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Subscribe to RSSIsraeli forces conducted an airstrike on a convoy the Syrian-Lebanese border Wednesday. NBC's Richard Engel joins Brian Williams with his analysis.
News analysis
Israelis understood something was up earlier this week when two of the country’s five Iron Dome anti-missile defense systems were moved north to protect Israel’s third largest town, Haifa. The government said the deployment was routine.
This was followed by a flurry of press reports, all quoting anonymous official sources, warning that Israel would not allow Syria and Hezbollah to cross its so-called "red lines."
That meant if Syria attempted to transfer any of its advanced rockets or non-conventional weaponry, such as chemical or biological agents, to Hezbollah, the Shiite militia in southern Lebanon, Israel would halt the move by force.
Ever since the start of the Arab Spring, Israel has had one overriding principle: Stay out. But when that principle came up against its "red lines," the military risk appears to have outweighed the political risk.
Wednesday night a convoy of trucks was attacked by warplanes in Syria, near the border with Lebanon, according to U.S. and regional officials. From Israel – silence. It is believed the convoy was carrying advanced Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, which can hit multiple targets, including fighter jets, helicopters and drones, within 40 miles. They would remove Israel’s critical freedom of flight over Lebanon.
The stakes were raised later by what Syrian state television said was an attack by Israeli warplanes against a military research center northwest of the country's capital, Damascus. There was no confirmation that the target was an advanced weapons collection depot.
From Israel’s point of view, it would be better to stop these weapons from falling into the hands of what it calls terrorists, who could then intimidate all of northern Israel and much of the rest of the country, too, rather than wait for Hezbollah to get them and then have to respond. Prevention rather than reaction.
But the attack implies that Israel feels compelled to join the battle -- not to protect either side in the Syrian conflict but rather to protect its own security. And this move would send a clear message to Israel’s ultimate enemy, the regional power that backs both the Syrian regime and Hezbollah: Iran.
Iran has long threatened to destroy Israel, and Hezbollah is part of its arsenal. Israel choking off the supply of weapons to Hezbollah limits Iran’s future threat against Israel.
Israel never confirms these kinds of attacks. But a comment Tuesday from the head of Israel’s air force didn’t mince words. Major-General Amir Eshel said at a conference that Israel is involved in a “war between wars” and that "this campaign is 24/7, 365 days a year. We are taking action to reduce the immediate threats, to create better conditions in which we will be able to win the wars, when they happen."
Martin Fletcher is the author of "The List", "Breaking News" and "Walking Israel".
Related:
Israel hits weapons convoy on Syria-Lebanon border: Report
Leave a Comment:
Israel has the right to defend itself. It's just a shame they didn't go a little farther in and get the cause to all these problems. He lives not to far from the boarder. One rocket would have ended the civil war and all of these senseless killings.
Um... the cause to all these problems? CIA? Mossad? Rothschild?
Iran, the big threat; if they want to get involved militarily, then let them come, it is going to happen sonner or later; best now before they have nuclear capability.
Israel could take out the whole eastern hemisphere tomorrow and we'd hear that crap; and again some country blows up another country's stuff and bystander Iran is referred to as the "big threat".
It is a very dangerous game they are all playing.
No preemptive strike into another country is legal. It is an act of war. Preemptive strikes are not defence. Israel and the US do it more than anyone else, but they sceme to get away with it.
I am often critical of Israel, especially their influence in the US Congress. In this case however I believe they were justified in this action.
Your neighbor three doors away (Iran) sends dogs (Hamas, Hezbolah) into the run down properties (Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank) next door to you. The dogs defecate on your lawn, destroy your flowers, occasionally injure or kill your children.
You see some more dogs being made ready to be put in the empty lots.
Do you have the right to shoot the dogs before they get there?
Technically, no. But the sheriff is your friend and even sells you the weapons to shoot the dogs.
The alternative is to wait until the dog gives you rabies.
Thank God that the free world has a leader who will not hesitate to do what it takes in order to save thousands of lives (or even hundreds of thousands of lives!) by destroying Syria's chemical weapons and leading the free world in the fight against Iran's nuclear weapons program.
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Thank God the free world has a leader who stands up for Democratic liberal principles.
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Thank God the free world has a leader who stands up to tyrants and doesn't bow to them.
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Thank God the free world has a leader who will fight terror even where others don't dare to go.
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Thank God the free world has a leader who doesn't lead from behind.
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Thank God for Benjamin Netanyahu!
The article's analysis is superficial. The circumstances infer that Israel has either agents on the ground in Syria, which is not very likely, or their drones are regularly overflying both Syria and Lebanon. There is also a remote possibility that American assets are doing the surveilance.
If I see my neighbor building a canon pointed at my house, I am not going to wait for him to shoot the canon and blow up my house before I respond. I don't care if he says it's to shoot down birds in his air space above his property. If it it pointing at me, then that is all I need to defend myself. Easier to ask for forgiveness then permission. So it is with Israel.
Wake me up when the attack Iran without the backup from "Uncle Sucka". Oh never mind that;s not going to happen. If they do attack Iran, all you Americans that have love ones in Iraq (military base or in the Green Zone), sorry for your lose and it's Israel fault
Leave sleeping dogs lie...
Did anyone notice that those who bash Israel are just as quick to back USA?
Does anyone believe that those who call USA "Uncle Sucka" really want what's best for Americans?
he's calling us "uncle sucka" because we're suckers for getting pulled into these conflicts in the middle east that we should have nothing to do with.
Sorry WaySouth.. Israel does not have the right to defend itself. Only the US can defend other countries...Don't you pay attention? We have to defend everybody, weather or not they want it or not. That way we get all of our guys and now women killed. Then after we blow everything up...We spend our money to rebuild it.
The conflict in the Middle East is not easy to get involve with. But you can't escape the truth that America must take side in the on going power game. Want to be partner despotic brand of people who swears the destruction of your mother land USA or collaborate and fight along side with truly democratic entity Israel? Or just remain quite and let that small nation of seven million perish. Russia and China want to fully control the region with out respect to human right issue, look at Syria for example. China needs the region for OIL, while Russia is for WEAPON customers. Do you think Israel can handle these two great power. USA and Israel alliance symbol of overwhelming strength and can PREVENT WAR. Who do you would challenge them? Nobody, so no war!
Few can beat corrupt Israeli leaders like Netanyahus and co in imagining and floating in fantasies.
