NEWS: Congress just passed a resolution urges the U.S. administration to “deny recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state and veto any resolution by the United Nations Security Council to establish or recognize a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties.”
It also urges Palestinian leaders to “cease all efforts at circumventing the negotiation process, including efforts to gain recognition of a Palestinian state from other nations, within the United Nations, and in other international forums prior to achievement of a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians… and calls upon foreign governments not to extend such recognition.”
By Ted Belman
If anyone thought the new old peace process was for real, forget it. According to Haaretz, Mitchell proposes ‘parallel’ but separate U.S. talks with Israel, Palestinians with an aim according to Palestinian sources, of finding out what the two parties want. After all these years and all these processes, don’t they know. And he wants six weeks to do it.
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“What is discussed with each side will not be divulged to the other, but the aim is for the U.S. administration to form an idea of what the two parties want with a view to drawing up a strategy to relaunch direct negotiations at the time it deems appropriate,”
Fat chance on two accounts; how can it not be divulged and what, another strategy? The parties are so far apart that a “new strategy ” won’t solve the problem. How about a new paradigm?
While Netanyahu was expected to hash out with his ministers Israel’s positions on a variety of issues, the foreign ministers from Arab nations came out out Wednesday against any talks between Israel and the Palestinians, direct or indirect, unless the United States takes a firm stance on the future borders of a Palestinian state. At least they have no illusions.
The PA continues to demand a settlement freeze. Since Netanyahu is not allowing building in any event, some say he should have agreed to the extension for all the goodies it entailed. On the other hand, he didn’t have the option. The US never delivered the letter.
There is not much chance that Netanyahu will authorized much construction while the US is still trying to develop a strategy.
Mean while JPOST reports that the Arab League will turn to the UNSC.
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“The negotiation track between the Palestinians and Israelis is futile. There is no return to talks. Any resumption is conditioned on a serious offer that ensures the end to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on the peace process references,” the Arab ministers said in a statement.
The Arab League foreign ministers also agreed to go to the UN Security Council for a resolution against settlement construction.
The ministers decided to “bring up the issue” of Israeli settlements with the Security Council, AFP reported.
The Arab League wants “to obtain a decision that confirms, among other things, the illegal nature of this activity and that would oblige Israel to stop it,” a ministerial committee meeting at League headquarters in Cairo said.
The statement put out after the meeting also urged the US, which has used its veto many times to block anti- Israel Security Council resolutions, not to block the move.
As we know, the Obama administration has hinted (threatened) that they might not veto such a resolution.
This Catholic does along with friends of Jews, that’s who.
C’mon, now. Of course you can. Real friends can tell each other anything. The US can tell Israel what they think it should do. Israel can tell Imam Obama to go get stuffed. Bibi does the dance better than anyone else.
The US believes it gets them a foot in the door and keeps them from being even more hostile towards Israel – which they would be if the US was replaced by Russia, China or Venezuela. The US also wants the Sunnis to focus on Iran, and the Wikileaks showed that they are more concerned about Iran than Israel. They know Israel is the only one in the region that can wipe Iran out.
Fair enough. However, unless you are a Hindu, EVERYONE got to wherever they are due to the same Allah, G-d or God or Hashem, regardless of what you choose to call HIM.
You got me there. An old Catholic guy, hanh? Who spells God as G-d. Hmmmn! We Catholics don’t do that.
I, too, am a not-as-old Catholic guy, who, with some friends who are political conservative Jews, is working on showing the liberal American Jews the light. We failed in 2008 but we cannot quit. There’s too much at stake for the entire world. Imam Obama has already been there two years too many.
AE – is english your native language? I’m being serious here, because I can’t believe you’re not getting it. I understand that you say that it is up to us what we do – but then you add at the end of that statement that I falsely think that america is pressuring Israel. So answer the question directly – do you think that america is pressuring Israel on the eastern part of Jerusalem? A simple yes or no will do.
A/E, not sure you read me correctly.
US provides aid to Israel and in return Israel provides stability in the ME, otherwise the Arabs would be all over themselves. Israel is the only true friend and trusted ally in the ME. The rest can’t be trusted. And if you elect to help a friend you don’t tell them what they should be doing in their own country.
