[QUOTE=VBNomad]Why does the USA support Israel?

Because they think like Americans. We have a Judaic-Christian culture in common. They are a powerful nation in spite of their size. They are intelligent. Productive, etc. They will fight for their existence to the death unlike most European nations and perhaps even America. In Israel, we have an ally that, combined, have the best chance to convert the region to free and democratic principles which, if you are an American, you should encourage. We have a moral obligation to do what can be done to encourage regime change in all countries that subjugate their populations by dictatorial means. That will require a change in how we define 'sovereignty'. We need Israel because the United Nations is an impotent organization which we should abandon. They are, increasingly, not our friends. They can't even solve a relatively simple problen in Darfur. So people die.

Could it have something to do with the fact that in the holy land, sitting smack dab on the grounds of the long destroyed Christian Temple, there sits an Islamic Temple. Hummm, I don't know for sure and I would like to know if anyone has any ideas on this. I think, according to the Jews, it was once GODs permanent address. Also, according to Islam, Muhhamad asended straight up to heaven from there. Seems like a very sought after piece of real estate.

Must See: MPACUK - Must Watch Documentary: The Israel Lobby Exposed

YouTube - The Israel lobby (AIPAC): a danger to the world

Hello fit:

I'm a Jew. According to your propaganda, we've taken over the world. If that's so, then I declare you to be a jerk of monumental proportions.

excon

I just note who is responible for that stuff. It is clearly biased reporting. Mostly a rehash of the garbage that Arab countries have been spewing about Isreal since 1948.

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Originally Posted by fitnahpolice

Must See: MPACUK - Must Watch Documentary: The Israel Lobby Exposed

YouTube - The Israel lobby (AIPAC): a danger to the world

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Interesting but so one sided, as to be taken with a lot of salt. I guess everyone can have an opinion, right or wrong.

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Originally Posted by talaniman

Interesting but so one sided, as to be taken with a lot of salt. I guess everyone can have an opinion, right or wrong.

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One thing I found interesting was the comments on the page. All supportive and almost none from arab sounding names. Makes one wonder.

I do think that U.S supports Israel for mainly three reasons:

1) is the guilt of western Christians for belated action ref massacre of jews
2) the influence of the Jewish Lobby
3) the anti-islam sentiments of the USA ( where they believe everyone is equal but that they are more equal then everyone else especially barbaric muslims!)


I know that a lot of people are going to claim this is anti-semitic but I'm actually pro-semitic since I support the claim of Palestinian people (muslim & christian) to inhabit their land since they are from semite stock.
Before anyone accuses me of being anti-jewish, I believe in the right of Jewish people to inhabit Jerusalem & lands that belong rightfully those arabs (palestinians) that lived there for generations, or in Europe or in the US but they do not have a right to arbitrarily take the land & murder innocent people (of all creeds).

I'd also like to present another distinction. That a differenced exists between normal jews & extremist Jews (zionists); After the holocaust (apologies as I do not have the original quote) Einstein stated that the Zionists were the biggest threat to Jews since Hitler & that they had no right to do to the palestinians what Hitler had attempted to do to them. Therefore the Isreali state is not a jewish state but more akin to the Taleban of Afghanistan, a extremist jewish state that insults the remaining conservative jewish populace.

I also believe everyone has a right to disagree with me & this admission I hope takes out the virulent sting of any postings that may reply to this.

But I digress because as one zionist has eloquently stated in this forum that, it is what they achieve by might, not what is right that counts.
Going back to the original question, USA is in a fundamental christian administration who will argue for a Jewish state as they believe in a prophecy that Jesus will only be resurrected when Israel exists so they will want that to take place. They have been put on that path & now changes in administration will not deter them from this course of supplying so many weapons to a country whose foe can only pack bombs on their person & use themselves as weapons in response.

