Comments on: Egypt Tells Israel “You Lost”

By: freespeechlover

freespeechlover — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:16:32 +0000

The issue here isn’t about smuggling. THAT was Kabuki theater for Livni in the run up to the elections. The majority of rockets fired into Israel are not Kathushas but homemade, so the entire smuggling scene is a ruse. Israel doesn’t want to deal with Hamas, just as it didn’t want to deal with the P.L.O. You don’t solve rocket fire by bombing civilian infrastructure, just as you don’t stop suicide bombings by the same (which Israel did to the West Bank in 2002). Israel has to either get out of the West Bank, E. Jerusalem and Gaza (arrangements for religious sites in Jerusalem can be made) or else face what is likely to become the next state in the Palestinian struggle which is a demand for equality within the state of Israel, since that’s where the Palestinians are today. What Israel can’t expect is to continue the status quo of continuing its settler colonial project for Palestine and expect security. Zionism has to end at some point in time and space. The international community has made clear where that is–Israel’s 1967 border. Once Israel takes its colonies and goes home to Israel, the beginning of a genuine resolution of outstanding issues–including the thorny problem of Palestinian refugees–can begin. Hopefully, if George Mitchell is the next US Middle East envoy he will be tougher with Israel and clarify that we are no longer outsourcing U.S. policy on the conflict to Israel but retaining what is best for U.S. interests.

By: macaquerman

macaquerman — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:08:31 +0000

Ship to Somalia or Sudan, truck to Egypt.

By: selise

selise — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:54:26 +0000

frebnedzo – thanks for your perspective. especially being so far from the situation, it is helpful to hear directly from israelis and palestinians.

By: Frebnedzo

Frebnedzo — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:50:09 +0000

Well, as an Israeli, I was surprized to realize during this war that I had come to believe that the last war actually “worked out” : both Hezbollah and Israel established some deterence effect towards each other, and given a chance for things to escalate again (for instance, this war) the sides did NOT escalate.

So my hopes are that after both sides are done saying “I won”, “no, you lost” etc, the same thing will happen with Gaza : Hamas will not launch missiles into Israel and Israel will recognize that it must talk to Hamas, even if only through back channels. This will result in an exchange for some bodies and the same sort of calm that now exists on the Lebanon border.

Yes, Hamas will probably re-arm but, like Hezbollah, but MAD (Mutually Assured Discomfort) may prevent anyone from launching. (And Israel will be re-armed, providing a few billion dollars of US bailout to the US arms industry).

By: Knut

Knut — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:13:31 +0000

Israel has one big surprise coming if they think they can run against the big O. His election owed nothing to their constituency, and if his administration manages to pull the US away from the brink of the Great Depression, their blackmailing power will be finished for a generation. I’m sure the brighter minds in the Israeli establishment understand this. Hard to say what the Likudniks think. Netanyahu is going to get his nuts cracked, though, if he comes to the White House with anything that looks like an unrequited demand.

By: Primrose

Primrose — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:54:12 +0000

And that would leave the Palestinians nothing with which to protest. Would they still be in our thoughts and prayers? What do we DO about their problems when they don’t protest?

Don’t we all just assume that everything is A-OK and we have our own problems to worry about when there’s no war over there?

We GIVE bombs and illegal arms and chemicals to Israel, and now you suggest that all protection from the Palestinians be withheld. If you agree that this war was coming no matter what because of internal Israeli politics, then what defense would Hamas have against that? The same thing would have happened — Israel would have found another excuse.

Or do you actually believe that Israelis only want peace and that the reason they kill all those innocents is because, like the wife who’s beaten daily, they “deserve” it.

By: Larue

Larue — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:49:07 +0000

And a part of every country, culture, and lifestyle thruout history! *G*

Baksheesh, like chi without milk, is a given. *G*

By: Larue

Larue — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:18:18 +0000

Let her be appointed if that’s what the Governor will do. It’s legal.

And let her serve. In 2012 the public can cast votes, also legally, to keep or boot her.

But let her serve. Let’s see how she does. Her father and uncle were murdered decades ago. Her other uncle has served well, for the most part. It’s not like she’s piggy backed all her life on their creds.

I think our system will allow for her service to be judged. Let the system serve her, and us, as well.

Harumph.

By: Larue

Larue — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:09:21 +0000

Maybe not by Israel, but False? Good call . . . . any number of people could be paid to take poorly manufactured products and set them off southerly. Everyone gets paid, and the longer it goes on, the longer people get paid for doing the same thing, over and over again. Status quo is money for war. I’ll try and stop repeating myself. Good thread, great comments, as usual. Thanks all.

By: Larue

Larue — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:07:15 +0000

That should be the FIRST thing on your top of mind awareness. Follow the money. War and arms are a means of money, power and control.