Many have raised the question of what will the United States do if Mexico starts launching rockets form Tijuana to San Diego. That is the wrong question to ask, and it will not help to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The correct question is why there has never been a rocket launched from the Mexican Border to the US border?

The answer is simple:

1. Because the US doesn’t have settlements in Mexico, not even military bases.
2. Because when the US started building a wall between the two countries, they built it 2 miles inside the US territory, not 2 miles inside the Mexican territory.
3. Because an American armored bulldozer has never entered to Mexican territory and started demolishing houses, schools and hospitals.
4. Because the US doesn’t controls the Mexican borders.
5. Because the US respects the democratic elected Mexican Government.
6. Because a Mexican in Mexico has never been targeted by a US sniper (by law foreigners, not even officers, can carry a weapon in Mexico).
7. Because for the last 160 years Mexico hasn’t been occupied or bombed by the US.

If any of this will change, the relationship will change. The day the US starts acting like Israel, it will be the day that Mexico will start acting like Palestine. Treat people like animals and they will start behaving like such. It is common sense: Do not do to other what you do not want others to do to you.

Israel should prove that they are really a civilized a country based in Judaism and start following their Bible and their 10 commandments, specially:
6. You shall not kill
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor

As a famous Jew said 20 centuries ago: Love thy neighbor.

Diego B.

To Diego – you like proverbs? Here is an Arab one: ‘The dogs may bark; the caravan goes on.’ Israel does not have to prove anything to anybody. It must defend itself and pay little attention to dogooders from the outside, with the exception of those who have a solution to the problem. It is a tough one to crack. Perhaps, British should get their mandate back and start doing something to that end for a change.

Defending itself appears to mean targeting schools and killing children, elderly, women, humanitarian aid workers, and its own soldiers.

Gaza is a concentration camp and we are witnessing genocide.

As usual, Jack provides no context for his comments. When he says massive government spending got the US out of the Depression, he needs to talk about the scale of deficits relative to GDP and incremental spending above normal spending. I find Jack has little to add in general, but when it comes to the economy, even less.

Majawill cracks me up. You have complained on another board that there is not enough lawyers here. Perhaps you should hire one to explain the meaning of genocide to you.

If a school is used as a launching pad for mortar fire then it is a launching pad for mortar fire. If a residence is used as a storage for rockets then it is a storage for rockets. They want war they got it. Hire an historian to explain what happened in the cities caught between two fighting forces.

Truly, “[w]ackos, we got plenty.” That’s a quote.

Republicans rubber stamped every ruinous policy the Bush administration put forward (backward), never showing any concern that Bush was spending the country into oblivion with his gifts to corporations and the wealthy.

Now suddenly they are the party of temperance, sober reflection, and fiscal responsiblity, and low and behold, they now believe the “other fifty percent of the population” deserves some representation.

Well Republicans, YOUR PARTY HAS RUINED THE COUNTRY!!!

So piss off and give people who value intelligence a chance to try and fix the mess you have left in your wake… it’s the least you can do for a country you robbed blind and ruined, but profess to love.

About the economy…When I go out to shop, EVERYTHING seems to be made in China. One day I was looking for a rubber kitchen spatula. Because I had decided to try to buy only items made in the US, it took going to 3 stores before I could find one. For other items, I can’t find anything. Children’s toys are another huge problem.

Is there not any way to change this? If I am buying items made in the US, I’m supporting US businesses and US jobs.

Thanks.

Show me what was gained by the last stimulus package and I will show you what will happen with the next two or three trillions.
Unless The United States start bringing back the real jobs where people are producing products people need, and pay taxes so the government can not only pay for itself, but also can keep money being recyckled through the economy we are doomed. Right now we are destined to become just another third world economy, with poverty and misery that accompanies the same. People keep saying there is six trillion or seven trillion sitting on the sidelines, what is that money waiting for?

