Comments on: EDITORIAL: Does Israel fear its friends more than its enemies?

By: Mantiq

Mantiq — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:34:24 +0000

I have been an observer of the Israeli-Palestinian problem for many years and have traveled throughout Israel and Palestine. A friend sent me the link to your post on Geogre Mitchell and I’m glad he did. You seem to be a reflective and thoughtful individual.

I would like to add to the comments section the following:
Israel does not fear the US and I suggest that expressions of concern over Mr. Mitchell’s being “even-handed” by the likes of Abe Foxman are the political equivalent of crocodile tears. At least two of the US government’s three branches, the executive and the legislative, are owned by the Israeli lobby. Good recent examples of the servitude of our lawmakers were the resolutions passed by the US Senate and House overwhelmingly supporting the Israeli slaughter in Gaza. The lobby is hardly afraid of an elderly Middle East envoy who is not part of the tribe. Mitchell is a convenient and temporary smoke scrren for change. I wish this were not the case. But it is. The very speech to which you link gives evidence of this. If I have time, I may address it on my own blog.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:07:24 +0000

The irony of this entire mess is that, if you read your bible correctly, the Jews attacked and occupied the area long before the current crisis — attacked and occupied, ladies and gentlemen, attacked and occupied. Of course our current crop of “Christians” conveniently avoid this interpretation, preferring the more nebulous “God gave it to them.”

What more can I say other than “baloney?” Oh, wait, there’s another “B” word I could use, but today, after all, is Sunday — kids’n stuff.

By: tonyt

tonyt — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:13:14 +0000

Boycott Israel!!!

By: Mark E

Mark E — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:20:22 +0000

I believe Israel will never make peace until the US stops their overwhelmingly one-sided support.

The world needs to know that not all Americans or Jewish people agree with what the state of Israel has been doing.

It’s a sad state of affairs.

By: Clear Eyes

Clear Eyes — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:17:42 +0000

To Major Domo: You Sir, are far too pessimistic. If you live to the age of 80 you will see a Peace in Israeli simply because of the following. Israel can either choose now to a solution which ensures peace with the Palestinians, or continue it’s war for perhaps another year. Here’s why.

The USA is now bankrupt. Worldwide, we are in deflation. Irrespective of government actions, the USA will be forced to halt all foreign aid and subsidies due to the current Economic Pearl Harbor (Warren Buffett’s words). An Economic Pearl Harbor implies an enemy that has engaged in destroying the world financial system. That enemy is the Central Banks.

At this rate, due to the quadrillion dollar derivatives implosion, no economy will survive with sufficient funds, thus scaling back any and all efforts to fund further wars. Now, even if this doesn’t force the end of war, the other will be Israel’s arab israeli population. They are currently 20% of Israel’s population.

Much like the black people of the USA during the 1960’s, they too are agitating for full rights as israeli citizens. In about 10 years, Israel will be forced to have to deal with this situation, and it will be back to where it started before the six day war. This is pure and simple demographics. Israel can either accept a two state solution, or, and I know this is radical, I’m not sure if I’m the only one who thinks this way, they can choose to fully reinstate the Palestinians as fully fledged israeli citizens, form a true democracy with full rights to all israelis (muslim, jewish, and christian), and instead of jewish state of jewish nationalism, choose to form an israeli state, of israeli nationalism, with hebew as it’s national language, thus preserving in tact the majority jewish culture.

Either way, the demographic changes are on their way. Aside from Israel’s atrocities against the palestinians, this has also proven that the palestinian’s enemies are also the states of the Middle East. It would be in the Palestinian’s best interests, and the Israeli’s best interests to join forces and form a true israeli democracy, as opposed to the current Israeli apartheid. Only then will their be a true peace in Israel, and a golden era.

By: Dr. Larry Grimm

Dr. Larry Grimm — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:54:08 +0000

I agree that Israel wants perpetual war. Two goals starkly support this preference. One is the goal of a Jewish State. Since the highly educated, euro-american jewish population is close to zero population growth, they cannot fulfill this goal if others are in their state having babies. Killing them off is certainly one strategy. The other goal is the vision of a Greater Israel extending throughout the near east. Syria and Lebanon must go, Jordan must go, and Egypt must surrender the Sinai. This is the sort of Racist insanity American dollars support. Mr. Mitchell might also consider what good it does America to unilaterally support such blatant and inhumane injustice. Our own national soul is at risk in this bondage to Israel.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:15:51 +0000

Truly sad. Eventually, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Israeli Right and Center Left come out in favor of perpetual war or a one-sided peace. I can see their arguments now, “we won these lands fair and square, why should we give them back?” Of course, the corrupt, U.S. corporate media will tow the line and “educate” the general American public so we swallow this hook, line and sinker.

