Palestinians hail EU decision to boycott the settlements

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boycott israeli settlemment  goodsThe Palestinian National Authority (PNA) welcomed Wednesday the European Union’s decision to ban cooperation with Israeli institutions in the territories it occupied during the 1967 war.

The Palestinians express hope that the European step would finally lead to a complete boycott to the settlements’ products, Palestinian Minister of Economy, Jawad Naji told Xinhua in a brief telephone conversation.

The EU’s first-of-its-kind guidelines, which will take effect next year, reflect the growing tension between Europe and Israel on the issue of the Israeli settlements built.

The EU decision was made at a time when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is exerting efforts to convince the Palestinians to resume direct peace talks with Israel, which were brought to a halt in October 2010 due to Palestinians’ rejection to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank.

The EU guidelines that ban any cooperation with the Israeli settlements “are a very good development in the way how the union deals with Israel,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a member in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), in a statement.

After meeting with British diplomats Tuesday in Ramallah, Ashrawi said the change in EU’s position “would certainly help in finding better chances for resuming a fruitful peace process in the Middle East.”

She called on Kerry to press Israel to abide by the peace process and the principle of land for peace.

The Palestinians also called on other countries all over the world to follow the EU guidelines and boycott the Israeli settlements which were built on the “Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”

Xinhua

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250 responses to “Palestinians hail EU decision to boycott the settlements”

  1. At least the Israelis produce things , for every penny that the U.S. gives them (only 2% of their economy) they invest and return much more .

    90% of the money palestinians get is from foreign aid , and what do they return ? NOTHING . These people are lazy, selfish and terrorists. Theyve been offered a state 6 times since 1948 and they rejected all offers .

    The Palestinian flag was invented in 1988 by the PLO , despite the fact that Yassir Arafat was Egyptian. Their goal has never been to have a state, their one and only goal is to destroy Israel – just how they tried to take over Jordan and destroyed Lebanon in a 15 year civil war .

    1. man-o-war Avatar
      man-o-war

      “These people are lazy, selfish and terrorists.”
      Generalize much?

      The Israeli flag was invented in 1948 by people of European origin. So what?

      They are not boycotting Israel, they are boycotting the settlements, which are illegal under international law. You can relax.

      Also, Israel has been receiving 3 billion/year in aid from the US for a long time. In 2011 Israel received 3 billion ( economic and military aid) and Palestine got 460 million. Not exactly equal.

      Maybe they rejected the offers because they were not fair and transparent.

      1. (Some credit for this post goes to the CNN poster 3Dheller)

        Facts:
        •the term “Palestinian people” as an ethnicity is about
        49 years old (1964).
        •The Palestinian anthem “Fadai” was written in 1972 (42
        years ago).
        •The Palestinian flag is the Jordanian flag without it’s star,
        and it became the Palestinian flag in 1988 (25 years ago).

        •The term “Israeli people” as an ethnicity is about
        4000 years old (2000bc, estimated), In Hebrew, of course (בני ישראל).
        •The Israeli anthem “HaTikva” was written in 1878 (135
        years ago).
        •The Israeli flag was created in 1897 (116 years ago).

        • The PLO was established in 1964 while eastern Jerusalem, Judea
        and Samaria (the West Bank) were under their control. Rather than establishing
        a political entity out of the this, the PLO used the territory as a base of
        attack with the aim of “liberating” the rest of Israel.

        •20% of the Israeli population are Arabs, with full civilian rights. 50% of Israelis are Jews that got kicked out of Arabic countries. Europeans are a minority.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          And, as far as flags go, most look better than the one with a ‘cold dead hand’ holding a gun.
          People could use Wikipedia to research flags and heraldry and such like things … but as we’ve been told here before, Wiki is all ‘western propaganda’ … hehehe 😉

          1. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You might disturb Sarah with that ‘added to’ version … tsk, tsk.

          2. lol who is Sarah ?

        2. AntiFSA Avatar

          And in the end Cookie, your beloved Israel with fall just like every other country before them who tried to dominate the world. What goes up must come down. Enjoy the fall.

          1. 0.5% of the Middle East is dominating the world ? there arent even enough Jews in the world to cover much more than that .

            Arabs starting in Mecca and ending in Southern Spain must be peace and love

      2. In 2000, at Camp David, Yassir Arafat rejected the Clinton- Barak plan to establish a Palestinian state. The plan was:

        * The Palestinian state will get 97% of the Western Bank and whole Gaza, and will be compensated with Israeli territory for the settlements that will be annexed to Israel.
        * Jerusalem will become the capital of 2 states.
        * The Holy Mountain will be de-facto under Muslim control.
        * The refugees will be settled in the Palestinian state by an international project.

        Please tell me which part of this offer was unfair ? same type of offer was given by Olmert in 2008 but Abbas rejected it .

        1. man-o-war Avatar
          man-o-war

          Well, I don’t know the details of the offer, but I’m pretty sure there is some fine print that made them reject the offer.

          Maybe that 3% they wanted to hold onto had natural resources that the Pals wanted in their state Maybe the 3% had water sources on it or was some agricultural lands that are in short supply. They may have wanted a contiguous border between Gaza and the West bank, so they could travel freely from one area to the next.

          I’m pretty sure they did not reject it in hopes of regaining all of Israel. Most logical Pals know that this is impossible without an all out nuclear world war, and nobody would want to live anywhere near the area after that.

          1. Well basically the 3% is Jewish settlements in the West Bank , not at all a random number. Theyre just homes on top of some hills by the Israeli border , which makes it easy for Israel to annex them (but of course with land swaps the 3% thing would sorted out).

          2. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Not true! The 3% was valuable natural resources that Israel did not want to give up. Pals would also not have had control of their borders with Egypt or Jordan, which means their trade and economy would have been at the mercy of the Israeli military. They also wanted to maintain the right to enter militarily at their whim, and the Pals would not be allowed to be armed or have control of their air space.

          3. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Do a little research on the real facts of the generous offer made at camp David.

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            The ‘air-space’ stupidity … you’d need to only have helicopters in these country’s fleets to maintain the vertical walls of air … hahahahaha
            The hot air isn’t all coming from the sun …..
            And speaking of that, I think Lebanon should be happy that Israel keeps SOME other assholes from flying over it.
            (Sorry Prophetttt … I know some of those idiots are noisy at the best of times …)

          5. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m sure Israel would appreciate Egyptian air force violating their air space, or Syrian, or Iranian, or Saudi… It is important or countries would not make such a big deal about it. Lebanese airspace is just an extension of Israeli airspace, they have no control on what asshole violates it. Its either Israeli a**holes or some other a**holes, but for sure Lebanon has no say about it. The only difference is the Israeli a**holes put fear into peoples minds and hearts. We know what they have done from the air. You control the air you control the country.

          6. UN resolution 1701 clearly states that Hezbollah is banned from re-arming .
            Dont want Israeli jets flying over Lebanon ? dont smuggle tens of thousands of rockets into civilian areas and aim them at Israel .

          7. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I guess Israel would not know that they were re-arming unless they themselves were violating the resolution. I agree that the Hezbos need to disarm, but it is not Israel’s duty to enforce the resolution. Hezbo is an internal Lebanese problem. When Israel is attacked then it is her duty to defend herself, but until it happens its none of her business.

          8. Hezbollah is NOT an internal Lebanese problem . Hezbollah takes orders directly from Tehran , it receives full military training on Iranian territory and its ideology is parallel to Ayatollah Khamenei’s .
            Nasrallah himself had advised Assad to take it easy on the protesters , but when Tehran ordered them to fight , they had no choice but to fight .

            As an FSA commander recently said; self defense does not mean letting the enemy attack you first .

          9. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            If the Lebanese military are not allowed to arm themselves properly, because Israel fears they could turn the weapons against them, then how are they supposed to defend Lebanon? or deal with groups like the Hezbo? Its a well known fact that HA is better armed than the military. Why? because western governments keep LAF neutered at the request of Israel.

            The hezbos are made up of Lebanese citizens and that makes them an internal Lebanese problem. Just because they receive funding from Iran doesn’t make them an Israeli problem. If they fire on Israel from inside Lebanon or cross into Israel and attack then it becomes their problem.

            How do you know Tehran ordered them to fight? Did you sit in on the meeting?

            So, I guess what you’re saying is a good defense is a strong offense. Well then I guess Israel can go around attacking anyone they perceive to be a threat. This behavior is why Israel remains isolated in the middle east. Their military superiority allows them to violate independent states sovereignty in the name of self defense.

