The Politics Thread

[thebish]

Do you still have a copy of that service, thebish? I would like to read it. I'll PM you my email if you do.

indeed, I do...

[Hoboh]

If Palestinians vote for a moderate government, and the Israelis trample all over it while backed by the US and other Western nations, I can see why in desperation they would vote for a more extreme party. I have no problem with Israel defending itself by killing Hamas terrorists/militants, it's a horrible organisation. I do have a problem with Israelis stealing land and resources and effectively setting up an apartheid system. That's where international pressure on Israel needs to start, show the Palestinians that someone other than Hamas is on their side.

Another form of international intervention is exemplified by the volunteers of the International Solidarity Movement, who go to live in Palestine, staying in the houses of Palestinians, as witnesses to events, and, also, in the knowledge that it makes it more difficult for the Israelis to commit atrocities when there are non-Palestinian witnesses.

The most famous of these was Rachel Corrie, crushed by a bulldozer as she stood outside a pharmacy about to be demolished.

http://palsolidarity.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To be clear - all volunteers have to commit to non-violence. I am amazed at their courage.

when she is killed i wrote a whole Good Friday meditative service based on the reading her emails home and interspersing them with the crucifixion story... the lass who read the emails choked and sobbed her way through the last couple...

a few years ago i was planning a sabbatical - 3 months - i planned to go as an accompanier into Gaza - entirely as you describe above. i sent off for the application forms and stuff...
the missus vetoed the idea - not because i might get killed - but because i'd be away for 3 months and she'd have to look after the kids all on her own!

I'm glad you never made it, sacrifice is for pagans.

Just to say this is the ninth posting in the 24 hours since you said you were keeping out of this one...

You really should try to control the compulsive lying...

Or, to try another tack, you could try talking sense...

I'm not optimistic...

The amount of vitriol against Israeli and the convenient overlooking of the role of Hamas in all this drew me out.
What sense do you and others make when constantly bleating about casualties? This despite your much beloved UN organizations reporting missiles stored in and around schools etc then handing them back to the Palestinians

[Hoboh]

Who said the EU does not interfere in our ordinary lives?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/new ... ution.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

W*nkers to a man!

[thebish]

Who said the EU does not interfere in our ordinary lives?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/new ... ution.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

W*nkers to a man!

i agree - booooooooooooooooooo!! pushing us into making our country a safer place to live with fewer deaths... booooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[Lord Kangana]

I thought Diesel was taxed higher these days anyway, because Gordon Brown saw loads of people switching and saw a nice little cash cow?

[thebish]

http://m.ibtimes.co.uk/israeli-professo ... ks-1457836

[TANGODANCER]

I believe he's stating the sad mentality of hamas militants, not advocating rape or anything else. Seems more of a head-shake than a war cry to me. I sincerely hope that's the case.

[thebish]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Moshe Feiglin)

his simple stepped plan is here: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Artic ... 94-NaPOth6

[Hoboh]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

It's not greater, but at least old buggers like us have lived a bit. A kid has barely started.

[Hoboh]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

It's not greater, but at least old buggers like us have lived a bit. A kid has barely started.

I thought all life was equal well according to the liberal minded humanists anyway.
It seems kids are thrown up as properganda to suit a certain slant on a story.

[thebish]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

hobes - merely to illustrate my point - a fairly obvious one - that Israel's action is NOT just about tunnels and rockets - as you suggested. They want the land.

(where have i said anything about the life of a child in comparison to anyone else's life?)

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

[Hoboh]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

hobes - merely to illustrate my point - a fairly obvious one - that Israel's action is NOT just about tunnels and rockets - as you suggested. They want the land.

(where have i said anything about the life of a child in comparison to anyone else's life?)

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

And I suspect as edited above its a properganda tool for those who hate the other side.

[Hoboh]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

hobes - merely to illustrate my point - a fairly obvious one - that Israel's action is NOT just about tunnels and rockets - as you suggested. They want the land.

