open Democracy News Analysis - israel & palestine - old roads, new maps - Comments

john norman on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

john norman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:13:35 +0100

Sour Grapes. Do the Arabs ever mention the Jewish links, history to Jerusalem or Hebron or the "Holy Land"? They spend their time denying it. Not a scintilla of recognition. Have they ever acknowledged the 800.000 Jews who were forced out of their home throughout the Muslim Near East and North Africa? These refugees are invisible. Arab imperialism and colonialism lives on. here has to be some reciprocity. Until the Arabs and Muslims show they are in part responsible for the plight of both Palestinians and Jews, a settlement will be almost impossible to achieve.
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JCBosma on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

JCBosma — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:24:49 +0100

That's not how one brings down a wall of enmity between two nations, that's not how trust is built.

I guess Netanyahu would like peace with the Palestinians. The question is: how many concessions does he want to do? The answer is: very little. The longer he can hold up the "wall of enmity", the longer he doesn't have to do concessions. For Netanyahu, peace has a very low priority.

Showerbucket on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

Showerbucket — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:52:19 +0100

Obama should realise that the time for playing Mr Nice Guy is over. Unless Israel agrees to genuine and real negotations to resolve this issue, he should instigate a total cultural, economic, military and political blocade of Israel. Action, not rhetoric is what is needed, for results to be achieved.

John Onyando on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

John Onyando — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:50:09 +0100

For all the effort being put globally for peace in the Middle East, all that Netanyahu can give are old lies and roadblocks, what a shame?
You have one people subjugated for a half a century on their own their land, yet the occupier cannot even acknowledge their plight. Netanyahu and his coalition are not only defying international consensus on the two-state solution- they are taking the Palestinians back two decades on the framework of agreement.
Barack Obama has showed quite encouraging signs of commitment; George Mitchell is a serious peace-maker; and Europe seems ready for new Mideast policy. What remains is for America to translate this historic moment in action. The US must convince Israel that it is serious. Netanyahu must be told isolated.

AndrewEJ on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

AndrewEJ — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:48:13 +0100

This speech, and Israel's voting system is a classic example of how proprtional representation can cause paralysis and inaction within a democratic system of government.

The nature of Israel's voting system means that the ultra Orthodox Jews and other right wing groups get a significant greater say in the affairs of governent. With pro-settler / anti Arab rhetoric, Netanyahu keeps the right wing members of his government on side, but such rhetoric is counter-productive to moving in the right direction towards peace in the Middle East.

George Irbe on "Binyamin Netanyahu’s mirage"

George Irbe — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:41:19 +0100

Far from being a mirage, Netanyahu's answer to Obama's call for "a two state solution" was a polite and muted statement of the harsh realities.

Since the end of the 1967 war, in which the Arabs tried to annihilate the State of Israel, every "Tom, Dick and Harry" and every U.S. president, has called for peace between the Arabs and Israel, because it is a nice and fashionable thing to do. No peace will be ever possible there, because it is commanded by the most basic beliefs of the Muslim faith that once a territory has been conquered by them it can never be allowed to revert back to the infidels, even if they are "people of the book." Palestine was conquered by them in the 7th century, so that is the end of the argument so far as they are concerned.

Netanyahu simply used a polite diplomatic ploy to turn down the futile and historically ignorant proposition by Obama.

Jim on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

Jim — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:54:28 +0100

Half of the comments here are ridiculous. Does nobody see that the Arab world might not want to wipe Israel off of the map if they would stop terrorizing the Palestinians the way they have been? Israel has been flexing its might with a 'blank check' because the U.S. always backs them due to interests in the region.

Our interests should include peace. Jews are merely paranoid that giving up the land to the people who rightfully own it means that they will all be destroyed. The U.S. would not let that happen - and Obama would not let that happen. He is trying to stabilize a region that has been unstable for years and is trying to rectify a problem that Israel, whether they like it or not, is responsible for.

Iran would be extremely stupid to fire any kind of missile should Israel concede, because at that point the rest of the world would definitely intervene.

Stop being so narrow-minded.

Yakov on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

Yakov — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:16:02 +0100

Sure, Israel is threatening Iran-after Iran openly states that Israel should be wiped off the map. Would Israel should do, just sit there and wait until Iran aquires nukes and uses them? According to your logic yes, But according to the logic of a rational human being or Israel in this case of course not. Another scenario- lets say Iran would have nukes and Israel did not( Iranian president said that Iranians will nuke Israel knowing that Iranians will be nuked as well-that is sane?), Iran would use them. The "insane" Israel is not doing that and was not doing that even against countries like Iran. If you want to be fair-compare my logic with yours, and see who makes more sense.

