Why are the Palestinians so dependent on their mortal enemies, Surely their arabian friends for hundreds of miles to the east and south can help them out? Or Do they not want to Know?

Andrew O'Neill, Liverpool, England

The Old Testament said the ancient Israelites were a cruel and greedy people - "they saw the land of milk and honey, they wanted it, and they took it, murdering every, man, woman and child!" Today they repeat their behaviour from the past as they steal land in order to revive the ‘Greater Israel’ dream.
Zionists knew from the onset that they wanted a pure Jewish state which would mean getting rid of the indigenous people so they practise APATHEID and GENOCIDE to achieve their aims.
In its arrogance, Israel thumbs its nose at the civilised world "See what I can get away with? Who is to stop me when my protector is the USA? I want this land and I will take it! And if I have to deny basic human rights in Gaza, so be it! My propoganda machine - the Israel Lobby will convince the world that it is all the fault of the dispossessed people anyway!"
Jewish karma in the past was to be a dispossessed and scattered people.. this is also their future.

Southern Cross, Brisbane,

Muslims will have to learn to stop hating the existence and success of Israel.

Its as simple as that.

And until they understand this, they will and continue to suffer - and i have no sympathy.

Joe, Manchester,

To everyone and especially to Najib Yusuf - Egypt can supply Gaza with everything they need. The Gaza people are not trying to kill or destroy Egypt.
Why should Israel continue supplying them with anything while they want Israelis in the sea and Israel destroyed, they continue firing and hiting and hurting Israelis, and call for jihad - even teach their children hate and revenge instead of love and peace. Let Egypt supply their needs.
Isreal should not have surrendered so easily to world remarks. Israelis are being killed for their religion. Israelis bought most of the land prior and after independence. It is the Arabs who attacked Israel time and time again and refused all peace offers made to them. Enough is Enough. They should adhere the to U.N. vote for Israel. and live side by side in peace.

judith, Jerusalem, Israel

Hamas was founded in 1987. Hamas' charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. They are not talking about the Israel of 1948. Hamas leaders have declared that Hamas would stop armed struggle against Israel if Israel recognized the 1967 borders.

In 2006 legislative elections marked a victory for Hamas, which gained the majority of seats in the first fair and democratic elections held in Palestine, defeating Fatah. That's what Mr Bush wanted clean election but Fatah to win. So they banned Hamas.

Hamas was against Fatah's Mafia-style government, where the main point of being in public office is to get rich quick.
In the U.S., the General Accounting Office investigation of Arafat" wealth in 1995 said he was worth 8 to 14 billion USD. Were is all this money.

Israel is supporting Fatah and ignoring the Palestanian people there elected government Hamas.

mohsen, malaga, spain

Peter, Sydney, The Government of the World i.e. the UN have tried as per the Charter under which it was formed. As long as the US is complicit in the jews ignoring numerous UN resolutions we aren't going to get anywhere fast. What is the point of being signatories to the UN if you tear up the rules.

The US/UN and the coalition of the dummies' despite the people taking to the streets. illegally invaded an independent country without UN approval. The blatant emasculation of the UN coupled with the IOF murderous actions against the Palestinians is an embarrassment to the Muslims.
Why should they continue supplying those who are the source of their embarrassment with Oil when they can find alternative markets for their produce i.e. China, Russia etc.

The Iraq invasion has given rise to the Shiites who are now defenders of the Palestinians with their proxy Hamas. If the jews and the US ignore UN resolutions with impunity, how can we demand that the Shiites/Iran/Hamas 'heel'.

lydia, Brisbane, Queensland

Gaza needs Israel to operate. Hamas controls Gaza and is an enemy Israel. So Hamas, Israel's enemy, needs Israel to supply Gaza. Israel cuts supplies to Gaza because of constant rocket attacks from Gaza and Hamas' inability or lack of will to stop said attacks.... and the world is outraged. Tough... Hamas knew the risks and so did the people when they elected Hamas....

