Interesting comment by Golda Meir many years ago was that if Israel's enemies laid down their arms the violence would stop. But if Israel laid down her arms, she would cease to exist. There seems to be much truth in this, given that Israel's excesses appear to be defensive in the case of repeated attacks and missile launches. We always tout a two-state solution, but doesn't the Hamas charter call for a one state solution which necessitates the destruction of the Jews?