Blog Wars #531
And Israel is losing the PR War, as the bodies pile up.

Are they winning the ground war?

Maybe in the short run, but even a military 'win.' will have consequences

History has shown this will not achieve your ends.

Violence must end on both sides.

After that, a lot more messes to clean up than just bodies!

BUT IT SEEMS THAT HAMAS JUST KEEP FIGHTING TO THE DEATH (OF INNOCENT GAZANS).

May Dvir Emanuelof, the Israeli civilians and Palestinian civilians killed rest in peace.

May Hamas terrorists burn in hell.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

This video is called Occupation 101
Not video showing dead and injured but just a history reminder…..
Talks about the roots of the issue…

Watch it, it is eye opening….

American Jew,

"violence must end on both sides"

And how do you end the violence on their side? How do you ensure that rockets will not resume in full power the moment we leave? And they're more dangerous now, too- Grads and Katyushas are much more precise and explosive, allowing them to target kindergardens (as they did).

We tried a cease-fire on their terms, which was violated after 2 days when rockets resumed falling.

Now it's time to force them into a cease-fire on our terms which, as I described, will ensure peace for the Isrealis (and thus for the Palestinans too) for a long time.

Beny. you are nothing but a Nazi and is it a surprise that you are an Israeli soldier.

I will tell you some thing there is no civilians in Israel not one all of them served in the Israeli army children will serve so according to you they are legitimate target.

as the prime minister of turkey said today Israel will pay the price for attacking civilians in Gaza.

Beny .....you are away of civilization !! zionist jew ! it is shame to wish rest for your people and hell for others ....i assure you will get hell all the time and in the other life ......

The white house charters

The WHITE HOUSE values ===== ( confront violence with violence.)
The WHITE HOUSE way of life === (confront terrorism with terrorism.)
The WHITE HOUSE Justice ===== ( confront the weaks with power.)
The WHITE HOUSE solution === (confront Palestinians with Israelis.)

For those ghoulish body-counters among you....

Am I to understand that you would feel better about this matter if there were more dead Jewish people?

1) Hamas spokesmen have repeated again and again that to serve their political they intend to make Palestinians into martyrs...whether they want to be or not.

2) And that there would be no ceasefire until Israel is destroyed.

Why can't you finally take Hamas and Hezbollah at their word? They certainly repeat it often enough.

Hamas rockets are hitting further than any time before.this is to show that Israel on its way to a big defeat.
killing Civilians will not stop a people from gaining their freedom. bombing Hospitals schools police stations red cross ambulances is a war crime and all Israeli leaders should be put on trial.

Solomon,

a) For Hamas and every other terrorist, they are viable targets.

b) Most Israeli Arabs are free of military service, and yet less than 2 weeks ago an Arab worker in Ashkelon was killed from a Kassam. YOU EVEN KILL YOUR OWN!

I like it when you fight the war of numbers (comparing 5 to 80) and then call me a Nazi.

I guess the difference between 5 and 80 is HUGE, but the difference between 80 and 6,000,000 is negligible.

Beny. you are worried about your future in Palestine and that was expected. you look at babies now as enemies.it looks like you have been reading too much af the Talmud lately.

Days of Israeli winning battles is over the sooner you know it the better.
this is the start you will see next time Te laviv and your cities will be under attack.one thing to prevent that is get out of Palestinian territories or start looking for a new home somewhere else.

"I guess the difference between 5 and 80 is HUGE, but the difference between 80 and 6,000,000 is negligible"

Beny
6.000.000 what you coward .you could not fight who did that to you you are taking your revenge from Children.

you call babies Hamas supportersI so they should be killed I can not find a good word to describe you but the word NAZI. .

Solomon,

Yeah and it just happens that those "babies"
are actually 16 year olds waving AK-47s?

Situation is as follow : tanks going around north ,east and south east edges of gaza avoiding a real fight with brave hamas people and when they get crazy they hit civilian houses ..of the declared no.s today three families (more than 25 child &women) were the victems of ( idf) brave action !!!!! .

Beny..

120 children under the age of 12 so far are killed by your Terrorist army.

you should see shimon peres on aljazeera today you can see the defeat in his eyes. when he lied like you are doing now about children. when other side of the screen was showing the dead children.

the turkish prime Minister today accused Israel of war crimes.he Said israel targeted police station knowing that police stations are in populated areas like anywhere in the world. in another word they were targeting civilians.

If you talk the talk (we'll destroy Israel, etc) you better be willing to walk the walk (suffer casualties). Seems to me; don't bomb Israel and Israel won't bomb you. Same old story. This one is firmly Hamas's fault. Other nations, including Palestinian and other Muslims, have made peace with Israel. Hamas-drop the Jihad, it's like hitting your head against the wall over and over, it doesn't work. Jihad won't win.

Beny,

The deaths are mountin how can you say this will help!

Solomon,

There is no use in trying to convince beny I have tried. Its sad that childrens lives are not even considered. This is not the Israel I stand for!

Also, my comment last night reagrding my friend from back home Ali,
maybe some one can go and build is family a new home. Theirs has been damaged so badly they dont know how they can repair it. His cousin is also one of many injured. Family of terrorists? Yeah and another pink elephant just flew past!!

Beny, please this will not help are there so many innocents being harmed..

Peace not war!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Salam and Shalom

.

"Am I to understand that you would feel better about this matter if there were more dead Jewish people"

Steve G.

no we want less. no killing of Civilians and the way it looks all of them are Palestinians to be frank with you if I am a Palestinian now I will try and make it harder for Israeli civilians they are not better than Palestinians. a Palestinians life is worth as much as an Israeli life.

American Jew,

Is all of this really going to resolve this situation? This is not the Israel I stand beside.

I want to see a fair and just Israel that will allow the Palestinian people to live and flourish

I want to see a Palestine that will be at peace with itself and not attack Israel. Should be a simple thing to do huh?

Lets all give each other the right to live and exist.

Salam and Shalom

Debs,

P.S. So far the only deaths mounting in the ground attack are Hamas deaths, and the more of those the safer Israel is.

http://WWW.IFAMERICANSKNEW.ORG
http://WWW.IFAMERICANSKNEW.ORG
http://WWW.IFAMERICANSKNEW.ORG
HISTORY
HISTORY
HISTORY

"The Sins of Our Fathers"; "The Innocents of Our Children"; "The Love of Our Mothers" is responsible for our ,"Civilization's" past,present,and future. It's breadth,and depth are a precursor for "Mankind's" very existence,...

Is Hamas' actions in Gaza terrorism, or is it a massive prison riot?

If the Jews had rioted in Auschwitz and lobbed rockets at Berlin, and the Germans had responded by carpet bombing the place, would you have blamed the Jews, or the Germans?

I am wondering how so many rockets are hitting Israel with only 5 dead and one of them is a soldier. The American weapons Israel uses is definitely hitting the target, killing many innocent children and women. Hopefully, The EU can help minus Great Britain who is there to support the US unfair and biased opinions against Palestine. Please all other nations stand up and not allow these murders to continue. Stop the US and Israel. Make the UN really function. Move the UN if necessary to another country. But the UN rules must change to represent the world more equally. Bush always protects Israel and uphold Israel wrong doings. When Israel does something wrong, it is white washed and the Bush Administration is silent. The rest of the world can join together stop the murders now.

Beny why target civilians if you are fighting Hamas?

why dont you send your army to kill them instead of firing at civilians?

are you scared? your army have been in open spaces in their tanks for three days now what are they waiting for.American help at the UN.

General comment:
If we add the cost of the weapons that has been used to the extra cost of the IDF soldiers to the cost of the destruction inflicted by this war and on top of that the EXTRA $$$$ we will be paying for the Oil increase because of this war.... If we add all this $$$$ amount and we donate it to the Palestinian people for ECONOMIC plans, do you think they will still vote for HAMAS?....

Solomon,

That's what the IDF is there for: DESTROY HAMAS'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES.

The people of Gaza chose Hamas knowing they were terrorists and unwilling to accept Israel's right to exist. They are reaping what they sowed. They danced in the streets when the Twin Towers were destroyed and they blindly hate. They are not innocent, they are culpable. Tell Hamas to stop the rockets, recognize Israel and accept the deal Barak and Clinton offered. Otherwise, quit whining.

Dianne,
You seem sorry that there aren't more israeli deaths. Israelis have evacuated or gone into bomb shelters. That's the reason a soldier was killed, because they are patrolling the streets. Israel isn't at war with the Palestinians, just Hamas, who have fired more than 3000 rockets into Israel. Fatah is at relative peace with Israel. Hamas shouldn't play with fire. Israel has a history of defending itself, and they should know that. Don't shoot at Israel, and Israel won't shoot at you.

Chris,

Wonderful reply just a correction: over 9000 rockets have fallen since 2001, and 3000 is since we left Gaza completely in 2005

Beny.
may be the Civilians are waiting for your army to liberate them from Hamas.

so go ahead and Liberate them.
as one woman puts it the first Israeli soldier that will show up in my home his mother will cry for him the rest of her life as I cried for my son that was killed by them.

I believe what is happening relies more in the fact that Palestinians are simply (and unfortunately for them) a useful exchange money in world and Middle Eastern politics. And integrism (of any kind), history and demagogy on the victims adds to the balance when and were ignorance prevails, or a deliberate choice of mantaining ignorance is made.

Tension in the Middle East will simply never stop, it is too important for some Middle Eastern countries and leaderships to divert attention of the streets from the real issues like democracy, freedom of thought or simple equal wealth redistribution, development.

It is obvious (if one's looks at a certain television of certain countries) that it is important that hate prevails over critical thinking, or any kind of mutual understanding or dialog. Excuses are easy to find, when traditions and people are ancient, and strong !

If I think this is becasue it is unbeliveable that in the 21st Century dialog and compromises are impossible among civilzed human beings, unless the 21st Century or the simple concept of a developped society (which is a sign of civilzation) is rejected in toto.

F

It's interesting to see the many different perspectives on this war. I feel very sorry for the innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians that are getting killed. Particularly, I feel sorry for the Palestinian people because they are being led by completely twisted and crazy terrorists. Hamas hides behind its civilians, builds tunnels in homes of civilians that are used to smuggle weapons, and believes in the sole purpose of wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Hamas would rather spend $1 on killing an Israeli than investing on the future and prosperity of their people.

From the Israeli perspective, I applaud their efforts to protect themselves from rockets that are being fired from Gaza. Do you really think Hamas thinks about where these rockets land? I think not. The Israeli's are going after anything that would be considered a threat to the security of its people. Tunnels, buildings that hold weapons, Hamas buildings, Hamas personnel homes and so forth are being targeted and rightfully so. Israel sends warnings of raids to get innocent civilians our of harms way.

Israel will gladly pull out of Gaza and turn to peace if Hamas and whoever else might be in power stops sending rockets or committing suicide bombing missions inside Israel. Israel will gladly allow full aid into Gaza to help its people, and Israel will be in full support of a self functioning and prosperous Gaza for its people. This is all possible if the Palestinians stop shelling Israel, stop suicide attacks and respects Israel's right to exist.

The situation is rather simple people........

Chris,
When you kill that innocent people you are at war with them. What I am sorry about is the mass murder i the name of peace being done to the Palestinians. I find much doubt in 3000 rockets., but I know what one US bomb can do.

Beny,

This isnt the way to go. Israel is being far to excesive in its violence. Im sorry I do respect your views but have you ever thought this will provoke more trouble than resolve.

The Hamas rockets are going to continue to fall and Israel will continue to bombard Gaza.

Is everyone not going to content until you kill each other?

Beny,

Can you tell us why hospitals in Gaza arfe being warned that they may be subject to targeting? That is a breakage of International law initself. Not to mention if that happens the people of Gaza will n where to go for medical treatment. This story has been listed on PNN.

It may be false or be true. I just dont know. Too much propoganda is being waged by BOTH sides in the media you dont know which is the truth!!!!!!!!

Solomon,

Thank you for continuing input. Sometimes I think that Beny is maybe scared of you. Some people dont like to admit what their country is doing is wrong.

For the sake of the life and soul of Palestine. Peace for all.

Salam and Shalom to all.

Israel roars like a lion with US weapons. It hides been the US complete arsenal

I would like to know what Hollywood’s ‘goodwill ambassadors’ are doing for the Palestinian people while Israel is ‘handling the situation’ via ethnic cleansing. When it comes to Africa George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd and others claim to be the voices of the less fortunate..I think this is nothing but using goodwill for publicity. If these actors consider themselves as angels of humanity why hasn’t anyone responded to Israel’s crime of humanity against the Palestinians.They are silenced by their greed for money because of their fear of not getting movie offers. Since Hollywood is owned by Jewish filmmakers I assume this is how far these actors’ concern for humanity goes.

Selin Barlas, Turkey

Dominique is right. SEE THIS:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

disproportionate war!!!!

Diane,
I think you're completely oblivious! Israel and Jews in general have been persecuted since the beginning of time, whether it be the Romans, the Germans or the Arabs. Let me ask you a question Diane... has there ever been a situation where Israel simply went into Gaza and invaded without a reason for doing so? Using our current situation, Israel invaded Gaza because Hamas was firing rockets into Israel. Did Israel invade before Hamas started doing this? No. I would bet my entire life savings on the fact that Israel would not fire one bullet or rocket ever if they were not provoked by a suicide bombing, firing of a Grad or Qassam rocket or ongoing smuggling of weapons through tunnels and so forth. Israel wants peace Diane but they have no choice but to strike. You simply cannot negotiate peacefully with a group like Hamas that is looking to wipe you out completely. They are terrorists so words mean absolutely nothing to them. They'll say something to appease someone and do the opposite. Diane, I think you need to really take a look at the facts through history.

Jeff
Donot portray Israel as completely innocent. There is enough blame for both. We only have Israel's word of the number of rockects. Israel is targeting more than Hamas homes. On side of equality, donot think Israel cares where the bombs fall. If they were such humanitarians, Israel would have allowed medicine and food to get to this people instead of firing upon a past US representative and organizations trying to help so many in need.

Debs,

"this will provoke more trouble than resolve."

This ground attack is one effective way of stopping Hamas rockets for a long time. They are firing more now because they want to deplete their stocks before we get to them.

If you have a detailed plan for stopping the Hamas rockets for good that Hamas will actually agree to, please lay it out before us.

As for the hospitals, there are a few things you should know:

a) What other country than Israel gave civilians a warning before each attack? What other civilians other than Palestinians decide to stay and die instead of using the chance we gave them to save themselves.

b) There are concrete reports and proof of Hamas terrorists using hospitals as rocket-launching grounds, just like they used schools.
That is, too a violation of international law.

c) We, despite Hamas being there, do not target those hospitals. There is, however, a chance that a hospital will be hit, despite the precision of our weaponry.

d) Jordan, in 1948, 1967 and 1973, constantly and deliberately bombed the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem.

e) Israel officially declared that any Palestinian in need of treatment is invited to the Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon, and indeed 750 Gazan kids are treated there each year.

Guess who stops the Palestinians from coming to us? Hamas, of course!

Thank you Solomon for your continuing input. I'm sure that calling me a Nazi is a great help.

Diane.... I asked you to look at history. You have to also understand that it is the Palestinian people that elected Hamas in a democratic election. So, in effect, the Palestinian people are in full support what Hamas, a terrorist organization is doing. Israel will target anything that is a threat to its existence. If a mosque has underground tunnels that are being used to smuggle weapons, and that mosque is being used to store these weapons to be used against Israel then Israel will attempt to destroy it. My next question would be, if the Palestinians are being warned in advance of bombings and they know that the mosque that they are sitting in is storing weapons then one would naturally think, "maybe I shouldn't be here right now because a bomb may blow me up"!! Would you say that's a fair assumption?

Diane, you and I both know that if Hamas was interested in prosperity for its people then it would make the decision to stop firing rockets. Israel has repeatedly said that they will continue to strike as long as the rockets continue to fly. You and I also both know that if the rockets cease so will the Israel offensive. History will demonstrate this.

Dianne-your response isn't logical. If a missile is fired, the nation that it hits has a right and obligation to respond. It is a tragic situation, but one of Hamas's making. Your anger is mis-directed. The tragedy is that Hamas does not want peace. The consequence is the horror of war.

Jeff,
I know my history. I visit Israel quite frequently. I see the squalor that Israel have them living in Israel. All the US tax dollars go forn the Israelis homes streets, and school The Arabs live in total segregation. Israel is not a democracy. If you are not jewish you are nothing and you get nothing. I donot believe US tax dollars should support segreation.

Israel is the oppressor and state of terror since its formation. Zionist are barbaric and worse then Nazi because they are doing the same hateful crimes against the Palestinians. They block the food, fuel, electricity, and other basic needs for months and then wonder why rockets are being thrown at them. playing innocent but the world is aware of Israels atrocities and injustice. They know they are guilty.

Diane, your last post makes no sense to me whatsoever. Why isn't the Arab population supporting the Palestinians other than through weapons support? Do you see Jordan, Egypt, U.A.E., Turkey and other countries rushing to help support the building and development of Gaza's infrastructure? Do you ever hear about this? :):) Do you ever hear the Palestinians asking for support in these critical areas?

By the way, why would Israel support a Palestinian in a time when they very well could have a gun behind their back or a pack of bombs strapped to their bodies that will be used to kill them? It doesn't make sense Diane for this to occur.

'When dealing with oppression , there is no balance.'

'Criticizing the Israeli government is not anti-semitism, it is humane.'

'There will be no security for Israel as long as the oppression of Palestinians continues.'

'It is not in Israel's interest to continue the occupation'

WATCH
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

Chris
If a people are cut of from the basic neccessites of lif, food and medicines, they have a right to attack as well. Israel and Palestine abuse each other.But this attack was much more than needed.

this killing is injustice.qustioning humanity.

I WAS WATCHING CNN AND EXPECTED HEARING BOTH SIDES BUT
INSTEAD YOU HEAR A CNN JOURNALIST ON THE ISRAELI SIDE
AND THEN YOU HEAR THE HAMAS SIDE JOURNALIST NOT WITH
NEWS BUT GIVING THE SAME HAMAS LINE OF PROPAGANDA THAT
WE HEAR FROM THEIR LEADERS. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NEWS?
SOME OF YOUR ANCHORS ARE OPENLY BIASED FOR THE HAMAS A
TERROR ORGANIZATION. I GUESS WE HAVE TO WATCH FOX TO GET
FAIR UNBIASED NEWS. GOODBYE

Debs
I talked about the hospital yesterday/
you see people in the Middle east know about what is Going on thanks to Aljazeera in particular they have 24 hour coverage on the situation.

aljazeera show every thing nothing is hidden.while in the west they pick and choose.

Shimon peres on Aljazeera today accuse Aljazeera of not showing what is happening in Israel. the answer was we showed the damage one building and one home few holes on the streets that is what is happening in Israel while massacres are committed in Gaza. plus we are not allowed to cover every thing.

now Israeli soldiers occupied some homes out side of Gaza having all the occupants as human shields fearing attacks from resistance forces.

huge battles are going on around a small hilltop right now with Israeli and Palestinians suffering loses. you dont hear these details on CNN .

The US carries a big stick even Europe dare not cross them. Be real.
The Arabs I am talking about live in Israel, Jeff. They are Israli citizens. US money should not support a segregated state. We all tried that here in the US

this is not about war anymore. this is about humanitarian crisis that THE SO CALLED STATE OF ISRAEL had been planning for months and then to say

Diane, if Hamas is interested in the basic necessities of life they would put down their weapons. Simple as that!! Who is to assess the degree or a retaliation attack and whether it's too harsh or not? Israel has a mandate and they're fulfilling their mandate. Hamas is simply chucking rockets into Israel and hope they hit somewhere...... is that an indication of a mandate other than to kill as many Israeli's as possible? :)

Diane, your argument is getting more and more twisted.

that Israel is on the side of Palestinians. Please where could all these people hide innocent women and children ....the youngest 4 days old baby?????

Dianne,
I too have been to Israel many times (as well as many Arab countries). My job puts me in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. The Arabs in Israel live better, for the most part, than in Jordan or Egypt, and have a much higher GDP, education, and life expectancy. Very little squalor. My job puts me in specifically in many Arab villages. The West Bank and Gaza, of course, are another story.

By the way, I mostly hear israelis saying they want peace, and Arabs saying they want to destroy Israel. Maybe I've just been unlucky in the 2 years I've spent in the Middle East, but that is my experience.

I am a 33 Yr Old American female,..My comment is very short and easy to understand...
For Zions sake i will not keep silent,
For Jerusalems sake i will not remain quiet,
till her Righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.

But you O Yisrael, my servant,
Jacob, whom i have chosen,
you descendents of Abraham my Friend,

I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners i called you.
I said, you are my servant;
i have chosen you and have not rejected you.
so do not fear, for i am with you;
do not be dismayed,for i am your God.
I will Strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

DO AMERICANS KNOW WHAT IS ZIONISM?? DO THEY KNOW THAT THEIR TAX MONEY IS FEEDING ZIONISM? DO THEY KNOW THAT ISRAEL IS OCCUPING PALESTINIAN LAND AND THAT IS AGAINST ALL INTERNATIONAL LAWS? DOES ANYONE KNOW THE "REAL" TRUTH BEHIND ALL THIS CONFLICT?

Jeff
I am sorry, I see Israel as a coward and bully in the region. And that is because no matter who they kill, what they do wrong, they still get US nodern military weapons while the US does not allow other modern nations to supply Palestine so that they may protect themselves also. It is totally unfair that Israel with the US military arsenal kill. The poor Palestinians must fight with cave weapons to perserve their lives. No matter what, and I will not call anyone a derogatory name for having a difference of opinion. It seems to be the thing to do on these blogs lately. I stand by what I have seen there.

Chris, that was my experience visiting the region as well. I also live in Canada, which one might argue is the most culturally diverse country in the world. I think my experiences working with and being friends with people from many different regions of the globe would lead me to have the same opinion as yours.

Chis, my job puts me there inb the Arab world also

"Thank you Solomon for your continuing input. I’m sure that calling me a Nazi is a great help."

Beny.

when you say that children and babies were killed because they are Hamas supporters and they might carry guns against you in the future remind me of the Jewish children in concentration camps.the Nazis were thinking the same way.
what else should I call you? only a Nazi will go that far.

Also Jeff because someone always talks about peace does not mean they want peace. Some people will say anything to keep the US money and weapons coming. It is not in Israel best interest or PR to say anything esle coached by the US I am sure considering the fair reporting here in the US

Israelis, I dare you to go live in the squalor you have pushed the Palestinians into for ONE WEEK, and then give me your human reaction.

Terrorism does not come out of nowhere.

Terrorism and suicidal tendencies come from oppression and terror–yes terror begets terrorism.

I am with Dianne, like her:

"I know my history. I visit Israel quite frequently. I see the squalor that Israel have them living in Israel. All the US tax dollars go forn the Israelis homes streets, and school The Arabs live in total segregation. Israel is not a democracy. If you are not jewish you are nothing and you get nothing. I do not believe US tax dollars should support segregation."

Me Neither!!!!

SHOULD IRAQIS FIGHTING AMERICANS IN IRAQ BE CALLED TERRORISTS?? DUH, AMERICANS INVADED THEIR LAND. PLEASE ANSWER THIS TO ME? HAMAS IS DENOUNCING THE TERRORISM HOWEVER THEIR DEFENSE IS DEFINED AS TERRORISM....... WELL NOW WE CAN SEE WHO REAL TERORRIST IS. ISRAEL HAS COMMITTTED BLOODSHEAD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HOWEVER THEY REJECTED TO OPEN THE BORDERS AND SQUEEZE PALESTINIANS TO THEIR NECKS.... IF ISRAEL BEHAVED JUSTLY AND GIVEN PALESTINIANS NORMAL WAY TO NORMAL AT ALL NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

Benny..

You are so right! im on your side there.
since hamas and hezbolah has been
shooting rockets into israel for the past
8 years no one criticized or burned flags
even the israeli's didnt even wine and cry,
But when Israel defends itself every one
is crying and criticizing them who do they think
they are??? Reality Check PLease!!!!!!!!
and then palistines are showing all there
dead bodies on tv and wining, israel
will NOT show dead people on Tv it is considered
Disrespectful....GO ISRAEL GO AND DEFEND YOURSELF!!!!!!!
TILL THE END SH, MA YISRAEL ,ADONAI ELOHEINU, ADONAI ECHAD

Mary, how can you say that what Hamas did was in self defense? What did Israel do to provoke them to start sending rockets into Israel? Make sure you understand the sequencing of events. Israel retaliated which under international law is allowed to respond using force under these circumstances.

Isral has not been quiet. Unfortunqtely for Americans, the so call free press does not report the unfair things Israel does to provoke the Palestinians. You would as Americans question our news agency and who is in control. Israel has done many things to the Palestinians that is reported in other countries and not the US

YEAH I kNOW WHAT ZOIN IS.. COME ON PLEASE I ATTEND SHUL EVERY WEEL AND I AM NOT JEW,, FOR YOU WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF I KNOW ZION WELL YOU KNOW SHUL??(SYNAGOGE)

Israel always has reason and it always portrays itself as the victim. You cannot be a victim when you have the world power standing with you -right are wrong. You have the best weaponry arsenal inthe world, even weapons of mass destruction. Israel has did wrong things to Palestine and provoked countless situation.

Humanity, watch this, it cannot be said enough WATCH THIS:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

The Israeli propaganda machine's words cannot justify what you'll see here.

To end the terror, the occupation must end NOW!

Nodeh l' cha Adonai Eloheinu, al
shehinchalta laavoteinu
erets chemdah tovah urchavah

we thank you adonai our god because have given to our forefathers as a heritage a desirable good and spacious land...
Shalom,..

Barbara,
Once again religion is being used to support the killing of people. Religion is not a tool to kill try as anyone may . God did not intend this. He gives us free will to make just decision., not to kill in His name.

To Israel and it's supporters:

If you steal people's land, force them into a giant open-air prison for 60 – odd years, cut off from the outside world and each other, you gotta think they're going to be angry and want to hurt you back – even if all they have are home-made rockets, while you have the full might of the US military-industrial complex behind you.

The occupation has to be ended, Israel has to give back the lands seized after the '67 war, and the Palestinians have to be granted freedom to control their lives and their country. Without justice, there can be no peace. It really is simple.

