Peace in the Middle East

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

My sentiments exactly maddyone.

Boz

The thing is David, what respect does the USA have for the UN. Remember how they pushed through the war on Iraq.
We live in the age of the Hawk not the Dove.

I’m trying to think of a previous war where the UN has sustained one side on this scale, Gaza aid has been supporting fighters as well as civilians. They have also been paying at least some of the combatants.

Usually civilian refugees are separate from fighting.

The US wants this settled and Trump will put pressure on Israel to compromise

Nobody should be surprised when Israel resumes its war.

From today’s Telegraph:
(Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army officer)

“So why is Hamas agreeing to release some of the hostages now? The original proposal on which this deal is based was made in March last year. Since then Hamas repeatedly refused to go along with it. But now its situation has deteriorated dramatically. Its betrayal by Hezbollah, which vowed to fight on until the IDF left Gaza then agreed to its own ceasefire, was a body-blow. The fall of Assad was another. But particularly devastating was the failure of Iran to come to the rescue.

Hamas is now isolated and to crown it all Donald Trump is entering the White House next week. They fear that will unshackle Israel from the constraints of Joe Biden who tried his best to prevent Netanyahu’s “total victory”. They also fear that Trump will do what Biden failed to do: force Qatar to expel their political leadership and also reduce the international pressure on Israel on which Hamas depends. There is every likelihood Trump will sanction the International Criminal Court and at the same time put the boot into the Israel haters at the UN.

All that is why Hamas has now accepted Israel’s red line: the IDF will maintain military forces in key strategic areas in Gaza and Israel retains the right to resume the war when the ceasefire ends. The terrorist organisation will meanwhile be planning to utilise its international backers to pressure Israel not to resume hostilities – including the useful idiots who parade on our streets and university campuses every week.

But while any hostages are retained in Gaza and while Hamas continues to represent a threat to its people, Israel can and should go back on the attack. For that they will have Trump’s backing. His nomination for National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, told Fox News: “I’d like to make something very clear to the Israelis, if you need to go back in, we are with you. We are 100 per cent committed to destroying Hamas as a military organisation”.

“His nomination for National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, told Fox News: “I’d like to make something very clear to the Israelis, if you need to go back in, we are with you. We are 100 per cent committed to destroying Hamas as a military organisation”.

So they are open to Hamas to form a new civilian government, we will see soon enough if Hamas renounces its aim of destroying Israel.

silverlining48

Let us not forget the much respected Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu as well as a number of Israeli leaders have been regarded as terrorists in the past. It’s too easy to fling the word terrorist around, , it can change in an instant.

Absolutely spot-on post, silverlining

If Hamas become ' not terrorists' it will mean western values will have plummeted to a despicable level.

valdali

silverlining48

Let us not forget the much respected Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu as well as a number of Israeli leaders have been regarded as terrorists in the past. It’s too easy to fling the word terrorist around, , it can change in an instant.

Absolutely spot-on post, silverlining

No, not spot on

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was not a terrorist like Hamas leaders and others and to label him as such is wrong.
He believed in achieving aims by non-violent means. Being a political activist is not the same as being a violent terrorist.

I greatly admired both men but he was part of a terrorist organisation quite rightly, fighting apartheid.
The point I was making was that one persons terrorist is another persons freedom fighter.

Desmond Tutu was not a terrorist, he was a pacifist and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I was so blessed to have tea with him, he was a man of deep faith, and compassion

What a wonderful experience that must have been Annie.
A precious memory.

Desmond Tutu was not a terrorist.

I met him too, Anniebach, when he was a student here and I was a teenager, but didn't really realise the significance of who he was.

It was Maddy he came to a Cathedral where I was a member,
I had joined campaigns to free Mandela, I am not overdoing
it when I say he was warm, loving, fun, a devout Christian

The world needs Desmond Tutu’s

The Israeli Security Cabinet is considering it at the moment, (so far there are some against it) then it it to be voted by the government. Netanyahu says if all finalised, hostages "are expected to be released as early as Sunday"

This is the "deal" as far as is known
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5klgv5zv0o

there are 3 stages envisaged, I have to say to would be amazing if it all proceeds.

