How can peace be established between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs’ militant groups, predominantly Hamas. In the past, I have advocated that the first step must be to establish a guaranteed end to the killing. This, I contemplated, would require an international peace keeping force. Even if finally put in place, the problem would remain: the possibility of Arab militant rocket attacks from Gaza eliciting an Israeli military response, border closings, repeating the old cycle.

So, apparently, there could be no guarantee. While this would seem true, one must consider what the presence of an international peace keeping force would mean for the region. It could only have been achieved after extensive negotiations and agreements of all concerned, both Arabs and Israelis. That would have to mean agreement to statements of purpose.

I would hope that such statements would be something like the following: “It has been agreed by the Israeli government and all major governing authorities among the Palestinian Arabs that the necessary first step towards a lasting and meaningful resolution of the conflict between these peoples must be that the killing, the dying, the suffering wrought on these peoples by the conflict must end. Therefore it has been agreed that an international peace keeping force shall be put in place to guarantee, as far as possible, an end to violent acts between these peoples. Parties to this agreement include the following Arab and other Middle Eastern states:... Other parties to this agreement include the United Nations, all of Europe, Russia, China, and the United States of America.”

One can see that after all this is done, the situation is radically changed. Would it not appear that an act such as this would offer the best hope for peace, and, indeed, not only for peace, but for justice as well? Admittedly, the the road from there would likely be long and difficult, but keep in mind what we are trying to accomplish: a final end to the killing, the dying, the suffering of these peoples that has resulted from their conflict.

Surely, therefore, the cycle of violence that has gone on so long must be broken. And, equally sure, the putting in place of a peace keeping force would have the best chance of leading ultimately to the best result for these peoples and for all concerned.

In Palestine, men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. In Palestine Jews want to kill all Muslims and Muslims want to kill all Jews.

Hamas is back at its old game.  Nipping at the heels of Israel until they get a response - then screaming “bloody murder” that Isarel is at fault.  When you “poke a sleeping dog with a stick” - and murder a few of its “pups” - you need to be prepared for retaliation. Israel has been very patient, but there will never be peace with the Palestineans because they don’t want peace.  They want Israel to disappear - wipe her off the face ot the earth - then they will turn on each other.  As for those who think the Israelis have “over reacted” - you’re nuts.  This is not a “jab for jab” boxing match, this is war and war is ugly.  Innocents will always be victims of corrupt, idealistic, political regimes until they take a stand.  There is a price to pay for taking a stand, but as they now see, there is a price for not taking a stand.

300 dead and still not worthy of the Truthdig headline, disappointing. Would 300 dead Israelis merit the same treatment? No, you know it wouldn’t.

Fuck the americans, israelis, palestinians - give me springsteen or zevon.