We need to provide the only incentives to reopen factories, to create jobs that pay people from profits and not just transfer money to the workers from the government coffers, and take a big chunk of it for “factory owners”. Increaseing public spending MUST accompany increases in taxes, no abatements at any level, so you are working for the money you make. States and localities should be barred from paying tax incentives to create jobs, it only skews the free market
BUt then again has not the concept of free markets failed already??

Even before the latest assault, observers identified the conditions in Gaza as meeting the definition of genocide.
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2008/112608Lendman.shtml

I see Republicans fulfilling their obligation as an opposition party, this is in direct contrast to Democrats between 2001 – 2007. They got their earmarks and were fat and happy. Moreover, their calls for Fannie and Freddie to lever up on sub-prime loans is at the core of the current crisis.

Burris’ “exemplary record in public service” includes losing his last 4 statewide elections. The people of Illinois rejected him over and over again. Since losing the confidence of the voters, he has become a lobbyist and contributor to the campaigns of the current governor.

In Illinois, it is widely believed that he has accepted this post in order to improve his lobbying business.

Does Jack have a clue?

Nice effort at cherry picking by a research associate. Nothing more nothing else. The UN credibility in this area is questionable at best. I respect the effort, though.

Republicans have already fulfilled their duites to their donors and special interests by stealing and waisting hundreds of billions of dollars of peoples’ money. Earmarks, of course, ballooned under the “honest” GOP leadership. It is a good thing they are out of power now, that it is the time to deal with the real crisis. Little wonder. In the past one hundred years it is the third time a Democrat is elected to deal with the economic mess wrought by two or more successive Republican administrations (1929, 1992 and 2008).

I agree on Democrats failing in their duties as an opposition party in 2001-2007

Correction: that would be (1932, 1992 and 2008). Sorry.

It appears that you believe we’ll have to wait for an Israeli defense minister to tell us when it’s genocide. Does the same rationalization apply to other genocides? Do we have to wait for Hitler to judge his actions?

You can believe what you want. Americans were executing Japanese officers for similar acts they themsleves committed. Russians were doing the same with germans. I am taking sides here and so are you. I am on the side of Israel for the reason I have stated. It is a war that’s taking place in the urban environment, and Palestinians are not blameless. The Leaugue of Nations gave the British the mandate with the intent to create the Jewish state and the UN later approved its creation in that specific location. The UN is taking sides too, now after 60 years of conflicts. That’s why to me it is of little relevance, unless they have the solution to the mess they themsleves helped created.

Lots of Hamas propaganda here:

Here is Hamas in its own words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i08L09V0_sg

Majawill, if your camrades in Hamas didn’t use schools, mosques, hospitals and homes as platforms from which to shoot missiles at Israel and to store weapons there would be far fewer Gazan casualties.

Israel has not interest in killing civilians unlike Hamas which has called for the murder of children world wide:

“Hamas: Israel has legitimised the killing of its children”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5454204.ece

Jack Beatty really comes off as being anti-Israel. His comments sometimes border on the antisemitic.

Majawill your really an piece of work. You make these absurd comments which are based on false information.
It is amazing to me that with each comment you make you expose yourself showing everyone how people of your ilk are part of the problem.

The Palestinians have had over 40 years of negotiations in which they have either broken the accords or refused to except any deals made to them to forward a two state solution.

Israel play hard ball, you would too if you were surrounded by adversaries who want to wipe you off the face of the earth and have tried to do so time and time again.

I think the majority of Israelis want peace, it’s better for the economy. The Palestinian leadership wants to keep the current situation going as it takes all the pressure off of them and how incapable they are at being good at governing. I include both Hamas and Fatah in this sumation.

I do however do not agree with Israel’s current invasion into Gaza. It is a huge mistake and the Israelis will regret this action.

By the way the American military most likely killed over 100,000 Iraqis when we invaded their country. We Americans do not have a leg to stand on here.

I have to register my agreement with Jeff’s comment that the invasion may turn out to be a mistake in the long run and that Israel may later regret it. You don’t just kill a bunch of civilians and pretend it never happened. (On the other hand, does anyone shed a tear anymore about women and children of Grozny?) My position remains that Israel must defend itself. Hamas was badly in need of a beating. Query: what is Israel to do here? Anyone with an objective point of view?

jeff, this will be my one and only response to you. Your posts consist solely of factless insults directed at other posters.

