Middle Eastern Affairs

» Daniel Workman - Israel crosses the line

It is very hard to be unemotional when one learns of these attacks on civilians which include the murders of 23 innocent children. Regardless of who started this conflict, my opinion - and I'm trying hard not to take sides - is that the Israeli attacks are nothing short of terrorism. Israel has devastated the Lebanese economy in part due to the abduction of 2 of its soldiers.

The Israeli response is far disproportionate to Hezbollah's actions. What's next, genocide to get back at a gang of Lebanese terrorists?

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» Sumaira1985 - Israel crosses the line

In response to Israel crosses the line posted by Daniel2006:

Must agree with you there. I was at the pro-Hezbollah and anti-Hezbollah counter-rally this past Saturday, and I have to tell you, even as a journalist, it was a hard job. It just showed me that there is too much hate in the region, on both sides really, and while the turn up spoke for itself, with nearly 10,000 pro-Hezbollah ralliers, and if generous, 40 anti-Hezbollah protesters, the slurs that came out of the mouths of many of the Israelis while I tried to ask them questions, was amazing. One asked me: Which side are you on? I said, well that is irrelevant, I am a journalist, I have no opinion and bias, and they started attacking me about how I am not telling them because I am hiding my bias of being pro-Hezbollah. Its sickening really, when as a journalist, setting aside all my biases, I really try to do my job--but I guess some people thinkg your skin colour speaks your bias. And as for being unemotional--it is hard. I was literally thrown out of that part of the rally. There have been nearly 1,000 Lebeanse deaths and Israeli deaths close to 160. It is saddening. The 500 million dollar Beiruit airport has to be re-constructed. I will be posting my report on the rally shortly. Hope you enjoy it. I got some really interesting quotes from people. As some have said, for even one Israeli Jew, Israel is willing to break the whole Middle East. And of course, the lessons and burden of the holocaust always ends up on the shoulders of Arabs, who are told to be anti-Semitic, when in fact, Arabs are Semitic, a fact often forgotten. The conflict is really sad. You should look up CNN prime time correspondent Glenn Beck and his conversation with Rabbi Yisroel, the transcript is easy to find. But in sum, the rabbi said, Zionism is the problem in the region, and in the past, Muslims and Jews used to live together in peace, and Beck cut the rabbi off and basically ridiculed him and said what is the colour of the sky in your world rabbi? and said he doesn't know what he is talking about, and that Muslim's in Iran and Palestine are practicing evil and that he cannot co-exist with evil. Can you imagine that such hateful words are said out in public and on TV? In sum, Muslims/Islam=Evil!! Crazy, I tell you. Journalism in tatters is what I say. What my question is, why is Israel taking off its anger of the holocuast on the Palestinians, I am sure they aren't orginally Germans!?

-- posted by Sumaira1985

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» SimonMelville - Israel crosses the line

In response to Israel crosses the line posted by Sumaira1985:
Samaira -- I'm curious as to why you have chosen Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta (NK) as a sane voice of anti-Zionism?

By any measure, NK are an extreme bunch. They believe that any repopulation of the biblical land of Israel is violation of divine will. But they're happy for there to be Jews in Israel once the Messiah comes.

Is that what all anti-Zionists believe? I hardly think so. Surely you have to qualify why you support anti-Zionism not just throw in your lot with religious bigots like NK because it suits your argument? This is like the Israelis who gleefully accept succour from Christian fundamentalists who believe that a strong Israel is a step towards the End Times -- with Apocalypse due in the Holy Land. A weird marriage of convenience, that.

I'm sure that American news stations show bias towards the Israeli point of view. Non-European news broadcasters redress that balance by being pro-Arab. In terms of media bias, I think both sides turn out equal -- although you will not get either side admitting that.

I think we can all agree that anti-Semitism means hatred towards Jews not hatred towards Semitic people, irrespective of the original meaning of the word Semitic. There are many words which have lost their original meaning -- again it's curious to pick on that one word for a bout of Talmud-style hair-splitting (I'm sure Rabbi Yisroel would be proud of you!).

Just because hatred of Arabs does not have its own special word does not make it any less vile, of course.

While it is wrong to conflate anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism we must be careful about the words used.

Daniel2006 -- by any rational measure, Israel is not committing genocide on any people in the Middle East. It may follow a bone-headed and destructive policy towards its own Arab minority and towards its neighbours, but its goal is not the systematic death of every Arab.

However, the systematic destruction of Jews is what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hizbullah want because they say so. Whether they have the capabilities to do this is uncertain but they repeat this desire so often we can only accept that they do wish to see this. I don't see many condemnations of this, but of course it's the Israelis who are genocidal! Of course!

By all means criticse Israel, even question it's right to exist but the use of the word "genocide" in connection with Israel is at best mistaken and invites accusations of anti-Semitism. Why use such an emotive word in connection with a state built on the back of that act in Europe?

As for Palestnians not being responsible for the death of 6m Jews in Europe fifty years -- that I can agree with.

-- posted by SimonMelville

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