          10. “The simple truth of the matter is that Hezbollah is Iran’s proxy and issued to exert its sphere of influence over Lebanon and the wider region in whatever way possible. But don’t take my word for it, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said in 2007 that all of Hezbollah’s policies including firing missiles into Israel would not have taken place without the consent of Iran,”
            – Michael McCann, a Labor MP in the UK

            Get a clue will you , what does it matter which citizenship or what color skin they have . This is not a World War II fight for nationalism, this is about radicals of the same religious sect fighting like members of the same family – not simply random Lebanese people being wired some money , few weapons and a “good luck”. They are a PROXY of Iran – if somehow Israel and Iran get into a fight , Hezbollah (without Israel attacking them) will prefer using Lebanon as a launching pad and defending Iran without giving a shit about the consequences like getting Lebanon destroyed. Even Iranian “moderates” like Rouhani go in front of the camera and urge Hezbollah to fight Israel . Syria is no different:

            “Syria is occupied by the Iranian regime. Who runs the country isn’t Bashar Assad but Kassem Suleimani, the head of Iran’s al-Quds Brigades [within the Revolutionary Guards].”
            – Former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab

            I guess Hezbollah kidnapping 2 Israeli soldiers , killing 8 others and firing rockets into Northern Israel was merely a “perceived threat” which Israel had to ignore. 20 Arab countries declaring war on Israel straight after its legal independence by the UN was “perceived threat” .

          11. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            You quote people that obviously have an agenda. I also already stated that if HA attack Israel then they have a right to defend themselves, as was the case in 2006. They not only attacked HA, but they demolished civilian infrastructure in a form of collective punishment, which is also against international law. I guess you’re a little confused on what a “perceived threat” means, kidnapping and killing is an act that justifies a response.

            Anyway, I guess you’re an Iranian that hates the Islamic Republic government and really admires Israel. It sounds like you also despise anything that is connected with Iran, but you don’t mind Israeli and Saudi meddling in others affairs. I guess there is no more we can discuss here. On to the next article. Thanks for the civil discourse.

          12. Where r u from if I may ask ?

          13. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m from north Lebanon. Qalamoun, Lebanon to be exact. Its less than 5 minutes south of Tripoli. Predominantly a Sunni town with overwhelming support for Hariri. Especially during election time! One of the soldiers killed during the fight with Assir and his men was from my town.

          14. The closest ive been to Lebanon is when I visit Rosh Hanikra in North Israel

          15. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Why no citizenship? I’m not sure how the laws work in Israel.

            I just wanted to add that my grandmother is housing two Syrian families right now and she has asked for nothing in return. However, they insist on giving her what little they have and work for. Great people who just want to go back home to their normal life : (

          16. Very kind of your grandmother . Im sure those same Syrians housed Shia Lebanese in 2006 when Israel destroyed Lebanon , but now Hezbollah is killing those same people .

          17. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Yes, she is a great woman with a kind heart.

            I seriously doubt that HA is targeting civilians, but I guess you never know unless you’re there to see it. In the midst of warfare innocent civilians die due to crossfire and errant bombings, still does not make it right. Israel knows all about collateral damage.

            I guess I just figured since you were born and live there it would only be natural to become a citizen. However, it seems you have more valuable passports and don’t really need an Israeli citizenship. I’m curious are you Baha’i, I’ve only met one person in my life that practiced that faith. I know they are concentrated in northern Israel near Haifa mainly.

          18. You can take a look at this video:

            http://www.aljazeera.COM/news/middleeast/2013/04/20134266353798163.html

            Watched this a while ago , its basically what gave me the impression that Hezbollah harasses civilians .

          19. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            What’s happening in Syria is a humanitarian disaster. I agree with you that civilians are under indirect attack (getting caught in the crossfire) and its a terrible tragedy. I still don’t think that HA is going in there and directly targeting civilians, it makes no sense that they would do that, and this video does not show that this is happening. I also think they made a strategic mistake in getting involved in the battle (even if their supply line and ally was threatened).

            You know that when fighters are outgunned they resort to guerrilla warfare, which in this case is hiding out in densely populated areas. When this happens there is going to be a higher incidence of civilian casualties. It happens with the most technologically advanced militaries. Does that make it right, NO!

          20. I guess ur correct . How come Muslim clerics and politicians and even ordinary people suddenly hate Hezbollah so much then , I mean the arab world’s change of opinion on Hezbollah is one big fat reason that made me think that Sunni civilians are deliberately attacked .

          21. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            In my opinion, its because they got involved in a battle on foreign soil. When their whole motto is that they are a resistance force against Israeli aggression. It also has to do with people turning the Syrian war into a sectarian battle. It makes it easier to pick a side and hate the opponents. It has all of the sudden (not that sudden) been transformed into a Sunni vs. Shi’ite battle for power, when it was supposed to be a revolution against a dictator. When you have Sunni monarchies backing the Sunni rebels and Iran backing the Shi’ite its hard to see it any other way.

            I have Shi’ite friends that hate what Assad is doing and are totally against it, and Sunni friends that support HA actions. However, I think these people are in the minority.

          22. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            YES … THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE … everywhere. Not enough with an education. It’s the ‘brain-washing’ that screws up them and the politicians who want to control them. EVEN some of the supposedly educated ones.
            Geo has it right. Talk to the birds …

          23. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            The ‘travel laws’ of BOTH – far as I know … if your passport has a ‘visa-stamp’ from one of them you can’t go to (get into) the other. Adds to the ignorance about each. OF COURSE.
            You need two passports … fly 20 mins to Cyprus, then fly back on other passport.
            HAHAHAHA … ALL idiots.

          24. Never mind stamps , both ones say where I was born LOL

          25. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Ohhh … BIG OUCHIE !! hahahahahhaahha

          26. Do u have a European one or North American ?

          27. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You’re really digging, aren’t you. 😉 CANUK ONLY.
            Can’t visit Israel now … tsk tsk … and silly thing is … IN Tripoli a guy asked (demanded) ‘Where you from!’ And then said: ‘Ohhhhh … Israeli SPY !!’ 😉
            No hesitation either … too weird … left him in the dust.
            You can’t try to explain ANYTHING to people like that.

          28. In Tripoli u were asked that ?? well maybe in South Lebanon thats common as umm its true about the spies lol

          29. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Yah … about as weird as the Jordanian who TOLD me that Canada was in the USA.
            And the Tripoli Doctor who thinks it’s near Malaysia.
            You wish to talk about ‘education’ ??? Hahahhaahhahaaaa
            I told the Jordanian I wouldn’t talk to him any more until he bought a map of the world. He’s learning. The others I ignore.

          30. ok back with my evening snack , which is: Greek Yoghurt mixed with sour cherries, pure honey and a drop of vanilla essence .

            I like !

          31. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I hate Yoghurt. Put the cherries on vanilla ice-cream in a chilled bowl of Brandy.
            🙂
            (Sorry guys .. sometimes I divert from the Glens … 😉

          32. Me no like sugar and never drank alcohol 😉

          33. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Each to his own, cookie … but I tried just about everything ONCE at least … UNLESS the odds were heavy on the kill-factor side.
            (exclude some driving there … of course. 😉
            Life IS an adventure, after all … living it has been good, except when ‘certain types’ got in the way of it … and then, with thought and some experience, I managed to dance around them. Living in fear of everything – sugar and spice and everything nice – never occurred to me. Stress could kill you, after all. :-))
            If I had had money, I would have done more. One SHOULD recognize limitations.

            (Am I the silliest old fart in here???)
            (Oldest silly fart??)
            (Old … sigh …)

          34. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Good restaurants there … and a healthy ‘Fruit Bar’ I think? (maybe I think of the wrong spot … been a while ….)

          35. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m guessing you’re referring to my town. Very few restaurants there, the Salafist run rampant there and would hate to see men intermingling with women. There are a few nice cafes and fruit stands. Yumm!

            The town is well known for fishing, olive production, making orange water and rose water. During the spring the smells are great. Overall not much happening there, pretty quiet for the most part. They have great potential to make some great seaside restaurants and bars, but the extremist Muslims would rather keep it in the dark ages. No alcohol allowed : ((((

            We do have a nice beach resort thats been around a long time called Miramar. Some of the locals claim its funded by the pentagon for the CIA operatives to go soak up some sun and relax : )

          36. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I search my picture files …. hang on …

          37. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            This it ???

          38. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Did you post a picture?

            What are you showing me?

          39. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Trying a picture …. the fruit Bar in both pics ….

          40. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            No pic : ( I was trying to post a picture as well, but I can’t seem to figure it out.

          41. I see the picture 🙂 trying reloading the page (first time I didnt see it either)

          42. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Fruit on Ice-creams … in drinks … very good. Apricot was my favourite.

          43. I wouldnt mind those olives by themselves , looks tasty

          44. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Ok. He sees. Man-O … try dragging the pic into this box.

          45. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            2 now … shows for me of course. 😉
            Good Hookah too 😉
            I refuse to show the ladies I was with … heheheehe
            Went a little farther south for the alcohol … different Muslim town. :-))))

          46. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Avocado, strawberry, and ashta!

          47. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            MMMmmmmm ….

          48. AntiFSA Avatar

            Still yet to find a place in Australia that can make the same tasting smoothies we have back home. Thanks for the tease Man o. :))

          49. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Apple hookah!

