Cynically both Palestinian Elections and Israeli elections are won by 'security'. Hammas profits from Israeli crackdowns and responses, as does the hawks of Israel, as a conflict position between the two eliminates 'negotiated' settlements and removes moderate options from the equation.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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f*** me. I agree Jamie Martin.

Both sides are equally at fault. One cannot blame the Israelis for wanting to stop missiles being launched at their towns. One cannot but feel sympathy with the Palestinians.

However, both leaderships are doing what they are doing for politics. Not for the benefit of their people. For politics.

f*** both of the governments. I pray for the civilians who have no beef with the 'other' side. They just want to provide for their familis and lib a normal life. f*** politics.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02

I don't understand why Israel continues to be seen as the injured party when they continue to ignore the UN ruling that they return to the '67 border (didn't we invade Iraq for ignoring a UN ruling?) and herd the Palastinians into quasi concentration camps.

Anti-semitism, what absolute rubbish - how many deaths and how much land should the Palastianians lose before they retaliate?

I bet you were less forgiving when Argentina took the Falklands or Iraq took Kuwait.

They did of course reject the Partition Plan and, with hindsight, that was probably a mistake as they would be better off now had they accepted it. However at the time (and with hindsight) the Plan was a grossy unbalanced proposition and it is hardly suprising it was rejected then.

All sides have made huge errors in the last 80-odd years in dealing with the 'Israel issue', and that includes the UK and the international community. I do not think anyone nowadays would propose the creation of a new nation state in a region surrounded by reluctant neighbours but, at the time, we didnt really consider the Arab states as being of great importance.

However, we have to deal with what we have now and this of course requires movement on both sides but primarily from Israel to acknowledge that they were given a unique opportunity to re-establish a jewish state and, if they want to preserve it, they need to be a lot less aggressive in their overall foreign policy. This does not mean simply accepting the attacks on their people, but it does mean that the response should be moderate and proportionate and with clear signs of regret that it should be necessary.

Only then, and with a much more constructive and less arrogant foreign policy, can Israel ever hope to be properly recognised by its neighbours (some of whom would be be prepared to do so, in theory, if the general mood within the arab community was less hostile to Israel).

On the Arab side, universal recognition of Israel is politically a long way away, but the moderate elements and states have to respond positively to any move by Israel to improve relations.

Will it ever happen? It doesnt seem likely but then neither did peace in Ireland 20 years ago. One lives in hope.

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand!

My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.

(Member of the School of Optimism 1969-2016 inclusive)

I was referring to the wider region but for the record the UN consider Israel still to be the occupying power.

If the Israeli Government wants my advice and I would be willing to assist.

I have prepared one of my own time capsules. I have placed some rather large samples of dynamite, gunpowder and nitroglycerin. My time capsule is set to go off in the year 3000. It will show them what we are really like.