I have no idea why anyone would post this here and why anyone would upvote it.

This conflict can only be a huge wedge issue for HN and ycombinator and there will be no easy resolution, mostly just alienation.

I was in Israel and Palestine this summer and you just don't get a good understanding of what is happening there unless you go there and talk to the people. 99% of people upvoting or downvoting have not been there and don't have a feel for the real problems.

I have met with both Palestinian and Israeli business leaders, in the same room discussing the issues and the whole situation is far more complicated than I can really get my head around. It's beyond horrible.

This just isn't the place for this issue.

This is a well written letter. I would include another letter about Gaza with no further comment: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4559201,00.html

I don't think HN should get dragged into this ugly conflict. Mostly so because it seems to be politically incorrect to state the truth that Israel is just defending themselves - which would just result in an echo chambered discussion.

So in order to not drag HN into this your second sentence is some provocative claim about your view on the truth? Very dishonest, IMHO.

Probably because that is not the whole truth.

So, what's the statute of limitations for Palestine on the history of Israel's aggressions against them? At which point did the aggressors become the defenders?