Israeli indeed were at the origin of the death of approximately 1,400 people and nobody is perfect, it is very sad that innocents were killed but since this war, suddenly, and since now more than 1 year, the palestinians of Gaza don’t launch more than 5 rockets per week in Israel while before this war, they were launching 40 to 70 rockets each day! In Israel during the same time, the country invested its own money to build safe building for their people and children and it was beneficial as only very few civilians were killed. One thing Miss Jill Evans should remember is that when the Jews were exterminated by millions during most of the European history and with a horrible epilogue during the Nazi regime, nobody cared. Now the Israeli take care of themselves and don’t listen to propaganda as they know what it means.

Unlike the jews during their 2,000 years who were ready to move from place to place all the time to survive, the very few Palestinians are not ready to join other places in their so-called Arab brethren countries that probably don’t want them by experience: Black September in Jordan, Lebanese anarchy during the seventies and eighties etc… Only the Israelis were ready to bear with them but not at any price!

I can see this argument leading us down a well-trodden garden path, but you are aware of the gross corruption of Fatah in Gaza that led to Hamas gaining support? And I speak as someone who very much stands in the line of secular nationalism and has no religious politics whatsoever.

I’m not sure about the statement that ‘both sides’ need to resolve the issue of West Bank settlements. What do the Palestinians have to do about West Bank settlements, apart from avoid getting run over, shot at and harassed by the settlers (an infamous issue inside Israel at the moment)?

“This is the biggest lesson to learn from the region and it highlights the stark contrast between the approach of Fatah (successful) and Hamas, which is both counter-productive and against the interests of the very people it supposedly represents.”

No, I think Fatah’s approach (political autocracy) has quite clearly not been successful and has led to them losing Gaza. Perhaps there is hope of more progressive forces filling the void though, as the PFLP managed to get 70,000 to their recent rally in the heart of Hamas’ territory. Plenty of liberated women there too. Any chance of some support from the West?

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/12/15/over-70000-rally-gaza-pflp-42nd-anniversary

Just look at the economic development in the West Bank where farmers are expanding production of Faritrade olive oil and other products to meet the growing demand. Having Fairtrade certification has allowed them to widen the markets for their products and this can only help to consolidate and deepen the growth in the Palestinian economy of the West Bank.

Clearly the Palestinians here can see the growth opportunities and Israel will feel more secure with a neighbour that is more intent on developing their economy rather than planning the next acts of aggression.

This is the biggest lesson to learn from the region and it highlights the stark contrast between the approach of Fatah (successful) and Hamas, which is both counter-productive and against the interests of the very people it supposedly represents.

Those in Gaza who have seen the light and dare to challenge the “power” are dealt with harshly, and so there is no democratic accountability just a climate of fear.

The West should take a long hard look at why the Gazans saw fit to elect Hamas. Fatah’s rampant corruption might explain some of it, but it’s probable that Gazans saw Hamas as the only faction standing up for their interests.

“The West’s disagreement is not with the people but rather with those in power who employ totalitarian methods of suppression.”

So ironic, you don’t see the West having disagreements with the Saudis do you? The West has some truly disgusting allies who are much worse than Hamas, and Saudi Arabia is just the tip of the iceberg.

No, I personally think the Israeli/Egypt siege is neutralising Hamas (with horrific consequences) and the much bigger security risk is Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Perhaps the pro-Israel lobby has some answers for that one? Because usually all we hear from them is about Hamas and nothing about Palestinian land being occupied and effectively stolen in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Any ideas David?

With such an exceptionally high percentage of the population below 18, the demography should offer great hope for the future as their economic growth potential is significant.

Sadly, however, their situation is unlikely to change while they have the present Hamas administration running Gaza, whose approach towardsd Israel is markedly different to that of the Fatah-run West Bank territory.

Much like the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose regime supplies arms to Hamas and so perpetuates the stand off with Israel, the West’s disagreement is not with the people but rather with those in power who employ totalitarian methods of suppression.

I have never condoned the murder of Israeli civilians by extremists, whether it is carried out by elements of Hamas or other organisations, but there can be no justification either for the bombing and targeting of civilians in Gaza, or their current treatment. If this was a white Christian enclave, do you really think that the US and Europe would be taking the same stance?

Many current Labour ministers campaigned passionately against apartheid and wear their campaigning badges with justifiable pride. Why then when they are now in a position of power, do they ignore the plight of the people of Gaza?

The ultimate irony is of course the Welsh, UK and other lives being lost to defeat ‘extremism’ in Afghanistan, when the open wound that feeds hate towards the west, continues to fester in Gaza. People often criticise Plaid for ‘dreaming’ about the possibility of being independent of UK foreign policy. I would respectfully suggest that such a dream is infinitely preferable to the current nightmare in the Middle East; a crisis situation that only gets publicity when Israeli civilians are killed-with the inevitable reprisals. Surely, there is a better way?