#86 Bruce Graeme:
” Palestinians will tell you that Israel did not, in fact, live up to its side of the bargain and continued, even intensified, the siege of Gaza, stopping the electricity, water, fuel, food and medicines crucial for decent survival.”
I don’t buy the Palestinians’ case.
Look, Bruce, imposing an embargo on the energy and material “crucial for decent survival”,(that is SUCH a cute phrase…a real work of PR art), is certainly not tantamount to the breaking of a cease-fire/truce.
It’s an embargo, see? And even as judicious and peace-loving a lot as the United Nations imposes embargos,(kind of…in a half-assed, backsliding kind of way), when it sees fit.
“But no one denies that on November 4th Israel carried out an incursion into Gaza, killing 7 Palestinians and setting off the renewal of violence.”
Boy, Hamas’ talking points have sure gotten better over the years…did they hire some ex Hill & Knowlton staffers to write up their balderdash?
Once again, let me focus on your use of the phrase: “setting off the renewal of violence”.
That only works if you hold that Hamas’ firing of rockets into Israeli towns, (which only that stooge Hammond denies), was NOT violence.
Fact: Israel traded Land for Peace.
Did the removeal, at gunpoint, of the Israeli Gaza settlers by the IDF a few years ago slip your mind?
Fact: Israel did not receive Peace for the Land it ceded to Fatah.
Hamas came to power and “renewed the cycle of violence” by firing rockets into Israel.
Fact: There is no obligation to heat, clothe, feed and doctor to the population of a state whose inhabitants are dedicated to your extermination.
To take your line of argument about Israel denying Hamas that which is “crucial to a decent life” is to argue for nothing more noble than a mugger or a car-jacker.
“Your Honor, I needed a Porsche, a Rolex and a wad of cash…these were crucial to my leading a decent life. I was, therefore, justified in sticking the muzzle of my revolver into his nostril and blowing his brains out for these things.”
Try again, Bruce.
