Location: Unknown
Responding to: general comment
Comment:
I'm very pleased with the order in which the Saudi Government, protects their Country. Allahumdullah, May Allah Az Wa Jall, bless the people abduntantly for trying to preserve all who adheres to the one (True) religion (Islam) & keep up the excellent work that they're doing. Ameen
Name: Din Huzir
Location: Singapore
Responding to: "The Iranian Threat"
Comment:
We Live unfortunately in an UNFAIR WORLD where Some COUNTRIES are ALLOWED to
Exist and Survived Above the RULE of MANKIND LAW. THE USA claimed to be the
Godly Big Brother who takes LAW into their hands by INVADING IRAQ without the
Consent of the World body UN legislative assembly approval. They destroyed a
Sovereign Nation of its political System as it
claimed to be possessing
Destructive Weapons of massive kind but to no avail. Infrastructures were
destroyed and Innocent Iraqis were Killed in such Massive Invasion by the USA
and the WORLD stood by doing nothing becoz the BIG BROTHER bullies. Such Big
Brother also Shouts about Denmocratic Feedom, Human Rights issues and the Rule
of Law. If You Want to be GODLY as a BIG BROTHER, you have to behave like one
and set a good example as one, Godly Big Brother ! But instead you showed your
Satanic Bad Example which is not examplary that of GOD or a Good Big Brother.
The Cold War ended but with Regrets
and here emerged a Tyrant Satanic Big Brother who bullies !! Israel Existed
after World War 2 but unfortunately, to this date, the Palestenians are still
struggling to make ends meet and live in the State of shambles. Israel was
formed on part of Palestine and instead of living Harmoniously with its
neighbour subjected
to their kind of rule of law above the Mankind Rule of
Law. They also bullies !!
Israel is a modern state today, But look at The Palestinians who owned
Palestine and have to create its own Palestine state till today living in
Shambles !! Ask Yourself and Imagine if your Home were to be taken over by
someone else or Alien and you have to fight back to get back your own home for
6 decades and you still live in poverty whilst the intruder prosper, How wud
you REACT ! So, when Iran threatens Israel in words the Big Bully, Israel and
surprisingly other Nations reacted angrily !! What a world we are living in
today !! The rule of Law doesnt matter to Some, surprisingly, because it is
MANMADE !!??
Name: Aubrey Jackson
Location: Unknown
Responding to: What About The Anti-Israel Lobby Groups?
Comment:
Good point about the anti-israel lobby groups, however, I would like to see a comparison of the monetary contributions of the pro and anti-israel lobby groups. Also, I would argue that Israel is America's greatest liability. It is the primary reason we are at odds with every other country in the middle east. In supporting Israel, the United States comprimises its own security and angers many other countries that would otherwise be merely nations we do business with. You say that "Israel has got our back no matter what", yet when have they ever helped us in a global conflict? And if they do in the future it's a sure bet that the only reason for our involvement in that conflict will be Israel itself. Honestly, what does Israel really do for us, besides spy on us and piss off other countries? What difference does it make that Israel is the only democracy in the middle east? Our support of Israel makes us look like hypocrites when Israel tramples all over the rights of palestinians. You state that Israel has taken our side in every major conflict - this is really not surprising considering how much money we give them. Have they contributed financially or militarily to any of our efforts in these conflicts?
Response:
hello. as far as financial aid to israel, i agree. that 2.2 billion should be spent here at home and not given to a country that doesn't really need it.
other than that, israel votes with the US in the general assembly 95%. only one nation is more aligned with our positions on israel (Micronesia). i recommend you read this article titled "A World Without Israel". it makes a solid point that our relations with the arabs would not be as cozy as you say if israel didn't exist
www.themiddleeastnow.com/worldwoisrael
you say israel tramples on rights of the palestinians? what about the other way around? the palestinians are constantly launching rockets into civilian areas in israel. is this not trampling on israel's right to safety and security?
Name: Janet Amighi
Location: Unspecified
Refering to: Was Ahmadinjead Misquoted?