They appear to be on the payroll of oil rich Sunni rulers like House of Saud, Kuwait, Qatar and others, oil companies and their lobbyists.
They did similar dramas before each of Iraqi wars.
They started their dances and dramas; got us busy into Iraqi wars; and then vanished from the scene.
Instead of getting busy in internal Syrian civil wars, sane Israel leaders would have attacked Hamas and Hezbollah, the proxies for Iran and Syria.
Israel this is ur chance to destroy all those damn mullahs, if i was you just unload ur missles, beleave me russia or china will not care one bit, ive been to china and russia they hate muslims there just nice to them cause of the oil and selling of weapons, how would anybody like to live in a country and everyday fear of getting on a bus and getting blown up, enough is enough' if israel needs any help just e-mail me and im on the next flight out there to help
Rob Roy,
What does the weather have to do with it? Whether you are educated or not I am a bit confused why you think the weather is an issue.
This Syrian affair is going to have unknown consequences and Israel must take pre-emptive action to at least temporarily intercede the transfer of advanced weapon systems to Hezbullah. They are the biggest danger. Too bad Israel have not been able to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians as that could have counter balanced the Shiite Lebanese threat. When Syria comes apart and its only a matter of time that it will, different factions will start fighting for control and chaos will ensue until it sorts itself out. Both Hezbullah and Iran will certainly try and establish authority in a new regime. Sadly what the people of Syria are fighting for (freedom) will instead be hijacked by radical elements like the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt. The only real option for stability is by military control but that is unlikely in Syria's case as the military is not held in any esteem. The region is volatile and uncertain. Israel must try and ensure Iran & Hezbullah don't exploit the situation to their detriment.
Self defense is a God/gods given right that the state has proclaimed that only they can exercise...and when I say state, I mean those people that believe they own a majority interest. BTW...where is this "free world" people are talking about? Let Israel tend to it's own needs, since they may be on their own soon...the US may be involved in it's own, all consuming civil event, and too busy to be bothered. We will see what direction the world will take us in the next few months.
If Izrael "has a right to defend itself" then so does Lebanon and everyone else for that matter.
Anti-aircraft missles are for defense. Izrael decimated Lebanon via aircraft in 2006 in case you had forgotten. They constantly attack Lebanon even today and overfly in sonic-boom terror attacks.
Note the carefully chosen propaganda words "freedom of flight". WHO gives Izrael this "freedom" - NBC?
It is illegal. PERIOD.
J.P. — I forgive you for your abject stupidity and bigotry, but Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since 1967 and while they haven't been attacking each other often they are still in state of war and this is legal in every way possible, unless you're a Muslim or a Nazi. Which one are you? Why did you not mention that as part of Israel agreeing to not wipe out Lebanon in the last war was that Hezbollah had to give up their weapons, which they not only didn't do, but added to them?
And that's exactly what Israel wants, a war, and most of her happy republicans here in America can't wait. Israel is hell bent on starting a world war and dragging America deep into it.
Twenty or thirty years from now, if anyone is alive, the scholars will be arguing about what event started WW3.
We're in our early 60's, and that's what my wife says, even with the love we have for our children, grand-children, she seriously doubts the world, "as we know it," will last another 20/30 years. She thinks if our children, grand-children survive, they could be subjected to the atrocities of the "Mad-Max" movies Mel Gibson starred in in the 80's, once a nuclear holocaust takes place.
We don't dwell on it, and it doesn't stop us from doing what we want and enjoying life, but it is a thought in the back of our minds.
Israel should keep away from Syria and Iran, which are simply Shiites vs Sunnis battles.
Both are enemies. Sunnis are the immediate threat all over the world and Shiites in limited places.
When the enemies are fighting why get in between them and become a bad guy?
blows up another country's
stuffadvanced anti air missiles on the way to terrorists to use against them.There, fixed that for you.
Sunnis are the immediate threat all over the world and Shiites in limited places.
The 13th century called, they want you to travel back in time to fight the crusades for them.
Jonathan-1982062
While I think the entire formation of a Jewish state was a mistake, as much as I like Jews and have three half Jewish kids, Jonathan-1982062 makes a point worth considering, it was Saudi Arabian Sunnis that did the 911 deed against us.
In any case, it's a real mess in that part of the world where EVERYTHING, including genocide, is pretty much religiously motivated or supported.
So here is the gameplan - Israel attacks syrian stuff .... syria retaliates ..... israel cryies wolf and calls uncle SAM. Uncle Sam is so happy to pull the trigger! Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran.
There you go...
It is the Islamic government of Iran that makes itself an enemy, not the other way around. It is the Islamic government of Iran that makes its citizens chant "Death to America, Death to Israel" at Friday prayers, not the other way around. Israelis in general do not hate Iranians, they even had a president who was Iranian. On the other hand many Iranian citizens hate or dislike Israel, but that's mainly because they are being manipulated.
Cyrus the Great freed the Jews and let them return to Jerusalem - Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and their Islamic government are the opposite.
I have friends on both sides of this, and I hope Iranians hear Israelis' call for peace.
This is in Israel:
A message to Iran from Israel: I love you - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/mar/26/message-israel-iran-love-you
Israel's citizens send Iranians messages of love - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/israel-citizens-send-iranians-messages-love-article-1.1047999
This is in Iran:
Iran's vow: death to Israel - http://www.news-gazette.com/opinions/editorials/2012-09-27/irans-vow-death-israel.html
Iranian Senior Commander Promises "Swift Death" to Israel - http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/10/iranian-senior-commander-promises-swift-death-to-israel/
Iran leader defends Israel remark - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4384264.stm
Israel did what they had to do in order to keep advanced anti-aircraft weapons from falling into the hands of the Hezbollah terrorists. They have nothing to apologize for and did nothing wrong. If Iran wants to try and use this as some kind of excuse to attack Israel, they are the ones who are manufacturing reasons to attack. This strike by Israel had nothing to do with Iran, it was simply about preventing weapons from Syrian arsenals from falling into the hands of terrorists. The only way for Iran to take issue with this would be to openly declare that the Hezbollah terrorists are their allies, and even though this is pretty well known and accepted as fact, I do not see the Iranian government openly admitting it. The Iranians know that is they make one single offensive move towards Israel they will not only have to deal with the Israelis, but will also bring the US in against them. The Iranians know that the only thing that has stopped Israel from bombing all of their nuclear sites is pressure from the US. A direct attack by Iran on Israel would mean taking the gloves off and Iran would find their nuclear sites in ruin in very short order. They know this and I doubt they are dumb enough to do anything to provoke this action. Iran may make some anti-Israel noise over this strike on the weapons convoy, but they are not likely to actually try and do anything about it.
syria retaliates
Um, no.
