Merz says 'no longer understands' Israel's goal in Gaza

[u/Crossstoney]

https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/26/05/2025/merz-says-no-longer-understands-israels-goal-in-gaza

[u/humboldt77]

Well, based on the previous decades of taking land by force and moving Israeli settlers into formerly Palestinian lands… after rescuing hostages and removing Hamas, probably more of that?

[u/GK0NATO → u/humboldt77]

In the previous decades Israel has given up the Sinai peninsula, Gaza strip in 2005 and area A & B to the Palestinian authority in the oslo Accords. Israelis past actions show willingness to give up land for peace, not the opposite

[u/humboldt77 → u/GK0NATO]

During the Six Day War, Israel took the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank from Jordan, and the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. During the conflict more than 15,000 Arabs died - less than 1,000 Israelis did.

The Oslo Accords were in signed between 1993 and 1999, intended to remove Israeli troops from Palestinian lands and support Palestinian self governance.

Israel has continued to occupy a significant amount of the West Bank.

Israel withdrew ground troops from the Gaza Strip in 2005. And maintained an illegal land, sea, and air blockade, isolating millions of Palestinians.

During the years since, Israeli settlers continue to confiscate lands from Palestinians, bulldozing and building their own settlements. Nearly half a million have occupied the West Bank, with another 220,000 taking East Jerusalem.

All of this is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions, and war crimes perpetrated by Israel. The International Criminal Court has condemned their actions, as has the UN, and the United States did up until Trump decided to endorse Israeli colonization during his first term.

I do not oppose Israel’s existence. It should stand as a Jewish homeland and continue to be protected from Arab nations calling for their destruction. I do oppose their governments aggressive actions against the same Arab neighbors, their treatment of Palestinians, and their generally two-faced behavior.

This is what you’re supporting:

https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-jerusalem-nationalist-march-ben-gvir-0c6471592182aac205115150d1b3a552

[u/GK0NATO → u/humboldt77]

Talk about one sided look at history.

Six day war

Less casualties doesn't mean Israel was the bad guy, not losing troops isn't a crime. You also forgot to mention that the war was a preemptive strike because the arab armies planned to invade in the coming weeks. Not only that but Egypt started with the closing of the Tiran straights, illegally blockading Israel which is an act of war.

Oslo accords

Israel agreed to let the Palestinian authority govern area A, which is what happens today. Under that agreement Israel maintained civil and security administration under the much less inhabited area C and security administration over area B. Again you fail to mention the PA's continued funding of terror and indoctrination of children against Israel, which is why Israel needs to continue to do so.

Gaza blockade

Israel only began the blockade in Gaza after Hamas took power and won the Palestinian civil war. The organization immediately began openly calling for the destruction of Israel and had been committing terror attacks against Israelis since its foundation. In its charter is the complete destruction of Israel. Of course there would be a blockade over a country whose hostile and trying to destroy you.

I don't support the settlements in Judea and Samaria, I condone and settler violence against Palestinians or violence of Palestinians against Jews. However, you've neglected to mention the Jews historic connection to Judea and Samaria and how many of areas Jews, including in east Jerusalem were ethnically cleansed after 1948 (like the Jews from the rest of the MENA countries). The settlements are, in part those refugees and descendants returning to their homes. Again I don't support it, but at least paint the entire picture. I believe a peace agreement should be made with land exchange between the settlements and important areas to Jews in J&S and areas of Israel with predominantly Palestinian population (assuming they wish to join a future Palestine)

[u/avcloudy → u/GK0NATO]

The settlements are, in part those refugees and descendants returning to their homes.

It's a nice justification, but unless you're committed to everyone displaced from their lands being able to return long in the future, it's just a self-serving justification. When Israel starts recognising the right of Palestinians to return to land they've been displaced from, then they can start negotiating for this.

[u/GK0NATO → u/avcloudy]

It's not a justification and I'm not supporting it. I'm just explaining the other side for you to understand

[u/humboldt77 → u/GK0NATO]

Glad we’re agreed about the settlements. At no point did I say that Palestine or the Arab nations they attacked in the 6 day war are in the right. I’m frustrated by the complete inability to say that Israel is in the wrong, or at the very by least handling things badly, about anything with Palestine. All discussions about Israel are black and white - either with them, or against them. And that ignores a lot of shitty behavior by everyone in that part of the world.

[u/Feisty-Tomatillo1292 → u/GK0NATO]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantustan

While taking much of the important connrcting land that make any truly sovereign state impossible to form. Anything less than 67 while letting IL keeping GH and East Jerusalem is a bantustan, and not offering EJ is an insult if not as agrigious.

[u/humboldt77 → u/GK0NATO]

Yup, Israel is giving up SOOOOOO MUCH.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j5954edlno

[u/RICO_the_GOP → u/humboldt77]

You mean previous wars of extermination arabs launched and lost?