Comment:
Yes Ahmadinejad uses fiery rhetoric, but this is often misinterpreted I was in Iran when there was a call for suicide volunteers. This was specifically for defensive purposes in the case of an Israeli or US attack.
Iranian leaders have never said, we will attack the US or Israel. They say, it would be a good thing if these regimes fell. This may not be pleasant speech but it is not the same thing as threatening attack. Israel has a nuclear arsenal that is sufficient to wipe out Tehran. Thre is no contemplation of attack by Iran, but rather Iranian leaders have used the anti-Zionist rhetoric to gain regional influence among Arabs who have been repeatedly humiliated by their inability to rescue the Palestinians.
Who is threatening to attack? it is the US and now Israel.
Response:
yes, i have made the same argument. if you properly translate ahmadinjead's statements and take them into context you will see he is only WISHING for israel's government to collapse the way the soviet, south african, and saddam's governments fell. not threatening. i was one of the first to start defending ahmadinjead when he was misquoted. i believe in accuracy and honesty.
however, i do not agree that the US or Israel has threatened Iran and suicide bombings in civilian areas are never justified, and you can hardly call them defensive since 80% of the deaths of suicide bombings are innocent civilians.
Name: Nasiha al-Salim
Location: Unspecified
Comment:
Moslems have every right to practice their religion and to uphold all the tenets of it; as do practitioners of other religions. I believe that understanding of other faiths (especially if one does not adhere to them) is essential to create a world where all will benefit and all will worship (or not, if that is their lifestyle) as they please, without harboring a desire to obliterate adherents of other faiths.
In an ideal world (one in which we cannot possibly live now), everyone would be free to live and practice their faith without fear. In America now, it is not only Moslems who face persecution for their faith. On a much lesser scale (but still visible) Jews, Wiccans, and even Christians (as well as smaller religious groups) face persecution in the forms of harassment or threats; living in an area in which they might consider themselves unsafe. I do not condone this persecution, no matter who is the target.
America declares in its constution freedom of religion, and as far as one is concerned legally, that is the case; however on a practical scale, America still is not a place where one may worship without fear or retribution. But outlawing all faiths but one is not the answer. In fact, doing so may only increase such persecution. It may make adherents to the Accepted Faith feel superior, and likewise, adherents to Unaccepted Faiths either feel inferior, depressed, fearful, or otherwise unhappy.
If we are ever to move towards a better the world, the first step is understanding other faiths, even if we do not agree with their ideas or tenets. If we cannot understand our fellow man, we have no hope of living beside him.
Name: Henry Clifford
Location: Wainscott NY
Responding to: Yeshiva Bombing
Comment:
Since Jan. 1, 2008 Israel has killed 238 Palestinians including 37 minors. Including the 8 yeshiva students recently killed 22 Israelis have died. The bodycount for 2007 is 384 Palestinians, 13 Israelis.
Response:
Name: Anon
Locaion: Unknown
Responding To: The Middle East
Comment:
All I want to say is that in fact Muslims are VICTIMS of all violence imposed by America and allies to get power and to rule all over the world and its a BIG PROPAGANDA of western media to call Muslims as terrorists. Arab and Muslims world never ever made fun of other religions and their Gods or prophets. Islam means peace and if you comment something about Islam first you should have the knowledge about Islam, not about the people which you have in your mind. Its the war of nations not religions. Unfortunenatly victim nations are Muslims and if some people take revenge of their loved ones who are killed in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan war which is imposed on them, what they can do. They don't have choice. They have lost everything. To make the cartoons of Prophet is the other type of war which they want to impose and want to show Muslim's anger to whole world. In fact they know how sensitive this issue is for Muslims and they are doing this on purpose to provoke Muslims.