Aiding Syria, Jordan and Egypt and the likes only creates more problems for Israel. Any aid to these should be conditioned they refrain from any terrorism against Israel.
G-d led his people back to the Holy Land, the land He provided for them. This is a special G-d given right, this is the reason why they are there.
I wish I could but since I am just an old Catholic guy I am sure they won’t listen to me.
Well if you started more than 75 years ago, I would say you are right.
Oh, so an ally must only butt in when providing billions in aid? What difference does it make whatever any US president says – as long as the alliance is strong – which some Israpundits are working so hard to weaken – and the Bush guarantees stand. The point is that the decisions are made by Israel. Until Israel becomes our 51st state, that is where the blame or the praise lies.
The US government is not aiding most of these – the others are being aided for other geopolitical reasons that indirectly benefit Israel, and to keep the Russians, Chinese and Venezuelans from stemmping into the vacuum, which would be far worse for Israel. You are too blind to see the big picture.
Let’s keep Hashem out of politics. Everyone’s rights are God given.
We’re working on it. Please help us with your liberal American Jews, 52% of whom are still supporting Imam Obama.
We know all about that. However, I hate to tell you this but someone just sent me the following column written by a Jewish quisling claiming that it is Israel that is committing a “holocaust” against the Palestinians:
http://www.transnational.org/Area_MiddleEast/2007/Falk_PalestineGenocide.html
You need to straighten this guy out.
I started this probably before you were born. You either don’t read or remember all that I write on Israpundit. I even have a solution for Israel in my comments on another topic which has been praised by some readers.
BTW, please tell Yonatan that I proved his confusion and/or his duplicity in No. 44, using his own words.
Your words, twisty…
Are we supposed to believe Yonatan when he writes the comment above or the one below:
No, I’m not. Are you having comprehension problems like your fellow-bigot, Shy Guy?
Not true. In No. 39 I wrote:
Not true. Here is what I wrote in No. 39:
That says all that needs to be said about Yonatan. Dishonest is dishonest.
A/E your not being honest with yourself.
First and foremost the US administration has no business butting into the affairs of the Israelis with respects to the Palestinian and Arab situation.
The US administration should first of all stop aiding (financially and militarily) the terrorist organizations of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, including Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. These are the trouble makers in the ME.
The Israelis are only attempting to live in peace within the Holy Land which is by the way their G-d given rights.
Start by keeping Hillary, Georgie (the Arab) Mitchell, dumb dumb John Kerry & company at home, all are anti-Semites.
By the way if you haven’t noticed all these Arab countries have the worlds worst human rights violations, treating their citizens, especially women like crap.
It’s not space science to see who the good and bad guys are.
Time to start supporting Israel.
Let it be remembered by all reading this site’s comments that AmericanEaglet has stated that America is not pressuring Israel on East Jerusalem.
That says all that needs to be said about you. Dishonest is dishonest.
Heh.
But you don’t have the brains to know why we’re laughing at what you yourself just wrote.
Again you are being dishonest writing that I falsely think anyone is putting pressure on Israel. Responsibility lies with the Israeli Gov. to not fold under the pressure that is being applied to them. Responsibility also lies with the people to pressure the Gov not to allow that to happen, as well as press back on the world to stop this.
Thats what I’m doing – and your fighting AGAINST it. You have a strange way of helping.
“Eastern Yerushayalem” was re-captured by Israel in 1967. Thus, it is considered by the politically correct as subject to “negotiations”.
As a Christian I do not want Jerusalem to be divided or controlled by any Arabs.
However, the responsibility for whatever happens lies with the Israeli government, not on anyone else whom you falsely think may be putting pressure on Israel.
BTW, being called dishonest by you or Yamit is like being called ugly by a frog.
You’re being dishonest again. The purpose in pressuring us to stop building in Eastern Yerushalayim is what exactly?
Yup. Not an anti-American propagandist like you and Yamit. There is nothing the US, or anyone else, can “make” Israel do. Imam Obama could not even get the settlements stopped for 90 days. Wise up.
And you’re a realist, huh?
