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Opposing Values of Life in Hostile Situations of the Middle EastReader comment on item: Reflections on Current Hamas-Israel Hostilities Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Nov 20, 2012 at 10:36 Our Dr. Pipes opines: good question. It is a question that deserves an answer, but unfortunately an answer the quasi government of Gaza's current administration is unlikely to truthfully provide. But here's a clue that has presented itself in times past, posed in a question also: why do the militants set up their arms dumps and fighting positions in civilian residential locations? The presupposed careless disregard they seem to have for those they are mingled with has presented a problem that civilized society should abhor, but now seem accustomed to. In their apparent reality, death is their only goal; peace, an obstacle, the local population a shield. The rest of the world makes their callous observations about the situation in the same frame as Turkey has now expressed: Israel, who has only wanted one thing, to live in peace; yet they are now accorded the label of terrorist because they desire to achieve that. Hamas, as do the other known terrorist organizations in the area are blood sworn to oppose that. So Israel provides shelters. 'Civilian' populations in Islamic militant held territories are accorded the same exposure as their militants as instruments to achieve the stated intention to destroy Israel. We also know they are in a world of discontent in every general way, for even in locations where their factions do not have available Jewish targets, they take out their antipathies against other factions: vis a vis Sunni vs. Shiite. No shelters are provided there either. BTW, bomb shelters are defensive positions, something to be considered when considering Israel's intentions vs Hamas' and Iran's stated intentions? Great question to be sure: the answer is not so cloaked; read what they read and listen to what they say amongst themselves, like the mothers extolling the virtues of their children who were sent to deliver their homicide packages of death. It is what they are taught and what they know as their lot in life, the energies of which are directed towards Israel when they can and wherever they can, the lives of a few in collateral damage considered an acceptable offering in the toils of hatred that is their lot in life. One asks: where are the bomb shelters? One might ask also: where is the love for humanity? The former is easier to ask than the latter. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". Reader comments (83) on this item
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