Replies

Again, I have to say you're comparing apples and oranges by comparing our terrorism problems to Israel's. We can deport people who we feel are risks to our security (though we haven't availed ourselves of that option yet) because those people are not citizens, and are not entitled to be here, and in fact, many of them don't even have families here, or own land, or have any attachment of any kind to this place. The Palestinians, on the other hand, are inhabitants of the areas under Israeli control, and so, aside from any genuine moral issues that would result from trying to remove them, Israel would be causing a lot of trouble for itself by going that route, for little benefit.

In return, we seem to be saying that it is bad to deport or otherwise make uncomfortable families of those who are carrying out or supporting these kinds of actions. Something just isn't right there.

I would agree that these families don't seem to deserve much respect, as I indicated earlier, but it comes back to that "slippery slope" argument that I brought up earlier. Why is terrorism, as opposed to other forms of belligerency, particularly evil? It's because it targets people who are not involved in the fighting, specifically to avoid the consequences of targeting people who are involved in the fighting. Israel is starting down that path. Note that I'm not equating Israel's proposals with the actions of genuine terrorists, but it's clear they're looking down the wrong road, when there's another option available to them.

"take 'em out"? Isn't that what they have been trying to do?

If they wanted Arafat dead, he'd be dead. Ditto for any of the leaders of Hamas, IJLP, PFLP, and whoever would be foolish enough to succeed them. But Israel lacks the political commitment to go through with it.

It's hard enough to take out a crafy wild animal, whose intelligence doesn't compare with a wild human! It would be kind of like trying to pick out a specific wildebeest in the middle of a giant herd, and making your way through the herd to that specific one. You can't just wait for any random one that presents a shot, obviously, you have to hit the right one. When you get close enough, the whole herd will take off. And the one you're after is too smart to come close to the edge or let itself be caught without its living shields that you don't want to harm.

I fear you might be exaggerating just a little. But I'm sure it's true that in order to do its job completely and effectively, Israel would have to take actions that would probably result in civilian deaths and injuries. That's not the same thing, though, as deliberately going after civilians.

Israel would be causing a lot of trouble for itself by going that route, for little benefit.

Only because of those who don't understand the constant attack they go through and seem to despise Israel in the first place. What do we do to "terrorists" (David Koresh, Randy Weaver) here? We are many times worse and get away with it. Why is everyone all over Israel for what they're doing?

"Note that I'm not equating Israel's proposals with the actions of genuine terrorists, but it's clear they're looking down the wrong road, when there's another option available to them."

If they were thinking of executing the relatives, sure, I'd agree. But at this point I just can't agree with you yet.

"Again, I have to say you're comparing apples and oranges by comparing our terrorism problems to Israel's. We can deport people who we feel are risks to our security (though we haven't availed ourselves of that option yet) because those people are not citizens,"

You are correct in that our terrorism problem is not the same right now; their problem is much worse. No, I'm not comparing apples to oranges. I am comparing little apples to BIG apples.

It's only a matter of time before it gets to be the same.

What we are combatting is a faulty, belief system, a belief in lies. The belief that Israelis should all die to make room for the Palestinian Muslims.

If the Muslims were content to live side by side in peace, I have no doubt the Israelis would allow that. BUT they know their adversary, and after many generations of terrorism, how are they supposed to trust them?

As far as deporting Palestinians being a problem, why, exactly? We have countries changing borders and booting people out all over Africa and yet no one makes a peep to object. Are we to say that no country can ever change its borders from now on? That might be plausible if all humans were willing to live together in peace and harmony, but... get real, we're talking about humans, humans that quite willingly believe lies in order to get what they want.