Palestinians were driven from their lands to create the "state" of Israel – all you need to do is look at history to see this. Why didn't Germany create a new "state" for Israel – because that would have been unacceptable to the Zionists who believe that the Palestinian lands were "promised" to them by their "God". This is insanity – mass extermination of Palestinians by dropping bombs on them will solve absolutely nothing and fuel anti-semetic sentiment. As a native American, I could also say that New York was our land at one time, so now let's get all Native Americans together, insist on moving there and force all New Yorkers to become refugees, take over their lands and homes, and force them into small pieces of lands or other countries. How do you think that would go over?? (This is also one reason I refuse to belong to any religion – it only serves to pit one man against another).

some one three days ago said here Hamas is gone.I tried to refute his claims that this is not easy to happen.he siad well let us watch and see if Hamas send twenty rockets tomorrow Israel lost the war.

well 35 rocket that day 40 yesterday and 35 so far today

.killing civilians ,destroying infrastructure will not win wars ending Occupation will bring peace.

A collection of countries in a far away continent have decided that Americans may no longer live in America and that it will now be the home to the Jewish people. Would Americans accept this and vacate their land. If they fought for their homes, their children, their livelihood, would they and their democratically elected government be labelled terrorists? Would the aboriginal Indians who never left also be forced to leave?

Palestine belongs to Palestinians first and foremost. They never left it. They have every right to fight for their land. It seems that the only thing the Jewish people have learned from the holocaust is how to create their own. How ironic. It speaks volumes about human nature. What a despicable animal the human race is!

American Jew,

Stop the suicide bombers going from there, and we'll have no need to go in there looking for them.

Beny,
It was never the Allies right to give away something that was not theirs to give in the first place. The US, Great Britain, France, and Russia, did not give up one inch of their land. What right to give away what is not yours to give?

American Jew,

What you describe as "segregation" is the lack of government officials in those neighborhoods. That leads to a feeling of disrespect.

But you know what leads to that? Try being a policeman investigating a murder in East Jerusalem. TWO POLICEMEN WERE LYNCHED ALREADY. ACCESS IS DENIED BY THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE GOVERNMENT. Why should the governement recognize them?!

Take a walk through Nazareth. You'll find Arabs that DO NOT LYNCH POLICEMEN. As a result of that, Arabs in Nazareth live a helluva lifestyle, even better than most Jews because Arabs in Israel are FREE OF TAXES.

Beny

Dress it up anyway you like. Thg US did this to a people too. Segregation is segration

.there's a simple solution...Nuke gaza! At least this will stop the idiots on here from polluting cyberspace.

Beny,
Segregation has many more ramifications than "lynching". One cannot become the person they want to be. They cannot have the life they eant to provide for their children, to educate their children, in hope of making a good future for the generations to come. One generation to build on another generation for self -fullfilment.

Dianne,

Jews came and settled here PEACEFULLY long before any British mandate. No one objected to that and the Jewish settling alongside the Arabs WAS ACTUALLY VERY PROFITABLE FOR THE ARABS- funded by JNF and Baron Rotschild Jews BOUGHT the land from the Arabs.

Only later, when Arabs suddenly decided they want a state here too, and for some reason they just can't have peaceful coexistence with Jews, they started to fight (Hebron, Zfat and Shcem massacres, etc...).

What right do the Arabs have to demand what they already sold and gave away?

Evelyn,

You're a native American? Then you must know what the English settlers did to your people- they didn't settle peacefully like the Jews did, nor did they buy the land...

So what now? You're gonna follow the example of the "brave" Palestinians, suddenly demanding back everything, exploding in buses, shooting rockets at schools?

One more thing Beny, there is a high welfare rate in Israel. Would that exist without US tax money while many of our own homeless are on the street because of mental disorders. I see you difine yourself as an American Jew. I define my self as an American. It is how I see myself formost not attached to anything else
.

Beny,

I am not attacking you and I dont think your a nazi, dont take offence, I just think you have an strong alliegance to your country, nothing wrong with that. thers is also nothing wrong in defending your country.

What I think is wrong though is the blantantly obvious use of excesive use of force which looks like nothing more than an attempt to wipe the Palestininas of the face of the map.

That is what (I think Solomon means) Nazi wanted to cleanse the earth of people like yourself (jews) and people like me (catholic) You cannot sit and say Beny that this is fair and just. Not when innocent Palestinians are dying and their land taken.

We (I) showed support and empathy for Israel when Hamas sent rockets and suicide bombers. When suicide bombers return to Israel now, and my blood goes cold thinking about it as they will. Can you honestly say now that innocent Israel has done nothing to provoke this.

Once again Israel will go crying to the wonderful US of A government and ask for more money and illegal weapons to pound Palestine to dust!!

And guess what?? Israel wiil receive all it needs and Palestinians will be demonised as sub human and the killing continues.

This is what is going to happen.

Solomon,

Yes I do watch aljazeera, I dont like the news in the US. Its too biased and one sided. Yes you are correct when you say that they have been giving both sides of the conflict covered.

Solomon,

I am starting to really doubt Israels commitment to peace. I try to be diplomatic and neutral but when I see innocent people murdered like this, as a civilised human that respects human life I cant stand by and say nothing,

The life and Soul of Palestine deserves to live.

Salam and Shalom to all

It was able to coexist because they were not the majority until the West needed to take care of their guilty feelings because of World II

Dianne,

A) I am not an American Jew. Just shows you aren't reading my comments thoroughly. There is another guy here, named American Jew, who fell to the lies of Arab propaganda.

I am Beny, an Israeli. A Jew by birth if not belief. Some people here call me "Zionist", for which I'm flattered. 27. Biochem student at Weizmann Institute. Pleased to meet you.

B) B will come when you respond to my comments to the point.

For those of you saying Israel has a right to defend itself – Okay, then let's make it FAIR and EQUITABLE. When Hamas launches one small uncontrollable, primitive rocket into Israel, then I say Israel has the right to send one small uncontrollable rocket into Gaza. That would be a fair and measured response. But what is happening now is simply a brutal and cowardly bloodbath. So much for respecting your "Gods" and "Thou Shalt Not Kill." Better yet, stop walling in and starving the Palestinians – this is what they did to Native American's on reservations but at least we can now come and go as we please and no longer require a "pass" to leave the reservation.

Beny
America does not have a good treatment of Native Americans. The rule was to remove them from the face of the earth. And the US almost did. I donot want to see anyone wipe off the face of the earth. The force used is beyond any reason

Beny as long as you insist that there is no occupation I will insist that there is no Israel.and Jews have no right in Palestine.you will be the loser at the end.

Israel will not go on killing and destroying it will be destroyed at the end and this is because of people like you

Evelyn,

Many thanks for true words.

Salam

I am sorry Beny, I was reading your comment to American Jew. I stand corrected and sincerely apologize to you Beny

Beny,

Why are you trying to diprove everyones argument for Israel's excesive force? Notice your avoiding my last comment..why? I am telling some home truths

Hamas has already lost the war in Gaza. Gaza is surrounded and the IDF has complete control over Gaza city. The great Hamas army is hiding in hospitals like cowardly little girls. Hamas has overplayed its hand and has found out that nobody in the Arab world is willing to stick their necks out to save these cowards. Without fresh supplies and no ability to defend themselves, the bell tolls for Hamas.
The world has spoken and Hamas has no friends, not even their evil twin of the north Hezbollah, have the guts to take on the IDF.

If Palestine had the US weapons, I believe Israel would be hiding. There is nothing wrong with hiding. try to survive to fight another day. And that is just what is going to happen. No peace for either Hanas has friends. One day perhaps we American will not be the world power. China is rapidly coming along. China already supports the dollar internationally.

Beny.

are you out of lies you keep repeating the same lies over and over and Just leave without proving any of it.
now you came with another lie Palestinians do not pay taxes .

it looks like the latest edition of the Israeli propaganda booklet has not arrived yet..

Cubfan,

Good points but Israel acting like brutal aggressors. It will only play into the hands of terrorist and will cause the vicious cycle of violence between Palestine and Israel to continue.

Palestinians are human beings too. Does Palestinians kids lives mean nothing? Are they not the same value as Israeli kids?

Salam and Shalom

Debs,

Ah..."nothing more than an attempt to wipe the Palestininas of the face of the map. "

Believe me, if we really wanted to wipe Palestians out, they would have been wiped out by now.

"Can you honestly say now that innocent Israel has done nothing to provoke this. "

What did Israel do to provoke the rockets, which have been falling since 2001?

blockade? Very recent, and only as a response to the rockets.

"occupation"? What occupation? Please read my response to American Jew.

"taking their land"? likewise.

I'll tell you- Israel has provoked the attacks- suicide bombers, rockets and the occasional invasion by Arab armies with the terrible crime of EXISTING.

Thank Hamas for doing their best to change that. Their agenda even says – WIPING ISRAEL OFF THE MAP.

"I am starting to really doubt Israels commitment to peace"

And the Palestinians are really commited to peace, are they?

"Zionist enemy will first be humiliated, then destroyed" -Ismail Haniya

"A million Shahids marching to Jerusalem"- PLO slogan.

"liberation of Palestine from the Zionists from the Jordan to the sea" (meaning- complete destruction of Israel)- Hamas charter

"what is your lofty aspiration? DEATH IN THE NAME OF ALLAH" (Palestinian interview with a five year old!)

Real doves with olive branches, are they?

Israel has made countless retreats and gave up a lot for the promise of peace. The Palestinians NEVER GAVE UP ANYTHING. That's what you call negotiations? That's what you call willingness for peace?

Israel agrees to '67 borders. Israel withdrew from Gaza. Israel signed the Oslo pact which brought the PLO terrorists here. Israel was promised peace.

Ha.

P.S.

If you watch Al-Jazeera, which is an Arab site, describing Israel as Zionist terrorists and Hamas as "freedom fighters" (yes I visit their site too, nice to know how the enemy describes me). Then at leat balance it out with an Israeli site:

http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html

The best thing though is the unbiased Fox news. CNN are a little biased against us, but you can combine them with FOX to get a neutral picture.

Good night

diane

"The Arabs live in total segregation"

"They cannot have the life they eant to provide for their children, to educate their children, in hope of making a good future for the generations to come. "

Oh yeah? then can you lplease explain to me who the arab doctors and nurses were that treated my aunt in an israeli hospital for two weeks with dedication and professionalism? the segregated arabs? the ones who have no access to education? you mean those were fake doctors and nurses?

and the demonstrations by arab students in Haifa and Jerusalem universities were carried out by fake arab students?

diane, maybe you need to undergo a reality check, your post is complete nonsense

and a final suggestion: if you do not believe the 3000 rockets, i invite you to sderot where there is a storage hall where all kassams that arrived in sderot are displayed. do you know how to count?

I challenge you to come and count, really!!

beny,

nice going, but you really think the hamas lovers here will be persuaded?

even debs, who in the beginning seemed less partial than others now agrees with josef goebbels solomon

laila tov

It has past time for the US to step aside. The US is incapable of being an arbitrator of any kind. All it seems to do is continue to make matters worse. I believe nobody enjoys war more than Bush. I believe that is his legacy, unfortunately. Since the US will not get out, I hope the new administration will see to fair treatment of Palestine as well. The new President will be up against alot of income,but I hope he will prevail.

THIS IS TOTALLY INSANE, IT IS EXPECTED FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DO NOTHING, THEY ARE INNOCENT LIVES BEING TAKEN AWAY, IT'S LIKE THE US GOVERMENT KILLING EVERYONE IN OKLAHOMA, WHEN TIMMOTHY MCVEIGH BLEW UP THE OKLAHOMA BUILDING, THE US NEEDS NOT TO TAKE SIDES IN THE PALESTINIAN AND ISREALIE CONFLICT, BUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS JOIN THE UNITED NATIONS, AND GO WITH WHAT EVER THE U.N. DECIDES, THE WHOLE WORLD CAN'T BE WRONG, ND THE US AND ISREAL CAN BE RIGHT. LISTEN TO THE U.N. SEND IN A FACT FINDING COMMITEE, SEND IN INTERNATIONAL TOOPS LET THEM CONTAIN THE SITUATION OVER THERE UNTILL THEY REACH A POLITICAL AGREEMENT, I KNOW IT'S ALOT MORE DIFFICULT, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED SITUATION. BUT IF THE U.N WITH THE PRESSURE AND THE WORLD, IT WILL BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE, IT'S JUST THAT ISREAL NEVER ALLOWS THE U.N. TO GO IN, THEY HAVE REJECTED THEM IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WANT THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THE HEWS ALWAYS, AND HAVE BEEN CRYING SINCE WORLD WAR TWO ABOUT WHAT HITLER DID TO THEM, BUT OVER THE LAST SIXTY YEARS THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME THINGS TO THE INNOCENT IN PALESTINE, AND LEBANNON.THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AFTER WORLD WAR TWO WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO COUNTRY WOULD EVER DO WHAT HITLER DID. BUT YET ISREAL CONTINUES TO DO SO EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THE US GIVES THEM THE GREEN LIGHT, LET THE UNITED NATIONS DO THERE JOB, THE US SHOULD TELL ISREAL WE ARE GOING WITH WHAT EVER THE UNITED NATION AGREE'S ON. SEND IN A FACT FINDING TEAM, EVEN PRESIDENT CARTER IN HIS BOOK, PALESTINE PEACE NOT APARTHID, I HOPE I SPELLED IT RIGHT, SAID IN THE BOOK, AND WHEN HE WAS ON THE BOOK TOUR AND DOING ALL THE TV INTERVIEWS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THE JEWS AND ISREAL DID NOT LIKE THAT, AND THEY BANNED HIM FROM ALOT OF THEIR SHOWS, JUST BECAUSE HE SAID THE TRUTH. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE NEEDS TO BE TWO STATES, WITH A FAIR TREATMENT, THE PALESTINIANS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERMENT MILITARY, SCHOOLS, CURRENCY, ETC. AND THEY NEED TO BE LEFT ALONE, AND STOPPED BEING OCCUPIED. WHEN YOU TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY FROMA A MAN, OR PEOPLE, WERE THEY CAN'T WORK, GO TO SCHOOL, LEARN, BETTER THEM SELFS, BE ON A CURFEW THEIR WHOLE LIVES, NO FOOD, WATER, ELECTRICITY, NO NOTHING, THAT'S WHEN THE RESORT TO JOING GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, AND HEZABALLAH, BUT IF YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR THAT ALL WILL GO AWAY.

Yeah Dan the Israeli Arabs do not have a choice. I was surprise to see such unfair treatment of these Israeli citizens when I first arrive in 1999 and to this day it still exist

Despite It's Military Might, Israel is a Weak and Dying State

By OREN BEN-DOR

Echoing Lebanon 2006, the people of Gaza are being butchered by murderous
pilots of a murderous state. Ground forces will soon butcher many more.
This widely-expected repetition of Israel's large scale violence is carried
out after a long process that was triggered when Israel unilaterally cleared
its settlements and ground presence from Gaza only to create what has been
described as a remote-controlled human zoo. Israel has maintained total
control over Gaza's borders, its air and sea space, its economy, its
electricity, food and medical supplies. The people of Gaza have been
starved, humiliated and constantly intimidated. However, whether the
withdrawal was well-intended or not engages little with the reasons rockets
are being defiantly shot at the Israeli towns of Sderot, Ashkelon and Beer
Sheva.

Beyond achieving very short term relief from rocket attacks the scale of
Israel's violence is question-begging and thought provoking. Israel's
actions, justified by the "no choice" (ein brera) and "self-defence"
rhetoric, can temporarily put the lid on the volcano of hatred around Israel
and within it but, after the initial shock and awe, it is surely destined to
bring much more violence.

Dan check yourself

Solomon
You are 100% right. What else could it possibly produce.

debs

"but Israel acting like brutal aggressors"

so you suggest to stop the warfare and invite hamas to shoot rockets at tel aviv, as they have threatened all day

or maybe you suggest we simply disappear, as solomon demands

i am sure you have heard of the oslo agreements, have the palestinians kept them?

israel is always accused of violating agreements, the fact that the palestinians violate them is irrelevant, israel is expected to keep agreements even if rockets fall on israel

remember UN resolution 1701 that ended the second lebanon war?

Hizbullah is laughing their heads off and violate the resolution right and left. but still israel is expected not to overfly lebanon, because the resolution said so. if israel does not overfly lebanon, then the world would not know (as if the world cares) that hizbullah have not kept a single thing the resolution demands of them

so this is what you propose? I asked you many tiimes what your solution is and you said you did not know, but the killing has to stop

dear debs, it takes two to tango!!!!!

Dan,

That was very unfair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I a terrorist am I a terrorist sympathiser I am I ant Israel/Jewish.

no
no
no

I am a civilised human speaking out against war. Israels actions are going to make things worse.

diane

"Yeah Dan the Israeli Arabs do not have a choice. I was surprise to see such unfair treatment of these Israeli citizens when I first arrive in 1999 and to this day it still exist"

DID YOU BOTHER TO READ A SINGLE THING I SAID TO YOU?

OBVIOUSLY NOT

that put you on the same level as josef goebbels solomon

Dan
That is correct. Israel does a lot of provoking of Palestine. It does not make US news(why?) but other countries has more than provoked issues. The US press controlled by who does allow it to be reported. If most Americans knew of Israel's wrong doing and starting a mess, they would not agree with the US government. Where is the free press, America is so happy to have.

Israel needs a continuing cycle of violence. As long as this cycle is
provoked through daily oppression, Israelis can sustain that haven in which
they can unite behind their inability to examine their apartheid mentality.

Despite its military might, Israel is a weak and dying state that desires to
destroy itself. The most powerful nations in the world assist this suicidal
process and this fact calls for urgent contemplation.

Oren Ben Dor..

Dan
You are not God, donot dictate to me and I will not to you. You are not in control of me and I donot give you permission to put me on any level. I am American citizen and I will choose my own level.

With You case closed

Dan, with all do respect.

How can you sleep soundly at night with all of the killing happening?

Palestinians just like Israelis are humam beings.

As for resolution every suggestion I tried to make both yourself and beny critisized all of them, fair do. I said I didnt know the correct way as which ever resolution is to work it must be sensitive to both sides. That is something hard to do and stay neutral.

So I dont suggest anymore.

debs

I ask you again, what do you suggest?

we are not willing to suffer any more rockts

we are not willing to face "we will wipe you off the face of the world" anymore

by the way, 50 or 80 (I do not remember the exact number) went into gaza today DESPITE the fighting

do you think the arbs would have allowed that. remember the druze soldier who bled to death for hours near Joseph's tomb because the palestinain police refused israeli soldiers to help him, promising to do it by themselves

remember the two reserve soldiers who took a wrong turn and were lynched in Rammalah in october 2000

do you know about the hundreds of arab (jordanian,syrian, iraqui, palestinian and even iranian) patients treated in isareli hospitals evey year?

so debs, what to do? and do not tell me stop the war, i say again, it takes two to tango

”

"DID YOU BOTHER TO READ A SINGLE THING I SAID TO YOU?"
Dan.
Dan did you really say anything in one month?

Dianne,

what exactly is Israel doing to provoque Palestinians?? Last news I heard, it was the PALESTINIANS who were BOMBING innoncent civilans in places like Sderot, Tsfat, etc. Bombs landed on houses, not these 'mosques' which are mostly makeshift katiooshka bomb warehouses.

Ok, so we have this 'death-toll' countdown going on here on CNN....But, does it mention ANYWHERE that they had to close down a kindergarten today in Ashdod because of more rockets coming into Israel???? What a bunch of idiots.

Dianne.
dont bother with Dan he has a brain of an ant.

Dan,

Please dont be so vicious to Solomon, maybe if you had family killed in this conflict you wouldnt be so harsh!!

Solomon does have some valid remarks he does have aight, like you and Beny to voice concerns.

This conflict is not just about Israels peace and security, Palestine deserves the same too.

Dont throw Nazi at me please.. I am not.

Solomon,

Appologies, you mentioned to me a while back you had a family membe killed in Lebannon?

"PRESIDENT CARTER IN HIS BOOK, PALESTINE PEACE NOT APARTHID, I HOPE I SPELLED IT RIGHT, SAID IN THE BOOK, AND WHEN HE WAS ON THE BOOK TOUR AND DOING ALL THE TV INTERVIEWS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THE JEWS AND ISREAL DID NOT LIKE THAT, AND THEY BANNED HIM FROM ALOT OF THEIR SHOWS, JUST BECAUSE HE SAID THE TRUTH. "

the truth? oh yeah:

Factual errors about borders and international agreements

CARTER: Page 215*: [An option for Israel is] withdrawal to the 1967 border specified in U.N. Resolution 242 and as promised in the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Agreement...

PBS NewsHour, Nov. 28, 2006:

The demand is for them to give back all the land. The United Nations resolutions that apply, the agreements that have been made at Camp David under me and later at Oslo for which the Israeli leaders received the Nobel Peace Prizes, was [sic] based on Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories.

FACT:

None of the documents mentioned — U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Agreement — require Israel to return to the vulnerable pre-1967 armistice lines.

Resolution 242 calls on Israel to withdraw from territory in exchange for peace, but does not specify the extent of that withdrawal. The drafters of 242 have repeatedly explained why it is worded in that way. For example, Lord Caradon, the chief architect of the resolution, explained: "We could have said: well, you go back to the 1967 line. But I know the 1967 line, and it’s a rotten line. ... Had we said that you must go back to the 1967 line, which would have resulted if we had specified a retreat from all the occupied territories, we would have been wrong."

The Camp David Accords, which were signed by Carter himself, similarly do not define Israel’s borders: "The negotiations [concerning the West Bank and Gaza] will resolve, among other matters, the location of the boundaries ...."

The Oslo Agreements, too, deferred "borders" as one of the "issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations" (Article XVII, 1, a).

CARTER:

Page 57: The 1949 armistice demarcation lines became the borders of the new nation of Israel and were accepted by Israel and the United States, and recognized officially by the United Nations.

FACT:

The 1949 armistice lines separating the West Bank from Israel never became permanent borders recognized by Israel, the United States or the U.N. Security Council. On the contrary, the Jordanian-Israeli General Armistice Agreement of April 3, 1949 specifically notes that the lines are not borders: "The Armistice Demarcation Lines defined in articles V and VI of this Agreement are agreed upon by the Parties without prejudice to future territorial settlements or boundary lines or to claims of either Party relating thereto."

CARTER:

Page 71: Israel has relinquished its control over ... almost all of Lebanon ...

Page 98: [A number of events influenced] Israel’s decision in May 2000 to withdraw almost completely from Lebanon after eighteen years of occupation, retaining its presence only in Shebaa Farms.

FACT:

On June 16, 2000, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan reported to the Security Council that "Israeli forces have withdrawn from Lebanon in compliance with resolution 425" and "in compliance with the line of withdrawal identified by the United Nations."

(Security Council Resolution 425 called on Israel to "withdraw forthwith its forces from all Lebanese territory." The line identified by the United Nations "conform[ed] to the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon based on the best available cartographic and other documentary material.")

Two days later, the Security Council endorsed the Secretary General’s conclusion.

CARTER:

Page 190: The governments of Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert have built the fence and wall entirely within Palestinian territory, intruding deeply into the West Bank to encompass Israeli settlement blocs and large areas of other Palestinian land.

CNBC, The Tim Russert Show, Dec. 2, 2006:

And this wall, unlike the Berlin Wall, which was built on East German territory, none of this wall is built on Israeli territory. It's all built inside the West Bank ....

And in no place along that wall does it separate Palestinians from Israelis to protect Israelis. Everywhere the wall separates Palestinians from other Palestinians.

CSPAN2, Book TV, Dec. 3, 2006:

... this wall is not built between Palestinian land and Israeli land. No place does the wall touch Israel. The wall is entirely inside Palestine. And the wall is designed as it’s presently planned and being built completely inside Palestine not to protect Israelis but to take Palestinian land, and all you have to do is look at a map ... it shows the route of the wall.

FACT:

United Nations maps and numbers confirm that the barrier adheres to the "green line" – the armistice line marking the boundaries of the West Bank – along about 140 km (45 percent) of the green line’s path. Those areas where the barrier deviates east of the line are, according to 242, disputed areas yet to be negotiated. Moreover, in some places the barrier also veers into Israeli territory. (For example, near Tulkarm and Al Mughayyir Al Mutilla.)

And, contrary to his claim on the Tim Russert Show, the fence separates "Palestinians from Israelis" along the entire route.

CARTER:

Page 190: [The barrier] is projected to be at least three and a half times as long as Israel’s internationally recognized border ...

FACT:

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes that "Because of its meandering path into the West Bank, the [total 703 km length of the route] is more than twice the length of the "Green Line" – 315 km."

CARTER:

Page 50: Perhaps the most serious omission of the Camp David talks was the failure to clarify in writing Begin's verbal promise concerning the settlement freeze during subsequent peace talks.

Washington Post Op-Ed, Nov. 26, 2000:

Prime Minister Begin pledged that there would be no establishment of new settlements until after the final peace negotiations were completed. But later, under Likud pressure, he declined to honor this commitment ....

FACT:

Begin promised—and delivered—a three month settlement freeze. At a Sept. 17, 2003 symposium at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Israeli jurist Aharon Barak explained he was in the relevant meeting, had been the only one taking notes, and that his notes showed that Begin had agreed only to a three month freeze. Off camera Carter is heard to state, "I don't dispute that." William Quandt then added that while he had not been in the meeting, Cyrus Vance (Jimmy Carter's Secretary of State) had been, and told him immediately afterwards that Begin agreed to a three month freeze. (See details and video clip here.)

CARTER:

Pages 51-52: ...[I]mportant provisions of our [1978/79] agreement have not been honored since I left office. The Israelis have never granted any appreciable autonomy to the Palestinians ...

FACT:

Obviously, after 1993 the Palestinians gained "appreciable autonomy." The Oslo process created the Palestinian Authority and gave Palestinians control of political, civic, security, medical, educational and media institutions. Israel ceded 40 percent of the West Bank and eventually the entire Gaza Strip. About 98 percent of the Palestinian population lived in the areas of Palestinian self-rule.

Any subsequent Israeli military incursions into these areas have been in response to their use by Palestinians as bases for terrorism.

