Well, Keith (*sigh*), Hamas knows, I know, Israel knows, Jim knows, the whole world knows (except for you, of course), that Hamas will not get rid of Israel nor kill all the Jews. Israel wants Hamas to drop that alleged aim, and Hamas won't do it. Why not? Because that would be seen as a terrible defeat. Do you know something, Keith? Israel has made it so much harder for Hamas to renounce that aim. Israel's disproportionate actions have radicalised the Gazan people, not to speak of its other Arab neighbours, and (heaven forfend, but what a risk it was) might, in the words of Paddy Pantsdown, have created thousands more terrorists. So well done Bibi for making your people so much more secure, eh? Equally, Israel can't lift the blockade. Why not? Because that also would be seen as a terrible defeat. No other reason really. It's the politics of the infant school playground being played out by both sides. Both sides, Keith. Take your racist blinkers off just for a minute. But the side with the big bomb is the side who could take the initiative. But they won't. Why not? Well, they don't have to. No-one ever leans on them. They enjoy the (ever-thinning) security of military bankrolling for a start. Oh yes, world opinion might be turning against Israel, and rightly so, but all that will do is make AIPAC sharpen its teeth ever more.

By the way, ever seen a yank on here criticising AIPAC, just about the most undemocratic setup it's possible to conceive of?