Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
I think one of the issues that isn't being fully grasped is the power play with Iran and the level of extreme opinions that Hamas hold. You are literally talking about IS level fanaticism now and thats very hard to reckon with, esp when they use civilians as collateral.

There are reasonable if extremely difficult conversations to have over the west bank and Gaza etc but how do you deal with people who don't recognise your right to exist?
Both sides want to fight, neither side will back down, there is only one option - there will be a fight - one side will "win" and the other wont. This argument has been going on for years - it wont stop or end until one side has won. Then there will be some peace for a while - and then it will start all over again.

All this over some land - that neither can really claim was ever theirs. And based on religion - which as the nasa asteroid proved this week - life started from a rock bumping into the planet. Judaism, Islam, Christianity etc all proven to be utter bollox. No after life , no 100 virgins for martyrs etc.

Radio4 this morning had an interesting piece on Arafat and how his corrupt Govt led to Hamas taking control. How it could have been so much better for Palestine - and how they have been the masters of their own demise. It had a similar piece on Israel and the various PM's. All utterly futile on both sides.