In Which I Weigh in on Israel & Palestine

"I regret this post even as I begin writing it. Israel & Palestine must be the world's most intractable conflict now, maybe ever, in the world's most disputed region now, maybe ever. In fact, check out this animation from mapsofwar.com on control of the Middle East:

So, I try to avoid thinking too much about events over there. It just s*cks, nothing I can do about it. I do think that long term, some kind of Palestinian state is needed to peel the moderates from both sides away from the extremists from both sides. That may stem the violence eventually, but there is certainly enough excess hate in the area so that a rational solution is impossible in my lifetime at least."
IBC

If your unsure about the Israeli actions in Gaza, just think about their last war with Hizbollah. Where is Hizbollah today, do they dare fire rockets, or come to the rescue of Hamas, would they open a new front and try to split the Israeli front. No? Why not? Could it be the "cease fire" they signed, or did they learn their lessons, for now.

You know you kill off enough of the suicidal element, and maybe you can work with those left alive.

I do not see many other options.