How long can Israel and Palestine maintain peace in the region?

2021-05-21T03:10:30-04:00

The war between these two states lasted 11 days, where both sides shelled one another. Given this 11-day war, the question is how long can these two adversaries maintain peace in the region; can the two sides compromise to achieve unity or separation of state?

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made May 21 at 2021 3:48 AM

2021-05-21T03:48:13-04:00

The truth is this - does Hamas want peace. For all intents and purposes, the answer is no, they do not. Israel has tried numerous times to negotiate with Hamas and what they formerly were, the PLO, with nothing to show for it. As long as Hamas targets Israeli civilians, then there will never be peace.

Put yourself in Israels shoes, from inception, the entire region around them have wanted to exterminate them, starting two major wars, and hundreds of intense conflicts with most of the intense conflicts targeting Israeli civilians. The United States invaded both Afghanistan and Iraq in the so called "War on Terror" as retaliation for 1 horrible attack on our civilians, yet want to criticize Israel for defending itself from a clear and present hostile entity that launched hundreds of rockets at civilian cities within Israel, and have done so for decades. That Palestine still exists is testament to Israels continued efforts towards a peaceful solution. If this was the United States Hamas was attacking, then Palestine would have ceased to exist decades ago.

I really get a kick out of Americans, living in comfort and privilege, relatively safe from concerted efforts to kill innocent civilians on a daily basis, having the audacity to question Israel after an attack against them.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made May 21 at 2021 10:02 AM

2021-05-21T10:02:20-04:00

This has been an emotional battle since WWII with Americans. I think that emotion started because of guilt over how America acted toward the "Jewish problem" in Nazi Germany.
Now, we have formed opinions based on the previous opinions.
The world needs to take a step back and help find a answer to this problem. The only sensible answer is a separate state for the Palestinians. Either that or absorption by neighboring nations. However, those neighboring nations do not want to assume the responsibility for doing that.

So, sometimes we must face the reality that some problems have no solution. Perhaps this conflict is doomed to continue forever.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 10:12 AM

2021-05-21T10:12:38-04:00

Yes, we have seen significant progress toward peace over the last few years. As more mideast nations enter peaceful relationships with Israel the state sponsors of Hamas will end their proxy war.

Response by SPC David S. made May 21 at 2021 11:05 AM

2021-05-21T11:05:20-04:00

Iran -> Hamas -> Israel

As long as Iran is able and willing to support Hamas there will be conflict between Palestine and Israel. I feel the real more larger problem is Gaza only exists largely impart due to the foreign aid it receives which is less than what Israel receives. As such the chances that Palestinian national self-determination will ever be realized grows dimmer each day. With 40% unemployment and zero economic growth the future looks rather bleak for Palestine. On top of this donor budget support fell from 32% of GDP in 2008 to just 3.5% in 2019.

As such without any real economy Hamas is being funding in large part by Iran to do Iran's dirty work in undermining Israel - they are hired to do whatever Tehran cooks up.

As well there are others in the region funding Hamas like Saudi Arabia.

Further to complicate matters Biden is considering lifting sanctions in order to get Iran back at the table in what I consider rather naïve thinking that Iran will hold up their end of the deal.

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/irans-islamist-proxies

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-agrees-to-increase-hamas-funding-to-30-million-per-month-report/

Iran’s Islamist Proxies in the Middle East

Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has built a network of proxies across the Middle East. At of beginning of 2020,Tehran had allies among more than a dozen major militias, some with their own political parties, that challenged local and neighboring governments. Iran’sRevolutionaryGuardsand the elite Qods Force provided arms, training and financial support to militias and political movements inat least six countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, the...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 21 at 2021 11:55 AM

2021-05-21T11:55:06-04:00

I would say unkown. Insurgents or terrorists will be unpredictable in timing their attacks. They use one Principle of War: Surprise.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 4:39 PM

2021-05-21T16:39:09-04:00

It didn't even last a day. The Israeli army attacked Palestinians outside the Al Aqsa mosque (which is how things started 11 days ago). Thousands of worshipers were there for Friday prayers. They Israeli army even attacked journalists with batons, called them "liars" when they showed press credentials.

So...does Israel really want peace? Hmm.

