Kowabunga

It's happening. Again. I've been trying to not write about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, for a number of reasons.

I'll be brief. I have a number of Palestinian friends, in California and Minnesota. Good folks, and they all have family in the occupied territories, or inside Israel's borders. I've even met some of the family who still live there. I support Palestinian autonomy, statehood.

How can I reconcile what I believe is right when there are so many people "over there" who push an agenda of hate and murder. Hamas, Hezbollah and other extremist organizations, made "legitimate" by the relatively recent elections of Hamas leaders to the Palestinian Authority.

There are reports by reputable authorities, notably NOT the main stream media, that over the past year, Israel has suffered some 1,000 rocket attacks. The recent kidnappings, I guess, was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back." This was escalated when Hezbollah terrorists (what else can we call them…they aren't freedom fighters) captured several Israeli soldiers, and demand the release of hundreds of prisoners for the safe return of these soldiers.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and many (if not all) of the extremist groups have repeatedly stated their position is one of annihilation of Israel. Not a two-state solution, which is what Israel, the United States, and many other countries, would support.

Israel has responded to the many thousands of attacks it has suffered, by striking at the heart of the problem: Hamas and Hezbollah leadership, as well as their supporting and host nations. What choice have they got?

With Iran working doggedly at refining uranium to a high enough level to be used in weapons, it is only a matter of time before Hezbollah requires what it needs to go nuclear with Israel. Hezbollah leaders have stated time and again their desire to acquire WMDs, whether nuclear, chemical, or biological.

Today, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah is prepared for "open war" with Israel. Here is an excerpt from FoxNews:

"You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war," he said. "We are ready for it."

"The surprises that I have promised you will start now. Now in the middle of the sea, facing Beirut, the Israeli warship that has attacked the infrastructure, people's homes and civilians - look at it burning," Nasrallah said.

"It will sink and with it will sink scores of Israeli Zionist soldiers. This is just the beginning," he warned.

Surprises? I hope that this does not mean that Hezbollah has acquired some of the chemical weapons that Iraq had. Only a fraction of the WMDs known to exist in Iraq have been recovered.

Regardless, things in that part of the world will continue to escalate.

There is no doubt in mind that Israel would like to live in peace with its neighbors. The problem is the neighbors don't want to live in peace with Israel. What can a people do in this situation? Israel has a right, and duty, to respond to the daily attacks upon its people.

Maybe if the people of Palestine elected men of honor, instead of terrorists, there might be a chance for peace and stability in that part of the world. Maybe.