Moreover, Carter omits that Palestinian autonomy as envisioned in the agreements was bitterly opposed by the very PLO he defends. Yasir Arafat and his lieutenants publicly denounced autonomy efforts, and Palestinians who supported them were killed. The New York Times reported on one such murder on Dec. 21, 1977, recounting the gangland style execution of a Christian Arab whose only crime was supporting reconciliation with Israel.

CARTER:

Page 207: The unwavering official policy of the United States since Israel became a state has been that its borders must coincide with those prevailing from 1949 until 1967 (unless modified by mutually agreeable land swaps) ... . Also as a member of the International Quartet that includes Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union, America supports the Roadmap for Peace, which espouses exactly the same requirements.

FACT:

There was no such "unwavering official policy."

For example, President Johnson said on June 19, 1967:

The nations of the region have had only fragile and violated truce lines for 20 years. What they now need are recognized boundaries and other arrangements that will give them security against terror, destruction, and war.

Arthur Goldberg, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1965-1968, explained in a March 12, 1980 letter to the New York Times:

In a number of speeches at the U.N. in 1967, I repeatedly stated that the armistice lines fixed after 1948 were intended to be temporary. This, of course, was particularly true of Jerusalem. At no time in these many speeches did I refer to East Jerusalem as occupied territory.

And George Shultz, U.S. Secretary of State from 1982-1989, explained the Reagan administrations position in a 1988 address, saying "Israel will never negotiate from or return to the 1967 borders." (For more, see here.)

CARTER:

CNBC, The Tim Russert Show, Dec. 2, 2006:

"[The Road Map peace plan] was immediately adopted in its totality by the Palestinians, who still have no caveats and no objections to the Road Map terms.

FACT:

Mahmoud Abbas, at the time the incoming Prime Minister under Yasir Arafat, did indeed verbally express his support for the document. But there is no evidence that the Palestinian Authority cabinet or parliament ever approved the Road Map, as would be required for such an international agreement. Indeed, there’s no evidence it was ever even discussed by these bodies. Therefore it is nonsense to claim that the "Palestinians" or the PA under Fatah rule accepted the Road Map.

And the PA under Hamas rule has refused to accept previously signed agreements, including the Road Map.

Factual errors and distortions downplaying anti-Israel violence and Arab rejectionism

CARTER:

Page 62: When I met with Yasir Arafat in 1990, he stated, "The PLO has never advocated the annihilation of Israel. The Zionists started the 'drive the Jews into the sea' slogan and attributed it to the PLO."

FACT:

The original PLO founding charter speaks almost exclusively of "the liberation of Palestine," and calls on Palestinians to "move forward on the path of jihad until complete and final victory has been attained." (Note that this was written in 1964, before Israel's entrance into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.) It adds: "The partitioning of Palestine, which took place in 1947, and the establishment of Israel are illegal and null and void ..."

Likewise, the 1968 version of the charter describes "Palestine" as the area encompassing the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel, then states: "Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine. This it is the overall strategy, not merely a tactical phase."

Arafat himself frequently called for destroying that nation, as in: "The goal of our struggle is the end of Israel, and there can be no compromise" (Washington Post, March 29, 1970) and "[p]eace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for an all-out war, a war which will last for generations" (El Mundo [Venezuela], Feb. 11, 1980).

And Israel’s enemies have indeed referred to driving Jews into the sea. For example, the New York Times quoted speakers at a July 13, 1947 meeting held by the Palestine Arab High Committee and "attended by leading sheikhs, mukhtars and other persons of consequence in the Palestine Arab world" calling for Jews to be "thrown into the sea" ("Young Arabs Defy U.S., Britain, Jews," July 14, 1947). And in a 1948 interview with the New York Times, Muslim Brotherhood head Sheikh Hassan el-Bana said: "If the Jewish state becomes a fact, and this is realized by the Arab peoples, they will drive the Jews who live in their midst into the sea" ("Aim to oust Jews pledged by sheikh," Aug. 2, 1948).

More recently, Lieutenant-Colonel Munir Maqdah, who had commanded Arafat's Fatah army in Lebanon before being suspended, said his forces would continue fighting "the Jews and their agents" despite any peace talks, promising that "[s]ooner or later we will throw the Zionists into the sea." (Reuters, Oct. 8, 1993)

CARTER:

Page 179: Hamas was now [January 2006] holding many local posts, and their incumbent officials had been free of any allegations of corruption and, for sixteen months, had meticulously observed a cease-fire commitment, which they called hudna.

page 184: When I questioned him about the necessity for Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel, [Hamas member Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi] responded that they had not committed an act of violence since a cease-fire was declared in August 2004 ..."

CNN, Larry King Live, Nov. 27, 2006:

... since August of 2004 ... Hamas has not been guilty of an act of terrorism that cost an Israeli life."

PBS, NewsHour, Nov. 28, 2006:

Carter: "... since August of 2004, has not committed a single act of terrorism that cost an Israeli life, not a single one."

Judy Woodruff: "I think many Americans would be surprised to hear that."

Carter: "I know. They would be surprised, but it's an actual fact."

FACT:

On Aug. 31, 2004, Sixteen people were killed and 100 wounded in two nearly simultaneous suicide bombings aboard two city buses in Beer Sheva. Hamas claimed responsibility.

On Sept. 29, 2004, two preschool children were killed by a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza. Hamas claimed responsibility.

On Jan 13, 2005, Palestinians terrorists attacked the Karni crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, killing 6 civilians. Hamas claimed joint responsibility.

On July 14, 2005, a woman was killed by a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza. Hamas claimed responsibility.

CARTER:

KHOW-AM, The Caplis & Silverman Show (Denver), Dec. 12, 2006:

Carter flatly denied that Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, swore never to recognize Israel.

Silverman: "Didn't the head of Hamas, the elected leader of the Palestinians, go to Tehran last week and say ‘We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government ...’"

Carter: "No, he didn't."

Silverman: " ... ‘and we will continue our jihad-like movement ...’

Carter: "No, he didn’t do that."

Silverman: " ‘until the liberation of Jerusalem’?"

Carter: "No, he didn't do that. I saw no report about that."

FACT:

Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, was quoted by the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Detriot Free Press, the Guardian (London), and others saying just that.

CARTER:

Page 59: On June 5, Israel launched preemptive strikes, moving first against Egypt and Syria, then against Jordan."

Page 5: Israel launches preemptive attacks on Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and then Jordan ....

FACT:

The first overt act of war in the crisis was Egypt’s blockade on May 22 of Israel’s southern port of Eilat and the Gulf of Aqaba, through which passed vital cargo including 80 percent of Israel’s oil imports. Blockading such an international waterway is recognized under international law as a casus belli, or act of war. That’s why, in a televised address the next day, President Johnson denounced Egypt’s menacing actions:

... the closing of the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping has brought a new and grave dimension to the crisis. The United States considers the gulf to be an international waterway and feels that a blockade of Israeli shipping is illegal and potentially disastrous to the cause of peace. The right of free, innocent passage of the international waterway is a vital interest of the international community. (New York Times, May 24, 1967)

Thus, before any shots were fired, Egypt had initiated the hostilities.

Israel also did not initiate hostilities against Jordan, Syria or Iraq. At the start of fighting between Israel and Egypt, Jordan began shelling the heart of Israel – from the center of Tel-Aviv all the way down to Jerusalem – using American-made 155-millimeter Howitzers (known as “Long Toms”).

Even after these increasingly heavy Jordanian attacks, Israel passed a conciliatory message to King Hussein stating that if he stopped, there would be no counterattack. As Israel’s then Foreign Minister Abba Eban put it, the Israelis hoped that “King Hussein was making a formal gesture of solidarity with Egypt,” in other words, that the artillery barrage was for show. But this was not to be – after the Israelis sent their peace message, the Jordanian attacks only grew in intensity. Indeed, as the King recounted in his autobiography, he responded to the peace offer by sending his British-supplied Hawker Hunter jets to bomb Israel:

... we received a telephone call at Air Force Headquarters from U.N. General Odd Bull. It was a little after 11 A.M.

The Norwegian General informed me that the Israeli Prime Minister had addressed an appeal to Jordan. Mr. Eshkol had summarily announced that the Israeli offensive had started that morning, Monday June 5, with operations directed against the United Arab Republic, and then he added: “If you don’t intervene, you will suffer no consequences.”

By that time we were already fighting in Jerusalem and our planes had just taken off to bomb Israeli airbases... (Hussein of Jordan: My “War” with Israel, by King Hussein)

After these aerial attacks Jordanian troops crossed the armistice lines and took Government House, the UN headquarters on a hill in the no-man’s land between the two countries, directly threatening Israeli positions, and finally provoking a counterattack. Again, quoting King Hussein, “At 12:30 on that 5th of June came the first Israeli response to the combined bombing by the Jordanians, Iraqis and Syrians

want more?

Liba
This did not start with this recent invasion. It is not anything new how Israel does not allow food and medicine and other basic needs to reach the Palestinians. If somebody held things for your family survival,what would happen.

Beny, Watch this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

Then,let's here your thoughts

Diane

"i am an american citizen"

that gives you the right to make false accusations and when you are shown that you are wrong than you "close the case"

go back to kindergarden, if this is the way you argue, and good riddance lttle girl. maybe you want to stomp your feet too?

As I said before I am not making any suggestions. They will be wrong anway.

Am I not just aloud to say "EVERYBODY STOP THIS RIDICULOUS CONFLICT BEFORE YOU KILL EACH OTHER".

How does Rick Sanchez or CNN allow any comparison to the actions of Israel, Hamas and just recently the death tolls. And Rick says that's a good question. For 8 years, Israel has been attacked by missles in Sderot. They have not retailiated but has developed one of the most sophisticated alarm systems. When I was there two years ago, they showed me over 1,000 rockets that landed in just 2006. They know when a missle is fired and an alarm goes out to the city. The residents have a minute to get into a shelter room. We know that Hamas sends off rockets from populated areas to give them this spin when Israel retaliates. This happened in Lebanon and now in the Gaza. But the media is always comparing the casualties showing how unfair it is. There was a truce for a number of months and it was only when Hamas started to send rockets into Israel that they fought back. If Russia sent the same type of missels into Alaska, do you think we would do nothing for eight years. And when we did, would the world be right in comparing our casualties to theirs. Give me a break! You all know the truth. Report it. That's what journalism is all about. I have pictures of the rockets at the police station in Sderot from 2006. If you want them, it would be my pleasure. Thanks, Bill

debs, i would not dare to throw nazi at you, you are not and if you had the feeling i was doing it, i appologize

but still, josef goebbeles solomon, the liar, the falsifier of facts, the demagogue, the one who calls aeverybody who dares to show him facts an "ant brain" is not worth relating to

and how do you know whether beny or myself have lost any family?

Israel is a Terrorist State, and USA suported.

Why does the world only see what Israel is doing. Why don't they have the right to protect themselves. Why doesnt the world tell Hamas to stop. Is it Israels fault that the Hamas cowards hide among their people. Maybe it is time that the Palistines stand up and get rid of Hamas and then they might have peace in time.

The first thing America needs to do is get a real free press.Stop controlling the press. Let the people get all the unbiased information. Only then can the American people see the unfairness of Palestine

"what exactly is Israel doing to provoque Palestinians?? Last news I heard, it was the PALESTINIANS who were BOMBING innoncent civilans in places like Sderot, Tsfat, etc."

Liba
Realy? Nothing it just murdered 600 people and wound three thousands and destroyed every thing in its way.and you are asking what did Israel exactly did? typical Zionist Mentality.

Having just watched your news broadcast on the protests against the Israeli action, I was struck that you kept mentioning the Muslim population throughout Europe were protesting. However, many people to me appeared "Western" and I, myself, non-Muslim, do not agree with Israel's disproportionate stance. Does the holocaust give them the right to repeat history and another massacre? Many non-Muslims can see that Israel should never have been made in the way it was by governments from outside the Arab world. How long will the Jewish people get away with these war crimes?!! And why can't the world see the truth?

bill brown

i am afraid you are wrong, the people in sderot have only 15 seconds!

see

http://www.aish.com/movies/15seconds.asp

Dan

No I dont know, I dont want to be insensitive.

have lost though, friends to IRA bombs. Dan, that is why I am so anti violence. Reciprocating violence and killing (accidentaly or not) civilians by either airstrike, carpet bomb, suicide bomber ect. will never ease hostilities or repair damage.

I wonder why bush is so eager to suck arabic blood,isnt enough what he did in iraq,now and b4 he leaves office hes sucking palestinian blood,its too sad the you the american mediá are feeding the american people fake information about what going on,the palestinian suffering is beyond the hammas bombs,they are hopless people trapped in no were to go land,and no food,water they just waiting there death or become handicape....wake up a moment of humanity if u dare and stop this blood shed

Bill Brown
Russia does not control our food supply, our ability to have drugs for our citizens nor does the US do that to them There isn't any comparison

Liba,

If the terrorists didnt hide among thier people like the cowards that they are civilans whould not be killed.

Yes, Israel will show what it wants too. Saddam didnot want the UN to come in. But they did with the US as the #1 leader. However, Israel will not allow journalist in because a lot of them are not American to help keep their secrets. They have refused to allow journalist in against a court order. Where is the US now?

Well, I'm a muslim. but seeing some of muslims being so blood hungry I despise of them so much I COULD CARE LESS WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM !!!!!!!!!!

i agree with you Dianne but how will listen or search for the truth they are brain-washed

diane

they let you out of kindergarden?

there is no UN there is the international pilice USA

Being a Indian and having witnessed Islamist attacks on Mumbai ..live on TV ..i guess my sympathies must lie with the Israeli people.It was quite a revelation when i saw these terrorists in Mumbai specially target a Israeli locality .ie ..Nariman Place. I am sure it was not done for the Liberation of Palestine.It clearly means that Islamist organisations like to target Jews and similarly organisations like Hamas doesnt want a peaceful solution but just wants to inflict as much damage as possible on Israelis because they are jews.

What Israel has done is 100% correct.Every state has the right to protect itself.

MOHAMAD STICK TO THE TOPIC OR LEAVE

The only one here who seems to have an affinity for Josef Goebbels is the one who keeps mentioning his name over and over. If the commenter examined his own words, he would find more examples of propaganda/and hate than in any of the people he’s name called. If he honestly despises such tactics, he may want to look in the mirror first. Talk about calling the kettle black!

Dan last comment with you case close

Dan,

No one enjoys war, that I know from personal experience and you will know to.

I did not mean or have any intention of implying that you may have.

No, I dont think Israel should have to appologise for existing either, nor should Palestinians.

I think I will use my degree and maybe teach intead or maybe in a cultural centre!!!! Im not doing very well in peacekeeping am I :)

"If the terrorists didnt hide among thier people like the cowards that they are civilans whould not be killed."

Marc.
where do you want them to be with your people ?
of course they are with their people their brothers and sisters and children.mind you they protect their home and families with their bodies .

the Cowards are those that are hiding in Tanks and shooting from their Planes and firing at Innocent Civilians from miles away.
the ISRAELI DEFEATED FORCES.

Sympathy of Pakistani people are with the people of Gaza. Israel will lose.

Well, muslims wants to exterminate israel is a reality and I can't stand such ideas so I SAY AGAIN is matters really what happens to them ?

diane

you prove again you are a child

i will repeat my post from above, which recited facts and you chose to ignore, because you prefer "case closed" to a real dialog:

January 5th, 2009 2020 GMT

diane

“The Arabs live in total segregation”

“They cannot have the life they eant to provide for their children, to educate their children, in hope of making a good future for the generations to come. ”

Oh yeah? then can you lplease explain to me who the arab doctors and nurses were that treated my aunt in an israeli hospital for two weeks with dedication and professionalism? the segregated arabs? the ones who have no access to education? you mean those were fake doctors and nurses?

and the demonstrations by arab students in Haifa and Jerusalem universities were carried out by fake arab students?

diane, maybe you need to undergo a reality check, your post is complete nonsense

and a final suggestion: if you do not believe the 3000 rockets, i invite you to sderot where there is a storage hall where all kassams that arrived in sderot are displayed. do you know how to count?

I challenge you to come and count, really!!

Diane,

Give me a break! What would you do if you were in Israel and rockets are coming in every day? Nothing? Pray for peace? Hope that kindness would be in their hearts?

Food supply and drugs were not stopped until enough was enough. Then they tried cutting them off to put pressure on stopping the missles rather than fight back and kill innocent people. Then there was a truce. Everything was going O.K. Why did Hamas suddenly decided to start firing the missles again. And during the truce, the Hamas reloaded enought missles to be able to send 30 a day. Oh poor Gaza! And now Israel strikes back and shame on them! This is the spin that makes news.

debs

i will be very happy to help you!!

come over and visit, i am sure you will be able to meet some israelis who do not fit josef goebbels solomon's views :-)

i will gladly help you and i am sure beny too

Well you know solomon. how about storing the weapon caches in hospitals and mosques and schools.hamas and their ruthless methods is too known for everyone.

Old testament, Numbers 21/35. "So they smote him...there was none left alive...they possessed his land."

The Arabs and the Israelis made war for three thousand years. Why would they stop now? Hate is their inheritance.

Solomon,

So dont complain when the civilians get killed. If they dont stand up for themselves they will die with Hamas too.

when Ziionist Jews start using names like Mohamad know that they are ashamed of being Jews.

Mohamed
Please with all due respect how can you paint an entire people Muslims with one brush stroke I work with fine upstanding members of many races, and religion. But I have also heard some jewish people who want all Muslims off the face of the earth. How is it possible that only Muslims are evil. I was surprised to hear those jewish people make such a statement considering all Muslims must be bad.

Some of the people commenting here need a short reminder of recent history in order to set their frame of reference right:
1. Israel withdrew totally from Gaza in 2005.
2. Hamas was elected by popular vote shortly after, and went on to kill off their political enemies from Fatah – so much for democracy in Palestine.
3. The Israeli siege started AFTER Hamas continue to rockets and mortars into Israeli town. Today Hamas claimed once again that they fire rockets because of the siege, which only people without any real understanding can believe, unfortunately that seems to be the majority.
4. After 1 1/2 years of attempts to stop the rockets by economic sanctions Israel has finally bowed to the pressure of it's terrorized population and is taking action against Hamas.
5. While Hamas, Jihad, Hezbollah and many others in the Middle East celebrate every killed Israeli man/woman/child with public displays of medieval barbarism, Israeli culture is Western at root and 99% of the Israeli public take no pleasure from innocent Palestinian caught in the cross fire between the Israeli army and the Hamas terrorist-turned government-remained terrorists. Have a look at the discussion in the Israeli press (www.haaretz.com in English) to see how the moral foundation of the war is being disputed in the public, and then show me one – just one- publication of islamic fundamentalists debating the moral justifications of terror against infidels.
6. Wake up, bleeding hearts, you are next, it is just a question of time, if Hamas, Hezbollah, Jihad, Moslem Brotherhood and other so-called charities go unchecked.

Sweet dreams, everybody.

It was just a little while ago when these blood hungry monsters(hamas) killed ruthlessly many fatah members right in front of their family because they said they recognise israel. JUST DISGUSTING

Arabs are talking about Israel is targetting civilians, but why are they shying away in accepting that Hamas terrorists are the main culprits who are only targetting civilians, the day they stop rocketing Israel, peace will be achieved.

This entire mess and nuicence has been created by Hamas and they must pay the price for it. Sometimes I feel it is Hamas who must be killing their own civilians to get sympathy from the Arab world and muslims all around.

How Arabs can compare Mumbi terror attack with Israel air strikes, Mumbai terror attack was mastermind of LeT while here LeT is replaced by Hamas. In fact India should learn from Israel and should target LeT in a similar fashion as we all know the so called demotratic Pakistani govt is shit scared of its Army and ISI, hence it will not act against LeT at all.

debs,

incidentally, you may want to see this too. I remember the IRA often gave a few minutes warning before their bombs went off

the clip below is called 15 seconds

http://www.aish.com/movies/15seconds.asp

Marc.
if you are a coward not to stand and fight for your children that is your choice. Palestinians are not Cowards.

"But I have also heard some jewish people who want all Muslims off the face of the earth. "

prove it!

Janine,
and what is that truth exactly?

that Hamas is a recognized terrorist entity that cowards behind inncocent civilians to relentlessly shoot rockets targeted at Israeli civilians?

Israel is doing what every self respecting country would do, and what it is morally obligated to do – defend its citizens.
Tit for tat will get nowhere. Only a strong display of force will get Hamas to understand that shooting rockets is unacceptable and intolerble.

Dianne,

Its unfortunate that the world only sees the Muslims as bad, but the fact is they are the ones that have started all the problems we are dealing with now. 911 , terrorist bombings, suiside bombings all over the World.

Hi Debs, There isn't anything with your thought. Try to remain against war of any kind. I have met some very nice Muslims in that part of the world as some nice jewish people whom some are protesting now

Why does CNN not present a map of the world, and particularly the middle east, with an intelligence presentation on pro-Hamas states and organisations vs moderate states more aligned with western thinking, illuminating perhaps the alignment of Shi'ite and other radical Islam sects against the rest. Discussion around current conflict areas and their linkages as part of an overall strategy of destabiliation would allow insight into the problems we are facing, highlighting the fact that the Israeli/Hamas conflict has its roots deeply imbedded in the broader context. Simply focussing on snapshots and footage of the conflict and victims, and knee-jerk responses from around the world, is not illuminating the reasons for the conflict.

Ok. With this I'll say goodnight all.

Dan
Laila Tov

Solomon
Salam

Salam and Shalom to all
May peace come tomorrow and for all of this killing to stop.

May Peace be with Palestine tonight. May no more of Palestines Kids die tonight.

May Peace be with Israel. May no more of Israels kids die tomorrow.

here you are ant brain.

Israeli Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Incites Followers to Commit Genocide Against Arabs

“The Lord shall return their deeds on their own heads, waste their seed and exterminate them, devastate them and vanish them from this world. It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable.”

It is easy to imagine these words being uttered by a Nazi leader in Germany some 60 years ago, or by a proponent of apartheid in South Africa just a decade ago. In reality, however, these blatantly racist and inflammatory words were spoken just a few weeks ago by Israeli Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. He was, of course, speaking about Arabs—during a widely broadcast sermon marking Passover, no less.

Israel attacks Gaza.

Israel must rebuild the gaza.

BUT that's not likely.

Vice versa.

Marc
That is how Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand see us America did a lot of killing over there. Also the instabilities the US started in Latin America trying to over throw governments. We have done our fair share of bombings over the world. America doesnot come to the table with clean hands.

Everyone can continue to argue their case, while you are doing that innocent babies and children, men and women, are being slaughtered in a brutal military invasion. There is no such thing as precision "surgical" bombings, all bombings end up with shrapnel, brain concussions, burns, broken bones, DEATH. The best thing Israel could do right now to try to maintain some dignity and respect in the world, would be to go on TV immediately and say they are "escorting" humanitarian and medical aid into Gaza and are immediately ceasing hostilities – show some small glimpse of humanity. If they don't, I believe Israel's reputation around the world will be permanently and irreparably destroyed and they will have a hard time getting any respect from countries around the world.

Dan,

The IRA murdered two of my friends in Omagh, Google it.

The tragic thing, one wac catholic the other protestant. I still to this day cannot understand wht it happened. Omagh was a peaceful intergrated town. I know its on a conflict hundreds of miles from where you are...but it goes to show the same mess goes on everywhere in this world.

Will we humans ever learn??

Sorry Dan,

I was talking about Omagh bombing.

Can’t you see that there is something weird in all this process..???

Why is all this happening?

What are the historical roots of today’s pbs??

What really happened when Israel was created?
Are we going to finally understand that we need to know history to be able to analyze and solve those pbs?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

This video is called Occupation 101
Not video showing dead and injured but just a history reminder…..
Talks about the roots of the issue…

Watch it, it is eye opening….

We sympathize with those civilians that been killed in Gaza. Ceasefire is very necessary. Even the soldiers that are killed are also human beings. We condemn the entire situation.

I have listened to many people call on Israel to stop the fight as if it takes only one party (Israel) to fight. If two persons are fighting both persons should be called upon to stop the fight. Hamas fired rockets to Southern Israel and civilians were affected, Israel went on ground incursion and civilians were affected, I feel it is one to one or 50-50. Well, I condemn the whole fighting. Israel is not to blame if the UN did not make strong efforts to stop the Hamas from firing rockets.

Well, I want to appeal to the UN to bring the two groups to a point where they will see the evil in conflict and to accept dialogue as a better option.

Evelyn,

Israel is doing exactly that, letting in humanitarian aid, food, fuel, medication into Gaza.

Yes, over 500 Gazans have been killed so far, about 100 of them civilians. Thats less than 20%. Of all the Israelis killed by Hamas rockets, 100% of them were civilians. A bit telling about whom each side is targeting.

Hamas is shooting rockets from civilian population centers and is targeting Israeli civilians. Israel is targeting hamas terrorists, and if they choose to coward behind innocent women and children, its their problem.

Evelyn,

Where have you been the last 30 years. Isreal does not and has never had the respect from the World.That is why they do what they do. No one will help them. They never get any help from the rest of the world besides the US.

Solomon
You are right about Ovadi Yosef – he is a senile fanatic, mumbling dangerous bullshit all day long.
You are wrong to conclude that all Israelis are like that, actually the majority of Israelis despises the old fool, and the democratic institutions keep him in check by respecting the will of the majority. That is the difference between Israel and Gaza – there the old fools become leaders and ruin the lives of everybody.

as always the comments on such "discussion boards" are nothing more than mindless pithy.

noone can however disagree that the situation is an atrocity, for both sides.

i find it shocking the verocity of the israeli onslaught as well as the feigned ignorance of the palestinian people.

this is, however, the mediterranean basin, an area which is not known for looking truth in the face and then accepting it.

it is an unrefutable fact that over the years, israel has had to put up with a situation that no other modern democratic country would accept.

think of the situation in paris after the port royal bombings in the 1990s. after a few tiny bombs, the city became a police state for many months.

i find it equally shocking how biassed the CNN coverage has been. ms amanpour was totally against livni in her interview. the anchor on the international edition on sunday evening was pathetic.

as always, i am shocked as well by the comparisons to the holocaust, which is as mindless as it is insulting.

just imagine if both populations used all their energy to encourage and FORCE their respective governments to be peaceful.....

