Thoughts and opinions on the Israeli Settlement Withdrawal

I congratulate the Israeli forces for the amount of restraint they used while removing settlers and dealing with the protestors.......I was glued to the T.V. as I watched it all unfold..........those on the rooftop "crossed the line" and several injuries occurred as a result of the struggle......In my neck of the woods,authorities are quick to spray or tazer you .....and they quickly lose their cool in such situations resorting to violence against protestors and so on.....the sight of Isreali soldiers praying with settlers,embracing them and in the face of kicks,punches and diry tactics like fuel,turpentine,acid,sand and other things flung their way.....they maintained their cool and in the end stood their with the protestors embracing one another...........

As for the Palestinian's response to this.........I glanced over a BBC article in which it seems they only spoke to Palestinians who didn't care or were still expecting more from the Israelis........ I watched person after person on T.V. mention the "slums and poverty" Palestinians live in........yet nobody mentioned the millions or billions of $... Arafat had when he died..........I have to believe that somewhere in the Palestinian communities there are people who want peace and want the violence to end..........

I listened to those who complained of their economy,the restriction on their movements into Isreal......all the checkpoints they have to pass...........MAYBE IF THEY WOULD STOP THE HOMICIDE BOMBERS OR TURN IN THOSE WHO UNDERMINE THE PEACE PROCESS THINGS WOULD CHANGE........THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT AMONG PALESTINIANS OF "NOT A NATION BESIDE ISREAL,BUT A NATION BESIDES ISRAEL" IS A MENTALITY THAT WILL ONLY LEAD TO MORE VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDIES.........

Both sides have lost children and innocent victims due to violence and conflict.......but I see it as the Israelis taking one hit after another after another....and when they respond to attacks by Palestinians they are painted as the evil ones while the other side vows vengeance..........

Israeli troops shot the guy who killed three Palestinians..........As for the Palestinians response........they vowed revenge..........Why can't they look at the big picture and realize this isolated incident was the result of an angry Israeli against the withdrawal.......why are huge steps towards peace taken by the Israelis seen as minimal by them and all they can say is well maybe if this or that happens then there will be peace........I just don't buy it........it seems you give these folks and arm and a leg and they still want more............

I hope and pray there is a positive change and the youth on both sides grow up to view one another as neighbors and not enemies.........I hope the peaceful efforts of the Israelis and the Palestinian leadership(not the radicals) work and there is progress on the pathway to peace.........but if the Palestinians continue with violence as usual..........I can only stand beside the Israelis releasing their wrath upon them.....Either the Palestinian authorities deal with those who undermine the process .................or the Israelis have my support to take out some strategic targets..........

It is worth mentioning that in this area where the withdrawal was occuring......there is usually daily mortar fire by the Palestinians on Israelis.......but............The Palestinians were warned if while the evac operations were being conducted and Palestinians attacked..... Israelis would respond in an unprecedented fashion............hmmmmmm