          50. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Yes … and I’m back … apple was good. 🙂

          51. AntiFSA Avatar

            Man o, don’t forget to put a bit of wacky weed in the mix. :))

          52. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Lebanese blonde works much better ; )

          53. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Not the place I was talking about, but it looks really nice. I don’t recognize the inside of the store. Looks wonderful, thanks for sharing : )

          54. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You are welcome … sorry not the right one, but I think close. Travel on the coast-road is adventure. 🙂 I am a risk-taker with pics, sometimes, but have good memories locked in them. And really except for a few times, no-one bothers ‘Le Touriste’ … 😉 Clicky clicky. :-))))
            Problem with earlier-visit pics … they are on slides. Need to get scanned. 🙁

          55. Are there nightclubs in your city ? I love dancing , used to go twice a week while in England but in Israel never been to one

          56. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            In Qalamoun? Hahaha, no way. Its a very conservative town and nobody would dare. You could always go for a short drive south to Batroun and find bars and nightclubs. I hear Tel Aviv has a nice nightlife.

          57. I actually never go to Tel Aviv (shame I know) just stay in Haifa , though back in England there’s always something nice to do 🙂

          58. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            For a Guest named Sarah I am sure there would be nice things to do … 😉
            Have a cousin there myself.

          59. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … researched … Fruit Bar named Al Kouta … but seems at Qalamoun. 🙂
            Bar for drinks and wine at restaurant in Batroun …. later. 😉 Happy night even later back in Tripoli. 😉

          60. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Nice! I know the place well. I have not been inside the place in a long time. They sell Ice cream. I know the family as well. I prefer making the drive to Kousba for Salem Ice cream. So good!!! Hahaha, good times. Tripoli does surprise me sometimes with some of the restaurants and cafes, pretty good spots.

          61. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I guess you simply need to know which doors to duck into. 🙂
            And yes, there ARE good places. There ARE people who try to live a good life – even with all the idiots trying to screw life up. Dance Hall at Mina was also ‘interesting’ … but my ankle won’t do that any more. And the last two years have really bashed everyone down … I’d think it surprising to still see a smile – but I am sure some struggle along. My special friends have a hell of a time now … 🙁

            If I never make it back, and you are ever there, tell the family I enjoyed it very much.

          62. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            It did not work out that well, and the families stopped speaking to each other a while back (over ten years now, silly Arabs and their never ending grudges). After the head of their family passed they even started fighting with each other, mostly over control of the family business and other property. However, I do still talk to one of the brothers and I would be happy to mention how much you enjoyed their place (small world).

            I like the old part of Mina for breakfast, its making me hungry thinking about it. You visit Lebanon often?

          63. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … we better not talk about family idiocies, although that’s one of the things I danced around fairly successfully … hehehe … brains even in families don’t work the same, and at my age that crap has passed anyway. 😉
            Last visit was 5 years ago. ‘Life-things’ prevented a quicker return … and Syria/Leb-things add greatly to preventing desire now … along with the fact most who I knew no longer exist. (Sometimes wonder why I blog opinions …)
            That’s a fact of life.
            I roll along, and really miss a very few special people in Tripoli … one left in Beirut … wish I could be with them, but feel more that they should not be there – for their own sakes. Even with lots of dreams, I must be a realist always, it seems, and I confess cramming into airplanes at 70 doesn’t thrill me like it did when I was 18, could walk into an airport, and expect to take off an hour later. It’s more like a necessary evil … and I want to know I’ll have a descent time at the other end – which is NOT being locked into a gated community ANYWHERE, or a guarded beach and hotel, or bussed with a bunch of old fogies, or having to live with my portable night-lite handy unless I’m tenting in the woods. It’s a sad world I see these days in MANY respects.
            (Damn … must be the age … )

            And after this, poor Dab will be wondering for sure … and maybe hopeing not to see me on his veranda after all. :-)))))

          64. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Those transatlantic flights are a pain in the a$$…
            I will be doing it next month to the great state of Texas, wish me luck. I hope Sum Ting Wong is not flying ; )

          65. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hahahaha … yes … saw that one. 😉 And doing Texas is bad enough I hear. :-))
            I have stopped going to USA … period.

          66. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Thats too bad 5th, its a really nice place to visit. I know the world begins to equate US politics and foreign policy with the average American, but its far from the truth. America offers some amazing natural beauty, food, and people. I actually enjoy Texas, its really not how its portrayed. It helps that I have family that live there to get the real local experience.

            Oh, and its a much shorter flight for you ; )

          67. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … Some parts were nice, yes, for geography … have a sort-of-relative in Seattle … did Atlanta on business a few times, Disney for the kids, and drove all the way across it’s north end once. Could also stay in Texas with another ‘internet friend’. One brother worked there for a while on the humid sweaty gulf-coast.
            Of COURSE there are many good things about Americans.
            But you know ‘those Canadians’ became suspicious characters too … especially since they demand more internet freedom and an actual real ‘free trade’ deal … so there are new ‘rules’ of entry (no thanks of course to the ‘terror’ paranoia) … and I look at the stories out of Florida over the past few years as well as lately, and decided if I’m going to parachute into danger it might as well be Lebanon. :-)))
            But those two are not the only places with nice beaches. 😉
            Or history … Luxembourg, for instance, I would move to in an instant, if I could afford to buy gas and eat there for more than 5 days … hahahahahaha

          68. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            YES … that ‘small world’ is more true than we realize sometimes. I’ve had some experiences with it.
            I’m walking with a brother-in-law in Athens Greece … we hear his name being called out from a bar … and end up chatting with a fellow he had worked with years before in another country.
            I’m in one of a few a ticket lines in an airport …. realize a guy in the next line over is a fellow I hadn’t seen in years since school-times, and he looks toward me at almost the same moment … smiles and fast-chat between two crazy guys going different places. Met again 2 years later in a restaurant. Weird life. :-)))

          69. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I love when that happens!

          70. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            And yes it is in Qalamoun near the old HWY by the main mosque in town.

          71. master09 Avatar
            master09

            Defend Lebanon from WHAT? No one is going to attack Lebanon if groups like the PLO HA AND OTHERS POINTS GUNS AT THESE ATTACKERS YOUR TALKING ABOUT…PULL THE GUNS AWAY AND LEBANON WOULD BE A PARADISE YES APARADISE WITH A FREEWAY TO THE MIDDLE OF ISRAEL…
            ATTACK LEBANON I AM SICK OF THE BRAINWASHED CLOWNS THAT THINK IN THAT WAY…………Lebanon is in a shit whole first because of PLO and now HA. simple …..and forget the brainwashed clowns that listen about how we need group to protect us when they also hold a gun on the LEBANESE, look at 2008 when they took to the streets…..

          72. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            It is Israels duty to protect its citizens. I dont support Israels ‘fly bys’ but their not hurting anybody. HA needs to understand that if it disarms, tensions will lower and Israel wont have a legitimate reason to violate Lebanese airspace.

          73. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            So does the LAF!
            Who are you to say the “fly bys” are not hurting anyone? Psychological warfare and the scars are not visible on the outside. The fly overs also causes Lebanese people to see their military as weak and makes them more willing to back groups like HA.

            Violating a countries airspace with military jets is an act of war in any part of the world. A group arming itself inside a country is that countries problem to deal with and does not justify the violations. Is Israel sharing the intelligence gathering with the Lebanese military to help combat HA, NO!

            I guess you can make the claim that the military is too interconnected with HA. If so , what is the solution then?

          74. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            Idk if youve noticed this yet, but LAF is HAs dog. A dog always does what its master tells it. (Abra, letting HA fighters freely go to Syria, arresting random sunnis who have nothing to do with the murder of a Syrian politician, searching Sunnis homes for weapons when HA obviously has a huge weapon presence). Pshchycological warfare?!?! How do you think M14 feels about HAs huge arms presence? The LAF will always be a puppet until it arrests the the people who killed or attempted to kill M14 politicians. And what do I suggest it does? Take a stand against HA, which I doubt will happen with Khawagi. Its not like Aoun’s nephew is any better though.

          75. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I doubt they are searching random Sunni homes for weapons. There has to be some reason, could it be that a Sunni group recently attacked and killed 18 Lebanese soldiers (some of them Sunni)?

            The only difference between HA and some of the M14 groups is HA does not hide the fact that they have weapons stockpiles.

          76. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            2 sunnis arrested on spot a couple of days ago for murder. They had nothing to do with it. In Tripoli, they search Sunni households while they leave the alawite and shiite households alone. And tell me, do you see any M14 party going into Syria with an organized militia? Everyone in Lebanon has a stockpile, but HA is the only one with a militia.

          77. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You know no-one can talk to an Israeli … becomes an instant ‘spy’.
            Microphones might be hidden in even the fruit, after all. 😉

          78. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            El Supremo is Lebanon’s internal problem – and he has ‘jets’ too. Frankly it’s better if Leb-citizens are not trying to pay for their own jets – they can’t even raise enough from the unpaid electricity bills to have the good old 24/24 lighting. :-)))

          79. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            24/24 lighting! Damn, thats some good lighting. ; )

          80. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Well, it must be, Man-O …
            They even had it written on the big street-posters that way. :-)))

          81. master09 Avatar
            master09

            As long as HA and the entire Arab world says the Jews should not LIVE we will be in this situation, you can argue back and forth the issue is this Israel is going to ready itself, fly over and watch Lebanon and the Arab world each second of the day it can not be any more simple than that…Ha can attack now do you think Israel is going to be SLEEPING or flying and watching all the time.. If you had kids and a wife and your neighbor was saying you should not be alive and your family too I bet you would be staying up 24/7 with a gun………no one is rite in this situation but and they will never be so this will go on for another 1000 years… poor future kids…..on all SIDES….

