Why is Israel getting away with these atrocities?

I totally agree.Collective punishment is never justified. Israel's actions are terrorism.However, as soon as a country can afford to support a formal army structure it is able to avoid the term "terrorist" - especially in the news media.In any case, their recent actions have sent a clear message to angry young Palestinians - for soldier you capture we will kill a dozen civilians.And they wonder what produces suicide bombers....Of course Israel has the right as a state to defend itself, but as long as the Palestinians are caged like animals they will continue to bite the hand of their jailer.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

Of course, the obvious retort to this is to ask what the Israeli soldier was doing in Palestine!Still, it's all tit-for-tat in the long run.The only thing that is certain is that Palestine *must* have their own viable state. Israel's demands for an end to the violence from the Palestinian side as a condition for talks is pointless given that the enitre population is besieged by Israeli forces.The reason why the Palestinian electorate have turned to a group like Hamas for a government is that they have nothing left to loose.Fighting is the only freedom they have left.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

But the Israeli government (supported by the west) is funding an army with which to occupy and control Palestine.In my opinion the diffence is little more than semantic. One man's soldier is another man's terrorist. For many Palstinians Hamas represent THEIR army...

Well, if you think about it, it pretty much makes sense - the Palestinian population feel backed into a corner and have voted for a government to fight their cause.The ablity to fight back (in any way they can) is pretty much the only freedom they have left.Imagine it from their point of view - if an occupying power built a wall around the US, removed a US citizen's freedom to travel, bulldozed homes in strategic areas, crippled the country's economy and dismantled its army, do you not think that civilian Americans would start fighting back in ANY way they could?Now let's be clear, I'm not arging moral superiority for either side, I'm just pointing out that it is simply not a case of good guys versus bad guys (as much of the American population seem to see it). Over the years Israel has done just as much to perpetuate the conflict as has Palestine. However, as Israel has a formal army structure, it's actions are afforded undue legitimacy.We are used to hearing this on the news:"Israeli soldiers were shot by a Palestinian terrorist."A palestinain might see it this way:"Israeli terrorists were shot by a Palestinian soldier."------------------Now, look at this site from the BBC.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Intifada toll 2000-2005From 2000-2005:Total Israeli deaths - 950
Total Palestinian deaths - 3223Seems to me that Israel is MORE than just defending itself....Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

No, it's projection of human nature. Palestinians are human beings are they not? It seems the Temple Mount was a key sticking point. Yes, I thought Arafat waking away like he did was a mistake. His leaving the talks left a political opening for Sharon to tour of the Temple Mount, and to demonstrate his own rejection for Barak's position. The Palestinian demonstrations that followed were clearly the spark for the current intifada. I won't argue for a second that the suicide-bombing tactic was/is justified. It has seriously hurt the Palestinian cause. But from a Palestinian point of view, when one has a God but lacks jets, tanks and rockets it might seem like a "rational" way to fight back - clearly it isn't, no argument. Doesn't the lack of clarity on this point tell you something? The true extent of Hamas and other groups is indeed blended into the population at large - they represent a civilian-based resistance. When Israel strikes back it inevitably ends up targeting civilians...But let me be clear in this - I have sympathy for both sides of the argument. I have no desire to represent the situation as a good guy/bad guy scenario.However, I do feel that in this instance Israel is needlessly escalating the entire conflict for the sake of ONE prisoner. No "rational" military tactician would ever suggest such a thing.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

You have omitted the fact that religious extremism been fuelled (on both sides, I might add) in response to the conflict.We have a feedback loop, so to speak.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

What can be MORE human than ideology?Isn't your own Christian ideology a big part of how you view and live your life? Doesn't it play a large part in how you relate to other people? As is your position against the Palestinians!Round and round the circle goes, just like the conflict....Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

How exactly? Where do you think ideology comes from? What do you think ideology is?

Faith, Marxism was influenced by the grinding poverty and the rigid class systems Marx saw in capitalist Western Europe during the 19th century!Ideology arises from human experience. Where else would it come from?Now, given that all ideologies represent: your ideas of "artficiality" seem somewhat arbitrary. Is Christianity a "natural" ideology?I ask because I can see you've already begun to skew this over into a critique of Islam. Perhaps your OWN form of Christian ideology drives you to do this...Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

Well you've made your position very clear, Faith.Though I disagree, I see no point in arguing this any further.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.

Regarding the Islam = Terrorism argument..It is worth noting that until around 2000 the leading users of suicide-bombing tactics were the Tamils of Sri Lanka - mostly Hindus.Edited by RickJB, : No reason given.