Name: Patrick Regan
Location: Binghamton NY
Responding To: IfAmericansKnew Analysis
Comment:
I have read with interest your report about the organization “If Americans Knew” (http://www.themiddleeastnow.com/ifamericansknew.html), particularly the section on the question of Palestinian terrorism vs. resistance. You mention that other freedom movements did not target civilians and in fact detail a few of the more prominent movements, including those against the Nazis. I wonder how you fit Irgun and the early efforts of the Zionists movement into this framework. Specifically I ask that you comment on a NY Times report that reports on terrorist bombings what we today know of as Israel . The NY Times reports on December 14, 1947 that three bombings by Irgun resulted in 19 civilian fatalities and 67 injuries. The victims: British, American, and Palestinians. The first bombing of the day involved a homemade bomb thrown from a taxi into a crowd gathering to get on a bus; the second into a crowded café; in the third a truck owned by a British company was destroyed. On that date the future prime minister of Israel was the leader of the group that perpetrated these crimes. Are these crimes comparable to the ones committed by the Palestinians? Were these bombings justifiable because they were based on an independence movement? Or are they deniable as acts perpetrated by Irgun?I’m just curious how you parse up the legitimacy and tactics of independence movements. Thanks.
Response:
yes. as far as i am concerned the irgun of 1947 was a terrorist organization. but no one is attempting to justify their acts or label them "resistance" movements, like they are doing with palestinian terrorists.
Name: phillis smith
Location: Unknwon
Responding to: What about the anti-israel lobbys?
Comment:
I DONT support AIPAC, I think its ridiculous how much Israel tries to influence our politics. Israel is way too much up in our business. I dont support our taxes going to subsidize Israels Army, when we cant even give our own soldiers adequate care, supporting Israels is just shameful. I think Israel is an agitating and troublemaking nation, and I think they are greatly responsible for the stresses of the Middle East. They are too aggressive, and are abusive of the people of other nations.
Name: Barry Wright
Location: Gilroy California
Responding to: Was Ahmadinejad Misquoted?
Comment:
Your reader wrote that President Ahmadinejad's 'wiped off the map'
comment about Israel
was from 'the Iranian government's official website', but in the same
article he quotes, the mistaken interpretation is carefully elucidated and
corrected
Our American media is unbelievably biased against Arab countries, to
even the most casual observer, the reporting events in the Mideast is a
journalistic travesty. I am not an Arab or Jew, or from the Mideast, but simply a US middle-aged
white male who has watched this disgusting slanting of Mideast news for decades.
Anyone who dares criticize the government of Israel, even ex- President of the United States, Mideast expert and peace-initiative innovator Jimmy Carter is accused of 'anti-Semitism' by some in the media. Can anything be more ridiculous?
I find this whole biased media situation intolerably dangerous and absurd, and demand that a sweeping change of consciousness about what really goes on in the Mideast be aggressively pursued by our national media. Let the truth out and stop covering up facts.
Response:
hello. secretary rice recently criticized israel's decision to expand one of its settlements, yet i dont remember anyone calling her an anti-semite. do you? jews, and all minorities, have misused the racism card, but to exagerate and say that "anyone who criticizes israel is labeled anti-semetic" is absurd.
what are some examples of this bias? please dont say anything that comes out of fox news, or any commentator who is a known neo-conservative. i do agree that there is a lack of information on world events in our mainstream media, but i dont believe it is out of bias. do you believe the arab media is fair to us? fair to israel? do you think the arab in the middle east audience is getting a fair portrayal of whats going on in the world?
Name: Ellie Weingardt
Location: Unkown
Responding to: past comment
Comment:
There are many cases of similar espionage for an "ally" country where the sentence was one fourth the punishment meted out to Pollard.
I believe he commited a crime and has already paid for it. Even though the information he gave to Israel was information that they were entitled to by our government, but was withheld for politcal reasons.
Yes, I believe he was singled out because he was Jewish. Not by the court which wanted to give a more just sentence, but by the then, sec'y of defense, who was also Jew. We can't go into his head to determine his twisted sense of justice.
He sent a letter requesting harsh and unjust punishment which the court felt obligated to respect. The judge himself commented on the unfairness of this request. It's in the body of the article I sent you.
I am enclosing another article which addresses your concern about the "Jewish Lobby" in congress and deals with the Anti-semitic anti-Israel Lobby paid for in Saudi dollars. Seems the Saudis are spinning on the web, too!
And yes, Jews as well as other Americans, feel the sentence was unjust and that i in all fairness, Pollard must receive a presidential pardon.
Response:
which other ally was caught spying and received a lighter sentence?
