New York – As Israel ends its Gaza invasion and I, as a Jew, question the morals and effectiveness of this military campaign, as I objected that of the invasion of Lebanon in 2006, I still hear the old appeasement song. I hear it again, again, and again from my Jewish friends. I am wrong in questioning these military campaign because the enemy is Hitler. Hitler, Hitler Hitler. Hezbollah is Hitler, Hamas is Hitler, Iran is Hitler, the Palestinians are Hitler, the Arabs are Hitler. They are all for the systematic extermination of the Jewish people. And when voices are heard in Europe, USA and other regions; when commentators disapprove of the methods used by the Israeli government when dealing with Hezbollah and Hamas, my Jewish relatives are quick to dismiss those as opinions of antisemites. In their mind people who disagree with the foreign policy of Israel are simply waiting for the enemies of the Jewish people to complete the work they left undone by the Nazis. For them the Palestinians are not a people with valid claims to a country that I hope they get as soon as possible. For some of them the Palestinians are a neo Nazi group that was created to make sure that Hitler’s final solution gets finally….implemented.
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Now let’s compare the situation of the Jews to that of the African Americans for a moment. African Americans deserve to be mentioned in the Jewish debate because they were, as recently as 1960 in USA discriminated against in the most virulent forms. The country that now has an African American President did not allow African Americans to sit in an empty bus seat because it was reserved for whites. And in the previous centuries African Americans were sold as cattle, enslaved for life, frequently raped and killed without charges. As such the history of African Americans is comparable in horror to that of Jewish history. And in some ways it is worse because the “regime” that abused and terrorized them is in a way, still in power.
Yet somehow, the vast majority of African Americans do not believe that slavery or mass prejudice could ever happen to them again. I don’t see too many Black people worried that tomorrow somebody will enslave them again. But unfortunately, many Jews still believe that another dictator intent on wiping the Jewish people, could arise at any moment in the world and frequently confuse people who see Israel as their enemy as people who want to exterminate all Jews around the world. And while it is true that there are some rabid racists in the world who wish all Black people dead and all Jewish people dead they are a minority to be considered but not to worry about them on a daily basis.
But some Jewish commentators believe that big time antisemitism is still alive in the United States. As we know, Obama’s Muslim ancestry was an issue for Jews in America as some saw that Hussein middle name as a potential sign that it maybe him who endangers Jewish life as we know it in the future. As unlikely as it sounds I have Jewish American friends who still argue that Jews are safer in Israel than in USA or worse that Jews in USA are safer in USA thanks to the existence of Israel, something that if true, it’s probably true the other way around. Most Jews still believe that the State of Israel exists to provide a safe heaven to the Jews of the Diaspora. But now, surrounded by hundreds of millions of enemies, I believe that without the Jews of the Diaspora, and especially without the Jews in the United States the State of Israel would be endangered. As military technology improves and becomes available for all it is hard to see how 5 million Jews can defend themselves against so many rich and well armed enemies who in some cases directly support Hamas and Hezbollah. The chances that Jews are picked up country after country by Neo Nazis and exterminated as it happened during WWII is as probable as the chance that the same happens to Gays, Blacks, native Americans or any other minority that used to be discriminated against. Almost zero. Instead, the chances that Islamic terrorists or Islamic states end up defeating or greatly damaging Israel with the use of advanced weapons over the next 20 years are significant. And it is my opinion that invasions such as that of Lebanon or Gaza increase the possibility of this tragic event happening. If there is ever another holocaust again in my view it will sadly happen in Israel. But this is not because the anti semites are winning. This is because the creation of the state of Israel was accompanied by the displacement of the Palestinians and the Palestinian issue must be solved. The dangers that Israel faces is not a Jewish issue anymore. Israel is a mostly Jewish country at war with enemies for reasons that are not antisemitism per se but are geopolitical in nature.
