Or the Saudi and UAE princes could give up a single week of whoring and buy the Palestinians palaces with the money they'd set aside.
Or maybe the Palestinian state in Gaza could stop launching missiles into its neighbor and come up with a strategy that will actually lead to a prosperous and free Palestine.
Seriously, though, what would you have Israel do to end this war? What conditions do you believe would lead to a fair peace?
Indeed. Or they could buy them some proper weaponry so they could stand achance of taking on the military force they have pointlessly provoked.
Or alternatively big US allies Saudi, Egypt and Jordan could have used their combined efforts to push some diplomatic solution.
There is zero Arab solidarity - t'was ever thus.
It took a Kurd and a Turk to get rid of the Crusaders...
Actually the biggest favour the Arabs could do the Palestinians would be to persuade Hamas to change tactics.
I dont have a problem with the palestinians using violence against Israelis in territory they still occupy - they have a right to it, in my opinion, but the Gaza situation is basically shooting the Palestinian people in the foot, again and again.
"Strike terror into the heart of your enemy... if they want peace, lets have peace"
Yasir Arafat.
Surely if Obama Barrack represents a true face of change it is time for him to put pressure on the Isreali administration to find a lasting peace settlement in the Gaza.
Lets face it the Isrealis are indirectly pulling all the strings in the current US administration (just look at the influence Karl Rove etc enjoy). Their control of the worlds media further entrenches their position and enables them to peddle the myth that the war is essentially a manifestation of Palestinian intolerance. The war in the Middle East was never about Palestinian intolerance but is solely concerned with an illegal occupation of Palestinian terrority by Isreal!
Sadly, evidence is emerging that Obama isn't the progressive his right-wing critics branded him as during the campaign. From supporting taxpayer billions (make that trillions) for the Wall Street banks, to his cabinet appointments, the "change" Obama represents is looking less and less substantive. [I disagree with the apparent belief expressed above that Israel controls the US government and media, mostly because it doesn't.]
But for all my recent (and perhaps overenthusiastic) postings defending Israel, let me be clear about something. There must be a fair and just settlement for the Palestinians ASAP and there must be an end to the occupation. I think it is naive to glorify Hamas and overlook the fact that they've been fighting a war against Israel and are hardly the innocent victims in this latest saga. But nothing good can come from this neverending story of Palestinian attacks on Israel, Israeli reprisals, and continued war against a people who have literally been caught in the middle of the larger Arab-Israeli conflict. And there is nothing just about it either.
Would cutting off Israel from US aid lead to that result? Maybe. But if that happened, there would have to be protection against the temptation by the Palestinians and their allies to return Israel to its pre-1948 borders. Maybe the US should divert an entire year's worth of aid to Israel to aid to Palestinian families, giving Palestinians hope for the future and getting them out of the abject misery their leaders and Israeli reprisals have kept them in for all too long.
What I'm trying to suggest is this: Hamas shooting rockets into Israel, and engaging in suicide bombings, will not lead to a better world for the Palestinians. Israel, oppressor or not, has every right to respond to attacks on its territory from foreign territory, and it has every right to do so in a way that isn't pleasant. [If Georgia routinely launched missiles into Russia and sent suicide commandos to attack Russian civilians within Russia, surely the world would have to understand when Russia had enough and struck back...]. Complaining when this happens overlooks the larger dynamic and will only keep this pointless conflict from being finally and fairly resolved.
sorry Chris you and I part company on this point
as much as the palestinians endure they only endure the fate they chose
Wait, I think I'm wrong.
NCM;
"[I disagree with the apparent belief expressed above that Israel controls the US government and media, mostly because it doesn't.]"
i AM SORRY BUT iSRAEL MOST DEFINITELY DOES EXERT A HUGE DEGREE OF CONTROL OVER THE WORLDS MEDIA AND THE us ADMINISTRATION. Look at the Semitic power base in these institutions. Has Mel Gibson worked a single day since his anti-semitic rant a while back? Lokk at the totally one sided representation of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
I wathced a programme a while back, a fucking cracker of a show entitled 'The ascent of money'. It documented the rise of the jews to power and prosperity. Essentailly it emanates from the fact that during the 12th and 13th centuries Christians were prohibited from lending money and charging interest. this vacuum in turn enabled Jews to further their position in society and to ultimately rise to the apex.
