The issue with Hamas existing is due to its founding charter, see https://www.adl.org/resources/article/hamas-its-own-words for details on this but a brief summary is that it does not permit Israel to exist, period. There’s no theoretical deal or goal to reach for the both of them to existing side by side in peace.
Exactly! This is why I say Israel has a right to defend itself while Hamas should not be allowed to exist.
Though recent events (like Israel’s pager attack) have made this argument much weaker…
Eh, Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah all have the right to exist, and to defend themselves. But we have to define that pretty strictly.
Carpet-bombing Gaza isn’t defense.
Slaughtering music festival attendees is not defense.
Indiscriminate bomb planting and destination is not defense.
Shooting up a train station is not defense.
Bombing hospitals and aid trucks is not defense.
I draw the line at deliberately or recklessly killing civilians.
I otherwise agree with all your points.
The issue with Hamas existing is due to its founding charter, see https://www.adl.org/resources/article/hamas-its-own-words for details on this but a brief summary is that it does not permit Israel to exist, period. There’s no theoretical deal or goal to reach for the both of them to existing side by side in peace.
Hezbollah has similar issues.