I’m not a prophet, just someone who sees the truth in human terms and connects the dots without deluding myself that Allah is not the same by a different name as Hashem, or G-d, or God, or that Jesus did not exist but everything in the Torah was written personally by God in HIS own hand and makes the most intolerant and bigoted Jew better than anyone else, or that a Temple means more than being a good person in human terms, which is what I believe God wants us to be. Otherwise, what good is any religion? Wise up.
The prophet and final arbiter has spoken so it must be so! Jesus or Allah? Doesn’t matter.
The context that is missing is that the US is trying to do no such thing.
As I have said before, you may stand with God, but God is working through the US, where your actual assistance is coming from down here on earth, to help you and keep you safe. You should be grateful to the US instead of trying to demonize your only real ally.
Fact – the US is trying to wrest the eastern portion of Yerushalayim away from the Jewish nation. Please provide the context and perspective that is missing.
We don’t stand alone – we stand with G-d. This is what is required of us – not peace treaties.
He is a 76-year-old American patriot and supporter of Israel. Unlike some of you he doesn’t seek to drive a wedge between Israel and the US. He has earned the right to say anything he wants in my opinion. That doesn’t mean I must refrain from pulling his leg. He has not yet accepted my offer to introduce him to other politically conservative Republican Jews in the Midwest. He is stuck by himself in the highly liberal state of Wisconsin.
Factual information is no longer factual when taken out of context and perspective. When done deliberately it becomes a deliberate attempt to drive the wedge I speak of. Fortunately, your side has not been successful because you are the exceptions and thus inconsequential.
My guess is that 20 to 25% of American Jews – all politically liberal, pro-abortion and statists – don’t give a crap about Israel. What I want to push aside is people like you who harm Israel’s interests due to religious bigotry and delusion that Israel must stand alone against the world.
Arnold,
Thanks for the seminar on Tommy guns. What I am currently in the marketplace for is a reliable concealable handgun to go with my concealed carry permit which is one of the benefits of living in my state. My house is already decorated with Kukhris and Trishuls – the former the weapon the Gurkhas wield with such elan as you may have seen in Korea, the latter a tri-pronged spear the ancient Hindu warriors used.
AE,
The Auto-Ordnance West Hurley Thompson SMGs, at least the 700+ M1 models produced in 1985-1986, were largely assembled from high-grade parts left over from the Savage Arms and Auto-Ordinance mass production contracts for the US armed forces. Unlike some of the early Auto-Ordnance West Hurley SMGs, the M1s handle and operate as well as their GI Joe forefathers. In addition, the fact that only a relative handful of these were ever produced has added value. Mine are serial numbers 683 and 711, which were among the last ones cranked out at the factory.
If you are really interested in these kinds of weapons, rather than wasting Instapundit space to gab about something totally foreign to most of these guys, why don’t you just google up some of the specialized websites that deal with them? And if you’re really interested in having one either to shoot or display over your fireplace with which to blow the minds of your Thangsgiving dinner guests, you could always buy one if you have the bucks and your wife wouldn’t scream at you for spending your money on such stuff. Lots of modern submachine guns sell for a lot less money than Thompson’s and aren’t as heavy to lug around.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I’m not comparing myself to anyone, just noticing how you handle him differently.
Ps – here’s a little hint for you also – pointing out factual information is not driving a wedge…its called the truth. Perhaps you don’t like the light so much?
Here’s another jewel for you – if the rest of the Jewish population in america is going to get a clue and stop voting for the obama type politician, as you want, they’re going to have to realize the same truths that you keep wanting to push aside.
Yonatan, don’t be a putz. You cannot compare yourself to Arnold. Unlike you and Yamit, he is not trying to drive a wedge between Israel and its only real ally.
AE – Comment on # 23 – don’t ignore it like you usually do.
Can a Thompson semi-automatic made by Auto Ordnance in West Hurley, NY – the same company that made YOUR two firearms – be considered a “piece of crap”? Perhaps your two are crap, too, just fully automatic crap? The one for sale may be worth next to nothing to you. All I said was that there was one being offered for $4,000.
This from a guy so monumentally ignorant that he has no clue what the US alliance means for Israel’s survival and writes subtle propaganda for Imam Obama that the Imam is no different from Bush.
No, and not just guns.
AE said:
Gee, thats funny coming from you. When those of us that live in Israel stand up and say something that is uncomfortable but true, you call us Israeli chest thumpers. Play both sides of the fence much?