I firmly believe in the right of Israel to exist but oppose the recent policies of the Israeli government including the invasion of Lebanon and of Gaza because I believe that both invasions are unethical and moreover, tactically wrong. They are unethical because in both cases Israel is attacking, killing and greatly damaging the infrastructure of other countries or quasi countries (Lebanon and Gaza) in retaliation for dangers that are minimal. Casualty ratios of 900 to 13 can hardly be called a war regardless of the fact that human life should be impervious to mathematics. In Spain where I live we take higher number of casualties from Islamic and Basque terrorists. I am not happy to live in Madrid 10 minutes from an airport that was partly blown up a year ago with 2 casualties. But I do not want my government to send helicopters to Bilbao to shoot missiles at the Basque terrorists who are guilty of that crime. Such action would only make it more likely for ETA to recruit members and grow. Where 5 are killed, 50 others would arise. Moreover, in asymmetrical warfare of the kind that Israel fights, the danger to Israel is not that it is defeated by the regular armies of its neighbors, the danger is that its neighbors evolve to have better and better terrorist weapons and that next time Israel is hit with 4000 missiles these actually hit their targets. I am concerned that Israel is precipitating the evolution of Hamas into a more sophisticated enemy. And it is only a matter of time for terrorist technology to get better. Terrorism is defeated by making it harder for terrorists to recruit and evolve, not by attacking terrorists hidden among the general population with regular armies and killing hundreds of children whose siblings will grow up with the single minded purpose of destroying you. Terrorism is defeated as we do in Spain by patiently making the case for terrorists weaker, not by military force.
Furthermore I see another risk and that is that as Israel escalates in violence the Muslim world unifies against it. Yes I do know that Fatah hates Hamas and that the Muslim world is divided in all sorts of battles. I do know that in the last 20 years over a million Muslims have died killed by Muslims and less than 10,000 killed by Jews in all sorts of Muslim-Muslim conflicts such as the Iran Iraq war or the constant Sunni and Shia conflicts. But there are many Muslim leaders out there who are waiting for a unifying theme to get to rule whole Muslim world. Osama Bin Laden tries, Ahmadinejad tries, and unfortunately the theme of exterminating Israel grows more popular every year. Indeed Ahmadinejad seems to have better than Osama Bin Laden because he picked Israel and not USA as his stated enemy and now Al Qaeda seems to also be shifting in that direction.
So before invading a country, destroying its infrastructure, because they kidnap some soldiers as in the case of Lebanon, or because they throw potentially lethal rockets after a truce as in the case of Gaza, I think that Israel should think about how easier it makes the life of Islamic terrorist recruiters when it retaliates with tremendous force. Terrorists feed on anger and invasions, air bombardments, massive killings are certainly valid reasons for the attacked population to be angry about. Jews should learn from African Americans and realize that it is possible to be discriminated in the past, to be hated in the past, to be enslaved in the past, to be abused in the past and somehow…not be hated in the future. That if you lose a few soldiers is bad, but creating the conditions to lose your whole country is worse. Jews seem to talk about history as if it is destiny when instead I believe it is the destiny of the current generation of Jews to change history forever and make peace. Jews should learn to distinguish from the people who hate them because of territorial claims and the rest of the world who temporarily hates them because of the way they react against people who have territorial claims. These claims, while not valid in the case of the Lebanese, are pretty valid in the case of the Syrians and the Palestinians and as Jews we must acknowledge this and move back towards Oslo. Jews should learn that the reason why most people in secular Europe dislike us Jews is for the aggressive policies of the State of Israel. Jews should not confuse disagreement with Israel’s foreign policy with the virulent racism that characterized societies of 70 years ago. This type of racist thinking is historically over. It´s over against African Americans and its over against Jews. Indeed it is so over that in the current anti Israel demonstrations in Europe the right wing parties, traditionally known as Neo Nazis were not present. Moreover I am convinced that if tomorrow Israel and Palestine learn to live in peace most people around the world will forget about both countries. They will be as relevant to the world as Croatia and Serbia are today. An irrelevance that is surprisingly great as a country tries to rebuild its future in a peaceful manner.