Name: Henry Clifford
Location: Wainscott NY
Responding to: Ahmadinejad's visit to NY
Comment:
There can be little doubt that some of the statements made by the President of Iran are irrational and bizarre. But there is another president who makes equally irrational and bizarre statements - George Bush - so Americans can not afford to take a high and mighty position on this matter.
Response:
sometimes it is a little difficult to tell which is the lesser of two evils: the neocons or the revolutionary guards. thanks for your comments, i will post them.
Name: Erhardt Jacobsen
Location: Unknown
Responding to: past message
Comment:
The war in iraq costs billions of dollars a week. Where does that money go?
It goes to contractors who are rebuilding the country and also ammunition.
It is a scam used to trick tax payers into giving money to rich contractors
and ammunition/firearm manufacturers.
Response:
i dont think even the bush administration is low enough to have 4,000+ U.S. troops mass murdered just to help big corporations. but there is no doubt we need to bring our troops home and install a secular dictatorship in iraq to bring stability to that country... by force if needed.
Name: Henry Clifford
Location: Wainscott NY
Responding to: The Israel Lobby
Comment:
AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups have every right to lobby and try to influence our elected officials and public opinion. There is a legitimate question about the need for these organizations to register as foreign agents but that is a matter too complex to discuss here.
Looking at the number of resolutions and actions taken by our Congress and U.S. votes cast in the UN it is clear that our government is strongly, some say blindly, in support of Israel. The question then becomes - is this in the best interest of the American people. Obviously that is a matter of opinion, and discussion and opinion on that subject should be free. Professors Mearsheimer and Walt have been attacked, visciously by some, for expressing their views.
In the words of Thomas Paine: "When opinion is free, truth will prevail."
Response:
walt and mearsheimer have toned down their rhetoric from their 2006 essay. in fact they have changed their tone so much that i find myself kind of agreeing with them. they state in the book that they are actually pro-israel, they support its right to exist, and would support coming to israel's aid if their existense was in danger. they acknowledge israel is an ally of america, and they argue a change in us policy would be good for israel. i agree with their argument that aipac and others have too much influence on our politicians, and while i want to see america continue to support israel, i do not want this to be blind support.
the only major problem i have with walt and mearsheimer is they blame the israel lobby for the iraq war. i hope you dont buy into that. the israeli government and intelligence have consistently argued that it would not be wise to attack iraq, and it would make more sense to attack iran first, the bush administration chose to attack iraq independently. saddam hussein was no threat to israel, not in 2003, not ever. i have been monitoring aipac's website for years, i have seen them constantly argue in support of confrontation with iran and syria, but i have never seen them directly support military action against saddam hussein. if walt and mearsheimer would drop this explosive absurd charge that the lobby started the war, i would have no major qualms with their new book.
Name: Rob Jacobson
Location: Unknown
Responding to: Keep Democracy Out of the Arab World
Comment:
You say - "America has the right to protect its interest"
First off, who gives America this right? Hasn't America just TAKEN this 'right' ?
Why does America have the right to protect its interest if it hurts people
in other countries?
If the people WANT Hezbollah in power who are we to say they can't have
Hezbollah?
What would you think if the ARABS decided who YOUR president is? Would
you think that were fair? No you most certainly wouldn't.
These Arab people aren't just stupid... they are voting for parties that
would be GOOD FOR THEM, but BAD for the US (because, like you mentioned they
would stop exporting all of their oil to the US).
If you insist that the US has the right to impose what it wants in the
part of the world by saying "we know whats best for you" does that not
mean the SAME THING can be done to the US? Could not CHINA, CANADA, and the
EUROPEAN UNION decide that "The United States is fucking over its own
people, lets invade and then give the Americans a JUST government" ?
Response:
just one thing. the article doesn't say we should invade arab countries for their own good... only for OUR own good. the governments they are electing are threats to america's interests. and for the record i wouldn't mind someone coming in and changing our government. they are fucking over their own people.
Name: Ellie Weingardt
Location: Unspecified
Responding to: The View of a Pollard Apologist
Comment:
If the punishment doesn't fit the crime look to those who demand it and their motives.