PalestinianNizar Riyan, a Hamas leader in Gaza, says his organization is determined to have Israel wiped off the map and be replaced by a state of Palestine.

Speaking with the Hamas television station, Riyan called upon the PA Arab factions in Gaza to keep fighting the Jews "even if the Arabs and Abu Mazen do not agree, until the last Jew leaves Palestine."

Government Spokesman Dr. Ghazi Hamad said that Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth.

Iran's conservative new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Wednesday that Israel must be "wiped off the map" and that attacks by Palestinians would destroy it, the ISNA press agency reported.

An image I have never forgotten in the long years that have passed since – I was in Israel in Jerusalem. It must have been Jewish Independence day. I was in the old city, the Arab quarter, a part of the city that has been inhabited by Muslims since long before the arrival of Islam. Certainly no one could refute their right to live there.

Anyway, school buses of Jewish school children, many of whose parents or grand parents came from other lands, descended into the quarter in endless lines mocking the local Arabs and waving their Israeli flags pompously in the faces of an ancient people in their own homeland. It was a disgusting site. Let’s dispel any illusion that racism against Arabs is not taught to Jewish children. I saw it with my own eyes.

debs,

I am sorry.

however, i think i am right that in almost all cases the IRA gave a reasonable warnig?

did you see the clip?

First I want that everybody will know some facts.
1- Israel try 2 minimaiz killing inisant people, by calling Palestinians to ther phone " hamas try 2 kill everybody "
2 – when a innocents Palestinians R killing "we dont celebrates $ dance in the street like a barbarian. In Palestinian ,Hamas celebrates in the street.

yaser arafat reject israel gov' to have A free democrasy Palestinian and start the second intifada.

"Well, I want to appeal to the UN to bring the two groups to a point where they will see the evil in conflict and to accept dialogue as a better option."

Lawrence. maybe you should take a look at this link

http://www.mediamonitors.net/michaelsladah&suleimaniajlouni1.html

Marc
Israel never wants to follow international rules. It is as if they are owed whatever they want when thet want it The rest of is the world will not agree to that. As far back as when I took religion in high school 9Many years ago) and also college a Reverend taught the class. He informed us that the US is afraid to go against Israel because of the Bible. Religion makes the US afraid to do what is right because of the Bible and the large number of religious right who are a big voting block and give lots of money to political candidates.

Armin.

I did not say that all Israeli are like that we have few of them too but I was answering a question.

The Arabs live in total segregation”

“They cannot have the life they eant to provide for their children, to educate their children, in hope of making a good future for the generations to come. ”

Oh yeah? then can you lplease explain to me who the arab doctors and nurses were that treated my aunt in an israeli hospital for two weeks with dedication and professionalism? the segregated arabs? the ones who have no access to education? you mean those were fake doctors and nurses?

and the demonstrations by arab students in Haifa and Jerusalem universities were carried out by fake arab students?

diane, maybe you need to undergo a reality check, your post is complete nonsense

and a final suggestion: if you do not believe the 3000 rockets, i invite you to sderot where there is a storage hall where all kassams that arrived in sderot are displayed. do you know how to count?

I challenge you to come and count, really!!

I'm so sick and tired of Hamas quoting statistics out of their asses.

They are such pathalogical liars.

I feel like buying big clown shoes and throwing them at the Palestinians.

Yes,

But what they didnt tell you was that IRA often would give coded warnings that were intended to give peope the wrong information on location of bombs, they would have civilins evacuated to where bombs were. Thats why so many people died in the Omagh.

Thats the info that the IRA dont want you to see.

Thanks for video. :)

River Steuter.
Thank you

Dianne,

The US backs Isreal becuase they are the only country in the Middle East that would back the US. All of the Middle East is against the US and Isreal. That includes Saudi Aribia and egypt. They only keep quite for our money and our weapons. That is the problem with the whole world. RELIGION. But that is another discussion.

Armin
We have an old fool in charge of the USA for 8 years and has almost destoyed not only the US but the world economically. Israel may have to come to the fact that we cannot keep supporting them at risk of our own nation surviving

this was the palestinian reaction to 9/11

american citizen diane, take note, this is something reverend forgot to show you in college

http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/never-forget-palestinians-dancing-in-streets-on-911/

guys why you over complicate things, an ethnic group came from overseas based on a fairy RELIGIOUS belief of a promised land to occupy others land, and from 60 years they are performing daily ETHNIC CLEANSING, discussing the daily silly narrow details wont change the big facts ever. you can call your self religious by supporting them, but please dont consider that you are human, i cant live now in the land my father born because simply Israelis are living in it now, killed some of my family, and evacuated the rest out of it. no facts need to be put on table beyond this. and dont be surprised of who you are, and how you support such oppression, because history was and will always be filled with the savage kind of yours. these people are not just tales you read in historical books, but it is also yours.

debs,

i very much respect you. although i do not agree with everything you say, you try and keep the discussion civilized, unlike some others whos names i need not mention.

you are invited to visit and will always be welcome here in israel

Dianne,

Is Israel curently going against the 'international rule' of defending itself? What exactly is its crime this time?

Most of CNN reporters and anchors reporting on Israel's war on Hamas deliberately keep hummering the fact that Israel does not allow them to enter the Gaza strip, thus tacitly put the balme on Israel. Why don't they blame Egypt for doing the same?! And why don't they try to ask Hamas to get them into the Gaza strip through one of the many tunnels they operate?!

Evelyn Canada,

Your comments about Native Americans and America is so true I am glad their are people out there that see the truth. That is what we Palestians are trying to say from day one. One great book to read is Jimmy Carter's book "Palestine Peace not Apartheid." He visited and saw the truth and also see his documentry "A man from Great Plains Georgia. " excellent source of information.

Wendy

That is one reason, but talk to someone who has a doctorate in theology. We have had several doctors of theology over the years who say because of religion, Christanity, and the Bible. The US fears if it goes against Israel God will punish the US. After all these years of the US being so unfair to the Middle East, never allowing anyone or the UN to sanction the many times they have done what is wrong, I believe this. Otherwise I donot understand not extending a hand to everyone considering our preachings.

Is Hamas wrong trying to get food and medicine which have been shut off

Doctors of theolgy = people with too much time on their hands.

By firing off missiles. That is not how you go about getting help.

Dianne,

Humanitarian aid has not been cut off.
See: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hhKbVsPGHqwtZNryof9Modw5q9Gg

Hamas is not wrong in trying to get aid, but they are wrong for bringing this disaster on the residents of Gaza and from fighting from civilian population centers.

Marc, I believe I can always learn from someone of education or not. Our group at that time could not understand some of the US decisions. I have been to several seminars that give me food to think. I am fortunate that I am able to travel other countries and get equal information about Israel and Palestine. I have notice for many years how our press doen not give us the complete truth. How many times has Israel been guilty? Knowing human beings, how are they never wrong?

Now I would like to say a few things about Israel. The public has whole heartedly accepted the Palestinian narrative, and see's Israel as the aggressor. But I will continue to speak up for Israel.. I see defending Israel as a matter of principle. First, because it is the Jewish homeland after two thousand years of exile up to and including Auschwitz, second because it is a democracy, and third because it is our first line of defence. Samuel Huntington writes it so aptly: 'Islam has bloody borders'. Israel is located precisely on that border. This tiny country is situated on the fault line of jihad, frustrating Islam's territorial advance. Israel is facing the front lines of jihad, like Kashmir, Kosovo, the Philippines, Southern Thailand, Darfur in Sudan, Lebanon, and Aceh in Indonesia. Israel is simply in the way. The same way West-Berlin was during the Cold War. The war against Israel is not a war against Israel. It is a war against the West.

CK: 500 human beings are 500 human beings. How many Israeli's have been killed during this incursion? This is disproportionate force if I ever saw it.

Marc: Your quote: . "Israel does not and has never had the respect from the World.That is why they do what they do. No one will help them. They never get any help from the rest of the world besides the US." Therefore, Marc, have you ever stopped to think why no one wants to help Israel except the US? Perhaps the rest of the world views what is and has been happening over there to the Palestinian people differently than you do.

Yes CK it was

Also see:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129228

Of course we hear what the governments want us to here. That goes for the US too, but how much does Isreal have to put up with. Why are they always wrong. If they didnt act the way they do there would not be a state of Isreal. And I am sure that would make everyone happy.

CK
Respectfully, I get enough propoganda from the US news

Evelyn,

I understand how you think it is disproportionate, but you can't compare the number of dead to determine if its disproportionate. The fact is, most of the 500 dead are armed combatants, engaged in a military campaign. If Israel were to simply play ti-for-tat, killing one of their every time an Israeli was killed, the conflict would go on forever. An aggressor needs to get a good slap in face to understand that his actions do not pay off, harm himself and his own peaople and to drive home the message that shooting rockets indiscriminately at civilians is unacceptable and must be stopped.
I agree that the loss of human life is painful, but it is the sad, unfortunate, and horrible price of war.

Evelyn,

Do you think that if Hamas had the army that the Israelies do that they would not attach them.

Dianne,

I am sorry you see the notion of a democratic country defending itself as propoganda, and a terrorist organization as legitimate.

Marc,
Why are the Palestians always wrong. I was in Great Britain a few years ago. An Arab Israeli was trying to get his wife to the hospital. She was seven months pregnant and in premature labor. Israeli soldiers stop them and harassed them laughing all the while not allowing them to proceed. The wife was bleeding he tried to explain. With fear for his wife and unborn child he took off. The riddled that car with bullets. The car was shown on TV. Father, Mother, and unborn child, dead. Did this reach America?

Evelyn,

Have you ever heard "ever" that the rest of the world backs Isreal.Do you remember WW 2.

You are right with your claim about Jews settlers coming to Israel and settling peacefully by purchasing land. This of course happened after 1882 when the Ottoman Empire authorized the first large migration of Jews back to the area. What is important to recognize is that after resolution 181 the UN divided the area of Palestine. These borders do not exist anymore as all this territory was basically acquired by Israel during the 48 and 67 war. This area is what I believe people refer as being occupied.

Well… going forward I believe Israel has all the right to defense itself in these circumstances. The Palestinian Authority should take responsibility for the lack of action that has allowed Gaza to be ruined by HAMAS. I believe it is completely hypocritical of PA to criticized Israel while not advocating HAMAS’ behavior to a greater extend. I can only ask them to look at the long term consequences of their actions or “inaction”. We are no talking about submission to Israel…we are talking about developing and improving the standard of living of their population.

All those who advocate for a cease fire… I can only explain that HAMAS does not recognize Israel so any agreement will be non-lasting (please look at their organizational chart-mission). Signing an agreement with HAMAS is like catching a chronically obsessed shop lifter and telling him please not to steal any more. It may work in the short term, but in the long term we will be right on square one. Unfortunately, being on square one means no peace agreement and more military incursions.

Wow, how about muslims decapitating every one in their wars where they turned the population into muslims in the first place. DONT TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FROM BEGINING OF THE WORLD.

Israel allows humanitarian aid into Gaza
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqgkDs0dxhAeBkpfNkofGhJCSneQ

CK
Israel is not a democratic country. Because one votes in elections isn't the only criteria for being a democratic country

plus palestine was a province of osmani one of AXIS countries in world war II which wanted to capture the whole world.

Read my blog ^

CK
Israel should not have the right to determine when food and medicine can reach Gaza. They seem to see themselves as doing a favor. Thany You Mr or Ms Israel. The people of Gaza should always be able to get the neccissities of life

Well if it wasnt for the sucide bombers there would be no need for blockades. And who says that the palestians are always wrong. They need to stand up to the people who put them in these situations.

Dianne,

Israel IS a democratic country by every definition of the word. What makes you say that it is not a democracy?

They have the right to stop and search the trucks before they are sent through which is what they are doing.

Mohamed,
What do you think the US did to Cambodians, Vietnamese, Thai, people? What did they do to the Iraqis? None of these countries invited the US into their nation? What right did the US have?

Mohamed

Excuse me. None of them attacked the US

So what happens after Hamas is forced to stop firing rockets into Israel, do we just continue the occupation of the Gaza and West Bank?

It is my belief that if Israel wants the world to acknowledge their right to exist and to live in peace with their neighbors, than they must allow the Palestinian People to govern their own country and return all lands taken by them since 1967 and that includes land and lakes that belong to Syria.

But that will not happen as long as Israel is the LAP DOG of the US and the US is the LAP DOG of Israel.

Remember when people are denied their HUMAN RIGHTS, they will turn to those who will fight for them. You may call them TERRORIST but to the people they are freedom fighters.

The only way to defeat TERRORIST is give the people what they desire most and the people will have no need for them.

No they donot. The US should not have allowed their area to be closed off

Are we to wait until we get attached in our own country before we do something. I work in NYC and we were attacked and I will never forget watching the trade center fall down. I was there.

What is that Damain, the destruction of Israel. That is what the arabs want.

Did Isreal attack Syria no they attacked them. Why should they give the land back.

CK
Every Israeli isnot allowed to vote that special priviledge is for Israli jews. As the US didnot give all African Americans the right to vote with Civil Rights Bill of 1965. Israel does not allow all Israels to live where they would like to. Israel is a religious government ruld by the rules of the jewish faith

Dianne if muslims have powers of scale of the US all world WAS NOW IN BLOOD ONE INCH THICK

That is what all the liberals want before they fight back.

Don't you wonder guys why there are so many children and women dead in Gaza? Maybe because their fathers and husbands, the "brave" hamas fighters are hiding inside the tunnels and bunkers instead of going to the streets and fighting as men. They obviously don't care about the lives of their family members. Maybe they need them dead just to show more blood on tv......it's good for their propaganda. Disgusting but not impossible

when will poland return danzig, breslau and koenigsberg to germany? when will czech return the sudetenland to germany?
when will russia return half of poland to poland? when will the US return 1/3 of the USA to mexico and the rest to the indians (except for alaska which was bought from russia and recently assigned to sara palin).

Damien,

Israel unilaterally left Gaza in 2005 so it has certainly not been 'occupied' since then. The West Bank was conquered from Jordan in 1967 and Gaza from Egypt. Neither country wants it back.

The Palestinian people should definitely have the right to govern their own country, they were offered it at Camp David and turned it down. They were given the chance in Gaza and seemed to be more concerned with firing rockets into Israel instead.

Human rights does not include the right to terrorism, and it does include the right to defend your country.

Every Israeli isnot allowed to vote that special priviledge is for Israli jews. As the US didnot give all African Americans the right to vote with Civil Rights Bill of 1965. Israel does not allow all Israels to live where they would like to. Israel is a religious government ruld by the rules of the jewish faith

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

absolutre bullshit

Marc, you cant just simply take others land and expect nothing in return.

As shocking as this may sound to some, perhaps there shouldn’t be a State of Israel. No hate intended.

The fact that it was artificially created does in no way justify its right to exist. The fact that a people desire it and treasure it, also does not legitimize its “creation”.

For this reason, it has faced and will always face problems until the wrongs have been righted. Israelis will be the first to tell you about the importance of reparations. Is it not hypocritical to deny to others the same rights that one holds so dear?

Israel would not survive without immigration yet denies the same right to Palestinians who fled or were forced out. How can I sympathize with such hypocrisy? How can a people that believe in a religious dogma that they are “chosen” ever deal fairly and equitably with others? Is not the notion of being chosen innately racist? Double standards everywhere.

If the roots are rotten, then in all probability the structure will inevitably collapse. It may be worth noting the fact that Israel was one of pre-apartheid South Africa’s biggest allies. What did they have in common? What happened to the latter? Reflect.

Very good Dan.

Dianne,

I hear what you are drving at although you are not accurate. Israel is a jewish country, but it is mostly secular, and is governed by a secular government.

All Israelis, including Israeli arabs (christians and muslims) are allowed to vote.
Israelis can live wherever they wish within Israel, just as in any other western country.

I am curious where you get your facts from...

Mohamad
Are you sure you are Muslim? The US fight some wars through others just as Russia does. The US with the help of the Cia has installed many dictators and when they turn which ususally happens. Saddam, Noriega, and others.Humans are Humans. Nothing is beyond any of them to do whatever to have what they want because they have the biggest weapons To make sure they keep control, these nations decide who should have what weapon. That is governments not just Muslims

Helen, may someday one take over your own land, and see you hiding in tunnels so you dont want your family to be dead with you.

ok guys why you over complicate things, an ethnic group came from overseas based on a fairy RELIGIOUS belief of a promised land to occupy others land, and from 60 years they are performing daily ETHNIC CLEANSING, discussing the daily silly narrow details wont change the big facts ever. you can call your self religious by supporting them, but please dont consider that you are human, i cant live now in the land my father born because simply Israelis are living in it now, killed some of my family, and evacuated the rest out of it. no facts need to be put on table beyond this. and dont be surprised of who you are, and how you support such oppression, because history was and will always be filled with the savage kind of yours. these people are not just tales you read in historical books, but it is also yours.

Marc my offices are in New York also. The entire world unfortunately has had violence. Not all have been Muslim. Ireland, Spain, many countries in Asia. Nobody can guarantee complete safety. But one must be careful of the actions it produces.

ck

"Dianne,

I am curious where you get your facts from"

from her reverend at college and the kindergarden teacher in the kindergarden she attends

River,

I would venture to say that probably most countries were 'artificially created'. The fact is though, that there was no 'country' here before Israel. Palestine was the name given by the Romans after they sacked Jerulsame in 70 a.d. since then it ws ruled by a myriad of empires including the Ottomans and then the British. There is no 'Palestinian ' nation, or 'Palestinian ' language. so its hard argument that the Israelis actyally conquored it from anyone. It was kind of a no-mans land ruled by the British from WWI until 1947.

No CK they cannot. They are held to a different standard. I have been in Israel when some how said you cannot trust them

Ethnic cleansing. There are more arabs in Isreal then israelies.

Well, tell me if ottomon empire that palistine was a province of that country during world war II doesn't exist anymore. how can you say lebanon , turkey and jordan are solid state and israel is not.
ottomon empire wanted the whole world in world war II as axis with nazis and they paid the price dearly

when jordan occupied the west bank and brutally oppressed the palestinians (remeber black september) you dogooders were silent

when egypt occupied gaza and let it rot, you do ooders were silent

how many universities were uin the west bank in 1967? how many are there today? look it up in google, and choke on the result!!

Spain, and asia. They were muslim terrorists

No CK they cannot. They are held to a different standard. I have been in Israel

diane, you are a pathological liar

CK, and what exactly mean that Israelis can now live in Palestine and my name is Palestinian and i cant live in it!!! im really confused now! can you help me with this! isnt that concurring a land from others? im really confused about how you see facts!!

ck

there are 10 arab members of parliament in israel. if arabs cannot vote, how did these get in??

Dianne,

You are flat wrong. All Israeli citizens, inluding Israeli Arabs, Christians and muslim can, and DO vote.

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections16/eng/about/about_elections_eng.htm

I remeber a few months ago in which President candidate took a bold stand McCain. McCain and Bush were against Russia attacking, I am sorry the name of the country escapes me at this time. This country had been shelling in its territory. The Big Bear roared back The US demonized Russia for her using such massive weapons on the country. But it says nothing when Israel does the same thing

barham you don't own any land there so you can't live there as simple as that.

Barham,

Israel took over a desert. And it would still be that now if it wasnt Israel. Another third world country.

the country was georgia

but you do not give a shit about thousands of rockets fired at israel.

you demand israel do nothing

hypocrite

Marc numbers of who is the majority do not matter when one has the best weapons on earth

No other ARAB COUNTRY wanted the palistinines.

Because apparently some palestinians only believe in bloodshed and exterminating so no one cares for them

diane

you really are an imbecile ignoramus

case closed

And its a good thing they do.

Dan,
I am saying that Israeli Arabs CAN vote.
Your point is good, that is how they have 10 members of Parliament.

stupid Mohammad, palestine and jordan were under the rule of British during WWII, how many time are you repeating your silly mistake!

So did the US at one time, The Native Americans

If this does not ache your heart, I am not sure what will. I am sure this was not shown on CNN but it was shown on other news channels.

A father standing in the middle of a hospital in Gaza crying his eyes out just like a child while he holds on to his own child that now lay's dead between his arms. His youngest and only surviving family member has now been killed. His wife and 3 other children were killed early and now his baby.

Another young man runs through the street screaming and crying for his little brother, his mother, his father that have all just been murdered!

Tell me WHERE IS THE BLOODY UN, the US, the WORLD LEADERS, WHERE IS ANYONE?

Forget Hamas and forget the Israeli politicians and army.... this is going beyond disgusting.

I would like someone to answer me truthfully...whether you are a Jew, an Arab, an Asian, a European, a whatever. " IF THIS WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND, DO YOU THINK THE UN, THE US OR THE WORLD LEADERS WOULD BE SITTING BACK WATCHING OR WOULD THEY HAVE SORTED IT SO FAST THAT IT NEVER WOULD HAVE STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?"

I am so tired of people repeating the same thing over and over. Hamas would not stop so the jews went in. Did everyone forget that the so called 'non-occupied' state has never ever been really 'non-occupied'? What about the starvation Israel has put Gaza through? What do you expect them to do???

Hasn't Israel done enough to create an ongoing 50 year old Middle East Crisis? Isn't it time to stop???

All this is without doubt a massacre of children and women.

When will the bloodshed of the innocent stop once and for all?

barham:

jordan was under british rule during WWII?

interesting, especially in view of the fact that there was no jordan before 1947!!!

are all of your facts as true as this one???

Dan – All you do is smugly insult and condescend to those who hold different opinions from you. You will not sway any reader’s opinion and will only bolster your opponents position using such transparent superficial tactics. Why bother continue posting? You’re doing yourself more harm than good. Has your ego blinded you?

Marc why should some other country want them? They are HOME Why should they leave?

Marc, so correct me if im wrong, you are saying if its a third world country its ok for another country to take over it? this how exactly you think you are just? anyway i wont mind Israel if its a true democracy who respects life for all on it, not a state being build over fairy religious tales!

When will the bloodshed of the innocent stop once and for all?

when the palestinians are ready to live in peace with israel

so it was world war I what does it matter ?

The UN is a joke and has no power. Why the US pays for it is beyond me.

Barham,

If you are a Palestinian you can live in the west bank or Gaza, Just like an Israeli who cannot live in Gaza or in the Palestinian cities in the West Bank.

Most of the Palestinian refugees from 1948 had arrived in Israel in the mid-late 19th century, around the same time as the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe. There was no Palestinian nation in Israel beforehand.
Israel conquered the Wst Bank from Jordan and Gaza from Egypt. Neither wanted it back, so under inteernational law, Israel can "keep" the land, that is, it is not considered 'occupied'.

outsider

if you followed my posts, you would know that i presented verifyable facts, but imbecile diane chose to ignore them and when i dared tomask her about it, she said "case closed"

she continues to spread lies and falsehoods on this blog, and ignores all facts given which prove her wrong

what do you suggest to do with her?

IT WAS A DESERT.

ok dan perman, get this lesson in history! its something all know! not about a certain land in an exact borders, but all this area were under british rules! and yes all my facts as true as this!

With the break-up of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the League of Nations and the occupying powers chose to redraw the borders of Southwest Asia. The ensuing decisions, most notably the Sykes–Picot Agreement gave birth to the French Mandate of Syria and British Mandate of Palestine. More than 70% of the British Mandate of Palestine was east of the Jordan river and was known as "Transjordan".

CK
Those things are scondary considering the massacre going on now

but thjerev was no jordan, do you admit it or not??

jordan was given to some beduins in return for help against the ottomans as promised by lawrence of arabia.

you should know that barham, student of history

in other words, joordan was created as an artificial entity, there never was a state "jordan"

Dianne,

For your information. I am sure that 'Mohamad' is most likely called Ehud or Ben Yamin!

I just want to say one more thing to everyone who has no clue....

I hope that one day someone comes to your home, the one you spent your whole life building, and drags you and your family out onto the street while kicking, hitting and beating you. On top of this a bulldozer comes and knocks your house down as you watch helplessly with a gun to your head.

When this happens to you then come and tell us how you feel.

Palestinians have suffered way too much over the past 50 years and its time to stop!!!

JD,

Where have you been in the last 6 months when Hamas has been relentlesly firing missles into Israel specifically targeting civilians?

Why are you waking up now? As Colin Powell said when the US invaded Panama, in war there is "collateral damage". If Hamas wants to fire rockets from civilan poulation centers and store rockets and arms in mosques, schools, and hospitals, then civilans (yes, women and children included) are going to get hurt and killed.

Stop blaming the Israelis and start blaming Hamas!
As a famous leader once stated: "There will be peace in the Middle east when the Palestinians learn to love their own children more than they hate their enemies"

JD
I am sorry, I donot understand your Mohamed reference

Dianne,

But thats the root of the whole thing.

Besides, are enemy combatant deaths considered a massacre? They are just not as well trained and equipped as the IDF, or in other terms, they are getting their butts whipped. they are armed combatants getting killed one by one in combat. Sorry, thats not a massacre. Just becuase there's a lot of them getting their butts kicked doesnt make it a massacre.

Are innocent dying? Unfortunately yes. But again, Hamas is using them as human shields. I would blame Hamas fr the innocent deaths, not Israel. They should come out and fight like men, and not hide behind their wives and kids.

JD I am in total agreement I believe world has caused undue sufferring on the Palestinians. It has sat back and watch the innocent be muredered

Dan, a 100 years ago, there were no one state in the middle east as its now, they all artificial entities, but never the less there were people living there, taking them out of their land, is not the right thing to do, all should be welcomed to live in this land, and building a state based on a certain religion no matter what it is Christian, Islam, or Jew in my opinion is not right.

the holyland is for palestine! not israel!!

CK
We are in the 21st century. Could Israel yes massacre so many in a short time without the US weapons? When the fight it is unfair it does make it a massacre. You keep blaming Hamas for protecting its government as Israel does. Except the fight is unfaie. It is as the US started a war with Cuba. The weapons are excessive

"Well if it wasnt for the sucide bombers there would be no need for blockades"

Marc .

can you tell me when was the last Suicide bombing in Israel?

