Anyone opposed to this war must answer the question of how to deal with the murderous idealogues of Hamas. For those who view the creation of Israel as a crime itself, the answer is easy. Hamas, however despicable its means, is merely a byproduct of Israel's illegal policies. For those in the Israel right or wrong camp, the blame for the entire tragic enterprise falls on Hamas. For those, like me, who support Israel's right to exist and defend its citizens, but are deeply disturbed by the suffering in Gaza, there is no easy answer.

Most of the arguments I read here seek to apportion blame among the parties, and there is certainly plenty on both sides: continuing expansion of the settlements and a brutal occupation met with consistent Palestinian and Arab rejectionism (while I can agree that the Camp David deal was less than ideal, the fact remains that no Palestinian leader has ever evinced even an inclination of any compromise on the right of return, which is a nonstarter).

None of these arguments, however, apply to Hamas, which has successfully impeded the peace process at every opportunity through suicide bombings and now rocket attacks. It is often noted that Hamas thrives on the misery and hopelessness of its people, a condition they perpetuate by maintaining a constant state of war. This is just the most recent example of the leaders of Hamas demonstrating that the misery they have brought to their own people is subordinate to their movement's divine aim.

The rule of Hamas sidelines the traditional approaches to a peaceful, two-state solution. Indeed, the movement was created in opposition to the two state solution. Its founding belief is that the entire land of Palestine is occupied, that it is part of the Islamic waqf, and that all previous agreements, and all prospective agreements purporting to share it are against the will of God.

How then can Israel end the blockade of Gaza when the territory is ruled by a movement inalterably opposed to existence and committed to an armed struggle to achieve its objective, no matter the cost? How can Israel allow an implacably hostile group to consolidate its control over adjoining territory, to accumulate even more powerful weapons that will make it even more undeterrable in the future, and to launch attacks on its citizens?

The current situation illustrates the bankruptcy of the temporary truce. Hamas apparently used the lull to acquire more sophisticated weapons that are now raining down on Israeli towns. In this respect, the current operation is not just about stopping the relatively ineffectual (though still monstrous) rocket fire on Israel's South. It is about stopping more deadly rocket fire in the future, not only from Gaza, but also the West Bank. It is ultimately an existential question for Israel. Any ceasefire without provisions for controlling Gaza's borders poses an unacceptable risk.

For Israel, then, something must be done to "change the equation." Hamas thrives on a state of war, and as long as they remain in power, any of the preconditions for peace become more unlikely. As if that weren't depressing enough, Hamas is strenthened by the suffering it causes. When Hezbollah instigated similar devastation on Lebanon, somehow its leaders were hailed as "victors," whose credibility was enhanced (despite their public admission that they misjudged Israel's response). The same is widely predicted as the outcome of the current violence - increased support and legitimacy for Hamas. This is a madness I can't comprehend.

So the question I always come back to is how can Israel deal with Hamas? As someone who is disturbed by the war, but believes strongly in the state of Israel, it is the one for which I have yet to hear a reassuring answer.