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Jordan

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Member since:
12/31/2006
Last Logged In:
12/08/2008

Posted in: Czech Republic to improve EU-Israel ties

uhhh, there is no more Czechoslovakia... might wanna fix the first sentence.

Posted in: OP-ED: What Obama must do first for peace

Parts of this article are actually incorrect and there was some backtracking that the Obama team had to do particularly regarding his speech at AIPAC and the statement regarding the status of Jerusalem. After Palestinian outcry, Obama had to issue a new statement that was more flexible. Now, contrary to the above statement, the settlers are in fact posing a problem and anyone who doesn't see and accept this is intentionally trying to distort the reality. I agree that the Arabs have a terrible double standard in not allowing Jews to live in a future Palestinian state while at the same time demanding non-Jews the 'right of return' to Israel, not to mention the Muslims who already do live in Israel as citizens. It's really a bizarre situation. That said, there is a fringe element of settlers who are doing Israel no favor by attacking Palestinian olive harvesters etc. The settlements were established to serve as a defensive buffer against the Arab armies. The need for them today in general is really not there. Everyone who disagrees is looking at things through a purely right-wing religious lens. These same people keep saying one thing or the other is God's will. Take the Neturei Karta for example. They believe Israel should not have been reestablished... but who are they to say what is God's will? Because of their own personal interpretation of a text? If it has been established, is it not the will of God? Are they then implying that the power of man to create exceeds that of God? This is much like the settlements... decisions are made and are made to be realities for however long it is deemed necessary. Leaving most of the West Bank, like how Israel left Gaza occurs only if God has decided so. All of the religious fighting against it are the ones who truly need to look in the mirror and realize they are not God. It's time to stop worrying about trivial no longer necessary settlements and look to the east at Iran. There is the real danger to Israel and settlements won't do a thing to help.

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