Israeli troops begin withdrawal from Gaza

Israel and palestinian should shrink with global village. There is need to reduce extreme ethnic racism and build more bridge building agendas. Even if there has been conflicts since 1940s in the region,definitely today's condition has better potential for bigger prosperity and hope via more tolerance and mercies.

The gap of wealth between 2 ethnic people in Israel-Palestine is too high,there is need for more economic prosperity in Gaza via richer US,Obama,EU,Opec,Arab league,Qatar,UAE and many others.

Wait, they're pulling out? What is this? Just a few days ago, all I read here was how Israel was committing genocide and was only interested in conquering more land. Now they're pulling out after Hamas agreed to a ceasefire? Wait, you mean the Israelis were telling the truth when they said they only wanted the rockets stopped?

gasp

That would make all the people accusing them of other motives liars. Hmm, guess we all know who was lying then eh?

Moderator: Please refrain from making inflammatory remarks and don't ever call or imply that others are liars just because they have a different viewpoint from your own.

My opinion this is a good political move by the Israelis. They made their point and they knew they did not want to get into the same quagmire they got into in Lebanon. So pulling out makes them look like they were not the aggressors.

Also they want to make nice with the in coming administration.

Good move on the Israeli government's part.

Just a few days ago, all I read here was how Israel was committing genocide

I remember reading those posts. I don't agree with them either. But then, I doubt you could define genocide off the top of your head.

and was only interested in conquering more land.

I don't remember reading those posts. Maybe you could direct me to some? I was under the impression the Israelis already took the good land in the area.

Now they're pulling out after Hamas agreed to a ceasefire?

Agreement? Maybe you should read the article before speaking. There was no agreement.

Wait, you mean the Israelis were telling the truth when they said they only wanted the rockets stopped?

Right now, I want some chocolate. Please don't take that to mean I do not ice cream and cake too. I will take all three!

There are people here who were mistaken yes, but you sir are not the least among them. And today, you seem to be at the forefront of mistakendom.

I don't remember reading those posts. Maybe you could direct me to some? I was under the impression the Israelis already took the good land in the area.

Strange thing to say considering in every part of the world ocean front property is considered the highest in value.

Agreement? Maybe you should read the article before speaking. There was no agreement.

You cant have a goverment proposed agreement with a terrorist group that isnt invited to the talks, but Israel wasnt going to remove their troops unless Hamas announced a cease fire of their own.So neither of you two have a 100% correct answer.

I am glad that even though the IDF are pulling out, we see people who are battered by Hamas's rockets fired at them giving humanitarian aid to the children of Gaza as described by this link:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292897793&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Strange thing to say considering in every part of the world ocean front property is considered the highest in value.

Every part of the world? Not in parts of the world torn apart by war and strife, nor in new countries surrounded by hostiles. Those places tend to go back to basics, not indulge in the fruitless pleasures of the beach.

There are just too many people for Israel to move into the Negev desert, or I am sure they would do it. But now is not the time that Israeli settlers are looking for such impractical property. Maybe in the future.

..it won't last a week. fighting will start again by Hamas..

Strange thing to say considering in every part of the world ocean front property is considered the highest in value.

The world is a bit bigger than California.

Well, good that they are withdrawing. It cannot be denied that the timing of this was deliberately set to begin while the current US president is still in office and at the end of his term, and to end just before the new and potentially less-supportive president takes the reigns.

I hope the peace works this time, but as Israel has inflicted a LOT of suffering and damage, I have my doubts.

The Isareli desth machine is pulling out due to a combination of international pressure and Obama going to come to power.

Stone the bleeding crows, they is scared that Obama may not blindly allow to to do whateever they want. They is testing the water, seeing what Obama says, if he supports them, they'll be back, mark my words.

..it won't last a week. fighting will start again by Hamas..

Does a fight start with the guy who got the other in a bear hug, or the guy who stuck a finger in his eye? The bear hug continues. I too expect more eye jabs.

Begin withdrawal for Gaza, blah, blah, blah.

This whole episode is a disgrace and the world should hang its head in shame. On one side you have a US-backed Israel acting like a street thug testing the latest weapon sytems in downtown Gaza, and on the other side you have HAMAS, whose actions are beginning to redefine the term "islamic fundamentalism." HAMAS's only reason for existence seems to be to incite the aforesaid Israel into conducting atrocities against Palestinian civilians. All and every player in this debacle should be vilified.

What a joke (not). These refugees in Gaza have been "refugees" for life. They are surrounded by a crxp hole environment that has little or no infrastructure, being at the beck and call of a neighbor (Israel).

Nippon5,

You have some interesting points, but if the shoreline of Gaza strip were added to Israel, it would account for about one-fifth of Israel's total shoreline. Such as it is, Israel has plenty of access to the sea, is not landlocked by any means, and they have total access to what should be Gaza's territorial waters, while Gazan's do not. Gaza has no natural harbors. And Gaza strip is thin and not valuable agriculturally.

