Two from my it-looks-so obvious-now-but-it’s-too-late list:
1. If only Israel had given over the West Bank to be a Palestinian state years ago. It was extra territory, after all - not a part of the original Israel.
2. If only Israel had not given over control of Gaza to Hamas. What the hell were they thinking? That an extremist Muslim organization that pledged to kill Jews and wipe Israel from the face of the Earth would change its mind and be peaceful neighbors?
@johnldeboer But of course, when you're wondering what people are thinking, often the answer is "they're not".
@AskTheDevil That goes way beyond cynicism, and it’s hard to believe it could be the case. Israel has enough enemies around them without adding Hamas.
@johnldeboer You may be operating under the assumption that there are not people who seek power, who are willing to use or allow violence against their own and others to get what they want.
Those people do exist.
And those people are not "Israel". They're people who have and seek power, who _use_ Israel.
Sort of like how people like Trump would use the USA if allowed.
@AskTheDevil Of course you’re right about those in power or wannabes using external threats for their own ends. But Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2007. Netanyahu, Israel’s biggest firebrand now, was not in position then to orchestrate that. But perhaps other players in Israel did with that threat in mind to be used later. I don’t know.
@johnldeboer What I'm seeing is there's a powerful nation with lots of money, weapons, and allies, and a small population held in apartheid.
There's also a disgusting terror group that pretends it represents the oppressed, but commits murder and atrocity in their name.
And somehow, the big guys have not managed to beat the terror group in what, 50, 60 years?
And mostly civilians pay the price?
Someone wants this fight to be forever.
@AskTheDevil I hear you, man.
@johnldeboer I've been watching political machinators use the threat of "external threats" that they manipulate and create so they can gain or retain power since... when did the pyramid of Djoser go up?
@johnldeboer To your question of "what were they thinking", I think there are some powerful elements in Israeli politics that prefer to have Hamas _because_ they're an excellent boogeyman.
They're a way to stay in power. And there are people who like wealth and power, and don't care if they kill their own or other people to maintain it. They'd give Hamas missiles just so they'd use them.
I think we have elements like that here in the US, too.