Chris, Atlanta, GA, USA

So Israel is still supplying at least 60% of the electricity that is normally used in the Gaza strip. Power that is normally used not only for hospitals, water purification, lighting and other civilian concerns, but also for making munitions to fire at Israeli civilians, to power the infrastructure of a terrorist organisation, to broadcast hatred, anti-Israeli propaganda and incitement to violence and mass-murder. That's interesting.

D Corbett, Oxford, UK

Hamas was founded in 1987. Hamas' charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. They are not talking about the Israel of 1948. Hamas leaders have declared that Hamas would stop armed struggle against Israel if Israel recognized the 1967 borders.

In 2006 legislative elections marked a victory for Hamas, which gained the majority of seats in the first fair and democratic elections held in Palestine, defeating Fatah. That's what Mr Bush wanted clean election but Fatah to win. So they banned Hamas.

Hamas was against Fatah's Mafia-style government, where the main point of being in public office is to get rich quick.
In the U.S., the General Accounting Office investigation of Arafat" wealth in 1995 said he was worth 8 to 14 billion USD. Were is all this money.

Israel is supporting Fatah and ignoring the Palestanian people there elected government Hamas.

mohsen, malaga, spain

The main consensus amongst opponents to the Hamas government is that democratic change is needed to help ensure peace. For those who are of a similar mind i have one thought to posit: Why is it that the western world (Israel included) is decidedly bent on forcing democracy down the throat of the world but when this right is exercised and the voice of the people votes in a power which is hostile to the West they turn around and impose sanctions. The very premise of democracy dictates that whomever the people choose should be allowed to govern. It is not the US's place to choose the ruling government. We've witnessed that strategy with terrifying results from dictators in South America to the Taliban in the Middle East. Perhaps it is time that national autonomy was given a chance and the Puppeteer's hand was given a chance to rest. Hamas may not be my choice but i have the courtesy and the self awareness to realise that it is not my place to decide.

Aston Francis, London, UK

Ther are many arabs living peacefully and prosperously in Israel. Heck there are even arab members of Parliament.

The arabs of Gaza have voted for Hamas, call for the destruction of Israel and are surprised that after continually attacking ( making war with ) Israel with bombs, rockets and mortars, they are the people who don't enjoy peace and prosperity.

Where is the surprise ?

How much fuel, food and medicine did the allies feel obliged to supply to Axis citizens during WW2 ?
Why is this different ?

Michael, Melbourne, Australia

H Cohen, I've read the history quite extensively. The area already had indigenous people when the tribes of Israel arrived and had them for the intervening 2,000 years after Judea and Israel fell. There was a small Jewish population there thereafter that coexisted happily with the rest of the indigenous population for centuries - the hostility between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East only began with the establishment of a supremacist state that disregarded the vast majority of the indigenous people (or claimed they didn't exist/matter), driving them into exile or bantustans where they remain. I am ashamed of what my great and noble faith has been abused to justify.

Had Britain shown similar 'restraint' with N. Ireland (given the IRA attacks on mainland Britain, as well as in NI), bombing and besieging Catholic areas, killing indiscriminately, not allowing Catholics to travel outwith their areas and demonising them for retaliating, I suspect the Troubles would not yet be over.

Ruth Hart , Glasgow, Scotland

The hospitals have back up power so no-one will die. Rather hypocritical to say 'we don't recognise your right to exist. Can we have some electricity please'? Hamas were elected, that is the reward.

Ben, York,

T%^is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. Perhaps the Palestinians in Gaza should curse Hamas for their present predicament.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

I find Mr Cohen's argument to be lacking in any credence whatsoever - 'I was here before you' and 'he started it' are the most childish arguments there are, and dismissed by generally everybody. If this is your belief, will you be handing over your home in Toronto to a native American? Even more to the point, would you and your descendents stand idly by whilst a family of native Americans stole your land? The recreation of Israel after 2000 years, in a world where almost all ethnic groups have moved substantially, set us on a slippery slope. What next? The reconstitution of the Roman Empire? Danish rule of Britain?
Also, the Hamas government of Gaza may be shelling Israel, but Israel is also provoking Hamas. Last week Israeli guards at a checkpoint killed a small child and a plane strike killed the Hamas defence minister. For every Israeli that dies, 100 Palestinians seem to die, so it is wrong of the Israelis to claim foul play

Gavin Le Boutillier, Hull, UK

Gazans voted for Hamas to declare war.