They're kind of in the middle of a civil war right now. You think Assad would want to fight Israel at the same time?
Chances are Assad was hoping to make some quick cash from Hezbollah to continue his war against his own people.
Good job Israel. Keep up the good work.
No.
Wrong places as usual with corrupt Netanyahus and their gangs.
Attack Hezbollah in Syria and Hamas in Gaza.
Why should they get in between Shiites vs Sunnis battles on whose Allah is greater?
Why do these Netanyahus jump the gun and act as if they are on the payroll of oil interests?
If they have some brains, they should not go near Syria.
Let Assad and his forces get as much arms as they want.
Keep Assad and his Shiites gang busy in battling Sunni Syrian rebels supported by al Qaida, MB, Salaffi.
Permit Assad to do jobs which will have to be done by us down the line.
Recall Iraqi wars.
Did we not lose much with Iraqi wars?
Gains were for oil rich Sunni dominated nations, their hater and killer gangs, oil companies and their lobbyists.
At least keep away from Syria and Iran for some years.
Jonathan-1982062 you are misguided.
Israel does not want to get involved between Shiite and Sunni. Israel is interested in preventing Hezbollah from obtaining, storing and deploying weapons that can either directly threaten Israel or significantly hinder her from operating against Hezbollah.
We can argue all day about whether Israel has "the right" or if it is "legal" but it doesn't matter. The Middle East knows no rules and while Israel is held to a higher standard her enemies ignore agreements and act in their self interest. Case in point is Lebanon's agreement not to allow Hezbollah to re-arm and we all know how that has worked out.
The weapons weren't going TO Assad. They were being shipped from Syria to Hezbollah, a terrorist group that doesn't even recognize Israel's right to exist. If arms were being shipped to Al Qaeda, would you think that the US would be in the wrong if it intercepted them? Or, do terrorist organizations also the the right to bear arms?
A sovereign nation protecting itself. Israel has the right to exist and to protect its citizens.
So Mexico would have the right to attack the US for moving weapons in say Utah? gimme a break!
Bombing a sovereign state isn't defense, it's aggression.
Hey Anonymous Terrorist....It is being proactive instead of reactive...you know after Hezbollah has the weapons and kills innocent people. I've always said being proactive is better than reactive. Think of it as preventative maintenance on your car....you change the oil every 3000 miles...you don't wait until your engine blows up to change your oil.
Except that Israel doesn't own the car. I'm pretty sure if you start changing the oil in your neighbors' cars without asking first, you are going to have a conversation with a judge that doesn't go well.
Attacking another country is not a defensive move, no matter how you spin it. That is an offensive move and an act of war. I like Israel, but if they provoke someone with an act of war like this then they deserve the glassy desert they will inherit someday. Defense happens only when offense has happened first. Pre-emptive strikes are illegal and immoral, no matter who you are. Wrong is wrong, regardless of the situation.
In all my years I have never heard or read something so ludicrous and STUPID. You are very naive. You also are an anti semite. Why? Because you used the same M.O. when you wrote, "I like Israel" BUT...
90%+ of the Israeli population isn't Semitic but descended from Asiatic-Turks. Being anti-Israel isn't being anti-Semitic, ask the True Torah Jews who completely disagree with Zionism.
You know who IS Semitic though? the people of Syria, Lebanon and of course the Palestinians.
Are you a paid shill? or just uneducated?
Nutman,
It is still against international law, no matter who does it.
Ok then, call it like it is. Israel was the aggressor. In this particular situation, the consequences for sitting on their butts could vary well have been to have terrorist get a hold of chemical weapons instead of Surface to air missiles.
It is unfortunate that even if you see a preemptive strike as illegal, that it might be nessary in order to save more lives down the line.
You can look at it this way. Say Israel sat on all offensive moves they could make knowing that cargo caring weapons was about to make it to Lebanon. Let suppose those weapons where used in a first strike on Israel and that they happen to be chemical weapons that costs northern Israel 10s of thousands of dead.
Ok, so now we have Israel that, in order to preserve the legality aspect as just let 10s of thousands die. It not only seems like a weak reason to let an attack happen on your own soil, but it would also carry massive consequences, including the possibility that Israel would use nuclear weapons on the attackers.
So, in order for them to do everything "legally" you propose that they potentially let themselves be attacked to the point where they must retaliate with nuclear weapons.
I am sorry, but if they need to use those types of strikes to ensure that they are not forced into a situation where they must use nuclear weapons, then I am all for it.
Baja5B -
I agree with you that this is an offensive move, not a defensive move. Of course, some say that the best defense is a good offense. Regardless, I was right up with you until you stated that pre-emptive strikes are illegal and immoral.
What is a war if it does not begin with a pre-emptive strike? One side generally has to hit first, to announce actual intent. So every war begins with a pre-emptive strike, and war is still seen as a legal means to end disputes. They say the winners write the history books. Not so, in most cases you have both sides writing the books. It's just there are often more winners around after a war than losers, and their version of history becomes the dominant version. Kinda like genetic populations under selection pressure, very interesting study.
Anyway, defense also doesn't always wait for an act of aggression on one side's part. There is proactive defense, though this doesn't necessarily fall under that category. As this happened outside Israel's borders (for @!$%#'s sake, it's not "boarders", that word is reserved for people who rent rooms, morons; I've seen it spelled that way at least 5 times today alone), without permission. Even if they were doing it purely to keep weapons out of the hands of their enemies, it was still an offensive strike. Arms movement is not a military incident. Destroying arms is.
As for pre-emptive strikes being immoral, in my opinion it's an act of competing morals. On the downside, you always have the notion in the back of your head that those people hadn't actually done anything, yet. It's like pre-crime; can you really arrest somebody for something they "would" have done? Even if it was a 99.9999% likelihood that they would do something illegal, generally we say you can't be arrested if you didn't commit a crime. That's part of what it means to have choice: you have to give the benefit of the doubt to people before they commit a crime, otherwise pretty much everyone would be in jail (of course far too many are, but that's another issue). On the upside, you have a country that is completely dedicated to the preservation of the lives of its own citizens, and an argument could be made that it is immoral for other countries to threaten it to the point where it is forced to strike pre-emptively or suffer the possible face of annihilation. Lives lost are greater under the first scenario than under the second. Does that make it more moral? Maybe it shifts the immoral burden slightly off of one actor and more onto another.