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

I know that a lot of people are going to claim this is anti-semitic but I'm actually pro-semitic since I support the claim of Palestinian people (muslim & christian) to inhabit their land since they are from semite stock.
Before anyone accuses me of being anti-jewish, I believe in the right of Jewish people to inhabit Jerusalem & lands that belong rightfully those arabs (palestinians) that lived there for generations, or in Europe or in the US but they do not have a right to arbitrarily take the land & murder innocent people (of all creeds).

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The fallacy of your argument is that Israelis did not "arbitrarily" take the land. The original settlers were given the land. They were given mostly barren desert areas of then Palestine. The State of Israel was granted by a vote of the United Nations. Palestinians were not thrown out of Israel, but left on their own accord or were driven out when they took up arms against Israel.

And your comparing Zionist to the Taliban is so ridiculous. The government of Israel has never been the tyrannical, religious extremists that the Taliban is. Israel is actually one of the most democratic of governments.

Just one more thing to say: Mayer Amschel Bauer.

President Andrew Jackson, the only one of our presidents whose administration totally abolished the National Debt, condemned the international bankers as a "den of vipers" which he was determined to "rout out" of the fabric of American life. Jackson claimed that if only the American people understood how these vipers operated on the American scene "there would a revolution before morning."

BTW, has anyone here read the Protocals of the Learned Elders of Zion? I'm not pronouncing it as truth or fiction but, it really does describe our plight today. Coincidence?

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Originally Posted by magprob

BTW, has anyone here read the Protocals of the Learned Elders of Zion? I'm not pronouncing it as truth or fiction but, it really does describe our plight today. Coincidence?

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Is this

Anti-Semitic Myths: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion: Introduction

What you refer to? And in case you think that this is ADL propaganda, there are many other references to this publication being a hoax.

Rebuttal to fluid identity,

I do think that U.S supports Israel for mainly three reasons;

1) is the guilt of western Christians for belated action ref massacre of jews
How about a supporting democracy among many unstable monarchies, who support, arm, and train terrorists recruited from misguided poor people.
2) the influence of the Jewish Lobby
The last I looked the monarchies had their own lobby.
3) the anti-islam sentiments of the USA ( where they believe everyone is equal but that they are more equal then everyone else especially barbaric muslims!)
There is no such thing as anti Islamic sentiment in the USA, the dispute is with terrorist who blow up people, places, and things which if you checked the facts is against the muslim way of life, and has been condemned by a vast majority of the muslim community in the USA.

Hello:

History is murky for some. So, I thought I might bring up some history that occurred as recently as two years ago. Possibly it can be remembered. However, to some it won't be.

Israel withdrew from occupied Gaza. They UNOCCUPIED IT! They just withdrew and returned it to the Palestinians to do with as THEY chose. Along the way, they destroyed their OWN settlements, and forced their OWN Jewish settlers off land that was promised to them.

What did the Palestinians do with Gaza? Did they build a state?? Nooo, they didn't. They are using it to launch rockets at Israeli citizens and build Hezbollah like fortifications along the border for their coming attack on Israel.

What should Israel do about that? Sit there?? Some of you Anti-Semites would say yes. But, they won't, nor should they. What?? You like Hamas??

excon

I'm not Palestinian or Israeli but if I come and take over your house and think I'm doing you a favor by vacating a room for you to live, what would you do?

One thing I would not do is kill the innocent. I'm not a jew, arab, palestinian, muslim or christian. Terrorist tactics cannot be tolerated, nor condoned. Maybe the palestinians need a government to negoiate in good faith on their behalf and not armed thugs who use terror as a tool to get what they want.

Hello fit:

See, that's the trouble with history. I understand your point, however. You think Israel took land and are only offering a pittance back.

Let's forget for a minute that I disagree with your scenario, but even if Israel was wrong for taking it in the first place, they DID give it back.

It wasn't enough was it? So, it's OK to send your children with bombs strapped on their bodies...

Let me ask you some history, fit. How did Israel get, or to use your terms, "take over" the occupied land to begin with? Let's see. They were attacked by the Arabs and they won the land. How do you think they got it?