Nick-Canada

Its OK with your principles that the Jews will have peace after all the atrocities they seen on Europe and elsewhere, which is something I understand but they are refusing the "right of return " of the Palestinians people living as refugees, – you know Gaza has many refugee camps – after two generation, they were on exile for 2000 thousand years …. Same principle should be applied?

See now, 1 civilian or half it’s the same principle ….. non should be killed or harmed or otherwise on the coming wars …. Many innocent lives caught on between we die.

Two armies they kill each other and that can be understood but Civilians … not on my name

At least barham they didn't force the population and turn them into jews as muslims did where ever they went.
they killed iranians and other countries forcing THEM TO BE MUSLIMS

Solomon, there has not been a successful suicide bomber in Israel (although quite a few attempts) precisely because of the effectiveness of the blockades

When the people donot have the necessary weapons to protect their home, they use what is necessary. It is a sad fact that the world does not care enough to treat everyone equal and these human beings see no other way to be heard.

CK,

The reason I am now waking up is because of comments like yours. First of all my comments are not based on just what is happening in GAZA but is based on the last 50 years of hell the Palestinians have had to go through with the Israeli's.

Now tell me where you would like Hamas to fire from when they live in an area 45 kms x 10 kms with a population of 1.5 million or more??
They would not have to fire at all if they were not cornered and starved!

I blame Hamas for firing such tiny little rockets but I also blame Israel for occupying Palestine!

Thanks for the great quote.... as I commented earlier have your home taken from you or your entire family killed in front of you and then come and tell me about loving your child and hating your enemy crap!

Out of curiosity do you live in Israel?

Dianne,

Having superior weapons does not make a fight unfair. It makes Hamas stupid. Its like a beginner karate kid taking on a black belt. The fight is not unfair, the kid is just dumb.

Dont play with a cobra snake. It might bite you. Same thing here. Israel restrained itself for months while rockets rained down. Again and again it warned Hamas to stop. Hamas continued to provoke Israel.
So now they are getting what they asked for. You call this unfair? Please.

Hamas is not attacking Israel because of a blockade, they are simply attacking them for their way of life. Such as Al-Quada along with Osama Bin-Laden attacked our way of life on 9/11. The attacks on that very sad day were not do to a blockade, its because Islamic terrorists despise our sacred way of life. We as americans don't like stepping on peoples toes so we try not to step on Islamic extremist toes. But that is just welcoming more terror. We don't want to talk bad of them in fear maby that they might blow up a greyhound bus or somthing. This needs to stop and we as americans need to start supporting our leaders and there decisions , they are looking out for us. In the end there is a much larger agenda for the United States to back Israel. To the territorial advance of Islam, Israel stands in the way. If Islam takes over Israel thats just one step closer to them taking over America. If you don't want our country ran by Islamic extremists we all better start supporting Israel, and even more so our leaders. Even if Barrrack feels for Hamas and their people, there are powers at be that will surely advise the opposite. You want to live in a country where we negotiate with terrorists, I don't, and I'm sure there are victoms of 9/11 that sure don't niether. And really are'nt we all victoms of 9/11, that is anyone living in America or that live freely. We are all victoms of deadly rocket attacks on Israel, because again, they are attacking our way of life. A free life. Last week a man almost died after being beaten up by Muslims in Brussels, because he was drinking during the Ramadan. Do you want that too happen here? Bull __it! I want to eat pig and bacon and drink during the Ramadan and have women showing their hair, legs and arms or what ever they want. Imagine a day when our American women have to wear a headress so they don't offend Islamists. Or have an elementory school that cannot talk of farms like some schools in Amsterdam because that would also mean mentioning pigs which would be an insult to muslims. I see it as, you don't like our ways, don't immigrate over here. Unless you are willing to live how we have since the Dawn of this country.

Mohamad study a little US history. In Hawaii the Christian missionaries nearky killed all of the Hawaiians. Christianity forbade not wearing clothes or tops. The Hawaiian poeople had lived their entire lives this way. The rains come on off all the time during the rainy season. In between, the sun comes out. Without the clothing, their skin instantly dried and there wasn't any sickness. Well, the US
Christian missiionaries caused them to almost become extinct because of Christian values. With the clothes getting wet all the time and not able to dry in between the rain, the Hawaiians caught pneumonia. Donot believe the Muslims are the only one as you say have killed. Isn't that something–there is Religion again

Soloman,

It wasnt that long ago that there was sucide bombings in Isreal. Back in the 80's they wer blowing the buses up. You need blockades or cages to keep the animals in.

JD,

Its quite an exaggerated generalization to say that every palestinian was dragged ot of his home and had his family killed in front of his eyes.
Plenty of Israelis have been exposed to Palestinian terror, and yet time and time again, Israel is the one showing restraint and willing to talk. Hamas does not even recognize Israel. Israel has always allowed Palestinians to work in Israel and supplies it with water, electricity, and 80% of its commerce. Starved is a stretch....

As for Palestine, define Palestine exactly. You'll be surprised to know that there was never a country called Palestine, a nation called Palestine, or even a language called palestine.

The following statement should give everyone the proper idea of the Israeli's truly feel, as it was Golda Meir who said to Anwar Sadat:
"We can forgive you for killing our children, but we can never forgive you for making us kill your children"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe this comment is still very true today!

CK
It does. What if someone came to the US and told you no food or medicine unless you gratiate or beg to me

JD,

I almost forgot the obvious!
"Now tell me where you would like Hamas to fire from when they live in an area 45 kms x 10 kms with a population of 1.5 million or more??
They would not have to fire at all if they were not cornered and starved! "

I dont want them to fire from anywhere. I want them to recognize Israel and TALK peace! They are not even willing to do that at all! So no, they have no right to fire rockets on Israel.

Nick Canada, stop being brainwashed by media as a silly American cheerleader please, they attack Israel because Israel took their land, period, no facts need to be said beyond this!

One more thing...(written by Yashiko Sagamori)
Please someone answer these questions about "Palestine".
1.? When was it founded and by whom?

2.? What were its borders?

3.? What was its capital?

4.? What were its major cities?

5.? What constituted the basis of its economy?

6.? What was its form of government?

7.? Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?

8.? Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation?

9.? What was the language of the country of Palestine ?

10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine ?

11. What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date.

12. And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur?
I rest my case

and Mohamad, another lesson in history, though im an atheist who wont stand with any religion, but you know that actually muslims who helped the jews to stand on their feet up again in the 7th century in spain, in what is called the back golden age of jewish after all the oppression they had from christians in europe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_of_Jewish_culture_in_Spain

Pro Israeli posters keep telling us that Hamas was sending rockets to Israel since 2000.in another word 2001,2002.2003.2004,2005,while Israel was still in Gaza how is that possible? how can they fire rockets if Israel was occupying Gaza. if Israel was not able to stop it then how are they going to do it now.

Dianne,

Your points make no sense. That is why weare over in iRAQ NOW, so that nevers happens.

Dianne,
I dont get your last point.

CK
Both people have been exposed to terror. Why should they work for Israel. They want to build their own state and create their own economical wealth, not beg for the favor of a job from Israel

Israel's land you mean aswell the land in which Hamas rules is Israels aswell, read a Bible fool drop the Quran!

JD,

You're forgetting something very important – Israel pulled out of Gaza three years ago, and the Hamas violently took over Gaza, while killing its Palestinian opponents. Fatah activists were thrown from roof tops and since then Hamas invested all the money in accumlating weapons, inciting the population and throwin THOUSANDS of KASSAM rockets on Israeli towns. It is absurd that you say that these rockets are tiny. 1 MILLION Israelis are staying in shelters because of these rockets, and Hamas also has GRAD rockets and others which cause a lot of damage.

If you watch AL-Jazeera you'll see only the suffering of the Palestinian side. But houses are being demolished on the Israeli side as well, as people are terrorized by Hamas actions.

Since Hamas' declared goal is to destory Israel, there's no point in talking with this terror organization.

Israel should do everything it can to defend its citizens from this murderous terror organization, and not be dettered by its use of violence.

Hamas is using the Palestinian civilians as human shields, hide amoung civilians and shoot rockets from withing densly populated areas. Maybe the Palestinians deserve it, they elected Hamas sa their leader. Now they pay the price.

Still, it is a tragedy all the human lives that are lost and I hope that Palestinians will stop supporting Hamas violent actions.

Marc
Iraq had nothing to do with being attacked it was all about OIL

Economical wealth HAHAHAHAHA from what they lived in a desert before Israel exsisted.

dianne,

you are correct, so why are they not concentrating on doing so? Why are they concentrating their efforts (and money no less) on rockets, training a military, weapons, instead of building an economy?

Palestinians have always worked in Israel due to larger demand and higher wages. Israel has let them do so as well.

Oil, yea I see all the cheap oil we are getting from Iraq. What are you talking about. It had nothingto do with oil. We just needed a place to take over in the Middle east to keep a eye on the terrorists.

Marc why did the US attack Iraq? If anything it should have been Saudi Arabia. Osama was a Saudi citizen along with the Saudi princess who has never returned to the US after Bush go them out

They did not attack for oil. They attached to get there feet in the door. We will never leave there.

Nick,

Another not so astute comment from you. A few points for you to understand if you can.

1. Palestinians are not all Muslims. There are many different religions between them so why the hell would Hamas want to turn Israel into a Islamic state? Gosh that would be a first. Do you that the Islamic religion mentions the Jews and the Christians in the Koran and are respected also??? Palestinians would like their LAND back that's all!

2. 911 – Can you please tell me why there was 4000 Jews absent on 9/11 or did Osama throw them some warning flyers the day before?

3. American women wearing a headdress exists already = A NUN.

As I said to someone on another blog earlier, i will repeat to you:

PLEASE go get drunk at a bar, pub, club whatever and go home with a non-muslim prostitute that has been with 98 guys before you and has some kind of disease that will eventually be transferred to you… because the clean, respectable, VIRGIN muslim girls would rather not come near such a filthy human like you!

lol , they need those face masks because they are so damb ugly.

Israel is where it is today because of an extremely large amount money from the US. It benefits from all the US technology. We help to financially support them more than our own American citizens. We give them the ability to have lowest cost housing interest rate for years.
We donot and has never done that for the people of Gaza. We make sure no other country helps them also. It is to Israel's benefit to be the big stick and the US makes sure it stays that way for now. The Us has done this to many African nations as well. Guess whose in Africa making friends China. May be the people of Palestine will be their next best friend

US technology, are you kidding me. The Israelies give all their technolgy to the US. Most of the spyware technology is Israelie made.

Wont happen.They dont eat pork fried rice.

Marc,
Everyone knows it was for oil also. To supply American citizens with all they could use and more. The foot is already in through Israel. Not one contract was biddedon for one thing. Such corruption from the start. Cheney's company which he released when he became vice President, got almost all of the contracts.
So did many of Bush friends. No bidding for anything in our denocratic country

We dont get oil from Iraq.

Nick-Canada,

There are Christans living on the middle-east and they can eat pig and drink and do what ever they want on Ramdhan or any other time, resturants will still open on Ramdhan.

Its that if a person is living on a Muslim country , they will be issued a card to take drinks, their women s will never be asked to cover their heads, but again .... I think a person like you .... will show respect by not eating .... you can chew or have a quick burger .... but not a feast on the street and surrounded by Muslims.

Back to the main thing ......

1 – do you think that civilians should be spared
2- do you think Palestinians have the right of return same when Jews returned after 200 years ...

Thanks

now back to what i asked you, do you think Civlians should be saved ?

Then leave the US and move to the middle east, or Russia.

Marc
Do you remeber a few years ago when a jewish American was caight giving information to Israel. He was in the Defense Department

Seee if you can spew all your Bull–it ove rthere like you do here.

The palistines have been offered land but they want the whole country.

When is War crime is a War crime ? When is Genocide is a Genocide?

Why is it 4 Israelis = 400 Palestinians which includes women and children?

And why is it Human Rights Watch and the Hague has lost their voices at this precise moment ?

For those who are deranged and who justify this massacre of innocent women and children.

Perhaps its time to educate your selves

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel

I think this is my last comment for today.

CK – Your comments are very typical of an Israeli. Palestine did exist, will always exist whether on a map or in the hearts of the Palestinian people. It is people like you who chose to erase history. Unfortunately too many people know the truth about Palestine. Oh by the genius there is not Palestine language because its Arabic... oops like there is no Israeli language because its hebrew!

Nick-Canada – I know its cold but really go have yourself another beer with some egg and bacon... you don't need this blog.

David Green – I think everyone is taking the worst out of my comments. I am not a supporter of Hamas and never have been. What I am trying to say is that Hamas is using tiny rockets but Israel is coming back hitting 100 times harder when they know that they are doing nothing but killing the children and mothers because Hamas is hiding. SO tell me where is heart here. Everyone knows that the Israeli army are like robots – don't think, don't feel, just kill. No one told them that a 5 year old playing in the street is not a Hamas leader! This is like Iraq when the US invaded to get 1 guy... what happened they ended up severely destroying a whole country. What does that tell you?

Nobody can make me. I have had ny family live and spill there blood here. And I also served in the Air Force. If you cannot allow other opinions you leave prefferably Israel

Marc Idinot say we got oil from Iraq. Reread But Iraq has surplus economy.We donot

Solomon and all the friends of Palestine on here....

Israel before they started their bombing campaig of Gaza last week they spent months preparing their misinformation campaign... they prepared talking points (lies) that every Israeli supporter who get interviewed on TV or join a blog like the idiots who are in here use the same lies and repeats them hoping that they can confuse the truth to some people who do not know all the history and have not been following the mass killing of children and civilian by the war criminals.

Keeping that in mind we need to stick to the topic of the blog we are talking about and don't let them distract us by bringing up other issues to discuss.

THIS IS FOR DAN, AND BENNY, AND ALL THE OTHER BLOGERS OUT THERE WHO ARE ONE DIMENSIONAL. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU GUY'S A SCENERIO, IMAGINE IF SOMEONE, OR A GROUP OF COUNTRIES CAME TO YOU GUY'S, AND SAID THAT THE AMERICAN INDIANS, USED OWN, AND HAVE THIS COUNTRY 250 YEARS AGO, SO THIS COUNTRY IS RIGHTFULLY THERE'S, SO WE ARE GOING TO DIVIDE THE STATES IN TWO, HALF FOR THEM, AND THEN THE OTHER HALF FOR YOU GUY'S, BUT THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS, YOU THE AMERICANS, ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE, ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A MILLITARY, ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OWN ANYTHING, CAN'T HAVE YOUR OWN CURRENCY, ETC., ETC., ETC., THEN THE INDIANS START TO INVADE YOUR HOMES, KILL YOUR FAMILY'S, TAKE YOUR LAND, RAPE YOUR DAUGHTERS AND WIFE'S, AND TAKE ALL OF YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS AWAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO, YOU WOULD FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, IF SOMEONE CAME TO YOUR HOME AND DID ALL THAT, EVEN IF THEY CUT YOUR ARMS OFF, YOU WOULD FIGHT WITH YOUR LEGS, THEN IF THEY CUT YOUR LEGS OFF, THEN YOU WILL FIGHT WITH YOUR EYE'S, AND THEN IF THEY POKED YOUR EYE'S OUT, THEN YOU WOULD FIGHT WITH YOUE HEART, THEN IF THEY TAKE THAT AWAY, YOUR SPIRIT, AND HOPE FOR THE NEXT PERSON NEXT TO YOU TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT. THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT HAPPEN, IN 1948 WHEN THE BALFOURE AGREEMENT HAPPEND, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWO STATES SIDE BY SIDE, TWO GOVERMENTS, AND SO ON, BUT AS SOON AS ISREAL WAS GIVEN THAT, WITH THE BACKING OF THE UNITED STATES, IT AUTOMATICALLY TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY, WITH THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ALL, SO AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF THAT, AND ALL ISREAL AND THE U.S. DID WAS GIVE EMPTY PROMISES TO THE PALESTINAIN PEOPLE, AND WITH DECADES OF NOTHING BEING DONE, THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE RESORT TO THE VIOLENCE, LET ME TELL YOU GUY'S SOMETHING, KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN WAS THE KING OF THE WEST BANK, 1967 WHEN THE JEWS TOOK THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE PALESTIANIANS, WITH THE HELP OF THE U.S, YOU KNOW THE UNITED ARAB AT THE TIME STEPPED IN, AND THE U.S. STOPPED THEM, BUT ANYWAY, LET ME GET BACK TO MY POINT, KING HUSSEIN LEFT AND WENT TO JORDAN, AND SO DID HUNDRED OF THOASANDS OF PALESTINIANS, THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN JORDAN, WHICH IS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY FROM ISREAL FOR THE LAST SIXTY YEARS, WHICH, 70% OF THE POPULATION OF THE JORDANIAN COUNTRY ARE PALESTINNIANS WHO FLED THE 1948, AND 1967 WARS, BUT THEY ARE GETTING ALONG, YOU DON'T HEAR OF ANY TERRIOSIM ON THE ISREALI'S FROM THEM, OR EYGPT, WHY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STATE, AND COUNTRY, THEY HAVE LAND AND HOMES, JOBS, SCHOOLS, CURRENCY, PASSPORTS, ELECTRICITY, MEDICATION, FOOD, CARS, THEY CAN DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED FOR FIVE YEARS, THEY JUST WANT TO LIVE, AND I PROMISE YOU, IF THE UNITED NATIONS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE U.S. JUST TRIED IT, YOU WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT REGION, AND THE WHOLE WORLD, LOOK, I DON'T AGREE , AND AS A MATTER OF FACT HATE HAMAS, BUTWE HAVE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THERE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AND TO LIVE FOR. AS LONG AS THEY ARE UNDER OCCUPATION, THE SITUATION WILL NEVER GO AWAY, IT HAS TO BE SOLVED. LIKE WITH MAHMOUD ABBAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PALESTINAIN AUTHORITY, IF THEY WERE TO GIVE HIM A STATE, AND LET IT BE ONE FOR REAL, WHERE THEY CAN EXPAND, GET BETTER, GROW AN ARMY, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DEFEAT GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, BUT DO YOU KNOW THAT THE WHOLE AUTHORUTY DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE TANK, ALL THE MONEY THAT COMES IN TO THE PALESTINIANS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THE JEWS HAVE A GRIP ON IT, IT NEVER GETS DISPERESD TO THE PEOPLE, NOT THE GOVERMENT. WE AS A WORLD MADE A COMMITMENT AFTER HITLER, THAT WE WOULD NEVER LET ANOTHER PERSON DO THAT TO A COUNTRY OF PEOPLE, BUT HERE WE ARRE SIXTY YEARS LATER ALLOWING THE ISRAELI'S DO ANOTHER HOLOCAUST ALL OVER AGAIN. THE GEENEVA CONVENTION WAS PUT THERE FOR A REASON, DO YOU KNOW THAT ISREAL IS IN THE VIOLATION OF THE GEENVA CONVENTION, FOR THE LAST SIXTY YEARS, AND ALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD KNOW IT, BUT THE US, BECAUSE THE JEWS OWN ALL THE NEWS NETWORK, AND THEY ONLY SHOW ON TV WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WANTS TO HEAR AND SEE, YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHEN KOFI ANNAN, THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, DEMANDED FOR A FACT FINDING TEAM TO GO IN AFTER THE JEWS KILLED THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE, AND INJURED ALOT MORE THAN NINE HUNDRED, BUT ISREAL SAID NO, AND THAT WAS IT, IF IRAN, OR ANY ARAB NATION DID THAT TO ANYONE, WHETHER IT WAS JEWS OR ARABS, OR WHATEVER, THE U.S., AMD THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD HAVE FORCED THE FACT FOINDING TEAM IN THAT COUNTRY. BUT FOR HOW MUCH LOMGER IS THIS GOING TO GO ON, ISREAL HAS ALREADY BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST SIXTY YEARS, LETS JUST SAY THEY DO IT FOR ANOTHER SIXTY, OR ONE HUNDRED, SOONER OR LATER IT IS GOING TO COME TO AN END, NOTHING LASTS FOR EVER, YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE A WHOLE RACE OF THE FACE OF THE EARTH, DID HITLER SUCCEED, NO, SO THEY NEED TO GET OFF OF THEIR HIGH HORSES, AND THIS POWER TRIP, AND GIVE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE THE LAND OF 1948, AND LET THEM BECOME AN INDEPENDENT STATE, AND A COUNTRY, AND IF TERRIOSIM OCCURES ON THE ISREALI'S, THAT'S WHEN THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE U.S. CAN INTERVENE. BUT IT IS CLEAR, THAT THE JEWS HAVE THAT MENTALITY WHERE THEY WANT TO WIPE OUT THE WHOLE PALESTININAN RACE, THEY ARE JUST SMART, AND THEY DON'T SAY IT ON TV, LIKE THE HAMAS PEOPLE, IF ISREAL REALLY WANTED PEACE, IT'S EASY, THEY ALWAYS SAY ON TV, WE GAVE THEM THIS, AND THAT, BUT WHEN YOU GO OUT TO THE REGION, LIKE PRESIDENT CARTER DID LAST YEAR, YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS ALL LIES, YES I SAID IT PRESIDENT CARTER, READ HIS BOOK, AND WATCH HIS DOCUMANTARY, CALLED JIMMY CARTER A MAN FROM PLAINES. YOU'LL SEE THE TRUTH, FROM A PRESIDENT, AND HE SAID BACK THEN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, IF THE JEWS DID NOT GIVE THE PALESTINIANS THEIR RIGHTS, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT ISREAL IS NOT LETTING THE MEDIA IN GAZA, IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHOW THE WORLD THE TRUTH, WATCH ALJAZEERA.COM WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, SEE THE TRUTH, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT ISREAL IS GREEDY, AND WANTS THE WHOLE REGION TO IT'S SELF, IT WAS SUGGESTED YEARS AGO, THAT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE THEIR STATE, OF THE 1948, AND THE JEWS HAVE WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM, AND JERUSALEM BE RUN BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND ARMY, SO BOTH SIDES WON'T CONTINUE TO FIGHT OVER IT, I BET YOU IF THE WORLD GOT TOGETHER AND DID THAT, WE ALL WOULD BE LIVING BETTER RIGHT NOW. DO YOU THINK ANYONE WOULD LOVE TO GO AND BLOW THEM SELF UP, HELL NO, BUT BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, THEY ARE DESPERATE. THEIR LIVES ARE LITERALLY BAD, THEY ARE AND HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HELL FOR YEARS NOW. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, BUT YOU WOULD DO THE SAME IF SOMEONE DID THAT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. BUT INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY SITTING BASHING THESE PEOPLE, AND THOSE PEOPLE, WE ALL NEED TO GET TOGTHER, WITH OUR LEADERS AND THE UNITED NATIONS, AND FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, GIVE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HOPE, SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR, GIVE THEM THIER HUMAN RIGHTS, ALL THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY YOU ARE TREATED.HAVE THE THINGS IN LIFE THAT YOU HAVE, LOOK YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE RADICALS, THEY ARE JEWISH ONES, AMERICAN, YOU REMEMBER TIMOTHY MCVIEGH, IRISH, BRITTISH, BUT YOU CAN'T HOLD THE WHOLE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE RESPOSIBLE FOR THE DOING OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE. WE DIDN'T LOOK AT AMERICA DIFFERNT AFTER OKLAHOMA, SO YOU GUY'S STOP POITING FINGERS, AND GET TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN OR WOMAN, AND ASK FOR PEACE, JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND STOP BEING SO ONE SIDED, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON TV, AND IF YOU WANT TO, WATCH THE ALJAZEERA, AND SOME OF THE ARAB STATIONS, THAT'S WHY THE JEWS DON'T WANT THE MEDIA IN, THEY DON'T WANT THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY GOT THE WORLD SYMPATHY FOR WHAT HITLER DID TO THEM, BUT THEY ARE DENYING ANOTHER RACE OF PEOPLE THAT SAME RIGHT, BUT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, YOU HEAR OF KARMA, LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT FOR ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED YEARS, SOONER OR LATER IT WILL COME TO AN END. AND THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.

To all the Palestinian supporters on here....

Stop being a tool to the Israeli misinformation campaign and call the IDF with their real name... its the (IOF) Israeli Occupying Forces.

When you invade someone else's land and attack the innocent unarmed people there is nothing defensive about that.

Manny Hack – WONDERFUL!

I am so fed up hearing about what is going on in the middle east. It's very sad that they can't resolve their differences – but this has been going on for hudreds of years, so nothing is going to magically change in my life time. This is humanity at it's worst.
OUR world needs our help in resolving global warming and pollution, and all they can do is bicker? There are bigger problems that need addressing.
I for one won't be sad when I die – I won't have to listen to this crap any more.

cicentre.com/spycase/ben_ami_kadishcase.htl This is the jewish spy giving secret info on American weapons Ben-Ami Kadish. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb13, 2009.n Look it and donot call me a liar unless you can prove it

MANNY HACK,

Thank you .... very true.

Again Pete, lucky you have your home, have your home been taken away, and see how crapy this would be to you.

The false premise that there were “no people” in the land that is now called Israel before its creation is most unfortunately a belief that most Israelis have been indoctrinated with since birth in order to alleviate guilt of a huge human tragedy. I have come to understand, most unfortunately, that many Jews subscribe to this.

Israel was not a vacuum in space or an empty land before it was created no matter what some history books may say. There have been people living there for thousands of years in fact. Whether their land had a name in a context that Westerners could understand detracts nothing from the right of an ancient people who have lived there for millennium to remain on its soil and call it there home.

Israelis need only trace their roots back far enough to find that Palestinians are indeed their brothers and sisters – their relatives who never left the land; descendants of ancestors of generations upon generations who have lived there since before biblical times.

I have also heard the argument used by Israelis, in my travels there, that these Arab Palestinians did nothing with their land before Israel was created. This is often used as another tool to deny the right of Palestine to exist. Well, the same could be said about much of the world until the middle of the 20th century – Israel included. The fact that a country is undeveloped in the “Western” sense does nothing to mitigate its right to existence. A nomadic people lived and flourished there for thousands of years.

Just as other Arab countries along with the rest of the world developed, so presumable would have the Palestinians if left alone in peace and given the opportunity. Perhaps their country would have been known as Jordan or something else. Nevertheless, they certainly would have kept their homes and the right to rule themselves no matter what their land was called.

