By "durable and sustainable" she means the Israelis get to continue starving a million Palestinians to death, but the Palestinians won't be allowed to fight back!

Now we see what it would have been like if the USA had defended Hitler!

It is too bad the Palestinians are suffering thru this - but they chose to do it this way. Should they give up Hamas - it all goes away. If you have'nt been there it is best you just keep quiet. Hamas is only furthering the cause of Iran, not the Palestinian people. The Hamas leadership, as usual, is in "hiding". They are really getting good at it. It is really, really, too sad.

Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist and vows to destroy it.
Hamas launches it's missiles from densely populated areas, cynically using the palestinian people as human sheilds.
Hamas aims at city centers in order to hurt as many civilians as possible.
That is what makes Hamas a terrorist faction.
That is why all the free world must support Israel in it's fight against Hamas as part of the worldwide fight against terror

Yoel - Israel needs to stop stealing Palestinian lands for settlement construction. If it happened here we would resist with more than rockets.

Israel was willing to go very far to reach a peaceful resolution to a suffering it have not chosen to inflict in the first place. Yet Hamas and the other Refusal organization worked hard to sabotage any "compromise" which will involve recognition of the right of Jews to rule of Islamic land. This is a terror organization with fundamental ideologies. I have very little faith in their ability to accept any peaceful co-existence plan with Israel.

"The timing has certainly been most peculiar - not only has it been on the eve of Israeli elections, but also in the midst of a presidential transition."

kat | Jan 2, 2009 11:58:55 AM

Ever in search of conspiracy theories, even though the obvious explanation serves well enough?

Hamas suspended the six month cease fire, and has began firing rockets into Israel - more than 80 rockets landed in Israel on Christmas alone!

The Israeli incursion is a direct response to Hamas firing rockets into Israel - that's all.

If, as so many have argued here, Hamas has "the right to defend itself". the same must also apply to Israel.

More's the pity for innocent Palestinians that they must suffer under political leadership that is willing to sacrifice their safety so that Hamas can exercise its "right" to fire rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilian targets.

However, the citizens of Gaza DID elect these miserable gangsters to lead them.

It is very simple, Israel said back when it left Gaza: "We dismantled our settlements in Gaza - we are out - but if you shoot at us from the area we vacated, we shall hit back with all our might" but never made true on its promise - until now.
Would Rice ask for Cease-Fire if rockets were falling on US land?!

NJ - When do they dismantle the 1000+ settlements in the West Bank? When do they stop adding more settlements in the West Bank? Israel left Gaza because it was too costly, not because they are trying to do the right thing.

Isn't it about time Palestinians take responsibility for their government and economy? They outnumber Jews at exorbitant ratios, have received billions in aid, but still can't manage to become sustainable. They need to stop playing the blame game.

"as part of the worldwide fight against terror", Israel can show good faith by returning these men to the US for trial as suspects in the 9/11 attacks:

There will be no sustainable solution until the combatants stop drinking the wine of pride. .............

See ya Rice. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Hamas has a blood oath to destroy Israel and will not stop its effort until Israel is wiped off the map or Hamas is permanently defeated in death and principle. Both the President and President-Elect are missing in action (holidaying) while hundreds die and we have to listen to this person having a delusional breakdown as our US spokesperson?
Time to clean out the Stygian Stables.
Shame on this Administration and shame on the silent President-Elect.

Although Hammas was elected in a public and supposedly free elections, we can see their tolerance for internal opponents (filmed on video: Hammas guys pushed to their death 3 Fatah leaders, from the 11th floor of Gaza buldings).
Not to mention their "martyres" and bombs aimed at innocent israelies (according to hammas - all Israelies, including babies and seniors, are NOT innocent - a horrible concept).
I will raise both hands for Israel and against Hammas.
May god be with you.

Hammas is a virus not only on Israel but also on Egypt and other more moderate middle-east countries. It is true Israel is its prime target for now, but believe you me, if Israel won't stop this radical terrorist regime in a divisive battle, their next targets will be against US population and the rest of the free world. You can't talk to radicals who's sole will is to suicide and kill with them children and innocent people! This war is not only Israel's war! Be strong, we are with you, Israel.

Er - Nice fearmongering. They are coming here eh? Actually they resist occupation and rightfully so.

"I never felt more SAFE than when I walked UNARMED in the Indian villages". ~ William Penn (Quaker) French-Indian War

Hamas is guilty of firing rockets at Israel, but the cause of the issue is not being argued. Israel is an occupier of palestinian land and Hamas chose the violent approach to enforce Israel to back down. Take a look at the map and you will be able to see how Israel broke up Gaza from the west bank. Food supplies and the most basic sources of life that go into Gaza are controlled by Israel on a daily basis. Palestinians are living under Israel's mercy, so would you hold them responsible if they retaliate for their life?
I am not arguing if Hamas is a terrorist group or not, but if it is, does that make Israel a terrorist country by reacting in a more vicious way? Terrorist groups should be eliminated, should Israel be eliminated too?
Israel on the other hand has moved its war to the streets of Gaza killing children and demolishing civilian buildings.
Israel is committing a war crime as we speak, and the world should hold them responsible for the genocide.

Dear Virginia

using so many inaccurate facts wouldn't make your argument stronger.

Israel didn't occupy any land unless it was for its defense.
The Israel state was formed in the current territory as a result of the United Nations' resolution since 1948. most of the world supported this resolution by the way, including GB that was Palestine occupier, the USA and even the Soviet Union. The Arab world didn't. They declared immediate war.
Since then, Israel formed peace with Egypt and Jordan. Peace talks were also commenced with Syria. Only the Palestinian Arabs didn't show up to the table, and formed the deadliest Terror organizations ever.

Under its own resolution, Israel left Gaza.For 7 years southern Israel suffered rockets bombardment from Gaza's terrorists.

People were actually killed. A new generation of children grew up to the reality of sirens, alerts and death.

Do you suggest they should have waited for a miracle or try to defend themselves?

Saying all that I am also concerned with the Gaza population suffering their share, but putting Israel in the criminal position is the easy way out for someone who do not want to see things clearly - The world is threatened by terrorism, and instead of getting rid of them and the ones that finance them it accuses nations, like Israel and USA, who try to defend themselves, and as a result innocent people get hurt.

Ittai

Ittai is correct. Israel left Gaza a few years ago and left all its occupation settlements in Gaza. The Palestinians could have stopped the circle of violence there, but instead the Hammas (in a very bloody war on the Fattah) took Gaza and turned it into a rocket launcher deep into Israel.
If someone would have fired rockets on my hometown for 8 years, I promise you I would have expected my government to take action…

The main problem is that Hammas is using the poor population of Gaza as a human shield. They are launching their rockets from heavily populated areas, using their own holly places as storerooms for weapons, ext.