Hamas and Israel on the brink of war

[AnyaKnowIt]

news.sky.com/story/1011426/gaza-hamas-jaabari-killed-in-israeli-attacks

10 People dead after Israeli air strikes

This has lit the touch paper for something very scary.

A bomb fell just behind our house in southern Israel

So sorry Lisa you must be so scared

Hamas and Israel are always on the brink of war.

What is that saying? It won't end until they love their children more than they hate each other.

It is bloody stupid.

bloody hell lisa, hope you are ok

As I am pro-life, yes pro-all life, not just foetuses, I extend my sympathy and prayers

This is Israel sticking two fingers up to the new Obama administration. Gaze now, Iran in the Spring. LTurkey may be pushed into Syria shortly.

(Cameron holding emergency meeting on that today). Obama's gov has very little influence on Israel's actions now, but must have known this was coming. Bigger fish to fry at home negotiating the fiscal cliff anyway. Israel timed it well.
Middle East outlook for next few months is very bleak.

Sorry for phone typos. It's all very worrying and moreso when no world power or body can intervene.

Israel are moving troops towards the boarder

LarkinSky Why would Obama have influence? I don't know much of the history but am off to google.

Well Israel has elections approaching so a renewed attack on the Palestinians will generate a nice little surge of support for Likud.

Oh yes we all look forward to Bibi's invasion of Iran. Yes that will be a real step forward.

"Why would Obama have influence?"

She might be referring to the enormous financial and political support US gives Israel, without which Israel wouldn't survive for very long (and most definitely wouldn't be sticking two fingers at the international community and keep expanding settlements into Palestinian territory).

That probably gives the US some influence over Israel.

"keep expanding settlements into Palestinian territory"

Of course Hamas bear absolutely no responsibility in the current events.

Lisa thinking of you - hope you're ok.

This is terrible for everyone.

I hope you're okay Lisa.

Of course neither side is lily-white but what I have said is fact - US should have some leverage with Israel because without its political & military support (worth $ 3bn per year), Israel wouldn't last long nor would it also be able to give the proverbial finger to the international community re steadily increasing settlements into Palestinian territory.

Do you have a problem with any of the above?

Poppy: Hamas DO have a case to answer re : launching rockets.
Hamas DOES NOT have a case to answet re: sustained and continuous theft of Palestinian land / farms/businesses by Israelis.
If anyone would like to clearly illustrate just how Hamas has forced Israel to steal Palestinian land since 1967 that would prove most illuminating.

There are more reports of explosions

And the EU should have a say in what Hamas do given their contribution to the Palestinian Authority of ?500million last year alone of actual cash. During a supposed economic crisis when the euro is going under....

eeas.europa.eu/occupied_palestinian_territory/ec_assistance/eu_aid_to_palest_2011_en.pdf

That's our taxes...

BBC said 15 Palestinians dead and 3 Israelis.

It is a shame that Tony Blair is a middle east envoy and does nothing and it is a shame that Obama has not followed up his first election visit with doing anything substantial re peace negotiations. Unfortunately I agree with others who think that Israel has launched attacks for political/election gains.

"What I've said is fact..."
"Israel wouldn't last long...."
"Do you have a problem with any if the above"?

Actually I do - it's a lazy, reductive statement and it's not a "fact", it's your (misinformed) opinion.

I promised myself not to discuss this subject in forums so i will apologise for bring passive aggressive and leaving it at this. My fault entirely for posting on this thread to begin with.

Extrospektiv, irrelevant. Nobody cares what you think. It's like joining this discussion and saying "My thoughts go out to members of all brass bands caught up in this horrible conflict, because I play the tuba". Using any topic to promote your pro-life views is bad form.

This is the first move in US/Israel vs Syria/Iran.

Not a great time for the world as a whole in the next few months/years.

Iteotwawki I hope you are wrong but I fear with Obama's view on foreign policy you may be right

I can't see that peace negotiations are really going to help in this situation tbh, although hope to be wrong. From what I have read and understand it's kind of an intractable problem, neither side is going to suddenly concede land/defeat, both believe they are 100% right.

I do hope that it doesn't escalate further tbh, ever since watching Threads I'm shit scared of any wars/proxy wars in Iran .

tiggers - Thanks for that interesting breakdown of EU aid.