          82. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            By the way, Man-O … if you only have flat land for an airport in a place where it would be more logical to grow food on it, and the best sandy beach is already used up with a civilian airport for tourists, are you willing to flatten a mountain to gain an air-force base which will increase your taxes 2500%. ???

          83. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Of course, Pal sites and Jewish sites are going to be biased, but there is lots of other sources out there on Camp David.

          84. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            Everyone is biased and the most dangerous idea is that someone can be objective.

          85. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Objectivity requires logic Adam. Even beginning with a premise ‘from the unknown’ requires an application of logic to discover if the premise is applicable.
            If everyone applied the logic of Einstein, the ‘relativity’ would become obvious, and people would finally see what simply ‘is’.
            And then perhaps begin to wonder why they have biases at all. 😉

          86. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            One can try to be as objective as possible but there is no true objectivity for humans.

          87. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            The settlers were not stupid. They erected the settlements in strategic locations near natural resources and in a way to make the creation of the state of Palestine very difficult. The land swap would have been for some desert near Gaza, not at all equal or fair.

          88. Unfair ? sure lets talk about unfair ..

            The British Mandate in Palestine which sought to establish a Jewish state (Balfour Declaration) looked like this:

            http://upload.wikimedia.ORG/wikipedia/commons/6/69/BritishMandatePalestine1920.png

            By 1947 the offer to establish Israel looked like this:

            http://goo.GL/9PgQj

            Most of Israel was the Negev desert , and trust me you dont want to live there (been there, with full blast AC in my car); and yet the Jews accepted the UN’s two state solution . You think today is unfair ? the arabs in 1947 had 90% of palestine (including transjordan) and they rejected it .

            Its so pathetic that the arabs play victim in a land dispute when they were offered 90% of what would have been Israel .

          89. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            ALL of life is ‘unfair’. In 2013 it can be a little less unfair than in 2000 BC.

          90. Yes thats generally the case . its so pathetic for one side to act like a spoilt child when theyre constantly being offered what they supposedly want – never mind a state, even when Israel asks for mere negotiations Abbas still refuses to come ! In fact Sweden has reduced its funding to the PA because its obvious that theyre simply not interested in talking

          91. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Please! There is no better expert at playing victim then Israel. Maybe thats were the Arabs got the experience.

          92. Care to elaborate ?

          93. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Really? You need me to elaborate on how Israel acts as a regional bully and then claims to be the victim. How the settlers harass the Palestinians on their own land and cry victim when they retaliate. How nobody can comment against Israel for fear of being branded anti-semitic. They are always playing the victim card, poor little tiny innocent Israel surrounded by a sea of hateful murdering terrorist.

          94. In every country there is crime and racism , Israel is no exception . The crimes of settlers has no relevance to Israel as a country , some places arabs and Jews get along excellently (like in the North) while other places they dont .

            There’s nothing wrong with criticising Israel – as long as other crimes by other countries (not even referring to the Middle East , most countries have a long history of warfare and colonization and hate) are equally taken into consideration. Sadly though, that is not the case … call it what you like (some people call it anti-semitism, I personally dont) but you cant deny that Israel is constantly attacked by the media and lefties while everything else is generally ignored . I remember when the Syrian civil war broke out when the Syrian navy bombed palestinian areas in Latakia , when palestinians in Damascus were killed in the hundreds (3000 deaths overall). No flotilla, no protests, no UN resolutions , NOTHING .

          95. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Here is one of many sources out there:

            The Myth of the Generous Offer

            Distorting the Camp David negotiations

            By Seth Ackerman

          96. master09 Avatar
            master09

            There is no fine print, the fact is the Arabs just do not want peace and only to destroy the Jews. If you do not know the details of the offer how can you argue anything. The Palestinians had been given a LOT and never took it and will always say NO even to 100%.

          97. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            “There is no fine print, the fact is the Arabs just do not want peace and only to destroy the Jews…The Palestinians had been given a LOT and never took it and will always say NO even to 100%.”, well than I guess there is nothing else to talk about. Have fun!

            Did you check the above article written by a Jew named Seth Ackerman? He seems to disagree with you regarding the fine print. He must be a self-hating Jew, right?

          98. master09 Avatar
            master09

            Have you read the tens of thousands of articles written by Arabs who criticise the entire Arab would by leaders and by your average man. But does this make it FACTS. I am talking facts about the Palestinian situation. They all Arabs do not want peace as long as we have Jews and SECTS in the area. Fact Palestinian Arabs where asked who would you rather be a citizen of Palestine or under the Jews, 47% said under the Jews. Go figure they know life under the Jews has more security for them and the kids while the Arabs just want war. Simple yes maybe maybe not. I always have fun.

          99. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            The Palestinian Arabs have given NOTHING. They have never had anything to begin with. Also, they never budged an inch on their negotiating position, ever.

          100. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Negotiating with Israel is like negotiating over a cake. The whole time negotiations are going on Israel continues to eat the cake. Lets not rush negotiations, lets take our time, no preconditions, and the whole time the cake gets smaller and smaller. How can they budge an inch? What’s the point of negotiating when everything you’re negotiating for is slowly being eaten piece by piece.

            “Palestinian Arabs have given NOTHING. They have never had anything to begin with”, Do you see the problem with this statement? If as you say, they never had anything to begin with, what are they supposed to give?

          101. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            I do believe that there should be a ban on more Jews moving to the West Bank until its status is resolved. However, the mere building should not be a provocation. Also, the cake hasn’t gotten smaller, only bigger. They have never had a country. What do they have? Acceptance. They whole thing is being done to try to gain their acceptance and they still don’t accept the idea of two states for two peoples. The idea should be two states that have different ethnic majorities and corresponding ethnic minorities. We’ve even removed the minority part from their state but they can’t accept our country the way it is no matter what we offer. Furthermore, it really isn’t as easy as you might think. Giving up the West Bank puts Israel in a precarious strategic position militarily. It also contains the majority of our holy and historic sites.

          102. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            The mere building is a provocation when it is done to accommodate more Jewish settlers moving into the West Bank. I guess if you believe they never had a state than the cake has gotten bigger. You could say the same thing for Israel.

            Have you looked at a map of the West Bank settlements recently? Take a look and tell me that the Jewish settlers with the cooperation of the military are not changing facts on the ground day by day.

            Why must it be two states? What is wrong with one state? Equal rights and equal representation in government. I think its the greatest compromise because both sides are against it. Its the one thing they can agree on.

          103. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            Them never having had a state isn’t a matter of opinion or belief. It is a stone cold fact. Nevertheless, as I said, if we’re talking about two states, they should have a Jewish minority. The buildings don’t have to be Israeli territory and it’s not like they’re close to exceeding the number of Arab citizens of Israel in number. If the Palestinian Arabs were tolerant enough, there should be no problem.

            One state will not work. It hasn’t worked in Lebanon and caused one of the worst blood baths in history. The creation of geo-political, multi ethnic states in the Middle East hasn’t worked in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria etc. The non Sunni-Arab peoples get intimidated out in every case. Our situation would be even worse.

      3. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        To keep it simple. The biggest problem, Man-O, is the length of time the enmities have had to build and become the largest factor in any of them trusting each other. The constantly-regurgitating ‘past’ has had it’s horrible moments for sure, and over generations of mixed truths and half-truths, the odds on eliminating the angst are slim.

        For sure, the Israeli ‘old-wall-head-bonkers’ and their even more-radical ‘conservative’ purists (terrorists) have and DO play ‘dirty tricks’ to glom land (such as burning ancient-family-owned olive trees, filling in hand-dug wells, building crappy concrete hovels, etc).
        Neither ‘side’ has an innocently pure history on the dirty tricks. And don’t forget that some Christians also suffer in that MESS that all wish to claim as ‘God’s Land’. All the ‘religions’ are supposedly represented there. WHO is ‘practicing’ religion?? Anywhere??
        But ‘Peace at ANY cost’ – which religion seems to tout – will never sit well with any of them it seems. Compromise is HARD stuff – especially when the ‘teaching’ warps minds into disregarding the fact that all are of the human species; and ‘sharing’ anything is impossible for some of those ‘humans’ who always want ‘ALL’.

      4. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        We are NOT of European ‘Origin’, but of European extraction. Please get that into your head.

      5. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        Also, the Palestinian flag is the Jordanian flag without the monarchy star and it is a variation of the Arab revolt flag. All the flags in the region were invented in the 20th century.

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Speaking of producing, Cookie … I just heard there is now a KOSHER LUBE for ‘fun-times’. 😉
      One assumes it’s edible … and bottled … but do the condums come packed in it ?? 😉
      Strawberry is a favorite …
      SOME, I am sure now, will be wondering when the Halal versions will be on the shelves too.
      🙂 Nothing better than competition to keep prices down. :-)))

      1. Those are Tel Aviv products where people walk half naked , but your local Rabbi in Bethlehem will be thrilled when the Halal version is available 🙂

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Only ‘half’ ?? Hmmm … Back to Greece or St Maarten … are they exporting? :-))
          (I never thought of blessing the strawberries when I cut them … but then again, why not ?? I certainly bless the clam they are stuffed in to. )

          1. The good half 🙂

          2. libnan1 Avatar

            My kind of a place …. I hope you don’t have poison ivy there.