The Israelis have had over 40 years of negotiations in which they have either broken the accords or refused to except any deals made to them to forward a two state solution: further settlement construction being a concrete example. Do you have one? You never do.

Who’s wiping whom off the face of the earth now, indiscriminately?

I am for peace and believe that leadership on both sides has been at fault. I believe most Palestinians and Israelis want peace. I believe this latest incursion by Israel is a political strategy designed to curry favor in the upcoming elections.

American policy has been consistent in the Israeli-Palestinian issue; consistently not helpful. I would be happy to have America keep its mouth shut and it’s money in its wallet on this issue.

Israel is making mistakes in its application of force and is hitting the wrong targets. That’s not good, but they are not wiping anybody off the face of the earth “indiscriminately.” They very much disciminate among the targets. Moreover, they warn people before they hit a target. In fact, I think Palestinians are lucky that they deal with Israel. If there was a single Russian special forces brigade there would be an asphalt parking lot in place of Gaza right now.

Jack Beatty really comes off as being anti-Israel. His comments sometimes border on the antisemitic.

Posted by jorge, on January 9th, 2009 at 11:50 am EST

Jorge,

Jack Beatty can sometimes be a candle in the wind.

When it looked like Hillary was going to win, his tone on Obama was alarming, up to and after obama’s acceptance speech Beatty was in line.

Hamas is a poison to the two state solution.

Strike the hammer while the iron is hot.

If there is ever to be peace in the mideast, Hamas (&c.) must give way to Fatah. Unless you want a three state solution.

Imagine that each dead soldier and civilian as not a hated, ignorant, ‘martyr,’ but rather as someone who died in a battle that precipitated an era of peace, development, education, for generations of Palestinians.

Majawill how wrong you are. You call the Gaza a concentration camp and then you hurl insults at everyone who does not support your ideology.

You do this all the time and now you accuse me of insulting you? You have a nerve, your a nasty troll and you know it. You hide behind the forum and make these absurd statements all the time. I only tell people like yourself that they are jerks. You can’t stand it because your a coward. I read all of your comments and everyone of them is inflammatory and designed to get a reaction. Your a troll, period.

Arafat consistently broke every agreement made at camp David in the 70’s and 80’s or he would not compromise. Look it up, do some homework.

If you read my comments correctly which you did not do you would have seen that not one of them have been insulting to anyone on this thread. In the past I have took you to task as I can’t stand people like yourself who use forums like this to create trouble.

Nice try but I think everyone sees you how you are, a troll of the worse kind.

Three hours for Israel to reload and put the coordinates for schools in targeting systems.
Posted by Majawill, on January 7th, 2009 at 10:51 am EST

Who are they kidding? Genocide isn’t pretty.
Posted by Majawill, on January 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm EST

Everyone of these statements is based on personal opinion and nothing else. Some of them are made to incite people, and some are just silly and misinformed.

Now who’s posting false facts and insults directed at other posters? Seems you live in a glass house pal.

Jeff,

Referring to Majawill as a troll is rather awkward. How do you know if he lives under a bridge?

If you’re angry at the points he makes, refute them, don’t stoop to the level of Limbaugh, Hannity and O’Reilly to insult people.

Nothing will ever be resolved bwhen people have diverse points of view if each side insults the other.

ctwood

Fact: Israel targeted and hit a school. Refute it.

Fact: Israel mandates military service by men and women. After, all are reserve military members.

Fact: number of posters specifically mentioned and insulted = zero.

Fact: Recent quotes from jeff about other posters.

“Bobako you seem to be illiterate and misinformed.

This does not mean that we should be thinking as you do, it’s not very intelligent or rational, which seems to be part of your argument.

It’s a stench really, you smell, you reek of the foul smell of the Bush era. You need a bath.

