It would behove Jews in the West to oppose Muslim immigration. In 2004, Stephen Steinlight, a former Director of National Affairs at the American Jewish Committee and current fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies made this point.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/steinlight2.html
Sadly, blinded by grievance politics, my co-religionists support their own demographic dhimmitude.

I think it's more to do with the idea that Israel has overreacted. Sledgehammer to crack a nut, shotgun to swat a fly. I haven't heard anyone praising Hamas or the rocket attacks, but I have heard the usual talking heads using the word "disproportionate" a lot.

Oh yes, and also the inevitable repetion on both sides in dealing with each other. People see the deaths as part of a hopelessly vicious circle. Both sides seem to make more aid money fighting (from their various backers) thast they would hope to earn at peace. There is also a notion that the Israeli government wants to seem more hardline in order to boost it's chances of reelection.

Oh yes, and also the inevitable repetion on both sides in dealing with each other. People see the deaths as part of a hopelessly vicious circle.

When Islamists murdered and enslaved Christians in the Sudan, there was no annoying vicious circle. The Sudanese couldn't defend themselves, they were crushed and the world looked the other way.

The Sudanse are still enslaved and slaughtered, and Europe continues not to care.

If Israel would only follow the same path, Europe could enjoy the benefits of doing business with Israel's oil tick enemies, and discussions about this tedious, repetitive conflict would not ruin so many dinner parties.

Mary, considering how many oil rich and democracy poor oil rich nations the west supports, nobody has a place to whine about Sudan. You could say the same thing about the people of the American continent or India not caring.One could find one of those surveys where people couldn't find their own capital city on a map, let alone Sudan.
If you read my post without your knee jerking, you would see that I said neither side seems interested in peace, because there is no Saudi or US arms money in peace. I remember reading about how some countries made a fortune from the USSR and the USA playing one off the other during the cold war.
I said vicious cycle. If you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same result. Every cod-management consultant reels this one out at some time or another. This approach seems to have been tried a few times (some might say enough).
For someone who likes to talk about how much Saudi Arabia gets a pass from the West, you appear to have developed a blind spot for other nations whose behaviour could be better.

You could say the same thing about the people of the American continent or India not caring

No, I couldn't because I've been to many NY-based demonstrations against the Sudan government. There were a lot of politically influential Americans at those demonstrations. So, no, Americans have shown, once again, that they're not as self-centered as Europe.

I was also addressing Mark Steyn's idea that European politicians support Islamist aggression because of a growing Muslim population. I don't think that's true. Europeans just don't care about genocide, ethnic cleansing, Marxist oppression, terrorists waging war for Lebensraum, etc.. They don't care if Muslims are (or aren't) involved, even when it's happening in Europe. It's not because of rising Muslim populations, it's just because that's the way Europeans have always been.

Europeans do tend to support Arab interests because it's financially benficial to do so. Also, European societies are based on ethnic identity and have a history of ethnic cleansing, so they have no problem with Arab racism and Islamist apartheid laws.

But you're right, if you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same result. The Israeli government must have known that a large-scale bombing war would provoke outrage, even among people who don't support Hamas. Before the bombing of Gaza, the leaders of Hamas were walking around the streets of Damascus. If the goal was to intimidate or even eliminate Hamas, a series of assassinations, or even drive by shootings could have done that. It's a small-scale problem that needs small-scale solutions.

Bombing crowded urban areas to get rid of terrorists is like dynamiting an apartment to get rid of rats. We apply the same tactic (big military weaponry, bombing) over and over, and we get the same result - ruined infrastructure, media 'outrage', pallywood fodder and empowered terrorists. If we want peace we have to learn how to target and eliminate terrorist cells without harming noncombatants in the process.

"I think it's more to do with the idea that Israel has overreacted."

Really? Really, Bryan? WTF do expect Israel to do? Honestly? Arrest some more Hamas leaders for the 1,000th time, which has never accomplished anything? Is this like some 'battered spouse' mentality that demands Israel not defend itself?

"If Israel could only cook the meatloaf just the way Daddy Hamas likes, then the beatings will stop. Why can't you cook the meatloaf right, Israel, you stipid bitch? Why do I have to keep beating your bitch-ass every day because you can't get the goddamn meatloaf right?!?"

You're right, Bryan. Israel should apologize and get back on her knees.

