The photograph shows Israeli soldiers at the scene of a shooting on a West Bank road, one that claimed the lives of four Israeli settlers, two men and two women (one of whom was pregnant). This incident, which Hamas claims responsibility for, comes on the eve of so-called peace talks in New York.
Now it is easy to point the finger at Hamas and accuse them of terrorism. But, let’s face it, Hamas, which was the democratically elected Government that Fatah (led by Abbas) usurped, is under siege just as the West Bank is under occupation and has been since 1967. People under occupation and siege have the right to resist using any means.
And, besides, the Jewish settlers lived in homes and were driving on roads built on occupied Palestinian land, acts that are illegal under International Law.
My question is: how can people under siege and occupation negotiate a proper peace settlement with those who are still brutally oppressing them? Surely the first condition for any peace talks should be that the Israelis return to the 1967 borders, that they dismantle the concrete walls, that they release all Palestinians prisoners, etc. This would bring some balance to the negotiations!
And how can people under siege and occupation negotiate a proper peace settlement when the major supporter of the people conducting the brutal siege and occupation, the one who arms them and gives them untold sums of money and vetoes U.N. Resolutions which condemn Israeli behaviour, is again pretending to be an honest broker?
Indeed, ironically, the talks are to be held in Washington, hardly a place of neutrality given that a majority of Americans support Israel no matter what atrocities it carries out!
A further question needs to be asked. It arises from recent statements made by a prominent Israeli Rabbi, Ovadia Yosef, who is advocating divinely ordained death for the Palestinians and their leaders.
He said, “Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this world … God should strike them with a plague, them and these Palestinians.” If this anachronistic, racist, deranged outburst is the attitude of a prominent Jewish cleric who supports the right-wing Shas Party, what chance have the Palestinians got of achieving a fair outcome in any negotiations?
The setting up of Israel was one of the biggest mistakes the world has made. Thus far the Palestinians have paid a heavy price for it yet they had nothing to do with what Hitler did to the Jews in WW2. The bombing of Gaza by Israel the Xmas before last killed 1,400 Gazans, 400 of them children is but one example.
Of course, if Israel brings about a nuclear war, the rest of the world will pay a heavy price too!
It won’t be a plague. It will be nuclear winter!
David- This by far is the biggest issue facing the world today. And yes, I agree it was a big mistake. It is the main reason that America is falling. Too many politicians have favored Israeli interests over American interests and along with the zionist federal reserve, wa la we are where we are today. We would not be at war anywhere if it were not for Israel. I am afraid too many Americans are mesmerised by their television sets to get off their ass and do something. We needed to wake-up years ago, even months ago, but no, who’s on Dancing with the Stars, or who is the next American Idol? Or hey, it’s football season. Ther is NO happy ending, or the odds are greatly against it. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Peace and goodwill to all!!!
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David G Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 9:26 pm
76-water, the Jews have been allowed to make it themselves the biggest issue in the world. It is a terrible mistake to give religious crazies such power.
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“Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Peace and goodwill to all!!!” 76, That really sums up how I feel these days too! Really, your whole post.
“Israeli interests” have taken us over. Not to be mistaken with the common Jew. It really comes down to, certain schools of philosophy are what determine a person. In a world of 6.6 Billion and counting, it comes down to individuals!
People have the Power.
Grace
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“(H)ow can people under siege and occupation negotiate a proper peace settlement with those who are still brutally oppressing them?,” “(With Israel) again pretending to be an honest broker,” “(with) the attitude of a prominent Jewish cleric who supports the right-wing Shas Party, what chance have the Palestinians got of achieving a fair outcome in any negotiations?”
David, these talks are a sham, for all the reasons you have brought, in the form of questions. As long as Israel is SOOOO important – important enough for America to become bankrupt over, what chance does anyone have? Isrelis fight by deception. This is now a known fact. What are WE going to do about it? Poor Palestinians, my heart goes out to these besieged people.
Peace.
Grace
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David G Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Grace, most people don’t seem to realize that the Palestinians are negotiating with a gun at their heads. As well, the Judge favours the Jews and condones their endless atrocities while condemning any attempt by the Palestinians to fight against occupation and siege.
The Americans cannot seem to realize that their double-standards makes them appear to be blatant hypocrites.