No right to win a war is guaranteed. Why should Israel
provide sustenance to those who want it dead?

It shouldn't. Time for Gaza to realise it cannot destroy
Israel and seek a peace agreemen.

Dave M, london, uk

J Roberts of the UK should read history to find out who the originals inhabitants were----and not to forget the 850,000 jews who were expelled from arab countries after 1948, the majority of whom settled in Israel----and just by the way it was the colonial powers that created the arab countries of today from the Ottoman empire--Trans Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia---Hilliard, Toronto , Canada

h.cohen, TORONTO,, CANADA

I hope the Arabs in Gaza come to their senses, and stop firing rockets at Israel. Perhaps they aren't concerned about the children in Israel, but at least they should be concerned about their own children.

Luc, Brussels,

Just a minute. When Israel forcibly removed almost a million Palestinians to make room for the State of Israel, occupying some 70% of Palestinian land and then humiliated the remainder struggling to exist in the land that remained to them, and these Palestinians react against this violently (in the only way they can) how can Israel regard itself as the victim?

Richard Pollard, Stafford, Virginia, USA

j roberts should read history before making such outrageous comment-but there lies the problem in this conflict outright lies will always win the day for those who wish to believe them-no land was stolen ,it was occupied after continual attacks in 48/67/73 etc-check your facts miss roberts and then maybe you can quote truthful ones

phil, lancs,

both sides know that the only solution is to have two states. but the American government would not like that. so there you go.

tete, buenos aires, argentina

when the arabs care more about their children then they do the bringing about of the destruction of Israel, then peace can be possible.

No sympathy. You voted. Your consequences

M, London,

Barrieg, Zichron Yaakov, Israel said:
"How would any other civilised society deal with permanent rocket attacks over populated areas?"

Let us not forget that the Israelis stole a lot of the land that Israel was built upon by force from its original inhabitants in a orgy of bloodletting and genocide. This fact is always conveniently ignored or glossed over by Israelis and their sympathizers. Just prior to that they were committing terrorist acts against the British. Its funny how the Jewish Terrorists are called freedom fighters and the Palestinian ones are called murderers and madmen. Tell me Barrieg, how should the Palestinans respond to the illegal occupation of their lands and brutal subjugation of their people? How would a civilized society deal with that?

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

No country in the world can sit idly by as its citizens are subjected to dozens of rockets falling on their homes, schools, streets and kindergartens every day. The Israelis should not have to endure terrorist attacks every day of their lives and do nothing to protect their citizens. The #1 responsibility of government is to protect their citizens. Ever since Israel withdrew all their forces from Gaza instead of peace they got daily rocket attacks. Enough is enough!!! Israel is fully justified to do WHATEVER is necessary
to protect its citizens.

Mark Jeffery Koch, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States

Collective punishment, reminds me of the nazis.

Zak, London, UK

If the Palestinians had any sense at all they would demand full citizenship in a unitary state including Isreal - calling Israel's bluff. Sadly, and I know the country and its overly macho people, few Palestinians are capable of making this leap of logic.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Are people mad?. Obviously, if Hamas do not recognise Israel and refuse to discuss peace, promising instead to kill every Israeli woman and child, and continue to fire hundreds of rockets a week at israeli civilians, what else can israel do?. I think that cutting off 15% of Gazas electricity is a very mild response!. I hope that Britain would do a lot more to protect their cities if they were under continuous rocket fire!.

