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The BBC reports:
A long-term ceasefire has been agreed between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
The truce, ending seven weeks of fighting that has left more than 2,200 people - mostly Palestinians - dead, was brokered by Egypt and began at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
Hamas said the deal represented a "victory for the resistance".
Israel is to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow in aid and building materials, Israeli officials said.
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Long-Term Ceasefire between Israel and Palestine Agreed
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Can anyone remember when the times were not hard, and money not scarce?
(Score: 5, Interesting) by geb on Wednesday August 27 2014, @11:10AM
I sometimes wish that more countries outside of the middle east would be willing to offer a new home to Palestinians. Whether they chose to call it refugee status, or some kind of special visa program, or whatever.
It could be seen implicitly as handing over land unjustly to Israel, and those that see the conflict as defending their homeland would never move away, but those aren't good reasons to imprison anybody who just wants to live peacefully away from the conflict.
If there were a country asking Palestinians to emmigrate to them, Israel would very likely set up some kind of "they're your problem now" travel permit scheme and gleefully lift travel restrictions, one way only.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Wednesday August 27 2014, @11:22AM
> I sometimes wish that more countries outside of the middle east
Or even countries inside the middle east - there are plenty of oil princes in nearby countries who are perfectly happy to give the palestinians money and weapons to bomb Israel, but don't allow them to come and seek refuge in their borders.
But yeah, without taking sides, I don't think there will ever be peace as long as both populations remain within shooting distance of one another.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday August 27 2014, @04:30PM
On the other hand, I suspect this would havebblown over long before now if the Palestinians hadn't *cough* elected a terrorist organization as their government. The Catholic / Prodistant wars in Ireland have pretty much gone out of existence over the same period of time.
If you could magical wave a wand over the situation and make it so that all Palestinian elected officials and military leaders would have to be women over 50 i suspect the the rocket launching which inevitably leads to bomb dropping would dissappear virtually over night.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Wednesday August 27 2014, @04:41PM
Are you saying that if the US would elect only Hillary Clintons there'd be no more wars?
(Score: 2) by akinliat on Thursday August 28 2014, @03:18AM
The difference is that the UK made it pretty clear to the Protestant leadership that they weren't getting any more support. Without that support, the Protestants, long used to being top dog, knew they'd be in trouble -- possibly even looking at a civil war.
If the US would ever get the gumption to remind Israel that it's just a client state (and a fairly useless one at that), then we might start to see some progress towards a negotiated settlement with the nutcases on both sides marginalized. But as long as the Israeli government is convinced that the US is their personal munitions delivery service, I just can't see them budging an inch.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @11:52AM
What you'll probably get is refugees who will move to your country and later send more fighters to fight the Israelis. Go look at how many Palestinians voted for Hamas or Fatah. Both Hamas and Fatah want the destruction of Israel. Any peace is just temporary - their ultimate goal remains the destruction of Israel. And the ultimate goal of many Israelis is getting ALL the land. So I don't see how there is going to be long term peace.
If you're willing to spend $$$ maybe you should help send all the people in your country who want to fight wars to Palestine or similar and let them do their fighting there. If some areas are going to keep staying messed-up you might as well send your trash there. ;)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @06:55PM
> Go look at how many Palestinians voted for Hamas or Fatah.
They voted for them because they provide social services. People tend to look favorably on groups who give them food and shelter.
Don't want palestinians to vote for extremist groups? Stop making it so easy for them to win hearts and minds.
It is the same thing with ISIS in Iraq. Regular sunnis don't like the extremist theology of ISIS, but the shia-controlled government consistently screwed them over, ISIS comes along and says that they will help you out and protect you from the predations of the government. So you turn a blind eye when ISIS goes medieval on someone else, better them than you.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @12:04PM
Go ask Europe how their growing Muslim probl ... er population is doing.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Yog-Yogguth on Wednesday August 27 2014, @12:35PM
Wow fair enough that it's a classic case of bad moderation but someone must be spectacularly insulated in order to moderate the above troll considering how much shit related to European muslims has surfaced during the last few months, I mean they can't even have picked up any single copy of the Guardian (or equivalent). Even some muslims are becoming disgusted enough to start voicing concern against themselves.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @06:44PM
Even some muslims are becoming disgusted enough to start voicing concern against themselves.
Against themselves? Your phrasing betrays your bias.
