Teribus, you speak of Hamas as a kind of ticking time bomb that will go off again soon, and I'd have to concur with you that in all probability that we haven't seen the end of it or the rockets.

But if we want to see the end of this 'phenomena' don't you think it's both reasonable and necessary to ask why Hamas manages to keep going on, keep getting new recruits and so on despite everything that's been thrown at it and Gazans in general? Iran may - or may not - be sending weapons but in any case there still needs to be willing hands to fire them at the other end.

Don't you think that it's time the root causes of such seething hatred are tackled - and it exists on both sides. No humans could do that to each other unless they were either brain dead or willing to see the other side as something less equally human.

If you want to disarm Hamas the best way is to convince the Palestinians that you're on their side, that you can and will help them rebuild their shattered lives. Convince them you're not their enemy and not out to destroy them. As you yourself say, most Israelis are highly suspicious and fearful of Hamas thanks to Hamas' well-publicised comments about Israel.

But what kind of message do you think Israelis are sending to Palestinians when they drive them out of their farms and houses and plant their own people therte instead, when they shoot rock-throwing children dead? When they allow Israeli colonists go around armed and harassing palestinians, shooting them dead occasionally? Don't you think that Gazans have relatives and friends living in the West Bank or do you think the two regions contain totally alien populations to each other? What message does it send when you drop white phosphorous, bombs etc., etc., etc., on the places where they live? Whether or not the intention was simply to kill Hamas militants (and I'm sorry to say but I simply don't believe that, it was way too gratuitous and over-the-top) what difference does that make to the people who can't escape this hell or get out of harm's way, or who are told to take safety in one building by the same people that send a bomb or missile moments later. To say the least, even assuming all this stuff about phone calls and texts is true, don't you think it kind of sends a very mixed message?


Anyone who seriously wants the people in that region to manage to get along without wiping EACH OTHER out will have to realise sooner or later that what we've seen over the last few weeks is not going to work. I think I already asked this, but what have Hamas rockets achieved? Have they brought peace and security to the region or just more hatred, fear and resentment? What makes you think Israel's bombs and missiles will bring happier times?