Majawill your a soar loser and its’ people on the right like yourself, so divisive and mean spirited.

I think your the typical right wing jerk who thinks the world should be the way you want it. Your selfish, self centered and arrogant.

Your still a vile troll.

Please use your head and think for once in your life.”

Only two of these were directed at me. I will admit that, after being insulted, I gave back and questioned the cause of jeff’s comments. Later, I apologized to the board and have never reacted to a post from jeff. He’s not interested in ideas or facts so engaging with him is pointless.

As pointless as engaging with you Majawill.
I will admit to losing my patience and saying things in anger, however it’s only after being provoked.

“Israel has created a concentration camp and its name is Gaza. Ironic.” What kind of statement is this?

You don’t really apologize you just play passive aggressive. Which is what your doing now.

I have never suggested that you or anyone else should think like me. Bobako’s statements seemed illiterate and misinformed, he/she has now put that into context, as English is not his/hers first language. The comments still seem quite misinformed. I see nothing wrong with telling someone that.

Majawill what are your facts, you make these blanket anti- Israeli statements based on what?

You failed to mention that Hamas had deliberately fired rockets from a building right next door the school.
If you’re going to use the word facts should not include all of them?

Your right about one thing, I have little or no time for the right wing ideology that has brought this country to its knees. Sure I know what your going to say, that there are plenty of Democrats who helped in this regard. I have come to the conclusion that the right is pretty nasty and history has proven to me anyway that this to the case. I don’t mean to include all conservatives in this, but the current right wing ideology of the Republican party that has been in power for the past 20 years.

If you find my negative positions in this regard distasteful, sorry but I have sat by for the last eight years and listen to people on the right gloat. Look around you, our economy is in shambles, over 300 billion dollars was given to the banks and we have nothing to show for it. The record of the Bush government is horrendous, if I am pissed of well I feel I have good reason to be.

Majawill you seem to have supported most of this from what I have read from your pots on this forum. Your are right I’m not interested in your ideas anymore than you would be interested in mine.

For the record I am for national health, a living wage, and regulations that will keep the financial sector from doing anything like they have done recently ever again.

I have already stated many times that I am all for a two state solution in regards to Israel and the Palestinians.

“Fact: Israel targeted and hit a school. Refute it”

Fact: Hamas used the school to store rocket. Refute it.

Fact: Hamas threatened to kill Jewish children worlwide. Refute it.

Fact: Majawill is a pro Jihadi-antisemite. Refute it.

Part of the problem with our national debate about Gaza and the Palestinians is that some people are outraged by ANY statement of empathy or understanding of Palestinian suffering.

The notion that rescue workers finding children by the scorched remains of their parents is horrifying somehow becomes anti-Semitic.

Over 700 Palestinians have been killed, mostly people who are powerless to affect the conflict in any way.

As a country we need to become more understanding of the terrible suffering of the Palestinians without feeling we are condoning terrorism or rocket attacks on Israel.

I strongly support Israel and agree they are our friend and ally. However, I’m tired of being accused of being sympathetic with terrorism because I am appalled by Israel’s response to these attacks.

I guess I’m saying, in other words, that I reject any search for “moral clarity.” The insipid moralizing of people that think they can tune in to Fox News for five minutes and identify the “evil doers” is intolerable.

Majawill are you working for the well funded Palestinian Propaganda Pallywood industry ? how come no one complains when thousands of innocents are killed in Iraq by Muslim suicide bombers ?You should all be in the streets demonstrating against that real Horror show done by Muslims ……

If big corporations are going overseas …there are not American companies anymore ….They need to be taxed as foreign imports ….

Majawill , your “Baltimore chronicle” ..hum ,hum …now I see where you get your information …What a joke …how sad!!!!

R.M.

If there’s a “well funded Palestinian Propaganda Industry” anywhere in the world, it must be the least successful most incompetent operation in existence.

Many Americans can’t be persuaded that “Palestinian” is not just another word for “terrorist.” Some in the media use the word as though it refers to a political or revolutionary organization, like the IRA.

