Israel; Jewish State/Two-State

It looks like everything with regard to Israel, turns into an existential issue…”if this is allowed then it will doom Israel/Jews”, Blind Supporters of Israel seem to say. Others, who wish to support Israel and Jews are placed in the difficult situation of seeming to reject Israel (and therefore, Jews) or, underwriting Israel’s high-handedness and atrocities.

 

For decades, Israel has been asking and then demanding that the world recognize Israel as a legitimate state with most takers from Europe and Americas…a guilt-decision by the very nations that permitted or participated in the Shoah against Jews during WWII.

 

Now that there is explicit or, implicit recognition by almost every country in the world, Israel has ratcheted its demand up by several notches, it now demands that Israel be recognized as a JEWISH state; a state by Jews, for Jews and of Jews…clearly cleansed of the “Palestinian Problem” or, “the Demographic Bomb”

Of Angels & Demons

I recently received a link to a YouTube video of Rachel Corrie in 5th grade, giving a speech in which she shared her vision to help the world be a better place. I was very impressed because while we all desire world peace in our childhood, it is seldom that we manage to retain the vision and act on it in our adulthood. This remarkable girl spoke with clarity and confidence and with the sincerity of one whose soul speaks out.

Somalia and the Collapse of a Society

(First published April 14, 2009) “Here we go again”, some will say. “Jeff is bashing America…if he hates it so much here, why doesn’t he go back where he came from?”

Pushing for the country one loves, to reach for its highest aspirations instead of creeping to the lowest standards, should not mean I “hate it here”, but that I love to see the best outcome for this nation.

A Permanent Peace Plan for Israel

(First published April 7, 2005) Peace in the Holy Land is very much a possibility but it is by no means easy.  In fact, it can be argued that the most successful solution includes one country with Jews, Christians and Muslims living together in peace and harmony as they had for centuries before now.

One of the problems of current peace negotiations is that with blind support from the West, Israel has everything to lose and almost nothing to gain by giving up any of its territories.

The language of “War!”

Today’s (8.14.2007) news featured an attack by Israel, on Gaza, killing ten Palestinians including “gunmen”, “Hamas terrorists” and an elderly mother “being used as a human shield”.

“Well done IDF!” was the most-voiced comment in Israel…great glory and righteousness on the part of IDF; Israel may survive yet another day.

In strategy and tactics of war, the most important weapon is the language of war.

The Reality of Suicide Bombing

Most people of good will should be able to condemn not only suicide bombing but ANY act of wanton killing whether it is done by our side (“good guys”) or the their side (“bad guys”). Unfortunately the Israel/Palestine dispute has so polarized people that they have no hesitation in condemning the other side without ever seeking to understand. All too often, seeking to understand the other is seen as taking sides by people blinded by partisanship.

Israel and the Arab Beast

Brutality against Palestinians has become such commonplace in Israel, that killing, injuring or otherwise brutalizing a Palestinian barely evokes a bored yawn.

Israel and Palestine; letter to my Congressman

Dear Congressman Inslee,

 

Thank you for taking the time to send me your reason (letter below) why you chose to endorse a condemnation of the Goldstone Report; I am afraid I cannot accept your response as a considered one.

 

While I realize you might never see this, I feel you need to understand why we are feeling such agony over your signing of that infamous resolution.

 

I wonder if you have ever visited Gaza?

It is about 360 sq Km (137 sq. mi, see detailed maps below) in total with about 1,500,000 people imprisoned inside…that is almost 11,000 people per square mile (17 per acre) if everybody was neatly spread around all of Gaza, desert and all. If you were told to “run” with your children, where exactly would you have been able to escape Israeli bombs when Israel was even bombing the beaches of Gaza? Israeli forces deliberately even killed entire families who were surrendering with white flags.

Yet you surprise me by saying, “Israel’s implementation of warning efforts that appear to have saved lives“.

Are you aware of DIME weapons that we have provided Israel? Ha’aretz reports that “The problem is that when you are killed – you are ripped to shreds and there is nothing left“.

US, Israel, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan

Like the lone child, is Turkey finally learning to point out that the Emperor and his Pit Bull have no clothes?!!?

 

It would appear that Turkey is no longer seeing Iran as a threat to Turkey rather, as a friend. Turkey is also becoming more assertive about telling Israel that its heavy hand on and slaughter of Palestinians is unacceptable.