"Jewish settlers on Thursday spray-painted graffiti on a mosque slurring the Prophet Muhammad and defaced a Muslim cemetery, Israeli military officials said, threatening to worsen tensions in this volatile West Bank city." - Sean McBride
Israelis need to control jews as well, solving the Palestinian issue should be primary task of state. But lot of excuses and talk, no results. - imran
These settlers seem to represent the core engine driving neoconservatism, Christian Zionism, Likud and the Israeli government. Even the Israeli Labor Party has done little to oppose them. (In fact, settlements grew at a faster rate under Labor than Likud.) AIPAC's influence in the Democratic Party will probably insure that Barack Obama will do little to oppose the overall drift in the Mideast towards a massive conflagration. - Sean McBride
No US government is willing to be neutral on this issue, Bush senior tried tougher policy but failed. And Israel has no interest in solving this issue, this remains one of the ugliest conflict in modern history, waiting to explode. - imran
When Carter and Bush 41 attempted to oppose the settlements policy, they came under massive attack from the Israel lobby in the United States. AIPAC effectively neutered Obama before he won the nomination. These religious extremists are effectively in control of the American government. The mainstream media have kept the reality of the situation from penetrating the consciousness of most Americans. - Sean McBride
@ Sean: you have very good grasp on this issue, impressive. - imran
i am now as negative towards israel as i am against america .. i have no vested interest either way, just watching the way the minds of these countries work over long years, they cause more problems than they fix, year after year after year - gregory lent
"These religious extremists are effectively in control of the American government." Conspiracy wing-nut theory. Another would argue that oil rich Saudi Arabia is in control of the American government which prevents any criticism for fear of the Saudis cutting off the U.S. oil supply. Take a look at the access the Saudis have had to the White House over the past 8 years. - Al Pasternak
Saudi access is peanuts comparing to Israeli hold on GOP or USA, How many saudi citizens work in US Admin or white house, versus Israelis. - imran
The core values and concepts of America, which are based on Enlightenment ideals, are good, but the United States has been hijacked by religious fundamentalists who are bitter and determined enemies of everything America once stood for. Either they will be confronted, defeated and sent packing, or they will succeed in destroying America (and quite probably much of the rest of the world as well). What is astonishing is that the Democratic Party is as much under the grip of this political bloc as the Republican Party. The odds that Barack Obama will stand up to this lobby have to be considered nil at this point. - Sean McBride
"How many saudi citizens work in US Admin or white house, versus Israelis." Please tell me. Name names. Israelis only. Thanks. - Al Pasternak
Google them, dual citizens of israel/usa in usa govt. - imran
Show me the link, since you already know it. - Al Pasternak
Al - what exactly is your stake in the Mideast conflict? Do you have any ethnic, religious, familial or financial ties to either side? You come across as an emotional pro-Israel activist, like Noah David Simon, Jay Tannenbaum or Akiva Moskovitz. With regard to Israeli control of the American government: why hasn't the American government used its power to demand the removal of all Israeli settlements from the occupied territories? - Sean McBride
Al - isn't the biggest donor to the Democratic Party, Haim Saban, an Israeli citizen who has openly declared that Israel is the issue that he most cares about? Correct me if I am wrong. I've read that more than 50% of donations to the Democratic Party are from pro-Israel activists. - Sean McBride
Meanwhile head of home land security has Israeli passport :) - imran
Al - if Saudi influence is so great in America, why hasn't it been able to persuade the American government to use its power to remove all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories? - Sean McBride
Saudis cannot even buy state of art USA made air force equipment, forced to buy from france, uk, so much for influence. Saudi pilots refuse to fly Saudi 777/747 to usa due to abuse by New York based Israeli FBI, DHS.agents. - imran
Al: My saudi friends fly 777 everyday, you have very poor knowledge on this subject, stick to something you know. Hint: Bokashi and canada has no say in foreign policy. - imran
Uh, you said it imran. If you are going to make an assertion that "Saudi pilots refuse to fly Saudi 777/747 to usa" [okay, I missed the last two words - regrets] then show me where this news comes from. Otherwise, its just hearsay/myth. - Al Pasternak
Al - you are not responding to most of my questions and points, which is fine, but I am noticing and drawing inferences. - Sean McBride
The people who wrote the graffiti and defaced a Muslim cemetery should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All those who support their actions should be similarly charged. Is that clear enough? - Al Pasternak
Bokashi: I just went through your posts, you are nothing but Anti-Islam , Anti-Muslim, Hate lover. Shame on you. Now I see where you coming from. - imran
Al - that doesn't address several key questions. For one: why didn't the American government demand that Israel remove all settlements from the occupied territories decades ago? They are creating enormous problems both for Israel and the United States. Many Israeli leaders have admitted as much. - Sean McBride
Al - do you think the settlers are making friends or enemies for Israel in the enlightened West? Check out this Youtube video: British film crew threatened by Jewish settler in Hebron http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSAvaYY-y7Q - Sean McBride
Sean, I keep saying over and over that Israelis/Zionist/Jews should leave the West Bank but only when Israel has secure borders free from attack. Palestinians have legitimate grievances which can be solved by negotiation and compromise. However, if the Palestinian/Arab/Muslim leaders do not want to compromise, then Israel has right to prevent Hamas and Hezbollah etc. from achieving their stated goals. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp You agreed with this. - Al Pasternak
