Posters, from the safety of their European internet cafe, can't understand what it is like to live with the daily fear of crazed suicide bombers. Death might strike at the supermarket, a disco, a movie theater or a bus, or even a cafe.
Arafat does not wish to negotiate as this would destroy his power base. Even internal polls show that without the Israeli focus, Arafat would not be in power.
You ask "What is Israel to do?"
I had hoped that the "road map" would lead to something. Yet, there has been little follow-up, admittedly by any side. The apetite wears thin when one is cleaning up innocent civilian bodies.
The Israelis attack terrorist leaders. Yes, innocents, sometimes used as shields, other times simply innocent bystanders are killed or hurt. It is awful, and Israel is debating tactics and trying to come up with a formula for minimizing this. Just yesterday, there was a news item that Israel is spending a huge amount teaching high tech tactics to avoid civilian casualties.
Do you think Hamas has a school to avoid civilian casualties? It's one thing to post platitudes about "humiliating Palestinians." It's another thing to give a real solution. Comparing Israeli actions with the cowardly suicide tactics or with the Nazis is so ridiculous that it borders on irrationality or simple hatred.
If Israel returned to 1967 borders, somewhat modified for defense, Hamas and the terror organizations would continue in existence. Arafat does not want to negotiate. Israel can't negotiate with itself. I wasn't thrilled with the unilateral withdrawal to defensible borders surrounded by a fence. But I now understand why Israel feels a need to do this. |
