Quote:
Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo
Damien, whether you're pro Israeli or not is not really an issue for me. My issue is that you feel that the cause of the blockade and Israel's reaction (which admitedly you feel is extreme) is in retaliation to Hamas's firing rockets.
The opression that Israel has imposed on the palestinians, is not something that has just happened since Hamas took power in Gaza. It is not something that has simply started in the last 10 years. You have to remember that a 30 year old Hamas freedom fighter would have spent his entire life under occupation and oppression of some sort or another. He would have not been able to travel freely, he would have been subjected to checkpoints, he would have seen members of his family not allowed or able to find work. He will have most likely been living off aid. Everything he does would be under the watchful eye of Israeli soldiers. They and their government would be controlling his life.
In contrast he would have seen Israeli families build house on his land, and prosper. While he is grwoing up he would have seen fellow palestinians being murdered, he would have attended or seen funerals of children shot down by Israeli soldiers. He might even know of someone who's sister or daughtr was raped, or who's brother or son was shot down by an Israeli soldier simply because he is a Palestinian.
Palestinians in their 30s will have spent their entire live under occupation. They would not have spent one day in their lives feeling they are free. I am not saying other nations in the area haven't contributed but the biggest culpable party in the oppression of palestinians, in the death of palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian land is Israel.
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Fair enough, I was wrong about the blockade, thanks for correcting my ignorance on that
I then agree that Israel are wrong to impose a blockade because they disagree with result of a democratic election. Although I can see why the reject the choice, electing the government that has a history of attacking your country.
Israel is the worst contributor to the misery of the Palestinians, my point behind of my posts though is that this is not because of some Nazi-esque hatred of Muslims or even the Palestinians, in a way this is just incidental. It's because Israel has a fear of losing their homeland, their freedom, lives and so on. Groups such as Hamas and Hizbollah, backed by countries such as Iran and Syria, do a lot to cause that fear. Unlike the Palestinians though, Israel has the fire-power to alleviate their fear.
It may seem hypocritical that Israel are willing to inflict destruction on a people who are actually living their fears, because it is. However a lot of groups that claim to represent the Palestinians show no interest in a peace, and until that changes then it will keep happening.
Basically, I believe the Israeli government do want a lasting peace at some point, they will support the creation of a Palestinian state. Maybe not the current government of Israel, but the will exists in that country. The will also exists amongst the Palestinians but I cannot see who will step up to represent them and reject the violence of their peers and outside influences.
At the end of the day, International law is rubbish, the UN are toothless, and other governments can only do so much to change the actions of another. Each country acts in their own best interests and tragically for the Palestinians no other country really has their welfare as a key concern. Injustice is the history of most of our world