If an American is excessively punished for spying in a foreign country, I would raise my voice in protest and ask our diplomatic corps to negotiate.
But if an American is excessively punished for any crime here in America, it is up to us to do more to influence American public opinion and appeal to the president of the United States for leniency. Again, that's the American way.
Weinberger sent a damning letter to the sentencing judge to ensure Pollard would receive the harshest possible sentence inspite of the governments agreement to a plea deal. Weinberger, whose parentage is Jewish, may have used this punishment as a message to detractors who, like many, would have pointed a finger at him and accused him of "duplicity of loyalty " with a lesser sentence. An accusation not uncommon to Jews in this society.
Judge Williams, himself, called his sentence: "A miscarriage of justice. " Justice has no chance of prevailing without our vigilance. LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL....even a Jew.
Name: Ellie Weingardt
Location: Unspecified
Responding to: The View of a Pollard Apologist
Comments:
Here's the scoop. We are talking about Jonathon Pollard who gave classified information to Israel to help protect them from harm. Information that was promised by our government but withheld. Information about countries bent on Israel's destruction.
We are not talking about an enemy of the United States of America bent on our destruction. There is a difference. The PUNISHMENT DID NOT FIT THE CRIME. Yes, he was a spy for Israel, an ally country.......but there is no precedent for such severe sentencing for a spy for an ally. This is not Russia.
I don't disagree that he was a spy and deserved punishement for breaking the law. What I disagree with is the length and type of sentencing especially since the government promised him a deal if he pleaded guilty and then didn't live up to their agreement.
He is being kept in solitary confinement because he is an embarrassment to our judicial system and for no other reason.
I am ashamed of the way he was singled out for "special treatment" and then betrayed. Murdereres have gotten off with less.
Name: Jeff Michell
Location: Unknown
Responding to: The Israel/Hezbollah War
Comment:
One issue you forget to mention on your site, is why the two soldiers were kidnapped in the first place, and it was to gain the release of Samir Kuntar. A Lebanese who is jailed in ISrael for almost 30-years. Please read my site, and please add it to your site, you can copy it and paste it the homepage to your site as well. here is my site. http://SamirKuntar.net
And also please add this page to your site too, it is by a famous Lebanese columnist. Here it is you can cut and paste this too into your site:
http://samirkuntar.net/hezbollah1.html
Name: Massoud
Location: LA, California
Respoinding to: Comments on Jonathon Pollard
Comments:
When no one was fighting terror, Israel was, and Pollard helped Israel do that, Pollard gave Israel information about PLO head quarters in Tunis. He would have received a "Great citizen" award, if he was doing that today .
Response:
the fact is Pollard broke the law. he passed classified information to a foreign country. the fact that the foreign country was an ally is irrelevant. i dont understand how you can argue that pollard should receive any special treatment. it is auful and unpatriotic that you support someone like pollard.
Name: William Scudder
Location: Unspecified
Responding to: Saudi Oppression of non-Muslims
Comments:
I'm not really concerned with how the Saudi government handles the affairs of their own country, after all they are a sovereign nation just like any and every other nation/state currently recognized by the United Nations. However, when operating a place of business that is outside the boundaries of said nation, then the laws, ordinances and customs of the host country should apply. The simple solution is that if this hotel is such a good idea, then open it up in Saudi; unfortunately that would be self-defeating. Clearly the purpose here is to cram the ideals and xenophophic mantra of islam down the throats of a overly sensative, and hyper-tolerant world. If it is successful, next stop - one in every country that will allow it. Welcome to Hitler's Germany all over again...either tolerate it, or eliminate it from the planet. YOU DECIDE!
Name: DeWayne Benson
Location: USA
Responding to: General Comment
Comment:
I believe the secular Zionist minority who control Israel will soon be making concessions to the Palestinians now living under Aparthied conditions.
It is apparent that the stranglehold of the Zionist element will shortly lose hold of the US Gov, as US citizens discover the detriment that this has caused in America and around the world.
Without this strong backing of America to continue plundering Palestine and Palestinian people, a strong effort will be needed to make peace. Whether this is possible or not will have be seen. Time however is short, and may actually need be immediately begun, or perhaps never be possible.
