Originally posted by Peruvianmonk
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
It amazes me at times....How anyone can honestly suggest the fighting between the Arabs and Israeli's is one sided. I'm shocked by some suggestions
that Palestinians never attack and murder Jewish Settlers.
No one has suggested that, but the overwhelming power is with the Israelis.
Actually... You suggested this, if not in precisely the words I used....and perhaps I misunderstood and you did mean to give due credit to both sides
being equally quick to murder each other..if given half a chance. here is what your comment was for my response though.
Where? Can't happen in Gaza as there are no longer any Israelis settled there. The West Bank? Palestinians, if they were so inclined, would
find it very difficult to attack any of the settlements due to the IDF and heavily militarized nature of the settlements, not to say that it has never
happened. Israel? I'm pretty sure they would be arrested.
If there is true disagreement on the fact that it's a very two sided fight in the West Bank, or that your OP describes a fairly common scene with
sides simply swapping on the daily incidents, I have a LONG list of incidents similar to the two I cited. I just pulled a couple for samples to
illustrate what I was saying about murder being the business of both Jew and Arab individuals across the whole West Bank.
The killing of the 5 at Itamar was truly shocking but do you consider settlers to be civilians, soldiers or somewhere in between? Whatever
they are considered it would be a heinous crime but it makes some objective and strategic sense.
Actually, I consider adult Israeli citizens to be Soldiers. As they rightly are. All of them. The Palestinians are similar..if not FORMALLY inducted
and trained. However, Israel is a compulsory military service nation as Syria and others in that region are or have been until very recently. They're
all trained and they'll all fight.
This story I showed though..the main one.. was as much about the stabbing death of a baby right along with the others found in the house. THAT makes
"Strategic and Objective sense"?? I KNOW you didn't mean the baby, but your talking the whole by overlooking the evil of it's parts. BOTH sides
have no shortage of evil deeds.
The settlers are stealing Palestinian land, use terror against them to try and force a rethink and retreat. Just as Israeli targeted killing
of Hamas leaders makes sense as violence from the Palestinian militants has been shown to taper off in such scenarios. None of the violence practiced
by either side is irrational, even suicide bombings, it is all aimed at achieving perceived strategic ends.
That is among the few points on this topic we would agree on, 100%. I've posted my own maps of the West Bank and land control and it's just
staggering. It's not 'Occupied' territory...it's Israeli land that Palestinians are allowed to live on....in terms of the daily reality. Thats
horrid.... It's complex too, as the Settlers have said...CLEARLY...they will fight Israeli forces AND the Palestinians at the SAME TIME if that's
what it takes to keep their homes. Operation Price Tag is the name of the effort the Settlers attack BOTH IDF and PLA forces under. Craaaaazy
place!
Unfortunately neither side has yet come to the conclusion that a fair peaceful arrangement is the only way forward for both people, in
particular on the Israeli side, who hold all the cards....for now.
The first part, I agree again. Arabs and Jews alike fight and almost seem to like it, they do it so energetically on a daily basis..and for decades
now.
The idea Israel holds all the cards tho.. Well, it might appear that way to a Palestinian boy on the street in East Jerusalem, but I'd suggest...it
only appears that way. Israel is a postage stamp of a nation surrounded by 100's of millions of Arabs (to their measly little 7+ million population)
that can, if they ever chose to care enough, IMPOSE a solution to this. Likewise, I am sure both Hamas leadership in Gaza City and PLA leadership in
Ramallah would disagree on who has all the power.
In specific example..I'd even note Israel all but handed Arafat what he wanted on a platter as will likely never happen again. In his mind, It was
100% ALL or 100% nothing. Well... His choice..and he made it. He was one man, but the people backed him and I recall those talks where it happened for
reports. The Palestinians were behind him for spitting in the faces of the Israelis and telling them where to shove peace if Jerusalem couldn't be
precisely how he demanded it. .....all so complex over there. No good guys..on either side.