The present dislike for Jews around the world is not because of rampant global antisemitism but because most non Jews and non Muslims believe that Israel is reacting too strongly and too unfairly to the aggression it receives. Of course Israel has the right to defend itself. But while at the beginning of its history the world saw Israel as a country trying to survive, now the world sees Israel as a country using excessive force against the right of another country to exist. The best hope for Israel is that Palestine has a strong leader, that Israel can deal with in matters of security. Even as enemies Israel and USA are better off when the enemy is a state and not a terrorist entity. Until such leader arises Israel will not be safe but Israel must know that this leader will be somebody that is hard to deal with. History has many former terrorists who became respected leaders including some of the founders of the State of Israel. A strong leader who focuses on peace maybe difficult to deal with, but it will not be hard as fighting the Hamas Hydra that Israel is currently confronting.
whoever wrote this is absolutely retarded!!! you think hitler was the first person to systematically kill jews? you are stupid and uneducated, even tho you try to sound smart and informed!!
since the beginning of time, in EVERY SINGLE GENERATION there has been a goyish nation who stood up to try and DESTROY US. EXTERMINATE us! and they usually succeed in killing alot of us, but somehow the jewish nation always survives and continues to rebuild. Comparing what the jewish nation went through from the beginning of times to what the african americans went through for one period of time in america is ludicrous!!! You sound like an immature, obviously dumb as hell, and self hating, jew.
Typical left wing – self hating bs.
I don’t agree at all with this. If the African Americans have moved on – then why is there a special Martin Luther King Day today?
To say that black people in America have no prejudice of white people is just a joke.
To claim that the media has ever portrayed the facts of the Israel vs Arab/Muslim/Palestinian conflict in an objective light is 100% false. The current anti Israel stance the world has taken is just an excuse for blatant outright anti-Semitism, where they can spout their anti-Jewish propaganda under the cover of standing up for the Palestinians.
Please do not try to compare and confuse two very different issues.
I guess he never read their textbook
“The present dislike for Jews around the world is not because of rampant global antisemitism “
I think the writer is clueless.
I’ve been seeing stuff like this on Dailykos for weeks.
and don’t fool yourself into thinking that antisemitism has anything to do with the state of Israel! It is totally unrelated! antisemitism has been around since the times of Esav and will continue to be around until the day moshiach comes! wake up and get a grip of reality!! stop blaming israel for why radical muslims attack jews all over the world! totally not israel related! just plain blatant ANTISEMITISM and an innate nature of hating jews.
ok, I think I get your point we shoul roll over and die. here’s my thoughts. if I was in a room with 20 other people and I know beyond doubt that one of them will kill my wson but I don’t know which one I will kill all 20 including 19 innocent because my son and my family comes first, so if it means killing 800 arabs 500 of them terrorists and 300 innocent children who the terrorist cowards choose to hide behind I will do that with no hesitation
This guy needs a Doctor!!!
Even Obama said that if missles will be flying at his home he will do everything in his power to stop it. YES, if you like it or not, Israel is a Country just like any other country and must defend itself.
I wonder if missles will be flying at your house what you will expect your Country to do.
According to this article I think the USA should of taken a plane fill with Muslims and flew it into a building in Afganistan and not go to war, cause you can’t use excessive force.
What non-sense!!! People like this writter Terrorist will always win.
with Israel or with out,
They will always hate us (the Jews).
Since when do they need an excuse?
And since when is their any excuse in killing Jews (just b/c they are Jews)?
Another antisemite coming out of the woodworks
This man makes some vaild points. At the same time, he is deluded if he thinks that most African Americans have moved beyond slavery and do not constantly worry about racism. I live in the south in a predominantely black community. Let me assure the writer that all the blacks down here talk about is how white people are all racist and want to opress the black people. Every move taken against a black politician, no matter how egregious his/her sin, is called racism. One only has to look at the recent stories of O.J. Simpson, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton, Detriot Mayor Kewame whatever his name was, and Senator Burris from Chicago to see how no matter how clear an action is not related to race the black population screams racism. And they may be right? who knows? my point is not to disqualify their experiences but rather to deny that Jews would do well to look at them as the epitome of moving on from a history of descrimination.
YOU ARE A IDIOT!!
everthing that you wrote in youre article is naive and wrong israel has to use overwelming force to make the people understand that there is a very big price to be paid for what their leaders are doing very naive article i must say it again
you don’t make sence! first of all its the black ppl that never got there act together after slavery. A large amount of them are into drugs & crime!
yemach shemoi vzichroi.
