A simple post about how Israel has earned the right to exist, even if you concede the country was begotten wrongly.
To wit, we have a nation established by international law - by the almighty and all sacred UN resolution, in this case UN Resolution 181. This nation - Israel - has been under constant attack. When it wins its wars it has proven it can gain peace as with Egypt and Jordan. It has proven it can compromise as with multiple agreements with Palestinian groups and its withdrawal from its former buffer zone in southern Lebanon (itself established to protect the country from regular attack). It has proven it can compromise by accepting the Roadmap for Peace and a willingness to coexist with a Palestinian state. It has also proven its tolerance of others with its acceptance of Arab citizens in its government.
And on the other hand, we have an armed wing of an organization banned by the UN fighting a legally established country and who is most of the world rooting for? Hezbollah. Disgusting. Truly disgusting.
I was listening to the radio today about how Cuban exiles in Miami have claims upon land in Cuba, stolen by Castro.
We don't dream of sending Cuban suicide bombers into Cuba because they have a claim on land. And yet, that is exactly what happens in Palestine. The Arab powers pay for Palestinians to go blow themselves up because of disputed land and they hate Israel. What's worse are the people in this country and in Europe who say, "Yeah, but..."
Yeah, but...nothing.
4 comments:
I had a big long response to several things in your post, but I remember how difficult it is for me to have a discussion with you on your blog.
So let me just say that Cuban-Americans have tried to invade Cuba several times since Fidel's ascent to power, with the assistance of the US government, based on claims to the land. It's true we didn't send suicide bombers (Cubans love themselves way too much to consider blowing themselves up) but if they lived right next door the way the Palestinians do, I can guarantee that they wouldn't have stopped trying to invade.
By your pragmatic arguments about the status quo reigning supreme (i.e. Israel has the land now, so get over it), Cuban landowners (like my 100 year old grandfather) should have to claim to their property, despite the US allowing them to initiate legal action decades after the inciting event.
Not such a different situation after all.
well, i would argue that the situations are in fact, entirely different, in that the israeli-palestine conflict over disputed has spilled over. it does not just effect some angry palestinians with land claims but is without question, the number one gripe of 1 billion muslims around the world against not just israel mind you, but the West as a whole.
why is their no cuban/carribean hamas? or hezbollah or al queda? or PLO?
while i admittedly don't know much about cuban exiles initiating legal action about their property, that seems to me an entirely legitimate response to stolen property. in fact, that is how it should work. plus, a government doesn't "allow" someone to initiate legal action. that is the jurisdiction of courts and the legal system and shit, what are the courts supposed to say, no? you can't initiate legal action.
it would be fine if palestinians had land claims and took them to court. that is a legitimate response to disputed territory. suicide bombing and constant state of war is not.
further, gw bush made a speech yesterday that cubans living on cuba - and not cuban exiles - should have the right to determine their future government.
anyhow, sure the US sponsored the bay of pigs, etc against cuba. but we realized it wasn't going to work and stopped. not because it was wrong in principle. they did after all set up nukes on the island several years later...
and yes the palestinians fought the israelis in 1948, 1967, and 1973 will the help from arab neighbors. and they lost. did they realize it wasn't going to help them to keep trying to fight israel? no. they wallowed more and more in their own misery and developed new tactics. hence, hamas, and suicide bombings and the rise of a fascist Islamist movement that is the biggest threat to world stability in the post cold war era. i would argue that the claims not ALL that different, yet the response by the Muslim world is - and that is what worries me.
i will grant that my claim most of the world was rooting for hezbollah was exaggerated.
i think most of the world thinks hezbollah won't lose. and that's a different thing entirely.
is there any strong evidence to suggest that what Israel is doing right now will defeat Hezbollah?
And I mean Defeat, not cripple.
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