ISRAEL - IRAN - SYRIA - HAMAS - HEZBOLLAH - WWWIII?

Foxfyre wrote:

Yes, I get the analogy, but I think you are discriminating against me on the belief that I am incapable of true empathy for the Jews. You would be very wrong about that. Perhaps not being Christian you cannot appreciate how deeply the roots of Judaism go into the very basis of a faith like mine or how much somebody like me is able to feel and how much somebody like me is able to know.

I am not discriminating against you? I do not doubt the empathy you say you have for Jews. I also do not know to what brand of Christianity you subscribe.

What I think I am trying to say is that Jews do not give Christians advice, so I find it annoying that Christians try to give Jews advice. Or, let me put it more bluntly; Christianity as a religion, does not want advice from Jews, I believe. Perhaps, many Jews do not care for advice from Christians. Can that be said without offending your empathetic sensitivities?

From The TimesMay 5, 2009

Barack Obama hints at tougher line on Israel
Tom Baldwin in Washington

The Obama Administration has signalled a tougher approach towards Israel ahead of fresh talks on the Middle East peace process by insisting it must endorse the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

“Israel has to work toward a two-state solution,” declared Vice-President Joe Biden today in a speech to the annual conference of a powerful pro-Israel lobby group in Washington.

“You’re not going to like my saying this,” he warned the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) before adding that the Jewish state should not build any more settlements on Palestinian territory, and should “dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement”.

President Obama later held a White House meeting with Shimon Peres, his Israeli counterpart, who holds a largely ceremonial position. But the US Administration’s message appeared to be addressed to the new right-wing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is due to visit the White House on May 18.

Mr Netanyahu has dismayed American, Arab and European officials by pointedly refusing to back Palestinian statehood since taking office on March 31. In his own speech to Aipac, sent via satellite link, he said: “We are prepared to resume peace negotiations without any delay and without any preconditions " the sooner the better.” Saeb Erekat, the senior Palestinian negotiator, however, criticised Mr Netanyahu’s speech for its “vagueness” on core issues such as the status of Jerusalem and refugees, as well as its failure to commit to a two-state solution.

Aipac has demonstrated that it " and Israel " still exercise considerable muscle in Washington by persuading the US Justice Department last week to abandon the prosecution of two former employees on charges that they spied on America for Israel.

Aipac’s 6,000 delegates are being urged to bombard Capitol Hill with demands that Congress support ever more draconian sanctions against Iran whose Government has threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

Mr Biden used his speech to reiterate that the US would never abandon its commitment to Israel’s security and that “nothing is off the table” with Iran " a phrase often used to imply that military action against uranium enrichment facilities remains possible.

He added that Israel had the right “to make its own judgment about what it needs to do to defend itself”, which many members of the audience saw as a hint that the US might allow it to deliver an airstrike against Iran’s nuclear sites.

Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, was, however, reported to have linked efforts to thwart Iran’s nuclear programme " “the number one threat in the Middle East” " with progress in the peace process.

He told a private meeting of Aipac donors that the task of building an international coalition against Tehran will be made easier if Israel and the Palestinians hold a constructive dialogue.

Last month, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, warned Israel that it risks losing Arab support for combating threats from Iran if it rejects peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

General James Jones, Mr Obama’s National Security Adviser, is also said to have told a European foreign minister that " unlike the Bush Administration " the White House was now ready to be “forceful” with Israel.

“The new Administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question,” General Jones was reported to have written in a confidential telegramme. “We will not push Israel under the wheels of a bus, but we will be more forceful toward Israel than we have been under Bush.” General Jones is due to travel to London next week for talks with British officials and Mr Netanyahu’s security adviser, Uzi Arad.

President Ahmadinejad of Iran was today meeting the heads of ten hard-line Palestinian groups " including Hamas " on a visit to Syria, sending what one of the leaders said would be a message to the new right-wing Israeli Government.

The Iranian leader arrived in the afternoon and went to the People’s Palace in Damascus, where he was given a red-carpet welcome by President Assad followed by a closed-door meeting.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6229180.ece

So, while U.S. tax dollars go to Israel, so do U.S. tax dollars go to Egypt.

Our tax dollars go all over the world. I think some people choose to comment on Israel, rather than comment on all the other places that our tax dollars go. Why? I do not read minds, but regardless, it still is annoying to me, since I do not think our tax dollars gives us a license to meddle in the internal affairs of another nation.

The argument that those tax dollars gives a U.S. citizen the right and duty to be informed about the situation in the Middle East is specious, I believe. We can all live in Andy Griffith's fictional Mayberry, and care little about world affairs, and that is not unethical.

The problem might be due to the fact that Christianity is based on Judaism, and Judaism is not based on Christianity. I think that is the core of much inter-faith discomfort. Christians have to reconcile their faith to its earliest beginnings. Judaism does not, since its earliest beginnings (paganism) is out of the picture.

Foofie, You seem ignorant of your own history; have you never heard of Jews for Jesus? Some years ago from a flight from Chicago to San Jose, I met a Jew who converted to Buddhism. He works with Doctors Without Borders, and he loves to visit the Far East - his favorite destination.

Many Jews have married non-Jews - even Christians.

I'm not sure why you continue to insist Gentiles do not understand Jews and Israel.

My first job out of college was with Florsheim Shoe Company (a Jewish company) as a field auditor. They promoted me to Audit Manager after 3.5 years traveling the seven western states. They gave me the opportunity and the breaks, and yet you have the audacity to insist "we" don't understand Jews or Israel.

You are a pain in the tuchus.

Seems that Christianity (especially Catholicism) is the new old enemy of some Israelis on the right: see the planned demonstrations against the Pope and Catholics.

Yes, I do know about discrimination against us in my younger days, and I abhor all forms of discrimination, because it's based on ignorance.

You are a prime example.

It's really ironic that you say I'm only an example of one.

Foofie is the "example of one" who thinks she has all the answers for Jews and Israel. What a dork.

Well, now that you have told me you are not a Christian, and I know nothing else about you, I am hanging up the proverbial phone.

And your "Jewish comments" always seem "universally accepted" by most Jews/Israelis, because you know how they think - as a Jew.

Most of your posts are fatuous with nary much meaning except for you and Foxie. You still don't understand irony with all your over-blown "knowledge."