Or are you talking about the land Israel sits on? Is that the land you want them to vacate?? Probably.

excon

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Originally Posted by fitnahpolice

I'm not Palestinian or Israeli but if I come and take over your house and think I'm doing you a favor by vacating a room for you to live, what would you do?

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As excon indicated, this statement is both one sided and not in keeping with historical fact. Israeli did NOT come in and take over someone's house.

The original Jewish settlers in British controlled Palestine were either given or purchased the land they settled on. The state of Israel was created by the United Nations.

Whatever lands that Israel gained after 1948 was due to them being attacked by the Arabs and winning the wars started by hostile countries. Had the Arabs won do you think they would have eventually given back land that they took? The Arab world has gone on record as stating they want to wipe Israel off the map of the world.

So I suggest you open your eyes a bit. I'm not saying that Israel hasn't made mistakes, committed questionable or unethical acts, etc. But, if you don't open your eyes to the whole story, then your opinions will be dismissed as biased.

Firstly, I'm not condoning the killing of innocent civilians. That is absolutely wrong. We agree both sides have made mistakes. But the cry of the hour is PEACE as has been for decades now!

Recently the Arabs have stretched their hand forward. Hamas, who had come into power via a majority, went into a collaboration with the other party... the Saudi proposal to return to pre-1948 borders... the Syrian initiative. But seems like Israel just does not want peace.

Gideon Levy - an Israeli journalist for Ha'aretz, a member of its editorial board and former spokesman for Shimon Peres - tells it all. And rightly so.

Israel doesn't want peace - Haaretz - Israel News

Gideon Levy: Israel Does Not Want Peace

Should the US roll back to it's 1776 borders ? Property ownership is contingent on your ability to defend it. Excon made the definitive point in this debate. Israel returned Gaza and it has since been used as a platform for attacks on Israel . If Israel rolled back to pre-1948 borders then you could kiss Israel goodby.

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Originally Posted by fitnahpolice

Firstly, I'm not condoning the killing of innocent civilians. That is absolutely wrong. We agree both sides have made mistakes. But the cry of the hour is PEACE as has been for decades now!

Recently the Arabs have stretched their hand forward. Hamas, who had come into power via a majority, went into a collaboration with the other party....the Saudi proposal to return to pre-1948 borders...the Syrian initiative. But seems like Israel just does not want peace.

Gideon Levy - an Israeli journalist for Ha'aretz, a member of its editorial board and former spokesman for Shimon Peres - tells it all. And rightly so.

Israel doesn't want peace - Haaretz - Israel News

Gideon Levy: Israel Does Not Want Peace

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You cite one voice. I'm sure others can be found to disagree. For example you cite a Saudi proposal to return to "pre-1948 borders". But pre-1948 means when Israel didn't exist! I've see some of the so-called peace initiatives offered by other countries. There was always one major thing lacking in them. The guarantee of Israel's security and sovreignty. Israel made peace with Egypt because they did provide those guarantees.

I will reiterate what excon pointed out. That Israel forced settlers in Gaza to give up their homes so the area could be returned. I notice Levy makes no mention of that.

But when you have a situation where you are surrounded by stated enemies, where you have been under attack consistently for almost 60 years, would you be expected to just roll over to peace proposals that do not guarantee your security?

You've already proven that you are biased and your viewpoint is narrow. You only seem to look for things to support those biased views. Israel has been asking for Peace from the day of the 1948 vote. After decades of attacks, terrorist bombings and other threats they are to just accept that now the arabs want peace? Hamas has been one of the most active perpetrators of terrorism. Syria has been training and supporting terrorists since 1948. Saudi Arabia, proposes that Israel return to where they were BEFORE they were granted statehood! Is is any wonder that that Israel is skeptical of these offers?

The only real concessions I have seen is Israel's give back of Gaza. Syria offers peace while it continues to funnel money and materials to Hezbollah. Hamas makes offers but can't (or won't) control its people and stop them from terrorist acts.

Sorry, but I can't fault Israel for taking a hard line about such peace offers.

