That is, win the war. Anyone who hopes for a durable and lasting peace has to hope that Israel decisively defeats Hamas, even at the price of an armored assault and re-occupation of the Gaza Strip, thereby demoralizing any other challenger and forcing the Palestinians to reconcile themselves with the idea of co-existence. Because other than Israel’s cowing its enemies with finality, the only other scenario for lasting peace is “driving the Jews into the sea.”

Wars do settle things.

We can all wish that process and diplomacy could unlock this problem, but they can’t. One side has no desire for a compromise peace. So one side or the other has to win. And given the nature of Fataḥ and particularly Ḥamas (a vicious, murderous Iranian cat’s-paw), the side most like to be a decent, just, magnanimous victor is unquestionably Israel. So deplore whatever tactic or strategy of Israel’s that you like, but if you’re serious about wanting “peace in the Middle East,” you have to choose between Israel being an intimidating military power or not existing at all.

So pick.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.