Quote:
Originally Posted by WCW Nitro
Ah, I see, so one side can justify taking land because of religion. Is this actually a serious response?
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In reality, the settlements are mostly inhabited by religious fanatics. The majority of Israeli society is secular, and they tolerate the settlements, because the peace process has totally broken down. Israel, in their last offer, made an offer that would have given the Palestinians about 95% of the West Bank, with potential land swaps for the remaining territory. In response, the Palestinians voted in Hamas.
Since then, the Israelis population has been under the impression that they have to defend themselves unilaterally. If you look at the location of where the vast majority of the settlers live, it's either in the area surrounding Tel Aviv and Jerusalem or near the border with Jordan. Secular Israelis see these settlements as a buffer between the Palestinians and their major cities and as a means to monitor for potential attacks on their territory.
You can state that Hamas is a response to settlements, but the exact opposite is just as true. Israeli territorial expansion is a response to attacks against them and the constant threat of the militant groups. A similar attack, like the one we saw this week on isolated communities near the Gaza border, in the heart of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem would be another level of disaster. Israel will, therefore, strive to create as large of a buffer as possible.
Your expectation that Israel withdraw under threat from Hamas, just isn't realistic.