tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post2393778384027395330..comments2024-03-29T07:16:53.040-04:00Comments on Daled Amos: Israel's Open Letter to the Arab WorldDaled Amoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17646808702899584547noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-52380482560767615982009-12-22T15:30:09.371-05:002009-12-22T15:30:09.371-05:00First of all, I think many things have changed sin...First of all, I think many things have changed since the year 1970. Today, Israel is still controlling Gaza through an 'invisible hand'. Israel completely controls the importation of goods into Gaza and exercises significant control over the exit of goods from Gaza abroad and to the West Bank. All those border closures we've been seeing are just a part of a deliberate effort to maintain pressure on Gaza by strangling its economy. Now, how can we achieve a just peace and an independent Palestinian state when Palestinians are struggling to survive living under severe harsh economical conditions and lack the freedom of movement, work and dignity? Again, I'm not saying it is all due to Israel, I just don't think the Palestinians are the only ones to be blamed.<br /><br />Your two links don't change the fact that desperate people don't think rationally. Desperate people turn radical. It has always been like that. And that's why radical Hamas won the elections and that's why it is more popular in Gaza than it is in West Bank.<br /><br />Do I honestly believe the current situation would continue if the Palestinian Arabs stopped attacking Israel? - Well, one should ask himself why do Palestinians attacking Israel in a first place. Why don't some radical Egyptains attack Israel, for example? I think the occupation is playing a big role there.<br /><br />For the illegal wall (I agree it helped reducing Palestinians attack, but there are claims it stole a part of the Palestinian land) and illegal settlements I can only say two words: International law. There are plenty of legal experts who have written that they are illegal. The World Court calls a wall a gross violation of international law and basic human rights. And that tells enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-38019822141356959532009-12-22T12:44:45.393-05:002009-12-22T12:44:45.393-05:00Palestinians are suffering, everyone can see that....<i>Palestinians are suffering, everyone can see that. They have no working economy, no army and no security. And please don't say they're the only ones to be blamed for that, because that's not true</i><br /><br /><a href="http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2008/04/palestinian-refugees-get-chile.html" rel="nofollow">Of course it's true</a>!<br /><br />When Palestinian Arabs did not make killing Jews their top priority, the Palestinian territories had one of the ten fastest growing economies during the 1970's, just behind Saudi Arabia (which benefitted from the oil shock of 1973), and ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.(World Bank, ratio of real per capita GNP in 1980 to real per capita GNP in 1970)<br /><br />It's about time Palestinian Arabs be held responsible for killing civilians. Do you honestly believe the current situation would continue if the Palestinian Arabs stopped attacking Israel? <br /><br />The above economic history shows that it most certainly would not.<br /><br /><i>Anyway, in bad situations like that, desperate people usualy turn to radicalism and extremism.</i><br /><br />Really.<br />Than explain <a href="Anyway,%20in%20bad%20situations%20like%20that,%20desperate%20people%20usualy%20turn%20to%20radicalism%20and%20extremism." rel="nofollow">these attacks in the US</a>.<br /><br />Even better, <a href="http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-did-global-jihad-attack-in-2008.html" rel="nofollow">explain then these attacks around the world</a>?<br /><br />And don't tell me it is all due to Israel, considering <br />1. How Muslims do <i>not</i> up for each other--see Sudan and how the Arab League welcomed the Sudanese president who is accused of war crimes.<br /><br />2. Palestinians are unwelcome and persecuted in Lebanon, Iraq, and Kuwait<br /><br /><i>Sure, but who controls Gaza's borders, airspace and economy?</i><br /><br />And who is firing rockets from there into civilian areas and schools?<br /><br />Please give me the source that indicates that Israel actually controls the Gazan economy.<br /><br />As far as the West Bank economy--you have <a href="http://daledamos.blogspot.com/search/label/West%20Bank%20Turnaround?max-results=100" rel="nofollow">a growing economy that is bucking the global trend</a>, and proves the lie to the claims about Gaza.<br /><br /><i>What's more, Israel can go and destroy their houses and schools and kill thousands of them whenever she feels so.</i><br /><br />Huh, you mean as opposed to the Gazans who actually <i>do</i> fire rockets at Israel "whenever she feels so"?<br /><br /><i>Israel is building illegal settlements and illegal wall on the land where she shouldn't.</i><br /><br />It's not illegal if it's not Palestinian land. There are plenty of legal experts who have written that they are not illegal.<br /><br />As for the fence--considering the <b>huge</b> number of lives saved (or have you forgotten about the suicide bombers), even if it was illegal, what exactly is your argument? <br /><br />And on what basis is that fence illegal?Daled Amoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646808702899584547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-74345419276453044662009-12-22T12:08:31.203-05:002009-12-22T12:08:31.203-05:00Maybe I should really pay more attention to radica...Maybe I should really pay more attention to radical Islam and its movements. I never said the occupation is the only problem. But it is a BIG problem and if you don't realize it, then I think you don't (want to?) see the reality. <br /><br />Palestinians are suffering, everyone can see that. They have no working economy, no army and no security. And please don't say they're the only ones to be blamed for that, because that's not true. Anyway, in bad situations like that, desperate people usualy turn to radicalism and extremism. <br /><br />Israel says Gaza is not occupied anymore. Sure, but who controls Gaza's borders, airspace and economy? Surely not Palestinians. What's more, Israel can go and destroy their houses and schools and kill thousands of them whenever she feels so. Israel is building illegal settlements and illegal wall on the land where she shouldn't. Those things are just few of the reasons why there's no peace. I'm not saying Palestinian side is perfect or that it should not be blamed. Both sides are responsible for the situation we have today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-53642098471569110752009-12-21T16:36:53.404-05:002009-12-21T16:36:53.404-05:00To say the heart of the conflict is the 'occup...To say the heart of the conflict is the 'occupation' is to ignore the history of Islam and Jihad--or do you think it spread because everyone thought it was such a swell idea?<br /><br />What the world thinks is irrelevant--if you are talking about a legal concept then go to the legal arguments and documentation. "Occupation" and "Illegal Settlements" are legal terms, not matters of opinion by the man on the street.Daled Amoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646808702899584547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-2081421213934839102009-12-21T14:19:12.317-05:002009-12-21T14:19:12.317-05:00You don't see the occupation? Then I'm afr...You don't see the occupation? Then I'm afraid you don't see the heart of the conflict. I'm not a lawyer nor a historian, but if the whole world (except perhaps israel) is using the word "occupation" and "illegal settlements" while reffering to that region, then those terms are good enough for me to use them. Anyway, we could discuss that topic for long, but i don't really have time for it now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-14404687837956568112009-12-21T13:10:55.886-05:002009-12-21T13:10:55.886-05:00What occupied territory?
The land never belonged t...What occupied territory?<br />The land never belonged to the Palestinians who never existed until Arafat created the myth.<br /><br />Before 1967, the land was under the control of Egypt and Jordan, whose seizure of the land during the 1948 was never recognized by the international community.<br /><br />Before that, it was mandated land for Great Britain to oversee.<br /><br />Before that it belonged to the Ottoman Empire--but there was NEVER a Palestinian state.<br /><br />The only country that has ever existed on that land is Israel--then and now.<br /><br />The land is disputed, but it is not occupied.Daled Amoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646808702899584547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15627892.post-29020831877214918502009-12-21T13:02:23.891-05:002009-12-21T13:02:23.891-05:00if israel wants to fight extremism then she can do...if israel wants to fight extremism then she can do much more than just writing a letter. The occupation is one of the main problems in the circle of violence. Remember: without justice for the Palestinians, there can be no security or peace for Israelis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com