Rocket hits Sderot home

[oberliner]

Sderot under attack: At least seven Qassam rockets were fired Friday evening from the northern Gaza Strip at western Negev communities. One house in Sderot sustained a direct hit in the latest barrages.

The rocket that hit the home penetrated it through the roof while a girl, her parents, and her grandfather were eating dinner. All four suffered from shock.

Rafi Peretz, whose house was directly hit, told Ynet: "We just finished dinner when we heard the 'Red Color' alert. We didn't even have time to run to our fortified room…we were very lucky and it was a great miracle that we were all on the first floor, so nobody was hurt."

Peretz's neighbors called on Prime Minister Olmert to come to their home and live there for a week. One neighbor said: "The Qassams don't stop even on Friday."

An eyewitness at the scene told Ynet: "The Qassam hit the second floor of a home in the neighborhood. The neighbors came out to see where it landed, and then another 'Red Color' alert was sounded…several people hit the ground and were scared to move, because the barrage continued."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504467,00.html

[Adsos Letter]

1. What, in your opinion, is the workable answer to this?

Really an honest, non-flamebait question...I see that whole situation as, in practical purposes, a giant Gordian Knot...what is the policy sword which will cut through it? :shrug:

[Ian David]

2. Well, certainly having The Church of $cientology running around there is NOT helping. n/t

[Adsos Letter]

4. Agreed...neither are any of the Fundie groups trying to goad the Israeli's into building a 3rd Templ...

which only gives aid and comfort to the "Greater Israel" folks in the Israeli socio-political structure...

I really am serious, and not flame-baiting, when I ask what the OP sees as a way to slice that Gordian knot...or finding the key section of the rope which will allow the systematic untangling of it....

[oberliner]

6. There needs to be a comprehensive peace agreement between both sides

Israelis and Palestinians need to sit down together and they need to each make compromises towards the creation of two states living side by side at peace with one another.

Once we have a president who is actually knowledgable about the region and willing to engage his or herself completely in the process, we can really help to mediate between the parties.

Bill Clinton, in my view, came very close to helping forge a lasting peace between the two sides. I am hopeful that either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama would be able to pick up where he left off.

[Adsos Letter]

7. I agree with you in theory and principle; however,...

the log jam is in the willingness of the parties to engage honestly and, to some degree, disinterestedly. I agree with you that Clinton came closest but even he was frustrated with Arafat's unwillingness to compromise, even though offered about 95% of what he asked for (I am only focusing on Arafat because his attitude most readily comes to mind; put someone like Netanyahu in as leader of Israel and we have the same problem.)

Obviously Arafat is dead, but Hamas remains unwilling to accept the existence of Israel...and the tit-for-tat between Israel and the Palestinians vis-a-vis violence is only adding scores to settle.

Maybe the key is in how to help them WANT to live together...I don't know how we go about that, outside of throwing money at the problem, which isn't an incentive we can afford at the moment, imho, unless of course you weigh it against the potential cost of not doing it.

If they could be convinced to nationalize Jerusalem under a UN mandate and allow Jewish religious practice on the Temple Mount, alongside the already extant Islamic sites, maybe they could get a handle on things.

But I think that pretty-much flies in the face of religious and historical realities...

I think your ideas are correct, but I wonder if it is a case of "you can't get there from here." :)

[madeline_con]

3. I don't see an answer, only more questions...

Even with Palestinian statehood, Hamas has promised no quarter.

There is the other side, which asks if Israel should recognize a Plaestinian state.

I can't see how either side can compromise and save face.

I think it's a shame that old religious texts and the idea of being "chosen" is where all this started.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Yes...

I don't see any solution either, short of a complete paradigm shift in thinking...on both sides...

[TheMadMonk]

8. No quarter. NOT No MERCY. There is a subtle difference.

One which, hopefully, Hamas is aware of.

If they mean what they say, it is essentially a declaration that they will not accept any compromise deal.

What could and should work is a complete Israeli withdrawal from ALL occupied territories. No exceptions whatsoever. Settlers may choose to remain with legal permanent residency, but will reside subject to Palestinian law, and Israel will not be permitted to offer anything but consular support.

The Palestinian government is then given say two-five years to police its own people with the full understanding that if they don't, Israel will be back and will not be leaving the second time around. However, Israel would be required to offer full citizenship (with all the headaches that would entail) to any persons in the re-occupied territories. Further Israel would be required to grant permanent residency to any who refuse citizenship.

Thus both sides should have a very strong interest in making civil (if not peaceful) coexistence a reality.

[Adsos Letter]

9. Interesting approach...

although 2-5 years would offer the Palestinians ample time to make an Israeli re-occupation an onerous task indeed.

[TheMadMonk]

10. Only if Palestine is willing to offer itself up for total annihilation ...

...in the hope that Arabic nations with a history of not giving a shit for them as a people, will avenge their demise.

[Adsos Letter]

11. I can't argue with you about the Arab nations' abandonment of the Palestinians

but, if given the outer range of 5 years, that reoccupation would come at a pretty horrific cost, I think, and might place the Palestinians, once again, as a pawn in an excuse to strike Israel.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.