          3. مرحبا تعال لتل أبيب وافحص ازا بدك 😉

  2. cook2half Avatar
    cook2half

    At least the Israelis produce things , for every penny that the U.S. gives them (only 2% of their economy) they invest and return much more .

    90% of the money palestinians get is from foreign aid , and what do they return ? NOTHING . These people are lazy, selfish and terrorists. Theyve been offered a state 6 times since 1948 and they rejected all offers .

    The Palestinian flag was invented in 1964 by the PLO , despite the fact that Yassir Arafat was Egyptian. Their goal has never been to have a state, their one and only goal is to destroy Israel – just how they tried to take over Jordan and destroyed Lebanon in a 15 year civil war .

    1. man-o-war Avatar
      man-o-war

      “These people are lazy, selfish and terrorists.”
      Generalize much?

      The Israeli flag was invented in 1948 by people of European origin. So what?

      They are not boycotting Israel, they are boycotting the settlements, which are illegal under international law. You can relax.

      Also, Israel has been receiving 3 billion/year in aid from the US for a long time. In 2011 Israel received 3 billion ( economic and military aid) and Palestine got 460 million. Not exactly equal.

      Maybe they rejected the offers because they were not fair and transparent.

      1. cook2half Avatar
        cook2half

        (Some credit for this post goes to the CNN poster 3Dheller)

        Facts:
        •the term “Palestinian people” as an ethnicity is about
        49 years old (1964).
        •The Palestinian anthem “Fadai” was written in 1972 (42
        years ago).
        •The Palestinian flag is the Jordanian flag without it’s star,
        and it became the Palestinian flag in 1988 (25 years ago).

        •The term “Israeli people” as an ethnicity is about
        4000 years old (2000bc, estimated), In Hebrew, of course (בני ישראל).
        •The Israeli anthem “HaTikva” was written in 1878 (135
        years ago).
        •The Israeli flag was created in 1897 (116 years ago).

        – through out history there were 2 Hebrew kingdoms in this land:
        Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah – Kingdom of Judah was in the west bank.

        •Historically, The Romans changed the name of the land from
        “land of Israel” to “Palestine” after they’ve occupied and
        destroyed the Kingdom of Israel – so saying that Israel is occupying Palestine
        is pretty ironic.

        • The Jewish people existed 2000 years before the establishment of
        Islam.

        • Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for over 3,300 years, and
        was never an Arab or Muslim capital.

        • Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Jewish Bible, while
        the Koran does not contain a single reference to Jerusalem.

        • The PLO was established in 1964 while eastern Jerusalem, Judea
        and Samaria (the West Bank) were under their control. Rather than establishing
        a political entity out of the this, the PLO used the territory as a base of
        attack with the aim of “liberating” the rest of Israel.

        •20% of the Israeli population are Arabs, with full civilian rights. 50% of Israelis are Jews that got kicked out of Arabic countries. Europeans are a minority.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          And, as far as flags go, most look better than the one with a ‘cold dead hand’ holding a gun.
          People could use Wikipedia to research flags and heraldry and such like things … but as we’ve been told here before, Wiki is all ‘western propaganda’ … hehehe 😉

          1. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You might disturb Sarah with that ‘added to’ version … tsk, tsk.

          2. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            lol who is Sarah ?

        2. AntiFSA Avatar

          And in the end Cookie, your beloved Israel with fall just like every other country before them who tried to dominate the world. What goes up must come down. Enjoy the fall.

          1. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            0.5% of the Middle East is dominating the world ? there arent even enough Jews in the world to cover much more than that .

            Arabs starting in Mecca and ending in Southern Spain must be peace and love

      2. cook2half Avatar
        cook2half

        In 2000, at Camp David, Yassir Arafat rejected the Clinton- Barak plan to establish a Palestinian state. The plan was:

        * The Palestinian state will get 97% of the Western Bank and whole Gaza, and will be compensated with Israeli territory for the settlements that will be annexed to Israel.
        * Jerusalem will become the capital of 2 states.
        * The Holy Mountain will be de-facto under Muslim control.
        * The refugees will be settled in the Palestinian state by an international project.

        Please tell me which part of this offer was unfair ? same type of offer was given by Olmert in 2008 but Abbas rejected it .

        1. man-o-war Avatar
          man-o-war

          Well, I don’t know the details of the offer, but I’m pretty sure there is some fine print that made them reject the offer.

          Maybe that 3% they wanted to hold onto had natural resources that the Pals wanted in their state Maybe the 3% had water sources on it or was some agricultural lands that are in short supply. They may have wanted a contiguous border between Gaza and the West bank, so they could travel freely from one area to the next.

          I’m pretty sure they did not reject it in hopes of regaining all of Israel. Most logical Pals know that this is impossible without an all out nuclear world war, and nobody would want to live anywhere near the area after that.

          1. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Well basically the 3% is Jewish settlements in the West Bank , not at all a random number. Theyre just homes on top of some hills by the Israeli border , which makes it easy for Israel to annex them (but of course with land swaps the 3% thing would sorted out).

          2. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Not true! The 3% was valuable natural resources that Israel did not want to give up. Pals would also not have had control of their borders with Egypt or Jordan, which means their trade and economy would have been at the mercy of the Israeli military. They also wanted to maintain the right to enter militarily at their whim, and the Pals would not be allowed to be armed or have control of their air space.

          3. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Do a little research on the real facts of the generous offer made at camp David.

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            The ‘air-space’ stupidity … you’d need to only have helicopters in these country’s fleets to maintain the vertical walls of air … hahahahaha

          5. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m sure Israel would appreciate Egyptian air force violating their air space, or Syrian, or Iranian, or Saudi… It is important or countries would not make such a big deal about it. Lebanese airspace is just an extension of Israeli airspace, they have no control on what asshole violates it. Its either Israeli a**holes or some other a**holes, but for sure Lebanon has no say about it. The only difference is the Israeli a**holes put fear into peoples minds and hearts. We know what they have done from the air. You control the air you control the country.

          6. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            UN resolution 1701 clearly states that Hezbollah is banned from re-arming .
            Dont want Israeli jets flying over Lebanon ? dont smuggle tens of thousands of rockets into civilian areas and aim them at Israel .

          7. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I guess Israel would not know that they were re-arming unless they themselves were violating the resolution. I agree that the Hezbos need to disarm, but it is not Israel’s duty to enforce the resolution. Hezbo is an internal Lebanese problem. When Israel is attacked then it is her duty to defend herself, but until it happens its none of her business.

          8. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Hezbollah is NOT an internal Lebanese problem . Hezbollah takes orders directly from Tehran , it receives full military training on Iranian territory and its ideology is parallel to Ayatollah Khamenei’s .
            Nasrallah himself had advised Assad to take it easy on the protesters , but when Tehran ordered them to fight , they had no choice but to fight .

            As an FSA commander recently said; self defense does not mean letting the enemy attack you first .

          9. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            If the Lebanese military are not allowed to arm themselves properly, because Israel fears they could turn the weapons against them, then how are they supposed to defend Lebanon? or deal with groups like the Hezbo? Its a well known fact that HA is better armed than the military. Why? because western governments keep LAF neutered at the request of Israel.

            The hezbos are made up of Lebanese citizens and that makes them an internal Lebanese problem. Just because they receive funding from Iran doesn’t make them an Israeli problem. If they fire on Israel from inside Lebanon or cross into Israel and attack then it becomes their problem.

            How do you know Tehran ordered them to fight? Did you sit in on the meeting?

            So, I guess what your saying is a good defense is a strong offense. Well then I guess Israel can go around attacking anyone they perceive to be a threat. This behavior is why Israel remains isolated in the middle east. Their military superiority allows them to violate independent states sovereignty in the name of self defense.

          10. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            “The simple truth of the matter is that Hezbollah is Iran’s proxy and issued to exert its sphere of influence over Lebanon and the wider region in whatever way possible. But don’t take my word for it, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said in 2007 that all of Hezbollah’s policies including firing missiles into Israel would not have taken place without the consent of Iran,”

            – Michael McCann, a Labor MP in the UK

            Get a clue will you , what does it matter which citizenship or what color skin they have . This is not a World War II fight where people fight in the name of nationalism, this is about radicals of the same religious sect fighting like members of the same family – not simply random Lebanese people people being wired some money , few weapons and a “good luck”. They are a PROXY of Iran – meaning that if somehow Israel and Iran get into a fight , Hezbollah (without Israel attacking them) will prefer using Lebanon as a launching pad and defending Iran without giving a shit about the consequences like getting Lebanon destroyed.

            Their meetings ? I think theyre pretty proud of themselves to keep anything a secret, even Iranian “moderates” like Rouhani go in front of the camera and urge Hezbollah to fight Israel . Syria is no different either:

            “Syria is occupied by the Iranian regime. Who runs the country isn’t Bashar Assad but Kassem Suleimani, the head of Iran’s al-Quds Brigades [within the Revolutionary Guards].”