I hope this guy has an imidiate mapole.
not worth responding to this self-hating jewish schmuck!!!!!!!!!!!!
the difference between us and the blacks is that the black people one time in thousands of year, though it was for a few hundred of them at once, were an enslaved people. we have been getting killed by goyim for thousands of years. just read the inimitable words of Mark Twain. he clearly lists most of the peoples who have gone up against us. and even his list is not accurate. the fact this this imbecile thinks the world doesnt like jews because of israel is the stupiidist thing i have heard in a long time. non jews have hated jews since the creation of the jew!
An enemy that want to drive the jews into the sea cannot be given any sympathy. period…
some of it makes sence and some of it makes tea.if u dont fight u go down now and if u do u might stay around or u might go down later. so why go down now???
this guy should move to sderot and lets see what writes after his house gets bombed
what a moron
We thought the same thing about the germans!!! That it would be impossible for such civilized people to think of such a horrible thing!
1)What makes you think that it can’t happen again?
2) That people hate the jews because of the way it israel retaliates and if they live in peace the world will forget about them. Bull Shit! do you think the world will suddenly forget about israel? seriously? the world has been fighting over it for thousands of years and poof forget about it. You have to be stupid to speak like this!!!.
3)Jews are in exile and as long as we are exiled anything can happen to them!
The Blacks are still enslaved! there enslaved in their minds, they act and think like slaves, and their nothing they can do about it! Noach cursed them and thats that.
Finally I hope your enjoying your life in spain were thousands of jews were burned alive in the name of jesus.
Martin,
I hope these opinions of yours get you through the night. Whatever makes you happy.
But I will tell you something . . . the Gentiles hate when Jews cannot be controlled. This means that Jews observe their Commandments, look like Jews, live in their own land, exert their spiritual and physical freedom, and get closer to our G-d. History shows this continually.
Your American moment has already turned and will accelerate even more quickly.
Questions for you: Are you a Jew who knows how to read and comprehend our own languages Hebrew, Aramaic, Yiddish?
Have you ever spent as much time studying our wisdoms as you have spent contemplating the concepts you have written about here?
You remind me of another Jew, Bill Maher, who demands our attention with his anti-God crusade. Why should any Jew take his or your word on anything you’ve written about our people and our fate? Why, exactly?
I only read half, I could not get myself to finish.
This guy knows how to spin spin spin.
“Black are over it”
Ye, right!
thats why every time they don’t get what they want “it’s because I’m black”
I wonder what the reaction would have been had Obama not won/given the election.
Another self hatting Jew!
this is one of the dumbest articles i have ever seen!
first of all how could any country let there citazins get attacked by terrorist thugs?
and why does victory make them guilty? should they kill some of there soldiors to even it out?
and the blacks are the ones who always cry racism and think the govt should pay for them not to work bec they were slaves 200+ yrs ago!
when did sfrican americans move forward they still complain jabou discrimination now
Whoever wrote this (Martin Varsavsky) obviously does not live in the US. Never saw, Chicago, NY, LA Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston etc…
Whoever wrote this (Martin Varsavsky) obviously never saw these communities who live without goals and aspirations. Waiting for government handouts and have this fantasy that Obama is going to be taking care of all their problems.
Whoever wrote this obviously (Martin Varsavsky) has not seen how antisemitic attack have been in the rise around the world especially since the War in Gaza.
Whoever wrote this (Martin Varsavsky) obviously doesn’t believe that there are many people Christians and Muslims alike that wish that Hitler did finish the job and rid this world of the “Jew”. And if had the chance would love to help.
Whoever wrote this (Martin Varsavsky) obviously still hasn’t realized the contributions of the Jewish people . That despite constant persecution, The Holocaust, Lenin, the Cossacks, the czars, the muslims, the Spanish Inquisition etc.. We wipe ourselves off and we mover one. We rebuild. BUT WE DO NOT FORGET! and we will never forget because there will always be people like (Martin Varsavsky) who will always sympathize with enemy of the Jews. Will always expect that Israel should embrace Hamas and the likes for it’s desire for it’s destruction. And should stand quietly as they are shelled with rockets that are are aimed to kill innocent civilians and only wished they had better stuff to do it with.
