[Kevin]

Originally Posted by I.A.S.K.

1. Because it was not their land. Because it belonged to other people.
2. The people who have had their land stolen and been pushed into Gaza.
3. Israel is currently trying to exterminate Arabs.
4. WTF? How are these ratios meaningless? I would think recognizing the fact that this "war" is totally one sided and that the majority of people who are being killed are civilians is extremely meaningful.
5. I hardly think that recognizing that Israeli forces are killing more civilians than militants and that it is wrong is being whiny. The ratio also shows that this is not 100% Hamas' fault and it is not a tit for tat killing spree. It is an Israeli killing spree.
6. This statement can be made for both sides. Palestine has a right to defend its people. You cannot negotiate with someone who wants to destroy you. Hamas did in some ways try to keep an agreement with Israel. Israel has chosen to commit unacceptable acts. It is not possible to have peace when you block trade, steal land, and prevent the military from protecting its people. It failed after WWI and it failed with Israel and Palestine.
7. This would make sense if it were true, but it is not. If there are 900 dead and 500 of them are civilians then how is it that the majority are Palestinian fighters? Even American news reports are claiming that half the deaths are civilians (which means that truthfully more than half are). So I dont know what majority you're talking about. At best its 50/50.
8. You're right that there is no comparison. Israel is killing so many more civilians. Leaflets? Seriously? I havent heard of Israel dropping leaflets saying get out of town because we're bombing tomorrow at 3pm. As far as I know there were leaflets that asked civilians to turn in Hamas ops. And droping leaflets makes no sense when there is NO WHERE for the people to go! The UN is saying that Isreal has made it impossible for people to get to safety and/or get help.
9. There is no way Israel could aviod bombing Mosques, schools, UN buildings that the had the EXACT coordinates of? Really?
10. I honestly think that the only reason you can say that is because you are not in Gaza. These people are witnessing innocent family and friends being murdered by Israelis. If I was in Gaza I can say that once the people who are killing my people start bombing schools all bets are off. Why would you beat a Hamas op. when Israeli soldiers are the ones who are killing your people and stealing your land?
11. By any standards this is a horrible situation. Not shocking at all. Just because more heinous acts have occurred and continue to occur does not make this situation any less shocking and horrifying. For the most part no one life is greater than another.

1. & 2. You can only make that statement if you ignore what has happened in the area over the last 60 or so years. The Palestinians voluntarily left thinking that the Israelis were going to be annihilated. As you may recall, the only actual attempt in that area to exterminate a race of people was a pretty dismal failure, and the rest is history. Theft and conquest ain't the same thing. Otherwise, you'd owe your house and land back to some Native American tribe.

3. Again, if Israel wanted to do that, why have they not simply firebombed Gaza?

4. So if Israel let more of its soldiers be killed in this action, you'd be okay with it? Just so long as the ratios are somewhat similar, right?

5. The ratio doesn't have squat to do with who is at fault here. Israel is there for one reason and one reason only. To stop Hamas from shooting rockets into Israel. Hamas could have ceased doing this (as they agreed to) and Israel wouldn't be there right now, ergo, 100% Hamas' fault.

6. In what ways has Hamas ever kept any agreement with Israel? Their stated goal is extermination, not reconciliation. They are the only party involved here which has such a goal. As for 'blocking trade,' when that trade primarily consists of weapons to be used against the Israeli people, blocking trade is pretty reasonable. Prior to Hamas' jackassery, the people of Palestine had shelter, food, water, electricity, etc. Now they don't.

7. The only numbers we have are from Palestinian and U.N. officials -- hardly neutral observers.

8. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...,5371775.story

9. Bombing those places likely occurred because they were being used to shelter Hamas leadership and contraband. Hiding such things in Mosques is a pretty tired tactic at this point, unfortunately, it's also very popular.

10. Because without the Hamas folks, Israel wouldn't have been forced to do what it's doing now.

11. This is neither shocking nor horrifying. This is self-defense. Darfur is not. Find something legitimate to express horror about.