Hello again, fit:

Just a minor correction, but it makes a big difference. The Saudi plan you mention calls for a retreat to the 1949 Armistice lines. That would be the present state of Israel. Actually, that's fine with the Israeli's. They never wanted anything more than that in the first place.

However, the part you didn't mention about the Arab plan is the “right of return” for the Arabs. If that were implemented, then the Arabs would take over Israel from the inside.

Uhhh, the Jews aren't going to let that happen. Those of you, who think it SHOULD happen, think that Israel should be wiped off the map, which is exactly what the Arabs call for. They're not lying. They don't want peace.

I suggest you examine the position you have taken a little more closely.

excon

First of all I have read a lot of posters who accuse other people of narrow one -sided views but are equally as one-sided against the palestinians. Do they seriously believe they wanted to be in their current situation & want to wallow in pain & misery & LIKE the fact that they are reduced to sending out human bombs.
Another point, I believe the arabs countries attacked israel after Ben Gurion (similar to Hitler, except for the amount of people he ordered massacred), ordered villages of innocent palestinans slaughtered as a tactic to terrify the populace & get them to abandon their homes. This tactic worked & the rest of the arab states had an influx of palestinian refugees leading to pressure from the arab populace to defend their brethren. You are right in that the greed & corruption of arab states plus the narrow self -interest of the west ensured their defeat.

Those that argue against the return of the refugees to their own land seem to be heartless; yes the jews will lose their majority but Israel could remain as a state, if they adopt these people, which is what the jews wanted is it not? Or do they believe that these palestinians will massacre them like the jews massacre palestianians after hitler massacred them ; a vicious cycle of human evil.

If the arabs were all wrong like a lot of zionists want to show the world than they would have won the Propanganda war completely but even with a lot of the anti-arab brigade, what israel seems to be standing for, sits uneasily with them.
By the way gaza is just a prison, releasing that sliver of land was done on purpose as there were less settlements there then the West bank & this was just done as an appeasement still leaving the central conflict unresolved. Its all worked out for Israeli government. Those years of dehumanising the palestinans & turning them into such reactionaries has worked in their favor as it gives them grounds for arguing against the release of the West Bank or the control of air/ sea borders.

Hello fluid:

Your history is wrong. Just flat wrong. You do that to justify your hate or you're just plain ignorant. Probably both. Lot's of Anti-Semites don't want to be bothered with the facts. Hatred is good enough.

excon

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

Do they seriously believe they wanted to be in their current situation & want to wallow in pain & misery & LIKE the fact that they are reduced to sending out human bombs.

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No I don't believe that. What I DO believe, mostly because they have said it themselves, is that many Palestinians are dedicated to the elimination of Israel. That they refused to try to work within the state of Israel. That their hatred and fanaticism as led them to the state they exist in.

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

Another point, i believe the arabs countries attacked israel after Ben Gurion (similar to Hitler, except for the amount of people he ordered massacred), ordered villages of innocent palestinans slaughtered as a tactic to terrify the populace & get them to abandon their homes. This tactic worked & the rest of the arab states had an influx of palestinian refugees leading to pressure from the arab populace to defend their brethren. You are right in that the greed & corruption of arab states plus the narrow self -interest of the west ensured their defeat.

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Oh please! Where did you get such claptrap? In 1948, Israelis were outnumbered, outgunned and totally surrounded. Why or how would Ben Gurion believe such a tactic would work? Why would a people scarred by the Holocaust do such things? What proof is there that such a thing happened? If you are going to believe such lies then there really isn't anyway to get you to believe the truth.

