By Mark David Blum, Esq.

What if in your world there is a guy who every time he gets a chance, he walks up and slaps you across the face. At first, you turn the other cheek, but he still walks up and slaps you. You try to stay out of his way, but he hunts you down, sneaks up, and smacks you good. Then you try slapping him down to the ground but he just gets back up and slaps you again across the face. Your friends come around and smack him down but he still comes back and smacks you again. You call the police and he is put in prison, but the moment he gets out, he again comes right up to you and slaps you in the face. During his incarceration, his friends come around and smack you in the face.

Does anybody in the end fault you when one day you pick up a shotgun and blow the guy’s face off? When is enough, enough?

This is the best analogy of what I see as being the conflict between Israel and the terrorist hoards that haunt her borders. Israel has honored every agreement, has pulled out of the Sinai, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. They have offered peace, traded prisoners, and bent over backwards despite the endless blood being spilled. I have not always supported Israel’s actions. Her policies of collective punishment offend me.

Despite Israel's efforts at resolution, Hamas insists on continuing terrorist and military attacks against Israel. Daily firing dozens of rockets into Israeli cities and settlements, it is clear that Hamas wants a war to the death. I say we just step aside let the Israelis turn the Gaza Strip into a tourist mecca paved with the blood of Hamas fighters. The beaches, I hear, are beautiful beyond imagination.

It is not, however, America's fight. It is not our war. Not one dime nor one boot should be in what is apparently about to erupt. Syria is weakened by civil war. Egypt too is in disarray. Hamas and Hezbollah are alone and unprotected for the first time in long time. For fifty years, these people (all sides) have wanted to have a knock-down drag-out to-the-death fight. Fifty years now, we the People of the United States have done all we can to stop those fights when they break out and continue to spend our treasury to keep them from fighting again. That policy is an abject failure and we are no closer today than ever.

The best we Americans can do is sit back in front our cable television, enjoy the show, and let the Israelis do what we the People would do under similar circumstances. If we or the world stops Israel and intervenes while there is still a single enemy fighter alive and wanting to do battle, then all of this will all be for naught. The time has come to demand unconditional surrender … or death. That is the game they choose to play.

All I can say is, "no more and never again."