Comment by gizmo
1 year ago
I don't think it makes sense to talk about what the extremists in a conflict want when one side is a regional superpower and the other side has no army to speak of (that's why Hamas hides in tunnels).
It's about what the parties can actually accomplish. Hamas gambles on international sympathy because they cannot do anything militarily. They have no bargaining leverage either during possible peace talks. I don't approve of antisemitic slogans wishing for the destruction of Israel but the world will never allow it to happen. Never. Zero chance of that happening.
So while extremists on both sides are the same in the abstract, only one side is facing possible extermination.
it makes total sense to discuss this: because in effect by tipping the balance of power you don't really change anything.
If you made Israel as small as Palestine tomorrow, and Palestine as large as Israel: the same (or, some would argue: worse) situation would exist and the same sentiments from the same sorts of extremists.
Thats what we are talking about, power doesn't matter, only sentiment and perspective has been discussed here.