Neapolitan

The Israelis are the Irish of the Middle East.

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Unknown Soldier

The point I was making, is that war has no rules in actual practice, making children fair game for being slaughtered as is any other civilian regardless of age. At times the perpetrators are brought to justice, but that's not always case especially when those perpetrators are on the winning side.

The Palestinians are actively seeking to enlarge the conflict, as they know that's their biggest hope of success, dead children and suicide bombers are a way to do this. Practically all of the middle east hates Isreal and they know by just pushing things further, the whole middle east could yet again unite behind them, which of course would mean war.

But the Irish are liked

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Metal Wars

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Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Rjinn

A lot of Palestinians are locked up in Gaza after the Israeli government decided to take over the borders. I think it's a bit ignorant to generalise their intentions considering the situation especially if it's about freedom. I really don't see how they're just trying to enlarge the conflict for success. They're protesting for a reason.

I don't agree with the suicide bombers, but I understand their struggle.

Most Middle Eastern states don't care enough to take action, or else they would have come to aid by now. Also Israel and Egypt have a peace treaty, and even though there are disagreements with how the government are handling military action recently, they don't desire to break it.

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last.fm

Unknown Soldier

Well Gaza was actually captured as the spoils of war in 1967 after Isreal had been invaded and beat the invaders, it was then given to the Palestinians and quickly became controlled by Hamas. Depending on your point of view Hamas are a terrorist organization and are actively involved in a conflict with Isreal, so when Isreal is being attacked by Hamas from the territory of Gaza, Isreal really didn't have much of a choice but to retaliate.

Oh they do care, they've lost so much prestige over the years after finishing second best to the Isrealis in military conflicts, the only difference now is that Iran would need to be the main organizer of anti-Isreali forces, as the other major powers in Egypt won't provoke another war (they would if they could) and Syria is engaged in its own domestic war and Iraq won't work with Iran.

Hamas know that their only chance of success is to provoke this into a much wider conflict, that is how an underdog seeks to win, history is littered with such examples.

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Metal Wars

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Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Newkie

I think it terms of popular opinion you'd definitely have to say that they care, Egypt being the prime example. Calls have often been made for intervention from a grassroots level and are increasing now that Mubarak is out and the Muslim Brotherhood are in.

Ever since the Six Day War in 1967 the Israeli's have been in the ascendancy and the gap in military technology/power has only widened between Israel and it's neighbours since. They couldn't even make a "war" of it even if they wished for it..

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Unknown Soldier

I'd agree with all that, which is why I've stated the importance of Iran in any anti-Isreali conflict.

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Metal Wars

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Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Newkie

Yeah true, even then though if Iran got involved you can bet the EU and the US would throw off any pretence of neutrality. I think it would take the involvement of Turkey as well as they're probably the most capable of competing with Israel militarily, but they won't get involved unless Israel seriously "goes to town" on the middle east, or endangers its own citizens.

But Turkey would never be an aggressor, there's not the same "empathy" for Palestinians there, not much love lost between the Turks and Arabs in general, and any aggression on Turkey's part would shut the door to entering the E.U.

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Unknown Soldier

Now we're hitting on the crux of the situation the wider conflict. Isreal would immediately be supported by the US and the UK would follow suit. The EU's other big players Germany and France might not get involved, enabling some of the EU's lesser lights yet again to follow the UK as with what happened in the Iraq conflict. Turkey I'm certain would side with Isreal and they are NATO members and want to be EU members. The other side of the coin would see a pro Arab league fronted by non-arabs in Iran and automatically backed by Russia.

This is all unlikely to happen to this degree, but it can't be ruled out, but whatever happend Isreal will continue to call the shots in their own backyard and I think a show-down betweeen Isreal and Iran is still on the cards.

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Metal Wars

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Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Unknown Soldier

Who was the smart mod that started this thread? They must be psychic as I was thinking that this topic needed its own thread here.

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Urban Hat€monger ?

Middle Eastern conflicts bore the shit out of me so I moved it to this forum where I hardly post so I didn't have to see it in the your day thread every 5 minutes.

You're welcome.

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