[Charean]

Originally posted by Desdicado: Can anyone tell me why Israel is allowed to kill it's own citizens and foreign nationals almost every day and Saddam gets invaded apparently for doing this 12 years ago?. GAZA CITY (CNN) -- At least nine Palestinians were killed and 20 injured Monday during Israeli operations in Gaza, Palestinian security and medical sources said. The incidents came a day after Israel Defense Forces called "regrettable" an incident in which an Israeli bulldozer ran over and killed an American peace activist at Rafah in southern Gaza. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz cites Palestinian sources as saying a four-year-old girl, two teenagers and at least two gunmen were among the dead. This is after Israel sent tanks into a Palestian area. Killing a 4 year old girl. I have a 2 year old and if anyone sent tanks into my town and killed her I'm damn sure you'd find me in their town next week blowing them right up in return and me also. Why no UN resolution against Israel?, why no UN observers?. US double standards?. A bit off topic possibly but I am trying to set a context and am asking a genuine question that maybe those in the US can answer, why the double standards?. Why give massive support to one and invade the other?.

As you can see, the Palistinians and the Israelis have been at war for a long time. The simplified version is that in the 1940's, the UN gave land to the Jews and they called it Israel. It was finally a country to call their own. However, that land belonged to Palestine. They weren't thrilled to give it up.

That being said - the main reason is because Israel is the only true Democracy in the Middle East. That makes it valuable for diplomatic reasons.

I am not saying either side is right or wrong - I am on the fence myself and I am Jewish - but both cultures have painted the other as evil for so long that peaceful resolutions are tough. And right now, nonexistent.