AE,
Either it’s a real Thompson submachine gun, which means its worth $14,000 – $20,000 (and a lot more if it’s one of the original 1921 Colt Thompson SMGs; or its a semi-automatic peace of crap with the look or feel of a real submachine gun, and is worth next to nothing.
If you want a semi-automatic version of a select fire (full auto + semi-automatic) military grade weapon, and you have the money, spend about $1000 or whatever on an AR-15, which is the civilian version of the famed M-16, which shoots a .223 caliber round. As for the fake Thompson, it probably cost only a couple of hundred dollars to manufacture, if that much.
Am I wrong in assuming you really don’t know a hell of a lot about guns?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
The pizza tasted good and the fairy was cute as well:-)) No, it was a real Tommy, made by Auto Ordnance in West Hurley, NY – but you are right, it is a semi-automatic. You can have it for $4,000. If you are interested I will put you in touch with the dealer.
AE,
Maybe you thought you saw a Thompson submachine gun in an antique store. But that is about as likely as sitting down at a table and sharing a pizza with a tooth fairy. Since the Federal National Firearms Act was passed in 1934, the year of my birth, possession of automatic weapons by non-police and non-military civilians in the United States have been regulated by the United States Treasury Department. In order to purchase one of these, unless you hold a federally-issued license either to deal in or manufacturer these automatic weapons, the person or other legal entity selling you the firearm must first file a Treasury Department Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Form 4 with your photograph and fingerprints, along with a sign-off by the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of your place of residence, in which the CLEO certifies that 1) He/she has no knowledge that your possession of the firearm in question would violate any state or local law; and 2) that he/she has no knowledge that you would use the firearm for any illegal purpose. Then, before the firearm can be transferred to your possession, the Federal Bureau of Investigation takes up to 4-5 months to look for and find any evidence that would indicate you should not possess such a firearm.
There are about a quarter-million or more automatic weapons so owned around the USA, with many others held by these with dealers and manufacturers with federal certifications for these specific kinds of firearms.
You cannot even transport one of these firearms across state lines without a temporary federally issued license.
I know exactly what I am talking about here. I bought my two Thompsons on the same say in February 1995. The FBI check was completed some time in late May. In early June, I was notified by the two sellers, whom I had fully prepaid, that I could pick up the firearms at times of my convenience. In October 1995, I arranged to get the temporary interstate permit to drive with both Thompsons to Knob Creek, Kentucky, the site of a converted old military firearm testing range, to attend a weekend long machine gun shoot, for purposes of undertaking training and getting certification as a gunrange safety officer, and participating as such in a high-quality submachine gun match. Starting in 1996 and for about 10 successive years, I participated as a key organizer in the Wisconsin Class Three Sports Committee (WICTSC), which still exists.
I paid $2000 each for these Thompson SMGs in 1995, plus $200 for the required federal transfer tax stamp. Today, they are easily worth $14,000 – $20,000 each. Needless to say, both mine reside in a heavy safe that I bought used from a local bank.
If you saw something that looked like one of these in an antique shop, it almost certainly was either a fake, or a semi-automatic version of the famed submachine guns of the 1921-1945 era when most of these were manufactured, first by Colt Arms for Auto-Ordnance Corporation, then during World War II by Auto-Ordnance in its own factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and also by Savage Arms in Utica, New York. My two, both following the later World War II model designs, were manufactured in early 1986 by a later Auto-Ordnance Corporation located in West Hurley, New York.
Accuracy and consiseness are everything, AE.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Ilana,
Trans-Jordan is really eastern part of Palestine that was originally set aside for Jewish settlement in the original League of Nations mandata immediately following World War I.
But in actuality, Detroit and parts of Kuwait are now parts of Palestine. All kinds of places in Europe as well, if they don’t watch out.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Anybody remember there ALREADY IS a Palestinian state? It’s called JORDAN.
Arnold, you are a good man and a true American hero and patriot. Thank you for your service to the country, in the Korean War and since. I will refrain from pulling your leg from now on because I cannot afford to tangle with someone who owns a Tommy gun:-)) I just saw one in an antique store yesterday and the man wanted $4,000 for it. BTW, I just got a CCW permit, which I don’t think you can have in Wisconsin.
