Kudos. My point being that Israel is held to a much higher standard, and collective punishment such as the seige of gaza last year was very stupid on their part. Hamaas doesn't care if its own people die, the very ones firing missiles are the same ones that hide underground when Israel attacks, just killing innocents. Some of you may not like it, but there will NEVER be peace, we need to pay attention to OUR problems and remain neutral with respect to the ME.
Remaining neutral is impossible as I have previously mentioned with the influence of the Israel lobby, reactions to its policies/aims by Arabs who wield incredible geopolitical influence in terms of oil reserves, and poor socio-economic conditions in societies disguised as "radical Islam" that are starting to realize what globalization means (i.e Afganistan), and a whole host of other factors.
E. Don't be so negative. Well as we have see with a fairly similar situation in South Africa there is always hope. The colonialists have learned to live with the black majority. Also we now see that Jews can now live peacefully in Germany and Russia, which is a big change. We see some Jews deciding to return to Russia after trying Israel for awhile. It is quite common for American Jews to do likewise. It will work out sooner or later especially if the US joins the rest of the world in urging Israel to be reasonable.
So, I guess Israel is now offering a 10 month freeze on certain settlement new home activity only with no freeze for Jerusalem. I'm not sure if Israel is serious or just proposing something they know won't fly with Palestineans to start peace talks? It's hilarious how far apart the two sides are. They make even hope seem impossible.
It's not the only hindrance, but the Israeli lobby in the US is probably the biggest hindrance. As long as US continues to support unconditionally, Israel has little incentive to participate in peace talks. Right now they have all the power and resources. Under the current circumstances, a deal with Palestine only takes things away that they already have.
True. Like the American Indians the Palestinians will have to accept that a couple of million Jews, primarily Europeans have moved in, and especially unitl Apartheid type structures are broken down, these Jews will have vastly disproportionate economic power with the advantages that confers. A tough pill for the Palestinians to accept. I do think there are quite a few Palestinians who do accept this. Jimmy Carter who is fairly neutral, despite the usual attempts to make his out as an anti-Semite puts most of the blame for lack of progress on Israel. Note just because he goes beyond the one side does this; one side does that and reaches a conclusion does not mean he is not balanced and neutral.
True, but the tide is turning in the US and worldwide and Israel will eventually have to be reasonable. The neo-cons who have total domination in Israel at the moment cannot hold forever. More reasonable Jews will eventually prevail.
I am increasingly concerned about the safety of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem. I am increasingly concerned about the dwindling U.S. support of Israel. I stand with Israel.
The Arabs have a lobby too. This excuse is overblown. If the US lobby was just accepting cash for favors, the Arabs would be able to throw more cash at them than Israel. Clearly, the problem here is deeper.
The Arab lobby is nothing in size compared to AIPAC. And the money doesn't come from Israel or any other sovereign nations, but from its lobby's contributing members. So no, the Arab lobby would not be able to throw more cash at the US than AIPAC. There are no persons of Arab royalty with excess money residing in the United States.
As I understood it, it is very easy to get around this "sovereign money" issue. Regardless, if you want to get into technicalities, isn't each member's contribution limited to something paltry like $4000? Also, I still blame Arabs for your last point. They did not do the smart thing whereas AIPAC members come from a line of people who went to America, built tremendous tremendous success and translated that success into global political influence. My issue is why influencing politics through business interests is even allowed. The regulation of it is so noticeably flawed that it is achieving the exact opposity of its purpose - it's making some people want to kill the progress of that regulation because the less the better. Again, if it was really a matter of money or number of members, Arab royalty would be able to create wealth for Arabs in America to support a lobby. But it is not. I'm tired of hearing Arabs complain about things they can or could have done as well, when in reality they just sat back and watched it go down the drain.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahah hahahahahahahaha You are seriously tr.....hahahahahahahahah You are setting him up as the perfect victim already! He had it soooooo rough! FORCED into service!
Then you obviously don't understand American lobby groups at all. And no, that's ridiculous to assume that each member's contribution to an NPO would have any type of limit. And if for some twisted reason you still believe Israel gives money to AIPAC to fund whatever political campaign that will secure more votes on Israeli funding: http://www.forward.com/articles/4064/ So as you can plainly understand stand now, if any Arab royalty was to use money to create a lobby in the US, it would go through the Foreign Agents Registration Act instead of the Lobbying Disclosure Acts (which protects any revealing of whatever interests a person's money may have). You blame Arabs for living in there own countries and making there money? Why should they live in America and remove money from there homeland's economy? Arabs had no need for an American lobby until the American Zionist Council used the WZO's money to fund its interests in the blatant land grab in Palestine. Which is why the American Zionist Council had to become AIPAC. It's called capitalism. Get over it. I think I've already shot down your first statement quoted here. Interests of lobbyists are protected by being NPO and registered through the LDA, instead of being exposed through the Foreign Agents Registration Act. As for your last statement... Yes, apparently Arabs sat back while the British decided to fight against the Ottoman Turks so that Arabs could have independence in there former lands. That makes complete sense and isn't ignorant of modern history of the Middle East. I hope you can sense sarcasm.
Was this statement made before or after the Dubai meltdown that we're seeing unfolding this morning in the capital markets?
You are the type that would wish something like this to happen, seen this hate of Dubai before. It's a little too early to claim it as a "Dubai meltdown" unless you know something everyone else doesn't.
EU foreign ministers: Jerusalem must be joint capital of Israel, Palestinian state http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1133616.html
