Palestine and Israel VS themselves, round 8295

[Nsof]

Today was the second time I heard Red Color's sirens going off. This is the early warning system that alarms everyone in a particular area of an incoming missile giving them time to go/run to shelter depending on distance from. Those close to Gaza have fifteen seconds while those furthest away have three minutes.
In both cases I was in Tel-Aviv studying and all students had to break class and move somewhere safe in under three minutes. Everyone was pretty nonchalant about it: Some chitchatting, some SMSing, tweeting, talking to the professor, and generally behaving like it’s a normal break. After we heard the impact noises we went back to the classroom and resumed where we left off. On Friday the rocket landed somewhere with no population today it was intercepted by Iron Dome. (The system is pretty amazing; it knows where the rockets are going, projects if they land on a populated area and if so, tries to intercept the rocket with over 80% success rate!)

I think this particular round is about to end soon: several counties are already trying to negotiate and basically both sides want this to stop. This could end as early as Tuesday.
Or not.

[Zag]

Can anyone articulate what Hamas believes they are accomplishing by sending random rockets into Jerusalem? Is it just piss and vinegar? Or do they actually have an agenda that they believe they are advancing?

[Amb]

And what happens if Israel decides to move on Iran as well?

[Jack_Ian]

[Nsof]

[Jack_Ian]

[Nsof]

Some people in Israel are thinking "the more we wait the better". It certainly effects decision makers/politicians although I dont think they are a significant factor nor is current operation a result of this kind of thinking. If i want to be cynical I'd say its because of the elections.
Specifically about territories, Israel has proven that when it wants it can relocate settlements. Sinai/Egypt and Gaza are two examples where despite a lot of internal opposition, thousands of people where moved. The same can and would happen when the time for peace with Palestinians comes.

All in all, firing rockets at Israel before the operation started was detrimental to the Palestinians. It pulled the rug from under President Abas' diplomatic efforts. It gives the leaders here the only good reason to start the operation. If it raises any public interest it is short lived. Any decision we reach at the aftermath of such operation is usually tactical and does not last long. They always lose more lives than we do.

I think President Abas has it right or at least trying. He wants a non violent activity and he works in diplomatic ways (going to UN to make Palestine a full member put a lot of pressure on IL, etc. ). Hamas in Gaza, where Abas/Fatah has little control, has been killing his chances in the past several years. How can we make peace with Abas if he cant control Hamas?
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Will sell this place for beer

[Jack_Ian]

Sorry if my posts seemed flippant. It's just so disheartening to see the power struggles at play while innocent people lose their lives.
Israel needs to win the PR war instead of the military one.
I think it would be better to send a rocket filled with red paint and drop pamphlets specifying where Hamas were located and explaining how ineffective their rockets are at killing Israelis. Hamas rockets are there to kill Palestinians, not Israelis. The more Palestinians that die, the better the PR for Hamas.
We all know Israel will win the military war and we all know Hamas will win the PR war and so long as both sides are winning the war will continue.