Vis a vis the idea that 'The Palestinians are being punished for the crimes of a few' - it is the Palestinians that elected Hamas, who's goal is to destroy Israel.

You could say the same of isrealis they elect thier goverment and are punished for the actions of it, Most recent isreali goverments seem to have a goal of destroying palestine doing it bit by bit but they don't state it as thier manifesto, Hamas just seem a bit more honest about it....

The terrorists are the government.

i think that could easily apply to both goverments, at least under the definition of both causing terror.

Has Israel done wrong - certainly. But Hamas and Fatah could choose peace, and they do not.

Fatah have had several attempts at peace talks over the years which didn't work out, blame for that can be put on both sides as they are both unwilling to be reasonable, and the blame for that can be put on the populations of isreal and palestine.

They both need to learn that the response to extremism isn't to be more extreme, they need to elect moderates who want peace not terrorists who revel in it, both sets of leaders have thier own reasons for wanting to continue the conflict but even if both of sets of leaders wanted the peace thier repsective populations parliments ect. would reject it.

They should both be cut off from the world forced to wipe each other out or work together, or maybe just round up the extremists from each side and let them wipe each other out and just leave the reasonable citizens who want peace left.

Incase anyone was wondering the reason i seem to end up on the palestinian side is because the palestinians die more than isrealis, isrealis have job's cars houses a fairly comfortable lifestyle whereas the palestinians are poor, the isrealis have the means to agree a peace (an organised goverment controlling the army ect.) whereas the palestinians are not an organised entity and can't stop the aggression as easily.

Both sides feel they have to be strong and tough, both sides support cruel and violent regimes. They have more in common than they'd ever want to admit

completely agree, what i was trying to say but couldn't think how to put it.

You're my hero.

That's got to go in my signature!