As a 76-year-old war veteran you have earned the right to call anything as you see it and to piss off anyone you please. What are they going to do to you that hasn’t been done already.
I am going to see if I can introduce you to some real Jewish Republicans. I know all 10 of them in the Midwest [Just kidding]. They all support the Tea Party and Sarah Palin. They are just as frustrated as you are with the liberal Jews, but at least you will know you are not alone.
I am a refugee from Marxism/socialism and a libertarian-conservative so I disagree with the government interfering with trade or telling American businesses what they should or should not do. Foreign companies are building plants in the southern United States and creating more decent jobs than we are losing through outsourcing, and doing so without any help from Uncle Sam. You know why? Because they are welcome and can make good profits. It is the high cost of doing business that is destroying the union dominated northern states and their livelyhood.
I want the government to just maintain the national infrastructure, bridges, freeways and airports, keep us safe as consumers, enforce the laws, secure the borders, keep our defense capability the best it can be and get the hell out of the way. No Education Department, no EPA, no Agriculture Department, no HHS, none of that shit that has been like a millstone areound our necks and is drowining us. If they stuck to the basics we would be energy independent in a decade while putting the Saudis and Venezuelans out of business and be getting back to what made this country great in the first place and our fiscal house in order from its current chaos.
Fair enough about influencing all those American Jews, AE. But just where do you imagine I ought to start?
But not too many US Jews pay much attention to a 76-year-old Korean War veteran who shoots Thompson submachine guns in action gun matches and is an NRA election volunteer coordinator; who supports right wing Republicans on issues such as shutting down the National Bankruptcy Express by killing congressional earmark funding for states and local communities; who has no patience for homosexual marriages or military service; who wants all the illegal aliens in this country rounded up an deported, along with property confiscations of unscrupulous businessman who hire them at slave-labor wages.
For that matter, a lot of Republicans want nothing to do with people trained in regional planning who want the farmlands and open spaces of places such as Dane County, Wisconsin protected from urban sprawl; who want to stop free trade with China and to rebuild an American industrial economy in which men and women can earn a living once again doing productive work; who wants an electric steel interstate highway system built upon the decaying remains of the once-great US railway system, with electification minimally of the 36,000 miles of the US Defense Department-defined STRACNET rail system for purposes of pulling a major segment of the 18-wheeler diesel-powered freight traffic off the US highway system before World Peak Oil causes the USA its down existential crisis one of these upcoming years.
I don’t aim to be popular, I’m not running for any poblic office, and I call things exactly as I see them. That’s probably not a good way to win friends and influence people. Talk to most people, and they would categorize me as schizophrenic, because I just don’t fit anybody’s specific mold. And fitting into preconeived pigeon holes is what the world signals that they want.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
C’mon, Arnold, don’t go wobbly on me! Jewish support for Obama has gone from 78% to 52% in two years. We need to keep working on them, especially the morons on the fence like Alan Dershowitz and Mort Zuckerman who carry a lot of influence with the liberals.
Be careful of saying nice things about American Christians. Yamit, who is allowed to write from his padded cell, thinks they are out to harm Israel.
AE,
I can’t do one damned thing to get any American Jewish support to help shrink the anti-Amrerican and anti-Israeli Obama support.
The reason is that most of the Jews I have run across in this country are deep-fried liberals who either are ashamed of their own Judaism, to say nothing of their connection by birth to the Jewish nation, or who treat it with indifference. I don’t like people of that ilk. They don’t seek my companionship and I don’t seek theirs.
The only Jews around liberal Madison, Wisconsin who are different from them are the ones who regularly show up for Shabat prayers at the local Lubavitcher stiebl, who don’t have too much use for me because they know I’m primarily a secular Zionist. I can’t pretend to be religious because I wasn’t raised that way. Despite that, when the mood suits me and I want to make the time for it, I drive 15 miles into central Madison to help make up a Shabat minyan for them. Even then, I get cold stares for violating the Shabat by starting a car engine. Which they interpret as making a fire. Truly, it was a lot easier to keep most of these mitzvot when Stefi and I lived in Jerusalem, and just about everything was shut down from Friday evening through Saturday evening.
