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Ahmad Gharabli / AFP - Getty Images
A Palestinian activist fixes a flag near a proposed new encampment in the West Bank on Jan 20.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank violate Palestinian human rights and must be withdrawn, United Nations investigators said Thursday — a move described by observers as "unprecedented."
An international report by the U.N. Human Rights Council said Israel is "committing serious breaches of its obligations under the right to self-determination and under humanitarian law."
All settlers must begin to withdraw from the occupied territories, the report said. It echoed the earlier claim of Palestinians that the the practices of settlers could be considered possible war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Israel, which did not cooperate with the investigation, dismissed the document as "biased" and said it would "only hamper efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict."
Tel Aviv-based Haaretz said the "unprecedented" conclusion was the U.N.’s "harshest condemnation of Israeli policy in West Bank since 1967."
About 250 settlements in the West Bank have been established since 1967 and they hold an estimated 520,000 settlers, the U.N. said.
Palestinians claim the settlements hamper Palestinian access to farm lands.
The report [PDF link], led by French judge Christine Chanet and summarized in a news release in Geneva on Thursday, said:
"Israel must, in compliance with article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions. It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories).
These violations are all interrelated, forming part of an overall pattern of breaches that are characterised principally by the denial of the right to self-determination and systemic discrimination against the Palestinian people which occur on a daily basis.
Since 1967, Israeli governments have openly led, directly participated in, and had full control of the planning, construction, development, consolidation and encouragement of settlements, the report states."
Asma Jahangir, one of the authors of the report, said: "We are today calling on the government of Israel to ensure full accountability for all violations, put an end to the policy of impunity and to ensure justice for all victims."
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement refuting the findings, according to the Jerusalem Post. "The Human Rights Council has sadly distinguished itself by its systematical, one-sided and biased approach towards Israel. This latest report is yet another unfortunate reminder of such approach," the newspaper quoted the ministry as saying.
Hanan Ashrawi, a top official with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, told Reuters: "This is incredible. We are extremely heartened by this principled and candid assessment of Israeli violations...This report clearly states the Israel is not just violating the 4th Geneva Convention, but places Israel in liability to the Rome Statute under the jurisdiction of the ICC."
Related:
Israel faces European backlash over decision to expand settlements
US slams Israel's decision to expand settlements
Israeli court throws out family's lawsuit over death of US activist Rachel Corrie
Leave a Comment:
Israel must withdraw 520 thousand citizens from the west bank, tear down over 3 billion in building condos; that folks is not going to happen, buy the way the American taxpayers paid to build the settlements.
Saudi Arabia has lots of lands and it is very, very rich.
So Palestinians should move there and let Saudi Arabia do some good job for a change by bearing all expenses of relocation.
Saudis will be happy that their population has increased and if required, they will have a huge army of rocket launchers and Palestinians will be happy they are peacefully settled.
Of course, if the Palestinians don't like peace, they can start attacking all Shiites and nations like Iran, and other places.
Hummmmmmmmmmmm .. The United Nations decisions don't apply to Israel unless they support their "Policy?"
The majority of the representatives of the nations of the world have with this action have condemned the policy of the Israeli government regarding their settlement policy .... as they have certain actions of other nations that are repugnant to humanity as a whole ...(Iran as a example) .. we don't get to pick and choose based on our religious affiliation, lets get on with appropriate action against Israel as we have Iran!
It would be appropriate to stop any technology or funds transfers, and a embargo of supplies ...
To imbecile Johnathon - The so called "Palestinians" ARE SHIA! And why do you think Iran isn't supporting them? That's why Saudi Arabia refuses to allow them to settle in Saudi!
To Welfare Sponge Moonbeam - WHO do you think is responsible for much of our Military's Technology? Its all coming from Israel! You must be a drooling Obozoite!
Judea and Samaria, part of the original "Palestine mandate" promised for Jewish settlement has been suggested to be made "Judenfrei" by the united nations. What a bunch of racist @!$%#s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judenfrei
LOL! The UN is funny.
They will be evacuated like any squatters. They have no more right to steal land then you do.
The West Bank 1949 – 1967
After Israel’s War of Independence against several Arab states (1948-9), the West Bank and East Jerusalem came under the control of Jordan.
Israel’s appeals to Jordan to avoid war
Jordan’s offensive against Israel on the first day of the war
civilian suburbs of Tel-Aviv were shelled by artillery;
All this happened before Israel reacted militarily against Jordan, or moved at all into the West Bank.
Conclusion
Israel’s entry into the West Bank in June 1967 was not part of a premeditated Israeli plan for territorial expansion. Quite the opposite: Israel’s own Defense Minister instructed the army not to fight the Jordanians, or move into the West Bank.
That position only changed as a result of Jordan’s disregard for Israeli appeals to avoid hostilities, and by its intensive bombardment of Israeli targets.
Israel’s entry into the West Bank was an act of self-defense. Its presence there originates as a result, not of Israeli aggression, but of Jordanian aggression.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read your history before you make ignorant assumptions about Israel!!!!
Israel won the West Bank fair and square... just like the USA won Texas from the mexicans fair and square. Beware... next they will be demanding the USA give back the land of Texas to California to the mexicans... =/
Gary Rath (#1.6),
An interesting sentiment considering we live in the United States, on land that was stolen from the British, which was in turn stolen from the people who were here before them.
When you win a war, you get to re-draw the borders. That's been the rule forever.
Where is the UN in Syria where tens of thousands are being slaughtered, or is that OK with them because it is Muslims doing the killing?
I seem to remember in 2005 Israel "Forcibly" removing settelers from Gaza, as a measure of good will towards the peace process.
Let's see what has happend to the Gazasince that time.
1. It is now contolled by Hamas
2. It is now used as a lunching pad for hundreds of rockets launched into Israel every day.
Yea...................I don't think Israel will be leaving anytime soon.
F the united Jew hating nations.
The UN is a joke. We should get out and kick them out of New York. Israel won that land fair and square, and the UN has the gall to tell them to give it back? Israel should give the UN the finger.
Since when did the UN become relevant?
Are they not the same body that has put forth ruling after ruling that basically gets a laugh out of which ever nation is currently in their sights to be 'corrected'?
Our tax dollars subsidize this land theft to the tune of $8 to 14 million a day. Our unemployment rate is at 8.3% and Israel's? 6%. GET IT???
3 billion dollars a year could at lease pay down on our debt.
Who cares what the useless UN has to say? Those @!$%#s in there should be thrown out of America and have their little stupid meetings perhaps in Palestine or some other sand-digger country.
Israel won and occupied these territories fair and square!
$3 Billion wouldn't even cover the interest on our debt.
This almost sounds like some one is repaying a favor with their little declaration here.
BTW...where has the Useless Nations been when rockets are regularly lobbed into Israel??? How about all of the threats??? Should these not be considered acts of war??? Has anyone committed any serious breaches of obligation when they commit acts of war against a sovereign nation (Israel)???
The more crap that comes out against Israel, the more transparent it becomes that the world needs Israel more than ever.