My mistake then since the attacks I referred to did take place but I think in 1953. So I was wrong about the time but they did take place, ordered by Ben Gurion which hardened the hatred for the state of Israel for the sactioned massacre & which is why many palestinans wanted the state to be eliminated. I believe Ariel Sharon was present which did not help future dealings with the palestinans.
At the end of the day the point of my original post was about narrow view points, I can admit when I made an error but many people here lambast the palestinans but don't admit that the state made errors which resulted in the current misunderstandings & hatred.
Apparently I am an Anti-Semite to people always quick to try to close discourse. Do you not consider by engaging me you could correct some of my knowledge you believe incorrect. Instead you react with hostility & label me as a hater of a whole race of people that spans two religions (Anti -Semite - from semite stock i.e most arabs are from this stock as well as jews).
I actually think that whereas I don't like Zionists but don't extend this antipathy to ALL jews ; certain people here are extremely anti-palestinan, anti-arab & anti-islamic. I think it's the chosen race complex - We are chosen by god so the rest can suffer in camps. Amazingly I think Hitler believed something similar.

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

whereas I dont like Zionists

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Hello again, fluid:

Tell me why.

excon

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

my mistake then since the attacks i referred to did take place but i think in 1953. so i was wrong about the time but they did take place, ordered by Ben Gurion which hardened the hatred for the state of Israel for the sactioned massacre & which is why many palestinans wanted the state to be eliminated. i believe Ariel Sharon was present which did not help future dealings with the palestinans.
At the end of the day the point of my original post was about narrow view points, I can admit when I made an error but many people here lambast the palestinans but dont admit that the state made errors which resulted in the current misunderstandings & hatred.
Apparantly I am an Anti-Semite to people always quick to try to close discourse. Do you not consider by engaging me you could correct some of my knowledge you believe incorrect. Instead you react with hostility & label me as a hater of a whole race of people that spans two religions (Anti -Semite - from semite stock i.e most arabs are from this stock as well as jews).
I actually think that whereas I dont like Zionists but dont extend this antipathy to ALL jews ; certain people here are extremely anti-palestinan, anti-arab & anti-islamic. I think its the chosen race complex - We are chosen by god so the rest can suffer in camps. Amazingly I think Hitler belived something similar.

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First let deal with the attacks. You say now that you "think" they happened in 1953. So clearly you really don't know much about them. What proof do you have that these attacks occurred at all? Or, if they did, they were of the nature you are stating. Whjat it sounds like to me, is that you are listening to propaganda without asking for proof.

What amazes me is that you complain about narrow viewpoints at the same time that you promote your own, very narrow viewpoint. I don't know who you specifically refer to, but as someone active in this thread, I also admit when I'm wrong and I have acknolwedged that the sate of Israel is lily white. They have done things I do not condone and even denounce. But any actions on the part of Israel have to be viewed in the context of a beleaguered nation that has been under almost continual attack for nearly 60 years. I firmly believe that, had the arab world agreed to let Israel exist and not tried to wipe it out, then the history of the Middle East would be vastly different.

I haven't seen anyone in this thread who is "extremely anti-palestinan, anti-arab & anti-islamic". I have seen some who are extremely anti-Israel. And yes, Arabs are also semites, but the term anti-semitic refers to jews, not all semites.

Finally, your Hitler analogy doesn't hold water. Palestinian refugee camps are administered by Israel. Palestinians don't have to go into them. From what I've seen, the arabs want those camps to help breed the terrorists they can turn against Israel.

1953 attack on Qibya is one example which was condemned by the UN & led to a suspension of support for a short time by the US (am I making this up?).
As for the issue of propaganda, the amount of propaganda that the state of isreal & the USA have spewed forth cannot be matched by anyone else on any other political debate. Unlike most people I don't trust one source & will go to many to try explore the validity of any news story but not everyone can say the same.
Please tell me what narrow viewpoint Im promoting. I put forward a point when answering a question to instigate discourse & may be even learn something but Am quickly being attacked because I do not adhere to your beliefs... hmmm... intolerant as perhaps you accuse other people of being.
& if the actions of Isreal can be justified because of the position they find themselves over the 60 years then Im sorry but following that same logic every time a palestinan explodes a bomb he is justified as they have been oppressed & mistreated for the same number of years(?) . Therefore if you believe that Isreal can do what it likes becase it is under attack then the palestinans can respond ; we will remain in this same cycle of violence.
As for refugee camps, if Israel do not give those refugees a right to return to their lands then they are removing their choice of staying out of camps..