So most of the people I know, around here and around the country, are Christians — especially Evangelicals, Mormons and Southern Baptists, Evangelical Lutherans, etc — who are in fact the main base of support for Israel in this country of ours. The Christians I know respect me for what I am, which is an American member of the Jewish nation, an unapologetic and uncompromising Zionist, and a man of self-respect. Not a one of them ever has tried to convert me to Jesus or anything else. I in turn respect them for what they are. In any case, I’m convinced that a real Christian America is as natural for this country as a real Jewish Israel is for the homeland of the eternal Jewish nation.
So I suppose Obama’s last and strongest defenders will be a bunch of Jews who have lost or never acquired their own sense of national self-respect. Nevertheless, our bunch will beat Obama and his bunch two years from now.
By the way. What exactly is your real name, and where are you from? Ted Belman has my email address if you want to keep that stuff private.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
More good news for those Israelis who are concerned about Israel being the center of the Muslim universe.
We saw from the Wikileaks that Saudi Arabia gives a crap about Israel and is far more concerned about Iran.
Now we see that Egypt has the same concerns:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/15/mubarak-iranian-influence-spreading-cancer/
Quote:
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak compared Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East to a “cancer,” according to a cable released by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
“President Mubarak has made it clear that he sees Iran as Egypt’s — and the region’s — primary strategic threat,” says the secret cable, sent April 28, 2009, from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. “His already dangerous neighborhood, he has stressed, has only become more so since the fall of Saddam, who, as nasty as he was, nevertheless stood as a wall against Iran, according to Mubarak. He now sees Tehran’s hand moving with ease throughout the region, ‘from the Gulf to Morocco,’ as he told a recent congressional delegation.”
Unquote.
Israelis with more than half a brain should see this as an opportunity to drive a wedge between the Sunnis and the Shia and pee on those who want to drive a wedge between Israel and the US.
That would make him a moron, because no one makes more ignorant snot-nosed comments than you do. I don’t think he’s a moron, just an Israeli patriot from the safety of Mount Horeb, Wi. I don’t think Arnold would support your anti-Israeli tactic of driving a wedge between Israel and its only real ally in the world, the US.
That’s probably because in his infinite wisdom Harris has you pegged from the beginning or at least it didn’t take him long. 😛
I might add: from you this was a whinny and wimpy comment. Shirley you can do better.
Arnold, why does this only apply to my snot-nosed comments? I have see you responding with snot-nosed comments to several other snot-nosed comments recently.
Calm down, Arnold. I was just checking. I hope you are going to help get the American Jewish support for Obama from the current 52% down to zero.
The last time I checked both sides want a one-state solution ragardless of the politically correct lip service about negotiations for a two-state solution. This flows from the fact that the Palestinians will not accept Israel as a Jewish state, and Israel will not give up East Jerusalem. This then either means the status quo will continue indefinitely or a decisive war will eventually have to be fought to settle the issue once and for all.
By the way, AE,
I don’t usually take the time to reply to hostile or snot-nosed comments from people who hide under fake monikers on anybody’s blogsite. My real name is Arnold Harris, exactly as was on my birth certificate. I do in fact live about six miles outside Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, which is a rural part of Dane County. I never hide under any kind of mask, literary or facial, since I’m not especially partial to the Ku Klux Klan or to Arab gangs which use the same kinds of disguises — without which, they count for nothing.
I don’t exactly know who you are, but I would respect you a lot more if you posted your real name, even if you disagreed with me. But then again, not everybody has the strength of character to come up to the standards that people like me live by.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
No, AE.
I most emphatically did NOT vote for Barack Hussein Obama two years ago. I regarded that man’s election as little more than a campaign hatched and pumped up by a bumch of Hollywood ballyhoo artists for purposes of conning America’s voters with something new and truly different. Which certainly was what we all got.
I did in fact vote for Governor Sarah Palin and Senator John McCain. And no, I have not mistakingly described them in the wrong name order. Palin from the first time I heard her during the campaign captured my interest and my support.
As for my sitting here in the relative safety of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, I spent 18 months in Israel 1973 and 1974, with a one-year fellowship to pursue graduate studies in city and regional planning at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. My wife, Stefi, had as similar grant to study at their Institute of Archaeology. We were there for the not-infrequent dangers to the country posed by the 1973 attack against Israel by Egypt and Syria. We did our bit, which was to deliver telegrams in and around the blacked-out city of Jerusalem. Not much, I suppose, but we served. I was 39 years old when I first saw Israel in February 1973, and I’m 76 now.
