"Gaza Island"

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Over the last 30 years, Israel has released about 7,000 Palestinian prisoners to secure freedom for 19 Israelis and to retrieve the bodies of eight others.

Clearly Arabs value their lives the same way, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to these exchanges.

Let me get this straight... if only the Arabs were better negotiators, they would have agreed to hand over many more Israelis instead of giving up just 19 and getting thousands in return?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1948.

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1967.

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1973.

Israel gave back land to Egypt that had been rightfully taken during war...a war where Egypt had attacked Israel along with several other Arab nations.

Israel stopped short of over running Damascus when it could have after Syria had launched an attack against Israel along with several other Arab nations.

So called "democratic movements" in neighboring Arab nations is nothing more than a gateway for Islamic extremist. So what happens when they get into power?

Edited June 20, 2011 by Why_Me

[mawilson 2,133]

Let me get this straight... if only the Arabs were better negotiators, they would have agreed to hand over many more Israelis instead of giving up just 19 and getting thousands in return?

Of course - if they believed their comrades' lives were worth the same as the captive Israelis, they'd want to conduct a one-for-one exchange.

[The Dude 206]

Menachem Begin - leader of Irgun terror group, founder of the Likud party, later became Prime Minister of Israel

Yitzhak Shamir - leader of LEHI terror group (Stern Gang,) Likud hardliner, later became Prime Minister of Israel

Likud - extremist right-wing political party committed to not only the opposition to, but active prevention of, Palestinian nationhood (the party of current Prime Minister Netanyahu)

Likud may be an ultra nationalist, right wing political party, but they don't lob rockets into neighborhoods. As long as Hamas are still running the government, you won't see any real peace.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Likud may be an ultra nationalist, right wing political party, but they don't lob rockets into neighborhoods. As long as Hamas are still running the government, you won't see any real peace.

No, instead they bulldoze the Palestinians right off their land, to make room for settlers. They prohibit the means of farming and manufacturing by the Palestinians in the occupied territories, yet encourage production once the lawful occupants are removed. The world has spoken, but done little else. What other recourse does a besieged people have, other than to retaliate?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1948.

Arab nations declared war after Zionist militias had been attacking Palestinian areas in the weeks and the months prior to Israel's declaration of statehood - seizing entire Palestinian towns and villages outside the area designated for the Jewish state, and sending a quarter million Palestinian refugees fleeing for safety in neighboring countries. "Plan Dalet." Look it up.

As protectors of the Palestinians in the territory designated for the Arab state, it was the Arab countries' right and duty to take action against attacks and seizures by foreign forces. Look it up.

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1967.

Israel initiated this war, launching sneak attacks on Egypt, then Syria, Jordan and Iraq, and seizing the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai, the Golan Heights and Shebaa Farms. Look it up.

Several Arab nations attacked Israel in 1973.

Egypt and Syria initiated this war in retaliation for Israel's seizure of Egyptian and Syrian territory in 1967, with the intention to recapture their land. Look it up.

Israel gave back land to Egypt that had been rightfully taken during war...a war where Egypt had attacked Israel along with several other Arab nations.

Israel stopped short of over running Damascus when it could have after Syria had launched an attack against Israel along with several other Arab nations.

There is no “rightfully taken” land, under any international law or treaty. The Geneva Convention expressly prohibits the acquisition of territory by force. Look it up.

Egypt had demanded the return of its territory and it launched the 1973 war to get it.

That war actually paved the way for Israel to sign the peace treaty with Egypt in 1978 at Camp David. This agreement not only specified that Israel had to return the Sinai, but also that Israel must allow the Palestinians to establish their state on the 1967 borders. Look it up.

So called "democratic movements" in neighboring Arab nations is nothing more than a gateway for Islamic extremist. So what happens when they get into power?

This is very typical Zionist hysteria about how terrible it is for Arabs to have democratic rights, or serve their own national interests, or determine their own foreign policy. Or - G-d forbid ! - refuse to continue to be tools for Israel's aggressive expansionism or its continuing oppression of the Palestinian people.

Certainly, the right-wing Israeli government much prefers their neighbors to be controlled by brutal dictators who are willing to oppress their own people as well as enforce Israel’s torment of the Palestinians, in return for the juicy billions in bribes courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer.

However, those days are ending. The Arab Spring has sprung and you are not going to stuff that genie back in the bottle. The Arab people are demanding their rights to self-determination just as anyone on this earth will do, whether he is Muslim or Jewish or Christian or atheist.

Israel is simply going to have to learn a new way to deal with its neighbors - not by brutality, bullying, belligerence or bribery, but through actual diplomacy.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Likud may be an ultra nationalist, right wing political party, but they don't lob rockets into neighborhoods. As long as Hamas are still running the government, you won't see any real peace.

Don’t be silly ! Of course Israel doesn’t lob measly little hand-made rockets into neighborhoods. They’ve got 1 ton bombs to drop on apartment buildings, flechette shells, white phosphorus, all the really cool stuff.

So... what was Israel’s excuse before Hamas was running the government?

[The Dude 206]

Dont be silly ! Of course Israel doesnt lob measly little hand-made rockets into neighborhoods. Theyve got 1 ton bombs to drop on apartment buildings, flechette shells, white phosphorus, all the really cool stuff.

