If you knew any thing about operation 'cast lead', you'd know one of the reasons armistice was so hard to acomplish was because Hamas would not agree to Israels terms. The aid you spoke of NEVER reached the people, as the west viewed Hamas as a terrorist organisation - thus the UN and other organisations stopped direct aid to Gaza. Hamas refused to agree to living under Israels embargo - they wanted to have just as much say over what came in and out of Gaza. Israel agreed to these terms for TWO days before the agreement closed down. The preverbial thorn in Israel's side was Hamas - a government party that would always stand up for its people. As such, Israel knew they had to destroy Hamas as quickly as possible while Uncle Bush is still in power.
So they decared war on the false bases that Hamas militants broke armistice through rocket fire on Israeli citizens (They didn't. Israel launced two air-strikes in early November killing several Gazans - little was reported)
Coincidently, just as Jewish sympathetic Mr.Bush leaves office and the unpredictable Mr. Obama comes in, a cease-fire is declared!

How can any one argue with that? Well put Richard.

I cannot believe you would use the semantics of the term genocide as a veneer for the atrocities committed in Gaza. Would a malicious crime against innocent men, women and children be any better or worse depending on its title? The fact it might not ‘technically’ be genocide is not the issue – the issue is that Israel, despite pleas from nations the world over, INCLUDING the UN, did what it always does. Ignore everyone else and go on slaughtering when, and how they please. The Hamas charter, which you say does not recognise the state of Israel and is a genocidal creed is not too different from that of Israel’s. While publicly, Israel will make no remarks of destroying the Palestinian people, it is clear from their actions that a formation of a sovereign Palestinian state is not in their interests. The destruction of Ministerial buildings, bridges and schools shows they do not wish the Palestinians to prosper. Actions speak louder than words, and the fact Israel stopped western journalists coming in to document these actions shows they agree with that statement too.
You also mentioned Hamas refuse to accept Israel. How can they recognise a regime that will only allow them to govern their own people – who none the less democratically elected them – if they adhere to the unreasonable terms of a state which has caused their constituents so much misery? Israel will only recognise a Palestinian government that is willing to lie down and accept any scraps the Israelis are willing to toss them – regardless of their peoples needs.
You mentioned Hamas see a religious right to kill Jews – have you read the Old Testament? Here is a passage from the Book of Deuteronomy, where God instructs the Israelites to take the promise land - the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, this land was full of indigenous people known as Canaanites (believed by many to be the Palestinian’s ancestors). God’s answer – according to the Old Testament was the following:
"But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 20:16-18)
You see, publicly, Israel is a civilised member of the free world - a legitimately recognised government of modern society. To publicly mention such passages of genocide would put them in serious disrepute with its allies – America, Britain etc. However, it can be argued that they privately think this. They often refer to the Holy Land as their promised land by God. Many Israelis believe in the ironically Nazi-esque, elitist views of Zionism – the ethos that Jews are an elite race (God’s chosen people) and that the land of Zion is ultimately there’s. The Palestinians are then, as their ancestors were millennia ago, a mere hindrance in the way of a Jewish Paradise. 60 years of occupation, displacement and persecution have swayed Palestinian minds to thoughts of wiping out those who imposed these miseries on them. I ask you, what is Israel’s excuse?

I cannot believe you would use the semantics of the term genocide as a veneer for the atrocities committed in Gaza. Would a malicious crime against innocent men, women and children be any better or worse depending on its title? The fact it might not ‘technically’ be genocide is not the issue – the issue is that Israel, despite pleas from nations the world over, INCLUDING the UN, did what it always does. Ignore everyone else and go on slaughtering when, and how they please. The Hamas charter, which you say does not recognise the state of Israel and is a genocidal creed is not too different from that of Israel’s. While publicly, Israel will make no remarks of destroying the Palestinian people, it is clear from their actions that a formation of a sovereign Palestinian state is not in their interests. The destruction of Ministerial buildings, bridges and schools shows they do not wish the Palestinians to prosper. Actions speak louder than words, and the fact Israel stopped western journalists coming in to document these actions shows they agree with that statement too.
You also mentioned Hamas refuse to accept Israel. How can they recognise a regime that will only allow them to govern their own people – who none the less democratically elected them – if they adhere to the unreasonable terms of a state which has caused their constituents so much misery? Israel will only recognise a Palestinian government that is willing to lie down and accept any scraps the Israelis are willing to toss them – regardless of their peoples needs.
You mentioned Hamas see a religious right to kill Jews – have you read the Old Testament? Here is a passage from the Book of Deuteronomy, where God instructs the Israelites to take the promise land - the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, this land was full of indigenous people known as Canaanites (believed by many to be the Palestinian’s ancestors). God’s answer – according to the Old Testament was the following:
"But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 20:16-18)
You see, publicly, Israel is a civilised member of the free world - a legitimately recognised government of modern society. To publicly mention such passages of genocide would put them in serious disrepute with its allies – America, Britain etc. However, it can be argued that they privately think this. They often refer to the Holy Land as their promised land by God. Many Israelis believe in the ironically Nazi-esque, elitist views of Zionism – the ethos that Jews are an elite race (God’s chosen people) and that the land of Zion is ultimately there’s. The Palestinians are then, as their ancestors were millennia ago, a mere hindrance in the way of a Jewish Paradise. 60 years of occupation, displacement and persecution have swayed Palestinian minds to thoughts of wiping out those who imposed these miseries on them. I ask you, what is Israel’s excuse?