PA losing it

My worst fears already coming true:

The more bombs in Gaza, the more Hamas’s support seems to be growing at the expense of the Palestinian Authority, already considered corrupt and distant from average Palestinians.

“The Palestinian Authority is one of the main losers in this war,” said Ghassan Khatib, an independent Palestinian analyst in the West Bank city of Ramallah. “How can it make gains in a war in which it is one of the casualties?”

–NY Times 1/15/08

The future of Israel

Bob Simon has a sobering look at the future of Israel.  Some excerpts:

“… I think history has passed it [a two-state solution] by..”  because removal of the settlers is not politically and militarily viable.  So many of the soldiers are religious guys the army would break apart.

“.. might have been possible with Rabin, which is why he was killed.”

Within 20 years Palestinians will outnumber Jews.  What happens then?  Three options:

1. Give them the vote (unthinkable)
2. Ethnic cleansing
3. Apartheid

Some say apartheid is already here.. for example settlers have their own highways that Palestinians are not allowed to use.

“The settlers went in there knowing that their objective was to prevent a Palestinian state”

“Gaza has become the largest prison in the world”

Anything you want Olmert

That the Israeli prime minister can just call up our president and order that we do X or Y is outrageous.

I don’t know what share of Jewish vote Obama needs for reelection, but this is something else that needs to change starting next Tuesday.

Oh and Olmert needs to shut up.

Propaganda

If Hamas is rigging schools with explosives to make Israel look bad, why isn’t Israel allowing journalists into Gaza?

296 to 1

“By last night, the exchange rate stood at 296 Palestinians dead for one dead Israeli” -Robert Fisk

I don’t see how Israel can expect goodwill from the world or understanding from Arabs with such asymmetric response. Or how it can possibly not produce a whole new generation of suicide bombers.

The whole thing comes off as Israel wanting to teach the people of Gaza a lesson for voting Hamas in.  Is that too cynical?

I’m most afraid Israel may have just delivered the West Bank to Hamas as well, and destroyed any chance for peace another decade.

Charles’ write up has some great quotes.

Mitchell Bard makes a good case for Israel’s actions and justification.  And I agree 400 rockets cannot stand.  And yet I think they’re playing right into Hamas’ hands.