The same UN that put Syria, a terrorist supporting and harboring nation on the security council. Do they really expect to be perceived as anything but a joke.
The U.N. has also ordered all Arizonians to secede their homes over to Mexican immigrants.
Well, they can count on many more years of war and uprisings. They are the reason Hamas was elected in the first place, when they tried to take down the Palestinian Authority. Be careful what you wish for, Hamas is far worse.
Israeli right wing extremists would rather start WW3 than abandon the land they stole from the Palestinians.
Do you think I give a tiny rat's behind what the U.N. thinks? Neither should Israel. It is none of the U.N.'s concern what Israel does with their country. The U.N. is filled with anti-Israel and Anti-America countries. Tell Saudi Arabia to build a U.N. building and let the leeches like Ahmadinejad and Chavez go to a U.N. meeting in THEIR country.
Knock down the U.N. building in New York and build another hotel as much as I care. At least people in that building would care about our country rather than the hateful countries of the U.N.
Israel should declare war on the UN........
The UN is run by middle eastern thug countries on the security council...... even the USA gets frustrated with policy shifts towards the UN's will.
Should kick them out of the USA, Save a BILLION dollars a year and let IRAN have them locate there.
UN is just as relevant as a wart on a camel's gashole.
Bella: You are correct on the history except for the part about the Mexicans wanting the SW USA back. They will simply pour accross the border until they get it back. I sit here and listen to all those people, including the Catholic Church, pleading for humanity for the Mexican illegal immigrants. I ask myself why they are here, and why, if their economic plight is so bad, they receive no help from the Government of Mexico. The Catholic Church lectures us about the inhumanity, but, as far as I am aware, it has never lectured the Mexican Government about not having a social safety net for its own citizens. It is easier for Mexico to foist off the costs on the American taxpayer while taking all of the advantages of NAFTA. I can tell you one thing-If I illegally crossed the border into North Korea, China, or Iran, I would fully expect to be shot.
I seem to remember Germany captured France once upon a time, then a group of nations came and took it away from them.
Conclusion: The winner in the gunfight writes the rules. (and there's always another gunfight comin')
The useless and bias United Nations doesn't have the authority to force any country to do anything. The only thing the corrupt U.N. is good at is spending other countries money without really accomplishing anything. The make-up of the U.N. Human Rights is a good example; a majority of the countries on the panel are the Human Rights violators. Basically, Israel and any other country can ignore the U.N. and personally I think they should be thrown out of the U.S.A.. Israel was either given their lands via a U.N. Mandate and/or won the lands in war. Countries that attacked Israel and lost gave up the land. Israel is under ABSOLUTELY no obligation to return any land.
to bella
so what you are saying is isreal sees fit to put their citizens in harms way so they "the government" is protected?
also isreal did not win fair and square if you knew your history!!!
we the united states supplied the jewish people all weapons of war at the time and tons of it
while the palistinians had 3 tanks lol
doest sound to fair to me
YEEESH
100 tanks to 3 lol sadsadsad
Rob - Seattle -- Germany was forcibly removed from the lands they over ran and also LOST the War. Israel WON their battles and have a right to keep the lands they won in war. They either were given the land by the U.N. and/or won ALL their land by defeating those that attacked them.
Keith -- Iran & Syria supply weapons to the Hezbollah and the Palestinians. You point is neutralized and has no merit.
The UN is a joke. Always has been, and always will be.
On a more substantive note... Sorry, but if you try to wipe a country off the map (i.e., take their land forever) and you fail and lose some of your land in the process, you aren't entitled to a refund.
Let's get one thing straight here, and that is both the Palestinians and the Israelis have their fair share of blood on their hands since day one. Neither side is the sole victim and I would honestly say Israel is more to blame than anything but regardless both side shoulder the burden and the constant finger pointing for the last 45+ yrs has gotten no where. I'm tired off it and It is time for it to stop. I'm glad to see the UN stand up to this and condemn their actions but at the same time see the reality of it not carrying as much weight as they like (yes some day in the future maybe a more united front and like to see countries work together peacefully rather than go to war all the time, so it has its place, but we still haven't gotten to the point we need to, anyways...).
My first care is the US. We have more than enough problems here and I'm tired of trying to negotiate with either side and I'm tired of the aid we give Israel, who doesn't need it and when it could be used better here, and most of all I'm tired of the Israel lobbyist and their influence in DC. Everyone complains about the UN but the lobbyist BS by another nation influencing what we do gets overlooked???
Fact is both sides need to be held to the fire, grow up, and end the nonsense. Give the damn Palestinians land and stop the crap treatment. Hell if anyone should know better about poor treatment of another people is should be the Israelis. Get a peace deal in place and finally make a meaningful effort. Then if the Palestinians screw it up, let Israel bomb the entire place into submission and take it all over, but not before a final real effort is made and both sides owe up to their sins and stop the nonsense. Also no more capital in Jerusalem and the old city gets control by a neutral country like the Swiss.
As for US we can back Israel but no more aid, if ever again. Certainly not until we have our own house in order and they(Israel) understands who's interests will come first, USA, not the other way around like it has been.
One last thing to, final confession to knowingly attacking the USS Liberty.
But again I think It is time for us to change our priorities as a whole for how the US handles and views this region and the assistance we provide. Stop letting it hold us back and be a reason to get attacked. This area is a hell hole that just doesn't want to change. We don't need the oil and have other options. Want it for religious reasons the move there and fight the fight, otherwise we have better things to do and only worry needs to be knocking the extremists back in line anytime they get funny ideas.
It is time
@ Bella.Angel, post 1.7
Are you sure you know your history when it comes to Texas and California?
First off California was not won due to any war and we didn't win Texas in a war either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas
Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–American War in 1846
bella angel "Israel won the West Bank fair and square... "
so then, I conclude that we step the bleep out of the middle east and let all middle eastern nations decide which side of the Israeli/Palenstinian conflict they stand on...and let them duke it out to see who WINS IT FAIR AND SQUARE this time.
listen - we, along with britain - plopped jews down in the middle east intentionally, this was designed before the nazi's and the camps and all that jazz. the intent was to take over the middle east and all the oil.
the fact that the arab nations in that region arent taking too kindly to our plans to rule the world, isnt shocking. the fact that the palestinians are fighting back and want their land back, shouldnt shock anyone.
If the chinese took the tibetans and plopped them down in florida and claimed florida as NEW TIBET, a whole new country, so these people can live freely on their own...you'd be ok with that, if the chinese military "won that land fair and square"?
you mean, americans wouldnt fight back and try to regain that land?
come on...you know we would, just like the palestinians are.
it's the entire reason "terrorists" in the middle east exist.
you cant just "plop" people down on some land and say "this is ours now" and after a battel or two call it "done, get over it"...
you, and all the people that support the creation of Isreal, need to get over the fact that arabs are not going to give up.
and I dont blame them.
of course we side with Isreal, it's what we did to get this land...just moved ourselves in, stole the land, slaughtered the natives and called it MANIFESTING DESTINY. a very nice way to rename genocide.
let's just be honest people. peace will never come to the middle east, until Isreal understands they cant have it all...they have to give up some of what they've stolen.
just like america gave back some land to the native americans.
greed will get isreal slaughtered, yet again.