The fact that Israel developed itself during this period says nothing about what the Palestinians would have done if given the opportunity. We need only look to Israelis neighbours to see proof of this. Modern Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey have all developed since the 1950’s – so presumable would the land that is Palestine. And how is it that an outsider has the right to dictate how a different culture must live or define itself anyway?

If Palestinians have no rights to a country based on the argument that there was no country there prior to the creation of Israel, the same can be said for Israel. It certainly didn’t exist before its creation.

This blaring in congruency in logic seems beyond the proponents who use it against the Palestinian right to their homeland but it is blatantly obvious to others who don’t need it as an excuse for the occupation of a land and the oppression of an entire people. It’s an abominable injustice whose sole purpose is to deny the rights of a people to their homeland and at the same time mislead others of what truly transpired.

I am neither Jew nor Arab but have had the opportunity to live in both cultures in my life and make all of my observations based on my personal experiences there. I draw my own conclusions as I hope CNN viewers will do. The only side I support is TRUTH.

Peace on Earth.

Pete,

I am sorry you feel global warming and pollution is more important than resolving the bloodshed and massacre of a people. Since you are fed up you can leave this blog and go watch cartoons.

We will not bother you anymore.

Or as you said... you can drop dead and you will not be sad but we will pray for you regardless.

If you change your mind and you want to get involved then stop repeating nonsense.

This problem is not hundred of years old and you cannot say the agressor and the victims are equally killing eachother.

This problem started 60 years ago with the creation of the State of Israel on an Arab land. Palestinians have been suffering systimatically from the occupation. When they fight back to gain their freedom back is not the same as the mass killing their occupier is doing.

If you have any humanity in you then you should stand in support of the innocent occupied and unarmed people being killed on daily basis. And try your best to stop the agressor from continuing human rights abuses. Saving a life is much more important than saving the planet.

Congrats to CNN for allowing everyone to post their opinions without censorship! This by far the best blog on the internet it allows all of us to vent our frustration and argue passionately for our ideas. I really hope for peace in the Middle East but I stand with the IDF and all of the people in Israel to defend their homeland. The Palestinian need to realize that the people of Israel are their friends and best hope for peace and a prosperous future for their children, and Iran and Hamas is the evil that has turned Gaza into a living hell for a few pieces of Gold and political power.

David Green,

"Israel pulled out of Gaza three years ago" then why isreal didt go by that as i understand from my perspective

How the current event started ......... ...................

19 -Jun-2008 the cease fire was reached and was holding until
02-Nov-2008: Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians
04-Nov-2008: Israeli forces kills 7 and 6 wounded breaking the cease-fire and the truce.
05-Nov-2008: seals off Gaza’s exits and entrances, in clear violation to the truce brokered by Egypt and this are what the UN considers as violations of international criminal law.
14-Nov-2008: Israeli air strike injures 2
From 19-Jun-2008 until 02-Nov-2008, the ceasefire was holding.

I would enjoy having some one from Gaza to answer ono question: Why dont you overthrow Hamas? Maybe you are to afraid to do that, i could understand that. But why did the majority vote them? Is this to compare to the Nazis back then? I mean, you knew what Hamas stands for, they stand for war against Israel. A war, that you cant win with guns, but Hamas still tries. Simply dumb.
I do hate the fact, that Israel attacks Gaza, but if it was my country, i would hate the government not taking any action against such evildooer.

I have no problem with anyone practicing their religion. This person was not living in a country founded by Islamic Muslims that got beat up. These are immigrants into his country, you want to practice religion, but do not make the people who do not practice that religion have restrictions so to as not insult there ways. Thats like me asking all of Canada not to spend money on the sabbath and if they did, beat them up for it. We should have the right to have a feast of pig and swine around muslims, its a free bloody country. That just goes back to stepping on toes, I seem to have stepped on yours, which is good. Any civillian not harbouring a terrorist should be spared. And if Palestine elected terrorists, they are all harbouring them, nuff said.The muslim should respect us for letting them in our country. Our first church was no Mosque. And if a virgin muslim don't want nothing to do with me, stop sending them over. If life is better for there religion and the submissive ways of Islam over there, than stay over there, or don't give me heck for it once you come here. Nobody asked for these people to come. I know not all palestinians are muslim, and not all muslimss are terrorist. But asking me not to eat pig around a muslim is again attacking my bloody freedom and my rights as an american. Do the rights of a muslim just surpass the constitution?

When all else fails to prove ones point, some still resort to name call. Why must Israel be looked upon as never doing wrong? a Saint. As long as the US follow this line of talks peace will never come. It is an enabler with massive overkill of weapons causing so much pain for the people being attacked and killed

cubfan,

Occupation is the issue here ... end the occoupation so you can live on peace and ALL children will live on peace ...

Nick-Canada
IWith respect, I am not being a smart you know what. Jewish people donot eat swine, pig, pork either. However, myself, I love good pork roast cooked and marinated in herbs( the legal herbs, smile)

River Steuter, what you said worth gold.

So it seems Gazans are perturbed that some among them are exiting in an umm, unprepared way. I ask Gazans who talk of being "innocent" in this: where were you when your sons fired rockets? Where were you when the rockets were made? Where were you when Hamas killed their Fatah "brothers"? Whether you were standing by or actively engaged, you were supporting death and destruction. Well, perhaps you will now get Fatah back and then see how generous memories will be...

People understand that as long as occupation exists in Palestine there will never be peace. Not in the West Bank and certainly not in Gaza. The U.S needs to stop its blindless support for israel and has to force them to withdraw from all Palestinian territory. I don't see this happening this very moment as Bush is still the president and he's the BIGGEST EDIOT that was ever created on this earth. I hope Barack Hussein Obama takes a different stand on the whole Palisinian/israeli conflict otherwise will be seeing endless fighting unless an elected president will actually do what is right. Again, I have to say I dont know why anyone with their right mind would elect Bush for a 2nd term. He has done nothing but bringing shame and hate to the U.S. Offcorse not by israel though.

Nick-Canada,

You are entitled to your opnion .... i say let me say once more .... you dont go and dance on a furneal .... would you ? of course no ... same thing i said you can eat what ever u want .... i said it would more behaving to respect their belief ..... or you force your way of life on any body ...

by the way people make feast on the street .... or at the back yard of the house or in a garden ....

Do you thunk that Palestinians have the "right of return same like Isrealies after 2000 years. ..... ? i hope this is the last time i repeat this ...

Thanks

Cubfan-
If Israelis (IDF) are (is) Palestinian's 'friends', who needs enemies?!!

Hunk, offcorse we don't have the right to return to Palestine. Only Jews are allowed to go back and occupy more Palestinian land. I guess some how the international law justifies all this.

Manny Hack,
Please don't use the wonderful Native Americans (not indians) in your scenario. We have moved on, we are not blood thirsty, and yes, our land was taken, after many fierce battles. We Lost, it's time to live in Peace!

Hi Mohammad N. and Nick-Canada, nice to see you again!

Hello Linda,

very good to see you as well.

How are the blogs going tonight? Any progress, Is everyone being respectful? Have the bloggers found a solution?

Beny:
Either you are dumb or living in a different world. Please watch the TV every reporter in the world are giving the death toll, are they wrong?
You can see the pictures of the children burned, shot, and crushed under the buildings. Father, Mother, and 5 Kids got killed (Whole Family). Much more Families are being Slaughtered daily, and you are saying What ! When your Kids if you have any get killed let me see your reaction.
Wake up and get your head out of the sand, and stop being stupid.

five hours ago Aljazeera said that the Palestinian resistance killed 3 Israeli soldiers and wound thirty of them in one battle.Israel now said few minuter ago that three Israeli soldiers killed and 24 wounded.but not by Palestinians but by Israeli soldiers.

sound like they are telling their people dont worry we killed them by Mistake Palestinians can not kill our soldiers.

mohamad,

I don't think you are a muslim. If you are then read the history you will that all the time it was the muslims who suffered by the other religions terrorism most. I was in india when gujrat riot happened. That riot started not by the muslims but by the hindu extremists. The west are blaming hamas just because they have ties with Iran. But the facts on the ground shows it is israel which is the evil one killing innocent people. I am not an arab but I am a muslim. I never did like israel because it was created on the blood of Palestanian people. I personaly don't know any israeli but the killing that their showing is making me more and more hatred towards this country.

Linda
There is an old saying with much truth, if you donot remember the sins and transgression they are doomed to be repeated. Americans are in peace but the past is there not only for Native Americans, African American, Japanese American and Mexican Americans. Those who donot remember the pasr are doomned to repeat it. We should admit our wrong doings. We should and can still live in peace

Hello Linda,
Hunk
I do respect their belief, Im not saying Im going to go out and deliberatly eat swine in front of or around a muslim, Im just saying if it does happen I should not be ridiculed for it. Goes the same for any Jew, I know they don't eat swine niether, but if a Jew wanted to beat me up in my country cause I did so, than ya, he, she is attacking my freedom. You won't find me standing outside a mosque spread'n hate or jewish temple for that matter, they have the right to their religion. I am mad that the jew has convinced our society that using the word "christmas" tree, or having one in an airport say, is insulting and now deemed politically incorrect.Thats nuts. If they don't want them(christmas tree's) in Israel fine, but Christmas is our right, and has a lot to do with my religion. There are many people attacking our way of life, and we the people again don't want too step on toes so we let this __it slide.We are so quick to give evryone what they want as to not anger no one ,and what if I asked them not to put a mosque up nextdoor to my church, so that I am not insulted by there ways. I would be surely ridiculed and they would call those hate crimes. Why can't anyone respect my beleif! Going back, my family hid jews in the walls of their homes in Holland during the second world war, If the world was after them (Jews) I'm sure we would do it again.Just another thing, jews are'nt launching rockets or flying planes into our buildings killing american innocents. Islamic Muslims are. If the palestinians were in the same vote I would do the same for them( hide them in my walls), but you would not see it in this case today cause they elect and harbour terrorist, so in this case the Palestinians are no better than the bloody Nazi's.

I'm sorry Dianne, I missed your point. Could you explain?

Mohammad Hayat

That is what believe, he is not really Muslim in my earlier comments today. He paints all Muslims bad and all Israelis as good. If he is a Muslim, he has a lot of self hatred.

Hi Linda,
I was refering to your comment to your comment to Manny Hack. I meant no disrespect. My greatgrandmother told us it was the blood thirsty white man who took so much. Yes we live in peace, however when I lived in Alaska it was deplorable the way the Native American were treated.

We all need to stop, get to know History about the region before forming an opinion.
Again, Ignorance is not the enemy of knowledge, it is the illusion of knowledge....

just watch this report ( and it is not images of injured people) and tell me if you still think the same…
Just take the time… don t reject it before looking at it.. most of the people speaking in it are israelis…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

Watch it, it is eye opening….

Dianne,
I felt no disrespect. I am slow today :) I know that some of the older generations still put it that way, and rightfully so, but they are not going around and killing people. That was my point. And I know, Alaska is much different. We have to educate them on the importance of the Native American Culture and what they can do for society.
I think to many people have lost their heads to quickly over this conflict. Emotions run hi for everyone, and blame and hatred are being spewed. I just want everyone to take a step back and breathe for a minute.

Nick-Canada

on my erlier post i asked you this .... for the second time ....

this is the 3rd ...

You talked about Jews coming after 2000 years after astrocities on Europe and elsewhere and i put this question .... could you care and answer ...

"2- do you think Palestinians have the right of return same when Jews returned after 200 years …"

Thank you.... for saving a human being ....

Yes Linda I agree. I hope the new Administration steps back and look more equally at the situation. I honestly hope with all my heart a new era really begins. To much bloodshed, to much agony and pain. The children's lives ended and the children who survive will remember the death and devastation.

Dianne,
I'm not really counting on much CHANGE on any issue. I hope I am wrong.

Linda
Me too. I am doing all I can to hope. No Administration has done anything different

Dianne, from a Palestinian prospective. We hope and pray that the new administration is not like the current one. We all know the Bush administration supports isreal 110% regardless of the mistakes israel is making. We need an administration that can speak the truth and only the truth otherwise this conflict will continue on for ages to come.

Nick-Canada

, maybe if you have few minutes watch this you will have a better Idea about the situation.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589

Hunk
Yes they do have the right, sure its the Holy Land, loose the bloody terrorist power that runs that land and there coming would not be feared. I think that an Afgan has every right to come over to my country, but not one associated with Al-Queda, if you are a Palestinian, you harbour and support terror, untill they stop showing the world they are for terror, they don't have the right to anything but cold steel bars and a slice of bread a day with maby a cup of water. If I harbour a fugitive, that is a federal offence, they (Palestinians) harbour terrorists thats an international offence and should not be dealt with lightly.

Sorry Mohammad N.
Truth is not being spoken now by the new admin.

Solomon. Great video. This is something you don't see on CNN, FOX, or MSNBC.

Nick-Canada. Define a terrorist please.

It's not like Nazi occupied Poland here, Poland never voted for Hittler, Palestinians voted for Hittler (Hamas), this is what they got. Did they think voting in a terrorist organization was going too bring them peace. No, the palestinian people voted Hamas cause they knew it would be an aggresive party against Israel. Has anyone ever scene pictures of Berlin after the war, I can assume innocent Germans who killed there too from the bombs dropped. I don't recall such an outcry of human rights violations then, I see a whole lot more cheering.

t"hey (Palestinians) harbour terrorists thats an international offence and should not be dealt with lightly."

Nick-Canada.

but they are not terrorists they did use a wrong methods few times(suicide bombing) but you can not say that the Palestinian liberation movement is terrorism.in that case all resistance forces against occupation is terrorism .including the US and Europe under Nazi occupation.

that is why I want you to watch that link so you know the situation better.

Nick-Canada,
I am not sure that is why they voted in Hamas. I asked an ex-Gazan that same question and he said that he did not vote for Hamas, but a lot of people did because they were tired of the way they lived under the Fatah. They may have thought they were picking the lesser of the 2 evils.
That's how I feel sometimes during our elections.

A terrorist is someone who inflicts extreme fear in a people. Terrorism is an organized system of intimidation.

I agree with you nick, but did the Gazan's have any party to elect that was not terrorists?

Nick-Canada: Your referring to Hamas as terrorists. We reffer to them in Palestine as Freedom fighters. So do 85% of the world. Governments don't speak on behalf of people. Just because governments declare certain groups as terrorists it doesn't mean the people are in agreement. Your right. Hamas was elected by the Palestinians becuase they know they were going to defend and protect their land no matter what. If Mexico started occupying parts of Texas the U.S would respond the same way Hamas is responding. PLO movement tried talking to israel for the past 4 years now and nothing came out of it but more occupation and more seatements for the Jews.

what does that say about the people?

It says that there willing to stand up and die for the truth. You can argue all you want. Occupation will always lead to fighting.

"what does that say about the people?""

Nick-Canada.

and what should you say about the Americans that elected a criminal who killed millions of humans around the world.

Mohammad N.,
Where are you getting the 85% figure from? I would like to check that. and who's freedom are they fighting for?
Thanks

Nick-Canada,

The PLO headed by Yasser Arafat was considered as a terrorist and then entered in peace with Israel and visited the white house many time .... see the is like this .... see nick ... Mandila of south Africa was considered same and now the greatest living man ... u see my point here.

If the only option I had was either for example to vote for Al-Quada or Hamas, I would'nt vote, thats like signing a suicide note. I would revolt and ask for the world to help then, not after the fact. Hamas would'nt be in power if there was no people supporting them. Oh and sure maby not all voted for Hamas, but not everyone voted for Barack neither, does this exempt them from any moves he makes. Try telling that to the world, Ya Im American but I never voted for Bush so I should'nt have to take this flack from you. (reffering to moves Bush made) No, most cases we as a whole people get penalized for our leaders action. And if we don't stand by our leaders, well thats just not American.We don't vote in terror, that includes Bush.

Mohammad N.,
you wrote:

You can argue all you want. Occupation will always lead to fighting.

Does that mean that if the Jewish People do not leave Israel, this fighting will continue? There is no other way?

Linda,

which Israel you are referring to ... do you mean don't withdraw from the occupied land ... i would love see you calling it as "Occupied"

I see your point Nick, but where were the people of Gaza suppose to go to complain? And you know that not everyone in the country was going to sit out the vote. Just like here, everyone can say that they are not going to vote, but it one person does, that candidate wins. Where are we suppose to go and complain to if we do not like the candidates that we are presented with?. Please let me know that, I would have liked to have had a talk with someone for the last 2 elections.

Linda.

freedom of the Palestinian people from the foreign occupier that is called Israel.

and about the 85% I will say it is close to 90% to 95% Israel support in the world comes from Zionist Jews Neo consevatives.. people who support apartheid..haters and racists in this world less than 5% of the Human race.

Nick, FYI:

It was the Mossad, Israel's "Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks", the Hamas was allowed to reinforce its presence in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, Arafat's Fatah Movement for National Liberation as well as the Palestinian Left were subjected to the most brutal form of repression and intimidation

Let us not forget that it was Israel, which in fact created Hamas. According to Zeev Sternell, historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, "Israel thought that it was a smart ploy to push the Islamists against the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)".
to avoide the peace process so they can continue with the building of seatlements and the stealing of Palestininan territories.

and if the UN wanted to have an opinion, then why were they not in Gaza to make sure they have free and fair elections?

Linda,

Solomon beat me to the answer. Thanks Solomon :D

The more you talk favoring these bloody Islamic terrorist organizations the more releived I am that at least someone (Bush) Is taking care of the problem. Why can't Islamic Extremists and Americans just get along? is that what your saying? Its simple < we don't fall into submission at the hands of nobody. Islam means submission, did you know that. I love the Palestinian, not one who votes for terror. Even if its not there hand on the trigger, they elected a finger to do the dirty work and so they can save face to the world and say "its not us" wah wah cry me a river

Solomon,
I don't accept or take into consideration hatred spewing or blanket statements about any person or group. Sorry, when you try to make a valid point with that type of language, intelligent people discount your remarks and you lose your argument.
You wrote:
Israel support in the world comes from Zionist Jews Neo consevatives.. people who support apartheid..haters and racists in this world less than 5% of the Human race.

First of all. We all know how much of opinion the U.N has over the U.S and Israel. They demonstarted that very well the past few days. Gaza did get a free election and they elected Hamas.

I see your point now Nick-Canada. I just want to try and understand why they would vote for Hamas, why everyone feels the way they do about the situation, and maybe learn something constructive in the process. I don't think the hatred will stop until we all do that.

Hell's Angels gang started here, but its Europes fault for letting them thrive in there countries!

Mohammad N.,
Did you vote? I guess someone else that was there had a different opinion than yours, that is all that I a saying.

Brandon
Some American men of all races beat their wives. Why would there be a need for so many secret shelters for women.

Linda,

Simple, the PLO movement tried to initiate peace by talking to israel. That led to more occupations, checkpoints, and seatlements. The Palestinians voted for Hamas because they can protect their land and fight israel when it targets them. Something the PLO hasn't been able to do.

Mohammad N.,
you wrote:
First of all. We all know how much of opinion the U.N has over the U.S and Israel.
Do you know why?

Brandon

Oh Yes. Jews whine all the time and if you say something against them you are antisemetic. They are forever crying they are victims. Meanwhile using excessive force to use as justification for- victim them

Linda, no I didn't vote. I live in the U.S because israel occupies the land my family owns.

ATTENTION TO ALL PALESTINIANS SUPPORTERS...

Linda,

95% of Nations in the U.N condemned the israeli assult on Gaza. The U.S vetoed it so no resolution came abouts.

Brandon,
You have used that exact statement on several of the CNN blogs several times.

Mohammad N.,
So you did not feel the need to stay somewhere close to you home, you came half way around the world, to a country that you do not agree with it's government or people? I do not understand.

ATTENTION TO ALL PALESTINIANS SUPPORTERS…

Stop boosting around and telling the whole world that Israelis invaded your country.... look at the history it was you people who brought so much misery to the whole world, it was you people who invaded most of the countries by killing innocent children and women’s in demand of promoting your culture..

Linda.

see that is the type that support Israel people like Brandon you can have all the Brandons of the world.

good on you Brandon!!

The UN needs to be completey reorganized. Votes need to be equal not based on military might. Perhaps the best thing for the UN is to relocate to another country. The Secretary of the UN always comes from a country without so much clout. Obviously, this is not enough. I remember How Bush berated the Secretary and started search for dirt on him and his family. There is to much control by the US and the Soviet Union.

Solomon,
I don't know why you are attacking me over brandon, I did not say anything to or about Brandon

Linda, I love the United States but 100% disagreee with the government. Especially on the Palestinian issue. I am not the only one you know. Have you seen Bush's latest ratings lately?

The United States does not need the UN. Like I said before, The UN can BITE ME :)

Sid
Yes it is good that Brandon knows how to cut, copy and paste. The US Great Britain, France, Portugal and Israel are all guilty of the same things you describe of Palestine

Linda, you say that you like to be in the middle and want fairness. So far you have proven the opposite by the way you question me and the way you agree with an ingorant like Brandon and Nick-Canada. You were a much better person last night ;)

Oh, I totally agree that you are not the only one. But Bush has not been the only leader of the United States that has taken this stance.
So if you love the United States, do you love the Jewish people that live here?

I'm not trying to be at all Mohammad N., I'm trying to understand. I apologize if I have offended you. And I do want fairness, but I would also like to know why different people have the differences of opinions that they do.
I'm trying to understand all sides.

ISRAEL IS AMERICA AND AMERICA IS ISRAEL.AMERICA AND AMERICANS HAVE LOVE FOR VIOLENCE AND INNOCENT KILLING.

2 of my best friends are Jewish Linda. Matter of fact we were protesting together last week. I have nothing against jews. Jews and Muslims lived side by side for thousands of years. On the other hand, israel is whole different story.

Do you think that it is right for someone to just take the word of someone else without trying to research it? Do I not deserve to get the opinions of everyone and then form my opinions? I don't just agree or disagree with anyone because they say so? Should I just discredit you or be racists against you because of your name? I am wanting to know your culture, why you feel the way you do, I may learn something.

Linda
I understand what you mean. But with that question to Mohammad N. Do the Jewish people love the people of Palestine who live here. I donot believe love is the necessary ingredient, I beleive it is respect. To respect each others choices, opinions, and views. If there is true respect of each others ways and lives, that is what is needed. The respect to be different and to be themselves as long nobody is hurt. Love is a bit overated. You have to get to know a person to love him. From the star, I was taught to respect others. However, if Iam not respected and named call–there cannot be any respect

On the other hand, israel is whole different story.

I'm just trying to learn why from you Mohammad N.

Dianne,

Brandon is not only good a cut/copy/paste, but insulting and boring one ad nauseum.

Dianne, you are right. Maybe I used a poor choice of words, maybe respect is better fitting.
I just feel that we should Love everyone, no matter who they are, and strive to understand and learn from one another.

Linda, I have no problem with answering your questions however, if all you need is to learn then do some research of your own. There is plenty of information online that can give lots of knowlege so you can draw your opinion.

Linda, do you love me because I do ;)

america the biggest HYPOCRACY ON EARTH and the MASTER PRETENDER OF ALL THE TIMES...Taken over by war loving people who are good at taliking mere words.
America starts wars and tha Americans pour in streets and protest the wars.BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY ALL GO HOME HAPPY AND SUPPORT THEIR CRIMINAL INTERNATIONAL BABY KILLING TROOPS AND GO TO THEIR PHONY CULTISH CHURCHES AND PRAY.
THEY ARE HAPPY THAT THEY ALL LOVE THEIR DOGS AND LOVE TO PICK THEIR DOGS FECES...PHONY PEOPLE AND THEIR PHONY PRAYERS.

I have always done research, I have traveled to learn, I have 4 degrees, I am always trying to learn, but I just want the human perspective. and I don't trust everything I read.
I also have Arab friends and they see things differently than some here, so I'm trying to find out, for one thing, why are some people so extreme, and other are not.
And that is not only Arabs, that is for anyone.
And I would like to know Why we have to be on one side or another, why can't we all stand up against all violence.

I do love you!!! :)

Mario, if you have something to say, say it, but watch your language please.

DIANNE

yes i know...
if i have to use it over and over again..why not.. besides,thats who they are... THE TRUTH HURTS!!! ... ASK SOLOMON AND CO...

Linda
Love comes after respect. Love is to emotional and reserved for a few people in my life. I know I can trust them even when we disagree. It is special. Respect is due to all people whether in agreement or not. Respect is not egotistical, demeaning, or name calling. To me it requires the highest control of ones self. When it reosrts to all these derogatory terms, respectfully leave until self control is back It is a wonderful learned from the Buddahist believers. Once words are said in anger, you many have a new enemy.

Manny Hack -DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME,CORRECT YOUR SELF AND SEE WHO ARE AROUND YOU THAT ARE MAKING EASY FOR ONESIDED AMERICA.America hates TRUTH and for that reason AMERICA AND AMERICAN HATE ISLAM AND MUSLIMS.
EVERY DOG ONE DAY WILL HAVE HIS DAY,RIGHT NOW ITS THEIR HONCKY-DORRY DOG DAYS...

LYNNE

if i bored you with my truthful comments..you might as well read what Mr. mario just posted ... thanks...

Linda, I am the sam way. The only difference is I don't have 4 degrees. I only have 1 masters degree in Computer Science. I also have lots of friends that are mulit cultured. I am always about learning new things. I do agree that there are extermists in every relegion of every culture. Its a very small fraction but unfortunetly makes the rest look bad. Not everyone likes to research and learn. Most people just watch the news and make assumptions based on what the media exposes.

I agree with that Dianne, the respect part,
But I go about life with love in my heart. I don't hate first, then see whether I want to love or not. I give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they are good when we meet. That is why you have not seen me stoop to the levels of some, and I ignore the hatred.

Brandon,

You are copy/pasting the same thing on every blog. That is what is boring.

linda

i apologize, i dont have any intentions dragging your name and so on....i admired your comments and respect you,though, we dont have any arguments at all... cheers!

you are so right mohamad, and I think that fuels the fire, the media.

America loves war and goes to war and then america hates war and america protest against war!!! IF THIS IS NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC AND OXYMORONIC SOCIETY THEN WHAT IS THIS MONSTER?

Lynne

got it dear... no arguments with you too.... thanks.

Brandon

Just maybe you can think of something else to say. I am sure No Brandon the truth does not hurt. It is what it is. Pure truth is not intangled in webs of derogatory statements, mean spirited attitude. Most people wil not see your views with such a vile attitude. The respect disappears, the mind closes, and all thoughts and concentration becomes rhetorical. It isn't always how you see it, it is also how others accept it

Don't worry brandon, I don't know why he wanted to attack me, it's not your fault, You were not dragging me through anything. If he had something to say, he should have said it to you. Don't try to pick a fight with a women over something a man said.

Linda.
I donot hate. I respect the person first. Real love is not given but earned. It sounds cold, but that love is special. People will hurt you, I know, it has happen to me. I remember fathers' word when we would have our spirited debates, Careful who you love. There is much manipulation in the world Guard your heart until you know really know the person

My heart goes out for the Palestinians but only up to a point. The Palestinians voted Hamas into power. The moment the cease fire was over, Hamas began to fire rocket after rocket into Israel, over one hundred landed on Israeli soil. No, it was not something new, Israel had to endure this month after month, year after year. I personally feel that Palestinians deserve a home country but by creating violence that they are provoking. Yes, Israelis were provoked into this latest action. Think about this; the Palestinian children grow up in a culture in the Palestinian terroritories to become "martyrs." That is what most of the want to be. It is heart breaking what adults do to children, but what about the Israelis, what about their children? The media only showing the suffering of the Palestinians and not the Israelis. There are Israeli children and adults maimed by Palestinian rockets yet the news media seldom ever mentioned that. The world is bias against Israel, that is reality. The world is protesting against the Israeli invastion of Gaza but I have yet to see that the world is protesting Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel. Have you ever seen an Israeli suicide bomber blow up a Palestinian bus full of children returning from school? Have you ever seen an Israeli hijack an airplane or ship and killing innocent passengers, even a handicapped person in a wheelchair? When you see that, be judgemental against a small country that is fighting for its sheer survival surrounded by large countries, overwhelmed by number of their population. Israel was provoked and even after all this entrance to Gaza, rockets still hitting Israel. I am not on Israel's side and I am not on the Palestinians side, but enough is enough. No, I am not Jewish but the hatred against that country makes me believe that they have the right to protect themselves against those who want Israel's population six feet under. We, American should understand this. We were attacked on 9/11 and within a short time, we sent our soldiers half way around to world for revenge (and for other reasons). Shouldn't be Israel allowed to do the same on its own soil?

Peace everyone!

Eva

Manny Hack-What I am trying to tell is THAT AMERICANS LOVE THEIR DOGS AS MUCH AS THEY LOVE THEIR CHILDREN AND MUCH MORE THAN THEIR NEIGHBOORS.THEY DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBOORS.NOW YOU WANT THEM TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE IN GAZA?
THEY CARE ABOUT ISRAEL BECAUSE ISRAEL IS AMERICA WHICH ALL THESE CULTISH CHURCHES SUPPORT.AMERICA WILL NEVER CHANGE...
WHAT MUST HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN AND TILL THEN KEEP YOUR HEAD UP...

Brandon

Mario didnot pick on anyone. There is a lot of truth in his second statement

Mario,

Mahalo nui for cleaning it up.

What you perceive as schizophrenic and oxymoronic is just the difference of opinion in American (US) society. Americans after 911 were hacked off. People of many nationalities (not to mention religions) were wiped out. The outgoing administration starts with going after the training camps in Afganistan. The US then expands the "war on terror". Some people do not see any strategic or tactical reasons for the expansion and protest, As the truth comes out that there are no WMD, more and more people join in the protest, and US society is decidely anti-war.

It's called freedom to disagree with the government's actions. So what is so schizophrenic and oxymoronic about changing an opinion when all the facts are known?

Linda, Like always it's been pleasure talking with you. Take care :) I am on the East Coast so I need to get some sleep for work

There are several different types of Love. I am not speaking of romantic love. And respect is earned in my book.
Every is just different.

Good night Mohammad N. and I apologize if I offended you. :)

Linda

yup,you are so right...i wont stoop down to their level.. of EVERYTHING...

dont worry, im not a war monger... thanks linda..

Dianne..

duly noted..thanks.

you haven't. I wish more people were open minded like your self. Later

dianne

truthfulness on his second statement of mr.mario??

in his January 6th, 2009 402 GMT comment??

did i get it right? .. thats the comment that im refering to.

Hi Lynne

I am not asking it is not necessary.I like the way you explain things. Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oil Makahiki Hou.

Wow Brandon is a changed person today .yesterday he was using other kind of Language.most be the ladies that changed his language that is why I support women taking care of politics it might be a better world then.

Dan, Solomon,
Many thanks for discussion today.

Goodnight

Laila Tov

Salam and Shalom to all

you could be right Solomon, women may need to be the care takers of politics.

good night Debs.

Solomon,

Good comment maybe us ladies would be better diplomats and politicians? That could an entirely new blog. :)

Debs.thank you and good night again

Brandon

I meant how America's jumps into wars, not only Iraq, but Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand. Americas leaders never think things out causing many young Americans loose their lives. The wars that America gets itself into, it never has an exit strategy.

good night Linda.

America loves to hate and HATE in America is part of American culture.America always have need for made-up enemy in order to function and now that enemy is MUSLEMS AND ISLAM.America supports any attacks on MUSLIMS AND ISLAM because they are both against THE VERY FALSE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA,AND AMERICA KNOWS THAT...But one day in the future the TRUTH THAT AMERICA HATES WILL SHINE.That day obviously is not today till that day the MUSLIMS have to keep taking the poundings coming at them and SAGA IN GAZA IS ONE OF THEM.
GOD OF ABRAHAM OUR FATHER BLESS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND THE PEOPLE OF THE SCRIPTURE.THE MUSLEMS OF AL ISLAMS ARE PAYING FOR YOUR SINS.HOWEVER YOU ARE CLOSER TO THEM THAN THIS FALSE CULT OF SO-CALLED ANTI-CHRIST CHRISTIANITY WHOM WERE THE OLD ROMAN ORIGINAL KILLERS OF CHRIST.GUILTY OF THEIR CRIME TURNED HIM TO THE GOD LEVEL AND STARTED TO WORSHIP HIM AS THEIR GOD AND THEREFORE MAKING THEMSELVES THE ANTI-CHRIST FOLLOWERS.Don't expect them to help the people of Gaza...

night solomon, i asked you a question on another blog, i'll check tomorow for a response.

I would like to thank you all for such spirited conversation. Somethings have given me food for thought. Thank You Brandon, I hope we all can chat again. As soon as I can get my laptop unpacked. I wil leave for Hong Kong and Beijing. tomorrow. It is wonderful to know that there are wonderful people of races and religion in this world

Laila Tov v SHALOM...

Diane,

Mahalo nui and hao'oi makahiki hau to you also. Have a safe trip.

Aloha.

VERY IMP ARTICLE TO FIND OUT WHY ROCKETS ARE COMING IN ISRAEL????

An Experiment in Famine
Hamas is Not the Real Issue
By NEVE GORDON

Neve Gordon teaches politics at Ben-Gurion University, Israel and can be reached at nevegordon@gmail.com

The experiment in famine began on January 18, 2008. Israel hermetically closed all of Gaza's borders, preventing even food, medicine and fuel from entering the Strip. Power cuts, which had been frequent for many months, were extended to 12 hours per day. Due to the electricity shortage, at least 40 percent of Gazans have not had access to running water (which is channeled through electric pumps) for several days and the sewage system has broken down. The raw sewage that has not spilled onto the streets is now being poured into the sea at a daily rate of 30 million liters. Hospitals have been forced to rely on emergency generators leading them to cut back, yet again, on the already limited services offered to the Palestinian population. The World Food Programme has reported critical shortages of food and declared that it is unable to provide 10,000 of the poorest Gazans with three out of the five foodstuffs they normally receive.

After five days of extreme suffering, a group of Hamas militants took the lead, and blew-up parts of the steel wall along the Egyptian border. Within hours more than 100,000 Gazans crossed the border into Egypt. They were hungry, thirsty and sick of being locked up in a filthy cage. Once in Egypt they bought everything they could get their hands on and waited patiently for the international community to intervene on their behalf. Yet the world leaders failed them again, and on January 28, after a five day respite, the iron wall was re-erected and the Palestinians were pushed back into the world's largest prison - the Gaza Strip.

Ehud Barak, Israel's Minister of Defense, did not stammer when he justified his decision to experiment with famine; he had no qualms about introducing a policy that historically only the most brutal leaders have adopted.

His argument seems rational. Barak said that no government in the world would tolerate the ongoing bombardment of its citizens from across the border. Since other measures - like harsh economic sanctions, extra-judicial executions, the ongoing barrage of northern parts of the Strip as well as the bombardment of several critical infrastructure sites, like the electric power plant and Palestinian government offices - did not do the job, Israel had no other option.

This ostensibly rational argument conveniently ignores the fact that since its victory in the January 2006 democratic elections Hamas has proposed several cease-fire agreements, the latest emerging just last week. In these proposals, Hamas agrees to stop launching missiles at Israeli citizens, in exchange for Israel ending its incursions into Gaza, the assassinations of militants and political leaders, and the economic blockade.

Hamas's proposals underscore two important facts. First, despite what Barak says the use of force is not the only option Israel has: The government could decide to open a dialogue with Hamas based on a cease-fire agreement. Second, it emphasizes, as Israeli critic Uri Avnery cogently observes, that Israel is cynically using the assaults on its own citizens as a pretext for attempting to overthrow the Hamas regime in Gaza and for preventing a Hamas takeover in the West Bank.

Ultimately, though, even the courageous Avnery does not spell out Israel's main objective. The central issue for Israel is not Hamas yes or no, but rather Palestinian sovereignty yes or no. The recent crisis reveals, once more, that Israel's August 2005 unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was not an act of decolonization but rather the reorganization of Israeli power and the implementation of neo-colonial rule. Israel realized that in order to maintain sovereignty all it would have to do is preserve its monopoly over the legitimate means of movement. Very different from the withdrawal of British forces from the various colonies of old, it accordingly continued to dominate Gaza's borders, transforming the Strip into a container of sorts whose openings are totally controlled by Israel.

The experiment in Gaza is, in other words, not really about the bombardment of Israeli citizens or even about Israel's ongoing efforts to undermine Hamas. It is simply a new draconian strategy aimed at denying the Palestinians their most basic right to self-determination. It is about showing them who is in control, about breaking their backs, so that they lower their expectations and bow down to Israeli demands. The Palestinians understood this and courageously destroyed their prison wall while crying out into the wilderness for international support. Instead of the expected outrage, the only response they received was a weak echo of their own cry for help.

Neve Gordon teaches politics at Ben-Gurion University, Israel and can be reached at nevegordon@gmail.com

Any suffering of civilians is unfortunate, regardless of nationality, religion or race. But when a territory [Gaza] is ruled by an organization [Hamas] which believes that best way to serve its people is by turning them into Martyrs, such suffering is inevitable.

Hey CNN,
Since you are reporting that aide is getting into Gaza, and you are showing pictures of the trucks, why not start a new blog with that as the headline.
That sounds like progress and don't you think everyone could use a little good news? Something positive perhaps.

Neve Gordon is a self-hating Jew and Israeli who pushes freedom of speech while denying others that freedom. Because he has to live with permanent wounds received in combat, he uses his disability to gain sympathy for lies and twisted truths he tells.

In any other country he would have been arrested for anti-nationalist activilty, bordering on terrorism. In many countries he would have conveniently disappeared.

Israel is free country which allows freedom of expression even as far as to contribute to it's demise. That's why all the crimes Israel is accused of are untrue because the society is over-critical to the extreme.

Gaza has been sealed to prevent terrorists from crossing into Israel. There are crossings that allow passage of people and goods. These crossings have been temporarily closed on numerous occasions to pressure Hamas to stop the rocket attacks on Israel. This is a tactic used that is not military, a first response because Israel does not want to harm civilians. Supplies can run low, but Israel would never allow an humanitarian crisis.

Any crisis is brought on by Hamas who routinely siphons off supplies for its own terrorist purposes as it is doing now in its private warrior hospitals.

This is a reply to Abdul's comment on Jan 6th 2009.

The main points of the comment state that:

-Sevier food and power shortages in Gaza, due to the Israeli blockade is the source of Hamas aggression.

-Hamas has been willing to agree to cease fires in the past, demonstrating that the conflict can be resolved purely diplomatically.

-Israeli Gaza withdrawal in 2005 was merely a new method to maintain occupation of Gaza and West Bank.

The 1st point fails to recognize that despite the blockade, humanitarian aid to Gaza has risen dramatically since 2005.

Additionally, why is it that the only thing there is no shortage of in Gaza is weapons?

As for the claim that Hamas aggression is a reaction to the blockade, it is extremely ignorant to ignore the fact that the entire existence of Hamas, including the election campaign during the Palestinian elections, has been biased on the promise of the destruction of Israel. Hamas had been firing rockets at Israel long before the blockade, and would only have a higher capacity to do so without the blockade.

The second point, regarding the willingness of Hamas to accept cease fires ignores the motive behind the ceasefire.

Senior leaders of Hamas have repeatedly stated that they will never accept any lasting peace deal with Israel, and will only agree to a temporary ceasefires if it strengthen Hamas for their fight against Israel in the long run. The fact that Hamas continued to smuggle weapons into Gaza during the 6 month cease-fire (in violation of the terms) is proof of the organizations intentions. For this reason, any diplomatic efforts are futile, as long as Hamas is in charge.

The 3rd point, claiming that the 2005 Gaza withdrawal was merely aimed at consolidating Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories is simply ridiculous. Israel and the PA have both demonstrated their commitment to a two state solution. Israel even offered to hand Gaza over to Egypt in 1979, demonstrating no interest in a long term occupation of the territory. The Gaza withdrawal of 2005 was an experiment aimed at observing what a sovereign Palestinian state would look like. The result has not been good.

It is without question that there can be no lasting peace as long as Hamas is in power, as lasting peace contradicts the very purpose behind Hamas existence. Hamas cannot exist without support of the Palestinian public which elected war over diplomacy when they elected and continued to support Hamas. Lets hope that after experiencing the true consequences of the choices, Palestinians will be more willing to negotiate and less willing to fight.

can i just ask a general question to all the people criticising Israeli's and jews on killing innocent palestinians?

what happened to your voice when muslims murders fellow muslims by cowerdly bombings on almost daily bases in iraq?

what happned to your voice when countries like pakistan and afghanistan murder innocent young girls for simply attending schools?

Why is it that Egypt is not opening its borders to provide temporary refuge to Palestinian civilians until the conflict is over? Whatever happened to brother helping brother? If the civilians of Gaza are trapped then surely the Arab world needs to take responsibility also?

Many western media journalist, including those of CNN, are as guilty, by sitting on the Israel -Palestinian borders watching from a distance what is taking place inside Gaza, where hundreds of bodies are lying in demolished houses or under-siege hospitals, in the same instance we saw many reports coming from inside Israel showing only few buildings destructed and several citizens frightened. Israel has sealed the borders and considered that to be a military zone in order to prevent reporting crimes against humanity which for many Israel leaders could be used against them in international courts, like the International War Crime Court. CNN could have used other means to get inside Gaza, including access from Egypt, where many Arab and regional reporters managed to get in and report an actual account of the realties on the ground. Unfortunately, as we see increasing global political double standards, CNN, sadly in this war has defined a new Media / Journalism double standard.

Sid,

I posted a comment on my reply to u at his very page

Israel took over a desert. And it would still be that now if it wasnt Israel. Another third world country.

******I'm not sure that any desert would stay a desert with Israelis...thanks to the utilisation of modern technology, Israel actually does a good job of turning nothing into something.

And who is moderating this 'blog'? My commentaries haven't showed up....funny...they all happened to be 'pro' Israel.

The people of Gaza knew the goals of Hamas, that they are bent on destroying the the state of Israel. Even so, they voted to have the terrorists, Hamas reign over them. Now they are getting what they asked for. There are no innocent victims in Gaza. Let the bombs reign down on their heads until they learn to live in a civilized soceity! CNN should not give a platform for Hamas terrorists propaganda.

Two wrongs don't make a right Sid.

Beny, stop saying Hamas is terrorist. I bet you didn't call your ancestors who committed horrific acts against the paletinians in '48 terrorists when they attacked defenseless people in their homes and committed massacares like this one in the name of fighitng for Isreal's rightful right, hell, Ben Gurion might be your grandpa for all I know.

. What really baffles me is why a group of people like the jews who endured so much injustice through out the centuries, and after what happened to them in the gas chambers, they would justify that innocent people get killed, just because they have the weapons and support of super powers. If anything, I really would think the jews will be the ultimate human rights defender. See, the problem is true jews who suffered won't allow this suffering on someone else, because they would be sadist.

But Israel is a zionist state that is implementing a nazi- like regime.
You can't not look at history.
Americans killed british soliders to secure their independence and we celebrate the 4th of July. Mexican killed spanish soliders to secure their independence, Algerian killed french and lost 1 million people to secure their independence.

So why not the palestinians??? Why if they fight for their rightful right they are terrorists. That rosy picture you painted of giving Gaza back to the palestininans is BS, because it is like giving someone an inside of a house, but then have them on house arrest. Except this house arrest is a ghetto and it is not one person it is 1.5 Million. So stop selling this propaganda of Isreal being the savior.

See, you rationalize and justify your freedom at the expense of others. It doens't matter how many die on the other side as long as I am okay. But you will never be okay. The jews in Aushwitz were lucky to have the french, the english, the poles, the americans on their side againt the Nazi. Palestinians aren't so lucky.

Those terrorists you're refering to are kids who were born under occupation, they have no rights, jobs, not a normal childhood, probably never seen a movie in theatre, never rode a bike.....Yet the people who stole their land are living the grand life. On top of this, instead of having the freedom to move about, they have to stand at check points and watch their parents be humiliated. Pregnanent women deliver on the side of the road because some sick solider is on a power trip.

I take it you never lived there, but I did, and I tell you if I see an Israeli solider in front of me, I don't see a human but a monster. I never killed any being in my life, but Isreali soliders killed my cousins and imprisoned them. Those innocent rubber bullets can be quiet fatal.

I am not here to convince you and I could care less , but Hamas is no different that the IRA that was fighting for their right, no different than the resistance movements in south africa during the apartheid, no different than the french and jewish underground resistance during Nazi regime.

Just because imbecile Bush called them a terrorist group and likened them to Al-Qaida, and because your zionist leaders say so, is no different than when Germans and Old Eqyptians killed jews because of their faith. Islam now is the religion to picked on and labeled as evil.

" what if Mexico bombed California" argument that Isreal tosses at US, and God knows many Amercians are igonrant and will buy into this false patriotism is an an irrational argument, but American ignorance is Isreal Bliss.

Unfortunately, the Zionist lobby is very strong, and American politians will jump as high as it wants them. Have you never wondered why you see jews protesting againt Israel. They are not Israel haters, they are true jews who didn't buy into zionism which is no different that Nazism or fascism.

We agreed that '48 territory will never come back, then Israel said will give you the west bank and Gaza, but then they built these settlements in the heart of the land. Have you tried to manuver a check point where an teeny booper israeli solider can control hunderds of people. Power can be a scary thing in the wrong hands, not to mention the concrete barriers.

Bottom line, Israel thinks it is above the law and keeps playing the victim and demand from Europe and USA to atone for what was done to them during the Holocaust, as if it only happened to them.
Never followed any conventions, Geneva or otherwise, never respected human rights, always had the US use the veto.

Israel doesn't want palestinian independence, period. They want puppet regime under Abbas. funny the PLO was a terrorist organization and now it is not, the only caviat was to have them betray their own people. Well, we don't accep puppet regime, and any palestinian state in any shape or form will threaten Israel simply because it will highlight and illegetimize Israel's existance. With Israel, it is all or nothing.

Funny who hard core zionist only quote the Talmoud and Torah when the sentence from the Nile to Euphrates.

Occupation leads to humilation which leads to anger and oppression which leads to intolerable situation and will lead to violence. If someone killed my childern I would to kill theirs as well. No turing the other cheek. So you see, this cycle of violence will never end, until Israel atone the Palestinians for the crimes it committed against them for 60 yrs and treats them like humans, the way Eurpoeans atoned for their crimes againt the Jews. Of course, Europe found you a new homeland. But Palestinians will never accept a different homeland, which might be Israel's agenda here to drive us out of Gaza....... and ship us to Jordan or Timbaktu.

You don't bleed red and I bleed blue; you are not the so called "chosen people" and you have no right to crush me!

By the way, Hamas is not using Palestinians as human sheilds, Israeli soliders are using them. I saw it on al Jazeera. Of course Israel is not letting Journalists in because they don't want the world find out their war crimes they way they covered it under Sabra and Shattila.

But thank God for technology, as they can't hide all of their crimes. Killing all members of many families, to make sure their is no bloodline to seek revenge. GENOCIDE. Look it up.

16 yr olds holding AK 47 are terrorists if they are Palestinians. But 14 yr old settlers holding Uzi and 17 yr olds doning the israeli uniform and killing palestinians of all ages are Freedom Fighters!. Well go figure, for irony.

Justice will prevail for Palestinians the way it prevailed for Jews in Aushwitz camps. Israel is not always going to be on the wining side and they are the KILLERS NOT THE VICTIMS IN THIS MASSACARE.

Israel just bombed a UN school where many Palestinians are taking refuge per the leaflets that asked them to leave their homes.

so like Judas betrayed Jesus. The tell Palestinans to leave their home, so they don't get bombed, Palestinans rush with their childern to take a shelter and then Israel bombs the heck out of them. How is this different than Gas chambers. At least in Gas Chambers you went to sleep peacfully without having you body bown to pieces.

Beny, I see your humanatraian efforts, they rock man. Keep it coming. Oh, I guess they had weapons stored there, that will be Israel story. Collateral damage. EXCUSES. and we stand aside and watch these crimes against humanity and no one is doing anything!

oh my beloved USA , land of liberty and freedom, do something..... don't listen to neocons, Bush and zionsit lobby and do something..... Step in and save innocent lives as you've stepped in to save other nations.

1/ I read with great interest, the comments made on this blog site.
We have a lot of varying opinions, mixed in with a few "facts" covering the subject of who is right and who is wrong, and why it's happened.
What seems to be missing is some constructive ideas on how to FIX this on-going problem!

Now, we might have an opportunity here to "kill two birds with one stone". [pardon the idiom]

As everyone knows, we have a problem regarding what to do with the world's nuclear arsenal. Why don't we just drop it on Israel and the middle east? This will eliminate two problems in very short order!

Now I understand this might be viewed as extreme in some quarters, and it's said very much with tongue-in-cheek, but, does anyone out there have a viable alternative?

2/ How reliable are the "Death" figures currently being quoted about this conflict?
Israel, having banned the media, can say anything it likes about their casualties, and how accurate are the figures released by Hamas regarding Palestinian deaths?
Not that I'm saying that either side would tell LIES, but I do wonder if the figures are being "ajusted" slightly to reflect a required political aim.

I look forward to reading further comments.....

This is a miracle that there are no horrible civilian victims in Israel – rockets fall on children garden, schools, houses

God with Israel!!!
God bless Israel!!!!

I woulld not bealive those media in any keys, they are absolutly out of reality and real event.
I support Israel and Israel Army!!!!

Sid,

Stupid Israeli supporters like to always change the subject.... If you like to talk about Afghanistan or any other muslim country why don't you go try to find yourself a blog on that topic?

This blog is discussing the Israeli War Crimes and their crimes against humanity.... killing complete families children, women and innocent civilians violates International Law and every responsible should be punished by International Criminal Court. Period.

Aussie Pete,

'figures released by Hamas regarding Palestinian deaths'

Is it released by Hamas?

Miriam,

to you every jew who have some dignity to stand up for human rights against the war crimes of the Israeli government is a self hating jew.

We know that is a tactic used by stupid Israeli supporters who supports the Israeli government blindly... to you the Israeli government never does any wrong....

We here want to critize Israel for their crimes against humanity so if you do not like to hear it go somewhere else.

Two UNRWA schools were hit today another one few days ago and the stupid supporters of Israel wants to believe that Israel does not target civilians and children.

This is not knew to the State of Israel... its a terrorist State and they have targeted Schools, Hospitals, Worship places, Ambulances civilian cars...

To Aussie Pete,
1/ I actually laughed from the Irony. That is sad, but it seems this might be the only way to end the conflict.

1/ Isreal is not letting journalists in. Those death figures on the palestinian side are being relaeased by UN personnel/doctors not Hamas. Just a quick FYI.

Hunk,

to the Israeli supporters anything released by Aljazeerah, any Palestinian Hospital, Any UN organization or anyone that speak against Israel is Hamas released information.

Thats how much paranoid they are.

Professor,

I would have doubted that you really are a professor, but I've seen too many "intellectuals" who think that just because they have a degree in art or psychology they immediately know everything about the Middle East. Pray tell, what is your area of expertise? Where are you from (institute)?

Hunk,

"Is it released by Hamas?"

And is there a source inside Gaza that is not controlled by Hamas? Let me remind you that Hamas are a dictatorship, if they patrol the streets to exterminate Fatah members, you can bet that everything heard from there comes through the tiny tube of Hamas censorship.

Debs,

You did not reply to my 05.01 20:16 comment. Here it is again:

Debs,

Ah…”nothing more than an attempt to wipe the Palestininas of the face of the map. ”

Believe me, if we really wanted to wipe Palestians out, they would have been wiped out by now.

“Can you honestly say now that innocent Israel has done nothing to provoke this. ”

What did Israel do to provoke the rockets, which have been falling since 2001?

blockade? Very recent, and only as a response to the rockets.

“occupation”? What occupation? Please read my response to American Jew.

“taking their land”? likewise.

I’ll tell you- Israel has provoked the attacks- suicide bombers, rockets and the occasional invasion by Arab armies with the terrible crime of EXISTING.

Thank Hamas for doing their best to change that. Their agenda even says – WIPING ISRAEL OFF THE MAP.

“I am starting to really doubt Israels commitment to peace”

And the Palestinians are really commited to peace, are they?

“Zionist enemy will first be humiliated, then destroyed” -Ismail Haniya

“A million Shahids marching to Jerusalem”- PLO slogan.

“liberation of Palestine from the Zionists from the Jordan to the sea” (meaning- complete destruction of Israel)- Hamas charter

“what is your lofty aspiration? DEATH IN THE NAME OF ALLAH” (Palestinian interview with a five year old!)

Real doves with olive branches, are they?

Israel has made countless retreats and gave up a lot for the promise of peace. The Palestinians NEVER GAVE UP ANYTHING. That’s what you call negotiations? That’s what you call willingness for peace?

Israel agrees to ‘67 borders. Israel withdrew from Gaza. Israel signed the Oslo pact which brought the PLO terrorists here. Israel was promised peace.

Ha.

P.S.

If you watch Al-Jazeera, which is an Arab site, describing Israel as Zionist terrorists and Hamas as “freedom fighters” (yes I visit their site too, nice to know how the enemy describes me). Then at leat balance it out with an Israeli site:

http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html

The best thing though is the unbiased Fox news. CNN are a little biased against us, but you can combine them with FOX to get a neutral picture.

I hope your reporting will give a background on the History of the conflict and the plight of the Palestinians who were evicted from their land in 1948 and many of them ended up in the Gaza Strip, in the biggest ethnic cleansing in the world which the western world are not accepting to recognize or to try to help solving, due to their blind support for Israel as a result of a guilt conscience.

I say please read the history again and I refer you to the Terrorist acts the Jewish military organizations in Palestine did to kill and terrorize the Arab Palestinians ,the rightful owners of the land in order to evict them from their homes and lands to become refugees in Gaza and the west Bank and other Arab Countries. The Israelis again attacked the Arab countries in 1967 and occupied what was left of Palestine and started to build settlements on the land confiscated from the Palestinians which they gave to Jews coming from all over the world.

The Arabs(all Arab Countries agreed to it in an Arab Summit Conference) in the recent years made a Peace offer to Israel offering to have peaceful relations with Israel by all Arab Countries including embassies and trade relations and open boarder against the withdrawal from occupied territories and recognize an Independent Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza and solving the refugees problem, but guess what, the Israelis refused, they think that they can make peace by Killing and maiming thousands of Palestinians, it seems this is the only way they know to make peace.
They should learn from History this is not the way to make peace on the contrary this will rekindle the resistance for generations to come.
In the last conflict you should know that the Israelis were the ones who refused to renew the calming agreement with Hamas in Gaza, It seems that they did so in order to carry out this massive operation, they think this will give them revenge on their unsuccessful operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006.They were training for this operation since more than a year and prepared a Media Campaign to convince the world that Hamas was the one who started it. I do not approve the killing of any innocent citizens either from Palestine or Israel but actually Hamas was retaliating to killing of its people the only way it has. It does not have jet fighters or Apache helicopters or Markva Tanks. They have only home made small rockets. I refer to the history so that people will understand the frustration the Palestinians has for seeing that the world is not helping in solving injustice made on them in the past 60+ years, with no light at the end of the tunnel.

The Stupid Beny asks "What have the Palestinians gave up?"

Palestinians today living on 22% of their land Palestine and they still cannot live in Peace. You want them to give up more that 80% of their land?

You must be stupid or have no dignity... Because anyone who has some dignity will fight for it and fight for his land.

But, When I read your comment that FOX is a neutral picture then it proved to my that you are stupid.

Becasue everyone knows who is FOX and what kind of reporting they do.

There is not one Israeli who supports the government blindly. Most Israelis support the government on very little. Israel is a democracy with rampant freedom of expression.

But the necessity for this operation was obvious to virtually every Israeli.

The government and the IDF do the most they can to prevent civilian casualties on both sides, priority being given to her own citizens.

The UN in Gaza is mostly run by local Palestinians belonging to all factions.

Their schools have been used in the past to store and fire rockets into Israel. It is most likely that this was also the case today.

Israel has made it clear that any institution that has been desecrated and used for terrorist activities becomes a legitimate target.

It is not Israel who is committing crimes against humanity, but it is Hamas who fires at civilians and uses its own innocents as human shields in committing their terrorism.

Palestine was not a country. It was a British Mandate.

The Arabs rejected the formation of an Arab state in 1947, and prefered to destroy the Jewish state that was to be formed along side it.

Beny,

Was that released by Hamas ?

I am talking of 1967 nineteen sixty-seven as the UN resolution .... talk from there ...

Come on Miriam who supplied you with these talking points?... which Israeli embassy?

Three UNRWA schools have been targeted so far two of them just today and you tell me that the (IOF) Israeli Occupying Forces does not target civilians? Who are you kidding?

There are only explanation to this... they were either targeted or the whole exageration about the technology the (IOF) has is false and they do not know what they are shooting at. Which one do you rather have?

Stop acting like a parrot who just repeat few words that you teach him and look at the facts on the ground.

Israel wanted free elections in Gaza. They held them. The EU monitored them. Hamas won. That is called Democracy. Get used to it. Now Israel has created a concentration camp out of Gaza because the palestinians elected the "wrong" side. So they cut the of from food, fuel electricity, medicine, journalists,the means to defend themselves, clean water,currency,trade and now they are destroying their infrastructure,schools,ambulances,universities,hospitals, doctors, professors,telecommunications, and on...... Now you don't have a democracy living next to you. now you have a massacre, IT IS CALLED GENOCIDE! How dare you mention those little rockets! If it were Americans we'd be defending ourselves too! Get this straight- The Palestinians are Freedom Fighters You are the TERRORISTS! I am a secular Jew from Southern California but I am not a Zionist.

Stupid Miriam,

Do you know what is the difference between a mandate and a country?

A mandate is an administered territory.

A country is the land of a nation.

There was no nation of British Mandatory Palestine.

There had been no nation living there since the !st century.

Miriam,

Wow... you really proved your stupidity... you went to the dictionary to find the meaning of a mandate...

So, you are saying the British had a mandate over an empty piece of land?

You have a lot of reading to do before you can be back on this blog... becuase you are showing that Israeli supporters are just stupid people who have not knowledge of the history of the area... pretty much you do not know what you are talking about so go do some studying before you come here to try to convince people who are more educated than you.

Hunk, the conflict began long before 1967.

Professor, if terrorists hide among civilians, unfortuately they become legitimate targets.That's why hiding behind innocents is against international law.

Israel regularly holds back missions because innocents could get hurt.

Professor, I've been contributing to this blog for months so don't push me off like the Arabs try to do to Israel.

I know far more than you do about the subject, and yes I can use a dictionary for clear definitions.

Miriam, we know from the history who hide behind human shields.... its all documented... so trying to twist the truth is not going to work.... Buttom lines everyone in the world now know that Israel targets schools and children.

Just go read all the UN and other human rights organizations reports about the Israeli war crimes. Thank G-d its all documented.

So no matter how much you try to lie here on this blog its not going to erase what is documented.

Miriam,

Oh yes it is very clear how much you know about this subject. Thats why i am telling you to stop openning your mouth becauise only junk is coming out. Nothing that makes sense.

This is how the Israeli's speak:

"I am not against you (oh Palestinian) just give me your house without putting out any fight and go somewhere else... If you do not do that than we will call you a terrorist and we will bomb the hell out of your house and kill the whole family becuase they are members of Hamas"

All kinds of lies are documented in human rights reports.

Human rights activists all have their own interests at heart and most of their reports are one-sided.

Genuine human rights organizations have been undermined by individuals' hatred.

Most in the world couldn't care less about what Israel does or doesn't do.

Those who care know what Israel does and that she is very cogniscent of human rights despite the situation she is in.

Those who deny human rights to Jews and want to see them disappear know exactly how to create disinformation about Israel and use the Palestinians as pawns in their hatred.

As for Jews themselves who think they have a license to attack Israel, they are just embarrassed that their families survived the countless massacres of Jews throughout history and think that by siding with the Israel/Jew haters, they will be safe during the next genocide committed against the nation.

i am not the only one here talking of twisting of truth ... coming of you mary

prof, come to

UNSC Meeting Tomorrow blog,

http://insidethemiddleeast.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/05/unsc-meeting-tomorrow/#comment-7328

Professor,

Please, please, I know you are not a professor. Professors (of whatever field) have at least a minimal ability to lead a normal, logical and factual discussion. You are just throwing the same lies over and over again.

Don't besmirch this honorable field of scientific research with your lies.

Tell me, oh Professor, what insitute are you from? What area of expertise? Advanced lie-spreading?

To Miriam,

It is importnat to be informed about the situtaion in Israel and I think you are.

The problem of bloging is that you will encounter people that do not have a clue and are opinionated like the ones that are attacking you.

What I believe is critical is for people like us to inform or at least educate those who do not undretsnad the problem.

Thanks and keep the good work.

Miriam,

So, the whole world lies... Human Rights organizations lie... UN lie... Palestinians lie... Arabs lie... "Self Haters" Jews lie... Internationals on the ground lie.... International media lie...

Only Israel and its supporters tell the truth. Yeah right.

Israelis tell the truth about Israel as they live and see it.

Everyone else says what they want about subjects they know little about.

Miriam, how old are you?... did you pass elementary school?

Miriam,

Go follow J. Hussert advice get informed on the subject and then come back here to tell us what you learned.

Professor,

My advice to Myriam is to keep informing people about the situation in Israel because she knows.

You should listen to what she is saying.

ISRAEL IS COMPLETE THREAR TO THE WHOLE WORLD. THEY ARE REAL TERRORRISTS . THANK GOD FOR HAMAS OTHERWISE WHO WOULD PROTECT PALESTINIANS.....EVERYHING WAS TAKEN FROM THEIR HANDS....THEY EVEN CAN NOT HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY - DEMOCRATICALLY- CHOSE. PALESTINIANS ARE SIEGED FOR MONTHS.....HUNGRY BABIES AND CHILDREN....I KNOW ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS IS FOR ISRAEL TO GIVE UP THE OCCUPPIED LANDS THAT THEY –TOOK– FROM PALESTINIANS AND THEN TOLD NO WE DIDNT THEY LEFT BY THEMSELVES..... ISRAEL = TERROR

I tried but all what she came up with is baseless accusations, lies and junk.

How can anyone believe that the British have a mandate on an empty land with no people?...

This contradicts any history books written by the british and Israelis let alone written by the Palestinians.

Who said it was an empty land with no people?

Another lie.

There were Jews, Muslims, Christians, Arabs, Europeans, Africans, Asians and others.

There was no nation living in their self-governed country.

The British had a Mandate to establish a Jewish state on part of the territory that they were entrusted with.

Wow mariam you keep proving to us your lack of knowledge about the subject.... where do you get the information "The British had a Mandate to establish a Jewish state on part of the territory that they were entrusted with." That was their mandate?... Who entrusted them with it?

Obviously talking to you is like talking to a wall or a stone... you do not know sh– and you like to open your mouth as if you know what you are talking about.

You say something then you come back later and say that you did not say it.... Go get your fatcts together and come back for a chat.

According to Miriam, people who are living under occupation have no write to self determination.

Miriam... go learn what the International law protected for those people living under occupation anywhere and come back to discuss a little more.

Dear Profesor,

Israel pulled out of Gaza 3 years ago. Instead of building a heaven in Gaza, Hamas directed all its resources to gather rockets, explosives and train the people of Gaza to fight Israel.
Hamas attacked Israel for the past yeats and the point where Israelis realized this cannot be tolerated any more and started this operation.

Hamas can end the fighting today, but he is more focused on making SHAHIDS out of Gaza teenagers.

Israelis try to protect their children from Hamas attacks. Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian chidlren and uses them as human shields, and then uses their bodies for propaganda on Al Jazeera.

HAMAS – SHAME ON YOU.

David Green, how would you exactly make heaven in Gaza when you are totally sieged by Israel with no food, fuel, not able to get any connection with the outside world, having the highest population density on earth imprisoned in a large cage by humanitarian israelies, then you are surprised why these people resisting Israel, and you call your self fair!

Lubna,

I have to agree with you with your comments about the Haganah and Etzel. Yes, these movements for the creation of Zion in the 1940s fought against the British. An yes, Ben Gurion and Rabin where part of these groups and these groups committed what several people will be denominated today as acts of terrorism.

What it is important to differentiate is that their main targets were not civilians. The main objective and focus of their attacks were British military and political targets. And yes, we can call those acts of terrorism.

Now, HAMAS main target is not the IDF, but everything denominated Israeli, democratic and with liberal views. This includes any type of civilians anywhere in the western hemisphere. At least these are the fundamental teachings of Al-Banna and Qubt, which gave birth to the beginning of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical movements in the middle east.

The current situation is that Israel is defending itself from acts of terrorism against its population. HAMAS stand of not stopping the rocket attacks is passing from being brave to being immature.

Again, HAMAS was elected into power through a democratic process. However, democracy is not just allowing the public to elect their leaders, but allowing the public to change them as well. It is also to give your population freedom of expression and liberties. Unfortunately, HAMAS fundamental ideology disapproves democracy (we can see this by looking at the Al Banna and Qubt ideology) and second, their actions against Fattah last year demonstrate their lack of will towards a democratic institution and government.

Hope we find a solution soon .... and lets ask HAMAS to stop those rockets.

So basically professor, what you are saying is this:
Hamas is right (its way of life and everything it stands for), Israel is wrong (its way of life and everything its stands for).
Let me ask you this:
What is the reason they want the land? It cannot be for a better future for their children since they send them to blow themselfs up and kill innocent people...
So why do they want it?

Beny,

Firstly FOX news is the ost biased news channel. It gives only very staunch pro american views.

Why does fox throw 100 percent of its support to two American soldiers found guilty of murdering a Iraqi man who was not gulity of
anything!!!

Does FOX care about the Palestininan kids killed? No way! Only Israeli casualties are worth telling, Palestinians even the kids are "terrorists"

Beny,

I am sick and tired of trying to be neutral, everything is fine until I show one grain of humanity to Palestinian civilians that are being killed you think I am being anti Israel.

I try to understand and to speak for both sides. If you cant see that then i amn sorry

Both Palestine ans Israel extremism elements are responsible for this.

Whoever is reviewing this blog, is not a true journalist. This is a one sided blog. Anything that is remotely against Israel is censored. I've posted 4 times since this started and presented only facts, and each time it was censored. What do I expect from CNN. Heck, Fox provided more balanced point of view and posted for me.

I won't waste my breath here. CNN is committing war crimes along with Israel by not presenting the true story. I think Haaretz is more balanced when it comes to the truy story.

Why have a blog, if you'll allow on pro-Gaza vs. 50 pro Israel.
shame on CNN.

I promise you I won't view your news, you hypocrites. You are not journalist, but the mouth piece for Israel.

Lubna,
I agree that CNN is being biased. But I see the bias from the other side. The first 2 blog headlines on this site is about Israel hitting schools in Gaza. Where is the headline about Hamas hitting a school in Israel yesterday with their rockets?
And by the way, I'm not taking either side in this conflict. I feel it would be unbecoming of me to jump on a band wagon when I am sitting in my living room in the United States. And with all of the bias, I don't know what to believe at this point.

41 years of occupation has created groups like Hamas and will continue until we stop giving israel the green light to do what ever they want.. We are a great nation however our middle east policy needs to be revised bombs are not the cure.The Palestinian people
also need to come together and stop the internal fighting. As always the innocent get screwed.

Elias from Anaheim CA

Pull Israel in. This is Lebanon all over again. A huge loss of civilian lives. Nothing accomplished.

What hurts me the most is to see the ones, who didnt vote for Hamas, i.e. children, (around 50% of Gaza's population is under the age of 14 as far a i know, therefore they do not vote) have to pay the price for Hamas actions.
By the way, a question to all Hamas' supporters: Do you protest against the rockets coming from Gaza, causing terror and fear in Israel? Or do you protest only when Israel cause fear and death in Gaza? Double standards?

Dave,
I think you made a very valid point. If the international community is going to protest against Israel, they should also protest against Hamas. They should protest against the violence on both sides.
I also think that If the Gazan's were being mistreated by Israel, why did they not go to the UN for help, instead of lobbing rockets over the boarder of Israel? Now they are looking for the UN for help, instead of going to them in the first place. They would have had more of a leg to stand on if that would have happened.

Dave, i didnt see any Hamas supporters in this blog, we all think Hamas is bring much trouble to the already oppressed Palestinians with their fanatic extremism, but Israel is simply being a terrorist army is attacking palestinians alot more than Hamas does attack Israel, which as a fact means that Israel are more terrorist blood thirsty than hamas is! hamas didnt kill 3 israelis in the whole last year, which mean risk from terrorist hamas is less than the risk of driving a car. which mean if you are a smart and really care about lives not winning in elections, you would find a way weaken Hamas other than bombing a whole entrapped population in cage you forced them in, after occupying their land, unless you are a sadistic racist group of terrorist with ethnic cleansing agenda and supported by the new world sadists USA. Linda UN is not working while USA making veto for every decision against continues Israeli violation of basic Palestinian human rights.

I demand: Stop violance on both sides! I protest against both, rockets on Israel AND against bombs on Gaza. Peace for all.
Would someone explain to me why the majority voted for Hamas, when its main goal is war against Israel? I mean, they stated it over and over, its not like Republicans or Democrats. Hamas most important leader say, there will never be peace with Israel, ergo, if one votes for Hamas, he/she(allowed to vote?) one votes for war. How can someone be a loving father or mother and vote for Hamas, knowing they will wage war and it results in bombs on you and your children?

Barham,
Don't you think that the UN should try to stop the violence on both sides? That is my problem with the UNSC. They did not say one word about Hamas lobbing their rockets in their proposal. It does not matter how many Israelis were killed by Hamas' rocket fire, they are intended to kill. Doesn't all of this have to stop?

Barham wrote: "Dave, i didnt see any Hamas supporters in this blog, we all think Hamas is bring much trouble to the already oppressed Palestinians with their fanatic extremism, but Israel is simply being a terrorist army is attacking palestinians alot more than Hamas does attack Israel"
I have been following this blog since yesterday, and belive me: There are some Hamas supporters here. They call them "freedom fighters" and say the Hamas "protect their people". There are over 500 comments by now, just go trough them.
The fact, that Hamas attacks Israel "lesser" than Israel is due to their incapability to do so. Lets say, they do their best.
Your attepts to relativate Hamas rockets to the risk in car traffic is vain. Comparing a murder attempt to accident? I should advise you to rethink what you just wrote...
In one point i agree with you: In my opnion Bombing Gaza will not make Israel safer. Rather quite the opposite. It will only increase the ressentments. I dont have a solution for the problme either.You stated, that therer are other options, to weaken Hamas. I'd be thankful if you state some, since Israel already tried things like blockades, embargos etc.
Regarding the point about occupation, i cannot discuss on thet one, since there seems to be no facts, only opinons. Some say, there was a plan to build an jewish satete AND a palestinian state back in the 40's, but the palestinans did not accept it. Some say the land was taken away, some say it was bought. Hard to know what REALLY is true...

its a mistake from the palestinian side to elect hamas, to palestinians hamas is a resistance group against occupation, such as in any nation under occupation you find these groups, the other option for Palestinians was fateh which they believed to be highly corrupted in recent years so they chose Hamas, i would still desire fatah much more, but the contradiction here if palestinians given a chance the comming year for another election the votes for hamas will be much less because hamas couldnt help improve the life of palestinians in Gaza, sure becuase of the global isolation, a good strategy done by Israel, now with this war many are standing again with hamas as they again victims of irsraeli terrorism, you know it doesnt need rocket scientist to know that violence seeds more violence, and a death in a family means new candidate hamas members seeking revenge, just by natural law.

Linda, yes UN should act to stop violence, and no more global political parties such as intellectual Bush are voicing up against hamas lame rockets than israeli bombing and killing hundreds of powerless entrapped Palestinians, To me Israelis and Palestinians should be one populations with strong ties and true common interest as after all they will always live closest to each other, forget religious difference, because after all they are sharing same origins.

How is it possible that the Hamas build and developed such an infrastructure of underground tunnels to smuggle arms,rockets,munitions etc. with out constructing underground shelters for their own population ???

For What Its Worth

Benefits to Israel of U.S. Aid
Since 1949 (As of November 1, 1997)

Foreign Aid Grants and Loans
$74,157,600,000

Other U.S. Aid (12.2% of Foreign Aid)
$9,047,227,200

Interest to Israel from Advanced Payments
$1,650,000,000

Grand Total
$84,854,827,200

Total Benefits per Israeli
$14,630
Cost to U.S. Taxpayers of U.S.
Aid to Israel

Grand Total
$84,854,827,200

Interest Costs Borne by U.S.
$49,936,680,000

Total Cost to U.S. Taxpayers
$134,791,507,200

Total Taxpayer Cost per Israeli
$23,240

WAKE UP AND CONTACT CONGRESS TO
RESCIND U.S. LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL

BREAKING NEWS JUST CAME FROM CNN!
GO TO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDBiycEz12s

GUYS IM BACK!!!!
AFTER A LONG AND TIRING DAY AT WORK..

SOLOMON...

YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER IF MOST OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS ARE WOMEN....THOUGH..

BUT IN ANYHOW,LET THE BLOG WARS CONTINUE!!! ( COMMENTS )... IM KINDA LEFT BEHIND FOR QUITE AWHILE...FOR ANY UPDATES...I LOVED READING ALL THE NEWS AND COMMENTS....

what a massive killing of civilian
this action is not reasonable

peace is the solution

All I'm going to say is 45% percent of the people killed in Gaza are children.. I don't care who's fault everyone hear thinks it is. There's no point in pointing fingers.. this is horrible..

By the way I just want to know if anyone in this blog has seen or visited both sides of the world of Israel and the West Bank? Because all the ones on here defending the Zionist movement I want to know if you have seen what it's like for the Palestinians there first hand?

Hamas is Not the Real Issue

By NEVE GORDON

EVERY ONE SHOULD READ THIS TO FIND OUT WHY THE ROCKETS ARE COMING

Neve Gordon teaches politics at Ben-Gurion University, Israel and can be reached at nevegordon@gmail.com
The experiment in famine began on January 18, 2008. Israel hermetically closed all of Gaza’s borders, preventing even food, medicine and fuel from entering the Strip. Power cuts, which had been frequent for many months, were extended to 12 hours per day. Due to the electricity shortage, at least 40 percent of Gazans have not had access to running water (which is channeled through electric pumps) for several days and the sewage system has broken down. The raw sewage that has not spilled onto the streets is now being poured into the sea at a daily rate of 30 million liters. Hospitals have been forced to rely on emergency generators leading them to cut back, yet again, on the already limited services offered to the Palestinian population. The World Food Programme has reported critical shortages of food and declared that it is unable to provide 10,000 of the poorest Gazans with three out of the five foodstuffs they normally receive.
After five days of extreme suffering, a group of Hamas militants took the lead, and blew-up parts of the steel wall along the Egyptian border. Within hours more than 100,000 Gazans crossed the border into Egypt. They were hungry, thirsty and sick of being locked up in a filthy cage. Once in Egypt they bought everything they could get their hands on and waited patiently for the international community to intervene on their behalf. Yet the world leaders failed them again, and on January 28, after a five day respite, the iron wall was re-erected and the Palestinians were pushed back into the world’s largest prison — the Gaza Strip.
Ehud Barak, Israel’s Minister of Defense, did not stammer when he justified his decision to experiment with famine; he had no qualms about introducing a policy that historically only the most brutal leaders have adopted.
His argument seems rational. Barak said that no government in the world would tolerate the ongoing bombardment of its citizens from across the border. Since other measures — like harsh economic sanctions, extra-judicial executions, the ongoing barrage of northern parts of the Strip as well as the bombardment of several critical infrastructure sites, like the electric power plant and Palestinian government offices — did not do the job, Israel had no other option.
This ostensibly rational argument conveniently ignores the fact that since its victory in the January 2006 democratic elections Hamas has proposed several cease-fire agreements, the latest emerging just last week. In these proposals, Hamas agrees to stop launching missiles at Israeli citizens, in exchange for Israel ending its incursions into Gaza, the assassinations of militants and political leaders, and the economic blockade.
Hamas’s proposals underscore two important facts. First, despite what Barak says the use of force is not the only option Israel has: The government could decide to open a dialogue with Hamas based on a cease-fire agreement. Second, it emphasizes, as Israeli critic Uri Avnery cogently observes, that Israel is cynically using the assaults on its own citizens as a pretext for attempting to overthrow the Hamas regime in Gaza and for preventing a Hamas takeover in the West Bank.
Ultimately, though, even the courageous Avnery does not spell out Israel’s main objective. The central issue for Israel is not Hamas yes or no, but rather Palestinian sovereignty yes or no. The recent crisis reveals, once more, that Israel’s August 2005 unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was not an act of decolonization but rather the reorganization of Israeli power and the implementation of neo-colonial rule. Israel realized that in order to maintain sovereignty all it would have to do is preserve its monopoly over the legitimate means of movement. Very different from the withdrawal of British forces from the various colonies of old, it accordingly continued to dominate Gaza’s borders, transforming the Strip into a container of sorts whose openings are totally controlled by Israel.
The experiment in Gaza is, in other words, not really about the bombardment of Israeli citizens or even about Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine Hamas. It is simply a new draconian strategy aimed at denying the Palestinians their most basic right to self-determination. It is about showing them who is in control, about breaking their backs, so that they lower their expectations and bow down to Israeli demands. The Palestinians understood this and courageously destroyed their prison wall while crying out into the wilderness for international support. Instead of the expected outrage, the only response they received was a weak echo of their own cry for help.
Neve Gordon teaches politics at Ben-Gurion University, Israel and can be reached at nevegordon@gmail.com

Please check out this link, it gives you the real difference between Israel and Hamas......

http://blog.joodsactueel.be/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/zonderwoorden.jpg

Divest from the Israeli criminal war machine. Go to boycottisraeligoods.org. start simple;Starbucks; coca cola; Teva Pharmaceuticals.

i would like to comment on the bombing of the UN school. First of all i think that Chris Gunness of a guy should be sacked, for giving a scientific figure without a scientific method of investigation. lets use common sense here, if Isreal wants to kill civilian palestinians don't you think it would be too obvious to bomb a UN building that the world is watching, being a fellow UN member for that matter. let's not put common sense over emotions.