Quote:
Originally Posted by Osem
So your contention is that Hamas must act first and Israel then follow? The problem is that I don't think if Hamas stopped firing rockets tomorrow Israel would a) stop it's action and b) give back that which it's taken. Perhaps the possibility that Hamas agrees with my cynical view answers the question as to why they don't stop firing rockets.
|
Hamas has not tried the ceasefire option so we do not know what Israel will do. Hamas could request a ceasefire and ask that UN observers or indeed a peacekeeping force be immediately in place at the moment of cessation to ensure that Israel withdrew.
It is worth remembering that Hamas had the option to cease fire BEFORE Israel even moved into Gaza as the Israeli tanks collected on the Gaza border and Israel had stated its intention to invade.
As for giving things back, nothing was said by Israel about that.They merely stated that they would invade Gaza if Hamas kept firing rockets and true to their word they did.
Any negotiations re: the splitting of Palestine would require arbiters like the UN or some other organisation to provide a forum for discussions and to note the concessions, compromises and agreements made by both sides. Another possibility would be to go though the International courts.
Appeals for the Israelis to show restraint are wasted at the moment as Hamas have demonstrated that they intend to keep firing rockets. Each day the Palestinian death toll gets higher but the world just watches as they will not sending personnel into the area until a ceasefire is announced.There may be plenty of diplomatic action to bring about the ceasefire but neither Hamas or Israel seems interested at the moment.
If the Hamas leader wants to keep firing rockets then he must be prepared to see more and more of his people killed, unless they can be evacuated to safety. However, the choice of what action to take lies with the Palestinians, who have yet to state their intentions.