Jessica:
Israel won that land in WAR.
The Middle Eastern nations as a whole if in full out war would lose to Israel.
Their civilians are all prior military and highly trained in weapons and hand to hand.
The only thing the rest of the Middle East is good at in protesting and burning flags.
War is some serious $hit and the Israeli's are prepared.
@Jerry43351 You asked an honest question: Where is the UN in Syria where tens of thousands are
being slaughtered or is the reason because they are Muslims doing the killing? Yes, on the face of it,
I think it may be a fundamental racism which has no place in our world now. Freedom is a universal right
for all people. Which is the reason I am a robust-George W. Bush Republican who is quoted as saying
"Our greatest opportunity and immediate goal is peace in the Middle East." I would only add
Democracy is happening in that region whether some like it or not.
Actually the US had nothing to do with Texas becoming independant from Mexico the first time. Texicans made up of people from America and Mexican citizens fought for their independence due to the actions of the Mexican government and them breaking treaties amongest other things. Now to the rest of your point........I agree that Isreal was attacked they defended themselves and took over the lands and have the rights to those lands now.
I find it utterly amusing that whenever we want to go to war and/or justify our positions we go to the UN, but when they do something we don't like it's F the UN. What a bunch of hypocrites!
No I always say "F" the UN.
ahh... Here's a little history for you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So yes, I know my history... Texas, California and a load of other states were won via war with Mexico. So like I said, if you want to demand Israel give back the West Bank.. why don't you hypocrites cough up all that land you won via war with Mexico AND the land you stole from the Native Americans... and when you are done with that, you can cough up the land you won from the British via war....
When all is said and done, the only "legally purchased" land the US has is Louisiana LOL!
Bella.Angel,
"When all is said and done, the only "legally purchased" land the US has is Louisiana"
Not quite! The Louisiana Purchase was not just for the state of Louisiana. It included the Louisiana Territory which comprises pretty much the entire Midwestern United States. It consisted of what is now Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; most of Colorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as significant parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana. It nearly doubled the size of the United States before the purchase, and it was quite a deal: only $15 million, which, I guess, was a lot of money back in 1802.
hhhmmm...
Antistupidity's comment at 1.11 has been collapsed. That shouldn't have happened so I'll lend a hand and repost it here.
If Israel wants to keep the West Bank, they should annex it outright. Problem is, that leaves Israel with some ugly choices:
1. Expel all the Arab residents of the West Bank, also known as "ethnic cleansing". In today's world, that would be regarded as a serious crime against humanity, exposing Israel to international sanctions and possible military intervention by world powers.
2. Treat all the Arab residents of the West Bank as resident aliens, also known as "apartheid". This is the de facto status of West Bank Arabs today, and is also regarded as inhumane, though not as severe as ethnic cleansing would be. The Arabs are also perpetually unhappy in this arrangement, resulting in ongoing civil unrest and international condemnation.
3. Grant all the Arab residents of the West Bank full Israeli citizenship. This would make Arabs and the international community very happy, but would mean that Israel will not remain a majority Jewish state. Jewish Israelis fear that eventually the growing Arab majority might turn to Islamist, Baathist or other extreme elements and persecute the Jews. Sadly, this fear is justified.
Of course, a unilateral Israeli pullout from the West Bank risks a repeat of Gaza, with Hamas or some other radical party taking control and launching continual attacks into Israel. Given the location of the West Bank, that means rockets on Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The only possible hope of a good outcome for Israel is either an independent Palestine under moderate government, or a voluntary decision (without coercion) by most West Bank Arabs to move somewhere else.
After World War 2, The Soviet Union Annex several countries. China in the 1950's Annex Tibet, and still wants Taiwan. But to this day will the UN tell China to let Tibet go? The Soviet Union only let go of the baltic states, Ukraine and Georgia, because of their financial collapse.
The Muslims are just upset that the people they kick out of Judea, 1400 years ago, have returned to reclaim their homeland. Jerusalem is the city of David, not the city of Muhammed.
The above numbers have increase significantly to the disproportionate disadvantage of the Palestinians.
*In the “Case Lead” invasion of Dec.’08 to Jan.’09, 1389 Palestinians Killed (420 women & children) to 14 Israelis (4 killed due to friendly fire).
*In the latest conflict, that was ignited after Israel assassinated a Hamas leader who, at the time was about to sign an agreement with Israel, 150 Palestinians dead with over 1000 wounded to 3 Israelis dead.
*Israel was the only country who supported Apartheid South Africa in opposition to the rest of the world.
Yes, our bastion of western civilization in Middle East supported a racist Nazii-Like regime in South Africa. They are the largest Per capita sex slave traffickers. A state that was edged out in order protect its citizenry from racism and antisemitism is vehemently racist and antisemitic to its own Sephardic and Ethiopians Jews. For example, secretly injecting Ethiopian women with long-term contraception to maintain a the RIGHT color in Israel. Sephardic children face segregation in schools. So why do we support this with our tax dollars again???
YES, Thank you!!!!
Eric- NY
Here are the facts:
About the Dome of the Rock Mosque:
The Islamic mosque was actually built on a garbage dump that was cleaned up by Umar Ibin Khattab, the Leader of the Muslims. He had the power to have built it anywhere in Jerusalem. He could have destroyed any church or synagogue to build the mosque, but he built it on an unused location, a garbage dump.
Finally This may be shocking!
This is likely why there is such ease in which Palestinian land, water, lives are taken without guilt:
phemkat,
For a moment there it sounded like you were preaching peace, that would've been enough even to overlook the fact that you were pretending like Muslims were not treating Jews and Christians like second-class citizens, charging more tax on them then they did on Muslims, putting restrictions on where they can live or how big a Synagogue should be.
But then you quote an insignificant fanatic and pretend like he speaks for all Jews.
Now, you pretend like you don't know that Arab citizens of Israel do indeed have equal rights and have opportunities to work their way up into the government or to serve in the army. Certainly no restriction on them practicing Islam.
Like you don't know that the only land and water that Palestinians have were given to them by Israel.
Palestinians did not feel like West Bank was taken from them when it was controlled by Jordan. Do you think Jordan was going to give it to Palestinians? The only reason Palestinians have it now is because Israel gave it to them.
Did Egypt ever plan on giving Gaza to Palestinians? Now, Palestinians have it because Israel gave it to them.
Muslims in general and Palestinians in particular always had an option to live in peace with Jews, they still do, but they insist on refusing that option. So, they only have themselves to blame for the consequences.
Eli100
Let's not redirect by inciting Islamophobia.
You conveniently leave out the fact that nearly 20%of those Palestinians are CHRISTIAN.
No need to obfuscate from the real question at hand:
If the prime reason for Israel's existence is to create a place of rescue where Jews would
no longer experience pernicious bigotry and such bigotry is alive and hearty in Israel, then doesn't
threaten to eviscerates the prime reason for Israel's existence.
