Here's my thing. I grew up a reform Jew. My parents are liberal. My extended family is liberal. Even though I grew up in the Cardinal (football and political) red of Arizona I am a left-wing political junkie who will fight to the death for our side on taxes, immigration, abortion, the death penalty, gun control and gays (not my issues as much as the prior four), sex education, evolution, etc etc etc.
And I know Hamas is wrong here.
They just are. Hamas isn't to be blamed for all of the Palestinian issues since 1947, but here are facts.
a) The United Nations, who criticizes the hell out of Israel now, are the ones who made the partition plan in 1947. Jews in the land, some of whom were Holocaust survivors, took it gladly even though it didn't include Jerusalem. The Arabs didn't agree to the plan. The cry now is "right of return" but some of these folks who want to come back (well their grandchildren) didn't fight from within in 1948, they went to Egypt or Jordan and fought from there.
b) BHO is a VERY pro-Israel president. I fight with the idiots on NRO about this all the time. He hasn't made Israel do anything. Eisenhower forced Israel to return the Sinai to Egypt. Dick Nixon (well his aides as he was about to get fired and wasn't paying attention to the middle east) said no help in the Yom Kippur War if Mrs. Meir preempted (if only someone of her ilk rather than Bibi could be in charge now). She didn't and we helped, but thanks a lot, Dick. Carter loved Sadat and Begin drove him a little crazy. And I've read that part of the awkwardness between Barack and Jimmy is because of the region. Obama has been a great friend to Israel.
As for fault, well, it sucks sucks sucks the number of children dying. As much as I dislike Bibi's policies though, I do believe him and his cabinet that they are trying to minimize collateral damage. If they aren't shame on them but it doesn't change the following:
Even though some Kossacks and other libs think he doesn't truly want peace or a ceasefire, he wouldn't have a choice if Hamas did what they should do. They should, TOMORROW, come out and say "We're sorry. Israel, of course, through the declaration in 1947, has a right to exist. We lay down our arms. Abbas/Abu Mazen (whatever that idiot calls himself these days) is now in charge in Gaza. We hope to be a part of the government there. We also hope Israel can come to a truce with Syria and figure out the Golan Heights situation. We don't want any more of our children to die."
That would be it. You know what? Then Syria and Israel would come to an agreement on the Heights--maybe something like England/China/Hong Kong where Israel hung on for a few more years (20 to pick a number) and then would peacefully transition the land back. If Hamas did what I wrote in the last paragraph, Bibi and his successors would have no political choice but to go along.
And most importantly, children wouldn't be dying. But it's not on Israel to make the first move. It's just not. They are better off with the status quo than the opposition and have the battle-scars and the leverage. So if I'm Israel, sad as all this is, there's no blood on my hands because I really feel I don't have a choice. Yes it would be like us saying "oh well" after 9/11 to ask Israel to do nothing.
And I'll be done for now. I love this site and hope to see some of you at NN15 next year.