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as of about 2 hours ago:
971 dead.
4,418 injured.
the israelis have not agreed to peace for 40 years in significant measure because they've not done anything but expand the settlements in the west bank. dismantling them in gaza was a step--but not a substitute.
i've already written a few times about the intertwining of israeli strategic understanding, tactics and the opening of a space for hamas.
one thing that's funny is that folk who support the action in gaza are quite sure they know what would happen if israel were serious--that is, if it was able to decide to risk the political fallout of taking on the far right in the west bank and it's supporters, many of whom are american, begin at the least stopping new settlements as a way of indicating that maybe, just maybe, this time it's serious about peace. because like it or not, israel has tried to have it both ways for way way too long--talk about a 2-state solution (since oslo) and expand the settlements. always the same.
but if the desire for a peaceful resolution of this conflict were to supplant fantasies of the greater israel, perhaps things would change. or maybe they wouldn't.
one thing for certain--the supporters of the israeli right have no idea, because up to now, israel by it's actions with respect to the settlements (for example) shows it isn't serious
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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear
it make you sick.
-kamau brathwaite
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