To sum up the long rambling, this was a pre-emptive offensive move performed as part of a larger defensive strategy. Of course, Israel is showing that it doesn't care what is going on around it until whatever it is threatens their security. Maybe this is a good move, maybe a bad one, maybe it doesn't really matter. Time will show, but if Israel keeps up on the path they are going, my guess is another war will break out soon.
No, that's a really poor analogy. A better one would be if the US was moving weapons to the Beltran-Leyva cartel. And yes, they would be justified.
If the "good guys" do not follow the rule of law, there is no law and society breaks down. How can we expect anyone else to follow the law. At that point we are all barbarians.
I don't care about the label anti-semite. I treat all people the same. No one and no country is exceptional. Not Israel and not the US. That is the very basis of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. You can call me anything you want. I have no dislike for Israel. But if they do something stupid they deserve to pay for it, just like anyone else.
Not until the convoy crossed into Mexico. As long as it is still in the US it is an unconscionable act of war.
Israel is in a totally different situation. They are surrounded by those that would destroy them. They have a relatively large arsenal of high powered weapons and if they simply sit back and let themselves be attacked, they may be forced to retaliate in a way that would cost millions of lives and could quite possibly start WW3.
The only other way to ensure that Israel is not attacked is to clear the area of those that mean to destroy it ( not realistic ) or issue a threat to those that mean to destroy Israel that they will launch nuclear weapons on the next conventional attacker. The last thing would be to disband Israel.
None of that is going to happen and while Israel has nuclear weapons, under no circumstances should it let it's self open to attack. That simply invites WMD to be used on it and it will lead to WW3.
Israel has no right to exist... Britain took the land from the Turks, then turned it over to Rothschild in exchange for Rothschild bringing the US into WWI... the deal didn't pay out 'til the end of WWII, but WWII was needed by Rothschild to motivate Jews to want to move to Israel. and the UJA was never kind to Jews, merely wants to use them as a smoke-screen. Zionism is a tool of the banksters so they can sow discord and create wars for profit... They could have put Israel in madagascar but then there would be peace and there's no bankster profit in peace.
And if I were the President of Mexico...I'd order the strike anyway.
Even if what you say where true, unless Israel disbands it's self and all its heavy weapons are secured by the US, then we are right back to the same place. As long as Israel is on this planet and as long as it has Nukes, it is in the worlds best interest not to have Israel hit by terrorists with any form of weapon.
I should also add that there is no profit in total annihilation either.
Maybe offering the Israelis New Jersey is a really good idea.
Anonymous Economist
"Israel has no right to exist... Britain took the land from the Turks, then turned it over to Rothschild"
What kind of garbage is that? The British also took land from India and gave it to pakistan (who kill Americans) after WWII and you are not complaining about that? No wonder you are a terrorist loving economist.
Anonymous Economist says, "Israel has no right to exist..."
I was wondering how long it would take for you to finally get around to saying this.
So, if I live in a dangerous neighborhood (nations both north and south in open revolt) and I see someone approaching me from the north with an open knife, and they are legally still at war with me.
And I have my .45 auto.
Do you think I am going to stand there and let them cut my throat?
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@Steve B. To continue the absurdity of your tortured analogy: you may see your neighbor as being a threat and you may be arguing with your neighbor about where to put the fence, but you are still forbidden by law from fire-bombing your neighbor's house because he moved his guns from the basement to his bedroom.
If my neighbor has attacked me before, and we're still at war, that's just too bad for my neighbor.
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And, the entire house wasn't firebombed, just the weapons.
Speaking of tortured analogies....
As usual NBC & its "analysis" have not said the truth or much of what will become a very big story.
NBC"News" -
Let's check in on the foreign press - Der Spiegel (German edition) and Le Monde (French edition) have several articles of great importance - yet none of it was in this "analysis."
First, let's check up on Russia - According to Le Monde,:
Link: http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/video/2013/01/31/la-russie-reagit-vivement-au-raid-israelien-en-syrie_1825656_3214.html
Also:
Link: http://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2013/01/31/israel-a-mene-un-raid-aerien-en-syrie_1825275_3210.html
Here is gets more interesting (from Der Spiegel) but I'm translating:
Next:
Next:
Next:
Link for all Der Spiegel's articles: http://www.spiegel.de/thema/syrien_unruhen_2011/ - I have no idea why it says 2011, you can see today's date on the page.
OK, so Washington knows about this but is quiet on the subject - Russia is angry, Saudi Arabia is furious, the Americans will NOT be able to say "we knew nothing....," Iran is on Russia's side that this is against the UN Charter...it is a pre-emptive strike. Al Assad has kept those weapons safe - yet Israel is sure Al-Assad will lose the two year Syrian civil war and the weapons will fall to Hamas and Hezbollah? Does Israel want to personally start WW3?
NBC claims this is about rockets - everyone else says it is about chemical weapons..... I think Israel is not telling the whole truth and neither is its greatest ally the US.
@Baja ... let's try this situation. The US receives unassailable intelligence that a convoy is delivering high-tech weapons, including some capable of bring down airliners, to Al Qaeda. Are you saying that we would be wrong to intercept that weaponary?
Israel will involve itself and involve itself until we're all drawn into WWIII
Elise - Are you serious? Wouldn't you want our government to do the same damn thing if Canada or Mexico harbored a bunch of terrorists?
I wouldn't. Right and wrong are not malleable, and I would rather the US die with principles than live without them. Attacking another country when they have not yet attacked you is an act of war. It is ethically and morally wrong. It is not defense, no matter what the hawks like to say.
nutman, this country wasn't founded right in a pile of other countries that hate it. Israel could have been founded AWAY from the Mideast - they brought these problems on themselves.
Where? East Germany? New Jersey? Brilliant comment...thank you for contributing.
New Jersey would have been a great choice.
"New Jersey would have been a great choice."
Can we split New Jersey between Israel and Pakistan? would that make you happy? They were both founded at the same time, the latter by carving them out of India. Did that bother you at all?
