Conflict in the Middle East (moral, suicide, pray, Israel)

[DontFearMe]

Hello all. The conflict in Palestine is a difficult one to sort out. There is more than meets the eye. My stance is that Israel has no right to exist as it does because they are occupying a land which belongs to the people who were there before the creation of Israel. Massive migration by european jews sent it in a down spiral. And even Ariel Sharon today encourages jews to migrate to Israel, a land that isnt theirs.

Imagine a 10 people coming into your home and telling you now it's their home, but you can have this room here and that one there, but that's it. Your house now belongs to them, what will you do? Say ok? I wouldn't.

And about "Armagedon", this is a term used in the bible, not by the muslims. And who you call the anti christ, we call the false messiah who will come and will be followed by the jews. Anyways, chookyman you spurt a lot of crap and can't back it up. Muslims hate jews? Well come now, wasn't it the christians who persecuted the jews so much to the point where they needed a homeland for themselves, now the palestinians have to suffer for the treatment of the jews by the christians.

Maybe there are a lot of muslims and no muslims who hate zionists, completely different. Zionist aren't only some jews, but they are also christians who support the apartheid state of Israel. I don't like zionists who bulldoze homes in refugee camps. This is the same treatment of the native americans. They were called savages for fighting back for what was theirs, how ironic.

[Mr Spinkles]

Killing innocent women, children, and the elderly is not fighting back--it is terrorism. It acheives no end other than to increase the misery of both sides. Like I said earlier, perhaps terrorism in this instance is understandable, but it is never acceptable.

[Runt]

But Mr_Spinkles, MANY of the people we have killed in the Iraqi conflict HAVE been innocent women and children. So what is the difference?

[Mr Spinkles]

The difference is twofold: 1) the Iraq war was intended to (and arguably did) accomplish something other than simple revenge--freedom for millions; the elimination of the (perceived) threat posed by Saddam; an end to mass torture and mass execution; and hope for the future as Iraq can only prosper more under self rule than under Saddam.

The terrorist bombings in Palestine, on the other hand, accomplish NOTHING other than death and misery for the helpless--they derail peace talks, and ensure the continuation of the cycle of violence.

2) The deaths of innocent women and children was unintentional in the Iraq war. With the terrorists, it is intentional murder in cold blood, as far as I am concerned.

I am not saying that killing civilians is right...but there are differences between the unintentional killing of civilians in war, and terrorism.

What I find disconcerting is the excuses I see on both sides....people who support the Israelis will not admit that Israeli oppression is wrong, and people who support the Palestinians will not admit that terrorism is wrong. These aren't sports teams to be rooted for, people...this is real life, and wrong is wrong, even if it's your own side doing it.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

What I find disconcerting is the excuses I see on both sides....people who support the Israelis will not admit that Israeli oppression is wrong, and people who support the Palestinians will not admit that terrorism is wrong. These aren't sports teams to be rooted for, people...this is real life, and wrong is wrong, even if it's your own side doing it.

Of what "Israeli oppression" are you speaking?

[Mr Spinkles]

Bulldozing houses, enforcing curfews, building illegal settlements encroaching on Palestinian territory...if tanks were rolling down my street prohibiting me from going to work, I would feel a little oppressed.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

Bulldozing houses, enforcing curfews, building illegal settlements encroaching on Palestinian territory...if tanks were rolling down my street prohibiting me from going to work, I would feel a little oppressed.

I would as well. Tell me, Mr_Sprinkles, when did it become Palestinian territory?

[UNITED]

The violence has to stop. The UN has to step in immediately and corner the Isrealis and order them to stop their actions. My thoughts are that the Palestianian sucicide bombers have given up hope and just live on hatred and vengeance and continue to kill without remorse, and without thinking of their people's future if such events occur. And the Israelis are ****** off. They ae right in the fact that innocent Israelis are being murdered in cold blood, but it dosen't give them the right to start bombing cities filled with little kids. Someone needs to put them in check. I don't know if it is the media, but it's either the Israelis are the evil tyrants and Palestianians are the innocent opressed, and that's why the suicide bombers do what they do or it's the Palestinians are the evil, religious crazies that kill innocent Israelis. It's just politics. Everyone takes a side. We need to end that. All of the killing needs to end

[Mr Spinkles]

Deut-- That sort of depends on what you mean by "Palestinian territory"....do you mean territory inhabited by a largely Palestinian population, or do you mean territory autonomous of Israeli rule? Technically the West Bank and Gaza have been Israeli territory since the U.N. gave it to them after WWII....on the other hand, Israel signed an agreement to create the interim government called the Palestinian Authority in 1993 (although Israel did reserve the right to maintain public order, as well as internal and external security in the West Bank and Gaza).

In a legal sense, Israel owns the West Bank and Gaza (although many countries now recognize Palestine as its own country). Then again, the Native Americans never legally "owned" their land, either.

How would you answer your own question?