Allira

Desmond Tutu was not a terrorist.

I met him too, Anniebach, when he was a student here and I was a teenager, but didn't really realise the significance of who he was.

I also met him when I worked in South Africa. The most wonderful, fun christian man.. who was also very effective in changing his society alongside Mandela..

I love his interview with the Dalai Lama about joy.. I agree that social changes can be made peacefully eg Gandhi and Martin Luther King

ALL Freedom Fighters..

I can still see Mandelas face as he walked out of prison after serving 25 years, he was dignified and his speech was impressive. I was so pleased when I saw his statue on the south bank in London.
I remember Desmond Tutu, his ever smiling face, and also the interview he had with the Dalai Lama. He was truly inspirational. Yet they were described as terrorists, certainly Mandela, because the government at the time was promoting apartheid and expecting equality was unacceptable to them.
It was only very recently that the USA took Mandela off their list of terrorists. 2008 I think… not so long really.

maddyone

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

There will never be lasting peace as long as Israel behaves in such a way as to create terrorists.

Genocide is not conducive to a population that is willing to cooperate with those committing genocide.

Whitewavemark2

maddyone

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

There will never be lasting peace as long as Israel behaves in such a way as to create terrorists.

Genocide is not conducive to a population that is willing to cooperate with those committing genocide.

I completely agree WW2

pascal30

Whitewavemark2

maddyone

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

There will never be lasting peace as long as Israel behaves in such a way as to create terrorists.

Genocide is not conducive to a population that is willing to cooperate with those committing genocide.

I completely agree WW2

The historic evidence says otherwise, Germany and Japan were utterly defeated and genocide by the allies was the accusation, yet the population accepted that they were defeated and did cooperate.

When Gaza decides to cooperate there will be peace,

maddyone

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

reading this is truly chilling. Perhaps the most terrifying thing I have read in a very long time.

David49

pascal30

Whitewavemark2

maddyone

There will never be a lasting peace as long as one Hamas member or supporter remains.

There will never be lasting peace as long as Israel behaves in such a way as to create terrorists.

Genocide is not conducive to a population that is willing to cooperate with those committing genocide.

I completely agree WW2

The historic evidence says otherwise, Germany and Japan were utterly defeated and genocide by the allies was the accusation, yet the population accepted that they were defeated and did cooperate.

When Gaza decides to cooperate there will be peace,

Germany and Japan were the perpetrators- the Palestinians are not in this genocide.

Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 50yrs, plus this current war was started when Palestinians killed 1200 and took hostages.

There will be no peace unless Gaza accept defeat

David49

Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 50yrs, plus this current war was started when Palestinians killed 1200 and took hostages.

There will be no peace unless Gaza accept defeat

why should so many completely innocent Palestinians suffer and also accept defeat.. They've had their lands and property taken away and destroyed, thousands of them killed, and I would warrant that many of them didn't want to live under Hamas rule.. they've been unable to fish their seas (beyond a few miles) unable to easily travel abroad.. had to live off foreign subsidies, they haven't been free for over 70 years.. These ordinary Palestinians people did not capture hostages..

When is the world going to help enable these poor people to live in their own country in peace and freedom...

pascal30

David49

Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 50yrs, plus this current war was started when Palestinians killed 1200 and took hostages.

There will be no peace unless Gaza accept defeat

why should so many completely innocent Palestinians suffer and also accept defeat.. They've had their lands and property taken away and destroyed, thousands of them killed, and I would warrant that many of them didn't want to live under Hamas rule.. they've been unable to fish their seas (beyond a few miles) unable to easily travel abroad.. had to live off foreign subsidies, they haven't been free for over 70 years.. These ordinary Palestinians people did not capture hostages..

When is the world going to help enable these poor people to live in their own country in peace and freedom...

It will never happen. They are too close to Iran who fund Hamas.