Doesn't any one care that the palestinians have no central government other than strongmen who represent terrorist groups. You can't negotiate anything, let alone peace with someone who is dedicated to your utter extermination.

Ex-con... I've never met a zionist who is not a rabid rascist who believe the world owes him because of the holocaust & that muslims are evil & palestinians are vermin that need to be exterminated. Please let me know of any good zionists( if that's not an oxymoron & no no puns on the moron part intended) you have met. That's why I make the distinction between them & other jews.

Hello again, fluid:

I'm a Jew. I know lots of Jews, some of whom are Zionists. I've been to Israel. There are lots of Zionists there. I've never met ANY who have the beliefs you put upon them. There was this Klahanie guy who was virulently anti Arab. He had a small following that very well could have believed that way. But, when I say small following, I mean really, really small – 1% of the population. Israeli Jews, Zionist Jews, even NY Jews just don't believe the stuff you ascribe to them.

You say you've met Zionists who felt that way, and apparently you've met more than one. Where did you meet them? Indeed, I wouldn't know where to go to meet a group of Zionists, and I'm a Jew.

Certainly, Jews love to write. If there is such a group of Zionists (or if Zionists are ALL that way), surly they've written their political views. Where could I go read what a real Zionist thinks? Maybe I'm wrong, and I'm on the wrong side. Help me.

excon

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

1953 attack on Qibya is one example which was condemned by the UN & led to a suspension of support for a short time by the US (am i making this up?).

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I didn't say you were making anything up, just that you were believing propaganda. As for Qibya, is this what you refer to:

http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_194...qibya_1953.php

From looking at several sites including this one, this is not the wanton massacre of Palestinians as your propagandists would have you believe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

As for the issue of propaganda, the amount of propaganda that the state of isreal & the USA have spewed forth cannot be matched by anyone else on any other political debate. Unlike most people i dont trust one source & will go to many to try explore the validity of any news story but not everyone can say the same.
Please tell me what narrow viewpoint Im promoting. I put forward a point when answering a question to instigate discourse & may be even learn something but Am quickly being attacked becuase i do not adhere to your beliefs....hmmm...intolerant as perhaps you accuse other people of being.
& if the actions of Isreal can be justified because of the position they find themselves over the 60 years then Im sorry but following that same logic every time a palestinan explodes a bomb he is justified as they have been oppressed & mistreated for the same number of years(?) . Therefore if you belive that Isreal can do what it likes becase it is under attack then the palestinans can respond ; we will remain in this same cycle of violence.
As for refugee camps, if Israel do not give those refugees a right to return to their lands then they are removing their choice of staying out of camps..

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The narrow viewpoint I refer to is typified by your use of Qibya as an example of Israeli atrocities. You claim to not trust one source and look for validity, yet my, admittedly brief, research came up with several sources debunking your claim of an unjustified massacre.

There is a root here to this cycle of violence that you continue to ignore. That the UN approved the establishment of the State of Israel. The Arab world refused to accept this and vowed to wipe out Israel. That started the violence. Had the Arab world accepted the UN action and tried to live peacefully with Israel, then none of this would have happened. So you can't say that the Palestinians are justified because of the mistreatment they have endured (a mistreatment I don't deny). They had the opportunity to peacefully live with Israel and they refused it. This ROOT fact is the one you ignore and narrows your view.

Hello again, fluid:

The truth is, you've never met a Zionist, have you? All you've done is repeat what you've heard. Don't feel bad. MOST of the world makes up what they know about Jews, too. It's a shame – but a fact of life Jews accept.

There was a time when I thought that reasonable people could work through their differences. I still think so, however it takes two to tango. If one side thinks like you, and the other side thinks like me, peace will NEVER happen.

So, after 60 or so years, and after 5 - 10 wars (who's counting?), when are you going to get that you're cutting off your nose to spite your face? You will NEVER wipe Israel away. If you try, they'll wipe you away.

