Mitt Romney continues to annoy the world

When have the Palestinian Authority ever blown up schoolchildren??? Though I would suggest that they weren't merely annoyed at what he specifically said on that tiny soundbite, but also because of his unwavering support (whether just or not) of their mortal enemy who seemingly do their best to make their lives difficult!

Random example, not the only one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%27alot_massacre

From its own wiki page, "The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine... is a member organization of the Palestine Liberation Organization." The Palestinian Authority was established by the PLO after the Oslo Peace Accords, and the PLO continues to represent 'Palestine' at international organisations.

I think it's a lot of murderers trying to smear someone who wants to stop them murdering more people, personally.

It was created with a pact between the PLO and Israel, and is an elected body. As such, I don't see how it has anything to do with the PLO? Even if people elected the entire PLO to the authority, it wouldn't make it a branch of the PLO.

Or have I misunderstood?

So, by your standard, it is acceptable to kill innocent children knowing that you 'might' destroy weapons and you 'might' kill fighters. Also, of course Israel will exclaim that Hamas was using 'human shields,' they just destroyed a school! Israel and morally good - these words are antithetical. Israel sets an unjust precedent that minorities can overthrow the majority no matter how many men, women and children get killed in the process. By your logic it would be acceptable for all the non-white Americans to create a state by claiming the majority of the US for themselves.

Israel must know that these ‘incessant’ rocket attacks happen because they annexed Palestinian land, and because the Palestinian’s have suffered greatly after the creation of the state of Israel. Firstly, it does not help the cause for Hamas, or any rogue unit, to fire rockets. However Israel destroying schools in Gaza is a vindictive response. To blame Hamas is stereotypical Israeli propaganda. Israel should NEVER destroy a school, or hospital, because that will only lead to civilian casualties and further resentment among the Palestinians, and many others.

Imagine if you were a Palestinian, imprisoned in Gaza without electricity, or a school to attend, who has suffered greatly because of Israel, and the world watches on in vein, what would you do? If Israel suffered the same oppression that the Palestinians have suffered I would support them just as vehemently. Also, it still stands that Israel is a bad precedent for the world. It would be catastrophic if another group of people choose to follow Israel’s philosophy on establishing a nation.

During my recent trip to Israel, I had suggested that the choices a society makes about its culture play a role in creating prosperity, and that the significant disparity between Israeli and Palestinian living standards was powerfully influenced by it. In some quarters, that comment became the subject of controversy.

Your terminology is completely wrong too. Israel has not 'annexed' Gaza at all. In fact, it unilaterally withdrew from the territory in 2005, evicting every last Jewish settler, and this was when the rocket attacks increased.

Secondly, it does help Hamas to fire rockets at Israel if only to satisfy their own lust for Jewish blood or to secure their own grip on the people of Gaza and promulgate the anti-Israel propaganda that many here seem to have fallen for.

What I said earlier is still true - Hamas have done more to oppress the Palestinians than Israel ever have.

Thirdly, what grounds do you have to say that Israel shouldn't destroy a school if the school is used as a firing ground for Hamas rockets? Are you seriously saying that even in a situation where a) the school was empty of all but Hamas combatants and b) the rockets they were firing were hitting Israeli schools, that you would still not allow Israel to respond? Destroying schools is nothing to do with being vindictive - it is to do with a nation's territorial integrity and the protection of the civilians within.

Why would I need to imagine that? Why can I not look at this objectively, without adopting prejudices? What people experience has nothing to do with the actions they then take. This whole "if you were a Palestinian you would be a suicide bomber too" is just petty excuse making.

Secondly, why is it that the underdog is always the more moral side? It's as if by virtue of being oppressed you automatically become righteous, and any action you take, whether it be rocket launching or blowing up innocent people, becomes sanitised.

It does not stand that Israel is a bad example. Israel is one of the few states established by a legal mandate and with relatively few lives lost.

Compare Israel to the great democracies - the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA. The creation of Israel was incredibly non-violent in comparison.

(And your earlier statements hint to me that you don't know that much about how Israel was created.)