Do Not Lump Israel With Terrorists in 'Cycle of Violence'

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Israel has occupied land, period

king of ID 12:55AM September 30, 2009

I remember well meeting and hosting Rabbi Elmer Berger, then head of American Jews Against Zionism, a busy organization that tried to avert the present course of events in the Holy Land. He saw the Zionist movement as headed for disaster just about from the start--the invasion of Palestine and establishment of Israel but the start of what has ended up being, 60 years later, unending conflict.
As long as Palestinians and their sympathizers--a sizable proportion of the population of the Middle East--think Israel the occupiers of Palestinian space there will be problems. As long as Israeli sovereignty is legitimized through American foreign aid and power, they will see us as part of their problem--perhaps even the cause of it, as in the eyes of Osama bin Laden's followers.
Beres obviously relies on the United Nations resolutions backing Israel's right to exist. Palestinians and others in the Middle East disagree. That's an impasse, not a transient squabble, and it requires much more than the condemnation of terrorism. Much more.
Am I anti-semitic? Not in the least. I am, however, growing weary of our willingness to exert American power and use a billion dollars a year in support of Israel when there is really no end in sight. Making sure Iran has no nuclear arms while Israel does can only exacerbate matters in the long haul.
How long must the U.S. continue on its present course in assisting Israel before we come to realize that a problem with no solution is a waste of power, money, and international credibility?

Ron W. Smith of UT 6:59PM August 14, 2009

It is unrealistic to deny that a Cycle of Violence exists! Terrorists attacks result in Israeli responses which result in terrorists attacks, etc. which by any definition is a cycle and is certainly violent.
The problem is that Israel may be “a duly constituted democratic state” in your view, but not in the view of many in the world. The creation of the state of Israel by the United Nations solved one problem (to find a homeland for the Jews), but created another.
One has to give the Israelis great credit for all they have accomplished since becoming a state and I certainly understand their position. On the other hand, the Palestinians have good reason to feel deprived of their homeland. The Israelis keep expanding their settlements in the occupied areas and the Palestinians continue their terrorist attacks. The Israelis won’t give back their country and the Palestinians have no viable options. Rather than do nothing, the Palestinians follow an endless path of violence that will never fulfill their desires.
It seems to be a situation that has no solution acceptable to all.

CB of WA 2:12PM August 13, 2009