Gaza, Hamas, and the Arab World

[mawilson 2,133]

3500 years? Its not been going on that long - Palestinian national identity only emerged during the last 200 - 300 years (and really only after the Ottoman Empire collapsed after WW1).

They (and the Jews) have been the subjects of various world empires throughout history. As far as anti-semitism goes - it was worse in Europe during the middle-ages than it was in the muslim world.

And is just about as bad today. Thank God for Israel - at least European Jews have *somewhere* to go

when a new wave of pogroms breaks out in Europe.

[almaty 19]

hmmm..you think, that there be new pogroms in europe, in your life time?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There was anti-semitism in the post WW2 years, and there is something of a resurgence of right-wing nationalism is places like the Netherlands.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

3500 years? Its not been going on that long - Palestinian national identity only emerged during the last 200 - 300 years (and really only after the Ottoman Empire collapsed after WW1).

They (and the Jews) have been the subjects of various world empires throughout history. As far as anti-semitism goes - it was worse in Europe during the middle-ages than it was in the muslim world.

And is just about as bad today. Thank God for Israel - at least European Jews have *somewhere* to go

when a new wave of pogroms breaks out in Europe.

Just as bad today?

Au Contraire - the Spanish (for example) used to impose exorbitant taxes on Jews during (I think) 1500's. Plenty of slavery too.

[mawilson 2,133]

hmmm..you think, that there be new pogroms in europe, in your life time?

Anything's possible. I never thought there would another Great Depression in my lifetime and yet here we are...

[almaty 19]

interesting....

[Yoink 7]

All forms of racism increase during world-wide economic depressions as people look for outlets to their misery.

Europe has some huge Arab populations as %s of total population... much higher than the U.S.

The U.S. has huge Jewish populations

It is no wonder that anti-semitism and seemingly pro-palestinian support abounds in Europe

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't know how anyone can justify the disproportionate Israeli response and sophistry over the civilian casualties.

[alienlovechild 75]

I don't know how anyone can justify the disproportionate Israeli response and sophistry over the civilian casualties.

So your proposing Israel blindly launch an equal number rockets into Gaza that Hamas launches into Israel? They can do what China and Taiwan did over Kinmen Island for years. Shell each on alternate days and take Sunday off.

It's baffling how many people think a war is some controlled sporting events with evenly matched teams on a level playing field. 6, would you be more satisfied if the Israelis had more killed on their own territory or should Hamas be given better weapons to make it more sporting?

The reality is you've got two groups of people fighting each other and not able to come to mutually agreed upon peace agreement over terrority. Without an ordered peace you can get an disorderly war. One side makes it bad enough for the other to cease hostilities or surrender.

Edited January 9, 2009 by alienlovechild

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Exercising some restraint might be a good start..

[NickD 202]

3500 years? Its not been going on that long - Palestinian national identity only emerged during the last 200 - 300 years (and really only after the Ottoman Empire collapsed after WW1).

They (and the Jews) have been the subjects of various world empires throughout history. As far as anti-semitism goes - it was worse in Europe during the middle-ages than it was in the muslim world.

Back in the time of Moses where even the best biblical scholars can't agree on the exact dates, anywhere from 3,000 to over 3,500 years ago. Moses promised the Jews the land of milk and honey, but never got there. Joshua took over and had to destroy Jericho to get rid of the Canaanites that somehow took over that land. Joseph, the older one, was dumped by his brothers, escaped to Egypt, could interpret dreams, was given a high office, then suddenly, the Jews were enslaved forced to make bricks without straw. Oh, and we are making bricks today without straw. So Moses had to free them from that guy, but what happened to all those Jews in the promised land that Joseph left behind. Apparently the Canaanites kicked their butts, but this goes back closer to 4,000 years.

But the point is that the Jews always had problems, practically since day one, one reason may be, and just may be, they claim to be the chosen people of God that would be enough to tee anybody off.

Today, the Jews claim they are not a race, not a religion, but a people, aren't the rest of us people too?

Ha, I dated a Jewish girl once, she said we could fool around, but she could never marry me, her father would disown and disinherit her, can't have that.

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't know how anyone can justify the disproportionate Israeli response and sophistry over the civilian casualties.

So your proposing Israel blindly launch an equal number rockets into Gaza that Hamas launches into Israel? They can do what China and Taiwan did over Kinmen Island for years. Shell each on alternate days and take Sunday off.

It's baffling how many people think a war is some controlled sporting events with evenly matched teams on a level playing field. 6, would you be more satisfied if the Israelis had more killed on their own territory or should Hamas be given better weapons to make it more sporting?

The reality is you've got two groups of people fighting each other and not able to come to mutually agreed upon peace agreement over terrority. Without an ordered peace you can get an disorderly war. One side makes it bad enough for the other to cease hostilities or surrender.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There was a formally established Jewish State during the middle-ages: The Khazars (what is now Kazakhstan), but they were absorbed by the Rus.

[HAL 9000 96]

Exercising some restraint might be a good start..

They can train a few Zohans to go in to get Hamas while they sleep.

[mawilson 2,133]

Exercising some restraint might be a good start..

Hamas didn't think so...