Go Jews!

excon

excon
I have met jews in London who I got on with & some I didn't.
I have met Zionists (or so they claimed because it not tatooed on their foreheads) in London who I never got on with
Nasty breed - & what I quoted one zionist blatantly said while the others implied with forced reasonable sweetness, hidden dislike, & smiles on their faces - sweet knives but knives nonetheless.

& just because you're jewish does not mean I automatically hate you. I can dislike the zionist state of israel & what it stands for but still make a distinction between the government & the jews. Humanity exists in us all... just a few of us have chosen to forgo it to stubbornly stick to murderous regime.

Can I ask you why you don't want regime change? Can I clarify, not wiping people of israel away, just the government & install a new non-zionist government - palestinian arab christian & jewish? I accept this is not a serious possibility in the current climate before you exclaim with increduality.. I know it will not happen.. . I just would be interested in your answer to this hypothetical (almost fantastical) situation..

Quoting Scottgem
"There is a root here to this cycle of violence that you continue to ignore. That the UN approved the establishment of the State of Israel.

Had the Arab world accepted the UN action and tried to live peacefully with Israel, then none of this would have happened. So you can't say that the Palestinians are justified because of the mistreatment they have endured (a mistreatment I don't deny).
They had the opportunity to peacefully live with Israel and they refused it. This ROOT fact is the one you ignore and narrows your view.[/QUOTE]

Remember who are on the UN security council & at the time where the balance of power was in the world. Like someone on this site said earlier Palestine was taken by might not by right so therefore Palestinians will always be justified fighting for their freedom. This is quite eloquently & impartially stated by Gandhi.

"Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French... What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct... If they [the Jews] must look to the Palestine of geography as their national home, it is wrong to enter it under the shadow of the British gun. A religious act cannot be performed with the aid of the bayonet or the bomb. They can settle in Palestine only by the goodwill of the Arabs... As it is, they are co-sharers with the British in despoiling a people who have done no wrong to them. I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they rightly regard as an unacceptable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds." Mahatma Gandhi, quoted in "A Land of Two Peoples" ed. Mendes-Flohr.

Quoting Scottgem:
So you can't say that the Palestinians are justified because of the mistreatment they have endured (a mistreatment I don't deny). They had the opportunity to peacefully live with Israel and they refused it. This ROOT fact is the one you ignore and narrows your view.[/QUOTE]

It is not a root fact except in your lexicon... When someone is told to accept a situation or leave it is a ulitmatum, which was foisted on the palestinans. It is not or never will it be justified for Israel to create a exclusive nation on another peoples land. That is the root fact. The fact you quote is adjacent to the root of the misery (from your viewpoint I hasten to add). They had the opportunity to live with Israel... The european zionist jews should have requested an opportunity to live peacefully with palestinians not stride in arrogantly & claim the land as theirs in recompense for the holocaust.
But anyway like I asked previously why will you not advocate the right of return for palestinans living in refugree camps if they agree to live peacefully on their lands under israeli rule, even if it is in sufferance?
I also request that you calm your vehement answers down... stop trying to pound your viewpoint into me... we have already established we are approaching this conundrum from completely different angles. I think you are misguided & another cog in Israeli propaganda war machine while you think I've been raised on a diet of malnorished palestinan manna.

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

Nasty breed - & what I quoted one zionist blatantly said while the others implied with forced reasonable sweetness, hidden dislike, & smiles on their faces - sweet knives but knives nonetheless.

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Zionists are not a "breed". They are people who share a belief. Stereo typing a group based on the few you might have met is wrong and, In my opinion, shows your true feelings.

Whether the UN was right in establishing the State of Israel is a subject for another discussion. The fact is that they did it. You ask why doesn't the government include non-Jews. I do not believe that being jewish is a requirement for being a citiizen of Israel. Nor is it a requirement for participating in the government of Israel. The fact is that, in the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel an appeal was made "to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions".