Israel is involved whether or not she wants to be. It's the terrorists that refuse Israel's right to exist.
Just because there's no shooting right now doesn't mean that Hamas has changed their goals and ambitions.
You don't have to take my word for it. Google "Hamas Charter".
farideh k. there is a huge defference between pakistan and israel. 1rst two wrong doesn't make it right. 2nd people who lived in pakistan were indegenous people and were not brought in from inside to occupy the land. it was what the british did alll the time divide and conquer. they didn't ship a million people and didn't take peoplels land and houses. it was a split. unlike israel which they moved the indegenous people out to open room for jews from outside to come and occupy the land.
Of course you'll be on the side fighting against America.
Israel has the right to protect itself. If Hezbollah, Syrian or Iran want to get into the battle, Israel will have more ally's than those warmongers can think of to make quick their war plans to destruct them in a fast manner on land, sea and in the air.
I think Israel's an adult now. Time to ween the kid, if you ask me. We've set him up with state-of-the-art weapons (for his defense - not offense) and even a missile defense dome we all got to see in action last year.
They tried to buy our election - broke a record in this country - I won't forget that. The State of Israel is an adult now playing with the big boys. Israel needs to BACK OFF and STAY OUT OF OUR ELECTIONS. NOT COOL.
Cut the apron strings already. And the purse strings. They can ask Sheldon for $$$.
ifmundy I think you are calling the wrong side warmongers. it is and has been israel who pre emptively has attacked others. not iran, syria or lebenon. and you are the war monger who is supporting this act.
Ram nice lie, but real Americans know the truth. Wish Netanyahu was President of America instead of the incompetent in there now.
SKIBUM... you can't take the truth. thank god we don't have your kind and that schizophrenic lunatic you call bibi in charge of u.s or we will head to IIIWW. you are an ignorant moron who think that people like nutcaseyahu should rule the world. go get a life. don't confuse the real american with real israelis. I work with real american every day and non that I know support the welfair state of israel. take your head out of you know what so you can see. it is easy to tag people with liar and provide no prove to support it. that makes you the liar.
@skibum who stated:
I do believe skibum that you are violating Newsvine's Code of Honor - you clearly disrespect rameshm2 for his name and non-US passport.
Syria is in a civil war, the Free Syrian Army is being supplied guns by the West (I include Israel), the West wants Al Assad to go away so the West can install another puppet to do our bidding. Syria has not attacked Israel. As of today, Israel has attacked BOTH Syria and Lebanon as the convoy was straddling the border of the two countries.
Lebanon - Lebanon had a civil war from 1979-1991 - Syria's civil war has spilled over into Lebanon - creating strife and a renewed civil war. Lebanon did not attack Israel. The 1982 a war began on June 6, 1982 (the 6 day war), when Israel invaded Lebanon again for the purpose of attacking the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Iran has sat peacefully within it's borders and only stated that it would attack Western forces if it were attacked first. Iran has not attacked Israel - but Israel and the US have done pre-emptive strikes in Iran with drones. Iran has NOT retaliated for this breach of the UN Charter.
black kettle... thanks . it is the israelis way to degrade people by any means they can to impose their oppinion on others. look at what farideh kashanian posts and you know what I mean.
I can't say that an entire nation or group of people are bad - you will find good and bad in every nation, every religion - no one owns "we are the worst people on earth" - some governments certainly can take that title, but not over saber rattling - it is actions that count....the Iron Dome has done it's job, I believe a cow was killed by a Quassam rocket a few years ago, it's sad that Arabs and Jews both worked the orange groves together in peace before WWII - after it was said that the Jewish people "owned" the groves - then there was tension - partly because those oranges from Palestine (Jaffa oranges), they were wrapped in paper and a Christmas treat for Europeans. When they made the paper wrapping look more "exotic" - Arab, more Jaffa oranges were sold - then came the problems, the Arabs (Palestinians) became the field workers and the Jewish people claimed the profits - as it was sort of but not really "their" land.... it is sad when people turn on each other. Everyone is different - if you only want to see bad in a person, that is all you will see. If you want to see all good, that is what you will see. Reality is that every person has a bit of bad and a lot of good UNLESS they are dominated by greed. Greed will and can corrupt good people and make them unashamed of the terrible things that they do.
A necessary evil; the Israelis had few options, bad and worse.
As we see the problems with weapons from Libya spreading, it is obvious that Syria will be a much bigger problem. The Russians are already starting to move their people out, but Iran will stay in until the end; Syria is the core of their strategy supplying Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Saudis, Turkey, Jordan and other interested parties need to make sure we do not leave a vacuum in Syria as the old regime collapses.
steve... yah .like making sure al quida, wahabis, salafis and all other extreme terrorists who are being supported by the mother of them all"suadi arabia" are in charge after assad leaves. what bs analogy is that
The sneaky brats could not wait any longer;They have to prove that they are genuine a-holes.
But, the whole world already knows it, why bother?
Tired - Are you saying that Israel are the a-holes? If so, how about you go live in Israel for a few years and then come back and let us all know if you still think that way.....
nut,
It appears that way. You cannot just attack your neighbor with ASSumptions..There are consequences. I am not saying Israel's neighbors are all Mother Teresa..But Israel has to stay out of Arab internal affairs.
Asad does not hesitate to kill his own people, imagine how he feels about Israelis. So, israel should stay quiet and do not get US into any conflict.
Comprehende?
sicktired. You are sick and we are tired of listening to your repetitious non sense.
We are also sick and tired of your trolling for the zionist rogue state.
HEY FARIDEH K. who are you referring to as 'we"I didn't know that you are representing everyone here. actually reading your hateful, one sided comments makes more people sick than you can immagine. you are so blinded by hate that you are unable to distinguish between right and wrong.
When they happen, he says. Admitting that war is inevitable at this point.
@ TFNJ
Yes it is inevitable. You are blind if you couldn't see that beforehand. When someone has a repeatedly stated goal/ambition to make your country disappear it is undoubtedly a "when" and not "if". Please tell me you had that much figured out without my help...
calyps. what the heck are you referring to. we are talking about syria hello are you there. and yes israel has threaten to attack Iran every other week for the past 15 years. It is amazing how israeli supporters and totally blind like sheeps.
LOL rameshm2. I wasn't even going to reply to his asinine post. Whatever panty twisted, incorrect reaction he had to the post, he can sulk in on his own.
