January 9, 2009 12:01 AM
Differences
I have my issues with Israel's policies in Gaza, and with the Palestinians in general. That said, I have even more issues with Hamas and the way it perpetuates this conflict. Firing rockets at unarmed civilians is unacceptable, no matter what the provocation (and Israel is guilty of many crimes, I believe, in the manner in which it handles the occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza). That said, I keep imagining what the Mideast would be like if the Palestinian cause had been taken up by a Gandhi instead of an Arafat. My imaginary non-violent Palestinian nationalist would not fire missiles from crowded civilian areas, fully expecting that any response will almost certainly kill innocent civilians, who become unwilling cannon fodder in Hamas' relentless and immoral war against Israel.