In any case, I think that the Jewish nation has full right to the entirety of Aretz-Yisrael, if not for me directly, then for the great Jewish nation that is being rebuilt on the soil of Israel. I do not believe in compromise about anything, and I think that if Israel’s claims over Jerusalem, for example, are invalid, then the rights the Jewish state to the land that Tel Aviv sits on would be equally invalid.
I read in Tanach somewhere that Melech Shlomo, noted for his wisdom, had to choose between two women claiming conflicting motherhood rights over the same child. Shlomo tested them by falsely offering to cut the infant in two. One of the two women accepted the king’s offer. The other women told him she would rather abandon the child to the other woman than to see him butchered. And that was the woman to whom the king awarded permanent custody.
So too shall it be for Israel. Aretz-Yisrael will eventually be under full control of the one contending side that never agrees to partition it. If you fail to understand that, AE, then you understand nothing about this national struggle.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Well said, Arnold, from the safety of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.
I hope you are not one of those who voted for Barack Obama.
Israel has given up numerous opportunities since 1947 to do as you suggest, the latest being Gaza.
Well, I for one want a powerful and independent Jewish state with its western border along the Nile, and its northeastern border along the upper Euphrates adjoining Kurdistan, its southeastern border in the middle of the Syrian desert, its northern border along the Litani gorge, and its western border along the sea.
And as long as the nearby Arab states want to keep starting new shoot-em-ups with the State of Israel, I want Israel to use these wars as opportunities to take those lands, and fill them with Jews, and annex them, one solid step at a time. The good old USA and the Canadians did just that to grab all North America from ocean to ocean. So just don’t snicker about this unless you want to sign Connecticut and New York back to the Mohawks.
I don’t give a damn about peace, and I never will. What I want is the victory of the Jewish nation. And that too will come. The religious ones among you can probably point out for me the appropriate backup documentation in the Chumash or Tanach. (I understand its there, and if so, that in itself represents true Judaism, not this Tikun ha’Olam stuff of the American liberal Jews.) Besides, the great American parks and open spaces planner Daniel Burnham admonished: “Make no little plans”.
And any Israeli government that ever gives up any part of any land under control of the Jewish state are traitors to the Jewish nation, in my judgement. The same way I would judge any American government that agreed to give southern California back to Mexico just because the Obamites couldn’t screw up the courage to deport the illegal wetbacks.
So when Mr negotiator Mitchell comes around your neighborhood asking how much bribe money it will take for you to give up your homes in Yehuda and Shomron, let him know that this American from southern Wisconsin advises that he can take his Roadmap to Peace, screw it up into a thin roll, and carefully insert it in a place where the sun never shines.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
It’s not often I find myself in agreement with BlandOatmeal, but he’s 100% correct above. As I’ve commented many times, if Israel wants peace and a permanent place in this world, it needs to decide what it wants to be when it grows up… establish a constitution or host a national referendum that defines the character of the state, then draw borders and assert them to the last man. Anyone that doesn’t like it can move to the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
I’ve never seen a more pusillanimous and neurotically ambivalent bunch of pansies running a country.
1. Is that what Ehud Barak offered in 2000?
2. Is all this OK with Yamit? How about Shy Guy?
I think, Ted, that what you think is “Israel”‘s position is actually your own; though I am grateful to see at least one Jew come up with a position that at least seems reasonable. I’d lay down a big wager that the Arabs NEVER accept such a position; and the “demilitarized” aspect of it is downright laughable. After all, haven’t the Pals been “demilitarized” all along? Yet there’s no peace. How do you propose to “demilitarize” them? By borrowing some troops from UNIFIL?
Israel wants an undivided Jerusalem as its capital, a permanent presence on the Jordan, a demilitarized Palestine, absolute control of borders and air space and the retention of all settlement blocs and most settlements including Maaleh Adumin and Ariel.
I know what the Arabs want, but I haven’t the foggiest notion, what the Jews want. Maybe Mitchell is right, in trying to find out. But will this lead to peace? Of course not!