Comments on: Jewish leadership finally steps up to the ongoing challenge of Gaza – Support the Jewish Fast for Gaza

By: baretti

baretti — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:31:52 +0000

this is the silliest proposal i have ever heard from even frrom American Rabbis. What about fasting for the release of Gilad Shalit who has been kept incacerated for three yeaars incommunicado. In England we always knew that Americans are naive but these American "Rabbis" take the cake

By: Thom

Thom — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:37:24 +0000

Got a cite for Hamas "dropping its charter"? The only two-state solution Hamas supports is a "two-Palestinian state and zero Israeli state" solution. As long as they demand the right of return (aka, flood Israel with Palestinians and vote it out of existence) as part of a deal, that is not a real two-state solution, just more Palestinian propaganda. During last year's "ceasefire" the Palestinians reduced the number of rocket and mortar attacks, but did not stop them.

By: Shingo

Shingo — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:00:52 +0000

"In contrast, I think undertaking and organizing suicide bombs on civilians is by definition terror" So if they stopped using suicide bombs and simply dropped them from 30,000 feet up in the air, a la Israeli style, you'd be OK with that? "The distinction is that the attacks are TARGETED at civilians." Not really. According to Ze'ev Shiff (Israeli journalist and military correspondent for Ha'aretz), "The Israeli army has always struck civilian populations, purposely and consciously. The army has never distinguished civilian from military targets, but has purposely attacked civilian targets."

By: andrew r

andrew r — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:50:38 +0000

The civilized western world, during WWII, ended the idea the aggressor can kill and kill without his own constituency paying the price. And we had our aktions in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9-11, which if you believe bin Laden's Declaration was on behalf of the sanctions on Iraq. Arabs and Muslims are really the only people in the world whose targeting of civilians is sickening. It's a normal thing to do when we do it, as long as we dress it up in the right language. What's that word, collateral damage? Maybe they tell themselves they're targeting off-duty soldiers and civilians are collateral damage. It wouldn't be more spurious.

By: andrew r

andrew r — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:50:23 +0000

Hamas has not claimed a suicide bombing since the 2006 election. I think a lot of Palestinians don't see their interests served by attacking Israeli civilians, even some who used to. When you look behind all the excuses, Israeli warfare is directed against civilians. It can't be anything else. They didn't get a Jewish state by attacking only armed people. How can I believe civilians aren't targed when the only laws in the West Bank are military orders (PA municipal law notwithstanding)? That's disregarding the legion of cases such as Iman al-Hams and Ahmad Mohammed Karan.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:39:22 +0000

Well, I'm going to fast for 24 hours, in support of the Gazan civilians that are suffering.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:37:45 +0000

In contrast, I think undertaking and organizing suicide bombs on civilians is by definition terror, and a disqualification from participation in negotiations, even if elected. If they renounce terror as a means, then there is a possibility of negotiation sometime in the future. The distinction is that the attacks are TARGETED at civilians. To apologize in any way for that, is sickening to me. "Justified" is a different word than "understandable".

By: Citizen

Citizen — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:26:04 +0000

That's why ben schlomo, you named yourself after an IDF drone, the Eitan. Fits perfectly. Unmanned, impersonal, programmed from a safe afar.

By: Shafiq

Shafiq — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:53:55 +0000

Are the West Bank Palestinians better off because they're under Fatah rule? Apart from the direct punishments Israel is dishing out to the Gazans because of their government, there isn't much difference.

By: Shingo

Shingo — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:27:40 +0000

"I do appreciate your highlighting of the HAMAS tragedy and I think it is a step in the right direction. " Highlighting the Likud tragedy would be another step in the right direction.