Comments on: White House ‘Dismayed’ at 900 New West Bank Settler Homes

By: untar

untar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:45:50 +0000

Eileen,
How is being disturbed, upset, or completely against occupation of the Palestinian people anti-semitic? In fact where in Monkeymuggs comment does he mention anything anti-semitic? he doesnt. he states the truth. your notion of strong allies to “share” American values, culture, and language is worn out rhetoric. “share”? really? where is the “sharing” in Iraq? Afghanistan? and who are we to impose any of our consumption consumerism to any other country?

more importantly, where is the responsibility or accountability in occupation or colonialism?

quit being sheep and think outside the bun.

By: monkeymuggs

monkeymuggs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:11:00 +0000

No of course not, there’s no bigger fan of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld than I am : )

I understand that a lot of them do support the Two State Solution and that means a great effort in vocalizing that. But much like the Native Americans being driven from their Ancestral homes in our history, isn’t this basically the same thing that’s happening to the Palestinians, just in a differnt time?

I just don’t see how their is a Balance between what Israel says and what they do.

By: Eileen White Read

Eileen White Read — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:06 +0000

Monkeymuggs, I hope you aren’t speaking from an anti-semitic perspective, because that’s not what True/Slant conversations are about. The $3 billion annually is a lot of money, but I wonder whether without it if there would even be an Israel today. The United States needs strong allies in the Middle East and the Israelis share American values, culture, and language. Do you know that 70% of Israelis support the two-state solution? It’s only a very vocal (and unfortunately politically powerful minority) who are making trouble by their settlements and violent actions in Palestine – the religious and nationalistic extremists are an embarassment to most Israelis. I urge you to read more about the issues; three Israeli daily newspapers are free online: Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, and Yedioth Ahronoth.

By: Eileen White Read

Eileen White Read — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:06 +0000

Shawn, thanks for your comments. Most American and Israeli Jews I work with don’t see the world from the point of view that they or Israel can never be wrong. I realize, of course, that there are extremist views held by people of all religions. I urge you to look at the websites of Churches for Middle East Peace and Americans for Peace Now – two organizations with remarkably similar public policy positions, though the former is “officially” Christian and the latter, Jewish. Get involved in the Middle East peace movement. So much of our world’s future depends on establishing peaceful nations there, and limiting the spread of nuclear weapons.

By: monkeymuggs

monkeymuggs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:32:21 +0000

Being a bully, is all Israel knows.
The fact that the U.S spends our tax dollars on Israel, is what really pisses me off.

By: shawngilbreath

shawngilbreath — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:26 +0000

A Palestinian friend of mine actually got upset with me the other day when I brought up the two-state solution. She is firmly in favor of the shared government, one state solution. I have one of the books she drew inspiration from, but unfortunately its on my read as soon as my papers are finished list.
Whichever solution you prefer, the fact remains that we have always given Israel a free ride. It is unfortunate that it comes at the expense of another group of people who hold just as valid a claim to the land, if not more so. One huge problem on the American side that a very large group of Americans refuses to look critically at Israel. Part of that is because of the Holocaust of course, but another vital reason is religious. I know many people who you just can’t talk to about this, because they simply won’t hear a bad word about God’s chosen people. As far as they are concerned, the Jews will never be wrong, because of their place in the Old Testament. That reasoning makes for very short conversations.

By: dtafs

dtafs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:03 +0000

Except andylevinson, is is.

By: Eileen White Read

Eileen White Read — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:56:55 +0000

John, It’s interesting to me that you reach a conclusion similar to that of the Time magazine political journalist Joe Klein a week or so go. See his writing on this subject here: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/11/05/middle-east-clarity/

By: johngrant

johngrant — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:46:33 +0000

As long as Israel has the upper hand over Palestine financially, politically, and militarily, and has not the slightest qualm mitigating their own violence and ethnic subjugation by pointing to the violence of others, a peaceful resolution to the “Israeli-Palestinian question” would seem impossible. The US must make any and all aid to Israel contingent upon a time-table for real concessions and progress toward a two-state solution. Israel has enjoyed a diplomatic free ride in the west for far too long.

By: andylevinson

andylevinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:53:02 +0000

It’s none of Obama’s business