Bernie, many of us Israelis equate between 'occupa...

2008-01-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

Bernie, many of us Israelis equate between 'occupation' and 'rape'. Gaza and the West bank are under Israeli Siege and Occupation.
Our politicians fear our violent extreme-right/settlers on one hand, and the international public opinion on the other while repressing the Palestinians. Their main priority is safely walking to re-election throughout their term by working hard not to anger anybody - except for the Palestinians.

A related view.

2008-01-22T11:39:00.000-05:00

A related view.

Bernie, have you so quickly forgotten the suicide ...

2008-01-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

Bernie, have you so quickly forgotten the suicide bomber war that killed or wounded THOUSANDS of Israelis? Gidon Levy and Amira Hess are always writing as if Israel sends the IDF into Jenin, Gaza, Shechem and other places in the Palestinian zone simply for the fun of it. Apparently you all have forgotten that this is where the suicide bombers and the Qassam launchers are found. Levy himself mentions that the Palestinian authority doesn't send its forces into Jenin, either. Apparently there is a "problematic situation" there.
If there is grinding poverty there, that isn't Israel's fault. During the "bad Israeli occupation" period before Oslo in 1993, Palestinians had work in Israel and were getting cash straight into their pockets. With the advent of Oslo and the associated deterioration of the security situation, work for the Arabs in Israel dried up, throwing them on the mercies of the Palestinian Authority for sustenance, or, alternatively, to HAMAS. They do give handouts to their followers, in return for loyalty to the organization. The Palestinians have been given more per-capita aid than any other people or country since 1993, yet their economic situation has deteriorated, which suits that Palestinian leaders fine since they can blame Israel for it while they pocketed the money.
But, in the end, Bernie, you know that the terrorists are not movtivate by economic considerations. Many of the extremist Muslim advocates of terror are well-to-do if not wealthy like Bin Land and Zawahiri.
People in Norther Ireland have repeatedly pointed out that there is no comparison between their "troubles" and ours.

Obviously, poverty in the Palestinian territories does not serve Israel's interests, but "strengthening the Palestinian Authority" by throwing cash at Mahmoud Abbas and his gang certainly isn't going to make things any better. Only a real change in Arab attitutes can do that..meaning that the leadership realize that it must stop incitement to violence, which has increased lately on their state television and telling their people that their best interest lie in cooperation with Israel (which isn't going to go away no matter what Nasrallah and the HAMAS leadership keeps promising them) and that THEIR violence is destroying their own society and causing all the miserable things that Gidon Levy is reporting on.

BTW-regarding your suggestion for an "international force" to come in and take care of the Palestinians....isn't this what happened in Iraq? How did that work out? What countries are going to volunteer to send their troops here to fight Arabs in order to protect Israel?

Comments on Bernard Avishai Dot Com: Eyeless In Gaza—Also In Jenin

Bernie, many of us Israelis equate between 'occupa...

A related view.

Bernie, have you so quickly forgotten the suicide ...