Whoever wrote this (Martin Varsavsky) obviously likes to rewrite history just like Holocaust deniers, the Ford promoted Elders of Zion who like to propagate their lies and know that as long as they keep doing it there will always be people that will embrace their lies as truth.
Martin Varsavsky you are not the first and won’t be the last… There were always self hating Jews, and Jews who turned on their brothers to the authorities for their crime of practicing their religion or for just being a Jew. There were the Hellenists, there were informants in Russia… but you seem to forget that Hitler would have killed you too.
To The Author – Martin,
The Oslo Process led to Arafat’s refusal to end the conflict and broken dreams of liberal Jews worldwide.
The Hezbollah Movement led to the destruction of a Free Lebanon and peace on the Northern border.
Syria tried to build a nuclear weapon until Israel destroyed the atom bomb plant.
The PA and Abbas is a corrupt disaster of a mess and it is anyone’s guess how long it can hold together.
Hamas was voted in by the majority of Gazans and immediately imported weapons from Iran. Once it rebuilds with night vision capabilities, anti-tank and anti-personnel weapons and new tunnels it will be a rebuilt modern army of over 20,000 men.
What are the prospects of sitting down and negotiating with these groups?
Tell your friends that AM YISROEL CHAI means we are obligated to protect our people from those whose aim in life is to kill us. They are murderers, not us !!!
Martin, use your brains.
“Hezbollah is Hitler, Hamas is Hitler, Iran is Hitler, the Palestinians are Hitler, the Arabs are Hitler. They are all for the systematic extermination of the Jewish people.”
When these groups chant slogans like “Hitler didnt finish the job” and “Go back to your ovens” they are aligning themselves with Hitler and his evil policies, and should be responded to as such.
“And when voices are heard in Europe, USA and other regions; when commentators disapprove of the methods used by the Israeli government when dealing with Hezbollah and Hamas, my Jewish relatives are quick to dismiss those as opinions of antisemites”
CRITICISM OF ISRAEL IS NOT ANTISEMETIC. A DOUBLE-STANDARD AGAINST ISRAEL IS!!!!! The author brought up the example of a Madrid airport. That was a minor isolated incident. Anyone who is intellectually honest knows that if any western democracy, including the US, France, Russia, etc…, were constantly attacked by rockets ON A DAILY BASIS by an pseudo-government WITHIN ITS BORDERS the government would take action. All it took was 9-11 for America to war with Afghanistan, a country that only harbored the suspected terrorists. When you deny Israel that same right and hold it to a higher standard, that is antisemitism.
“As such the history of African Americans is comparable in horror to that of Jewish history”
There definitely are similarities. There are also differences. One such difference is that noone today threatens to enslave balcks. On the other hand, millions of muslim children around the world are systematically indoctrinated to hate and despise ALL JEWS, not just Israelis. Furthermore, who are you kidding. Before the election (and I assume after also) Blacks have very often, and sometimes quite correctly, shouted accusations of racism. The case-in-point is Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and that whole gang. Need I say more?
“But unfortunately, many Jews still believe that another dictator intent on wiping the Jewish people, could arise at any moment in the world and frequently confuse people who see Israel as their enemy as people who want to exterminate all Jews around the world.”
Germany under the Weimar republic was the international model of a liberal open society. WIthin only a decade it deteriorated into a culture that supported the idea of genocide. If it can happen in Germany to the Jews it can happen to anyone anywhere. We must be constantly vigilant to fight any signs of intolerance, bigotry, and racism, (as for instance taught to Muslim children) whether it be to Gays, Muslims, Jews, Whites, or Blacks, Men, or Women!! To say it can never happen again is irresponsible. I hope it never happens again, and the only way to insure that is constant vigilance (as done by many of the Jewish leaders you criticize) not armchair wishful thinking!
