Obama's Israel Policy Makes U.S. Look Foolish

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There is no such thing as a Palestinian Arab. Palestinian and Palestine come from the word Pelishtim meaning "Philistine." This ethnicity was either Greek, Canaanite, or a mix of both. Either way, they were not Arabs or the ancestors of today's Palestinians.
The Jews who came to Israel in 1948 were not land stealers. Great Britain gave up a part of her empire in the desert to help the UN compensate the survivors of the Holocaust. A dual state, one Arab the other Jewish, was intended with Jerusalem being an international city. Unfortunately, surrounding Arab states told the Palestinians that the US, UK, and the UN ought to go to H*** and destroy the Jewish state since it was a dishonor to all Arabs. Thus began the Israeli-Arab conflict of 1948, and these Holocaust survivors and European immigrants won. They offered Palestinians the chance to return, live, and even participate in politics. This is still true today.
During the Six Day War of '67, Egypt kicked out UN peace keepers and massed an army on the border of southern Israel. The Arab world was making threats to push Israel into the sea. Seeing a large military force at the south and military mobilizations in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, Israel took action to neutralize those threats which meant expansion. They won the land from four nations who had larger and better trained military. So they won the land. I'd like to see America give back DC to the British after losing it during the War of 1812.
Yom Kippur War began with a sneak attack by the Egyptian airforce with MiGs. Israel's airforce was less equipped, but fought back and surrounded the Egyptian military in the Sinai. Again, they proved to the world they were here to stay.
These are simple facts. Israel is not an apartheid; it is a democracy unlike her Arabic neighbors. Women have rights and can go to school. Not in her Arabic neighbors. Israel is willing to negotiate about a Palestinian state (though I think it is hard to count an extinct population). Hamas in Gaza, the Muslim Brotherhood gaining power in Egypt, Syria, some residents of Jordan and Lebanon, and Iran would like nothing better to see Israel go by way of the buffalo.

Patrick of KY 9:07PM May 24, 2011

Upwards to 1/5 of Palestinians are Christians and not Muslims. A fact that often gets glossed over in favor of pushing the Islam angle. The vast majority of Christian Palestinians were kicked out of their homes and never allowed to return during the time from 1948-1967.
Palestinian Jews also violently clashed with the land-stealing Zionist Ashkenazi colonist Jews right along side their Muslim and Christian neighbors. I'm not saying they all got along religiously, but they all got along when threatened with colonization. People hardly ever talk about this or say there are no Palestinian Jews because all Jews are one people but that is just religious nonsense.
Also religious nonsense, AIPAC is a Protestant Fundamentalist Lobby, not a Jewish lobby. The handful of Jewish people with AIPAC only serve to take advantage of the wealthy American Jewish pocket books on sympathy for Israel to use for funding the campaigns of Protestant Fundamentalist Puppets. AIPAC controls the American Congress and 95% of the House and the Senate (including the Democrats) are Protestant Fundies who want to see the Jews in the Holy Land saw Jesus comes back and raptures them and grandpa (even though he was cremated) and vaporizes all the Jews, Muslims, etc. They believe this. Sarah Palin admit this during this year's trip to Israel. They are insane. Of course Israel takes all the help that they can get...
Either way, the world thinks the US is foolish for supporting Israel so this article is invalid

David of CA 4:38PM May 24, 2011

I think your comparison between Palestine/Israel and the US and it's previous neighbors is really naive. For one, I would argue that the majority of undocumented immigrants (if we take your assumption that that all immigrants are Mexican and they all live in the south) could care less about who owns what land and the same with the French, or our allies in Latin America and Europe. The current circumstances, historical, cultural backgrounds which led to those treaties and purchases are completely different from that of Israel and Palestine; two states that were essentially created by exterior forces. The pre-1967 argument or 1940s border is one that has been supported by past US president administrations for decades. Mr. Roff, your allegiance is with the United States of America, not with one lone wolf foreign nation. If we can't critique the mistakes or failed "peace" policies of our allies who demand more support in bodies and money for these very policies, then what kind of ally are they? If we can't talk to other people from the region and build relationships with them, then what type of friendship is that?

JP of CA 1:25PM May 24, 2011

While it is true that small, hard right Zionist groups have attacked Christians and churches in Israel a few times over the past 30 years, I note that more Churches have been torched and Christians killed and assaulted in the "new" Egypt in the past 3 weeks than in 40 years in Israel.
If people can't discern the difference between Judeo Christians and Islam then they are hopelessly made blind by hate and dogma.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 12:30PM May 24, 2011

Comment to "What..?" Get real!!! Grow up!!! Get with the times!!! There was an Israel thousands of years BEFORE there was such a thing as a Palestinian. That land was rightfully returned back to the Israelis by the UN in 1946. Using the thought process of those who want to deny Israel their land, maybe we should send all the blacks back to Africa, the Asians back to Asia, the Polynesians back to the South Pacific Islands, the whites back to Europe - and return all the lands taken from the Native Americans back to them.

Common Sense of CA 12:11PM May 24, 2011

As a christian I am appaled at the treatment of american christians visiting israel who are spit on harrassed and threatened, google "jews spitting on american christians in israel" they have Banned all displays of christianity crosses,christmas trees and religious leaders burn new testaments in religious ceromonies, google these facts and see how christians are hated by jews in israel.

christian love of NY 11:39AM May 24, 2011

TO be able to write is one thing to think with perspective and depth is another. This piece is obviously intended for the ignorant and simple-minded. Or those who'll play politics with everything. Shlock!

EJIRO 11:23AM May 24, 2011

you got your history totally wrong, and you a total lack of perspective. The Palestinians were displaced to create Israel. Typical knee-jerk pro-Israel chant.

EseKGB 11:14AM May 24, 2011

THIS EXACT SAME peace talk was almost agreed upon by Bush, Olmert (the sitting Israeli PM) and Abbas in November of 2007 and into 2008, until Hamas launched rockets into Gaza and Irael retaliated during the Gaza War of 2008. Olmert had agreed to give parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem (which is Holy to Palestians) back to Palestine.
Why is Obama either weak or ignorant by Republican standards, or Brave and Intelligent by Democrat standards when he is NEITHER? HE SIMPLY UPHELD American doctine on Israel which we have had for 2 decades and which Bush Clinton and Bush almost accomplished. Stop giving or denying Obama credit on this. STOP PLAYING POLITICS.

Jarrod East of CA 11:10AM May 24, 2011

on this and other recent blogs on Israel. As a Christian, I'd much rather live in Israel than in any Muslim country. Islam's intolerance of Western Civilization, or any other faith, is beyond question.
I think these Progressives, and anti-Semites would be greatly enlightened if they had the opportunity to live under Sharia Law, or any orthodox Muslim government, for 90 days - might help them to get their "minds right".

R.L. Schaefer of CA 10:50AM May 24, 2011