Yakov on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

Yakov — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:04:32 +0100

I want to say that the difference between palestinians and Israel is that palestinians openly willingly and gladly target Jewish people: kids or adults (with bombs, axes-hitting kids with them) and that is freedom fighting.According to your logic alquaeda is also right-by killing innocent people- on purpose. You are simply wrong. And by the way, you compare Jewish "terrorist" acts before and during establishment of Israel to palestinians? Did Israelis blow the little kids of thr Brits? Of course not. Or maybe they axed them? That's not freedom fighting and you know it.

earl shugerman on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

earl shugerman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:22:13 +0100

I actually live in Israel, and my family has been here for decades. Israel is not a "rogue state", Palestinians are not all terrorists, this is not the one and only opportunity for peace, Israel was created by the United Nations along with a Palestinian nation in 1947 from a British colony that neither party controlled. The Arab League, not most Jews and Muslims in this area refused the deal and invaded Gaza and The West Bank in 1948. Anyone who has lived in this area or for that matter read a neutral history book knows these things. Eighty five perecnt of Israels do not want The West Bank and I doubt that anyone wants Gaza except or defense. Even then, most of both areas are under local control. Throwing around non-sensical slogans, myths, stereotypes, and blatant lies on both sides only helps the extemists on both sides.
Israel is a modern fairly democratic society with one fourth of it's population being Muslim. The United States sells both Israel and Arab nations weapons and Israel will not nuke our neighbors on a whim because we would die with them. Iran is a different issue. They are very hard to read. They claim to hate the west because of centuries of issues that have little to do with Israel. How dangerous are they? How dangerous was Cuba? Who knows?
Earl - Haifa

forexdude on ""Comrades, your enemy is yourselves!""

forexdude — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:45:36 +0100

That's why the poor Palestinians murdered dosens of jews in Hebron, Jerusalem and other cities in 1929 ,way before the jewish state of israel was established?? Is that why a few years after Israeli troops and people had left the Gaza Strip they are still shooting missiles at Israeli cities from within their cities?? Is that why just today in Kalkilia, a "Palestinian" city, Fatah and Chamas killed one another?? The truth is, that Jews were living in Israel way before there were even a few of the so called Plestinians. The truth is that the palestinians terrorists are the ones bringing death and suffering to their people. And you expect Israel to sit still and get killed... Well sorry. Ain't going to happen...

Tom Nutwood on ""Comrades, your enemy is yourselves!""

Tom Nutwood — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:36:17 +0100

To Bendara

Anyhow we cannot justify suicide bombers as well. As for Internet we shouldn't forget that finally its evolution is neitral for human moral.

Yusuph on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

Yusuph — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:45:42 +0100

TAKE IT FROM ME YOU ISRAELIS
Obama is not and will not be a friend of Israel.
Any person who want do the following will never be a friend of Israel.
1. To depart Israel from Jerusalem a capital of jews for more than 3000 years
2. To create another country within the Israel border.
3. To support people who did not recognize Israel.
Whether he like or not Obama will not suffice Arabs unlimited demand.
Whether you give East Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Golan heights there will be No peace.
What Arabs wants is total destruction of Israel state.
You Jews in America where is your voice. Rahm Emmanuel where are you? You keep quite in Ahasuero palace during this time of you country crisis.
OBAMA MUST PAY FOR WHAT HE IS DOING.

Bendara on ""Comrades, your enemy is yourselves!""

Bendara — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:07:44 +0100

The Israelis have several weapons in their arsenal: sophisticated military hardware, well trained troops, billions of dollars in American aid and American technology, and a highly effective Jewish lobby in Washington.

The Palestinians have none of this. However they do have the deep seeded knowledge that their struggle, no matter how bloody and bitter, is a just struggle. They also need to know that most of the world has this knowledge as well. Whether this filters through to the Palestinians is uncertain. In an interconnected world that may change.

Evolution of the internet, has allowed billions of users to communicate with one another via social networking sites where images across the world can be viewed within minutes of occurring. If the Palestinians used this technology to transmit their suffering to the world, then the taxi driver and school teacher may gain better insight to the privations of the Palestinians and even talk to their peers in the occupied territories. When this happens, maybe the governments of the world will be forced to impose sanctions on the perpetrators rather than the victims.

JCBosma on "Barack Obama: Israel's true friend"

JCBosma — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:35:26 +0100

Let's hope Obama turns out to be, as Gideon Levy hopes, a real friend of Israel, and of the Palestinians.

And let's hope that he can be effective. He has to deal with a congress that dances to the tunes of AIPAC. This could turn out to be a problem.