Response by SPC Russ Bolton made May 21 at 2021 6:59 PM

2021-05-21T18:59:37-04:00

It seems that Hamas has been prodding Isreal for years now . The peace must be something that they do not want. It's a shame because of all of the innocent lives that are being lost because of some that just want to fight and to let Isearl be shown as the bad guys.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 8:49 PM

2021-05-21T20:49:46-04:00

How long? However long it takes to reload. It is a travesty. Unfortunately throughout the conflict, the radicals fueled by the various external interest groups, most of which are not spilling blood in the region, continue to destroy any hope of real peace. We may want to take heed as we are well on our way into the same abyss (albeit that the triggers and interest groups, both domestic and foreign, are somewhat different). As for Israel and Palestine, apartheid, social and economic oppression, and sheer arrogance are doing nothing for Israel's cause, while denying the right to exist, specifically targeting civilians militarily, and supporting terrorist and criminal endeavors locally and abroad, does nothing for Palestine's cause. As with many such wars, it is less the cause, which could be mitigated by compromise and more the blood spilled which can't be, that makes it easy to perpetuate the conflict by those interested in it. Aside from a non-corrupt fair representative self-government instituted and regulated by an International Oversight Agency, where said agency has ultimate and independent executive control, blocks other outside influences, allows for peace being the norm for the vast majority of the population for a number of generations, and which creates economic stability for all population groups (i.e. creates something to lose), I believe there is nothing that will truly solve this problem. A similar intervention was necessary and effective in instituting a lasting peace in Europe after World War II.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made May 21 at 2021 9:47 PM

2021-05-21T21:47:03-04:00

If you get rid of Hamas and Hezbollah, they could most likely live in peace.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 9:48 PM

2021-05-21T21:48:08-04:00

My opinion, not long.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 10:27 PM

2021-05-21T22:27:15-04:00

As long as Hamas is an organization, not long. Isreal has a right to defend itself from an Iranian proxy that wants them wiped off the earth

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made May 21 at 2021 11:13 PM

2021-05-21T23:13:08-04:00

It will last until the next rocket flies out of the Gaza.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made May 21 at 2021 11:15 PM

2021-05-21T23:15:15-04:00

This peace might not last very long. The one after that, however, just might. That's the one established after Hamas no longer exists in the Gaza.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made May 22 at 2021 1:14 PM

2021-05-22T13:14:59-04:00

Hamas has stated that its ultimate goal is the destruction of the State of Israel. Hamas, with the strong support of Iran, initiated these hostilities and fired over 4000 rockets at Israel, targeting innocent civilians. Hamas also employed its usual tactics of hiding its weapons in or adjacent to schools, hospitals and civilian housing, in essence hiding behind non-combatants. Then when the Israel Defense Forces target the Hamas offensive weapons, Hamas hopes to produce non-combatant casualties and use them to blame Israel. The IDF in contrast takes extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties, using a variety of messaging techniques to warn civilians of impending strikes. Israel also does not torture or murder captured fighters, unlike Hamas and the other terrorist groups.

Under such circumstances, fighting ruthless terrorist groups that won't abide by the widely-accepted laws of war, a stable peace is not possible. I don't think that Israel can hope to obtain a peaceful settlement with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad nor with any of the other terrorist and criminal groups attacking Israeli citizens. And if Iran gains nuclear weapons and attacks Israel, which it has previously sworn to do, the entire region is liable to go up in a nuclear haze.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 22 at 2021 5:37 PM

2021-05-22T17:37:43-04:00

This has been going on for 70 years and will not end until the Israelis have killed every palestinian

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Jun 21 at 2021 3:09 PM

2021-06-21T15:09:16-04:00

As soon as you see any progress there seems to be a setback. I do believe that Israel desires to live in peace, but there has been so much animosity for so long that it will take decades to allow for healing on both sides.
When an entire generation grows up not knowing the constant fear of being attacked by the other there may be peace. That will require the elimination of Hamas. It has become part of their DNA to hate Jews. That hatred trumps any desire to live in peace. The killing of a Jew is worth the death of one of their own.
Without the emergence of a Palestinian leader who truly wants to end the bloodshed, there will be no peace.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 11 at 2021 1:57 AM

2021-07-11T01:57:30-04:00

The really humorous aspect of Palestinean terrorist apologists and sympathizers is this - the Gaza strip was formerly part of Egypt, and was seized by Israel during a war in which a coalition of Arab countries tried to exterminate Israel. The Gaza Strip would not be in Israeli control if the Arab world did not continually try to kill Israeli citizens. I have zero sympathy.

The best way to end a conflict is to utterly destroy your enemy - go biblical upon them. The world has gotten too soft when it comes to this. Attack us, and we will eradicate you, live peacefully, and we all will prosper.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Jul 11 at 2021 3:03 PM

2021-07-11T15:03:29-04:00

Short answer: NO. It is a religious, racial, and down right hate for each other conflict. When will it end--how much longer will the earth be around?