Why don't they go down to the BP Amoco just like anyone else?

I have little sympathy for Hamas as they continue to shoot rockets into Israel.  All they have to do is tosp and use words instead of bombs. As for the populace of Gaza, if they continue to support Hamas, then dealth will be their fate and of their own choosing.

Yes, this is a simplistic view of a complex issue, ut it is a view that can bring the cessation of war. That is the issue here when that this the end game?  

If they allow medical supplies into Gaza, it seems to me that getting fuel shouldn't be any more difficult.

Does anyone really believe that there will ever be peace in the mid-east?  I would support a soveriegn Palistinian state along side of a soveriegn Israel, but it has always seems like a pipe-dream to me.  Hundred's of years of unrest just makes it seem like peace is unattainable.  Thoughts?

The next time you plan a massive rocket attack that you know darn well is going to hit civilians, I hope you take into consideration that poor people don't have a whole of choices on where they can be treated.

Think it through why don't you. What with people having to find hospitals, doctors, nurses, places to live, attending funerals, probably trying to find misplaced family members - they need help.

Unless a merical happens soon there will be no peace in isreal.

I feel for the people.  It makes me realize how grateful I am to live here in America.  I can't see how the fighting over there will ever end.  My heart breaks for the innocent people there.  Will it or can it ever end?    

The Israeli / Palestinian issue is a complex one. But an explanation for the violence that is being staged today is very simple. If one shoots rockets across your border or uses suicide bombers to kill your people, you have every right to use whatever means are necessary to wipe out this threat. It is that simple. If Hamas and some of the Palestinian extremists do not understand this then I am sorry. But it is that simple. Even at the cost of innocent lives. And under these circumstances those responsible for the deaths of innocent Palestinian citizens and especially Palestinian children are the Hamas, not Israel.  

CA, I'm shocked by your views on what's going on in Gaza. So be it. People die when up against the big military machine of Israel.

Palestinian Ghetto v. Israel. Perhaps if they want to go after Hamas, they should just go in and round them up, and take the deaths that come with it.

But I guess it's better to just bomb them and anyone standing in their way - well, so what.

I fear that in many of these comments there some individuals are assigning more value to the lives of innocent Israelis than to the lives of innocent Palestinians. Hammas provides resources to Gaza's poor than the Palestianian Authority ever has, which is why the people support Hammas.

Adding to problem - in the six months before the airstrikes started - the Palestinian rocket attacks had killed only one person. It is certain that when the dust settles from the latest round of Israeli airstrikes that there will be more than a single Palestinian killed.

This is a complex issue, which requires both compassion and strong commitment from both sides. So far, nothing has worked. I doubt that it's because of the people who live in Gaza or the people who live in Israel. At the end of the day the governments/outside organizations are the ones who take lives. Everyday Palestinian and Israeli citizens want nothing more than to live their lives without fear. I've travelled to the Middle East and that is the sentiment I've encountered everywhere I've been.

Part of the reason nothing gets solved is the individuals who give into overly simplistic viewpoints because they are easy. I would implore many of those who have posted today spend some more time thinking and less time talking/writing.

I say that these Hamas terrorists who don't understand how civilized people are supposed to behave, then why should there be any equipment, fuel or other supplies that could bring them close to the 20th century technology level.  They have failed to show that they can plan and keep all of the people there fed.  They don't know anything other than being murders of civilians.

It is in Israel's interest to prolong their conflict with the Palestinians
Than can keep colonizing parts of the West Bank and Arab Jerusalem
That's why the conflict hasn't ended for SIXTY YEARS !!

In 1948 the Israelis had 80% of the land and a state The Palestinians had 20% and no state

How many Americans would agree to this situation ?
What if the UN said we had to give back 50% of our land to the Native Americans ?
Would Americans peacably agree?

But, even 80% isn't enough for the Israelis
Why settle ?
American is paying for everything and guaranteeing their security

I was listening to Zig Ziglar today.  He made a valiant point.  What he said was "Vengeance is mine said the LORD."  Maybe Hamas & Israel didn't get the memo.

Looks like to me that Hamas just used that 6 month ceasefire (which they refused to extend the other day) to amass more rockets to lob at Israel.  Israel ins't perfect either. Kicking people out oftheir homes that their familes have been in for generations and then giving that home to a Russian emigre is one reason why Palestinians have somuch hatred for them.  If the police in your city kicked you out of your home and gave it to an illegal alien from Mexico wouldn't you be pissed?  of course!  Why Hamas start firing rockets off at Israel unless they wanted to start a wider war?  And why do the Palestinian people support Hamas, they just bring more misery upon the backs of the palestinian people.  I say a pox upon both their houses.  America is too cushy with Israel anyway.  Both states have a right to exist.  Israel says they have a right to exist because it was a nation when the Bible was written.  Well ditto for the nation of Palestine!  I'm tired of middle east nations and arabs and muslims!  Lets move on!

