From Israel To Lebanon

Thankyou.

Rep +

I would also like to link my own thread: http://forum.grasscity.com/showthread.php?t=104019

 

What that website shows is powerful, moving, and meaningful, but it is in no way an accurate holistic representation of the situation.

I think it's good that there are sites like this, but I would love to see some degree of clarification. When I see endeavors like that site, I see an accusation of Israel as a whole. Many (if not most) of the Israelis are strongly opposed to the destruction and violence.

I'm a supporter of Israel not because I was brought up to feel that way; not because I support the war on terror (I don't!); not because I have anything against Islam (I don't!). I am a supporter of Israel because it is a holy place for followers of the three biggest religions in the world; because it is a beautiful country with a rich culture; because I'm Jewish and I feel a strong connection to the land. I love Israel. I despised Sharon. I loved Rabin, I wept when he died. I can't stand violence; I think that what's going on is horrible, and I think that there are other possible approaches to the problem.

It's important to look at the facts:

-Hezbollah committed an act of war when they took the Israeli soldiers.
-Hezbollah intentionally and strategically placed its military headquarters in crowded residential areas filled with innocent civilians.
-Hezbollah is not a country, yet Israel is attacking Hezbollah as if it were a nation, using previously developed tactics that may or may not be appropriate for the given circumstance.
-The Lebanese government cannot control Hezbollah.
-Anyone involved with the militant arm of Hezbollah is objectively labeled an enemy.

Things are very complicated.

This is a very personal situation for me. A close Lebanese friend of mine was in Lebanon, visiting her father, when the bombing started. She fears for her life, but doesn't want to leave her father behind. Her friends at home fear for her life. This is a horrible situation.

We all agree that this is a horrible situation, and most of us (myself included) are left-leaning, politically active, politically informed liberals. Let's not point fingers.

 

i despise israel.

i sincerely hope this war will be the beginning of the end for those zionist pigs.

israel is surrounded by arab countries that are pretty soon gonna unite as one against israel because they are sick of their shit too.

if israel should get into with syria, iran says that they will get involved, in which case the US would get involved.

there is already speculation that hezbollah might try to carry out attacks in the US.

US support for israel is one of the root causes of instability in the middle east and islamic hatred against america.

however, ^ israel is not going to stop until they are forced to stop. i have great sympathy for the arab world that continues to be victimized by the US and Israel.

 

I do not support the occupation of the settlements, the destruction of towns, or any of that. I think it's disgusting. As I said, I completely disagree with the way most things are being handled there, and I thought Ariel "The Bulldozer" Sharon was doing horrible things. (I was one of the only people in my entire community that felt that way.)

Furthermore, I feel that the very fact the Palestinians are forced to live in "settlements" is despicable. I would very much like to see a land where everyone lives in peace. It's true that there are many individuals and organizations on both sides that are holding back progress.

I'd like to address a couple of the things you said. First of all, it's not genocide. It is oppression, and it's terrible, but it's not genocide. The term "genocide" is being overused these days. Also, yes, the people that oppress your family are Israelis, but not all Israelis are oppressing your family. My uncle lives in Israel and collaborates with huge corporations to bring things like utilities to places that have none. He maintains a healthy friendship with the president of Turkmenistan. His first language is Spanish, then English, then Hebrew, yet he's been working hard to master Arabic, as well, to be able to better coexist with his neighbors. He doesn't have anything against Palestine, but he is concerned about his home, so of course he will hold grudges against suicide bombers, etc. The truth is that most Israelis are a lot like him.

 

Hezbollah could never attack the U.S.; where did you hear that?

Please, no hatred.

 

It's very bizarre.

I live in Toronto, the second most cultrually diverse city in North America.

I see muslims and jews every day, working together, going on the bus together, more than just tolerating eachother, thriving together.

Then i read the papers and i hear how these greedy, short-sighted leaders inspire killing, murder and destruction, in turn insprising further casualties and hatred.

Then i realize how totally out of control we are.

 

Weedzilla, you basically just spelled out WW3.

So the theory goes, that happens, then North Korea and China unite and take the opportunity, while American forces are scretched razor thin to invade Japan (which is infantily demilitarized) and South Korea.

Dress for a nuclear winter, because the death toll is going to be absolutley astronomical.

 

Idk if you guys noticed this. It was at the bottom of the page.

http://epetition.net/julywar/index.php

I signed it...

 

Another name.

 

jigga jernt jernt jernt another one bites the dust

 

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-19-14-06-59

and i don't hate jews, i hate israel. there's a difference.

 

^Unless I missed it, that article didn't say anything about a possibility of an attack on the U.S.

So, what do you hate about Israel? I could say that I hate the situation and I'm not a fan of those in charge, but I can't justify hating a country.