You might be right, his blind support of Israel is what made him react in such a silly fashion.
@Calph - What did Iran say in Farsi about Israel (now over 6 years ago)?
Newsbreak: It was a mistranslation from Farsi, President Ahmadinejad stated that the Netanyahu regime should be gone. He was talking "regime change," he never said the entire country should be wiped off the map - only Netanyahu and his government needed to leave.
If you don't believe me, here is an Israeli Deputy Minister - take note at 6.00s - where is is clearly stated that Israel said that they would like to take care of Palestinians in the same way that the US "took care" of Japan during WWII (nuclear bombs)...... hmmmm
Link: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/israeli-minister-agrees-ahmadinejad-never-said-israel-must-be-wiped-off-the-map/
John Kerry is probably re-thinking the wisdom of being the next Secretary of State.
John Kerry's heritage is partly Jewish. Why should he rethink? He understands exactly what is going on to defend the U.S. and Israel.
carlyn-2003112
His job is NOT to defend Israel. "...that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..."
That is his job!
Doc,
Thats what we all think; "Constitution of US"..But according to jews, they must think Israel first!
No sh*t.. really?
So what...Republicans think Republicans first...so what else is new?
libs and democrats think lib and democrats only and no one else, including those who vote for them!!!!!!!!!! You morons that vote democrat are just usefulidiots being used by those who actually could care less about you!!!!!
If you are going to put people down by calling them "usefulidiots", at least be intelligent enough to know the proper phrasing so you don't look like a useless idiot...it's "COULDN'T care less about you"
it is amazing how everything has to be about israel. "israel has to defend itself and its people"how about other countries also have the right to defend themsleves and their people. unless you morons think that the israelis and jews are above others and their lives are more sacred than others you are not justified.
carlyn... not all jews support the welfare state of israel. by the way hitler was also 1/10 jewish.
Spoken like a typical Teabagger who just found out the Neoconservatives are coming to take your new found power away. Since they have all the money...you lose. I guess you can join the Libertarians if they'll have you.
Ever since Arab Spring, bad things happened!!! and thanks to Obama and his administration for this terrible up rised!!!
Right, the Middle East was a peaceful, wonderful place before that black man got into the White House.
dirp - ME was not a peaceful place before Obama got into the white house, but it has become much worse since he became president, much worse. AC is correct about his comment on arab spring.
It's called sarcasm, farideh.
Should Israel strike Syria and elicit a retaliatory attack by Iran, Iran will suddenly discover they have kicked the wrong bear. It will be sudden, violent, destructive and possibly the worst thing the regime in Iran will ever have to deal with. It will also preclude them from ever attacking Israel again.
Israel continues to be a CANCER to peace!
Obama and Hagel are in the political fight of their lives as these warmongering sickos aim to push all the buttons and usurp our President and our American peoples! They are shrewd!
You must be a radical muslim to see Israel as the bad guys in this thing.
Israel is our buffer to the middle East AND an ally.
The US will back her no matter what.
All Israel wants is peace.
You know NOTHING of what you speak.
I know the region and the politics.
AND so does EVERY president of the US.
None of that changes the fact that this was an act of war. It was simply wrong. The US should be an ally to the Israelis, but not at all costs. If they provoke a war with this I will not support defending them more than necessary to prevent their annihilation. Just imagine if Mexico bombed a military convoy moving from Utah to Arizona. Do you think we would allow that to go unanswered? No, because it would be an unequivocal act of war, just like Israel bombing a convoy in Syria. Wrong is wrong, no matter what the hawks say.
Bad guys? You must be one one of those guys who thinks Israel can do anything it wants and still be the good guys. That goes for the USA too (as in Grenada, Iraq etc). This was an attack on a sovereign country, nothing less.
This "act of war" was pre-determined.
Or do you not keep up with news?
Israel is the first line of defense for the misuse and distribution of the chemical weapons sent to Syria by
Saddam Hussein for protection in Syria.
Much like the aircraft sent to Iran for "safe keeping".
The US is in on this strike and knew well ahead of time what was gong to happen.
I would be willing to bet they acted with the assistance of the USA, we probably told them what was in the trucks and when they were being moved!!!!!!
We have no desire to let Hamas or any other terrorist group to get their hands on anti aircraft missiles or possibly chemical weapons!!!!!
We will give Israel all of the support we can to stop that from happening and be glad that Israel took care of it so we did not have to!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's not forget that Iran has not STARTED a war since 1804 - quite an accomplishment for a Persian country surrounded by Arab countries. Iran is neither stupid nor deranged - Netanyahu has been called that by the former Chief of Mossad (Meir Dagan - recently deceased suspiciously) and other Mossad agents. I do not think the PEOPLE of Israel want war, but their leader does - that is the sad fact. Had Yitzak Rabin not been assassinated by an Israeli with the mindset of Netanyahu, this discussion and the discussion of the Palestinian State would have been solved with PEACE.
Just imagine if Mexico bombed a military convoy moving from Utah to Arizona. Do you think we would allow that to go unanswered?
You are aware that Utah and Arizona are the same country, unlike Syria and Lebanon? So, your analogy is flawed from the start.
But, let's continue this a little. Suppose the US was in the middle of a brutal civil war and the government based in DC was no longer recognized as legitimate by much of the world and is in very real danger of falling. However, this illegitimate government still controls most of the country's military arsenal. Mexico learns that this regime is transferring sophisticated weapons to a terrorist group based in Belize, a group that dominates Belize and denies Mexico's right to exist, periodically firing rockets into Mexico. These weapons could threaten Mexico's right to protect its citizens in the south of the country.
Would you say that Mexico has no right to take action to intercept these weapons?
War with Iran and WW3 does indeed look inevitable at this point and probably in 2013. The question is what kind of personal emergency plan for your family is in place for when it arrives? This conflict unfortunately will be global and not regional.
Iran is butt stupid, but I doubt they will screw with Israel.
The Iranians have never had the beards to face an enemy outright. They are cowards that pay for low educated groups like hamas and hezbolah to do the man's part of a war. I've spent 2 years in that environment and all the Arabs know that the Persians hide behind skirts.
Iran will kick the sheeet out of Israel.
Crush Israel and peace will happen.
I love the Jewish people - but their government has to go bye bye.
