Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: Israel Hate is Anti-Semitism [View all]Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)I have no problem with Israel's defensive actions in the face of prolonged and continued terrorist attacks. However I am not so naive as to presume those terrorist attacks are occurring in a vacuum; the state of Israel must bear some responsibility for their continuance due to the policy of successive governments of expanding settlements in the green zone, the continued policy of resettlement of Palestinians, confiscation of Palestinian-owned land, and destruction of Palestinian homes to build settlements. All of these things are occurring and have been occurring; one cannot reasonably pretend that this background has nothing whatever to do with the continued militarisation of the Palestinians. Quite frankly it's absurd to suggest otherwise; the closest parallel one can think of is that of the Native Americans. The US government continued to violate treaties and agreements, and settlers continued to spread into lands guaranteed to the native tribes, with the result that they were met with armed and violent resistance. So it's kind of disingenuous to say "But but...THEY STARTED IT" when in point of fact the reaction and resistance is not only explicable but inevitable.
Is Hamas' targeting of Israeli civilians despicable? Yes. But so too are the Israeli government and the IDF's targeting of Palestinians, policies of forced resettlement, and expansion of settlements, all while claiming loudly to be the injured party.