The problem with Isreal is that it is defined as a Jewish state-hence your comment. I am pro-Isreal. Just because some don't support the creation of the nation of Isreal doesn't make them an anti-semite. That is a huge leap. No other country in the world besides Isreal is defined solely by their religous heritage.

I would differ in light of Thomas' comments. She said the Jewish people need to "get the hell out of Palestine." It was her words directed squarely at Jewish people that makes this issue anti-Semitic and racist.

 

I fully understand the broader "geopolitics" involved, but this is no different than her saying, "The (fill in any ethnic group here) need to go back to (their country of origin)"

 

The crazy thing is... Israel/Palestine/the Sinai Penninsula IS the land of origin for Jewish people... not Poland and Germany.

The problem is fastbreak it is also the land of origin for the palestinians; hence the problem.

The modern problem goes back to WWI and the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when the British (who governed the territory) began formal discussions about dividing the lands under their control in the Middle East and apportioning chunks of it to various factions. At the end of WWI the League of Nations granted Great Britain the responsibility of the Mandate for Palestine and the establishment of a "Jewish national home" within the region.

 

Late in 1947 the UN voted in favor of the partition of Palestine. This proposal was for the creation of two separate states… one Arab, one Jewish with the UN-administering Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders accepted this agreement, but Arab leaders rejected the idea of having Jewish neighbors. For them, it was all or nothing. Israel declared independence in mid-May 1948 and were attacked the following day by neighboring Arab states. Following a series of wars over many years initiated by surrounding Arab states, Israel captured territories such as the West Bank and Gaza Strip that are outside of those originally specified.

 

It wasn’t until 1977 that an Arab head of state (from any Arab nation) even acknowledged Israel as a state. (And this was only after the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur October 6, 1973. Israel suffered terrible losses but eventually prevailed 20 days later.) For his statesmanship, Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamic radicals four years later.

 

Today, more than 60 years after the first Palestinian Arab mufti and his henchmen set their people on the path to a stateless existence by rejecting the UN partition resolution, their foolish and greedy decisions have been carried forward by every succeeding generation of Palestinian leaders. Palestinian leaders have squandered opportunity after opportunity for statehood over six decades, while their people have been kept in second class settlements and fed with hate and false hope by their fellow Arabs.

 

You can blame Great Britain... you can blame the League of Nations... you can blame the post WWII UN... you can and should blame greedy and inflammatory Palestinian Arab leaders hell bent upon there being no place for Jewish people in the land of their origin... BUT I genuinely cannot fathom how anyone can blame the Jewish Israelis for defending their lives and very existence in their home.

The modern problem goes back to WWI and the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when the British (who governed the territory) began formal discussions about dividing the lands under their control in the Middle East and apportioning chunks of it to various factions. At the end of WWI the League of Nations granted Great Britain the responsibility of the Mandate for Palestine and the establishment of a "Jewish national home" within the region.

 

Late in 1947 the UN voted in favor of the partition of Palestine. This proposal was for the creation of two separate states… one Arab, one Jewish with the UN-administering Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders accepted this agreement, but Arab leaders rejected the idea of having Jewish neighbors. For them, it was all or nothing. Israel declared independence in mid-May 1948 and were attacked the following day by neighboring Arab states. Following a series of wars over many years initiated by surrounding Arab states, Israel captured territories such as the West Bank and Gaza Strip that are outside of those originally specified.

 

It wasn’t until 1977 that an Arab head of state (from any Arab nation) even acknowledged Israel as a state. (And this was only after the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur October 6, 1973. Israel suffered terrible losses but eventually prevailed 20 days later.) For his statesmanship, Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamic radicals four years later.

 

Today, more than 60 years after the first Palestinian Arab mufti and his henchmen set their people on the path to a stateless existence by rejecting the UN partition resolution, their foolish and greedy decisions have been carried forward by every succeeding generation of Palestinian leaders. Palestinian leaders have squandered opportunity after opportunity for statehood over six decades, while their people have been kept in second class settlements and fed with hate and false hope by their fellow Arabs.

