Posted on 06/21/2008 9:22:24 PM PDT by forkinsocket
JERUSALEM — After a year of painful violence — Hamas rockets flying into Israeli communities, soldiers killed and wounded on forays into Gaza — one might have expected the start of a six-month cease-fire with Hamas to be hailed here as good news. Yet what was the front page headline in Maariv newspaper that day? “Fury and Fear.”
That says a great deal about the mood in Israel, a widely shared gloom that this nation is facing alarming threats both from without and within. Seen from far away, last week must have offered some hope that the region was finally at, or near, a turning point: the truce with Hamas, negotiated by Egypt, started on Thursday; other Palestinian-Israeli talks were taking place on numerous levels that both sides said were opening long-closed issues; there were also Turkish-mediated Israeli negotiations with Syria, and a new offer to yield territory to Lebanon along with a call for direct talks between Jerusalem and Beirut.
But it looked very different here. Most Israelis consider the truce with Hamas an admission of national failure, a victory for a radical group with a vicious ideology. As they look ahead, Israelis can’t decide which would be worse, for the truce to fall apart (as polls show most expect it to do), or for Hamas actually to make it last, thereby solidifying the movement’s authority in Palestinian politics over the more secular Fatah. Moreover, most think that Syria should not get back the Golan Heights — its ostensible aim in talking with Israel — and that the truces and negotiations amount to little without the return of captured Israeli soldiers held for the past two years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Israel’s national humiliation continues.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The Jews always forget history and fall into the same pattern of self loathing and guilt.
It's gonna take a mighty deep river of blood to wake the Israelis from their slumber.
Que sera sera.
Yep. Blood is the only thing that can wash away a national shame. We can wash it with our enemies’ blood or wash it with ours, but blood it will be. Jews never learn.
ping
As I write this from Jerusalem, let me add to the authors analysis. This is not a truce, it is a Tahdiya, which in Arabic is less than even a Hudna, which the declaring party would have to recognize the opposing party. Also, hamas has two stated goals with the Tahdiya: 1) re-arm and re-load and prepare for the next battle, and 2) secure their political strength to replace Abbas and gain full control for hamas. Also, the soldiers in question, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser are dead—all that the Israelis will get back are bones (which are important.) Shalit is alive, but will be psycholigically so damaged that he will require therapy for the rest of his life. Whether this Tahdiya is the right course of action or not, who knows. I do know that the Israelis were within days of a massive counter attack in Gaza. Perhaps if the gazans start lobbing missles again, Israel should go in and clean them out. And if they use civilian shields, so be it.
All I can do is pray for Israel. I can pray for the people to come to their senses and to find a good leader. Olmert is at the bottom of the barrel.
lol believe me, we could actually do worse than Olmert.
On pages 154-155:
” Peace Treaties with the Inhabitants of the Territory of War
602. I asked: If some of the inhabitants of the territory of war asked the Muslims to make peace with them for a specified number of years without paying tribute (jizya), do yo think that the Muslims should grant the request?
603. He replied: Yes, provided the Iman has considered the situation and has found that the inhabitants of the territory of war are too strong for the Muslims to prevail against them and it would be better for the Muslims to make peace with them.
604. I asked: If [the Imam] made peace with them and found upon reconsideration it was disadvantageous for the Muslims since it was made without any tribute being paid to him, can he give them notice, abrogate the peace agreement, and attack them?
605. He replied: Yes.”
From the book:
THE ISLAMIC LAW
OF NATIONS
Shaybani’s Siyar
Translated with an introductions,
notes, and appendices by
Majid Khadduri
I pray often for Israel’s safety, and that the Almighty will never, ever, let Israel’s enemies prevail over her. Having said that, I also wish someone over there would quit fiddling around with the Amalekstinians and jaw boning with the Syrians, Iranians, whoever, and take over and come down on the modern day Haman and the Amalekstinian terrorists like stink on an old hog and then commence to hurt the damn lot of them real bad. It breaks my heart to see Olmert and his crew fiddle around and let that beautiful country die the death of a thousand cuts. I love Israel very much, and watching all this is like watching a dear friend who doesn’t seem to get it (I know many Israeli military men get it, and perhaps many of the Israeli people, it is the politicians, the lefty media and the lefty chattering classes that don’t get it).
Yeah, I know, I’m preachin’ to the choir!
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