Moderates have always protested extremism. It is just doesn't make the news because moderation is boring.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @11:48PM
Yea, because anything that can be remotely interpreted as bias is bias (or any "ism" really). Have a look for yourself:
Google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=france+muslim+problem [google.com]
And the pages it links to:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303663604579501091034167048 [wsj.com]
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4120/islamization-france# [gatestoneinstitute.org]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/02/the-big-muslim-problem_n_376767.html [huffingtonpost.com]
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/April/Native-French-under-Attack-in-Muslim-Areas/ [cbn.com]
http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/france-the-looming-battle-over-muslim-integration/2014/01/01/ [jewishpress.com]
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/french-city-with-40-muslim-population-is-the-most-dangerous-city-in-europe/ [frontpagemag.com]
This isn't about racism. This is about two very different cultures with a bad history (crusades, Ottoman empire, etc.) clashing and hate from both sides fanning a small ember which is growing into a fire and surrounded by guncotton. It will become a big problem in the future unless something is done today.
The issue here is there are a lot of Muslims immigrating to European countries. As immigrants tend to do in foreign lands, they lump up with people they feel comfortable with, their fellow countrymen or people who worship as they do (every does this). So instead of integrating and soaking up culture they become isolated among themselves and continue to follow the old ways of their country/culture/religion instead of adopting the ways of their newly settled country. So it is easy for radicals or extremists to manipulate and bully moderates to fall in line with the old ways of their motherlands and cultures because they are trapped in these pockets. They can't just up and move to a safer part of town. This is why France now has "Muslim ghettos" where criminals and extremists rule the land as the so called moderates are too afraid to seek native help. And the native help, the police, appear to be too timid or weak to intervene. They might not want to appear culturally insensitive or worse yet, racist. Perfect catch 22 situation which benefits the extremists and criminals. Worse yet is the two elements go hand in hand as the religion and culture is used as a tool of control for criminals and a scapegoat when faced with the local laws. So they claim they were harassed by police or locals because of their ethnicity or religion. And lets not forget about bias and racism from the native French population who see the Muslims as a threat to their culture and way of life. This stifles their (Muslims) integration as they are stuck with each other and their oppression can be fanned into a common cause for upheaval by extremist nut jobs.
The solution to the problem is difficult. You cant just throw them out or send in the army. It will include changes to immigration policy (very slippery slope), education for both sides (natives and immigrants) and programs aimed at helping immigrants spread out from their pockets.
And it is not only France that has this problem: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4129/islamization-belgium-netherlands [gatestoneinstitute.org], https://www.google.com/#q=europe+muslim+problem [google.com].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 28 2014, @02:43AM
> Yea, because anything that can be remotely interpreted as bias is bias (or any "ism" really). Have a look for yourself:
If using a term like "self-deportation" is totally unbiased, then clearly "voicing concern against themselves" is totally unbiased too.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by elgrantrolo on Wednesday August 27 2014, @12:16PM
That does sound better than being a lifelong victim of persecution and/or genocide. To me it's like people would rather be "right" than happy. Since I'm quite distant from the problems of that region, it's all beyond my ability to understand...
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @07:01PM
The life of a refugee is no picnic.
It is not just the loss of your home, your land, your wealth and your employment, it is also the loss of community.
Giving up everything you know for the unknown is exceptionally difficult. It isn't like moving from texas to california.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @03:30PM
I sometimes wish that more countries outside of the middle east would be willing to offer a new home to Palestinians.
They already *ARE* refugees for decades. Many came from Israel proper, not *Allowed* to return. What the fuck do you think Israel is doing? They want to kick Palestinians out so they get their "free land in the east".
I have to bring this up, because your idea is so stupid - this is like saying to Poles and Russians and Ukrainians to GTFO because Nazis want some "free land to the East".
I know you mean well, but why do you think Palestinians do not want to leave? Because they know once they left they cannot return. Happened in 1967 already, and look at some of the cities, I mean refugee camps in Labanon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_right_of_return [wikipedia.org]
Read this before making more "suggestions"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 27 2014, @04:16PM
"I sometimes wish that more countries outside of the middle east would be willing to offer a new home to Palestinians."
.
.
.
Why should the Palestinians leave ?
Clearly you are both partisan to Israel and also lacking in
an understanding of the long term history of the area.
The only solution to this mess is a FORCED compromise, which if the United Nations
had any teeth could and should have happened decades ago.
I am not a fan of Israel OR Palestine. But I am goddamned tired of hearing about these
idiots ( both sides ) and I am virtually certain that they will never achieve peace without
being forced to do so by an external power. It is a real shame that the UN doesn't just go
in and take over the entire region. With US and European backing, it could be done.
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(Score: 1) by GoodBuddy on Wednesday August 27 2014, @10:48PM
A Pax Romana?
Didn't that sort of contribute to this whole problem when the Romans dispersed the Jews from Judea (modern day Israel) back in the 1st century?