            – Former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab

            I guess Hezbollah kidnapping 2 Israeli soldiers , killing 8 others and firing rockets into Northern Israel was merely a “perceived threat” which Israel had to ignore. 20 Arab countries declaring war on Israel straight after its legal independence by the UN was “perceived threat” .

          11. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            You quote people that obviously have an agenda. I also already stated that if HA attack Israel then they have a right to defend themselves, as was the case in 2006. They not only attacked HA, but they demolished civilian infrastructure in a form of collective punishment, which is also against international law. I guess you’re a little confused on what a “perceived threat” means, kidnapping and killing is an act that justifies a response.

            Anyway, I guess you’re an Iranian that hates the Islamic Republic government and really admires Israel. It sounds like you also despise anything that is connected with Iran, but you don’t mind Israeli and Saudi meddling in others affairs. I guess there is no more we can discuss here. On to the next article. Thanks for the civil discourse.

          12. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Where r u from if I may ask ?

          13. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m from north Lebanon. Qalamoun, Lebanon to be exact. Its less than 5 minutes south of Tripoli. Predominantly a Sunni town with overwhelming support for Hariri. Especially during election time! One of the soldiers killed during the fight with Assir and his men was from my town.

          14. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            The closest ive been to Lebanon is when I visit Rosh Hanikra in North Israel , was born and live in Israel but non-Jewish and without Israeli citizenship .

          15. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Why no citizenship? I’m not sure how the laws work in Israel.

            I just wanted to add that my grandmother is housing two Syrian families right now and she has asked for nothing in return. However, they insist on giving her what little they have and work for. Great people who just want to go back home to their normal life : (

          16. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Very kind of your grandmother . Im sure those same Syrians housed Shia Lebanese in 2006 when Israel destroyed Lebanon , but now Hezbollah is killing those same people .

            I have European and Canadian passports , why would I want to be Israeli

          17. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Yes, she is a great woman with a kind heart.

            I seriously doubt that HA is targeting civilians, but I guess you never know unless you’re there to see it. In the midst of warfare innocent civilians die due to crossfire and errant bombings, still does not make it right. Israel knows all about collateral damage.

            I guess I just figured since you were born and live there it would only be natural to become a citizen. However, it seems you have more valuable passports and don’t really need an Israeli citizenship. I’m curious are you Baha’i, I’ve only met one person in my life that practiced that faith. I know they are concentrated in northern Israel near Haifa mainly.

          18. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            You can take a look at this article/video:

            http://www.aljazeera.COM/news/middleeast/2013/04/20134266353798163.html

            Read this a while ago , its basically what gave me the impression that Hezbollah harasses civilians .

            lol , bit of a personal question no ? :)))

          19. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            What’s happening in Syria is a humanitarian disaster. I agree with you that civilians are under indirect attack (getting caught in the crossfire) and its a terrible tragedy. I still don’t think that HA is going in there and directly targeting civilians, it makes no sense that they would not do that, and this video does not show that this is happening. I also think they made a strategic mistake in getting involved in the battle (even if their supply line and ally was threatened).

            You know that when fighters are outgunned they resort to guerrilla warfare, which in this case is hiding out in densely populated areas. When this happens there is going to be a higher incidence of civilian casualties. It happens with the most technologically advanced militaries. Does that make it right, NO!

          20. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            I guess ur correct . How come Muslim clerics and politicians and even ordinary people suddenly hate Hezbollah so much then , I mean the arab world’s change of opinion on Hezbollah is one big fat reason that made me think that Sunni civilians are deliberately attacked .

          21. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            In my opinion, its because they got involved in a battle on foreign soil. When their whole motto is that they are a resistance force against Israeli aggression. It also has to do with people turning the Syrian war into a sectarian battle. It makes it easier to pick a side and hate the opponents. It has all of the sudden (not that sudden) been transformed into a Sunni vs. Shi’ite battle for power, when it was supposed to be a revolution against a dictator. When you have Sunni monarchies backing the Sunni rebels and Iran backing the Shi’ite its hard to see it any other way.

            I have Shi’ite friends that hate what Assad is doing and are totally against it, and Sunni friends that support HA actions. However, I think these people are in the minority.

          22. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            YES … THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE … everywhere. Not enough with an education. It’s the ‘brain-washing’ that screws up them and the politicians who want to control them. EVEN some of the supposedly educated ones.
            Geo has it right. Talk to the birds …

          23. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            The ‘travel laws’ of BOTH – far as I know … if your passport has a ‘visa-stamp’ from one of them you can’t go to (get into) the other. Adds to the ignorance about each. OF COURSE.
            You need two passports … fly 20 mins to Cyprus, then fly back on other passport.
            HAHAHAHA … ALL idiots.

          24. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Never mind stamps , both ones say where I was born LOL

          25. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Ohhh … BIG OUCHIE !! hahahahahhaahha

          26. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Do u have a European one or North American ? (I have both lol)

          27. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You’re really digging, aren’t you. 😉 CANUK ONLY.
            Can’t visit Israel now … tsk tsk … and silly thing is … IN Tripoli a guy asked (demanded) ‘Where you from!’ And then said: ‘Ohhhhh … Israeli SPY !!’ 😉
            No hesitation either … too weird … left him in the dust.

          28. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            In Tripoli u were asked that ?? well maybe in South Lebanon thats common as umm its true about the spies lol

          29. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Yah … about as weird as the Jordanian who told me that Canada was in the USA.
            And the Tripoli Doctor who thinks it’s near Malaysia.
            You wish to talk about ‘education’ ??? Hahahhaahhahaaaa

          30. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            ok back with my evening snack , which is: Greek Yoghurt mixed with sour cherries, pure honey and a drop of vanilla essence .

            I like !

          31. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I hate Yoghurt. Put the cherries on vanilla ice-cream in a chilled bowl of Brandy.
            🙂
            (Sorry guys .. sometimes I divert from the Glens … 😉

          32. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Me no like sugar and never drank alcohol 😉

          33. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Each to his own, cookie … but I tried just about everything ONCE at least … UNLESS the odds were heavy on the kill-factor side.
            (exclude some driving there … of course. 😉
            Life IS an adventure, after all … living it has been good, except when ‘certain types’ got in the way of it … and then, with thought and some experience, I managed to dance around them. Living in fear of everything – sugar and spice and everything nice – never occurred to me. Stress could kill you, after all. :-))
            If I had had money, I would have done more. One SHOULD recognize limitations.

            (Am I the silliest old fart in here???)

          34. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Good restaurants there … and a healthy ‘Fruit Bar’ I think? (maybe I think of the wrong spot … been a while ….)

          35. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I’m guessing you’re referring to my town. Very few restaurants there, the Salafist run rampant there and would hate to see men intermingling with women. There are a few nice cafes and fruit stands. There is a nice fruit bar called Atoum(?) that serves up some nice avocado and ashta smoothies. Yumm!

            The town is well known for fishing, olive production, making orange water and rose water. During the spring the smells are great. Overall not much happening there, pretty quiet for the most part. They have great potential to make some great seaside restaurants and bars, but the extremist Muslims would rather keep it in the dark ages. No alcohol allowed : ((((

            A friend of mine built a restaurant on the edge of town (just outside of their control) on the main HWY and serves some decent food and cold adult beverages!!

            We do have a nice beach resort thats been around a long time called Miramar. Some of the locals claim its funded by the pentagon for the CIA operatives to go soak up some sun and relax : )

          36. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I search my picture files …. hang on …

          37. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            This it ???

          38. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Did you post a picture?

            What are you showing me?

          39. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Trying a picture …. the fruit Bar ….

          40. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            No pic : ( I was trying to post a picture as well, but I can’t seem to figure it out.

          41. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            I see the picture 🙂 trying reloading the page (first time I didnt see it either)

          42. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Fruit on Ice-creams … in drinks … very good. Apricot was my favourite.

          43. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            I wouldnt mind those olives by themselves , looks tasty

          44. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O not reporting back. Maybe in tears now … hmmmm …. I will check later – must go …

          45. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Damn. Maybe moderators have to approve?? 2 now … shows for me of course. 😉
            Good Hookah too 😉

          46. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Avocado, strawberry, and ashta!

          47. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            MMMmmmmm ….

          48. AntiFSA Avatar

            Still yet to find a place in Australia that can make the same tasting smoothies we have back home. Thanks for the tease Man o. :))

          49. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Apple hookah!

          50. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Yes … and I’m back … apple was good. 🙂

          51. AntiFSA Avatar

            Man o, don’t forget to put a bit of wacky weed in the mix. :))

          52. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Lebanese blonde works much better ; )

          53. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Not the place I was talking about, but it looks really nice. I don’t recognize the inside of the store. Looks wonderful, thanks for sharing : )

          54. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You are welcome … sorry not the right one, but I think close. Travel on the coast-road is adventure. 🙂 I am a risk-taker with pics, sometimes, but have good memories locked in them. And really except for a few times, no-one bothers ‘Le Touriste’ … 😉 Clicky clicky. :-))))

          55. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Are there nightclubs in your city ? love dancing and used to go twice a week while in England but in Israel never been to one

          56. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            In Qalamoun? Hahaha, no way. Its a very conservative town and nobody would dare. You could always go for a short drive south to Batroun and find bars and nightclubs. I hear Tel Aviv has a nice nightlife.