The mantra from Israel to the world has been "NEVER FORGET"
The mantra from the world to Israel is now "YOU FORGOT!!!".
What these bastards did epitomizes EVIL, pure unadulterated EVIL. A kind of RACIAL eugenics that Josef Mengele would have found RATIONAL and REASONABLE.
Ethiopians children grow up hearing the most disgusting slurs. A original import from the U.S., "the N-Word".
Sephardic(Middle-Eastern) Jews are treated like second class citizens and their children face segregation in school. The Huffington Post
Okay I know what the reaction is going to be but... Israel cites international law when it suits them to do so. Modern international law does say that a nation does not expand it's territory by means of conquest, but must instead go through legal channels to expand their territories. That means treaties. According to the Accords, they had agreed to leave those areas they have been settling.
I know some of you think, if a nation wants a bit of land they fancy and they have the military capability, they just take it and its theirs. But that is not really how things are supposed to work. We have agreements between international entities that are supposed to govern how they interact. If someone does not follow the agreement they arranged with another, how can anyone else trust them? Israel made a deal to withdraw from those territories in question.
If you would like to learn about the Geneva Accords visit http://www.geneva-accord.org/
And just to be fair to both sides-Phemkat, your getting a little carried away citing some rather questionable info-bits. The garbage dump claim is out there. That could be verified of course, but then they don't allow archaeology on the grounds of the Dome ( and for more reasons than they say too.) That hill top is the biggest reason why Jerusalem should be an International city not under the dominion of Israel or the Palestinians.
...waaaait.... battles? or war? Germany won the battles and got France, or does the formal agreed surrender by one foe determine ownership? 'Cuz I don't know of the Palestinians doing that...and they're stil fighting it seems.
Please, Israel keep doing what you are doing....Thank you..
Others should follow Israel in reclaiming their lands, which were usurped by Muslims by force, fake dances and dramas (Sufis of Mali, Pakistan and other places), cheating, not keeping a word or pact!
Yes, keep stealing land. Keep pissing in the face of the rest of the world. Your god gives you that right !!!!
And tear down the mosque at ground 0! It is an insult and demeaning to the families of those that were killed.
Since when has the UN acquired dictatorial powers to tell member nations what they must do?
Who has the oldest claim to the land? I am guessing Israel does
hey..Markw207 ..are you leaving California, NM, Arizona and Texas back to Mexico? and Dakotas to the Siux? Lousiana and Florida to Spain and France?..
You're funny..
Where do the people who call themselves “Palestinians” really come from; this, from the
Palestinians themselves.
The link below is to a clip from an interview on Egyptian TV with Fathi Hamad, the Minister of the Interior of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbuM91PeSOs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZtiUdl9Cd0
AC,
"Lousiana and Florida to Spain and France?.."
Good point there, but we got Texas, New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico by "right of conquest" as a result of the Mexican American War in 1848. Louisiana, as well as most of the Midwest on the other hand, we got as the result of a legal purchase from France (the Louisiana Purchase); not by conquest. So there would be no need of giving that territory back to France unless they refunded our money. I don't remember how we got Florida, though.
"Corrupt Language Breeds Bad History and Bad
Policy
Bruce Thornton - Advancingafreesociety.org - May 22, 2011
"...the false
history and its false vocabulary are now taken for reality and made the basis
of policy."
"As the history of communism and fascism both illustrate, modern political tyranny has relied on fabricated history to legitimize its claims and actions, and such history in turn relies on the debasement of language. Nowhere is this axiom more evident than in the conflict between Israel and the Arabs––so much so that, as Obama's recent remarks about Israel show, the false history and its false vocabulary are now taken for reality and made the basis of policy.
Start with the use of "borders" to describe what is in fact the armistice line marking the farthest advance of the five Arab armies that invaded Israel in 1948. That line is not an international "border" in the strict sense of a line dividing one sovereign state from another. The territory in question was never a state. Once a state is established, then the international border will be settled by negotiations. As Israeli ambassador Dore Gold points out, U.N. resolution 242, as well as later agreements such as the 1993 Oslo Accords, preserves this "flexibility for creating new borders."
Then there's "occupation," used to describe the Israeli presence in the West Bank, itself a misleading term that obscures the historical fact that this region is Judea and Samaria, the heartland of the ancient Jewish state. Aside from that, using "occupation" to describe Israel's control over a disputed territory whose final status will be determined by negotiation evokes misleading analogies with historical events like the Nazi occupation of France during World War II, or the Soviet occupation of the Eastern bloc during the Cold War. But that analogy is false: Germany and Russia invaded and then occupied sovereign nations defined by international borders. Israel ended up in the West Bank territories as the result of a defensive war against aggressors. Israel's continuing control is a defensive necessity, just as after World War I the traditional launching pad for German aggression against France, the Rhineland, was demilitarized and subject to Allied military control. Indeed, the Allied decision to evacuate their forces from the Rhineland was one of many mistakes that led to World War II. Given that central Israel is only 9 miles wide from the Mediterranean to the West Bank, it is understandable that it is cautious about losing control over the traditional Arab launching pad for invasion.
"Palestinian homeland" is another particularly loaded and historically false phrase. "Palestine" was the name of a multi-ethnic Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman province, not a people. The name itself reflects Rome's attempt to alter historical reality with language. After the destruction of Israel as a political entity and the scattering of its people in the 2nd Century A.D., the Romans renamed the territory "Palestine" after the Philistines, a people that once lived in the region but had been absorbed into other groups for centuries. Thus the Romans subjected the Jews to a collective damnatio memoriae, the practice of erasing all public mention or record of an enemy to the Roman state––exactly what the Arabs have been trying to do to Israel for the last 60 years by denying its historical ties to the land.
Likewise, just as the Romans named the land after a people that no longer existed, so too calling the current Arab inhabitants "Palestinians" perpetuates a similar historical fraud. What constitute a people are a shared language, culture, customs, traditions, and history distinct enough to set them apart from others. By these criteria, there is no such thing as "Palestinians." The average Arab living in Israel or the West Bank is no more significantly distinct from one living in Syria, Jordan, or Egypt than a resident from California is significantly distinct from a resident of Arizona or Nevada. Whatever differences that do exist do not trump the more important similarities, and reflect rather the refusal of surrounding Arab nations to integrate their Arab brothers into their own countries, instead constructing a Palestinian identity based on victimhood, humiliation, and failure.
That's why before 1967, no one talked about "Palestinians" as a distinct people deserving a homeland, and the Jordanians did not create a Palestinian state when they controlled the West Bank. That notion of a "Palestinian state" arose after the Arab defeats in the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Once those debacles made it clear the Arabs could not destroy Israel by force, the tactic shifted to making the issue one of national self-determination as a way of chipping away at Israel's territorial integrity and international support.
