In Gaza, no one is winning

A WAR neither Israel nor Hamas truly wanted has turned into one both are willing to wage. The six-month cease-fire that expired on Dec. 19 was not ideal. Israel suffered periodic rocket attacks and knew its enemy was stockpiling firepower. Hamas endured a punishing economic blockade, undermining its hopes of running Gaza. A sensible compromise was available: ending rocket smuggling and launches in exchange for opening the crossings. But without bilateral engagement or effective third-party mediation, it inexorably came to this: a brutal military conflict in which both sides feel they have more to gain by persevering than by ending the warfare. In short, the confrontation was easier to avoid than it will be to stop.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/01/10/in_gaza_no_one_is_winning/



Interesting ideas about the way forward in a post-Bush world.