The Israeli / Palestinian Conflict In Ten Minutes

[sp1814]

I was hoping someone would put out an explainer.

Very useful for those who want an understanding of how we got to where we are today.

[naomi24]

Where are they going to go, lottie?

[Untitled]

until 2007 gaza and the west bank were under the same government and the palestinian authority still claims gaza as part of its territory taken over illegitimately by hamas... plenty would happily move there if they were permitted but they are not. 

[naomi24]

Untitled, you don't need to tell me where Palestinians live.  I know Israel and it is currently under attack from more than one quarter.  That's the reality.  I think your notions are idealistic rather than realistic.  Have you even considered the outcome if, 'God' forbid, Israel failed?  Another Islamic state is just what the world needs isn't it?

[Redhelen72]

This has been building since the 1920's when Palestinians had their land taken from them, and started up again after WW2 where 95% became refugees because of illegal purchases by the Israeli government.

wholesale land stolen and trees planted to ensure the didn't re occupy the land.

can I also point out that I have not seen anyone say they support the atrocities that Hamas are carrying out.

[ynnafymmi]

@17.35.No,not open support Helen.But a few on here are tacit supporters,or at least Hamas terrorist apologists.

[Untitled]

you asked me where naomi there's no need to get snippy. 
 

the alternative would be to continue the blockade and keep killing thousands of gazans who have done nothing except live in the wrong place. I consider that a worse outcome than simply allowing them to leave... i do not believe that doing so woulf cause Israel to "fail" (what a peculiar choice of word)... but the israeli government considers its precious project of colonizing the west bank more important than human life so in gaza they must stay and be bombed or starved to death. meanwhile hamas will be completely unaffected... maybe pick up a few recruits from the survivors and we can all look forward to more atrocities from both sides in the next 5-10 years. useless waste of human life. 

[Untitled]

"But a few on here are tacit supporters,or at least Hamas terrorist apologists."

go on name names. let's hear who you're talking about. 

[Redhelen72]

1741 what rot!

name names then!

[ynnafymmi]

Sorry,its against AB rules Untitled,but one or two my Scottish friends might be amongst them.

[Untitled]

is it against the rules to say that people believe things? youngmafbog always pipes up to call me a communist when i have explained several times that i am not. 

[ynnafymmi]

"a few of my Scottish friends on Answerbank that is"

[naomi24]

Untitled, that's not snippy -  it's stark reality.  There's no point you going around the houses hand-wringing and making what you think are the right noises.  Unless this is ended once and for all it won't be atrocities for just 5 or 10 years - it will be for as long as it takes - be it 100 or 1000 years.  Israel's enemies will not stop.  Like it or not, that is the reality.

[Untitled]

what's your idea of "ending once and for all" naomi? Kill all gazans?

[naomi24]

I hope not.

[Untitled]

well you don't seem that bothered by it. if you don't support allowing them to leave and want to blockade food and water and also want to keep bombing them... it's difficult to see what else "once and for all" might mean other than genocide

[ichkeria]

The blockade is in place for security reasons as I posted before, following the coming to power of Hamas. In fact it had been partially lifted as I understand it.

Egypt also doesn't allow free passage of Gazans, despite the fact that Gaza used to be part of Egypt.

For pretty much the same reason that Israel doesn't. Saturday showed what happens when Hamas leaks out into the civilised world.

[naomi24]

You haven't read what I've said elsewhere - and for years.  In principle, I sympathise with the Palestinian cause.  They have been treated abominably - of that there is no doubt - and I don't want them bombed at all.  However, the situation is such that Israel exists, it is under attack, and it has to fight back.  It has no option.  Would you like to see that land become an Islamic state?

[Untitled]

Goodness, the word "however" is doing an awful lot of work in that sentence... you "sympathise" but you're happy to see their food and water cut off, permission to leave revoked and bombs dropped on them 

that is genocide. there is no two ways about it... and the awful atrocities committed by hamas do not justify genocide

[Untitled]

"Would you like to see that land become an Islamic state?"

no i would not. i am also not willing to support mass killing of blameless civilians by the IDF in the cause of some ideological war with islam... these positions are not contradictory

[naomi24]

I think they are.  You can't have it both ways.