On Jan 4, 2009, at 1:30 PM, Charles Bennett wrote: > > On Jan 4, 2009, at 11:04 AM, Chris Gehlker wrote: > >> Even the NYT points out that it is disingenuous for Israel to say 'We >> just want to stop the missiles: we have no intention of overthrowing >> Hamas and occupying Gaza" > > > OTOH, if they don't do exactly that we will be watching this movie > again in a couple of years only each time Hamas will have bigger and > better weapons > until Israel is either hurt or they use that as a reason to take it to > the suppliers of Hamas's weapons. Oh wait... > > In any case, why say that they are going to continue to target Hamas > leadership and then say they are not trying to over throw Hamas? > > Better to say that they recognize Fatah as the only leadership and > intend to destroy Hamas and if they have to re-occupy Gaza until they > get it done > that they will. > > > At least their words would reflect their actions then.
We agree completely here. Everybody knows that anything less than a reoccupation is a loss for Israel. Their foreign minister admitted as much. Trying to pretend that somehow they are not out to crush Hamas just makes everyone doubt them. I don't think Fatah is the answer though. They had their chance. Here is what Israel should do. Assume responsibility for governing Gaza. Announce a one time amnesty for all Gazans. After the amnesty, swiftly execute anyone caught plotting a terrorist act. Unlike the US in Iraq, Israel obviously has great intelligence in Gaza and thus a real chance to catch the guilty while avoiding the innocent. Impose a system of just laws on Gaza and administer them with scrupulous fairness. Protect the lives and property of the Palestinians in Gaza. Provide free health care and advanced education. End the blockade and do everything possible to see that every Gazan has a highly paid job. After 50 years hold a plebiscite to determine if Gaza should be an independent country or if the Gazans should become full Israeli citizens. If the Gazans elect to become citizens, repeal all religious law in Israel. I don't have much hope that Israel could pull this off. Despite their propaganda, every independent historian seems to,agree that Israel has a horrible record when it comes to protecting the rights and especially the property of Moslems within their borders. But they might persuade people that they were willing to try this approach. As it is their credibility is shot not only in the Middle east but in Europe and Asia. It will soon be shot in North America if they keep telling obvious falsehoods about their goals. -- Vegetarians eat Vegetables, Humanitarians frighten me _______________________________________________ OSX-Nutters mailing list | [email protected] http://lists.tit-wank.com/mailman/listinfo/osx-nutters List hosted at http://cat5.org/