As Meir Kahane used to preach. We should have faith in Hashem, do the right thing, and not worry what the world thinks. The right thing is to defend your people and not let your enemies who want to annihilate you ,shoot missles at your people and build up an army to kill you with. That means you should destroy your enemy by making war with your enemy. Of course if the Hamas murderers wanted to change their attitude and make love instead of war, we could export all the participants in the pride parade, to accomodate them. Or perhaps the shm–k who wrote this article could offer his daughter, sister,and mother, in matrimony to these murderers. Yes you pu-z, there are plenty of people out there who want to see the Jews dead. Especially Hamas and their supporters. Hitler is alive and well and no, we Jews should not get over it. It should be ingrained in every Jewish heart and soul how the world stood by, including our fellow Jews, while we were exterminated like cockaroaches by the most advanced and cultured society of the modern era. We should shout never again to the world not only for our sake but for the rest of the world as well. Has the world learned? Hmmm How about Darfur,Rwanda,Cambodia, to name a few examples of how much the world has learned. The world has not learned, but I hope we Jews have.
What a blithering idiot, but of course this is from the Jew-hating Huffington Post so what else can you expect? This mental freak has obviously never read the Hamas Charter but he wants to stay popular and get invited to all the kewl cocktail parties.
For a high school current events report, this would probably get a decent grade. From the Huffington Post-It, I would certainly expect no more. The only surprise here is that they have apparently forgotten the most basic rule of keeping paragraphs short. What a joke. Martin, just as owning a piano does not make one a pianist, so too you are not a journalist or writer simply because you know how to type!
like the famous saying, don’t judge someone till you walk a mile in his shoes
i think this guy and his family should go live in sderot for a year and then rewrite his article, i bet you it would be written differently.
Practically all of this individual’s arguments are seriously flawed. They are not based on any real facts. Every argument is based on some hypothetical situation that this individual claims as being true without providing supporting statistics. Therefore, his arguments are nothing more than foolish banter. Does he have any support other than his own statement that anti-Semitism no longer exists in Europe and hatred of Jews is based on Israeli foreign policy? Any statistics? Any polls? Also, who ever said that Palestinians are Hitler???
Regarding his argument about African Americans, it should be noted that they are still suffering from the ill effects of slavery and discrimination. When compared to any other racial or ethnic group, African Americans have much greater numbers of poverty and unemployment. Unfortunately, it seems to be a cycle that is difficult to stop. Therefore, they are given assistance and preferred status when applying to graduate schools and getting jobs. It is not correct to say that African Americans have “gotten over” discrimination and are no longer affected by it. I am not trying to make any comparison to Jews by noting this; I am simply making the argument that this author’s article is replete with errors.
Whether or not he is a self-hating Jew, I do not know. However, I am fairly certain that he is simply a fool trying to spread propaganda.
This writer shows his true colors when espousing his opinion that Israel will suffer disaster. I have no doubt that is not only his prediction but also his wish.
This writer (and most of the comments) ignore the spiritual nature of the conflict between jews and non-jews which stop any rational attempt at peace. However, in that case war against Palestinians is also not the answer. If we view anti-semitism metaphysically we cannot justify physical response.
This moron makes me sooo mad!!!
Maybe the shvartas should learn from the yiddin! The shvartas are still farbittert about slavery even though they were freed almost 150 years ago! I listen to the radio and it sounds like it was 10 mins ago! We stopped ‘munning’ mitzrayim re the shibud which Ill bet was a lot worse. Some people are still stuck pre-civil rights & they have no clue as to what went on because they weren’t even around!
I say to all African Americans or whatever you want to call yourselves out there, LEARN FROM US & NOT US FROM YOU.
Martin, I see you felt bad about the “disproportionate” amount of casualties so you wrote this article to make yourself feel better. However, you suffer from the same disease former Jew turned Neo-Nazi suffered from: you are a self hating Jew with no understanding of current events or history.
A large percentage of the Black population relies on handouts, similar to their anscestators who relied on the Master’s handouts. Go to Lake Charles, Louisinana and you will see black people picking cotton. Unfortunately, many black people have not moved on.
I guess you never learnt that closing your eyes to a problem does not make it go away. There is anti-semitism for no rhyme and reason and your rejection of that reality does not change the facts.
I suggest that you change your name to either Martin Burros or Dan Varsavky. It would be easier for you to clear your conscience when you have these wack-job thoughts.
Dear Martin, you are 100% right, Keep on.
did the first world war and the second world war happen was that all because of the jews are the jews to be blamed for that too
What the article is driving at is that many Jews suffer what is called narcissistic personality disorder and paranoia. They need to be healed from this sickness of selfishness. Gevalt!!
