Raveen wrote:QUOTE (Raveen @ Nov 27 2012, 06:57 PM) The same argument obviously applies to the actions of the combatants in Gaza (call them what you will, I'm aiming for as neutral a tone as possible). So instead of actively supporting either side wouldn't it be better to apply pressure to them both to restart negotiations towards a genuine 2 state solution, to persuade Gazans to stop attacking Israel and to stop Israel from it's various attacks on the Palestinians both military and social?
Gazans? We have a new nationality now. What's is a Palestinian anyway?
As for who Israelis have to deal with, it is HAMAS who have clear stated aims. They lie when they say they don't have this as their charter and can't be changed for "internal reasons".
Specific articles
Article 1 describes the Movement's program as "Islam".[17]
Article 2 of Hamas' Charter defines Hamas as a "universal movement" and "one of the branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine".[12][17][18][19]
Article 3 the Movement consists of "Muslims who have given their allegiance to Allah".[17]
Article 5 Demonstrates it Salafist roots and connections to the Muslim brotherhood. [17]
Article 6 Hamas is uniquely Palestinian,[20] and "strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine"[12][17]
Article 7 describes Hamas as "one of the links in the chain of the struggle against the Zionist invaders" and links the movement to the followers of the religious and nationalist hero Izz ad-Din al-Qassam.[17][19]
Article 8 The Hamas document reiterates the Muslim Brotherhood's slogan of "Allah is its goal, the Prophet is the model, the Qur'an its constitution, jihad its path, and death for the sake of Allah its most sublime belief."[12][17]
Article 9 adapts Muslim Brotherhood's vision to connect the Palestinian crisis with the Islamic solution and advocates "fighting against the false, defeating it and vanquishing it so that justice could prevail".[17]
Article 11 Palestine is sacred(waqf) for all Muslims for all time, and it cannot be relinquished by anyone.[17]
Article 12 affirms that "Nationalism, from the point of view of the Islamic Resistance Movement, is part of the religious creed" .[17]
Article 13 There is no negotiated settlement possible. Jihad is the only answer.[17]
Article 14 The liberation of Palestine is the personal duty of every Palestinian.[17]
Article 15 "The day that enemies usurp part of Muslim land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Muslim".It states the history of crusades into Muslim lands and says the "Palestinian problem is a religious problem".[17]
Article 20 Calls for action "by the people as a single body" against "a vicious enemy which acts in a way similar to Nazism, making no differentiation between man and woman, between children and old people".[17]
Article 22 Makes sweeping claims about Jewish influence and power. [17][21]
Article 28 Conspiracy indictment against "Israel, Judaism and Jews".[17][21]
Article 32 Hamas condemns as co-plotters the “imperialistic powers” .[21] References The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.[17][22]
Negotiation is only used as a tool because they are weak. As in many of the wars waged against israel to wipe them off the Earth they are not really going to negotiate - that's why they keep firing rockets supplied from you know where!