The first thing I have to say is that it is a bit silly to expect Israel to not have (or to have but not enforce) its blockade against Gaza. Sure, the anger of the people of Gaza is in many ways understandable, but nothing justifies taking their frustrations out on civilians living on the Israeli side of the border, even if the people their rockets are hitting are supporters of the blockade. Despite what some Palestinian apologists argue I do believe there is such a thing as an Israeli civilian, and Israel should be permitted to do something to protect its civilians. Much of what Israel does in service of this goal is excessive, but I think there is a decent case to be made for the blockade.
Secondly, the people on these boats would have scored more points in public sympathy if they had allowed the Israelis to arrest them without a fight. Muslims have done this in the past, and it's gotten results. Palestinians, in many ways, have the upper hand. They're the ones who are the underdogs. They're the ones who seem to have the greatest public sympathy in much of the West. If they were to take a few lumps from Israel without retaliation, they could gather enough sympathy to put significantly greater pressure on Israel.
That being said, arresting people in international waters and killing nine people armed only with knives chairs and metal rods does nothing but strengthen the perception that the IDF are a bunch of trigger happy sociopaths. I see no reason why these ships had to have been boarded. If the IDF had found these boats near the Gaza coast, they could have turned them back at that point and prevented them from landing. I know, those ships were carrying nothing but wheelchairs, food and medicine, but the IDF had no way of knowing that without inspecting them.
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Stories about Israel piss me off, mostly because the unwarranted use of the word anti-semite goes up 1000%, and the genuine anti-semites use any discussion as an excuse to spread their hate.
We have a huge problem in the West any criticism of Israel is painted "anti-semitism" There is absolutely no way to discuss Israel without it turning into a mockery with the white knights on one side and the real anti-semites on the other leaving those who can examine both side just wanting to tear their hair out.
I agree with you that Israel has a duty to prevent Israeli deaths. It's not like they can simply ignore them, they do cause damage, and death. We can't turn back the clock, no one is "going home" as Helen Thomas suggested.
I don't think that the Palestinians have the upper hand however, they may have sympathy around the world but the US unconditionally support Israel, and as long as the US can veto any actions the world might take the radical elements within Israel can continue to do pretty much whatever they want.
I think part of problem is this culture of Godwin-ing any argument we seem to have. I was reading the CBC and there are calls for some NDP MP to resign for believing the occupation started in '48. Depending on how you view the expulsion of the Palestinians and Bedouins it's a legitimate view point to take, and it's inherently anti-semitic.
Anyway, I don't really know where I'm going with this anymore. It's an incredible cluster-fuck over there and I'd be happier if our government would limit itself to condemning violence both side perpetrate, calling for peace, and stop calling for people to resign when they have an opinion.
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