Finally, the claim that the territory inhabited by Israel is the traditional "homeland" of those whom we call Palestinians is false. The majority of Arabs who have lived or are living in Israel and the West Bank are there as the descendants of conquerors, colonizers, and immigrants. Many of them came after Zionists began in the 19th Century to develop a mostly desolate, neglected land and to create economic opportunities. History and archaeology tell us that the territory comprising Israel and the West Bank is the traditional homeland of the Jewish people, not a mythical Palestinian people.
The misleading and false language used to describe the conflict between Israel and the countries that have tried to destroy it obscures the actual causes of Arab hatred of Israel, which in turn creates bad policies pursuing false solutions. A Palestinian state will not bring peace to the region, for the simple reason that a critical mass of Arabs does not want Israel to exist."
@ mickey - you got to it first, AC just never payed attention in class, like the liberals normally do... Never pay attention!
AC-11...., can you prove the Sioux or as you call them Siux, were the 1st indiginous peopleto settle in the Dakota's, or did they take it from someone who was there before them. My guess is that land changed hands many times before white settlers arrived. Its ours now, until someone else decides they want it more. Don't get me wrong, making and breaking treaties with the Native Americans was wrong. By the same token their days were numbered, their lifestyle was doomed by the advance of so called modern civilization. Keep in mind that long before any white man set foot on these shores, Native Americans waged war on each other, its not like they all sat around the campfire together smoking pipes and signing Kym BIA Ya. So the bottom line is, just who's land is it.
It's equally amusing and distressing the false history and one sided history that a good number of posters on this thread have.
hardtostarboard,
"My guess is that land changed hands many times before white settlers arrived. Its ours now"
That reminds me of a cartoon I saw in Playboy once where a father and mother were sitting at the kitchen table with their daughter. The father was unshaven, and the mother was in her housecoat, with rollers in her hair. The father says to his daughter, "Yes, Virginia. That's true. You were born as a princess, but you're ours now!"
The spineless UN will do exactly what to enforce this bigoted, racist ruling? By comparison China occupies Tibet and has removed 200,000 Tibetans replacing them with 1 million Han Chinese and none of the Nazis in the UN said a word. Hopefully Iran will back up Assad, attack Israel and the absence of Tehran from the map will be explained by a large, mushroom shaped cloud.
Israel won that land in a war back in '67.
Give it back to whom??? a terrorist organization.................really.
UN go screw yourselves. relevant as the toilet flushing.
so let me get this straight - if China called our debt, and brought in their massive forces and "took" america by war.
the americans they leave behind, and they will...should absolutely, under no circumstances, fight back and try to retake america?
we should just "give it up" and call ourselves chinese, or move...somewhere else?
I just want to be clear how WE should behave when someone comes to take OUR land - and WINS IT by WAR.
Dave - would we be terrorists if we fought our occupiers, if say, China invaded, occupied and "took" america by force of war?
or would we be freedom fighters, because we're american and we're mostly white?
UN Panel's Report: "Mexico must withdraw all settlers from CA, AZ, NM and TX."
How does that sound?
Jessica,
In your scenario, if we were blowing ourselves up in crowded restaurant, shooting rockets at school-buses or slitting the throats of little babies, than yes, we would be terrorists. Even if our country was invaded, there still would be no excuse for any of those actions.
However, if you want complete similarity, we would have to be invaded not by Chinese, but by Native Americans whose land we once stole.
Also, if they offered us a deal by which we could share the land, and we turned it down, we would be not only terrorists, but also extremely stupid ones.
Our government became terrorists quite some time ago.
Superskunk: If I were you I'd also vote for myself.
BDS(Boycott, Divest & Sanction) is the next step. This was tremendously effective against the evil Apartheid regime in South Africa, and it will again be potent in dealing with the intransigence of the Zionist State of Israel.
From my favorite Irish atheist.
The left and Israel
http://markhumphrys.com/left.israel.html
Hey markw207, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma called. they want Georgia, North and South Carolina, and part of Tennessee back, 'cuz, ya know, they were there FIRST.
And the US will veto any attempt by the UN to enforce this, and nothing of value will be accomplished.
Anyhow, UN and all its agencies are most corrupt, partisan and useless!
Corrupt in UN and co start dances when some show monies or some favors; ruin the jobs given to them; and pocket monies in the process.
Iraqi wars, Syrian war are some of the partisan acts.
But there dead silences of genocides of Christians in Darfur, Sudan and other places, minority sect/tribes in Muslim majority nations like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other nations.
Why does not UN and their Rights group start all their big word jobs from oil rich Sunni rulers of House of Saud, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and other Sunni Arab League nations?
Oh yeah Jonathan, the UN is useless until you Zionists want to use UN violations as an excuse to aattack Iraq. You people a a bad joke. Israel has broken more UN resolutions than any nation in history.
The Israeli attitude is, if the law isn't good for Israel, blame the people who wrote the law. The laws were agreed upon by the international community, in an effort to bring order to the world community. Jews believe they are above laws and that they only apply to gentiles, moslems and the rest of the suckers. If Zionists want someone elses land, they invent an excuse and then go take it, using American supplied weapons.
It is time to stop the land grabbing and the wars for Israel. The UN should drive the settlers off the land and if the Israelis attempt to stop them, attack Israel.
"It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion,
clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten with
time. The first of these is that there is no Zionism, colonialization or Jewish
State without the eviction of the Arabs and the expropriation of their
lands."
Yoram Bar Porath, Yediot Aahronot, of 14 July 1972.
RalpH yep keep supporting the radical muslems they have a nice vest for you. P.S. don't play with the wires or C4
viknat - I support the party who is in the right. I support the victim, not the thief.You call them radical Muslims. What is radical about wanting your land and your own state? It was almost all Arab land before the Jews came in from Eastern Europe.
Apparently, you support the thief, because the Israeli stole the land from ther Arabs, who were living on that land. Some proof:
"If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel.
It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us,
but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti -
Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault ? They see but
one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept
that?"
David Ben Gurion (first Israeli PM, quoted by Nahum Goldmann
in Le Paraddoxe Juif (The Jewish Paradox), pp121.
. "We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and
the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab
population."
Israel Koenig, "The Koenig Memorandum"
"Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not
even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because
geography books no longer exist. Not only do the books not exist, the Arab
villages are not there either. Nahlal arose in the place of Mahlul; Kibbutz
Gvat in the place of Jibta; Kibbutz Sarid in the place of Huneifis; and Kefar
Yehushua in the place of Tal al-Shuman. There is not a single place built in
this country that did not have a former Arab population."
Moshe Dayan, address to the Technion, Haifa, reported in
Haaretz, April 4, 1969.
"Everybody has to move, run and grab as many hilltops as they can to
enlarge the settlements because everything we take now will stay ours...
Everything we don't grab will go to them."
Ariel Sharon, Israeli Foreign Minister, addressing a meeting
of militants from the extreme right-wing Tsomet Party, Agence France Presse,
November 15, 1998.
Ralph lets rehash history for you. The Allies defeated the Ottoman Turks in WWI. The area that would become know as 'Palestine' was allotted to the British. Though it was part of the Ottoman empire, no other group of people had ever established a national homeland there since the Jews had done it 2,000 years before, the British "looked favorably" upon the creation of a Jewish National Homeland throughout all of Palestine.
