Two journalists we have enormous respect for, Charles Krauthammer and Tom Friedman, have written pieces that are worthy of their own post. In a column that will appear in the July 10 issue of Time, Krauthammer rejects the so-called "cycle of violence" and says that the origin of the present conflict is just one year old -- it began with Israel's disengagement from Gaza.
"So in 2005 the Palestinians are given Gaza, free of any Jews. Do they begin building the state they say they want, constructing schools and roads and hospitals? No. They launch rockets at civilians and dig a 300-yard tunnel under the border to attack Israeli soldiers and bring back a hostage."
Friedman, just back from a trip to the Peruvian Amazon, similary writes that "Israel has evactuated Gaza, and what does Hamas do? It doesn't put all its energy into building a nest for its young there -- a decent state and society, with jobs. Instaed, it launches hundreds of rockets into Israel."
He expands, obviously inspired by his journeys through the jungle, that "those driving Palestinian politics seem determined to destroy Israel in its own territory -- even if it means destroying themselves in their own territory. Species that behave that way in the rain forest become extinct."
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