I’m mad as hell at the liberal media for condemning Israel for defending itself in the face of terrorist attacks by radical Muslim extremists. The Oslo accords in 1993 would have established among other things, mutual recognition between the often antagonistic Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel. It would have also inaugurated an unprecedented era of economic cooperation and potential prosperity for which Israel would have been chiefly responsible. However, Arafat's fidelity missed the form. Lessons learned from it missed the point. Subsequent elections free and fair missed the right people.
Peace initiatives were further complicated because of these in 2006 as conflict intensified with the election of Hamas to govern Gaza. The economic consequences for the past seven years have been keenly felt by Palestinians and Israelis alike. Money which should have funded the interior ministry was diverted instead to the bellicose Al Qassam brigades to finance an ostensibly interminable array of rocket attacks against Israel. While Israel showed great restraint and sensitivity to the collateral death and injury which a military offensive might bring, Hamas unapologetically abrogated its promises to make life better for the folks.
Criticism in light of history is as disappointing as the reportage by Israel's critics is morally and intellectually incongruous. Hamas is hellbent upon destroying Israel by raining thousands of rockets down upon the Jewish state since the beginning of the second intifada in 2000. The Israelis have lived under that threat for more than 14 years and have had enough. Hence the fighting. Conversely, the Palestinians have proven time and again unwilling to live in peace with their neighbors.
Neither Israel nor America deliberately target and revel in the death of innocents. But remember that Hamas is predicated on Israel's destruction and murdering every Jew in existence. As politically and polemically attractive as peace at all costs through a two-state solution might be, it will not avail. Neither will tendentiously sympathizing with and apologizing for terrorists and their proxies. The PA must divorce themselves from Hamas and renounce terror. The folks must support Israel par excellence.