Whatever the case, American citizens will soon be getting control back of their government, and this will require considerable changes of policies and goals.
Name: DeWayne Benson
Location: USA
Responding to: Was Ahmadinejad Misquoted?
Comment:
There are reams of proof today that the "Wipe Israel Off Map" quote is pure fabrication, whether of Zionist or US (Shadow) government manufacture makes no difference, both are proven deceivers and liars.
That both like vermin are living off each other is another taken, from a Christian perspective, both are quickly identified as to whom they serve. In this venue I have written and posted my own webpage article, it covers both factual and prophetic background regarding Zionist gov of Israel:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rtpricetag/Israel.html
Response:
interesting page, i will link to it with your comment on the reader comments page
the "wiped off the map" quote (false or not) was not made by U.S. or Israel, but rather from the Iranian government's official website.
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/print.asp?ID=5866
Name: Henry Clifford
Location: Wainscott, NY
Responding to: Middle East, Ben Gurion
Comment:
Being unable to read Hebrew I must rely on translations as I assume you do also. There are many Israeli historians and authors who have quoted Ben Gurion's statements so I go with the consensus.
Shabtai Teveth is another writer who has recorded these quotes and has repeated the one you are disputing "We must expel the Arabs and take their places." He gives as his source a letter from BG to his son Amos dated Oct. 9 1937. BG wrote of two stages for Israel: a period of building and a period of expansion.
In another to Amos BG wrote that the initial Jewish state would not be " the end, but only the beginning." and "we won't be constrained from settling in the rest of the country". In another letter "I don't regard a state in part of Palestine as the final aim of Zionism, but a means toward that aim."
The weight of evidence (the majority opinion I believe) points toward BG's and many other Zionists' goal as being to eventually take over all of Palaestine.
Response:
well no one disputes that the zionists wanted (and still want) all of Palestine as a Jewish state, the same way that the Palestinians are trying to take all of Palestine for themseleves.
the difference between the Israelis and Palestinians is that Israel has accepted that the 4 million Palestinians living on the rest of Palestine aren't going anywhere. Despite what Ben Gurion might or might not have said 60 years ago, the governments of rabin, barak, sharon and olmert have all stated their goal was to withdraw from Gaza and the West Bank in return for peace and recognition from the Palestinians. Olmert has very recently backed out of this policy after Gaza (which israel withdrew from a year earlier) was used by terrorist to abduct shalit and launch rockets into civilian areas.
By acception U.N. resolution 181, the state of Israel recognized the right of an Arab state of Palestine to form. They did not occupy Palestinian land until it was used to attack them. Lets remember it was the jordanians and egyptians which occupied palestine before israel did.
Name: Branden
Location: California
Responding to: Who is Responsible for Palestinian Suffering?
Comment:
Your paper "Who is responsible for Palestinian suffering" is terrible.
Probably one of the more bias papers I have read on the internet due to
the generalizations you make about blatantly obvious information. In
the first segment I would suggest you read Arafats "The Palestinian
Vision of Peace", Arafat denied certain division of land because of the
unfairness of the separation. Arafat has done more to harm the
Palestinians than the Israeli's have done? How about the separation barrier?
Military occupation? The fact that there are TONS of human rights
violations committed by Israel? Believe is or not I am of Israeli descent and I
highly do not agree with how the wall is being built in the West bank,
and the one that exists in Gaza. You go on to talk about Hamas, many
support Hamas due to the humanitarian aide that they provide to the
Palestinians. Many people condemn acts of terrorism, but accept the
humanitarian benefits that they receive from these organizations. So one
does not "have to wonder". You go on to contradict yourself, by stating
that outside sources are funding Hamas to bring down Arafat to continue
fighting, but originally you said that Arafat is the worst thing to
happen to Palestine. Lastly your sentence of "if Israel goes down,
Palestine does too"? Are you serious? The US supports Israel and also
Palestine with financial aid. Israel being the number one recipient of aid
from the United States. Israel would be more than happy to see the
Palestinians disappear, why would they allow their country to crumble along
with the Palestinians when they are economically sound, have more
infrastructure, and control food/water supply? Also, what does Chechnya
(which is a Russian territory, trying to break away) have to do with the
human rights violations that have been occurring in Israel? They still
occur, and that excuse should not shy away from the fact it is happening.