Yes, Adelante, thank you for not shying away from saying what you really believe about the Jews.
"thank you for not shying away from saying what you really believe about the Jews."
Some of the people I admire are Marx, Milliband and Bob Dylan. They were/are Jewish, so I guess that dispels your portrayal of me as some type of anti-Semitic lunatic. Can I not have a deep set ideological opposition to the conduct of the Israeli state in the conflict and the acquisesnce of the US administration without being anti-Semitic?
Watch the programme alluded to and you will see that I am correct. What have I written above that is anti-semitic? Please enlighten me.
I am not anti-semitic, I am however anti-Zionist and anti-imperailist. The Israeli state is the embodiement of both these horrendous traits. I dispise British imperailists, American imperailists, Irish imperealists, etc.., race is totally extraenous in this case!
Adelante,
I take you at your word that you are not an anti-Semite. However, the belief that the Jews control everything is a major component of anti-semitism and it makes me wary whenever anyone expresses it.
Many Jews do not support Israeli militarism/Zionism and are its harshest non-Arab critics. Heck, many Israelis do not support Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and are ashamed of their nation's recent history.
The idea that Jews in the media conspire to advance the Israeli position and cover up Palestinian suffering and oppression is a simplicistic one that wrongly assumes that Jews worldwide (or Jews in the US) are primarily and necessarily motivated by allegiance to Israel and use their positions of power and influence to advance this goal of Israeli dominance. This belief also does not account for the fact that the media often covers the Palestinians with indulgence and sympathy, which it would not do if the media was truly captured by Zionist Jews.
By the way, as I alluded to in an earlier post, I've decided I was wrong about my initial defense of Israel's actions here. It has become clear to me that this campaign was not militarily necessary and is being waged for political purposes so as to increase the odds for victory in the upcoming polls and to topple Hamas so as to replace the people's choice with the corrupt and venal Fatah. This isn't to say I excuse Hamas, only that I also do not excuse Israel. This evil conflict must be justly resolved and the Palestinians must be given a viable and prosperous homeland (and be given the chance to live in freedom).
"Irish imperealists"
lol what section of Irish society falls under this description???
NCM:
If Israel does not control the US administration, perhaps you can enlighten me as to why when the UN has called on Israel to sue for peace, while every other country calls for a peaceful resolution, while international organisations on the ground call for an end to Israeli aggression, Washington has pledged its 'support' for Israel.
Re rthe reason, it is now apparent it is just like Dresden and Hiroshima, to crush the will of the Palestinian people and to influence elections. Just look at the embargo on medical
Adelante,
The "control" isn't direct. Rather, Israel has strong support among Christian-right and Jewish voters, and not supporting Israel would alienate those important voting (and donating) blocs. Our elected officials like to get re-elected and like to get donations. I'd guess (without looking at actual stats) that a good 10-20% of the US supports Israel because of right wing Christian religious beliefs... and there's no reasoning with these folks.
Analogously, why does the US still maintain the idiotic blockade of Cuba? Is it because the Cuban right "controls" the US government? Or is it because the Cuban right is an important voting bloc that neither party can afford to alienate, even though the result is bad foreign policy?
I agree with you that the reason for this campaign appears to be to win the Israeli election and destroy Hamas. The rockets are a mere pretext.
NCM:
I never argued nor do I believe that the conrol was direct. More often is indirect influence a greater factor in the US administration. This control is most blatant when one looks at how everyone is calling for peace, yet Israel states that it is intent on waging "a bitter war". Decipher this cant and you will see that Israel is hell bent on wiping HAMAS FROM THE FACE OF THE eARTH AND bringing Palestine to its knees. The US pledges its 'support'. Tells its own story really.
I often find the alliance of the bible bashers and the Israelis rather bemusing. In the 6 co's context you have loyalist areas flying Israeli flags, however at the same time they express an undying sense of fraternity with neo-Nazis. Really confusing and shows how devoid of rationale or indeed ideology they really are.
"Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist" Yassir Arafat.
William:
"lol what section of Irish society falls under this description???"
Those who fight/ have fought on the imperailist side during wars. Whether that be the latest illegal occupation of Iraq or the Indian war of independence, or the American Civil war etc...
"or the American Civil war"
Now, which side would be considered imperialist there 
Personally I had more sympathy with the south.
Adelante, I think we're on the same page here.
Commenting by HaloScan
