Comments on: ‘Israel’s image in the world has been destroyed’ http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html The War of Ideas in the Middle East Mon, 28 May 2012 06:48:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: LanceThruster http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38928 LanceThruster Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38928 <p>And like with Bush, the MSM will continue to trumpet their wonderfulness.</p> <p>Pity the poor, misunderstood warriors.</p> And like with Bush, the MSM will continue to trumpet their wonderfulness.

Pity the poor, misunderstood warriors.

]]> By: Amnon http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38929 Amnon Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38929 <p>What's a hundred years to people that celebrate their bondage of three thousand years ago?</p> What's a hundred years to people that celebrate their bondage of three thousand years ago?

]]> By: Amnon http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38930 Amnon Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38930 <p>What's a hundred years for people that celebrate their bondage of three thousand years ago?</p> What's a hundred years for people that celebrate their bondage of three thousand years ago?

]]> By: MRW. http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38931 MRW. Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38931 <p>Forget what the world leaders or journos are saying. Ask in US offices and the local bars. The disgust is quiet. That's the deadliest kind.</p> Forget what the world leaders or journos are saying. Ask in US offices and the local bars. The disgust is quiet. That's the deadliest kind.

]]> By: Colin Murray http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38932 Colin Murray Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38932 <p>"Is this the Israel you want to be?"</p> <p> <br /> Israeli leaders feared that P-E Obama would pressure them more strongly to negotiate than any previous administration, which of course merely means that we might ask politely once (or twice, if we are feeling a little ornery) that our interests be considered, before buckling to the Lobby. Even the chance of this modest change in our traditional song and dance was too much for them to abide.</p> <p>Israeli leadership does not want peace until <i>after</i> they have finished ethnically cleansing, by means creeping or punctuated, all of the land that they want. How much land do they want? I do not know. I think that contentious question is one of two that define variation among extremist Zionists, the other being methods and time scales of ethnic cleansing. (I am currently thinking through this abstraction.) But I do think that most Israeli leaders will not voluntarily stop until they have it. </p> <p>What is the easiest way to ensure that you don't have to negotiate? Murder, torture, debase, and humiliate your victims so much that they will refuse to even consider sitting in the same room with you. Then you can pretend to tear your hair out in frustration:</p> <p>We have no partner with whom to negotiate!<br /> They hate us! <br /> They will never make peace with us! <br /> See how barbaric and primitive they are! <br /> Do you see <i>now</i> what we have to put up with?<br /> Do you see <i>now</i> why they should be your enemies as well?</p> <p>"Is this the Israel you want to be?" Sadly, for very many Israelis and American Zionists, yes, yes it is. We must stop the extremists from taking advantage of us, and we must strive to build bridges to the rest.</p> "Is this the Israel you want to be?"

Israeli leaders feared that P-E Obama would pressure them more strongly to negotiate than any previous administration, which of course merely means that we might ask politely once (or twice, if we are feeling a little ornery) that our interests be considered, before buckling to the Lobby. Even the chance of this modest change in our traditional song and dance was too much for them to abide.

Israeli leadership does not want peace until after they have finished ethnically cleansing, by means creeping or punctuated, all of the land that they want. How much land do they want? I do not know. I think that contentious question is one of two that define variation among extremist Zionists, the other being methods and time scales of ethnic cleansing. (I am currently thinking through this abstraction.) But I do think that most Israeli leaders will not voluntarily stop until they have it.

What is the easiest way to ensure that you don't have to negotiate? Murder, torture, debase, and humiliate your victims so much that they will refuse to even consider sitting in the same room with you. Then you can pretend to tear your hair out in frustration:

We have no partner with whom to negotiate!
They hate us!
They will never make peace with us!
See how barbaric and primitive they are!
Do you see now what we have to put up with?
Do you see now why they should be your enemies as well?

"Is this the Israel you want to be?" Sadly, for very many Israelis and American Zionists, yes, yes it is. We must stop the extremists from taking advantage of us, and we must strive to build bridges to the rest.

]]> By: morris http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38933 morris Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38933 <p>Another factor is the perception of Israel prior to this assualt: the blockade and all the periodic barbararism inflicted on individual Palestinians. . . . . . . Also the role of Israelis abroad. Although to a tee, the Israelis can be seen to behave in a respectful manner, there is probably a perception of being deceived. So there is also Pent up anger. And the likes of Madoff and Rohm contribute. The world is sick of Israeli policies, from before this assualt.</p> Another factor is the perception of Israel prior to this assualt: the blockade and all the periodic barbararism inflicted on individual Palestinians. . . . . . . Also the role of Israelis abroad. Although to a tee, the Israelis can be seen to behave in a respectful manner, there is probably a perception of being deceived. So there is also Pent up anger. And the likes of Madoff and Rohm contribute. The world is sick of Israeli policies, from before this assualt.

]]> By: roGER http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38934 roGER Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38934 <p>This sort of moment seems to happen to every generation.</p> <p>For myself, I'd been neutral leaning slightly to pro Israeli until I saw the behaviour of the IDF in the invasion of the Lebanon in 1982. The massacres in the refugee camps were merely the climax of a campagin marked by brutality and immense overkill, using sophisticated U.S weapons.</p> <p>Since 1982, I've not been surprised by the aggression, lawlessness and particularly irritating "why us, we're the victims?!?" mentality of Israel.</p> <p>My main fear is that one day there will be the most horrifying reaping for what has been sown over the decades.</p> This sort of moment seems to happen to every generation.

For myself, I'd been neutral leaning slightly to pro Israeli until I saw the behaviour of the IDF in the invasion of the Lebanon in 1982. The massacres in the refugee camps were merely the climax of a campagin marked by brutality and immense overkill, using sophisticated U.S weapons.

Since 1982, I've not been surprised by the aggression, lawlessness and particularly irritating "why us, we're the victims?!?" mentality of Israel.

My main fear is that one day there will be the most horrifying reaping for what has been sown over the decades.

]]> By: Richard Witty http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38935 Richard Witty Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38935 <p>Israel's image has been destroyed (only partially in states that actually have the responsibility to protect their civilians from opportunist militant guerillas).</p> <p>And, Hamas' image has been confirmed. (Bifurcated between sober service to their community, and raging hotheads.)</p> Israel's image has been destroyed (only partially in states that actually have the responsibility to protect their civilians from opportunist militant guerillas).

And, Hamas' image has been confirmed. (Bifurcated between sober service to their community, and raging hotheads.)

]]> By: samuelburke http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38936 samuelburke Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38936 <p>israel is like a rabbid dog....the zionist brain of that dog is infected.</p> <p>phil, you must be so proud to be a jew.</p> <p>never again.</p> israel is like a rabbid dog….the zionist brain of that dog is infected.

phil, you must be so proud to be a jew.

never again.

]]> By: waqaas http://mondoweiss.net/2009/01/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html/comment-page-1#comment-38937 waqaas Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/01/13/israels-image-in-the-world-has-been-destroyed.html#comment-38937 <p>The 300 figure is way off. The vast majority (around 90%, I have read) of the now 992 deaths and 4500 injuries are civilians. Hamas has not been sending their dead/injured to the hospitals.</p> The 300 figure is way off. The vast majority (around 90%, I have read) of the now 992 deaths and 4500 injuries are civilians. Hamas has not been sending their dead/injured to the hospitals.

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