Is Israel completely beyond any control?

Just in case anyone draws conclusions from those statistics.

The conclusion I would draw would be that the Israelis have better protection. As is clear from your post.

OTOH, I'm sure that the Palestinians are well aware of Israel's superior defences and that Israelis are equally well aware of the inadequacy of the Palestinian defences.

I agree with you Peasblossom. It's like fighting a well organised army with pea shooters.

I don't understand the lunacy of Hamas. They know perfectly well that Israel will retaliate and will cause more destruction.

World opinion is, on balance, in favour of Palestine, so they would (in my opinion) be better to let the diplomats find a compromise and apply sanctions to Israel if they overstep the mark. I think Fatah and Yasser Arafat understood that.

Now, it may be just a coincidence, but I was reading in the Observer yesterday that Netanyahu was on the verge of losing power in Israel and that the new government was likely to be a coalition of Israeli &Arab parties. The Arab party has now withdrawn.

Just in case anyone draws conclusions from those statistics.

Over 200 rockets were fired into Israeli territory but most were repelled by the Iron Dome defence system.

The intent to kill as many as possible was the same.

There’s no prizes for humanity here on either side.

Thank you.

It's heartbreaking.

Palestinians 192 dead includes 58 children and 34 women
Israelis 10 dead includes 2 children.
These were the reported figures yesterday. As usual it’s the ordinary families who suffer. It is a very unequal battle.

Slightly OT, perhaps, but we've seen a lot about Palestinian casualties but I haven't seen anything about Israeli casualties. Have I missed something, somewhere?

I know.

It's not just Iran. I could add to a list, including Russia.

Bolton could be right, but going to war against Iran (or Russia) isn't the answer, nor is getting involved in a war by proxy. That's why we have diplomats. The trouble with anything Bolton says is that he wants to whip up public feeling.

growstuff

Based on experience of what he's said in the past, I can't take what John Bolton says seriously. He'd love an excuse for the US to go to war against Iran.

The problem with Iran is that it is deliberately creating unrest and terrorism in many countries, it’s not just Israel. Right across the Middle East and half of Africa, there are over 20 countries being destabilized by Iran.
The violence is being promoted in the name of extreme Shia Islam and is nothing to do with freedom, unless you see strict religious obedience as freedom.

Biden is a hawk and always will be. You know what, Trump was better as regards foreign policy. The Americans just stir things up, they are not helpful.

A constituency in Liverpool has become the first to vote through a no-confidence motion in Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer is worst leader by far

“Instead of attacking the Tories, Keir Starmer has spent more time attacking grassroots members with unjust suspensions and suppression of member’s democratic rights.

Lots of countries took part in solidarity with Palestine

It shows lots of people do have a lot of respect ✊ for Jeremy Corbyn throwing roses at his feet.

Based on experience of what he's said in the past, I can't take what John Bolton says seriously. He'd love an excuse for the US to go to war against Iran.

Yes, what happened in London yesterday was shameful and I'm glad four people have been arrested.

The threats and insults have been condemned by Palestinian groups. They undermined the seriousness of the reason people had been marching.

I see that four people have been arrested for driving their cars carrying Palestinian flags through parts of London where there are Jewish residents and shouting anti-semitic insults/threats.

Shameful.

Can we expect another rally soon with a mad person with flags behind him and in military uniform ranting and encouraging more anti-semitism and racism?

Excellent posts RamblingRose and GrandeTante ??????

I see that Corbyn was at the rally in London and had roses thrown at his feet ? hope he didn’t say ‘on air’ that he was a friend of HAMAS.
It’s in his comfort zone ( protest marches) and what he does best and should have stayed with, instead of becoming the worst ever Labour Leader.
Some of what the Palestinian supporters were shouting was really awful.

John Bolton is a former US national security adviser. He says today in the Sunday Telegraph:

“Allegedly improper evictions of Arab tenants in East Jerusalem did not cause Hamas’s recent missile and drone attacks against Israel, nor did “longstanding historical grievances”, nor “frustration and alienation,” nor “the Arab street”. All these together cannot justify terrorism against innocent civilians, let alone the roughly 1,500 missiles launched into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hamas, and now perhaps Hezbollah (missiles were recently fired from Lebanon) knew that their aggression would prompt vigorous Israeli retaliation.

In fact, the hostilities may have ended deal-making on a possible new Israeli coalition. Significant violence between Arabs and Jews inside Israel itself could mean long-term instability, which only benefits terrorists and radicals across the Middle East. Breakthroughs like the Emirati and Bahraini diplomatic recognition of Israel are now highly unlikely for the foreseeable future – another win for Iran. And while Israel is preoccupied, Iran is likely planning more clandestine shipments of weapons and supplies to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

Whether Iran instigated the current conflict, or merely aggravated it, we do not yet know, but the consequences are the same regardless.

Iran and Hamas crossed a red line this time. Israel knows what it must do.“

Thank you for your posts, grandetante.

The situation in the region was always likely to flare up again.
I read that the Israeli police imposed some restrictions on Israeli Arabs visiting the El Aqsa Mosque but it could have been any other episode.

I am very disturbed to see that this time there is open street fighting among Israeli and Israeli Arab civilians living in the same towns. I am not sure what diplomats can achieve as I have heard that neither Hamas nor Hezbollah will sit down with them or the Israeli representatives. I hope that is incorrect.

As others have said, if there was a simple solution it would have been suggested by now. I would like to see both sides living peacefully together and perhaps the sharing of the running of Jerusalem as a joint capital city for both sides. I would also like to see Gaza being rebuilt and democracy operating there. When was the last time they had elections?

It feels like there are many extremists on both sides that refuse to recognise the rights of the other side. That is why external diplomats must get involved and try to bring both sides to the table. The more blood that is spilled the more difficult that will become.

Well said Grandtante. I applaud you.

www.facebook.com/suheirf/videos/10159387763096241/

I would like to see the reply of the Israeli Ambassador, if anyone finds it.

I agree Whitewavemark2

I just hope that we do not see knock on violence escalating in the UK.

Anyone equating a British citizen because of their faith, with Israel, are showing as much ignorance as those who equated a British citizen because of their faith, with ISIS etc.

They are both hate crimes.

grandtanteJE65

What would you do if it was your country being attacked by terrorists?

Israel has always made it quite clear that an attack by terrorists will be countered by reprisals from Israel.

How does this differ from what the British did in Ulster in the 1970s?

Hamas are on the international list of terrorists - this seems to have escaped the notice of just about every supporter of the Palestinians.

Support whom you like, but acknowledge that every state in the world has the right to take measures to support its own citizens and sovereignty.

grandtanteJE65
There are parrallels between Israel and Ireland.
Hamas (much like Sin Fein) has a military and a political wing. The political wing needs to be acknowledged.
The conflict in Ireland lasted hundreds of years. Many times the British thought they had completely subdued and assimilated the Irish but violence still broke out. Israel should realise it isn't possible to completely destroy a people.

Meanwhile, in Finchley pro Palestinians have driven through shouting 'F* all of them. F* their mothers, f* their daughters and show your support for Palestine. Rape their daughters, and we have to send a message like that. Please do it for the poor children in Gaza.' Quote from The Mail on Sunday.
The government has ordered that the police become involved.
I'll say no more.

Yes, this has always happened with any nation or group which has been slowly destroyed, apartheid, slavery, etc. In the end, the violence erupts and becomes uncontrolable.

Here is the map, again

images.app.goo.gl/W4yDF7kv6A