So, its not a root fact only in my lexicon. I ask you what government existed in Palestine prior to 1948 or even prior to Brisitsh occupation? The fact is there was no Palestinian state. The area now known as Palestine was part of the Ottoman empire until WWI. Going back to Roman times and before it was part of the kingdom of Judea. Therefore, Ghandi's quote is inaccurate in that Jews do have a valid claim on the area.

After WWI the Middle East was divied up between England and France. Palestine was carved out of parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. The British controlled Palestine and was its government.

As indicated by the quote from the Declaration above, the Arabs living in Palestine WERE given the opportunity to participate in the State of Israel as equal citizens and live in peace in their homes. They were never told to leave. Just the opposite. They chose to leave rather than help build a government.

[QUOTE=ScottGem]Zionists are not a "breed". They are people who share a belief. Stereo typing a group based on the few you might have met is wrong and, In my opinion, shows your true feelings.

So, its not a root fact only in my lexicon. I ask you what government existed in Palestine prior to 1948 or even prior to Brisitsh occupation? The fact is there was no Palestinian state. The area now known as Palestine was part of the Ottoman empire until WWI. Going back to Roman times and before it was part of the kingdom of Judea. Therefore, Ghandi's quote is inaccurate in that Jews do have a valid claim on the area.

After WWI the Middle East was divied up between England and France. Palestine was carved out of parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. The British controlled Palestine and was its government."


Please explain what Zionist are supposed to stand for then?

Ghandi's quote refers to the fact that the Jewish claim is not as valid as the claim of the people that lived there at the time & previously for the last few hundred years , descendents of the original inhabitants of that area.Stronger than some claim by majority of the people that lived a hundreds of years in another continent. Again I state that if these jews felt that strongly they should have entered the area in peace & with the permission of the inhabitants (muslim, chritian & jews already there) rather than controlling the whole area like a god given right (which its not otherwise they would never have lost it inb the first place). A state may not have existed there before but that was not through fault of the people there but through exsternal factor & the current state has denied the people the right of self-determination as well. The fact it was controlled by Britain does not mean anything as they imperialistically controlled the area & had promised the arabs self rule & determination but then supported the land claim of the European Jews out of guilt. They essentially betrayed the people they were supposed to be (unelected) guardians of.

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Originally Posted by fluid identity

Again I state that if these jews felt that strongly they should have entered the area in peace & with the permission of the inhabitants (muslim, chritian & jews already there) rather than controlling the whole area like a god given right (which its not otherwise they would never have lost it inb the first place).

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And again I state that they did. Most of the original settlements WERE established peacefully and with the permission of the existing residents. Many arabs gave or sold land to jewish settlers. The land they sold was generally arid and useless to the arabs. The settlers, using modern techniques and hard work, made these settlements pay off. So the arabs wanted them back.

Again I point out that quote from the Declaration where all residents of the established State of Israel were invited to live in peace and participate in the government.

But yes, in the Jewish religion the land WAS granted them by God. That they lost it for a time was due first to the Romans and then the Ottomans.

I am also noting a typical pattern here. You make an argument based mostly on opinion and propaganda. I counter with an argument that is supported by hard facts. You ignore those facts and keep repeating the propaganda.

Hello again, fluid:

One can cherry pick history to find times when the land we're talking about belonged to Arabs. Others can find times in history when the land belonged to the Jews. Why would ownership of land at one time in history be any more valid than somebody else's ownership of the same land at another time in history? I don't think it is. In fact, I think the Arabs claim on the land is just as valid as the Jews.

So, how would one determine the correct owner??

In my view (and the view of the world), the land belongs to those who can hold it. Indeed, that's how we do it, and that's how we've always done it.

Where do you live? Wasn't the land your house sits on owned by native people at one time? Aren't YOU occupying their land? Would you give it back to them if they asked? If you aren't predisposed to giving away your house, maybe if they threatened to kill your family, you might. I wouldn't.

Nope. If it was me, I wouldn't give back my land. Indeed, it IS me. I own land and I'm not going to give it back to the Indians even though it wasn't taken fairly from them.

excon