 

You can blame Great Britain... you can blame the League of Nations... you can blame the post WWII UN... you can and should blame greedy and inflammatory Palestinian Arab leaders hell bent upon there being no place for Jewish people in the land of their origin... BUT I genuinely cannot fathom how anyone can blame the Jewish Israelis for defending their lives and very existence in their home.

 

I don't necessarily disagree with where you are coming from Fastbreak but I ask this question based on your presentation.

 

Suppose the League of Nations, or the UN, or whoever decided that a portion of Georgia & Tennessee should become the independent state of all Cherokee descendents and those Native Americans today. On 2011 they are the ones who are allowed total autonomy of that land. It belonged to their ancestors and they were forcibly removed even though the Supreme Court of the US said they had every right to stay. How should we feel for the current residents of Georgia/TN who will be displaced at worse or treated as 2nd class at least - even though their families have lived there for decades? :idunno:

I don't necessarily disagree with where you are coming from Fastbreak but I ask this question based on your presentation.

 

Suppose the League of Nations, or the UN, or whoever decided that a portion of Georgia & Tennessee should become the independent state of all Cherokee descendents and those Native Americans today. On 2011 they are the ones who are allowed total autonomy of that land. It belonged to their ancestors and they were forcibly removed even though the Supreme Court of the US said they had every right to stay. How should we feel for the current residents of Georgia/TN who will be displaced at worse or treated as 2nd class at least - even though their families have lived there for decades? :idunno:

I understand your analogy, but if you genuinely understood the factual history of these people and the land in contention, you would see that this is an apples and oranges comparison at best.

 

I don't say this to be disrespectful or a smart aleck. I say it because I genuinely respect you and believe you to be too smart to suggest it if you were provided with actual facts. You, me and most people have been - and are being - misled on the whole Palestinian issue.

 

The great lie here is that the Jewish people kicked the Palestinian Arabs out of their country when they moved in to occupy it between 1917 and 1948. The fact is, the Palestinians were evacuated forcefully by their own leaders and supposed Arab allies. Most wanted to stay. Many who left returned… often at great risk from their own people. Those who stayed or returned enjoyed a much higher standard of living both then and today than those who left. I know many Jewish Israelis and a handful of Arab Israelis. Every one of them attests to the willingness of both sides to cohabit peacefully in Israel. The problem is entirely upon those who continue to provoke, terrorize and attack Israel.

I don't necessarily disagree with where you are coming from Fastbreak but I ask this question based on your presentation.

 

Suppose the League of Nations, or the UN, or whoever decided that a portion of Georgia & Tennessee should become the independent state of all Cherokee descendents and those Native Americans today. On 2011 they are the ones who are allowed total autonomy of that land. It belonged to their ancestors and they were forcibly removed even though the Supreme Court of the US said they had every right to stay. How should we feel for the current residents of Georgia/TN who will be displaced at worse or treated as 2nd class at least - even though their families have lived there for decades? :idunno:

 

Sounds like a good idea--They can have a good part of Atlanta, Knoxville and Nashville; and all of Memphis except Beale Street!!

Sounds like a good idea--They can have a good part of Atlanta, Knoxville and Nashville; and all of Memphis except Beale Street!!

 

 

:laugh::laugh: And of course Casinos in each town.

When did Palestine ever exist as a country anyway?? Not in any history I can find...

When did Palestine ever exist as a country anyway?? Not in any history I can find...

 

And when was Isreal "created"?

And when was Isreal "created"?

 

Watch out. You're dealing with a person named "History."

And when was Isreal "created"?

Seems Israel was a kingdom at least as far back as 700BC...

That was a very very stupid thing to say. Think it, but don't say it. Probably time for her to go, anyway. Maybe she'll move back to Winchester.

She should go. Should've retired 10 yrs ago.

 

Beck and Rush need to follow suit...

I've always liked Helen. She's one feisty brawd... A real thorn in the side of a lot of Presidents.

I've always liked Helen. She's one feisty brawd... A real thorn in the side of a lot of Presidents.

 

She never really played favorites. I saw a documentary on her on HBO. Well Done. This is a reporter who was given a Birthday cake by President Nixon prior to a news conference, then she proceeded to grill Nixon on Watergate matters. :thumb: