THE WAR IN GAZA

Since 1967 Israel has amply demonstrated that it doesn't believe in "peaceful co-existence" either. It has systematically deprived the Palestinian population of the freedom to move about their territiry and conduct ordianry economic and social lives; it has systematically taken almost half of their territory and done so without any process for compensation or expression of their political will; it has deprived the Palestiunians of any political rights and subjected them to military occupation for decades. After all of this it demands that the Palestinians renounce any ambition to restore their losses as a precondition of any negotiations towards a peaceful accomodation.

Indeed it is fairly clear that all of this is a well-thought-out Israeli strategy to expand their territory. They have put forward the illusion that they are seeking a peaceful "land for peace" solution (i.e. we will give you back some of YOUR land in exchange for permanent status as a vassal state), while in fact exploiting the conflict to achieve the goals of Zionist zealots for the creation of a greater Israel.

Anyone who even casually followed the Freeman attacks from the start knew where most of the attacks originated. Once it was over, neocons like Daniel Pipes were sending out celebratory emails hailing former AIPAC official (and accused espionage defendant) Steve Rosen as being the catalyzing force behind the anti-Freeman campaign. Dan Flesher reported that, throughout the controversy, Block himself, on behalf of AIPAC, was contacting journalists and bloggers and (while hiding behind grants of anonymity) encouraging and feeding the attacks on Freeman.

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I did not know I had to keep my compassion for "ordinary human beings" in the "on" position 24/7. I do like to see the big picture, and since I do not like to multi-task, I put my compassion for ordinary human beings on "standby" mode, while I look at the big picture. ....

No, of course you don't have to automatically feel compassion, Foofie. You either do or you don't respond the the acute suffering of ordinary people experiencing terrible things, (even if you have no such similar experience yourself) as a result of war. No matter which "side" you're on, in any particular conflict. Seems to me that you just want to see your side "win", no matter what sorts of appalling tactics it might employ to gain their "victory". The trouble with that, of course, is that the rest of the civilized world is appalled by your side's tactics. One day, not too far away, Israel might just wake up & wonder why there's no support left for it's "cause". Perhaps you should include that notion in your "big picture"?

Stopping by to say my admiration for both Steve and George - most of us will not make the effort to argue with religious zealots fervent in their belief that God gave them the land. Maybe God should also be getting the bills for it?!

Unrelated to foreign affairs, btw, here's a "mot" heard in Palm Beach "old" society since Bernie Madoff's gigascam became public: "This is terrific, maybe now we'll get our land back!"

Stopping by to say my admiration for both Steve and George - most of us will not make the effort to argue with religious zealots fervent in their belief that God gave them the land. Maybe God should also be getting the bills for it?!

...The UN did. Perhaps, while the memory of the Holocaust was still fresh in people's minds, and 500,000 displaced people where making England less British. People's memories can be so self-serving, in my opinion - remember when it serves one's purpose; forget when it serves one's purpose.

Foofie

Jews are not alone in their history of sufferering & injustice at the hands of ruthless oppressors ... also the lack of support & acknowledgement of their dire predicament. My ancestors are Ukrainian. Millions died in the great famine in Ukraine (1932 -3) imposed by Stalin, yet there was wide-spread denial this was actually happening at the time. And later. No matter what persecution Ukrainians (or any other nationality, ethnic or religious group) endured at the hands of oppressors in the past, this terrible & sad history cannot be used as a justification for the oppression of others, later on. That's what I sincerely believe, anyway.

Foofie wrote:

...The UN did. Perhaps, while the memory of the Holocaust was still fresh in people's minds, and 500,000 displaced people where making England less British. People's memories can be so self-serving, in my opinion - remember when it serves one's purpose; forget when it serves one's purpose.

I think you're losing the plot Foof. What does this mean? Would you like to put the 3 sentences above into clear English? (British or American English your choice).

I think your answer betrays a very superficial and distorted view of history. Sure Britain's hands are not clean. We made contradictory promises to Arabs and Jews. But we did what we could to give shelter to Jews fleeing nazi Germany. And later with Americans and Russians we liberated Europe from tyranny. After the war the country was bankrupt and we could no longer administer the Mandate in the face of Jewish terrorism. So Britain was forced out and the Zionists embarked on their programme which goes on to this day. Your hatred of Britain, which frankly is palpable, is not justified by the facts.

God never gave the Jews Israel. The UN did.

Who said I hate Britain.

I do not hate Britain, nor its people.

Why keep on defending Israel? It is difficult for me to put a finger on that, but for me it is a combination of reason--Israel is the most Democratic country in that part of the world and that should be encouraged, not condemned--but it's also a deeply rooted cultural thing that it would just feel wrong if there was no Israel. Not entirely a rational reason I know, but an honest one. I'm guessing Israeli Arabs do not want Israel to go away either.

Well I was brought up to dislike the British. My father who was then in the Congress voted against the Lend Lease program to help arm Britain, saying that "one war in this century to save the British Empire is more than enough". (We were members of various irish/Celtic groups and I played football for the local Gaelic league.) However, his early memories were forged in Ireland as were my mother's. Oddly though they didn't like 'England' as they called it, they weren't really hostile to individual Brits.

Now they've all become Europeans - hard to distinguish them from the French & Germans any more.