Sorry if this is old news but I'm a little behind in current affairs that involve Israel...I just wanted to know why Israel is attacking or going to wars with other countries in the Middle East? Wasn't that the country or land we gave so the Jewish people can live? Shouldn't they be defending their land instead of invading other countries like Iran? Isn't the US, Israel's bigger brother? Why are we letting them become hostile?
If Iran gets nuclear weapons and the head of the governement in Iran wants to remove Isreal from the face of the earth. Iran is a threat to Isreal. What the fear is, is that Isreal will launch a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
see this is the hypocrisy. if palestine is occupied territories of israel, israel has to fund the territories for basic civil services. not doing so is a violation of int'l law.
Also, if you dont support right wing Israelis like Sharon who violate interntional law and are fighting to expand Israel, you are called "anti-semtic", which is no fun. I should also point out that if you are Jewish and don't support the expansion of Israel and the subjugation of Palestinians like several of my friends then you are called a "self hating Jew". Also no fun.
religion + hot weather + lousy Mexican food = crisis Thats why Texas is ok and Israel's a mess. The TexMex saves you all.
The problem is when you have groups like Hamas in there saying Israel has no right to exist. Are you saying Israel is supposed to provide funding to them?
When did Israel invade Iran and -- most importantly -- how did it do so without invading Jordan, Syria, and Iraq first? Are you from the future, good sir? Are you watching CNN or Al-Jazeera's coverage of the war? What's today's date?
Hamas was created 20 years after Israel began it's occupation of Palestinian territory. Forty years of illegal occupation is just about enough wouldn't you say?
Check your history. Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza only after it was invaded by its neighbors. The solution to the problem there lies in the hands of the Israelis and Palistineans, who must work together to come up with a peaceful resolution. It's a difficult problem that would be made simpler if Hamas and others would recognize Israel's right to exist.
They've been occupying land illegally for forty years. Israel has tried to pacify through subjugation and it hasn't worked. It's not going to work either. As long as occupation persists, Palestinians are going to kill Israelis. That's just how it's going to be man.
Aren't several Middle Eastern countries still in a declared state of war with Israel? Please correct me if I'm wrong but when the state of Israel was created didn't most of the Arab countries declare war on Israel? Israel fought them all off to a stalemate and, while some of the countries (Egypt) have dropped their decleration of war, others like Syria are technically still at war. So Israel keeps a good eye on all of them.
Sounds like you're OK with the status quo then...because I don't see Israel packing up and leaving the occupied territories as long as Hamas is threatening their right to exist.
Hamas should recognize Israel...once Israel recognizes the right of Palestine to exist. Seems logical that the occupier would have the upper hand in making that declaration first, correct? Hamas has REPEATEDLY said they will recognize the right of Israel to exist if Israel recognizes the various rights of Palestinians. I know that Israel doesn't want to do that for its own reasons, and Hamas in return is playing 'hardball' on the official recognition of Israel. Lobo, I agree with you that Hamas needs to change its stance, but you have to agree that the occupier must make the initiative. How can you ask occupied people to 'disarm' -- i.e. declare defeat and surrender -- if you not only occupy their lands, but continue to unabashingly expand illegal settlements, relocate settlers from Gaza to the West Bank, make a systematic effort to 'encourage' relocation of Palestinians from certain areas the Israelis intend on annexing to their 'unilateral' borders by turning the demographics into their favor, and just generally attempt to make life a living hell for millions of Palestinians? The Israelis MUST change as well as the various Palestinian militant groups...the latter will never take a step until the Israelis show some good faith first. I guarantee you that will be the case for as long as we live. It's time for the Israelis to learn from what Anwar Sadat once did, enough demanding change and endless concessions from everyone else but themselves...the ball has been and continues to be in their court. There's a saying in the Middle East that comes to mind, "Greed will eventually eat away at your gains".
It would also be easier if Israel would agree to follow international treaties to which it is a signatory barring gaining land by military force. Israel has never agreed to return the land if Hamas agrees to recognize Israel. It should be noted that like the US was the midwife to the Madrasahs sp? and the Taliban, Israel helped finance Hamas in its earliest days as it was in opposition to Arafat's party.
I guess withdrawing from Gaza doesn't count? Israel has figured out a plan that does not depend on the Palestinians. They are going to build their wall, and everything inside the wall will be Israel and everything outside will be none of their concern. At that point they won't be occupying anyone, so any attacks won't be a security issue, but an act of war. It was really a masterful plan by Sharon, instead of endless negotiation with the PA, PLO, Hamas, etc. they just decided to end the conflict on their own terms.