The Jews had already begun mass immigration into Palestine in the 1880's in an effort to rid the land of swamps and malaria and prepare the rebirth of Israel (beginnings of Zionism). This Jewish effort to revitalize the land attracted an equally large immigration of Arabs from neighboring areas, who were drawn by employment opportunities and healthier living conditions.
Even then there was a clear rift and deep angst between Jews and Arabs, so in 1923 the British divided Palestine into administrative districts. Jews would be permitted only west of the Jordan River. The remaining 75% of what was the original plan for a Jewish Homeland was to become the Arab Palestinian Homeland 'Trans-Jordan' (today Jordan).
This wasn't good enough for the Arabs of Palestine. They wouldn't (and still won't) accept anything less than the complete removal of all Jews. The Jewish Palestinians have fought continuously against incessant terrorist attacks from neighbors who DO NOT WANT PEACE. When the West Bank and Gaza were part of Jordan there was no effort to create a separate 'state' for those poor displaced Palestinians. The Arabs simply joined together (Egyptians, Syrians, and Jordanians) in 1967 to push forward and 'eliminate the state of Israel'.
Israel fought back and won. After six days they controlled the West Bank, Gaza, and the Sinai Peninsula. It is at this point that Israel became the evil 'occupier' and these supposed harmless Palestinians the 'poor refugees' without a homeland. Yet even after giving back the Sinai and many efforts at bridging the gap they are still rocketed daily by terrorists who want nothing more then to wipe them off the map.
Lets be honest here Ralph. The 'Palestinians' don't want peace they want to KILL all Jews (they have shown time and time again that they won't except anything but the complete extermination of all Israelis) and you're ok with it. Don't give my your bullsh!t about encroaching settlements and broken UN agreements, and blame Israel this and blame Israel that. Certainly there is enough blame to go around. This has been a tense situation for like a century.
What the real problem is, is that everyday 'Palestinians' are shooting rockets at Israel's doorstep, all their neighbors are VOCALLY SHAMELESSLY calling for killing millions of people, AND THE WORLD IS OK WITH IT. In fact the world blames Israel, unequivocally blames them while simultaneously disregarding daily acts of terror. The world is just fine with terrorism as long as its directed towards Jews... This is crazy. You, Ralph, are nuts.
Don't worry too much me1234567891, it's just Ralphy out on the trail again, riding the same rutted track. Just be sure you don't get bushwacked by his trusty sidekick Henrich von Dorf, who's bound to lurking in the wings nearby.
I've heard it said by some that Ralphy's Iranian. I've not seen anything concrete in support but it wouldn't surprise me one iota, given his vehement anti-Israel rants.
RalpH: I too support the victims, down trodden, helpless and those whom not many bother.
Since the birth of Islamic cult, followers of Islam have indulged untold miseries on the rest.
These days with House of Saud leading the haters and killers gangs of Islamic cult, my first target are extremist Muslims.
Here I am with even sane/minority sect/tribe Muslims, I am with them.
I support Israel as they are against rock throwers and rocket luanchers, Hamas.
I support Assad and wish he eliminates all Sunni Islamic Syrian rebels.
Meantime, Israel should leave Syria and Iran and attack Hezbollah while Shiites and Sunnis are busy in their sectarian battles.
Jonathan-1982062
Who were the cult followers?
The ones who slaughtered Jews during the inquisition in Spain
or the people who rescued Jews placing them on ships heading all over the Middle East?
me...: That is state of affairs where followers of Islamic cult have set their feet in many places around the world.
At the same time, Jews of Israel and US Jewish lobby are too arrogant and they don't understand the need to support or come to the rescue of non-Muslims, who are going through similar fates.
If they had some brains, they would not acted as facilitators of Iraqi wars, now sanctions on Iranian oil and cheering for Syrian intervention.
Some Jews are too arrogant and self-centered to understand long term implications of some of their nutty actions.
Don't worry, Jonathan.
Jews are smart enough to know that when good Muslims are fighting each other, they are doing everyone else a great favor.
Assad is more than welcome to keep fighting.
phemkat: Since the birth of Islamic cult, the contributions of followers of the cult are mostly negative to a society and place.
They have proved to be curses wherever they are.
Jews lost their region as they were meek compared to Muslims.
In Europe, Muslims tried to take over by sword and they were driven out by those with bigger swords.
In the current Afghan and Paki regions and many places in Africa, Muslims have converted once peaceful and prosperous places to raping, killing and genocide places.
Currently, the situation is so aweful that if Muslim percentage crosses five percent, then down hill of the places start.
Even in the US, Britain and many European nations we can notice this trend.
Higher the percentage means bigger mess.
Allah has predicted demise of Islam and the way many Muslims are conducting, Allah's prediction will come faster than one expects.
Eli100: I have strong doubts about some Israeli leaders like Netanyahu and some others: whether they are on payrolls of oil interests?
Otherwise, Israel would not have been the starting igniter for Iraqi wars, Syrian intervention and sanctions on Iranian oil.
I am having doubts: have some Jewish leaders become too corrupt?
There is no one, including the USA, in agreement with Israel on this issue. Israel is in denial. Israel is going to cut her own throat. Let the embargo begin. Now that the UN has ruled, it's time to cut off all aid to Israel just like we banned trade with South America and Iran over human rights issues. Let's see how long this welfare State can last on their own.
Enjoying the Hangover - Boozer?
In a drinking contest Booz v. Sziker I will put my money on Sziker. I am sure he will overdrink the other guy. Give him hell Sziker.
boozermcsmurf
We banned trade with South America, the whole continent or just certain countries? When? You need to check into rehab, your brain is fried beyond recuperation.
boozer- lay off the obamaaide......
Don't believe a word of what our media tells you.
Traveling in Asia- I must say Al Jazeera gave a much clearer of picture of world views and events.
The US media clearly has an agenda and it is not to report the truth-That is for sure.
While Al Jazeera is all about the truth, and certainly not rallying people against the West, right?
Unlike Uncle Sucka, I don't believe that Al Jazeera ever stated that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Can't wait to watch it on my cable TV. By the way, thieves never return what they have stolen.
Could be the start of a major conflict...
I seriously doubt that the UN (useless nonsense?) will invade Israel and start a war. UN troops are peacekeepers, not conquerors.
I'm sorry moleman but I beg to differ. They can't even do that. You had it correct in your first sentence when you said "useless".
They truly are the Useless Nations but they sure can suck down the tax money. The last time that they did anything worthwhile was in 1948.
UN troops is an oxymoron. More like blue helmeted yard gnomes, when the going gets tough the UN withdraws.
The United Nations ( not a division of the United States of America, despite the Bilderberg Group's strategic positioning their building on US soil) is doing its utmost to usher in Armageddon in the name of civil rights. But God Almighty's chosen people will prevail. I just hope and pray that our anti-Christian, Muslim-loving President doesn't drag US into the conflict in opposition against Israel....