I'll ignore Bryan's self-revealing euro-centric idiocy, and move directly back to the subject. If you've never seen Maurice Ophel's The Sorrow & The Pity, do yourself a favor. If you've ever wondered why you never hear about the NAZI's rounding up Jews in France, it's because the French rounded the Jews up for them. And that whole underground resistance business? Well, yes, there were a couple of guys.

"No, I couldn't because I've been to many NY-based demonstrations against the Sudan government. There were a lot of politically influential Americans at those demonstrations. So, no, Americans have shown, once again, that they're not as self-centered as Europe."

While I appreciate Mary's words (and she is right, Americans are nowhere near as self-centered as Europe or anyone anywhere for that matter), I honestly don't think America is that up in arms about the Sudan. Sure we may protest in New York and there are some very concerned Christians unhappy about the situation (it's one of those times when parts of the left and parts of the right seem to be in agreement). Will we take a stand in the Sudan? It's hard to imagine that we'll do much of anything besides shaking our fingers. Will American boys and girls die for the Sudan? Very hard to imagine.

Will we take a stand in the Sudan? It's hard to imagine that we'll do much of anything besides shaking our fingers.

According to the Sudanese, President Bush has done more than anyone else to fight for the people of the Sudan. They love him in Africa.

But 'doing something' in the Sudan doesn't mean sending in troops. Large scale military operations and bombing campaigns are useless against these kind of militias.

What would work in the Sudan are private security groups (mercenaries). The UN let mercenary groups like Sandline work in Sierra Leone, and they were much more effective than UN peacekeepers at stopping the violence.

Since these mercenaries were much better than the UN at doing their job, and since they are competing with the UN for the same business, the UN won't let them help out anymore. They threaten to withdraw aid from any country that uses mercenaries. Yet another situation where disempowering the UN would help everyone.

Points from several people to deal with:
Mary, I can't ssee much progress happening in Sudan at the moment, no matter how many influential people in the USA jump up and down, it's not about to topple government buildings in Sudan in say the next decade. A shame, but true.
Snoop, where did I say Israel was at fault? I summed up the things the 'talking heads' were saying about this situation, and you make some huge leaps on the stepping stones crossing Rio Assumption. "WTF do expect Israel to do?" makes no sense, but if you had read what I had said, you might actually have more than a meatloaf for a clue. Dick.
Casca, I live in Europe, and was commenting on what I have heard various europeans saying, so thanks for noting it to be "self-revealing" and "euro-centric". Is 'stating the bleeding obvious' in your resume? Add to your list btw any documentary about the nazi occupations of Jersey and Guernsey. The head nazi just had to open his post in the morning to find out who he needed to round up. Some others:
Irish potato famine: Irish on Irish
Highland Clearances: Scot on Scot.
African Slave catchers: African on African
As to the French Resistance, have you never seen the seminal docudrama "'Allo 'Allo"?

"Snoop, where did I say Israel was at fault?"

Hey Bryan, when did I say *ahem* that you said Israel was at fault. New Year's resolution, pal: time to lay off the malt liquor.

What does a 'proportional response' look like to you, Bryan, from your vaulted position overlooking Sderot? Should Israel randomly launch some unguided munitions daily from parochial schools & temples into Gaza city? Would that be proportional enough for you, Bryan? How about some proportional-fucking suicide bombings to sweeten the deal, eh? Would that be proportional enough for you? Sounds like ‘success’, doesn’t it.

You are the surviving offspring of a truly heroic generation of British warriors who sacrificed their lives to free the world from tyranny. How ironic *hic!* that the very generation they set free is willingly surrendering to the tyranny of Islam. Wave 'bye-bye to your nation, Bryan. Because you're going to witness it in your lifetime, brother. (Demographics are a bitch, dude.) And if I have anything to say about it...your nation won't be rescued from oblivion this time. Dick.

Irish parents. Neutral in WW2 (just like you until Pearl harbour). People who have served in my family have done so because we wanted to. Still a dick.
Again, as you seem hard of thinking: I have outlined what the critics have said, and have been careful to not colour it with my opinion. Got that? So asking me what I think is a proportional response is the action of a dick, cos I have no axe to grind. I think your lack of reading skills may be due to your drinking, and you're projecting.
I don't think this latest set-to is going to solve or end the rocket attacks, and that peace means less funds for both sides.