After nearly four years of relative quiet with each other, Israel and the Gaza Strip have begun to attack each other again.
According to the Associated Press, Hamas – which rules Gaza – bombarded Israel with nearly 200 rockets on Thursday.
Hamas’ bombardment was in response to Israel’s killing of Hamas leaders like Ahmed Jabari on Wednesday.
Regardless of who fired first or who is in the right, lobbing missiles back and forth will not solve much.
Israel and Gaza have been at war on and off for decades, and the rocket fire has intensified lately after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip.
The cycle of bombing and killing seems to never end.
With the late violence between Israel and Palestinians, the chance of a peaceful Gaza and Israel co-existing is becoming slimmer.
While I respect Israel for defending itself against rocket attacks from Gaza, I do not think it will solve anything.
In a region as volatile as the Middle East, violence and bloodshed are not new.
Every year, it seems as though one country is attacking the other or attacking its own people.
Take a look at Syria, where a ruthless dictator is murdering his own citizens. Violence between the government and the opposition has left a country destroyed and countless dead bodies.
At first glance, it seems that Gaza and Israel will continue to fight each other until someone surrenders, which seems highly unlikely.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the “Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the [military] operation.”
President Obama also expressed his support for Israel, saying that Israel has the “right to defend itself.”
For the time being, I believe Israel should continue to defend itself against the terrorist-affiliated Hamas as long as rockets are being fired.
Hopefully, these attacks will result in peace not only between Israel and Gaza, but also Israel and Palestinians.
I doubt that will occur, because the fundamental differences between Israel and Palestinians are greater than the distance between the Earth and the moon.
Although Israel is largely perceived as being far in the right by many media outlets, it will undoubtedly have to concede land and/or power to have Palestinians agree to a permanent peace treaty.
For once, let there be peace in the Middle East. Killing each other over pieces of holy land for the past 50 years has left the two in no better position.
When discussing this matter, one must realize that Israel is not always right and Palestinians are not always wrong.
Each side has a compelling case. Someone just needs to sit down and listen.
Until that unlikely event occurs, the world will wait on the edge of its seat.
Shane Newell is a sophomore journalism major and an assistant city editor for the Daily 49er.