Inflammatory ignorance! Are you snorting with Rush?
@Irish- talk about ignorance, you couldn't even post a valid comeback to his statement! Must be an alcoholic, can't think with all those brain cells dead!
Armageddon is definitely going to start in Israel. That's where Tel Megiddo is.
So you're saying the UN is more powerful than your god? Uh oh, someone might be in a pretty hot place in the near future.
old Texas saying "jewish lobbing money talks, making U.S. Govt. walk"
the US needs to pull out of the UN and defund it. it is nothing more than a joke. what's next, the US will have to give texas back to mexico?
I think most Americans would support giving Texas back to Mexico. Where do I sign?
heh-heh-heh. Astroguy, I think you've been breathing that thin air of outer space for far too long. MAYBE 10%-15% of (disillusioned, brainwashed, uninformed) of Americans MIGHT state something like this. You and other far leyefties of your ilk really have no clue of how much of a minority you really are - even after decades of progressive under-the-radar subterfuge. Most Americans are silent and preoccupied - until pushed just a little too far. You're getting mighty close my friend(s). Have a nice day! :))
Naaah...keep Texas, but you can have California.
And give Indiana back to the Indians.
A harmless joke, TermLimitsnow. I'm curious, though, what you suggest would happen when you say "until pushed just a little too far". Is that some kind of threat?
Ah the secession crowd is back again. You guys love America so much you like to subtly (or not so subtly) threaten armed insurrection against the government and/or secession from America.
I don't want to name call, but lets check Dictionary.com's definition of "treason:"
What do you call someone who advocates treason?
Nope. Whats next is the palestinians take back the occupied lands.
You know, history repeats itself. Ignoring it doesnt make it less possible.
Yes, history is repeating itself.
Israel was conquered half a dozen twice and destroyed twice, but they always recovered.
They outlived all those nations who invested themselves into destroying Israel, and they will outlive the ones who are trying it now.
Let me get this right. They want all Jews to leave this area, and they blame Israel for ethnic cleansing? That's a good one.
Israelis-not necessarily Jews
Not all Jews, not all Palestinians are Muslim, there are Christian and Jewish Palestinians as well. The Palestinians have never accepted the Israili takeover and have fought back since day 1. Not that I hold the Palestinians innocent either. If the neighboring Arab states had accepted the 1948 borders that they now demand we wouldn't be having this discussion. PS. we took Florida because it was harboring runaway slaves.
PA stated loud and clear that there will be no Jews in their new Palestinian state.
Think about it, if they did not mind some Palestinian Jews, they wouldn't need to make all the fuss about the settlements, would they? They could've just given the settlers Palestinian citizenship.
We both know that's out of the question, don't we?
Wow, the U.N. has been quiet for a while. Last I heard they were in Africa raping villagers they were there to protect.
The U.N. has....what authority to say anyone "must" do anything? The U.N. should move over to France where they will be accepted more readily. Then the U.S. can stop paying for the whole charade. This is an organization that has had half a century to amount to something and hasn't. Go home, shut up.
Why do we always see the ENEMIES (and/or terrorists) of Israel portrayed as "victims" ? God Bless Israel !!
Let me get this straight. They want all Jews to leave this area, but they say that Israel is to blame for ethnic cleansing? That's a good one.
Squatters are squatters.
gary Terrorist are Terrorist. The Muslim radicals have a nice vest for you to wear, P.S. don't play with the wires or C4
No, they want the Israeli's living there illegally to leave, whether they're jews, muslims, or christians.
No SUPERSKUNK they want all Israelis DEAD. They don't give one lick about this 'illegal' occupation garbage. They want Isrealis wiped clean off this earth. They want MILLIONS of people dead...and you don't care. You totally disregard the continual acts of aggression on the people of Israel. These genocidal terrorists don't even try to hide their hate anymore. Do you realize how crazy it is for the world (the UN and all you idiots) to be apologists for organizations that openly promote the extermination of MILLIONS OF PEOPLE!!?
Israel 'occupies' those lands because its 'friendly' neighbors joined together to try and 'eliminate them back in '67. It was only after that failed extermination that people started calling the Arab Palestinians 'poor oppressed refugees' of the 'evil occupier'. Before that they were part of Jordan for hell's sake and Jordan didn't think it was necessary to give them a homeland of their own. This Palestinian Homeland garbage is such a farce. They want one thing - the death of MILLIONS of Jews. The world has turned a blind eye to terrorism as long as its done towards Jews.
Unbelievably Shameful.
Your lack of historical knowledge, or I guess possibly revisionist history, is severely skewed.
Who attacked first back in '67 ?
While I agree and admit that Hamas and Fatah have resorted to terrorism to further their cause, the truth of the matter is that Israel has as well. While killing of civilians on either side is terrible, the volume of civilians killed by each side are seriously imbalanced. Israel has killed thousands of Palestinians in the last 10 years, and Hamas/Fatah have killed under 100 Israeli civilians. My point being, just because one side is bad, doesn't automatically make the other side good.
You obviously know nothing about the area or the history behind it based on your post above.
But I digress, your above rant, besides being factually incorrect, has no relation to my post that you responded to, and like a child resorts to name calling and assuming things about me when you know NOTHING about me.
Superskunk
Well said, I'm embarrassed to admit that it still shocks at the lengths these people are willing to take in defending all that is Israel. They now call the architect and facilitator of the peace agreement with Egypt an Anti-Semite. President Jimmy Carter who has been no better friend to Israel is now an Anti-Semite. Go figure!
The UN is a load of hooey' ! GOD BLESS ISRAEL !
Go live there if that is where you loyalty lies.
Gary sounds like your ready for that free vest
Gary- I am not Jewish, but sounds like you hate the Jews for some reason.
Care to explain?
Gary........ SPOT ON!
I support Israel on many factors in their conflict with the Palestine; however, I do not support the settlement in the West Bank. Sometimes I feel that they are turning into their worst enemy. I support the UN on this one. and to John Q Public you are what we call a Wacko!!!! Israel is not a division of the United States either. If you love Israel so much why don't you give them some money. I am very positive that you will see nothing in return. Sounds like a great investment. I cannot wait until religion has lost its grip on our societies across the world. Life will be so much more simpler. John, one day I hope you see how corrupt the Israeli Gov. has become. They have such great potential too. Very sad! From Travis (Grandson of a Holocaust Survivor), USA, West Palm Beach, FL
Travis,
I do not know if you have been to Israel but it is a very small country. To return to the 67 borders would mean that Hamas whose stated goal is the destruction of Israel would be a few feet from where Israelis presently live in Jerusalem. Hamas would be a few miles from the Parliament.
I would also add that when Jordan and Egypt controlled the land from 48 through 67 the Palestinians never asked for their own country, that only came after Israel took control of the land and during that time Jewish people were not allowed to visit their holiest site by order of the Jordanian Government.