So... what was Israels excuse before Hamas was running the government?

I hope you do see the difference between the two sets of circumstances you just described. What is Israel expected to do, just sit there and clean up the carnage as a result from Hamas launched rockets? What was their excuse before Hamas? Substitute the same criticisms that have been levied upon Hamas, then just transpose them over to the PLO. Seems to be a credibility issue......

Edited June 20, 2011 by The Dude

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Menachem Begin - leader of Irgun terror group, founder of the Likud party, later became Prime Minister of Israel

Yitzhak Shamir - leader of LEHI terror group (Stern Gang,) Likud hardliner, later became Prime Minister of Israel

Likud - extremist right-wing political party committed to not only the opposition to, but active prevention of, Palestinian nationhood (the party of current Prime Minister Netanyahu)

Thank you. When I read that crack about the Palestinians electing a terrorist government, I thought the same thing.

[mawilson 2,133]

However, those days are ending. The Arab Spring has sprung and you are not going to stuff that genie back in the bottle. The Arab people are demanding their rights to self-determination just as anyone on this earth will do, whether he is Muslim or Jewish or Christian or atheist.

Israel is simply going to have to learn a new way to deal with its neighbors - not by brutality, bullying, belligerence or bribery, but through actual diplomacy.

Yah, that's gonna happen. Also, pigs will fly, Bush and Cheney will be convicted of

war crimes and the Chinese yuan will replace the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Wow, you don't seem to think much of Israel's ability to adapt to a changing environment

Yah, that's gonna happen. Also, pigs will fly, Bush and Cheney will be convicted of

war crimes and the Chinese yuan will replace the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

[mawilson 2,133]

Wow, you don't seem to think much of Israel's ability to adapt to a changing environment

Or the Arabs' ability to accept Israel as a legitimate neighbor, regardless of what they do.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Or the Arabs' ability to accept Israel as a legitimate neighbor, regardless of what they do.

Israel has yet to earn real legitimacy, and what it has is fading fast.

[Pooky 3,353]

Israel has yet to earn real legitimacy, and what it has is fading fast.

Israel earned legitimacy when the UN gave the nation existence.

Where was the UN resolution supporting the Arab invasion in 1948?

Where was the justification for the Arab military build-up that triggered the Israeli attack that started the Six-Day War?

Where was the UN resolution supporting the Arab assault that began the Yom Kippur War in 1973?

All I see from WoM, Soffiya and others lining up against Israel is one-sided, intolerant denial. At least Ready and The Dude look at both sides of the coin. Is it any surprise that Israel finds the path to compromise difficult, when its friends can also see its failings, but its opponents can see nothing but?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

US flotilla ship: We intend to break Gaza blockade

'Audacity of Hope' organizers at NY press conference: "We'll carry no goods. Our mission is from US society to Gaza civil society."

NEW YORK – Passengers on a US-flagged vessel, The Audacity of Hope, spoke at a press conference on Monday to discuss their plans and reasons for joining the “International Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human,” a flotilla intended to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

It is estimated that people from more than 20 countries will participate in the eight to 10-ship flotilla, which will set sail in the last week of June, in part from Greece. One quarter of the participants on the US vessel, which will have 36 passengers, are to be American Jews.

According to a letter that The Audacity of Hope group sent to President Barack Obama, in addition to the 36 passengers, 4 crew members, and 10 members of the press, the ship “will carry thousands of letters of support and friendship from people throughout the US to the women, children and men of Gaza. There will be no weapons of any sort on board.

“We will carry no goods of any kind for delivery in Gaza,” the group’s letter read. “Our mission is from American civil society to the civil society of Gaza. We do not serve the agenda of any political leadership, government or group. We are engaged solely in nonviolent action in support of the Palestinian people and their human rights.”

Passenger Ann Wright said: “Citizen activists are coming to the Mediterranean from all over the world to confront the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and US government protection of Israeli criminal acts.

“As a former US diplomat and retired military colonel, I strongly believe it is the responsibility of citizens to act when our governments fail to protect the human rights and dignity of any people – in this case, the Palestinians,” she said.

Leslie Cagan, the ship’s coordinator leading Monday’s press conference, said the government acted with extreme violence against Freedom Flotilla I in 2010, and has threatened the use of attack dogs and snipers against this flotilla.

“Following the example of years of nonviolent Palestinian protests, everyone participating in this project is deeply committed to nonviolence. We hope and plan to arrive in Gaza City safely by the beginning of July. Any other outcome is the responsibility of the US and Israeli governments’ decisions to maintain the illegal and unjustifiable imprisonment of 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip,” Cagan said.

Cagan added that the flotilla organizers have urged Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to put into place a UN inspection of the ships but have received no official response.

In late May, the secretary general expressed his opposition to flotilla operations intended to challenge the Israeli blockade, saying that assistance and goods bound for Gaza should go through legitimate crossings.

Ban has called on governments to use their influence to discourage flotillas, saying that they carry the potential to exacerbate rather than ameliorate the conflict.

The US government, participants in the US-flagged ship said, have warned the American citizens not to participate in the flotilla.

Passenger Kathy Kelly said, “We are trying to act in alignment with our conscience.”

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=225831