“the creation of the state of Israel was accompanied by the displacement of the Palestinians”
“The overwhelming majority had in fact illegally immigrated into Palestine – and not all that long ago either. Secondly that the ‘refugees’ had left voluntarily, at the urging of their leaders.
When the war was over they made no immediate clamor to return. The majority knew perfectly well they were not indigenous. That Palestine was not their ancient homeland.
Moreover, many had fought with the pan-Arab military forces intending to exterminate the Jews. Those who made war for this purpose had as little right to return as had the defeated Arab armies.”http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/jerusalem/jerusalem100.html
On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said:
“The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese.”Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.” Jordan takes up 82% of what was Palestine.
Admittedly, I am one of the Jewish people that the majority of you dislike – secular, raised Conservative, liberal and married outside of my faith. That being said, I wear my Star of David and C’hai proudly, never taking it off, went to Hebrew School for many years and am raising my child in the Jewish faith.
I do not understand how your community can be so angry with anyone who does not think as you do. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, however, your comments imply that not to see things as the Orthodox Community does, well, that is just wrong. This author is being provocative and pointing out thoughts that perhaps many are just afraid to say out loud. I am sure that if anyone responds to my post, it will be with the same “meshugah” or even “retarded” (which is highly offensive) comments that are posted all through these boards.
Hold yourselves up to a higher standard and accept those who differ from you as long as they respect you. Those who are (GASP) Democrats and (HORRORS) not Orthodox may just have some valid thoughts as well. Additionally, to call someone a “self-hating Jew” is as anti-Semitic as calling someone a racial epithet.
As an outsider, I can tell you that your vitriolic speech does very little to endear the Jewish religion to the Gentile world. Please take pause.
Most of you don’t even attempt to address this article.You just attack him personally while coming off sounding like bigoted racists against African Americans.
To anybody from outside this community reading this; These fools don’t represent the whole community.
Just thought I’d clear that up
“Jews should learn that the reason why most people in secular Europe dislike us Jews is for the aggressive policies of the State of Israel.”
The Europeans dislike us because of our policies? If so, how to explain the Holocaust?
“Jews should not confuse disagreement with Israel’s foreign policy with the virulent racism that characterized societies of 70 years ago. This type of racist thinking is historically over.”
Over? And how would you know that, what evidence do you have that it’s over? Wishful thinking.
Dear Martin –
You may mean well, but it seems you have been indoctrinated with liberal dogma to the point where you have lost your way.
I want to point out another problem with what you wrote which hasn’t been addressed by the other commenters above, and that is, that you think that strong force is not justified to defeat an evil foe. You also claim that such will only cause more problems in the future (Hashem yiracheim) by relatives seeking to avenge the dead.
So my question to you Martin is, what happened during WWII and the aftermath? The USA carpet bombed parts of Germany and dropped nuclear bombs on Japan in order to bring the Axis powers to submission and bring the terrible war to a close. I assume that you, in your ivory tower naivete, would say that they did something terrible there. But anyway, what happened afterward? Japan and Germany actually became two very close allies of the USA. So you are wrong to maintain that subduing an evil enemy militarily will necessarily make the matter worse.
Using your ‘logic’, perhaps no criminal should be punished, as his family and friends may be angered by such action?
While your intentions probably are good, your ideas seem hopelessly naive and need to be adjusted to fit the reality of life outside your ivory tower.
Of course, the main thing is that we need rachamei shomayim. May Hashem help us.
I’m a southern hemisphere Gentile, and I totally and unreservedly support Israel’s right to defend itself with as much force as it considers necessary. And if a group of Islamic terrorists were committed to the destruction of my country, I would be joining the army immediately and taking the fight to them. I’m surprised this is even being debated!
reply to #46
“I do not understand how your community can be so angry with anyone who does not think as you do.”
a community does not talk, think, or argue. Individuals do. If all “secular, raised conservative” Jews think alike, something is wrong. “Orthodox” Jews do have brains, thoughts, lives, being human. Clearly, you have stereotyped and demonized devoutly religious Jews because you have no real-life experience with them. In every society, every naturally occurring group of humans, there is a range of behaviors/thoughts/personality types from bland to overzealous. So what if the same occurs in devout Jewish populations?? There were many points of view offered here and you chose to lump them all together so that you can stand on your soapbox and say “feh” to the children and grandchildren of European and Middle Eastern Jews who have suffered such trauma and catastrophe that it’s written on their DNA strings. They’re threatening your security by making a bunch of noise when it’d otherwise be so quiet for you in your reasonable, acceptably Jewish personal life as the wife of a non-Jew.