joe, london, uk

Just stop firing rockets. As Golda Meir once said "when the arabs start to care more about their children then they hate the jews then peace is possible." Hamas recently embarked on a 200 million dollar construction of a theme park / movie production studio to promote jihadist and terrorist views. Don't give me sympathy for the masses when they elected a leadership that would rather sacrifice their own people then make peace. I empathise with those who are suffering, but when you play with fire, your gonna get burned

M, London,

it is very clear that the isrealis don,t want peace.
they know full well that they have to leave occupied terroteries.something they will have to do sooner or later.why cause all the suffering and death to both palestanians and isrealis by delaying this logical resolution.

mehdi, babol, iran

The first duty of any government is to protect it's citizens. No country in the world would allow it's citizens to withstand a barrage of rockets without taking action. Why is israel condemned for taking this action? The people of Gaza voted for Hamas therefore they must aknowledge that the Hamas government is acting with their backing. It is up to them to pressurize Hamas to stop the rockets.

Neville Singer, Accrington, England

It is surprising how much restrain Israel is showing. Too much, in fact. The "victim sindrome" that afflicts Palestinians with the support of whatever is left of the European Left, and its faithful cohorts, will probably put an end to the plan for an Arab-Muslim state in Cisjordan. Too bad

Peter , Toronto, ON

what country would be expected to actively support a hostile group that refuses to stop killing its people?

why should israel reward child-killers? what kind of a threat is 'give me what i want or i'll kill myself'? The sole reason why the palestinians are in this sorry state is b/c it suits their leaders & fellow arabs to keep them that way, thereby neatly holding a guilt-weapon to bludgeon the gullible west, & using the aid-money they inveigle out of said west for weapons & numbered bank accounts.

amanda bradley, london, uk

It doesnt matter what anyone says about the situation, Sympathy wins out over logic. I do not believe in bombing innocent people as both sides are doing but what else can the Palestinians do? The whole world has been turned against them by the giant media propaganda machine of the Jews. A tiny voice cannot be heard amongst the screaming American backed machine. How long does the world feel sorry for the Jews? In the past they have been persecuted but nowdays They are backed by the latest military hardware and intelligence and Billions of dollars of so called aid from the Americans, fighting an enemy which uses rocks, human bodies & primitive rockets, wake up & see the reality of the situation world. Its time The Governments of the world stood up to these Middle east Bullies & forced them to sort out their differences in a peaceful way or else the Governments of the world should grow some balls and sort it out for them. Its not as hard as they would like us to believe.

Peter, Sydney, Australia

Has anybody considered why it is that Israel has not bombed the hell out of Gaza considering its military might. I am certain that were 120 Rockets in two days launched from Northern France to fall on British cities, the UK would by now have responded with its fullest might to stop such a war. Were those in Gaza to stop for one moment from attacking the civilians of Sderot they would be surprised at the peace that would become possible without the need for any third party moderator. The leaders of the population of Gaza abuse its citicens by keeping this war going so they can justify there reason for being and the West falls for the propaganda - QED

Sharon, London, UK

As the Times' figures above show, about 75% of Gazan electricity comes form Israel (mainly) and Egypt, and this continues to flow. The only reason therefore that the whole of Gaza is in darkenss is because Hamas has turned the electricity off in order to reap the benefits of pictures of pretty young girls holding candles.

Moreover Israel supplies Gaza from a power station in the southern town of Ashkelon, a facility which the Gazans have repeatedly targetted with rockets-how crazy is that?

As for Peter Wood's comment "They know full well what they have to do to stop the rocket fire, and it doesn't involve tanks and fighter planes." So what would bring peace to the area-Israel ceasing to exist as Hamas demands, or a temporary ceasefire whilst Hamas rearms and retrains like Hisbollah. May be a Palestinian State?-That's being negotiated, and I'm in favour. Unfortunately Hamas think destroying Israel is far more important.

Andrew, Ra'anana, Israel

Remember the 1971 Stanford University Prison project? When tow sets of equals were divided into 'prisoners' and 'guards' and the guards brutalised the prisoners who in turn rebelled, causing further brutalisation by the guards.

