Who's to blame for Palestinian suffering?

townhall.com ^ | 3/23/04 | Armstrong Williams

[kattracks]

Many people see the Arab-Israeli conflict as a hopeless morass, a maelstrom of hatred with no beginning or end. Both sides are victims and victimizers, so goes the refrain.

It is true that both sides are suffering, but on closer examination this neat symmetry of blame breaks down.

Recently, we recorded my syndicated television show from Jerusalem. During that time, we talked to Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu about his attempts to revamp the Israeli economy along free-market lines. We also talked to Diaspora Affairs Minister Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident, about being imprisoned for 13 years, much of it in the Siberian gulag, and continuing the fight for human rights as an Israeli elected official.

Sharansky sees no contradiction between his struggle for human rights then or now.

"On one hand, so many people feel Israel is a big violator of human rights, but I know Israel demonstrates more sensitivity to human rights than any other democracy in the world," said Sharansky. He added, "the depth of all concessions should only be (comparable) to the depth of democracy on the other side."

[Honestfreedom]

Armstrong is putting into words one question I have asked for years. What is a Palestinian other than a person who hates Jews? They seem to have no other unifying or identifying characteristics.

[Betaille]

"Israel demonstrates more sensitivity to human rights than any other democracy in the world," said Sharansky"

That is why you still haven't stamped out terror. You have to get brutal to beat such a threat. You don't have to commit genocide... but you have to remove all doubt in the palestinians mind that you are willing to do so if this continues.

[Betaille]

"They seem to have no other unifying or identifying characteristics"
Supposedly they are the arabs(and their descendants) who lived in the geographic area that we now know as Israel. However many of them are actually from the arab countries that surround Israel... Egypt being the most popular in my estimation(Arafat is actually Egyptian).
So ultimately my answer to you is that they are just Arabs who want to live in the geographic area we now know as Israel.

[NYC GOP Chick]

However many of them are actually from the arab countries that surround Israel... Egypt being the most popular in my estimation(Arafat is actually Egyptian).

Actually, Jordan="palestine"

[Betaille]

Actually, Jordan="palestine"
So why not drive the "palestinians" in the west bank into Jordan?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Because, like the rest of the world, Jordan doesn't want them either, and since Israel is at a "cold peace" with Jordan, they probably don't want to heat up hostilities by forcing the issue.

[ladyinred]

Israel is hampered at every turn from doing what they know they need to do. Not only does this country ask them to show restraint, but the world media attacks them unmercifully when they do retaliate.

[Betaille]

How about lebanon or Syria?

[Betaille]

"the world media attacks them unmercifully when they do retaliate."
Actually... it seems to attack them unmercifully even when they do NOT retaliate. If israel is serious about acheiving a goal... the Bush white house won't interfere.

[Dan from Michigan]

Whose to blame? Pali's. Bigtime.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Irrelevant. None of the arab countries want the so-called palis. According to Israelis I used to know and with whom I worked (and these were, for the most part, peacenik types -- until Intifada 2), they have a reputation as lazy and nasty leeches.

Also, as long as the dictators in the arab world can keep them living in such squalor, they can focus their subjects' attention on their "plight," instead of on what corrupt and vile rulers the tyrants really are.

[endthematrix]

"In a land where large portions of the population are starving and lack a sense of future possibilities, this kind of social conditioning holds a special appeal, suggesting a more glorious alternative to poverty...Meanwhile, Palestinians suffer. They are poor. They lack a court system, and even many basic rights."

When are the Palestine people going to learn that they are dupe for a very rich elite. The question I ask is why aren't their Muslim brothers, who have deep pockets for terrorists and have enough wealth to support all aspects of society there for them, dosen't. The Arab world cries injustice towards Israel, fully understanding the Palestine people must be kept from rising above sub standard conditions. They might become wise...

[kingu]

What is a Palestinian other than a person who hates Jews?

What is Palestine? Can anyone point to a map of this place? Are the disputed lands Palestine? Does anyone on here think that if the disputed lands were returned to their respective former countries that they'd turn around and hand over the land to these so called Palestinians?

There is no Palestine, therefore there are no Palestinians. And about the only way to prove this to the world would be to actually hand those lands back to the Arab countries which lost them.

[endthematrix]

re: Also, as long as the dictators in the Arab world can keep them living in such squalor, they can focus their subjects' attention on their "plight," instead of on what corrupt and vile rulers the tyrants really are.

Girl, you stole my thunder. Right on!

[goldstategop]

The Palestinians have contributed nothing to the world except mayhem and bloodshed. Even their few brightest stars, like the Professor Of Terror, the late Edward Said, were apologists for Arab despotism and cultural backwardedness.

[wingman1]

Sometimes I am really dense. I read the words that accompany your map and finally it hit me. I bookmarked your JewPoint blog also. Good site.

[Fiddlstix]

Who's to blame for Palestinian suffering?

Well that's a "no brainer" if there ever was one.
Just who is it that is sending suicide bombers to blow up Israelis?
(If you answered "palestinians", you win)