Nice try "Allen Bennett" funny sounds like you are trying to be another "Bennett" almost as if you don't speak English as your native tongue. I've loved the Iranian people since they were so cowardly as to attack a consulate and kidnap Americans for over 400 days.
My comment stands. Iranians are cowards who will not try to fight on their own. They don't have the beards for man work. Heck they killed a 16 year old girl who tried to pull them out of the caves, or do you forget Neda? Again Iran is nothing more than cowards that attacks little girls and is afraid of taking on a man.
Do all you coward Iranians still desecrate a little girls grave?
Desecration of her grave
Neda Agha-Soltan's gravesite in Beheshte-Zahra, 2011
On 16 November 2009, supporters of the Iranian regime desecrated her grave and removed her gravestone.[37] Later, on 31 December 2009, supporters of the Iranian government defaced the portrait on her grave by shooting at it multiple times.[58]
calyps.. actually it is the israelis who have no beards to face an enemy outright. Iran has proven time and time again that they are prepaired to defend iran if attacked. with the world against them in iran iraq war and having all arab countries , u.s and eu supporting sadam in every each way, they demonstrated that they will defend their nation if attacked. it is on the other hand israel who in fear and cowerdly attacks other countries peremptively. If they had any heart, they would act like every other country acts. not preemptively attacking other countries. that by itself is a cowerdly action. the only people who the israeli have the beard to attack are the poor palestinian who have no means of defending themselves accept throwing stone. your time has come to an end. mark my word. the whole world is realighning against israel and it won't be too long before they are sanctioned and let see how they can handle a month of sanction which they have caused for 33 years on Iran.
Not a chance. Obama is too much of a pussy!!!!
It's obvious your a low educated moron.
Poorly educated moron. Pot, kettle, black.
Semantics....
Much of education consists of learning to be semantically correct.
How funny is this?
Blah, blah, blah
They screw with them everyday through the use of proxies. Iran is not to be underestimated. They are supported by Russia and China. War with Iran is inevitable and Major-General Amir Eshel is on record in this article stating it.
Iran is a coward that cant bring a fight to anyone. Saddam ate their lunch and shaved their beards for them.
Iran has enough brave people allright. Just because they don't kiss everone's ass whom the "bigots" on this site support is an indication. Saddam did not "eat their lunch" and did not "shave their beards for them". Although you wouldn't use those same racist comments for your bigotry against countries you "like".
The Iranians fought Iraq and it's wmd chemical weapons and lost a great many people. And they fought them face to face. A "Crime Against Peace" is not inevitable, just wished for by "crazies".
Iran is a sovereign county well known for its hospitality towards Americans and others who visit its homes and villages. Hopefully you can't change that by your bigotry and hatred towards the Iranians.
"hospitality towards Americans"? And Jews, gays, Christians, etc...
calyps. you are a moron .pre emptive war is cowerdly. if it wasn't for the persians , jews might,'ve been vanished. it was the brave persians who freed you from slavery some 2500 years ago and welcomed your anscestors to come and live in iran. you unappreciative basatrd. you would probably do the same to american in the future. the problem with your kind is that while the rest of the world is thinking to help each other, your kind demonstrated that the only kind they are willing to help is their own and everyone else can go to hell.
China can not physically protect Iran because it doesn't (yet) have the ability to project its power. In the end, however, Russia and China will do what is in their best interests. Do you think that they will protect Iran if it costs them their American and European markets? I doubt it. Both countries are two intertwined with the West.
Which makes it an opinion, not a fact.
China and Russia will not support Iran.
They will bitch at UN council, nothing more.
BUT with the lackluster president we have now, nothing is impossible.
You already have a 40% cut in military funding.
Troops coming home to crap for an economy with no hope for jobs.
The military industrial community getting ready to join the unemployment lines with the troops.
If the timing could not be better for the US to fall it is now or very soon.
Yes but the Fed can just keep on printing more money right? That will keep the whole craphouse from collapsing for a little while....
Stocked up on canned goods yet?
Yep, canned goods and bullets, have lotsa both....
viewer ready...I don't think that the iranian are stupid enough to think that any country would help them and that is why they are prepairing themselves to defend their country on their own with the assumption that russia and china will get an incentive from the west to stay out of it. a research showed that an estimated $1.8 trillion is the cost of a war with iran just for the first two wks plus many thousends death from both sides. I just don't get these moron war mongers who advocate war, perhaps if they had to join the millitary and actively participate in war, they would change their mind. and I don't get your point. you think the millitary people prefer to be at war and lose their lives than comming back home and eventually finding a job and live a regular life?please explain yourself.
I agree with you rameshm2, with one exception. Iran exports 98% of it's heavy desert crude oil - directly to China. China is undergoing an industrial revolution (if you will) and they need that oil - they may not fight, but they will get around any blockade/sanction against Iran (just as they have been doing). The US can't stand up to China, if China called up the loans given to the US the dollar would be best used as toilet paper.
We can still sleep peacefully. Third World War will not happen for a while. This follows from the analysis of the Bible. An ancient vision says: "And [the king of the north] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act [it means activity in the international arena]; and turned back to his own land [1991-1993. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Russian troops returned to their country]. At the appointed time [he] will return back." (Daniel 11:28, 29a, literal translation) The return of Russia in this context means crisis, which will eclipse the Great Depression. Not only the eurozone will break up, but also the European Union and NATO. Then many countries of the former Eastern block will return to Russia's zone of influence. Russian troops will be stationed here again.
Russia, however, will not return everywhere. "And [the king of the north] will enter into the south [Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008], for the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be dejected, and will go back." (Daniel 11:29b, 30a, literal translation)
Moses writes: "But ships from the direction of Kittim [USN], and troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [remaining enemies, including Iran and China]." (Numbers 24:24a, literal translation)
This will be a nuclear war. (Revelation 6:4) "A great sword" = a nuclear sword. As Jesus foretold, it will be "the beginning of birth pains". (Mathew 24:7, 8)
All the details of this vision are being fulfilled from the time of ancient Persia, in chronological order. It is true that this vision is variously interpreted. As one can see, it has a lot of details. Therefore the insightful person is able to detect any error or sophistry. (Daniel 12:10)
In 1882 British troops occupied Egypt. Great Britain then took the role of "the king of the south". Around the same time, Russia expanded its influence in the region, which previously belonged to Seleucus I Nicator, and took the role of "the king of the north". (Daniel 11:27)
I actually worry more about people who use books full of myths as a guild telling them what to do, then I worry about any Israeli or arab terrorists.
max: +1
Two things are very important:
#1 The US needs to use this as a wake up call and realize that RUSSIA is no longer the sleeping giant. They are trying to reestablish their power in the ME and trying to supply Hezbollah with game changing weaponry. Eventually this will lead to the reigniting of a COLD WAR! Putin remember used to be the Head of the KGB. How and why in the world did the Russian people ever elect this character in free elections is the same question we are going to be asking of the Egyptians in their free elections. WHY? Did the Egyptians elect the MUSLIM Brotherhood in their first FREE elections.
