On Jan 22, 8:15*am, Van Chocstraw
wrote:

Why is it that when Gaza buys weapons it's smuggling and when Israel
buys weapons it's business?

Israel is a sovereign state with a democratic government.

The weapons smuggled into Gaza are smuggled there by Hamas, a
terrorist organization. Not by the Palestinian Authority. And they're
used to attack peaceful civilians in Israel - not to defend against
Israel.

The recent unfortunate military incursion by Israel into the Gaza
strip only happened because of these rocket attacks. Attacks that were
completely unnecessary. The Camp David peace accords, which date from
the Carter presidency, set forth a framework for Palestinian
statehood.

But because Hamas prefers instead to drive Israel into the sea, it
chose to *delay* the progress of the Palestinian people towards normal
life in an independent nation by continuing to attack Israel, even
after this agreement had been reached.

Israel is a country like any other. So when it buys weapons, that is
business.

The Palestinian Authority is subject to certain limitations, growing
out of its transitional status between existing within Israeli
occupation and eventual Palestinian statehood, so it can only buy
weapons in a limited fashion.

Hamas is an illegal private organization, not authorized by the
legitimate authorities - either Israel or the Palestinian Authority -
to bring weapons into either the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. As
well, its use of weapons does not qualify as legitimate defense
against, or resistance to, oppression.

I hope this answers your question.

John Savard