Hamas chief's Gaza visit poses challenge to Israel

World Dec. 08, 2012 - 06:39AM JST ( 7 )

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7 Comments

1

SuperLibDec. 08, 2012 - 08:11AM JST

The assassination came at a time of heavy Israeli-Palestinian fighting that saw a wave of Hamas suicide bombers detonate their explosives at civilian targets across Israel. “The resistance was launched from this humble house, Yassin the giant of Jihad operated from here. We pledge to continue his path,” Mashaal said.

Pretty much sums it up.
-6

Steric HindranceDec. 08, 2012 - 11:38AM JST

“Gaza is heating up as a greenhouse for terrorism and I have no doubt that Mashaal did not come to promote peace but rather to promote violence against Israel,” he [Danon] said.

I wouldn't be so sure. According to Haaretz (http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-peace-activist-hamas-leader-jabari-killed-amid-talks-on-long-term-truce.premium-1.478085):

“Hours before Hamas strongman Ahmed Jabari was assassinated, he received the draft of a permanent truce agreement with Israel, which included mechanisms for maintaining the cease-fire in the case of a flare-up between Israel and the factions in the Gaza Strip. This, according to Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin, who helped mediate between Israel and Hamas in the deal to release Gilad Shalit and has since then maintained a relationship with Hamas leaders. Baskin told Haaretz on Thursday that senior officials in Israel knew about his contacts with Hamas and Egyptian intelligence aimed at formulating the permanent truce, but nevertheless approved the assassination.”

Jabari was trying to negotiate a permanent truce agreement, and Israel assassinated him. Its clear that it is the Israelis whose "only language they understand ... is weapons”.
-6

Steric HindranceDec. 08, 2012 - 11:48AM JST

Abbas’s recent success at the U.N., where he won recognition of a de facto state, angered the Israeli government, which insists Palestinian statehood should be reached through a peace agreement and talks.

Israel feels it has the upper hand and they want to control the negotiations; ignoring international law and only offer an insignificant fraction of what rightfully belongs to the Palestinians. Thankfully, world opinion has greatly shifted in Palestine's favor, with almost all of humanity voting for recognition of Palestine. Soon after that vote, the world almost unanimously voted at the UNGA for a nuclear free Middle East, calling for Israel to join the NPT and allow inspections of their nuclear facilities. Interestingly, I have not seen this on the main stream media.
1

SuperLibDec. 08, 2012 - 07:17PM JST

Ah. So this whole time it's the Palestinians who have worked for peace. Alrighty.
0

Elbuda MexicanoDec. 08, 2012 - 07:34PM JST

What a mess!!!
0

realistDec. 11, 2012 - 07:54PM JST

Hamas is a terrorist group, responsible for vile acts pf terrorism. Gaza can be Palestine, but it has tp be controlled, and Israel will control it, in order to protect its people. Jerusalem will always be the capital city of Israel, not Palestine. The Middle East problem is all about Arabs bullying Israel. They just cannot stomach having a Jewish State in their midst. Israel has survived in the face of decades of evil terrorism from the PLO and Hamas and Al Qaeda. It will outlast them all.
1

lucabrasiDec. 11, 2012 - 08:04PM JST

@realist

The Middle East problem is all about Arabs bullying Israel. Marriage is be between one man and one woman, period. The EU has been a disaster for Europe. There has been no global warming since 1997.

You're on a roll. Don't let those damn "facts" get in your way.