I hate when people can't see the other side of an argument. I hold certain positions, but I can see where someone else might not be taking their views "to their logical conclusion" in my estimation. I can see why someone else might think the same of me. To be specific, I generally support Israel, but I can see why, with all that's in the news, someone might be unhappy with Israel at present. I don't want to argue any of this. I think most everyone in here is well meaning. Have mercy.
@AskTheDevil I understand. I don't see any people in here espousing the extermination of an entire class, ethnicity, or religion. Those people get a 
in five seconds.
@poemblaze Yeah. So I kind of take it personal-like when someone implies that I'm one of "those". ; )
@AskTheDevil Understood. I can also understand why others take the other side very personally. We can believe others are in error, but calling names isn't going to win any arguments.
There's a difference between thinking someone's position inevitably leads to a certain conclusion and thinking they're in favor of what you see as the inevitable conclusion.
@poemblaze Thank you. Exactamundo.
@poemblaze The Israel-Palestine problem is centuries old and complicated. There are many old biases at play.
First, Hamas. It is a terrorist organization that wants nothing less than the death of all Jews. The people of Gaza elected them as their leaders.
Secondly, Israel. They have created a caste system in Israel that treats Palestinians as less than Jews.
Both sides have reasons to hate the other, but at least the Israelis can hold themselves back. Hamas doesn't stop.
@danielbsmith I'm not disagreeing with any of that.
@poemblaze I think you and I are pretty much in perfect agreement.
@poemblaze At the risk of being misunderstood, I will simply say that the original two-state solution was Jordan and Israel. The Palestinians were supposed to relocate to Jordan meaning all of the remaining land was to become Israel. This would include all of Israel today plus the West Bank plus Gaza. The palestinians did not like this and wanted to subdivide the land a second time.
I don't know how to solve this but Hamas must be destroyed. I support an Israeli Marshall plan to rebuild Gaza.
@poemblaze to elaborate, I think Israel should pay to rebuild Gaza.
This will show the Palestinians that they don't hate them. The current Palestinians are a very young population. They only know the hatred that Hamas has taught them. Israel can change that but it will require public will and I'm not sure that exists yet.
Israel also needs to change. The judges that show favoritism to Jews over Palestinians must be reformed. Palestinians in Israel should be treated the same as Jews.
@danielbsmith The whole thing is a mess all around. The problem with just handing Gaza money to rebuild is that Hamas might well redirect the money to arms. Israel would have to rebuild it themselves, and they might well be shot at the whole time. There seem to be no great answers on either side.
@poemblaze Correct. All aid to Gaza must go directly to the Gazan people. Otherwise Hamas will just hoard it for themselves. Again, Hamas must be destroyed.
I am hopeful for a government post-Netanyahu that will accomplish these things.
@poemblaze The Bible records in Ezekiel that eventually Israel will be a land without walls. This is in preparation for some future army to invade. I consider the chapters at the end of Ezekiel to still be future. Basically the chapters after the valley of dry bones are future. That chapter describes the nation of Israel being reborn which happened historically in 1948.
Currently in Israel there are lots of walls. But with Egypt and Jordan there is peace. Peace also will come to Palestine.
@danielbsmith I am a Christian, but am very hesitant on interpreting biblical predictions unless they're clearly stated. If one believes Jesus is the messiah, very few people, if any, understood beforehand how his messiahship would work. I think most everyone, including believers, will be clueless until what is prophesied happens. Then what was predicted will make sense. #religion
@poemblaze I think that's a very wise position.
@poemblaze I'm very concerned that there are people who are claiming that people who ask for peace are bigots and terrorists. That's chilling.