There are no simple solutions to a centuries-old feud, but a good short-term fix would be to take Hamas out of the picture. Once they stop firing rockets into Israel and stop the suicide bombings, Israel will stop bombing Gaza. There will never be peace between the Israelis and Palestinians as long as Hamas or other similar groups continue their terrorist activities.

Ross, St. Louis, Missouri (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:48 PM)

Ross:

You assume too much. No single Palestinian life is any more or any less importamnt than the life of an Israeli. No one here is placing a higher value on the lives of Israelis. And regardless if your country loses 1 person to an attack versus another loses 30 to an attack it makes no difference, all life is precious.

What you fail to realize is that no matter how complex the issue may be, it is and will be human nature to protect oneself and to do what it takes to survive. I for one would like to give praise to Hamas for providing for many poor in Gaza, but while one hand is feeding the poor the other hand is lighting the fuse to a rocket in order to take another life. Sorry, I don't buy that Hamas should receive the Gaza humanitarian award for 2008. And until that hand lighting the fuses is used to reach out for peace insteade of sending rockets over the border, one might also assume that feeding the poor in Gaza has as its objective other less caring intentions, like a way of controling the masses rather than uplifting them.      

Posters here are against violence towards the Palestinians and Israelis equally. But posters here also know that when you refuse to put up the rockets, there are going to be dire circumstances and those firiong the rockets are and will be responsible.

Everybody has an answer to how the conflict should be resolved. This is a problem that seems very simple as a whole. One side is lobbing unguided missles into another country hitting targets indescriminatly and the other country is returning fire aiming at military targets. One side is vastly more powerful than the other and could keep it up for a very, very long time.  Duh! Someone needs to get a clue.

let me ask those who are blaming Israel this question: if a group says it will fight to destroy your country, and everyday they fire rockets into your country, what will you do?

UN is responsible for all this to begin with, albiet some 60 years ago.
They want to help now?

CA, I'm shocked by your views on what's going on in Gaza. So be it. People die when up against the big military machine of Israel.
Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:40 PM)

Small correction, Pat- "up against the big military machine of the USA" would have been more correct.

Israel targets with a drone video and then bombs civilians (kills 8),  who were loading their pick up truck with items from their welding business including 4 long gas canisters. Per Israeli Human Rights group that has investigated:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYkrGIFnvI&eurl=http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=gaza&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

Here's the Israeli spin: "The Air Force attacked a Hamas truck loaded with dozens of Grad rockets in the Jabalia region (northern Gaza Strip). The truck was hit and the rockets exploded"  
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_e022.htm

Who does Israel think they are fooling. This is all about the elections. Israel to me is a terrorist state. When you kill children you will not get any sympathy from me. They have starved the people enough and the dumb U.S. backs them everytime. Just remember people the bombs come from the U.S. so we are making more terrorist everyday that this continues. I want Israel to give my hard earned taxpayer money back to me. Why should we give them a darn dime. Israel plays the victim game very well. You don't fool me Israel. Olmert messed up during the Hezebollah war now he is up on criminal charges so this is his way and the idiot ladies way of trying to change the subject. People can go along with what Israel is doing to the innocent people but not this person.  Shame on the U.S. and Israel. Both countries are crooks.

We deal with that idiot Abbas who was Arafats right hand man. Abbas is out on Jan. 9. Abbas has stolen alot of money from his people. Then again, the U.S. is use to dealing with crooks and giving them money all the time. Well we taxpayers are tired of it. Crooks like Abbas and the Israel government don't deserve this person tax paying money.  My tax paying money can be better spent in helping the people right here in the U.S.

We're praying for a quick resolution.

I say don't allow fuel.  Then they will stop what they are doing faster.  Instead let us just keep feeding the war. I wish someone would get serious about this situation. You don't let supplies in including water, fuel, food etc.  Then they surrender.  Period.  The world keeps this thing going. I say let the Israelies take care of it once and for all and we can go on.  It is not a board or computer game for fun.  That is what some are making it out to be.

I agree w/Indie.  The Hamas have continued firing rockets into Israel even when peace treaties have been put into place by Israel.  What is that?  Palestinians need to resist the Hamas instead of supporting them.  These terrorists think they can do whatever they want.  Would the US put up with terroists firing rockets into the US whenever they wanted?

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