Israel

Totally agree Shiney, the history is so complicated it isn't possible to see a solution, certainly not a simple one. As in all conflict it's the ordinary "man in the street" who suffers most. Additionally, news reports can't possibly cover the history and when they do inevitably there are claims of bias.

The only point you've mentioned which I question is why the barrier was built, yes I know it was stated that it was as a response to terrorist attack but I know a family living in Bethlehem whose garden was separated from their house by the barrier. Under the old ottoman laws which still apply in this situation anyone not looking after their land for three years loses their right to it. It usually takes 6 hours to get through the nearest checkpoint. Can you imagine how well any of us would tend our gardens if we had to go through a checkpoint for 6 hours before we could get into it?

Should also say that this is quite typical, there are countless examples of people being separated from their land including those who relied on their land for their income, agriculturally this is a region of subsistence farming. I know Gaza is not Bethlehem but the route of the barrier has caused as much contention as the fact of it at all and has allowed the terrorists to gain the support of the ordinary Palestinian. (There are numerous Isreali groups who also recognise this and campaign for the removal of the barrier on humanitarian grounds). It is deemed to be illegal by almost every country.

 

I have to agree too.
As I see it, the best hope of heading towards a resolution is education. A fully educated society can bring reason to the debate, a poorly educated society will only ever be led by those in power.

 

[QUOTE="shiney, post: 832798, member: 1458"
Just as a matter of interest - Cyprus was another of the countries that we offered to be the State of Israel. Both Kenya and Cyprus are quite fertile countries and the British government were quite happy that the Zionists chose Palestine that was mainly desert and undeveloped.

I attended a UN conference in 1968 (not long after the 1967 war) and ever since have been interested in the fact that Britain thought that it could organise and split countries as it liked. Aren't we all paying the price now!

 

Its nice to see that Israel is only carrying out carefully targeted precision assaults on terrorists, and not just annihilating everything.

(pic from BBC news)


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28497439

 

When you hear Lyse Doucet reporting in tears you know how bad it must be.

 

It's tragic. From the comfort of our homes here, we're merely onlookers, and therefore insulated. Just imagine coming home and finding your neighbourhood totally destroyed. Your home, your life...devastated.

 

Agree Freddy and then also to be told it's your fault because you'd been warned to leave.

 

Personally, I would have thought, bearing in mind what went on during the second world war, the Israelis would have had more of a live and let live approach to other people.

I'm still seeing them as the main aggressors in most conflicts that take place in the area.

I also cant help wondering why we dont see the "massive" damage that the rockets being fired into Israel are causing?

 

Considering what went on in the second world war I am not in the least surprised that the first sign of aggression starts a huge defensive/offensive response. Why would they sit back and allow something even slightly comparable to happen again?

 

Mostly because they are now verging on doing almost the same thing themselves.

 

The only conflicts that Israel is involved in are the ones on their border. Countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia (supposedly the wests main ally in the area) are involved in far more conflict in the middle east.

For the same reason that we don't see the likes of Lyse Doucet reporting from family restaurants in Tel Aviv when a suicide bomber lets themselves off - the "right on" media don't see it as good copy. Far better drama to be had reporting on oppressed peasants being the victim of the big bullies.

 

I dont know who Lyse Doucet is?
but I'm sure the BBC would show it in some form.
I'm not saying there is a right or wrong side in this, just that the Israeli response of killing hundreds of civilians and basically achieving nothing, (the rockets still keep coming), is all a bit OTT, they aint gonna get nowhere unless they wipe out the whole population of Gaza.

But then maybe that is the plan this time.