Help me with an Israel question

Steve

[detroitdarien]

You are a Christian, or you sympathize with them? Either way, you write as if you blame Israel for what is happening. That and your name, which puts you near the heart of Islam in America makes me suspicious.

I'm an agnostic (tho raised Christian). You are conflating Islam and Arab. All of my Arab friends (mostly Lebanese, a few Egyptians and Palestinians) are Christian - as is the case for many of the Arab population in Detroit area, particularly those whose families have been here for a few generations. Most of the Islamic emigrants from the ME have settled around Dearborn and the western suburbs, and they are more recent.

I question the wisdom of the seeming random bombing of Lebanon, the only ME country that I know of that is headed by a Christian, particularly of Christian neighborhoods and TV stations? How does weakening a genuine democracy help Israel in the long run?

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"I question the wisdom of the seeming random bombing of Lebanon..."

No more apologies are forthcoming. I don't believe you at all and I think you are an enemy of Israel. Bye.

Michael Frazier

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[kenavi]

How does weakening a genuine democracy help Israel in the long run?

Your comment ignores the 10,000+ Iranian rocket Elephant in the room.

Hezbollah-land is a state within a state. It is a parasite on the industry and emerging democracy of Lebanon. It hoped to shield itself from retaliation by embedding itself among the peoples whom many of so admired last year, when (backed by the example of U.S. determination in Iraq) they stood up to the Syrians.

Put yourself in P.M. Olmert's position. Be realistic. Call a spade a spade. Now, what would you do?

[edzo4]

in that case just ask:

which country Israel or Lebanon is currently in violation of UN resolution 1559?

those lefties love the UN

[kenavi]

Arabs claim to their states is the same as Israel's.

The "Arabs" were living there.

[agrace]

I haven't read the thread yet but I assume that many have provided evidence that Hezbollah fires rockets frequently. Here's an article from the Jeruaslem Post discussing a UN resolution passed last October in condemnation of Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel - http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475610755&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[SJackson]

Arabs claim to their states is the same as Israel's. The "Arabs" were living there.

There were Arabs living there, there were Jews living there as well as Christians. More Arabs than Jews, and the Christians were mostly Arabs, so I guess the entire legal process is invalid.

[agrace]

they're Christians..

Nope - down there where all the rockets come from, above northern Israel, they seem to be pretty much all Shiite Muslims. And currently the total population of Lebanon is 58% Muslim - 36 Shia, 22 Sunni.

[agrace]

LOL, great post.

[BruceysMom]

The land that constitutes the modern state of Israel was purchased from absentee Arab land lords starting in the 1920s, I believe, at the urging of Chaim Weisman. It was at that time a malaria ridden swamp and not much of anyone lived there. Read Gold Meir's biography or Samuel Clemens "Innocents Abroad" Once Jewish people moved there and started reclaiming the land, unemployed Arabs moved there for the work. They were welcomed and this is how they repay Jewish provided prosperity.

[BruceysMom]

"they're Christians.." yeah so is Suha Arafat.

As for Israel and the WOT, they're not fighting the war on terror, they are fighting for their lives.

If you google "Kiryat Shmona" and do a little reading you'll see that His bull ass has been shelling Israel for a long time. Lebanon doesn't police them. They elect them to their government. Hardly a show of disapproval.

[kenavi]

The fathers of Zionism and the founders of the modern state of Israel recognized that the creation of a Jewish state was an imposition on the native peoples, why can't you two?

Intellectual honesty doesn't invalidate the case for Israel, rather it further demonstrates that here is a nation unlike other nations. The only other country you can say that about is America.

[BruceysMom]

Again try some study. They bought the land and made it livable. How is that an imposition. And perhaps I don't see it your way because you are wrong.The Jews have always been present in Israel they ARE the native people, unless you've got some group of ancient Philistines some where with a grievence. Even after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD there were still Jews in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
in Golda Meir's statement: "There was no such thing as Palestinians. It was not as though there was a Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people and we came and threw them out and took their country from them. They did not exist." (Sunday Times, 15 June 1969)

[kenavi]

I agree that there isn't, or wasn't, a Palestinian people. Call 'em Ephraimites, but at the time of modern Zionist settlement, they were part of a vast territory settled for centuries by people calling themselves "Arabs".

Ben Gurion said: "The land is big enough for all of us." Israel-haters and extreme Zionists have altered that to have Ben Gurion saying: "The land is not big enough for all of us."

There is not a people on Earth who would accept a foreign group settling amongst them and then proclaiming themselves a sovereign nation. The Pennsylvania Dutch could buy all the land around Lancaster, that doesn't make it German territory.

That's not to say Israel shouldn't exist, or that the "Palestinians" are not responsible for their own sorry plight. But the fundamental difference between us and them is that we recognize truth and they don't. Don't be like them and assert only those facts that support what is convenient for you to believe. It won't wash in this country. And make sure Brucey studies, for heaven's sake.

[BruceysMom]

for craps sake Brucey knows all about Israel, his relatives have been imported to protect it's citizens, he's a Caucasian Ovcharka dog. I know you couldn't have known that but your answer is still exactly what I got from a left wing lesbian when i confronted her about Bush. I know we're fundamentally on the same side, but your answer still makes me laugh. (just the part about Brucey)

[Raycpa]

Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings but also boasts an extensive social development programme.

The civilian wing also runs hospitals, news services, and educational facilities.

Its Reconstruction Campaign ('Jihad al-Bina') is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructural development projects in Lebanon.[8][9]

The group currently operates at least four hospitals, 12 clinics, 12 schools and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance programme.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah

[Raycpa]

Hezbollah operates a satellite television station from Lebanon, Al-Manar TV ("the Lighthouse") as well as a radio station, al-Nour ("the light"). Qubth Ut Alla ("The Fist of God") is the monthly magazine of Hezbollah's paramilitary wing.

[Raycpa]

Hezbollah supports the destruction of the state of Israel[49]and has co-operated with other militant Islamic organizations such as Hamas in order to promote this goal. Hassan Nasrallah has spoken in favour of the intifada.[50]

[Raycpa]

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Haret Hreik, Nasrallah announced on October 22, 2002: "if they [Jews] all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide."[52][53] The New York Times qualifies this as "genocidal thinking"[54], whereas the New York Sun likens it to the 1992 Hezbollah statement, which vowed, "It is an open war until the elimination of Israel and until the death of the last Jew on earth."[55] Michael Rubin qualifies his goal as genocide too, quoting Nasrallah ruling out "co-existence with" the Jews or "peace", as "they are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment."[56] The Age quotes him like so: "There is no solution to the conflict in this region except with the disappearance of Israel."[57]