For keeping a peoples walled up, its pretty good. It is more valuable in that capacity to the Israelis than anything else, clearly.

Let's hope the cease fire holds. I have my doubt about Hamas, but in the end it's their choice and not my current opinion that will matter.

I think one of the biggest parts of the problem here are that people don't care about the Palestinians, but rather they care about the idea of the Palestinians. The actual people, not so much. Instead the whole situation is look at a great chance to be dogmatic and thump one's chest.

Israel is pulling out for now but the blockade is still on. As you read this people are dying in Gaza's hospitals for lack of blood. Jordan has sent blood by ship. The Israelis blocked it.

The genocide goes on, only right now not with bombs.

I agree with jeancolmer. Them Israelis aint going to stop making life hell for the poor people in Gaza.

Mark my words, if it looks like Obama will support them like Bush done, then the genocide will restart, and our tv's will be filled with images of mutilated women and children.

Wait, so you are saying now that they're pulling out, with only 1100 dead, the genocide is over, at least for now? Once again, I think you need to check a dictionary and learn what the word means. Genocide is not what happened, and is happening in Gaza. Far from it. And Israel has been letting supplies in. Every single day, even while the fighting raged. I don't think theres ever been a war fought where the non-combatants were so respected, and worried over.

Having said all this. I think most of us truly hope the fighting is over. Hopefully having had their butts bombed, Hamas will start to see reason, and work to better their people, rather then just try to kill Israelis.

Molenir: You got the wrong end of the stick completely son.

It was bleeding genocide, full stop. Tens of thousands are now homeless, i saw on the BBC whol streets in ruin, the commentator said it were like an earthquake had struck.

It all depends on whether Obama supports them or not, whetehr the wanton genocide continues, us who don't take sides and are moderate can see that plainly.

Molenir, i suggerst you educate yourself with the amount of Palestinians killed in the last decades Vs Israelis, the genocide is ongoing. Also remeber with of the sides attacked a US Navy ship.

Hope Israel changes its ways, and gives peace to its victims.

Them Israelis aint going to stop making life hell for the poor people in Gaza.

Spare us the faux concern. It's Hamas terrorists that have made life hell for the "poor people of Gaza" who voted them in. But hey, the left always pretends to care about civilian casualties when the US and Israel are involved. Good political mileage.

Helter Skelter: Due to your blinded right wing extremism, which absolves Israel of any crime ever, you cannot see the genocide for what itis.

People wiv your mindest in America is the problem, You don'T even get teh invasion was done inbetween presidents very slys. Whatever happend the ceasefire would happen before Obama became President.

Strewth, even a child could work that out innit!

I'm willing to bet Hamas launches more rockets in the near future and brings down the rath of Israel again and all the liberals will be crying why is Israel doing it?? Just can't see the forest for the trees.

you cannot see the genocide for what itis.

You know, there's actual genocide occurring in the world today, particularly north Africa. How come you never hear a peep from the left regarding this human tragedy? Because there's no political gain. But Israel defends itself from Islamic terrorists who celebrate their own civilian deaths as much as Israeli deaths, and it's "genocide". I see what phonies the left are, so don't tell me how much you care about the "Palestinian" people.

Makes perfect sense for Israel to take out Hamas rockets now before Obama is sworn in. Obama is likely be an appeaser and weak on the war on terrorism. However, it would also be a huge mistake if Israel withdrew early and didn't finish seriously crippling Hamas's ability to smuggle weapons and launch rockets.

As long as Hamas terrorists continue to shield themselves among civilians, there will be civilian deaths. But Hamas knows that there are people on the left who will exploit this and use it against Israel, and ultimately help their cause. The terrorist group Hamas salutes you!

Helter Skelter: another one of your posts that i can put down easy, haha.

This topic is about the MId East not Africa. And to say i am left wing is bleeding ridiculous, i'm a bloody Tory and proud ov it!

Just watch, it's all up to what Obama's policy and what he'll put up with from Israel. If he follows the warmongering Bush doctrine , expect rivers of blood in Gaza in the near future.

So once again, no comment on the real genocide that actually is occurring around the world eh? Basically what you're saying, is if a thousand are killed, and 10k lose their homes, thats genocide. And thats NONSENSE, Full stop. Now if there were 100,000 dead, and a million homeless, ya know I would agree with you. But there aren't, not because they couldn't have killed them, but because Israel has a basic respect for Human life that Hamas and those of their ilk you so respect, do not.

Whether or not there are rivers of blood in gaza, pretty much depends solely on Hamas. If they choose peace, there will be peace, if they choose murder, then your rivers of blood will occur.

Whether or not there are rivers of blood in gaza, pretty much depends solely on Hamas.

Couldn't have said it better myself.