The solution is for those who see through the charade to work hard to bring even-handedness to the American media, to contact our elected representatives and demand a fair and just solution to the Palestinian problem. We need to organize and make our voices heard because, as a result of the Iraq war, this has become an American problem. If we have any chance of making sure we are not bled to death in the Middle East in blood and treasure, we need to solve this problem!

By: Yanaar

Yanaar — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:05:44 +0000

“I think we can look forward to many more years of this “perpetual war for perpetual peace.”

Agreed. There is no single thread to pull that will unravel this sweater. The karma is too ancient, the blindness too ingrained.

By: Major Domo, Republic of Vermont

Major Domo, Republic of Vermont — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:53:37 +0000

As a politically interested thirteen year old I cheered Israel as the Six Day War progressed.
Since then I have noticed that the State of Israel has done everything it possibly can to maintain a “warm war” in the region in order to facilitate its expansion and maintain its lucritive war economy.
If it truely is Israel’s intention to maintain this “warm war” then the reason for this latest incursion is clear, and the timing with regards to the US is obvious. If World Opinion with regards to Israel as a State in the Community of Nations was the objective, then it has been a miserable failure. General consideration towards Jews in general worldwide has probably been set back many years, and reinforced the efforts of antisemites.
George Mitchell and the new Obama Administration will be allowed some progress in the Arab-Israeli conflict; Israel has some necessary back-pedling to do….. But real progress in this area will be comprimised as it always has, eventually.
I’m 53 years old now. I don’t expect to see true peace/cooperation between Israel/Palestine before I die of old age.

By: James

James — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:51:44 +0000

Sadly, the peace process has been little more than an enabling cover for Israel’s “Drive to the east” in its continuing expansion and conquest of Palestine. Two steps forward, one back, repeat.

By: JAMIE

JAMIE — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:53:03 +0000

Israel is the most despised nation state on earth… They are rightfully paranoid, as they know what the world thinks of them.

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:56:50 +0000

I agree with Delia,

I don’t think Israel has been resigned to existing in a perpetual state of war so much as seen it as the only means to maintain it’s identity. Both Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky have alluded to Israel’s attacks against peace initiatives. In 1982, the peace initiative came from the PLO in the form of their support for a two state solution. Similarly, the attack on Gaza was an attempt to maintain the divide between Hamas and Fatah and to circumvent the continuation of the truce.

Just prior to the attack, Hamas were due to meet with Fatah to discuss forming a unity government. For Israeli hard liners, this would have posed a serious diplomatic threat.

By: Nomi

Nomi — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:10:10 +0000

About time! The US can not afford to continue loosing credibility and respect in international affairs for the sake of an occupying, immoral, unjust, apartheid, blood thirsty, and undemocratic country hellbent on igniting World War III. And while the US is at it, seeking balance and all, it ought to do some housekeeping too.

By: NoOneYouKnow

NoOneYouKnow — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:27:19 +0000

Abe Foxman isn’t sure that a “meticulously even-handed approach is necessary in the Israel/Palestine conflict? Well, that lays the situation bare, doesn’t it. In the view of Foxman and his ilk, the “peace process” is supposed to be tilted in Israel’s direction: just far enough that Israel never had to do anything it doesn’t want to.
As a Jew, I’m disgusted by these people. If they want war and expulsion of the Palestinians, let them say and try it. If they claim to want peace, the best thing the US can do for everyone concerned is call their bluff. Let them go to hell their own way.

By: richard

richard — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:35:25 +0000

I agree completely with delia ruhe’s comment. The truth is that Israel does not want peace. it does not want a two state solution and it does not want a one state solution. It wants the status quo-which is to be the permanant oppressor of the Palestinians and for them to know that they are a subject people under the rule of the Israelies indefinitely. A peace process facing this reality will only work if the US stops the financial bonanza it gives to Israel that enables it to thwart peace all the time.