Travis you poor naive soul. You think the power vacuum left by 'Religions' demise would be left open? 'Religion' as the great historical killer is such nonsense. True, bad people have used what we now distinguish as 'religion' to justify horrendous acts, but other ideologies not deemed 'religions' have been used as justification for acts of astonishing brutality - ie. look at the Regimes of China, Russia, and Cambodia that forced Communism on their people and in the process murdered hundreds of millions of people. So it is not 'religion' that is the problem. It is when ANY ideology is used to force a people into subservience. You have to remember that for most of history there has not been a separation of Religion and Science. And it is only very recently in history that societies have separated the two.
The UN? Other than no one, Who cares what they think, Glad I'm here enjoying snow instead of fighting over a few grains of sand. It was ALL of there's over 3,000 years ago. Who's laughing at the Hatfields and McCoy's NOW. We'll still pay for the clean up either way
The UN "nonsense" is equivalent to the US "nonsense" having a President with "HIDDEN" credentials, and "hidden" personal vital-records & school documents. I smell a RAT ......
No, you're wrong Holub. That's ratS! Unfortunately, while the American public has been entertained by the progressives and/or sleeping (for the last several decades) RATS all over the place have slowly but surely snuck into all of the US cheese supplies and those who control them. OB is just the "perfect storm" vaccuum created (somehow?) acceptable-to-slightly-more-then-half-of-the-masses rat figurehead that the global folks have awaited. Not sure we're gonna survive this. Have a nice day! :))
If Israel closed its settlements there would be a lot of unemployed Palestinians. Israel should then also cut off electricity, water and medical aid, and deny Palestinians entry to work in Israel itself. Then there would be a real humanitarian crisis.
If the Arab states did not have Israel as a diversion for their own problems, they would have to face their own inferiority and failure to build modern societies capable of competing on the world stage. As it is they sell their raw materials like oil and hire foreign workers to operate their infrastructures.
Withdrawal? Ain't gonna happen. Sanctions? Ain't gonna happen. This is one of the dumbest things the UN has ever done and that's saying something. Not because it is right or wrong, but because it is like whistling into the wind. Israel doesn't take orders well in case the UN hasn't noticed.
They don't take orders well... because they don't really have to. Not when they've got so many other countries showing support for them. If that support (especially by the U.S.) were to disappear... I think they'd be a lot more willing to comply with something like this.
On the contrary. Those who stand alone against the world have to stand even more firm, or they die.
The UN is the most useless, inept conglomerate of wannabes ever devised by man and is a total waste of time and money.
The UN is a useless body of anti-semetic losers. That prime piece of real estate in NYC could be put to much better use!
Things are changing in this world, you might be suprise that the UN will succeed in it's resolutions. Israel and people like yourself will be surprised when Israel give up those settlements. Just wait and see.
Last time UN tried to make resolutions without permission of US, Bush Sr. threatened to turn of the plumbing to UN building, and they instantly backed down.
May be this time, plumbing really will be turned off. Everyone will get a good laugh.
If the US ever stopped supporting Israel then Israel would get what it exactly what it deserves and the world could live at peace.
Are you drooling much in your insanity?
@ Majick - Are you saying that Israel is the cause of all the wars, poverty, hatred,
hhhmmmm...Yes, just exactly what does a tiny country consistently under threat but yet, still able to pump out life saving or life enhancing devices and discoveries deserve??? Although I must question the inclusion of #7 on this list.
http://israel21c.org/technology/israels-top-45-greatest-inventions-of-all-time-2/
http://centerforsanity.blogspot.com/2006/08/israels-contributions.html
REALly??? Where the hell have you been??? Guess you must have slept through every single history class you ever attended. Pity...☺
Don't worry Majick, it won't be long and Israel WILL bring piece to the ME. You and your buddies aren't going to like it.
If the US ever decides to turn against Israel, it will collapse or be Destroyed like ever other nation that has tried. "For in that Day, I, YAHWEH Will Seek to DESTROY Every Nation that Comes Against Jerusalem." Zechariah 12:9 You Haven't Seen Anything Yet.
Are you sure that scripture is not talking about 'Spiritural Israel'?
Good evening, Alan.
funnybuddy, you're not funny and you're not a buddy.
Daniel 2:44 In the days of those kings (last days) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will crush and put and end to all other kingdoms.
This includes present day Israel...........
Many countries tried to declare them selves the "kingdom that will crush and put and end to all other kingdoms", they all stood for a while, but went down eventually.
Israel never was that kind of kingdom, and that's exactly why they still stand.
israel should do now what they should have done years ago - line up every tank and Israeli soldier and march to the sea and kill everyone of the Bastards! These so called Palestinians (THERE NEVER WAS A COUNTRY CALLED PALESTINE and the UN stopped issuing Special ID Cards called Palestine in the 1950s) are the scum of the earth. EVERY Country that accepted Palestinian Refugees ended up fighting a war to GET RID OF THEM! Lebanon is a War Zone because of them, Saudi Arabia refuses to allow any of them to settle there, and Jordan had to put down an attempted coup by them!
You were born at the wrong time in history, it seems. About 70 years ago your sentiments would have been right at home in Nazi Germany.
Israel should tell the UN that it's a "George Fox" and to stick the organization up where the sun don't shine. Being nice guys haven't accomplished anything. Maybe redo the "SIX DAYS" for starters.
Better idea
I think we should withdraw from the UN.
If it was up to these dirtbags in the UN now there would be no Israel.
The UN created Israel in 1948.
Gary- And the UN should never had been created, it's been nothing but a drain on the US economy
Next they will ask Israel to give up the Golan Heights, which makes Israel extremely vunerable to attack from the North.
Gary... first off - I'm an American who believes in Christianity. Israel was NOT created by the UN - read your Bible. Israel was created long, long before your father's stupid sperm united with your mother's idiotic egg to create a moron YOU !!!
Gary, Spot on. These Zionist can't accept the truth.
@baliman. Jesus said that it would be taken from them, and given to the nations. The Temple was destroyed by the romans, and many of the Jew were killed and the remaining ones were taken into slavery. In other words: The Almighty God is no longer with the Present day Nation of Israel.
There is a SPRITUAL ISRAEL TODAY, and it includes all nations
Wrong!!!
The UN reestablished a former Kingdom.
fb, your agenda is duly noted.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Wrong!!!!!!
Just when do the UN re-establish bibical laws and jurisdictions. The UN do not recognized land that God give to those in former times.
This is why the the UN has given the Palestinians recognition status recently, and it will ultimately lead to a Palestine state in an area once considered Jewish territory in biblical times.
UN didn't give Jews anything they were not already holding.
The Jewish community recreated Israel on their own, and UN merely allowed them to exist, nothing more.
Recreating Israel was the matter of survival, and that's exactly why Israelis are still fighting and always will keep fighting for survival by any means necessary.
As for Palestinians, they are welcome to have their won state, but they will have to start actually running it, without wasting their effort and resources on pointless attacks at Israel.
If they start doing some honest-day work building a state, they will have a state, but if they keep concentrating on this idiotic war, they will end up with nothing.
That makes no sense, since they will become a state anyway.