lana

[Get Real!]

...but even if Israel was to stay within its own borders Hamas would continue to fire rockets. This is how I determine who is the aggressor.

So you finally took the dive and proved what I suspected... that the only thing you know about the Israeli-Palestinian relationship is that they have one.

[Svetlana]

Gosh, GR, that is so witty...

Lana

[miltiades]

I see a lot of heat in the above discussion but not a lot of light.
I just cannot come to a conclusion about the current events. While I am a firm believer in the right of Israel to exist (in peace) as a sovereign state it goes without saying that I believe a Palestinian life is worth no less than an Israeli life.

Over the years, Jewish people I have spoken to, have said there will never be peace and I am convinced that the military action being taken cannot stop missiles being launched against Israel. The Russian Grads are fired from the back of a lorry and the Qassams can be built in any workshop and fired from a field/car-park/rooftop, so Israel has no permanent launch site to target. The only thing military action can achieve if to force Hamas to 'wish' to stop the practice.

It is interesting to see people on this thread talking about disproportionate action by an overwhelming stronger force; yet were these not the same people who supported Russia's invasion of Georgia (equally disproportionate in terms of military power) probably on the basis that it was anti-US. What would have been a proportionate response to 8,000 missiles fired at Israel over the last 6 years?

Every sovereign state has the right, in fact a duty, to defends its citizens; what would you do if you were the Leader of a country which had been subjected to this, yet had massive military might at its disposal?

When Israel withdrew its armed forces (and its own civilians by force) form Gaza in 2005, it feared this would happen. It is for the same reason that Israel clings on to the Golan Heights, which would pose an even greater threat from Israel's enemies.

Certainly, the border wall has done much to reduce the number of suicide bombers but the problem of the daily missiles remains.

My strongly held belief that if there were no rockets/mortars from Gaza Israel would be happy to stay within its own borders; - but even if Israel was to stay within its own borders Hamas would continue to fire rockets. This is how I determine who is the aggressor. However, as I said earlier, I do not believe the current bombardment will solve the solution and I cannot begin to imagine the fear and despair now being felt by the Palestinian people.

Lana

Your assesment is 100 % correct . The fact that most Cypriots will support any enemy of the USA is a fact .The fact that the majority of Cypriots do not support the right of Israel to exist , is a fact. Let me tell you that GR will be the first plonker to give his support to any action taken by any group of people regardless of how macabre such action might be provided such action is directed against the USA or Israel.
Remember that this brainless individual also supports the destruction of the State of Israel ! He should be taken lightly since he is not in possesion of all his faculties. He is though a terrific speller , see him pounce on the intentional spelling mistakes in this post !!!

[Get Real!]

...see him pounce on the intentional spelling mistakes in this post !!!

You ARE an international mistake!

[Tim Drayton]

An interesting analysis of the "Bantustanisation" of the Palestinians:

http://stopthewall.org/analysisandfeatures/1157.shtml

[ARMENIAN CYPRIOT]

An interesting analysis of the "Bantustanisation" of the Palestinians:

http://stopthewall.org/analysisandfeatures/1157.shtml

Great article Tim. Thanks

[Tim Drayton]

An interesting analysis of the "Bantustanisation" of the Palestinians:

http://stopthewall.org/analysisandfeatures/1157.shtml

Great article Tim. Thanks

Thanks for the original idea. The parallels are very striking.

[saravakos]

Israel break Lebanon ceasefire...did you hear about it?? Of course not

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/aug20 ... -a21.shtml

Israel breaks Gaza ceasefire...still think Hamas broke it first?? Wakey wakey...lets see what you have to say now as Hamas are clearly protecting themselves, no?

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 61,00.html
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9937.shtml

[miltiades]

Israel break Lebanon ceasefire...did you hear about it?? Of course not

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/aug20 ... -a21.shtml

Israel breaks Gaza ceasefire...still think Hamas broke it first?? Wakey wakey...lets see what you have to say now as Hamas are clearly protecting themselves, no?

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 61,00.html
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9937.shtml

It puzzles me as to why Israel breaks ceasefires as Saravacos points above. Does it by any chance have anything to do with stopping rocket attacks aimed indiscriminately at its southern cities, or do they just decide to go Pale bashing for a giggle.!!
This nation will not remain idle and accept that Hamas has a right to launch rockets against it.