In closing, take your biased paper off of the internet...or read things
like: the Hamas covenant, the original biblical history of Israel when
they were enslaved in Egypt, and read Gelvin "The Israel-Palestinian
conflict", also the Israeli declaration might be of some use to you,
along with Arafats "vision of peace".
Response:
first of all, i thought i took down that page several months ago when i took over the site. not because its inaccurate, but because it is outdated and poorly written. i dont know why its still showing up on the search engines.
i have read "vision for peace" its very touching, but its too bad arafat didn't mean any of it. Arafat made many promises during oslo, some of them being to stop terror, and to revise the palestinian covenant to recognize Israel. eight years later, these promises were not fullfilled. In 1996 and 1998 the PLO's national council voted to change the the covenant "at a later date" and as of 2001 the PNC Chairman, Salim Za'anoun, stated in the official Palestinian Authority newspaper, that the Palestinian Covenant remained unchanged and was still in force. at the same time the terrorism against israel was continuing. consult this page for a list of terror attacks by groups linked to Arafat over several decades;
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=11&x_article=795
about the security barrier, why did israel build the wall? just for the hell of it? it was to address legitmate security concerns. Israel had to do something to stop militant attacks from palestinian areas against its civilians. Israel had two choices, either conduct military raids in the territories, which would inevitably lead to civilian deaths, or build a wall to keep the militants out. look how the suicide bombings have decreased significantly in the areas in which the wall was built. Israel has said that once the security situation is under control they would take down the wall. lets remember the wall can always be taken down, but the lives of Israelis and Palestinians can never be replaced.
what the article (that i did not write) meant by "if israel goes down, palestine goes down too" is that the Palestinian economy is highly dependent on Israel's economy. if all these groups who wish to boycott israel got their way, Israel's economy would suffer, and this would lead the Palestine's economy to suffer as well.
Name: John Lewis
Location: Budapest
Responding to: General comment
Comment:
I think that in order to have a fair and balanced view of the conflict,
one
should include a comparaison between the number of international
journalists
being shot and killed while reporting inside the occupied territories.
Thank you very much.
Name: Chuck Phillips
Location: Unknown
Responding to: The Solution to the Iraq War
Comment:
(Napolean's solution to the Iraq War)
Choose sides. Specifically, the Shiites. Sadr has the power now, both in the Maliki government and with his own 2 million man army. This new coalition would sweep up this war within 3 months. The Shiites are clad in black so we would, at least, know who the enemies are. The Shiites would know who they enemy is. We need to fight a war, not stand around and get killed. Political correctness has nothing to do with a war. Fighting on the Shiites side would protect our oil interests since the Sunnis do not have any oil. The Shiites in Iran could get involved as well so that would destabilize Iran , possibly ejecting their volatile president. This could also lead to a complete collapse of the Muslim hatred since we would be assisting a Muslim army. The Shiites have been oppressed and persecuted for 14 centuries; they have the motivation to complete their mission of domination in Iraq . Some say that leaving Iraq would lead to a blood bath; so if there is going to be a blood bath anyway, why not do it with a victory ahead of time.
Response:
very intelligent and insightful! the only problem with this is we will anger the Sunnis in neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia. our oil interests in Iraq might be covered, but we will lose our oil interest in Saudi Arabia. We might even indirectly end up fighting Saudi Arabia, as they have said that they would send troops into Iraq if the U.S. pulls out or the Shiites gain too much power.
I'd say pull out temporarily, let Iran and Al Qaida fight and kill each other. eventually one of them is going to win and take power, but both the Sunnis and the Shiites would be weakened. the only question is what to do from there
Name: Jay S.
Location: Unknown
Responding to: Israeli refusal to talk to syria
Comment:
as jews, we should grab the straw of peace no matter how small and grow with it.
whatever it takes, we must have peace, quiet, health and happiness.
happy new year.