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Grace Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 9:58 pm
http://www.chris-floyd.com/articles/1-latest-news/2014-innocent-executioners-an-illustration-of-the-principles-of-western-civilization-in-the-modern-world.html
It comes down to every man and woman’s own conscience. Big Bother wants us not to trust ourselves. When it comes to conscience it is safe to trust in something that is not part of the death spiral we are being moved to live in. Like sheep being led (bleating sounds), ‘Yeah go over there to that Protest Zone so we can use our new technology on you there. Well, what did you expect, you are a Protester. If you were a Terrorist we would have to do the same!’
I say all that above and then I ask, where is the Israeli conscience? It is in a scary place if this (above link) is what goes – on and gets excused! That is inexcusable because it violates a basic tenet of life. The basic right to life that exists, among many other manifestations of living, in a “civilized” society.
David, we are here, we must fight the good fight. Otherwise it is all doom and gloom. G.
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One last thing, that won’t warm anyone’s heart, but America is nearly broke. Who will send Israel their yearly Pablum, er Billions?
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What a joke. Peace talks really! Who’s buying into this BS? I wonder if this is all just political pandering for the November elections. Israel has denied Palistinian rights from the beginning while demanding Palistinians recognise Israeli rights. The zionist regime is working full steam ahead for a (greater Israel) or bust, no middle ground. It really pisses me off, but it seems we are all held hostage by zionist ventures. I mean lied to, decieved, and be-littled, and even labled as anti-semetic when we disagree. There is no justice. We are all becoming Palistinians so that Israel may thrive. What do the people of Gaza get in return? Peace my ass!
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Grace, fighting the good fight is what we do. It’s a shame we can’t see a little more progress for all our hard work!
76-water, Israel has never got what it deserved. Largely because of America, it has managed to do things that, if any other country had done them they’d have been trodden on by the West.
By constantly playing on sympathies, and by confusing Judaism with Christianity, and by infiltrating themselves into the MSM and world Governments, the Jews have got away with murder for decades.
I hope, in my lifetime, I see Israel fully reap what it has sown.
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“We would not be at war anywhere if it were not for Israel”
Let me ask you something.
Why, in comparison to all the evils in the world, is the country of Israel to blame for the universe’s issues?
According to what law does the land of Israel belong to the Palestinians? Do they claim it in their Koran? Nope. They sanctify the city of Mecca. Are they claiming that they were the first to settle on the land? Most certainly not! How may they say which people first lived there, centuries ago? Just because at some stage they had conquered the land from the people of Israel does not make it theirs to reclaim! ISRAEL reclaimed THEIR OWN land, not vise versa.
In fact, regardless who you believe the land belongs to- at this stage in time, according to YOU, “Since 1967, the Palestinians have been under brutal Israeli occupation”. So lets just assume momentarily that we disbelieve the outrageous rumors regarding the treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Israelis; why are you all against the State of Israel? Americans seized their country from England. Countless other countries have changed hands over the years. Why the focus on Israel? Why is Israel the one country in the world which has no right to conquer and keep it’s land?
“Israel has denied Palistinian rights from the beginning”- Completely untrue- not to mention that they DO have their own country, and if they stopped sending bombs into Israeli territory, they might even be welcomed into the land. And in case you were wondering, yes, they ARE sending bombs into Israel, regularly, at that.
I’m not going to comment much on your depiction of Israelis as ‘religious crazies’, just because I don’t think you have any right to make such a statement. Regardless of your faith, you should have the common decency to respect any people’s beliefs. If you are determined to believe that Israelis’ religion demands that they cause harm to the world, you are more misinformed than I can hope to correct. If you are prejudiced against those that cling to a religion, well, you’re all hypocrites- you seem to follow this “site” quite ‘religiously’, after all.
On your statement: “by confusing Judaism with Christianity”, I assure you, Israelis appear to be quite clear as to which religion they belong to. On the contrary, all of you seem confused. They believe in the One G-d that created the universe, and all else besides, and has given the world a set of laws, a guideline to life, through which to live. I’m not peaching religion. I’m simply saying that no matter what you may believe, Israelis have standards. Relating back to your previous assumptions that they harm Palestinians without cause, or compassion: The country of Israel protects its people against terrorists. Israelis defend their land against invaders. They do NOT murder, or torment fellow human beings! Gilad Shalit is being held in captivity by Arabs, while Israelis house Palestinian prisoners in comfort, feed them, clothe them, protect them from their own people that would willingly kill them to transform them into martyrs- and these are people that have tried, or succeeded in killing their own fellows!
By the way, for people that claim to resent the world’s preoccupation with this country, you certainly seem to have a lot to say!
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