US State Dept defines Israeli settler violence as terrorism

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Criticisms that are in the end meaningless since the entire debate on the issue is characterised by ####### for tat.

Does it suck that people kill each other over there? Sure. But what is it you want people to do about it?

A lot of people made similar pronouncements about John Crow laws and lynchings in the "old south." Black people were subjected to institutionalized discrimination and violence (both judicial and extra-judicial,) which was dismissed in many circles with similar attitudes as your "so what." People who spoke out against these policies were vilified, mocked, and even terrorized. For some, questioning or threatening a status quo is uncomfortable, disturbing, and even frightening.

You keep asking what I want people to do about it. I'm not asking *you* to do anything. But the U.S. is far and away the main financial and political supporter of Israel. It's time Americans (well, those who actually care about being informed) knew exactly what they're paying for, in both taxpayer expense and in political capital.

If you don't want to discuss the subject, that's your choice - you don't have to. But posting in the thread simply to badger me about why I want to discuss the subject is pretty lame.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Do you really believe that the Israeli/Palestinians dispute is comparable with racism in the USA? The issues are completely different.

[rocks 494]

It's time Americans (well, those who actually care about being informed) knew exactly what they're paying for, in both taxpayer expense and in political capital.

Many people know this happens, but what can we do about it? We don't have a voice. Last week I saw a truck that said something about standing with Israel all over it. While I found it highly offensive, there is nothing I can do about these people. I live in hope that the government will try and resolve this issue, somehow.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Many people know this happens, but what can we do about it? We don't have a voice. Last week I saw a truck that said something about standing with Israel all over it. While I found it highly offensive, there is nothing I can do about these people. I live in hope that the government will try and resolve this issue, somehow.

I think the only thing our government can do is threaten to cut aid. Thus far I've only seen republican proposals to cut aid related to actions in Gaza for Palestine. I doubt the US will ever threaten to cut aid to Israel....partially due to other distractions like Iran.

[rocks 494]

I think the only thing our government can do is threaten to cut aid. Thus far I've only seen republican proposals to cut aid related to actions in Gaza for Palestine. I doubt the US will ever threaten to cut aid to Israel....partially due to other distractions like Iran.

I don't think they will cut aid either. We are powerless in this situation.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Do you really believe that the Israeli/Palestinians dispute is comparable with racism in the USA? The issues are completely different.

Yes, I do think there are many parallels to what happened in the Jim Crow era - the institutionalized discrimination and segregation, the public incitements to violence against non-Jews (including by politicians and religious leaders) in which the inciters are not prosecuted or punished, the disparity in prosecution and punishment of Jewish perpetrators who commit crimes again non-Jews compared to vice-versa, the differences in civil rights and access to public services for Israeli Jews versus non-Jewish Israelis, the condemnation of "inter-racial" relationships, the fact that Jews and non-Jews may not legally marry in Israel, etc. (I've already posted some quotes and links to several articles which go into detail on that subject, but you didn't like that, either.)

[rocks 494]

Do you really believe that the Israeli/Palestinians dispute is comparable with racism in the USA? The issues are completely different.

Slavery is quite a different subject. Many descendents of slaves have no idea where they are from. I don't see how this compares to Israel/Palestine either.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I think some of you are getting confused by the term "Palestinian." Remember that 20% of Israel's citizens are Palestinian (although the Israeli government insists on using the term "Israeli Arab" for these people, to foster the notion that they have no connection with the people in the West Bank and Gaza, or in the diaspora) and another 350,000 Palestinians are legal residents of Israel, living in East Jerusalem. The boys who were attacked by the lynch mob were Palestinian East Jerusalemites (with Israeli residency.)

[rocks 494]

I think some of you are getting confused by the term "Palestinian." Remember that 20% of Israel's citizens are Palestinian (although the Israeli government insists on using the term "Israeli Arab" for these people, to foster the notion that they have no connection with the people in the West Bank and Gaza, or in the diaspora) and another 350,000 Palestinians are legal residents of Israel, living in East Jerusalem. The boys who were attacked by the lynch mob were Palestinian East Jerusalemites (with Israeli residency.)

How does this have anything to do with slavery?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

How does this have anything to do with slavery?

I didn't mention anything about slavery; I said "Jim Crow era."

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think some of you are getting confused by the term "Palestinian." Remember that 20% of Israel's citizens are Palestinian (although the Israeli government insists on using the term "Israeli Arab" for these people, to foster the notion that they have no connection with the people in the West Bank and Gaza, or in the diaspora) and another 350,000 Palestinians are legal residents of Israel, living in East Jerusalem. The boys who were attacked by the lynch mob were Palestinian East Jerusalemites (with Israeli residency.)

How can you tell a Jew from an Arab inside Israel? Based on dress?

[rocks 494]

I didn't mention anything about slavery; I said "Jim Crow era."

Which is a result of slavery. Bad comparison.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Which is a result of slavery. Bad comparison.

Jim Crow laws were a response to the abolition of slavery by racists who did not want equality between whites and blacks, and wanted to perpetuate a racial "caste system" which held black people to the status of second-class citizens. A majority of U.S. states enforced these laws which mandated segregation, outlawed intermarriage, etc., and the situation went on for nearly 100 years, from Reconstruction all the way up until the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

[rocks 494]

Jim Crow laws were a response to the abolition of slavery by racists who did not want equality between whites and blacks, and wanted to perpetuate a racial "caste system" which held black people to the status of second-class citizens. A majority of U.S. states enforced these laws which mandated segregation, outlawed intermarriage, etc., and the situation went on for nearly 100 years, from Reconstruction all the way up until the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

I'm quite aware of what the Jim Crow laws were, not sure why you felt the need to explain that. This was a result of slavery. Again, how can you compare slavery to Israel/Palestine?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I'm quite aware of what the Jim Crow laws were, not sure why you felt the need to explain that. This was a result of slavery. Again, how can you compare slavery to Israel/Palestine?

Again - I never mentioned slavery, nor did I imply that there was a parallel to slavery in Israel. I am saying there are parallels between how Palestinians ("Israeli Arabs") are treated in Israel, and how blacks were treated during the Jim Crow era. This is what I said:

Yes, I do think there are many parallels to what happened in the Jim Crow era - the institutionalized discrimination and segregation, the public incitements to violence against non-Jews (including by politicians and religious leaders) in which the inciters are not prosecuted or punished, the disparity in prosecution and punishment of Jewish perpetrators who commit crimes again non-Jews compared to vice-versa, the differences in civil rights and access to public services for Israeli Jews versus non-Jewish Israelis, the condemnation of "inter-racial" relationships, the fact that Jews and non-Jews may not legally marry in Israel, etc.