Reply #37: It is not as simple as "equal responsibility"

[Clarkie1]

Israel does not wish to destroy anyone, they simply wish to live in peace.

"I believe Israeli citizens want peace, just a s I believe Palestinian citizens want peace."

Yes, I believe most do...on both sides. However, Israel has tried giving "land for peace" and it hasn't stopped people from attacking them, unfortunately. So your argument about Israel wanting "non-viable partitioned land areas" for the Palestinians more than Israel wants peace holds no water.

"Hezbollah and Hamas could disarm tomorrow and there would still be individuals and groups who would resist what they see as Israeli/Palestinian inequities."

Perhaps so, but the Israeli groups wouldn't be firing rockets into Palestine (using past history as any judge).

"I despise Hamas and Hezbollah, but killing innocents merely strengthens those organizations."

I agree killing civilians strengthens their hand, but doing nothing strengthens their hand even more. We can debate the micro-management of how Israel responds to an aggressor, but that doesn't change the fundamentals.

"If you are not willing to admit that Israel bears equal responsbility for the bloodshed then we have nothing further to discuss."

Thank you for your thoughtful replies to my postings, but we have nothing further to discuss.