          57. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            I actually never go to Tel Aviv (shame I know) just stay in Haifa , though back in England there’s always something nice to do 🙂

          58. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            For a Guest named Sarah I am sure there would be nice things to do … 😉

          59. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … researched … Fruit Bar named Al Kouta … but seems at Qalamoun. 🙂
            Bar for drinks and wine at restaurant in Batroun …. later. 😉 Happy night even later back in Tripoli. 😉

          60. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Nice! I know the place well. I have not been inside the place in a long time. They sell Ice cream. I know the family as well. I prefer making the drive to Kousba for Salem Ice cream. So good!!! Hahaha, good times. Tripoli does surprise me sometimes with some of the restaurants and cafes, pretty good spots.

          61. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            I guess you simply need to know which doors to duck into. 🙂
            And yes, there ARE good places. There ARE people who try to live a good life – even with all the idiots trying to screw life up. Dance Hall at Mina was also ‘interesting’ … but my ankle won’t do that any more. And the last two years have really bashed everyone down … I’d think it surprising to still see a smile – but I am sure some struggle along. 🙁

          62. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Funny story, a family member married into their family. It did not work out that well, and the families stopped speaking to each other a while back (over ten years now, silly Arabs and their never ending grudges). After the head of their family passed they even started fighting with each other, mostly over control of the family business and other property. However, I do still talk to one of the brothers and I would be happy to mention how much you enjoyed their place (small world).

            I like the old part of Mina for breakfast, its making me hungry thinking about it. You visit Lebanon often?

          63. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … we better not talk about family idiocies, although that’s one of the things I danced around fairly successfully … hehehe … brains even in families don’t work the same, and at my age that crap has passed anyway. 😉
            Last visit was 5 years ago. ‘Life-things’ prevented a quicker return … and Syria/Leb-things add greatly to preventing desire now … along with the fact most who I knew no longer exist. (Sometimes wonder why I blog opinions …)
            That’s a fact of life.
            I roll along, and really miss a very few special people … wish I could be with them, but feel more that they should not be there – for their own sakes. Even with lots of dreams, I must be a realist always, it seems, and I confess cramming into airplanes at 70 doesn’t thrill me like it did when I was 18, could walk into an airport, and expect to take off an hour later. It’s more like a necessary evil … and I want to know I’ll have a descent time at the other end – which is NOT being locked into a gated community ANYWHERE, or a guarded beach and hotel, or bussed with a bunch of old fogies, or having to live with my portable night-lite handy unless I’m tenting in the woods. It’s a sad world I see these days in MANY respects.
            (Damn … must be the age … )

          64. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Those transatlantic flights are a pain in the a$$…
            I will be doing it next month to the great state of Texas, wish me luck. I hope Sum Ting Wong is not flying ; )

          65. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hahahaha … yes … saw that one. 😉 And doing Texas is bad enough I hear. :-))
            I have stopped going to USA … period.

          66. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Thats too bad 5th, its a really nice place to visit. I know the world begins to equate US politics and foreign policy with the average American, but its far from the truth. America offers some amazing natural beauty, food, and people. I actually enjoy Texas, its really not how its portrayed. It helps that I have family that live there to get the real local experience.

            Oh, and its a much shorter flight for you ; )

          67. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Man-O … Some parts were nice, yes, for geography … have a sort-of-relative in Seattle … did Atlanta on business a few times, Disney for the kids, and drove all the way across it’s north end once. Could also stay in Texas with another ‘internet friend’. One brother worked there for a while on the humid sweaty gulf-coast.
            Of COURSE there are good things about Americans.
            But you know ‘those Canadians’ became suspicious characters too … especially since they demand more internet freedom and an actual real ‘free trade’ deal … so there are new ‘rules’ of entry (no thanks of course to the ‘terror’ paranoia) … and I look at the stories out of Florida over the past few years as well as lately, and decided if I’m going to parachute into danger it might as well be Lebanon. :-)))
            But those two are not the only places with nice beaches. 😉
            Or history … Luxembourg, for instance, I would move to in an instant, if I could afford to buy gas and eat there for more than 5 days … hahahahahaha

          68. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            YES … that ‘small world’ is more true than we realize sometimes. I’ve had some experiences with it.
            I’m walking with a brother-in-law in Athens Greece … we hear his name being called out from a bar … and end up chatting with a fellow he had worked with years before in another country.
            I’m in one of a few a ticket lines in an airport …. realize a guy in the next line over is a fellow I hadn’t seen in years since school-times, and he looks toward me at almost the same moment … smiles and fast-chat between two crazy guys going different places. Met again 2 years later in a restaurant. Weird life. :-)))

          69. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I love when that happens!

          70. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            And yes it is in Qalamoun near the old HWY by the main mosque in town.

          71. master09 Avatar
            master09

            Defend Lebanon from WHAT? No one is going to attack Lebanon if groups like the PLO HA AND OTHERS POINTS GUNS AT THESE ATTACKERS YOUR TALKING ABOUT…PULL THE GUNS AWAY AND LEBANON WOULD BE A PARADISE YES APARADISE WITH A FREEWAY TO THE MIDDLE OF ISRAEL…
            ATTACK LEBANON I AM SICK OF THE BRAINWASHED CLOWNS THAT THINK IN THAT WAY…………Lebanon is in a shit whole first because of PLO and now HA. simple …..and forget the brainwashed clowns that listen about how we need group to protect us when they also hold a gun on the LEBANESE, look at 2008 when they took to the streets…..

          72. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            It is Israels duty to protect its citizens. I dont support Israels ‘fly bys’ but their not hurting anybody. HA needs to understand that if it disarms, tensions will lower and Israel wont have a legitimate reason to violate Lebanese airspace.

          73. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            So does the LAF!
            Who are you to say the “fly bys” are not hurting anyone? Psychological warfare and the scars are not visible on the outside. The fly overs also causes Lebanese people to see their military as weak and makes them more willing to back groups like HA.

            Violating a countries airspace with military jets is an act of war in any part of the world. A group arming itself inside a country is that countries problem to deal with and does not justify the violations. Is Israel sharing the intelligence gathering with the Lebanese military to help combat HA, NO!

            I guess you can make the claim that the military is too interconnected with HA. If so , what is the solution then?

          74. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            Idk if youve noticed this yet, but LAF is HAs dog. A dog always does what its master tells it. (Abra, letting HA fighters freely go to Syria, arresting random sunnis who have nothing to do with the murder of a Syrian politician, searching Sunnis homes for weapons when HA obviously has a huge weapon presence). Pshchycological warfare?!?! How do you think M14 feels about HAs huge arms presence? The LAF will always be a puppet until it arrests the the people who killed or attempted to kill M14 politicians. And what do I suggest it does? Take a stand against HA, which I doubt will happen with Khawagi. Its not like Aoun’s nephew is any better though.

          75. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            I doubt they are searching random Sunni homes for weapons. There has to be some reason, could it be that a Sunni group recently attacked and killed 18 Lebanese soldiers (some of them Sunni)?

            The only difference between HA and some of the M14 groups is HA does not hide the fact that they have weapons stockpiles.

          76. The real lebanese Avatar
            The real lebanese

            2 sunnis arrested on spot a couple of days ago for murder. They had nothing to do with it. In Tripoli, they search Sunni households while they leave the alawite and shiite households alone. And tell me, do you see any M14 party going into Syria with an organized militia? Everyone in Lebanon has a stockpile, but HA is the only one with a militia.

          77. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You know no-one can talk to an Israeli … becomes an instant ‘spy’.
            Microphones might be hidden in even the fruit, after all. 😉

          78. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            El Supremo is Lebanon’s internal problem – and he has ‘jets’ too. Frankly it’s better if Leb-citizens are not trying to pay for their own jets – they can’t even raise enough from the unpaid electricity bills to have the good old 24/24 lighting. :-)))

          79. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            24/24 lighting! Damn, thats some good lighting. ; )

          80. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Well, it must be, Man-O …
            They even had it written on the big street-posters that way. :-)))

          81. master09 Avatar
            master09

            As long as HA and the entire Arab world says the Jews should not LIVE we will be in this situation, you can argue back and forth the issue is this Israel is going to ready itself, fly over and watch Lebanon and the Arab world each second of the day it can not be any more simple than that…Ha can attack now do you think Israel is going to be SLEEPING or flying and watching all the time.. If you had kids and a wife and your neighbor was saying you should not be alive and your family too I bet you would be staying up 24/7 with a gun………no one is rite in this situation but and they will never be so this will go on for another 1000 years… poor future kids…..on all SIDES….

          82. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            By the way, Man-O … if you only have flat land for an airport in a place where it would be more logical to grow food on it, and the best sandy beach is already used up with a civilian airport for tourists, are you willing to flatten a mountain to gain an air-force base which will increase your taxes 2500%. ???