At any rate, what we seem convinced of is that Palestinian suffering is either unreal or well-deserved.

It’s sick. There’s something sociopathic about our insensitivity to what these people have been through in the last 60 years.

I’d bet a hundred dollars most people writing in posts of outrage against the Palestinians couldn’t find Israel on a map of the Middle East.

Christopher , the problem is that so many lies have come from the Palestinians … Remember the story of the boy who cried wolf?….. Watch ON YOUTUBE “ROAD TO JENIN ” BY PIERRE REHOV ….ITS UNBELIEVABLE or YOUTUBE “PALLYWOOD” They are just liars who speak and smile one way to west and say another thing to the Arab world …..Americans are usually too nice and naive about other cultures…

Christopher , I agree that its pretty hard to find Israel since it a drop of water in the ocean of Arab neighbours ….Israel is so small , yet they hate them so much , they don’t want Jews to have it….how sad…..

I am also appalled at what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza. I support Israels right to exists but this attack on Gaza is to much. It’s working against them and it will hurt them more in the long run as I already stated.

It is interesting in how after the attack in Mumbai India few weeks ago not one Arab country seemed to say much about the horrific loss of life in these attacks. It is also very interesting how the Sunnis and Shiites can massacre each other and they don’t say much either.

At least I don’t see very much in the way of any one country speaking out the way they do when Israel is the protagonist.

I can say the same for some segments of the left who are bent protesting every time Israel does anything. Yet as I mentioned above, when Muslims do this they don’t say a thing. By the way in most Arab countries and Iran you can’t protest freely. Mind you this is becoming harder in this country…

(What does the Baltimore Chronicle have to do with Majawill?)

As an American Jew, and a non-Zionist, I have for many years now been appalled at what Israel has become: an occupying power with apparently no concern for life and freedom of the Palestinian people who are seen as not sharing a common humanity.

I write specifically for thanking Jack Beatty for uttering the words “single state” as the one true solution to the conflict between the Jewish Israeli (there are Arab Israelis, too) and Palestinian peoples. This solution would end the occupation and bring true democracy to the region. Will it happen? Probably not.

As Americans, it is out obligation to demand that the US stops providing Israel with weaponry, money, and green lights to continue to slaughter at will. It’s our tax money and our abstentions from the demands of the rest of the world that keep this crisis going.

The links I sent don’t seem to come …Just Youtube Pallywood…..and google : Target :Israeli children ….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDP4ADLERpM

35 percent of those killed in Gaza so far are children. Would Israel target a school full of Israeli children if a Hamas soldier was hiding there?

Here we go again. My first reaction, a Hamas soldier must be killed wherever he is. My second is there is apparently 30,000 of them hiding among women and children. I doubt Israel will go ahead and kill them all. I don’t even see how that’s possible, unless you have a go ahead from Roosevelt and Churchill to fire bomb the entire city.

Strange how No one came out in the streets all over the world , when Daniel Pearl was savagely killed with his head cut off on TV….(sorry but I need to be graphic or no one cares )..What happened to the world on Darfur? , at least 350 000 raped and murdered by Islamists for the only sin of being black ?.And the murder of Theo van Gogh? On 911 ….Everyone was distributing candy and flowers in Gaza …..Israelis don’t show their dead out of respect for them ……Don’t use them for exploitation so the world feels sorry …In contrast the Palestinians have FABRICATED massacres…..THE AL DURAH LIES made on a set like a movie ,with directors , film crews from international news agencies , fabricated monstrous lies ,which gave the excuse to kill Jews all over the world . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eww7BkkvFdo If Hamas uses their people as shields …..Who’s fault is it ? isn’t that a crime under international law?

Majawill Why are you not condemning hamas for using civilians? Don’t tell me you don’t see it …

Israel is supposed to have one of the most skilled and disciplined militaries in the world. It would seem they could win this “war” without hitting schools and humanitarian aid workers. There is no way to justify this loss of innocent life.

