Shocking isn't the word I was thinking of...

Well it only took two days; I heard on NPR the other day that a moderate wing of Hamas had come out with a plan to recognize the state of Israel. Two days later in the New York Times Israel Steps Up Confrontation in Gaza Strip. From the outside looking in it would appear that Israel not only wants but needs a radical extremist Hamas because the only footing they have is in the use of force. Nothing but sheer U.S. funded warpower will keep Israel the way Israel wants to remain--a Jewish state. If Israel wanted peace it would resist using force in a time when diplomacy would help to end the violence. Instead they have chosen to strengthen the hand of the conservative elements of Hamas.