jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Hamasactually proposed those terms and agreed to abide by them? The link posted was not signed by Hamas leaders.

Assuming Israel was amenable to this, what guarantees do the Israelis get in return? And what happens in 10 years and 1 day?

What should happen first? Hamas stop shooting rockets or Israel opens all border crossings?

Does Hamas agree to change its charter and stop calling for the destruction of Israel? Does Hamas get rid of its rockets? Does it stop building tunnels to infiltrate Israel? Does it stop using humanitarian aid for weapons?

I have seen videos where Hamas leaders have said that a 10 yr truce is basically an opportunity for them to

I can't speak for Hamas, but a truce presupposes that hostilities stop. Most likely, shooting would stop simultaneously on both sides, Israeli forces would withdraw, and then the borders would be opened. I assume that Hamas and Likud -- the current ruling party of Israel -- could agree to change their respective charters which both call for the same borders, but that really is a separate issue. Hamas would presumably retain a right of self-defense and, hence, would not disarm. Again, with an end to hostility, there would be no need for tunnels into Israel. Will Israel also stop using foreign aid to purchase weapons? I guess that's something that can be negotiated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Morsi was not in prison and if he was still ruling Egypt, I'd suggest that Israel declare Gaza part of Egypt and eliminate the Gaza/Egypt border. The Gazans would have Egypt as their state.

This sentence is so amazing on so many levels. I can't even.

Anonymous wrote:Has Hamasactually proposed those terms and agreed to abide by them? The link posted was not signed by Hamas leaders.

Assuming Israel was amenable to this, what guarantees do the Israelis get in return? And what happens in 10 years and 1 day?

What should happen first? Hamas stop shooting rockets or Israel opens all border crossings?

Does Hamas agree to change its charter and stop calling for the destruction of Israel? Does Hamas get rid of its rockets? Does it stop building tunnels to infiltrate Israel? Does it stop using humanitarian aid for weapons?

I have seen videos where Hamas leaders have said that a 10 yr truce is basically an opportunity for them to

Anonymous wrote:The way this question is phrased is telling. Is it really for Israel to decide what to "do" with others?

What an arrogant country and what arrogant supporters it has.

Anonymous wrote:If Morsi was not in prison and if he was still ruling Egypt, I'd suggest that Israel declare Gaza part of Egypt and eliminate the Gaza/Egypt border. The Gazans would have Egypt as their state.

Anonymous wrote:The way this question is phrased is telling. Is it really for Israel to decide what to "do" with others?

What an arrogant country and what arrogant supporters it has.

Anonymous wrote:For those who think the Israeli strikes and/or ground invasion is wrong in Gaza, what should Israel do? What would be an alternative course of action that you think would get Hamas to stop shooting missiles at Israel (or maybe you dont think thats necessary since they havent killed many civilians).

Therefore, we call for a ceasefire only when negotiated conditions result in the following:

Freedom of movement of Palestinians in and out of the Gaza Strip.
Unlimited import and export of supplies and goods, including by land, sea and air.
Unrestricted use of the Gaza seaport.
Monitoring and enforcement of these agreements by a body appointed by the United Nations, with appropriate security measures

Anonymous wrote:I used to wonder why some Palestinian people would engage in actions that could only provoke the aggressor further. Then I realized that to ask a people to live quietly, while they have no justice and no freedom, is to ask them to live "peacefully" as slaves. "Peace" without justice or freedom is slavery. It's like asking a battered woman to live "peacefully" with her abuse. We all want the bloodshed to stop. But what about the daily humiliation and institutionalized oppression?

I was reminded of a part in "The Hunger Games" when Katniss considers abandoning the resistance against the oppressor, in exchange for "safety". Gale's response was telling. He said: "Safe to do what? Starve? Work like slaves? Send their kids to the reaping?"

Consider this: If a woman is being raped, things would be a lot more "peaceful" if she didn't resist. But, asking her not to resist--just because her attacker is physically stronger--is asking her to accept her own abuse and oppression for the sake of "peace". This is what the world is asking Palestinians to do.

And sometimes what seems to the world as just ineffective tactics, like throwing a rock at a tank, is in fact an act of resistance. It is a powerful statement to the oppressor--and the world--that they refuse to be enslaved. That dignity and self-respect are even more beloved to them than their own lives.