#2 After many years living in Israel why is Martin Fletcher now writing about the Hezbollah and describing them as "into the hands of what it calls terrorists." That wording about Hezbollah as being what ISRAEL calls Terrorists, IS NOT what Fletcher would say, write or discuss Hezbollah as. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR FLETCHER TO MOVE ON FROM MSNBC. He is compromising his principles and his ethics.
Martin Fletcher is lying when he says that Iran has threatened to destroy Israel. Yes, Ahmadinejad did say that the Zionist enemy would be destroyed but neither he nor Iran has ever said that they will do it. On the other side, Israel is actively planning to destroy Iran's nuclear capability and in this case the capability of Lebanon to defend itself. If the report is true, the Russian missiles could not be used to attack Israel but would have been used to defend against Israel's Arial attack.
So once again, Israel is using self-defence as a pretext to attack other countries and the US Government will be complicit in this through blind support.
Usually in a fight. Whoever throws the first punch wins. But when it comes to law. They lose. Yeah they throw the first punch and win the fight. But whoever throws the first punch will lose when it comes to the Law. So therefore. Israel is in the wrong. I think they deserve a punch back. Good luck. War, fights at school, or after school. It is wrong but it happens forever, and ever, and ever.
Israel is beyond law at this point and everyone knows it.
If you try to live at peace with your neighbors and they keep shooting bottle rockets at you all day and night.
AND THE UN OR NO ONE ELSE STOPS THEM.
The law no longer applies.
Viewer <<< ~~~~~>>> I REGRET THAT i HAVE BUT ONE ''THUMBS UP" VOTE TO GIVE TO YOU. You are deserving of a zillion !!!
Relax just trying to provoke Iran to react. Good thing we cannot imagine this could happen.
Directly - Possible
Indirectly - Possible
Indirectly via 3rd parties - Possible
Indirectly via 4th parties - Possible
Indirectly via monkeys falling from sky - Possible
Indirectly via meteor strike - Possible
Any is possible, now for the impossible.
Texas politicians funding covert operations against Iran - not possible.
True peace can only come from the destruction of Israel.
Crush Zionism at home and abroad.
True peace will come when you overdose on Ambien.
I think an overdose of EXLAX would be more appropriate. Then he could evacuate his entire brain.
Lol. Good one(s).
how to see with EAGLE VISION:
(1) This whole conflict in the middle east took advantage of cold war era tactics to escalate the aggression in the region.
(2) copycats of cold war era tactics are now unable to refrain from military contacts.
(3) The countries that copycat cold war era tactics originally should be the cause of the current crisis spiraling to war. The historic cold war era tactics were used to scare people to not go to war due to a nuclear power. The copycats of cold war era tactics are using it to value themselves the savoir when war comes.
(4) identify the copycats of cold war era tactic and punish them with economic sanction. Start with isreal and iran.
Anonymous fake-Economist. Watch those statistics. I am not a fan of random people on the Internet saying random things that have no basis in anything. "90%"-- from where? You're obviously not a professional at much, let alone economics. I find it quite discouraging that "Internet culture" is so chronically uninformed (almost a contradiction really, since there is so much information available on the Internet about useful topics, like Relativity, physics, mapping human genomes, et cetera. But most people seem to spend time reading blogs by pseudo "scientists" or Google-spider "Researchers" who might as well have the credentials of an oracle-astrologist).
The fact is you should look into the actual genetic testing. There is a wide array of legitimate/proven knowledge on the Internet, so there is no need to invent statistics or facts.
Firstly, most Jews--let alone such an unreasonable majority suggested in your 'comment'--are not descended from Asiatic Turks. I assume you are referencing a "Khazar" theory. Unfortunately for you, only the nobility of Khazaria converted to Judaism, and they did it in the 8th/9th century... Long after Jews from the Roman Empire (Judea, Anatolia, and Egypt, principally [one of the highest Jewish populations in the 3rd century was in Alexandria]) had established communities across the former Empire. The Khazar argument is ridiculous enough in that time travel did not exist then, or now. Therefore, Khazars couldn't travel back in time. For the most part, after the fall of Khazaria, the majority converted to Islam or Christianity. There isn't evidence that they moved west, "depopulating" the area of present-day Kazakhstan, and this area of Russia.
There isn't any archeological, historical, or genetic evidence to suggest most Jews are related to Turks. On the contrary, it is found Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazic Jews do not share genotypes typical of Turkic peoples. Rather both possess varying levels of their own unique DNA. Which is to say, Ashkenazi have anywhere from 30-80% DNA genotypes in common with the typical Sephardic Jew--an example (in order to set a standard) of which would be the Samaritans, a group of Jews who have lived continuously in Israel since it was Ottoman and into the times of Judea, province of Rome, and when it was an independent Kingdom recognized by the Roman Senate.
The fact of the matter is that Jews actually are genetically linked to that area.
Sources:
"Atlas of Jewish History" by Martin Gilbert
Great post, but on a "progressive" site such as this intelligence is actually a detriment.
watch those statistics.. why are you complicating the issue. the truth is that the arabs and the jews are genetically linked and they are from the same origin. abraham had a son from hagal named ishmael .hagal supposedly was sarahs slave, but since sarah didn't become pregnant it was arranged for hagal to become abrahams wife to bear a child for abraham, but then sarah became pregnant and she also gave birth to a son and it was named jacob and later changed to israel. at this point the race split and the descendants of ishmael were called arabs and the descendants of jacob or israel were called jews.but essentially they are the same. but i guess in your eye since hagal was a slave it means she was a shegetz which basically refers to any non jew female as a whoer. but again genetically studies of m.e people like syrian and palestinian shows that they are descendant of abraham. case colsed.