Israel v Hamas smackdown

[DanskiWolf]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24849512-401,00.html

Hamas is finally facing up to the consequences of constantly rocketing Israel.

Just a note: Most of the 200 killed are in fact Hamas members, according to Palestinian medics, not civilians.  

[The Zodikosis]

I'm Israeli and this whole thing is really stressing me out. :/  

[Garrett31212]

Well, I've always sided with Israel in this conflict simply because of my opposition to Islam. This is good news.  

[DanskiWolf]

The Zodikosis

I'm Israeli and this whole thing is really stressing me out. :/

Cool. I was born in Israel as well. Which part are you from?


And in news, Israel has called up 6000 reservists and it seems a ground offensive into Gaza is inevitable.  

[The Zodikosis]

DanskiWolf

The Zodikosis

I'm Israeli and this whole thing is really stressing me out. :/

Cool. I was born in Israel as well. Which part are you from?


And in news, Israel has called up 6000 reservists and it seems a ground offensive into Gaza is inevitable.

I was born in Jerusalem but I lived in Ra'anana. Where are you from? smile

 

[DanskiWolf]

The Zodikosis

DanskiWolf

The Zodikosis

I'm Israeli and this whole thing is really stressing me out. :/

Cool. I was born in Israel as well. Which part are you from?


And in news, Israel has called up 6000 reservists and it seems a ground offensive into Gaza is inevitable.

I was born in Jerusalem but I lived in Ra'anana. Where are you from? smile

Born in Haifa, lived in Ariel till we came here to Australia.  

[Garrett31212]

Damn, there are alot of Israelis in here.  

[DanskiWolf]

Well, two at least. rofl

Still, it's rather funny that American Jews mostly support the Democrats and overwhelmingly voted for Obama while Israelis on the whole tend to prefer conservative Republicans like Bush or McCain (not to say Obama is unpopular in Israel). Similarly here in Australia, Jews to my knowledge generally support the conservative Coalition over Labor.  

[DanskiWolf]

Israel now has thousands of troops marching into Gaza. Officially, one Israeli soldier has been killed. Approximately 50 Hamas militants have also been killed. Gaza City, the defacto capital of the Gaza Strip is now surrounded by Israeli tanks.

Personally I think Israel should go all out and overthrow Hamas and replace it with a Fatah/PA government.  

[Garrett31212]

Well that is surprising. You'ld think the Jews would support the Republicans, because they are the ones who want the US to support Israel.

As for the whole Gaza ordeal, I back Israel. I don't really care about the issue, but I'm anti-Arab and anti-Islam, and therefore inclined to support the Israelis.  

[Lord Bitememan]

Danski- The problem with ousting Hamas in the West Bank is that Hamas enjoys the overwhelming support of the populace there. They already ousted Fatah in favor of Hamas once. It wouldn't take much to do it again. Israel's current strategy of targeted airstrikes and strategic incursions will suffice. If Israel continues to traffic peacefully with the West Bank, and deal harshly with Gaza, there's a good chance that at least the Palestinians in the West Bank will get the message and continue to pursue diplomacy with Israel. The end of the process will likely be an independant West Bank Palestine. Gaza, however, will probably remain outside West Bank control and pursue its own independent course.  

[Garrett31212]

The Israelis aren't going to allow independance for either side after the long war going on. This whole ordeal is a massive show of force by Israel into hopefully putting down Hamas once and for all. Diplomacy and peaceful measures haven't worked, so now Israel's resorting to overwhelming firepower. I support them entirely.  

[Lord Bitememan]

Given that the West Bank has remained totally outside the sphere of the current conflict that's a fairly off-base statement to make. Fatah is the best thing the Israelis have going, and allowing an independant Palestine comprised of the West Bank is the biggest diplomatic coup against Hamas. The West Bank IS pursuing diplomatic and non-violent paths. Do no conflate them with the absurdity happening in Gaza.  

[Garrett31212]

I'm not. I'm simply saying that violence or not, neither the West Bank or the Gaza Strip will be an independant nation by the end of this conflict. Israel wants to control all of Palestine. Look at their history and all of their wars to defend it.

In other words, did you hear about Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza the day Obama is inaugurated. They're not going to go through with this without US support.  

[The Zodikosis]

DanskiWolf

Well, two at least. rofl

Still, it's rather funny that American Jews mostly support the Democrats and overwhelmingly voted for Obama while Israelis on the whole tend to prefer conservative Republicans like Bush or McCain (not to say Obama is unpopular in Israel). Similarly here in Australia, Jews to my knowledge generally support the conservative Coalition over Labor.

I've never understood why Jews here support the Democratic side. Never ever. It makes no sense--seeing as the liberal side is AGAINST Israel. Unless of course they just don't care about Israel and I've found that to be more and more the case in my Jewish community, which makes me sick. Jews are barely Jews here anymore. Half of the youth have become atheist, agnostic, or pagan, even, although I think that trend stretches to other religions too. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that, it's just not good news for the already small Jewish population.
To be honest, American Jews and Israeli Jews are two different breeds in my eyes, on more than just the political level. I can tell the difference right away.