          83. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Of course, Pal sites and Jewish sites are going to be biased, but there is lots of other sources out there on Camp David.

          84. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            Everyone is biased and the most dangerous idea is that someone can be objective.

          85. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Objectivity requires logic Adam. Even beginning with a premise ‘from the unknown’ requires an application of logic to discover if the premise is applicable.
            If everyone applied the logic of Einstein, the ‘relativity’ would become obvious, and people would finally see what simply ‘is’.
            And then perhaps begin to wonder why they have biases at all. 😉

          86. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            One can try to be as objective as possible but there is no true objectivity for humans.

          87. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            The settlers were not stupid. They erected the settlements in strategic locations near natural resources and in a way to make the creation of the state of Palestine very difficult. The land swap would have been for some desert near Gaza, not at all equal or fair.

          88. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Unfair ? sure lets talk about unfair ..

            The British Mandate in Palestine which sought to establish a Jewish state (Balfour Declaration) looked like this:

            http://upload.wikimedia.ORG/wikipedia/commons/6/69/BritishMandatePalestine1920.png

            By 1947 the offer to establish Israel looked like this:

            http://goo.GL/9PgQj

            Most of Israel was the Negev desert , and trust me you dont want to live there (been there, with full blast AC in my car); and yet the Jews accepted the UN’s two state solution . You think today is unfair ? the arabs in 1947 had 90% of palestine (including transjordan) and they rejected it .

            so please , neither side have had it easy , its so pathetic that the arabs play victim in a land dispute

          89. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            ALL of life is ‘unfair’. In 2013 it can be a little less unfair than in 2000 BC.

          90. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Yes thats generally the case . its so pathetic for one side to act like a spoilt child when theyre constantly being offered what they supposedly want – never mind a state, even when Israel asks for mere negotiations Abbas still refuses to come ! In fact Sweden has reduced its funding to the PA because its obvious that theyre simply not interested in talking

          91. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Please! There is no better expert at playing victim then Israel. Maybe thats were the Arabs got the experience.

          92. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            Care to elaborate ?

          93. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Really? You need me to elaborate on how Israel acts as a regional bully and then claims to be the victim. How the settlers harass the Palestinians on their own land and cry victim when they retaliate. How nobody can comment against Israel for fear of being branded anti-semitic. They are always playing the victim card, poor little tiny innocent Israel surrounded by a sea of hateful murdering terrorist.

          94. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            In every country there is crime and racism , Israel is no exception . The crimes of settlers has no relevance to Israel as a country , some places arabs and Jews get along excellently (like in the North) while other places they dont .

            There’s nothing wrong with criticising Israel – as long as other crimes by other countries (not even referring to the Middle East , most countries have a long history of warfare and colonization and hate) are equally taken into consideration. Sadly though, that is not the case … call it what you like (some people call it anti-semitism, I personally dont) but you cant deny that Israel is constantly attacked by the media and lefties while everything else is generally ignored . I remember when the Syrian civil war broke out when the Syrian navy bombed palestinian areas in Latakia , when palestinians in Damascus were killed in the hundreds (3000 deaths overall). No flotilla, no protests, no UN resolutions , NOTHING .

          95. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Here is one of many sources out there:

            The Myth of the Generous Offer

            Distorting the Camp David negotiations

            By Seth Ackerman

          96. master09 Avatar
            master09

            There is no fine print, the fact is the Arabs just do not want peace and only to destroy the Jews. If you do not know the details of the offer how can you argue anything. The Palestinians had been given a LOT and never took it and will always say NO even to 100%.

          97. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            “There is no fine print, the fact is the Arabs just do not want peace and only to destroy the Jews…The Palestinians had been given a LOT and never took it and will always say NO even to 100%.”, well than I guess there is nothing else to talk about. Have fun!

            Did you check the above article written by a Jew named Seth Ackerman? He seems to disagree with you regarding the fine print. He must be a self-hating Jew, right?

          98. master09 Avatar
            master09

            Have you read the tens of thousands of articles written by Arabs who criticise the entire Arab would by leaders and by your average man. But does this make it FACTS. I am talking facts about the Palestinian situation. They all Arabs do not want peace as long as we have Jews and SECTS in the area.

          99. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            The Palestinian Arabs have given NOTHING. They have never had anything to begin with. Also, they never budged an inch on their negotiating position, ever.

          100. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            Negotiating with Israel is like negotiating over a cake. The whole time negotiations are going on Israel continues to eat the cake. Lets not rush negotiations, lets take our time, no preconditions, and the whole time the cake gets smaller and smaller. How can they budge an inch? What’s the point of negotiating when everything you’re negotiating for is slowly being eaten piece by piece.

            “Palestinian Arabs have given NOTHING. They have never had anything to begin with”, Do you see the problem with this statement? If as you say, they never had anything to begin with, what are they supposed to give?

          101. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            I do believe that there should be a ban on more Jews moving to the West Bank until its status is resolved. However, the mere building should not be a provocation. Also, the cake hasn’t gotten smaller, only bigger. They have never had a country. What do they have? Acceptance. They whole thing is being done to try to gain their acceptance and they still don’t accept the idea of two states for two peoples. The idea should be two states that have different ethnic majorities and corresponding ethnic minorities. We’ve even removed the minority part from their state but they can’t accept our country the way it is no matter what we offer. Furthermore, it really isn’t as easy as you might think. Giving up the West Bank puts Israel in a precarious strategic position militarily. It also contains the majority of our holy and historic sites.

          102. man-o-war Avatar
            man-o-war

            The mere building is a provocation when it is done to accommodate more Jewish settlers moving into the West Bank. I guess if you believe they never had a state than the cake has gotten bigger. You could say the same thing for Israel.

            Have you looked at a map of the West Bank settlements recently? Take a look and tell me that the Jewish settlers with the cooperation of the military are not changing facts on the ground day by day.

            Why must it be two states? What is wrong with one state? Equal rights and equal representation in government. I think its the greatest compromise because both sides are against it. Its the one thing they can agree on.

          103. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
            Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

            Them never having had a state isn’t a matter of opinion or belief. It is a stone cold fact. Nevertheless, as I said, if we’re talking about two states, they should have a Jewish minority. The buildings don’t have to be Israeli territory and it’s not like they’re close to exceeding the number of Arab citizens of Israel in number. If the Palestinian Arabs were tolerant enough, there should be no problem.

            One state will not work. It hasn’t worked in Lebanon and caused one of the worst blood baths in history. The creation of geo-political, multi ethnic states in the Middle East hasn’t worked in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria etc. The non Sunni-Arab peoples get intimidated out in every case. Our situation would be even worse.

      3. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        To keep it simple. The biggest problem, Man-O, is the length of time the enmities have had to build and become the largest factor in any of them trusting each other. The constantly-regurgitating ‘past’ has had it’s horrible moments for sure and over generations of mixed truths and half-truths, the odds on eliminating the angst are slim.

        For sure, the Israeli ‘old-wall-head-bonkers’ and their even more-radical ‘conservative’ purists (terrorists) have and DO play ‘dirty tricks’ to glom land (such as burning ancient-family-owned olive trees, filling in hand-dug wells, building crappy concrete hovels, etc).
        Neither ‘side’ has an innocently pure history on the dirty tricks. And don’t forget that some Christians also suffer in that MESS that all wish to claim as ‘God’s Land’. All the ‘religions’ are supposedly represented there. WHO is ‘practicing’ religion?? Anywhere??
        But ‘Peace at ANY cost’ – which religion seems to tout – will never sit well with any of them it seems. Compromise is HARD stuff – especially when the ‘teaching’ warps minds into disregarding the fact that all are of the human species, and ‘sharing’ anything is impossible for some of those ‘humans’ who always want ‘ALL’.

      4. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        We are NOT of European ‘Origin’, but of European extraction. Please get that into your head.

      5. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        Also, the Palestinian flag is the Jordanian flag without the monarchy star and it is a variation of the Arab revolt flag. All the flags in the region were invented in the 20th century.

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Speaking of producing, Cookie … I just heard there is now a KOSHER LUBE for ‘fun-times’. 😉
      One assumes it’s edible … and bottled … but do the condums come packed in it ?? 😉
      SOME, I am sure now, will be wondering when the Halal versions will be on the shelves too.
      🙂 Nothing better than competition to keep prices down. :-)))

      1. cook2half Avatar
        cook2half

        Those are Tel Aviv products where people walk half naked , but your local Rabbi in Bethlehem will be thrilled when the Halal version is available 🙂

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Only ‘half’ ?? Hmmm … Back to Greece or St Maarten … are they exporting? :-))
          (I never thought of blessing the strawberries when I cut them … but then again, why not ?? )

          1. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            The good half 🙂

          2. libnan1 Avatar

            My kind of a place …. I hope you don’t have poison ivy there.

          3. cook2half Avatar
            cook2half

            مرحبا تعال لتل أبيب وافحص ازا بدك 😉

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Funny Chinese news ….

  4. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Funny Chinese news ….

  5. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    If it were any other nation, the settlements’ population would be considered potential Palestinian citizens.

  6. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    If it were any other nation, the settlements’ population would be considered potential Palestinian citizens.

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