No, I don’t see it that way. It is a losing proposition to fight in the urban environment for any army against a determined well hidden enemy. I see no way for Israel to win this one at all. Russians went into Grozny with tanks and suffered huge losses from experienced tough chechen fighters. Russians, though, were willing to ruin the city and kill as many civilians as necessary, so they “won” in the end.

Israel will have to withdraw achieving very little in the end. I do believe that hitting a school or a hospital was a big mistake. History looks favorably upon success and has swallowed a lot of civilian deaths. But this is not it.

It should be recognized that any criticism of and anger towards Israel is really the forbidden feelings towards the rulers in the surrounding countries who perpetuate the myth that Israel is the enemy.

The Palestinians are unfortunate pawns and the critics of Israel are knowingly or unknowingly, doing the work of the Islamic ruling class to keep their populace down.

No one in this region, at least one side of them, will be satisfied until every man, woman and child is dead and they can stand up and say “WE WON”! What a testament of their belief in a Holy God. Murder the innocent!!!, wage a holy war in order to go to Allah and have 70 virgins as a reward. History has shown that any belief that involves sex is always pagan. Sad,sad, sad, to have a belief that requires you to kill and inflict pain in order to be pleasing to your god. You people are trying the patience of the true God. In fact, our entire world may very well be doing the same thing. “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Think about it people!

Majawll you are changing your tune ….what happened to the hamas guy eating fallafel in the restautant?

IDF forces operating in Gaza on Sunday uncovered an explosive device rigged with a timer hidden in a Palestinian school. A fuse attached to the explosives extended to a zoo located dozens of yards away. Nice people these Hamas !!!!!

IDF Footage of Booby-Trapped School in Gaza – JAN. 11, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G-3saZDDkM

Norwegian Doctors in Gaza: Objective Observers or Partisan Propagandists?http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=35&x_article=1580

Lying for the Camera
A Ynet journalist embedded with the IDF in Gaza provided this interesting tidbit on a family hunkering down in their Gaza home:

We come across a local family in one of the buildings. Grandparents, a few young parents, some children and a few toddlers. Sitting on a rug, their legs are covered in blankets and two soldiers are standing guard nearby. “What about them?” I ask. “They’re free to go if they want to, but they don’t want to,” said Eilon Perry, Givati’s operations officer. “They informed us they would be staying in the house and we have no choice but to accept that.”

The family suddenly notices the cameras, and immediately, the expression on their faces changes. “We have no food,” they say in Arabic, as one of the youngsters suggests we interview him in English about their plight. Givati troops are extremely concerned about being portrayed as abusing innocent civilians. Perry points to a stack of canned goods, water bottles and other provisions. “We provided some of that and they cook and eat quite well,” he said. The Palestinians seem to understand him and one of them smiles. It’s a war – they had to try.

Hamas and some Palestinians seem to be nihilist. It seems to me that they will keep doing this and don’t care about the consequences. This does not bode well for Israel as you can’t defeat this kind of mindset.

Israel might end up losing more than it can afford here.
The whole democratic experiment of this country is now in peril.

jeff , does that mean that the whole world is in peril,since nothing can be done? …..everything comes to a bubble which will eventually burst …..

The pornography of ‘Jewish moral failure’
By Ami Eden · January 12, 2009

In case you missed it, Jeffrey Goldberg last week, in a post titled “The World’s Pornographic Interest in Jewish Moral Failure”:

One more thing, speaking of pornography — we’ve all seen endless pictures of dead Palestinian children now. It’s a terrible, ghastly, horrible thing, the deaths of children, and for the parents it doesn’t matter if they were killed by accident or by mistake. But ask yourselves this: Why are these pictures so omnipresent? I’ll tell you why, again from firsthand, and repeated, experience: Hamas (and the Aksa Brigades, and Islamic Jihad, the whole bunch) prevents the burial, or even preparation of the bodies for burial, until the bodies are used as props in the Palestinian Passion Play. Once, in Khan Younis, I actually saw gunmen unwrap a shrouded body, carry it a hundred yards and position it atop a pile of rubble — and then wait a half-hour until photographers showed. It was one of the more horrible things I’ve seen in my life. And it’s typical of Hamas. If reporters would probe deeper, they’d learn the awful truth of Hamas. But Palestinian moral failings are not of great interest to many people.

jeff , does that mean that the whole world is in peril,since nothing can be done? …..everything comes to a bubble which will eventually burst …..
Posted by R.M., on January 12th, 2009 at 12:37 pm EST

In short, yes. You can’t win fighting a nihilist.
In my view this is what we are witnessing now in Gaza.