When the victims of the holocaust became the 'guards' of the Palestinians, contained in Bantustan-like camps, they in turn became the brutal oppressors.

This is just the latest example of 'punishment'. You can be sure that there is worse to come...

Paulus, London , UK

Israelis belive they are the only people that matter. They know full well what they have to do to stop the rocket fire, and it doesn't involve tanks and fighter planes.

Peter Wood, Bath,

How would any other civilised society deal with permanent rocket attacks over populated areas? The plight which the citizens of Gaza are now suffering has been brought on them by Hamas who sole and repeated intentions are to bring down Israel. The solution is the hands of Hamas.

Barrieg, Zichron Yaakov, Israel

An Eye for an Eye will make the entire world blind".....This applies to both the Israelis & Palestinians.

Regards,
Sundaram.J.S.

Sundaram.J.S., Bangalore, India

...and then Bush/Blair wonder why Muslims have contempt for their peace plans...

Akram, London,

Mr Najib,
the descendants of Holocaust victims will not stand by while the descendants of Ishmael seek to kill them.
If your quiet town of Woking was being bombed from the air daily, I can guarantee that the British government would fight back and fighting back is legitimate to protect oneself, except in your mind, if we're Jewish.
Salaam.

tired, Tel Aviv, Israel

I can't belive stephen thinks they should go "cap in hand"
to Israel

chris, sydney, Australia

The privation and tribulations of the Palestinians are what they pay for their pleasure of bombarding Israelicivilians with rockets (which is also collective punishment). Just stop the rockets !

Sean, Coventry, UK

Why blame Israel? Why not just go to Egypt for energy requirements? And if Egypt blocks the request then blame both, not just Israel.

Art Woz, Melbourne,

"Babies dying in incubators. Patients dying because of lack of treatment."

Maybe Hamas would like to divert some of their Israeli killing resources to sustain their own population. Or perhaps Iran and Syria might like to take on some of the Palestinian support effort from Eurpoe and the US.

Why do we even listen to this PAnArab hypocrisy.

Ian, Edinburg, Scotland

If America slowly and consistently expanded into Canada how would you react Sam?
Clearly this is the root of the problem for the Palistinians.

chris, sydney, Australia

Since when did the Palestinians become Israel's child? Another saying comes to mind: "You should not submit to bullys".

Jane, London, UK

It does say that the hospitals have back up supplies. I don't think the emotive cries of dying babies are justified.

I do feel that punishment tht affects the people who have no part of the problem is harsh but i can cannot see how i would deal with the problem myself.

Damian, Leamington Spa, England

If the people I Gaza allow or turn a blind eye to the militants then they are rightly punished. If not then this is unfair

Frank, Highbury, Australia

How peculiar to see so many claiming it is "unjust collective punishment" for Israel to hold Gazans generally responsible for the outright war activities of the terrorist leadership the Gazans themselves applaud, chose as leaders, and eagerly follow. What is unjust about that? Of course it is entirely legitimate for Israel to refuse to prop up a regime making war against it. In warfare, e.g., in the Second World War, was it unjust "collective punishment" for the Allies to fight against the Nazis, attacking their cities, factories and transportation facilities? If this was unjust, obviously the only alternative was to allow the Nazis to consolidate their genocidal regime unrestrained, and to push their expansionism further without resistance. What double standards! Why should Israel be prevented from doing what any and all other states always do when attacked, namely fight back? Actually Israel is being very restrained.

E. Bentham, Melbourne, Australia

Babies dying in incubators. Patients dying because of lack of treatment.. Collective punishment. Has it come to this? How is it that the descendants of Holocaust victims can in turn commit these crimes?

Najib Yusuf, Woking, United Kingdom

You don't reward an unruly child...

sam, Toronto, Canada

Do not bite the hand that feeds.

stephen Gately, Dublin, Ireland