(where have i said anything about the life of a child in comparison to anyone else's life?)

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

So one man says this and all the jews agree with him then.
So lets take it Hamas wants the death and total destruction of the Jews then
Fine starting point for a resolution.

[Hoboh]

hobo... it's NOT simply abourt tunnels or security from rockets... it is land-grab..

The author is not some fringe figure. He's a member of the Israeli parliament representing the ruling Likud party. Indeed he's the deputy speaker of said parliament.

"Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel." (Arutz Sheva)

Bish, I have no doubt if I chose to look I can find some top Palestinian ranting about the destruction of the Jews and wiping Israel off the map, does that mean all Palestinians think that way?
Btw can anyone explain to me why the life of a child seems to be greater than an elderly person or just any old adult? Serious question.

hobes - merely to illustrate my point - a fairly obvious one - that Israel's action is NOT just about tunnels and rockets - as you suggested. They want the land.

(where have i said anything about the life of a child in comparison to anyone else's life?)

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/a ... e-gaza-war" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quote from another piece in the Guardian

Since Hamas, regarded as a terrorist group by the US, UK, EU and others, took power in Gaza, Israeli authorities have imposed a tight blockade of its borders with the territory, citing security concerns. Egypt also imposed restrictions. Hamas has a history of brutal attacks within Israel and has fired nearly 3,000 rockets across the border in recent weeks.
Mustafa Sawaf, former editor of a Hamas-affiliated newspaper, said: "The people are ready to stand more and support the resistance. If the people have paid with 1,500 martyrs already why not another 1,500 for our freedom?"

Hardly a caring viewpoint is it?

[William the White]

Pro-war demonstrators in Israel...

Ole, ole, ole etc... Turn Gaza into a cemetery...

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?opt ... ival=12191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

And I suspect as edited above its a properganda tool for those who hate the other side.

the deaths of children are just a propaganda tool used by Hamas??

crap. the deaths of children are exactly what it says on the tin - deaths of children.

[Hoboh]

i suspect that people tend to talk about the death of children (and it's a LOT) in this instance because it is SO easy for Israel to claim that that adults they killed were, in fact, terrorists. less easy to make that claim with children. but then - you know this.

And I suspect as edited above its a properganda tool for those who hate the other side.

the deaths of children are just a propaganda tool used by Hamas??

crap. the deaths of children are exactly what it says on the tin - deaths of children.

Oh yeah!

If the people have paid with 1,500 martyrs already why not another 1,500 for our freedom

Nice caring people

[Lord Kangana]

Pro-war demonstrators in Israel...

Ole, ole, ole etc... Turn Gaza into a cemetery...

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?opt ... ival=12191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just wow...

We're killing their children? Their children will grow up to be terrorists. So we're just preempting that.

The world seems to far exceed its quota of morons....

Using social media, right-wing activists have sent callouts asking people to identify individuals who post antiwar messages on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. They then harass them and pressure their employers to fire them. An employee with the telecommunications company Cellcom, an employee of the Lod municipality, and several hospital nurses were recently fired for posting pro-Palestinian or antiwar messages on their social media accounts.
On the other hand, a public servant with the Israeli post office who wrote on her Facebook wall that anyone who opposes the war should be sent to the gas chambers was defended by her employer.

[thebish]

Mustafa Sawaf, former editor of a Hamas-affiliated newspaper, said: "The people are ready to stand more and support the resistance. If the people have paid with 1,500 martyrs already why not another 1,500 for our freedom?"

Hardly a caring viewpoint is it?

hmmm... a former editor of a "Hamas affiliated" newspaper voicing the idea of an occupied and oppressed minority accepting that many more of their own will die in the fight for freedom??

hardly even in the same ball-park as the speaker of the house in the ruling party of israel calling for the wholesale and complete removal of all Palestinians from Gaza...