“Everyone is entitled to an opinion, however, your comments imply that not to see things as the Orthodox Community does, well, that is just wrong.”
It’s not about orthodox — the state of Israel is a God-free, secular, anti-religious state in whose Parliament its sworn enemies have seats and whose despisers have voting rights, receive infinite benefits while they would rather wash their hands in the blood of our wounded than offer them a moment’s medical care. So for Jews it’s not about religion, but survival.
Your pride in offering legitimacy of opinion to everyone is the privilege of someone who has grown up in a civilized, democratic world. Sounds so noble. So clear. I want to join you, and all the people of the world in that great nobility of perspective: Everyone has the right.
But no. Everyone does not have the right. Bosnia. Rhodesia. Darfur. Babi Yaar. There is a limit to rights. It is called the obligation to respect another’s humanity. To put it first. You have probably never been the victim of persecution or even a crime. Lucky you. If you had, and your pursuer’s family, religiously sworn to annihilate you, went on a global crusade to hold responsible you and even relatives of yours whom you’ve never met, would you agree that it’s incumbent on the world to hold those pursuers to the same standards as you? That they have the same right to an opinion?
Dear one, you’re part of the problem!! It’s not about “orthodox” Jews. It’s about get-on-with-life, the holocaust’s over guys. Everything’s great. Yes, the holocaust is over. But they’re killing, decapitating and beating up Jews, and strong-arming media coverage all over the world. Why? There are other peaceful countries created artificially (by diplomatic fiat) made up of nations of different ethnic origin living side by side: Belgium, Quebec probably the most obvious. Israel was ready to share. Still is. The Arabs have held onto their spleen, to their own detriment. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO LET GO! And it will all be good. Nothing to do with religion, because the state is anti-religious, bozo. It wants to be a full member of the world team.
So you are so cozy that you think another holocaust can’t come , as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and most of the Arab nations are proud to crow it will. It will only come if Jews keep saying no to Arab brutality and gangsterism, you say. Does that make sense to your brain?
After reading all the comments posted tonight, I am more convinced then ever that yidden need to step back and consider the moral basis for much of what EY does in the name of “self defense”.
So what should Israel do about the daily rockets??
I srael wants to live in peace. Arabs walk freely in the streets of israel. And who are you to talk about MORALS ? Would it be morally correct for Israel to commit suicide?? You’re an idiot..!!!!
Respectfully to all who have put me, and those who perhaps think as I do, into a box:
I am not quite certain when I became the enemy. You do not know me, nor do you know my circumstances. Do you know how many of my family was lost in the war? Do you know how those things that I have experienced have opened my eyes to the ways of the world? Do you know of my religious upbringing; my time chanting, leading services or learning the teachings of the Torah?
I am not sure I understand why it is ok for you, as individuals, to criticize me with sarcasm and insults. I guess at the end of the day, it does not matter, as you, Mr. and Mrs., Rabbi and Cantor, you feel that you know what is best. I would say you do know what is best for yourselves, not for all.
Should anyone else gather the courage to post to this site again with perhaps slightly discrepant views, please don’t be so quick to judge in such an ugly manner. It is not necessary, nor is it constructive.
I have learned my lesson. Dialogue is not part of this site. I thank you for that, as honestly, I would rather be respected for my views, not acquiesced to, but just respected rather than insulted by those whom I do respect, admire and defend to others. I know, your retort would be that you do not need my defense, but I would challenge anyone who thinks that. You need mine just as I need yours. Mine, I give freely. Thank you for the education.
Oh, and by the way, just for kicks, I think that Israel has not only the right to defend herself, but frankly the obligation. I think their actions are just and appreciate all that they do to keep the region and subsequently America safe… just in case you were wondering how little I “understand.”