well that escalated quickly! Business as usual or the tip of the iceberg?

I never said that. However, I do think we should be more understanding that when they mean self-defense they've got a damn good reason to be saying that.

Personally, I think the day has gone by where a Palestinian state is possible with peaceful relations between them. At least not in our lifetimes.

I'd be very happy if I was wrong.

Sure.

The Saudis aren't particularly influential in this particular instance. They backed Gaza with aid until the mid-2000s, when pressure from the Bush administration made them shift their track. They've been almost exclusively a supporter of the PNA on the West Bank, the rival group to Hamas for Palestinian leaderships and less violent, for over a decade. Their citizens support all sorts of Wahabbi and Salafi inspired violence, for certain, so impacting their fortunes might diminish their ability to provide that support. It also might make them even more ideological. We'll have to see.

But regardless, the primary support coming to Hamas is Iran now, and that according to several analysts primarily in military terms, not humanitarian aid.

The best thing for the Palestinian people would be to reject Hamas. They used to get more than 50% of their support from external forces, but most have cut off that support due to Hamas' stated aims.

Yeah, I had some quotes a number of pages back from people who hold Israeli government positions who openly state their goals were to eradicate Palestinians.

https://wordforge.net/index.php?posts/3341593/

Yes, then they could enjoy the prosperity and freedom that the areas not held by Hamas do.

I'm pretty sure if I was a Palestinian I'd rather get the $221 million in humanitarian aid to the West Bank that Biden just restored (as Trump is an obvious asshole) than not get a cent of it because I can't stop my government from trying to kill Jews.

Let's see, GDP per capita in the Fatah controlled West Bank, twice that of Gaza. Life expectancy in the West Bank, 73.4 years, higher than neighboring Jordan or Turkey. Economic growth rate in the West Bank, 4-7% a year in mid-2010s (no current data).

And of course economic integration with Israel would be best, as was the case for decades with Palestinians traveling to Israel for work. But that was cut off because of all the suicide bombings 20 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_State_of_Palestine

I'd definitely rather live in the West Bank than Gaza if those were my two choices.

But then, I'm not insane.

Once again Israel is forced to defend itself against...checks notes...a peaceful marathon.

Jerusalemites? I guess that makes sense. Jerusalemians would make sense too.

Two questions:

1. Will the US actually look to give Israel more than a slap on the wrist for this seriously ridiculous overreaction?

2. Were/are Palestinian authorities planning on investigating/prosecuting those individuals who set off incendiary balloons?