Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

U.S. calls Israeli settlements 'counterproductive'

World Sep. 28, 2011 - 07:05AM JST ( 21 )

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21 Comments

-2

smithinjapanSep. 28, 2011 - 08:54AM JST

Like calling the 'carte blanche' the US gives Israel for its war crimes a 'white card'.
-1

Elbuda MexicanoSep. 28, 2011 - 09:12AM JST

This Israeli vs. Palestinian problem is so stupid, they should just separate these 2 from each other and stop wasting our time and $$$$$ for this particular part of the world that will never see real peace, because both the Jews and the Muslims think the are so correct in their ideas, so they will keep killing each other at any chance, or at least trying to poke each other in the eye sort of speak. So childish, and these are supposed to be 2 of the worlds main religions?? Time for deep, deep reflection and to stop only thinking about the past, nothing can be done about past deeds, but we sure as heck can work to make a better future, IMHO.
-1

Ben_JackinoffSep. 28, 2011 - 09:36AM JST

U.S. calls Israeli settlements 'counterproductive' and completely ignores Hamas' continuing negative influence on the process.
-1

fdsSep. 28, 2011 - 11:06AM JST

face it, the israelis and the palestinians are never going to agree to anything. israel should just take what is wants and tell the palestinians, this is your state, take it or leave but if you attack us, we will consider it a declaration of war and will destroy you.
1

mikediabSep. 28, 2011 - 12:03PM JST

@Mexcicano, you are equating the agressor with the victim here. Your understanding of the israeli-palestinian conflict is obviously very shallow. Having said that, I don't condone all what hamas does, but in comparison to the actions of israeli GOV they look to me like angels. Until this conflict is resolved fairly to all sides involved, will never see peace in the middle east and the rest of the world Giving how deeply the US is involved to protect israel and the cowardness of the europeans.
1

Ben_JackinoffSep. 28, 2011 - 12:11PM JST

mikediab,

You sure sound like you condone quite a bit of what Hamas does. How does that work? They don't want peace. How could anyone agree with any part of that?
-1
tchangleeSep. 28, 2011 - 12:29PM JST
1. Jerusalem was built by the Jews & non Jews approx 2000 years ago. Muslim didn't exist then.
2. The muslims started a war against the Jews in 1967 and lost the war as well as Jeruslaem, gaza,etc to Israel.
What makes the muslims think they own Jerusalem? Are they willing to return the land if they won the war? The answer is NO! Besides the Jews are more than willing to co-exist with the muslims but not the other way around. Their koran basically condemn Jews and all non muslims. I would suggest kick out all the muslims if they refuse to accept Jewish rules. You don't compromise with barbarians!
1

Ben_JackinoffSep. 28, 2011 - 12:33PM JST

tchanglee,

Well, there was certainly nothing at all contraversial in that post.
0

illsayitSep. 28, 2011 - 02:15PM JST

Maybe the Jews are teaching about faith-I mean it is more than likely that they could be questioning of exactly how much the US stands for God, despite that was how the country supposedly started. And the Muslims, despite their lack of prophesy, at least believe strongly in God. It would be a bit of a toss of a coin to work out exactly who, or rather which country God has put his faith. So maybe the continuation of 'business as usual'-and getting construction done for the people-whether they be Jews, Muslim or American-is a lesson in faith. Mind I wouldnt want to be sitting over there now, but I guess some people are made for it! Certainly is interesting times.
0

kurisupisuSep. 28, 2011 - 02:55PM JST

@Ben_Jackinoff

How could the Israelis' encroachment into Palestine be nothing less than counterproductive?

Put the shoe on the other foot for a change and imagine what it would be like to be terrorized by soldiers with weapons,bulldozers and tear gas in the midst of a forced evacuation. Soldiers not only forcing Palestinians out of their own homes and from their own land but also destroying the very same homes so return is impossible. That is a fascist act worthy of a dictator like Hitler, not a so called democratic state,is it not? How can we cajole the Palestinians towards peace with oppressors like these?

Also, Hamas is not the sole political party in Palestine , Fatah also exists, along with many others

(see below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofpoliticalpartiesinthePalestinianNationalAuthority

From your posts I get the impression that Hamas is a terrorist group completely in charge of Palestine.

This is not the case though..............
0

Ben_JackinoffSep. 28, 2011 - 03:13PM JST

How could the Israelis' encroachment into Palestine be nothing less than counterproductive?

I never said the settlement issue was not counterproductive. However, Israelis are not 'encroaching' into Palestine. They have been in the occupied territories for more 40 years. They occupy less of that area than they did before, not more.

Put the shoe on the other foot for a change and imagine what it would be like to be...