Israel will come out of this the loser even if they destroy Hamas, which they wont.

This is how I see it. If a cop-killer (Hamas) runs into a crowd of bystanders (Gaza civilians) do the police (Israel) have the right to shoot at him? The police could be very careful and only aim right at the killer, but they’d probably take out a few bystanders. Especially if they knew that nobody in that neighborhood was on the police review board. Why not use a machine gun or a flame thrower? The important thing is to get the cop-killer, right? Any number of dead and maimed bystanders can be justified if you know that you’ve got a friendly police review board (the Israeli and US electorate). Does that justify the reckless negligence of police shooting into a crowd to hit one person? Maybe it does. The US certainly did that in WWII, a so-called “good war.” In fact we directly targeted civilians, and killed them indiscriminately by the hundreds of thousands in massive well organized terror attacks: firebombed both Japanese and German cities over and over – not to mention the two atom bombs. All sides did it. All sides were “terrorist states.” This whole business of labeling people as terrorists makes me laugh. We’re all terrorists! Why is a suicide bomber in a crowded market any worse than firebombing Dresden? Because it’s more up close and personal?

It seems to me that Israel has a few choices:

1) Ignore world opinion, and ethnically cleanse the West Bank and Gaza and then annex them. The US might be hesitant but would eventually be on board for that, and that’s the only friendly country they need really. Gasp! Yes, we’re talking mass executions. To make it more palatable to Western sensibilities, the killing should be done from aircraft, or using missiles or an artillery barrage. We in the west frown on the up-close-and-personal shoot’em in the head approach these days. Very uncivilized (not to mention unfashionable)! Don’t believe me? Check out the Bible to see what happened to the citizens of Jericho and Ai. I could easily see Israel doing that, and I could easily see our government looking the other way if not supporting it. In fact, the Israelis could write the resolutions that our congress and administration would pass in their support. Oh wait,… that already happens!

2) Annex the West Bank and Gaza, and enslave the Palestinians. Yes, that happens too. You’d have to use a word other than “enslave” (so 19th century!) of course, but a completely viable option non-the-less. But then the citizens of Israel would always be on edge worrying about a slave revolt. Makes option 1) look more attractive!

3) Annex the West Bank and Gaza, enslave the people, and gradually give them rights (to reduce the probability of a slave revolt) until the slaves are full citizens. The “South Africa” option. We’ll see how it turns out in South Africa. Wait, wasn’t that the Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) approach too?! Gasp! I guess that doesn’t always turn out so well. Of course that would “wipe Israel off the map.” Any one-state solution (other than genocide or enslavement) would. They’d rename the place Israelestine or Palesrael or something… at least until the Jews are such an insignificant minority that they aren’t even worth accommodating. Maybe the new majority would do some ethnic cleansing themselves to move that trend along a little faster.

4) Continue to do what they’re doing: Don’t annex Gaza or the West bank, but every couple of years, near election time, let the bombs and tanks loose. Kill some “terrorists” and a heap of “civilians”, take a little heat from the toothless world opinion and then carry on with business as usual.

5) Oh, yes, the two-state solution. Have to throw that in the mix I guess, however improbable.

6) Oh wait, here’s another approach. Pick a fight with a small weak country (Yemen?) well away from Israel, destroy them utterly, and establish a military colonial government. Then deport the Palestinians there. Then annex the West Bank and Gaza. Ooo, I like it!

My money’s on option 1) 4) or 6). Any takers?