Good News for Israel!

[thebobman]

Originally Posted by Grapes

I can find nothing to debate in this paragraph. Well said.

The thing is man, what you present here is the viewpoint that the Arab world has a deep, ingrained hatred of their Israeli neighbors. Only someone with a very biased viewpoint would attempt to argue this. When the person you're ostensibly defending presents her side of things, she comes off sounding like the Arab world's hatred is genetic and/or tantamount to their very being, and therefore impossible to mitigate, and that Israel is some bastion of tolerance and good deeds without just as much ingrained hatred and mistrust to cope with.

Thank you for entering into this bizzare fray and providing some much needed level headed discourse.

holy crap, I'm so floored I'm giving you karma.

[wum]

^ spare us the circle jerk

[thebobman]

Abbas Declares Victory in Palestinian Presidential Vote
January 9, 2005
By Steven Erlanger, New York Times

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Mahmoud Abbas, who opposes continuing violence against Israel, declared victory tonight in the election for a new president of the Palestinian Authority.


Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas (L) celebrates his campaign with a supporter after the close of voting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, January 9, 2005. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic, Reuters)

"We offer this victory to the soul of the brother martyr Yasir Arafat and to all Palestinians," Mr. Abbas, 69, told his supporters here, according to the Reuters news agency. According to one exit poll, released moments after polls closed, Mr. Abbas was expected to capture 65 percent of the vote in his bid to succeed Mr. Arafat.

It was the first presidential election in nine years, and despite being held under Israeli occupation, it was judged by international observers to be generally free and fair, with little interference from Israel, which eased travel restrictions on Palestinians and largely halted military activity in the territories.

Mr. Abbas, the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the candidate of the main Palestinian faction, Fatah, faced little real competition from a field of six other candidates, with his main challenger Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, 50, a doctor and human-rights campaigner.

Mr. Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, called the election a source of pride for Palestinians as he voted here this morning at Mr. Arafat's former headquarters, the Muqata. "This process is taking place in a marvelous fashion and is an illustration of how the Palestinian people aspire to democracy," he said. He urged women in particular to exercise their right to vote.

Ekram Quraan, a graphics designer monitoring the vote at a school here, called the day historic. "For us, it happens once in a lifetime, so it's important," she said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/international/cnd-mide.html

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by wum

^ spare us the circle jerk

Getting a little touchy, aren't we?

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by Grapes

I can find nothing to debate in this paragraph. Well said.

The thing is man, what you present here is the viewpoint that the Arab world has a deep, ingrained hatred of their Israeli neighbors. Only someone with a very biased viewpoint would attempt to argue this. When the person you're ostensibly defending presents her side of things, she comes off sounding like the Arab world's hatred is genetic and/or tantamount to their very being, and therefore impossible to mitigate, and that Israel is some bastion of tolerance and good deeds without just as much ingrained hatred and mistrust to cope with.

Thank you for entering into this bizzare fray and providing some much needed level headed discourse.

What you say there has a lot of big words and sounds really smart?...but I highly doubt that you know anything about the beliefs of jews in Israel, compared to the surrounding territories. I mean....how could you? You are not jewish or palestinian or have anyone that you know who lives there. Sometimes, it amazes me how strongwilled people can be, when they have nothing to do with what is going on and their ideas are primarily "make-believe" from what they hear through the "Grape"vine.

*ha i just have to laugh when you say that ingrained hatred and mistrust are on both sides. I mean obVIOUSLY. Wouldn't you have hatred and mistrust for people that took it upon themselves to encourage their people to kill civilians based soley on your religion?

This is my point, the two sides of the border hold two very different opinions of one another. The Palestinians are deciding to stop the wars that have been going on because the situation isn't getting them anywhere. If their killings had profitted, they of course would want to keep killing until Jewish occupation ceased to exist.

Focus more on governmental issues and beliefs, this is a good start for learning more about the real problems at hand:P

[wum]

no diggity

[lou_belle]

No doubt;P

[wum]

^ so you ever planning on moving there?

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by wellbelove's

Huh? Its comments and veiws like this that dont make peace any easyer. With a situation like Israel you cant really have a bad guy and good guy. All the diffrent groups need to be given the same respect and treating. Thats why we have so much war and firghting down there as some of the groups feel they have been over looked at and miss treated... such as your coment.




The best Idea I heard to make peace there was the UN taking over Isreal and making it a world country. Therefore everyone would have access to it making there no real reason to fight... hopefully.

I had to quote this because this appears to some of you to be a GREAT idea?:) I understand that most of you just want peace and it hurts to see someone writing about this topic on such level-headed grounds, but I unfortunately know that this is a MOST ridiculous idea...

Rhia...I don't think you know enough on the subject to even understand yourself and what you are talking about....I mean sorry? but that is a pretty dumb idea. These wars aren't because they want the UN to rule Israel? hah* The wars....now listen carefully......are about Jewish occupation....calm down.....I didn't say anything about racism...although I am sure you heard a bell DING*

and they're off

[Grapes]

You are not jewish

Oh!

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by wum

^ so you ever planning on moving there?

Yep:)

Prolly next year, but if you look at the real estate, the places there are more expensive than Chaugnessy, it's crazy expensive, cuz there's such little land. But all of the places have three or more bedrooms. And they are soooo beautiful! All made from light colored stone:) I'm gonna make babies next year and fill up dem rooms wit ma ba'bez;P

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by Grapes

Oh!

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

What is wrong with you?

[wum]

Originally Posted by lou_belle

Yep:)

Prolly next year, but if you look at the real estate, the places there are more expensive than Chaugnessy, it's crazy expensive, cuz there's such little land. But all of the places have three or more bedrooms. And they are soooo beautiful! All made from light colored stone:) I'm gonna make babies next year and fill up dem rooms wit ma ba'bez;P

coo. i've never been to that region before but if it's anything like greece then good for you :)

[Grapes]

What is wrong with you?

I'm Jewish! And you just told me that I'm not, you twat!!!

[-ff-]

Originally Posted by -ff-

hahaha, yeah - if you believe that, I have a bridge you might be interested in.


Its going to be a long time before peace is 'around the corner'. But this is an encouraging development.

Hate to say I told you so - but... I told you so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4176141.stm