Okay, the shoe is on the other foot....I want peace. I want an independent nation. The same as I wanted when the shoe was on the first foot. Has what I have been doing so far gotten me these things? No. So... I would stay at the table with the Israelis until a deal was worked out and I would not make excuses for not doing so. Complaining that there is no deal when you are not willing to sit down to make a deal is rather pointless. You get brownie points for invoking Godwin's law though.

Also, Hamas is the elected government of the Palestinian people, not the other parties. They completely control Gaza. They are a reality that must be taken into consideration at some point, as much as the world would like to forget they exist.
0

kurisupisuSep. 28, 2011 - 03:17PM JST

@Ben_Jackinoff

thanks for the reply

Let's hope that peace comes sooner rather than later !
0

WilliBSep. 28, 2011 - 03:33PM JST

tchanglee:

" What makes the muslims think they own Jerusalem? Are they willing to return the land if they won the war? "

It is fundamental islamic doctrine. Once a land joints the harb-al-islam, it belongs to islam forever. For the same reasong, islamist groups also declare that Spain belongs to islam (Al-Andalus). Only that fact gets little mention in the press, last but not least because it is so far-fetched. But it is not different from from the claim on Israel.

It is the existance of the Jewish state that the Palestinian Arabs object to, and not anything particular that Israel does. Any retreat by Israel will be accepted and then followed up with demands for more.

Note that on PA maps, Israel does not exist.
-4

JapanGalSep. 28, 2011 - 03:58PM JST

tchanglee

Perfect.

Long live Israel
0

labelleSep. 28, 2011 - 05:07PM JST

The problem's not primarily about settlements or borders or the host of other reasons people bring up. It's down to one question. Why can't the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state? If they did this, in word and deed, there would be peace.
0

naruhodo1Sep. 28, 2011 - 07:02PM JST

Labelle, they would if they could get back their 67 borders. People seem to forget that the jews were givn more than 70% of Palestine by the brits after ww2. They gained even more in 67 now they have like 88% and keep expanding. Palis are not even asking for ALL of Palestine, they are just asking for 67 borders which is a mere 30% of what used to be 100% palestine, but we all know the stereo type of jews and they only want to give 15-20%.
1

naruhodo1Sep. 28, 2011 - 07:04PM JST

And if it isnt for the US veto power that is used yearly, palestine would have gotten their land back
0

labelleSep. 28, 2011 - 09:37PM JST

Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I remember hearing last week at the UN, in a speech about Israel and the Palestinians, Abbas never once uttered the word "Jew" or "Jewish." An example of his Jew-free view of the history of Israel/Palestine: "I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the land of divine messages, ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the birthplace of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) …"

Two Israeli peace proposals, in 2000 and 2008 met almost all of the Palestinians' demands for a state in the areas won by Israel in the 1967 war — in the West Bank, Gaza and even East Jerusalem. But Palestinian President Yasser Arafat rejected the first offer and Abbas ignored the second, for the same reason their predecessors rejected the 1947 Partition Plan - accepting a Palestinian State meant accepting the Jewish State, a concession they were unwilling to make.

Ghassan Khatib, director of government media for the PA and spokesman for Abbas said in an interview that the Palestinians do not recognise Israel as the Jewish state. There is no Jewish people, he said, so how could there be a Jewish country? Then of course there's Hamas...
0

naruhodo1Sep. 28, 2011 - 11:10PM JST

Labelle, total BS. Rejected for jerusalem, rights of return of refugees, control over air space etc. In many many speeches by Arafat, he speaks of jews as cousins and brothers. Perhaps his Arabic was lost in translation from western media, but then again, ive also heard the same words uttered in English. The media is a powerful tool for brainwashing, but we all know better now...
0

SuperLibSep. 29, 2011 - 12:01AM JST

So it looks like Netanyahu thinks there will never be peace with the Palestinians. Maybe he's right, maybe he's not.

Either way I don't see what Obama or any US president can do. Might as well let them have it their way and fight it out forever. There's no need for us to be the lightening rod for criticism. We've paid out the nose to Israel, Palestine, and Egypt, and our Presidents have spent enormous amounts of time on the issue that could be spent on domestic issues instead. At this point neither side is doing anything to work towards a comprehensive peace deal. Until there is a major shift by one or both parties we should just sit on the sidelines and let them blow each other up. Sooner or later one of them will need help.
0

labelleSep. 29, 2011 - 08:17AM JST

naruhodo1 thank you for being polite. I'm from Lebanon and listen to and watch Arabic media as well as European/American media. You would be amazed at the difference between what the Palestinian leaders (and other Arabs) say in their own language and what they say for an English-speaking audience. I have also taught in schools in both Lebanon and Israel and if you want to see the power of brainwashing, just get hold of an Arabic textbook which refers to Israel or Jews.