A plea to Israel from the right: End the Gaza war now

[cali]

There is something different about this war. Yes, it bears the dark ghosts of its predecessors. Still, there is much about this one that suggests that, whether under arms or under fire, we may have learned something from the wars we have somehow survived.

Sometimes it takes a shock. It may be nothing more than a few unexpected words from a familiar source. Someone like prominent Maariv newspaper columnist Ben Dror Yemini, one of the nation's more consistent and often bare-knuckle critics of the Israeli and international left.

Yemini has a message for Israel's leaders: "Bring the fire to a halt now. Immediately."

"It's not pleasant, but you have to admit that the left is correct," he writes. "Nothing good will come out of this operation."

<snip>

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/a-plea-to-israel-from-the-right-end-the-gaza-war-now.premium-1.479061

[glacierbay]

1. I would love to see the violence stop

on both sides, but suppose Israel does halt it's firing and Hamas doesn't? What then?

[cali]

2. There are always what ifs. Not to mention that Israel

has extensive missile defense.

[glacierbay]

3. True on the Iron Dome missile defense system

but it's not 100%. So if Israel were to unilaterally halt all bombardment and Hamas didn't, then what? Should Israel just keep on absorbing rocket fire w/o retaliating?

[former-republican]

4. They need to accept a two state solution

[Scootaloo]

5. How well has "retaliating" been working out for them?

Dead Palestinians don't seem to be helping Israel out much, do they?

[glacierbay]

6. That's not what I asked

Do you believe that Israel should just keep absorbing hostile fire w/o retaliating?

[cali]

8. The what ifs are getting absurd.

At this point Israel is committing wholesale slaughter in Gaza. They have defenses and they aren't even trying to end this without mass killing.

[glacierbay]

10. You still didn't answer my question.

I'm not trying to be a dick, but if Israel does unilaterally halt all action and Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel, should Israel just stand by and let it happen w/o any retaliation?

[cali]

13. Because your question is obtuse to the point of ridiculous

How about Israel fucking try other things before slaughtering civilians? If that doesn't work, then that question has some value. At this point, it's just ugly rhetoric.

Or doesn't the gruesome death of innocent civilians count?

[glacierbay]

16. All innocent civilian deaths are tragic

Palestinian or Israeli, but why can't you answer a simple question?
If Israel were to halt all ops and Hamas kept firing rockets into Israel, should Israel not retaliate?
It's a simple yes or no question.

[HappyMe]

7. I think a 2 state solution

is the only way.

[glacierbay]

9. I agree also. nt.

[Whovian]

11. We've created a monster.

Israel seems to love the idea of showing off that they're "bad asses and don't fuck with us" more so than anyone else in the area.

[cali]

14. You don't seem to realize that by any measurement we're far more monstrous than Israel

and I think these characterizations are pretty dumb in any case.

[Whovian]

19. Cali, believe me, I do.

Have known that since the 70's.

[FarCenter]

12. Liquidating Hamas is a precursor to liquidating Hezbollah which is a precursor to Iran

If Israel is bent on attacking Iran, they have to secure the Gaza rear and the Lebanese flank first.

[cali]

15. that's nonsense.

[Fumesucker]

17. Hezbollah has proven to be a tough nut to crack for the Israelis

Sooner or later Israel is going to write a check that it's troops can't cash.

Those whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.

[FarCenter]

18. Wonder whether Hamas has any of those Milan missiles the Qataris gave to the Libyans?

If they are Milan 3's, that could be a problem for the Merkva.