"The idea that Israel needs to justify defending its citizens is not only absurd but morally bankrupt. Every country has the right to protect its people, and expecting Israel to act differently is a blatant form of discrimination."
Yes but double standards are OK when it comes to Jews. And discrimination is not discrimination when it comes to Jews. We're just so sensitive, we fly off the handle at the least little thing. Nobody meant anything by it, they *said* they were allowing us to defend ourselves! Just as long as we don't defend ourselves too well.
Because to doubt whether Israel has the right to defend itself reveals that what you really doubt is the fact that Israel has the right to exist, and that reveals the fact that you really doubt that Jews have the right to exist.
The hypocrisy is so tiresome. At least the Islamists are honest that they want to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. The West wants to too but they don't want to feel guilty about it.
I wish the so-called supporting nations of Israel, including my own, Canada, would be honest. They say Israel has the right to defend their own, but they really don't give a damn. Our anti-Israel, pro-Hamas government is to9 worried about "protecting" the growing Muslim population, many of who danced in the streets on Oct. 7. In the name of "liberal diversity, etc., the government leaders "demand" Israel to give the Arabs as state. They had many opportunities in the past 75 years to have a state, but they don't want a state, they want the entire area. That is in spite of the Koran that states that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews. I fear for my children and the generations of those who have even one tiny drop of Jewish blood in their veins, as the next Holocaust could be the end of Judaism on the face of the earth. The one people whose faith created the means by which we should be living, enjoying the earth, learning, developing and making peace. We love life, unfortunately our enemies love death and martyrdom. Am Yisrael Chai. Shana Tova. 5785!!!
Arafat more than proved that the Palestinian leadership is NOT actually interested in having their own state, because doing so would deprive them with a never ending flow of complaints and excuses for terrorism in the name of defending Palestinians, whom, in fact, they themselves are hurting, rather than Israel! They made this very, very clear in Paraguay, when they accepted a bunch of Palestinian refugees. Ciudad del Este, on Brazil's border used to have a vibrant and prosperous Jewish community. In no time they had driven them out and replaced with drug smuggling and extremely violent crime syndicates, turning almost the entire border with Brazil into a war zone! Than also did so in Gaza. How on Earth then can anyone dream about a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in Peace! It's beyond Utopia, it's outright Insanity!
Judith, I am not religious at all so I am not going to play the God card to make you more hopeful. I am going to play the reality card. The reality card is that things are extremely different now than they were in the past. We have Israel, a country, an incredibly powerful country, filled with immense intelligence and creativity. As Canadians we have a home to go to if things get unbearable in the Diaspora. Keep doing what you are doing now, be active, let your voice be heard whenever something comes up. Above all, make sure that you do not vote NDP or Liberal. You. called it perfectly about Trudeau and the Canadian government. Like you, I fear what will become of Canada if they get re-elected. Fortunately, it is the Conservatives who are way ahead and that will be good for us.
Be well Judith and always remember that we have a wonderful refuge home that wants us. papa j
Fear not; their numbers are far greater but the evolution that developed has produced a wiser, more clever, still empathetic human being. And now a highly suspicious and no longer trusting human being (can Israelis ever trust their Palestinian neighbors again?) My belief: if the world abandons us (again) then it will be time for the return of the dinosaurs. Yisroel am chai.
Does not "need." Israel gives a ton in return for said money and assistance. It is as mutually beneficial as any international arrangement on the market.
Israel is quite possibly restructuring the ME on its terms, and if successful this will be far more durable and beneficial to all parties than an externally imposed negotiated settlement from outside parties with ulterior agendas. Necessity is the mother of invention and sometimes it’s just a plain mother.
As far as the U.S. selling arms to Israel: Yes and, so what ? They sell arms all over the world. Israel is the only country that’s suppose to continuously profess its gratitude. Egypt gets a lot of American aid, but I don’t hear people talking about Egyptian ingratitude. I don’t see Egypt genuflecting in front of Joe Biden or Anthony Blinken. Besides, it’s good that somebody who knows how to actually use the weapons has them. The USA doesn’t do anything for Israel that isn’t based on a quid pro quo. They only do that for the Taliban and Iran apparently.
If the USA didn’t value the relationship, they would exit. If you don’t like Jews who shoot back, too bad. Get used to it.
We are beyond humility and arrogance, (Talking Points for the enemy). Israel is measured on one thing only now: Military effectiveness. And for Military Effectiveness She Passes completely.
The days of the Jew cowering in his/her shtetl are over. The days of tolerating the latest pogrom, reminding the Jew of his/her inferior position in the world, are over. The days of Arab riots of raping, pillaging, and murdering the Jew are over. "If you prick me, shall I not bleed?" Jews are human beings too, equal to any other on this planet. As PM Netanyahu told the UN last week, "Enough is enough!" The day of reckoning has arrived.
'Bad Image' you say? Absolutely not! More like: Absolute Respect and Admiration for how Israel and The Jewish People Defend ourselves! That is how we are viewed now where and with whom it matters.
As far as I'm concerned Iran played right into Bibi's hands. We have total justification to go in and take out the Iranian regime. I hope we can do most of this through cyber warfare to spare our precious IDF troops and our assets. I also think we need to find ways to help the Iranian people do most of the fighting against the regime. There is tremendous hatred for the regime there amongst freedom-loving Persians and various ethnic groups.
Or as President Reagan put it "we don't need to be loved but we need to be respected"
Walter Russell Mead has pointed out that the United States allied with Israel after 1967, when it was clear Israel could be a strong ally while before it had an arms embargo. Strong allies are an asset, weak ones are a liability.
After Iran's April attack all the talk was of restraint. Now all the talk is about helping Israel exact revenge. What changed? Probably Hezbollah's Hellish Fortnight which began with the pager caper, then the killing of its top military commander Ibrahim Aqil and 13 of his 14 direct reports and culminated with the killing of Hezbollah's supreme leader of 32 years.
Suddenly the existential threat of Hezbollah's 100,000 fighters and 150,000 rockets is replaced the new reality of a weak organization receiving one blow after another.
Israel's astounding victories in Lebanon in the last 2 weeks made it appear strong and opened the world's eyes to the real possibility of a future without Hezbollah.
I have a suspicion that what changed must be polls showing that most Americans back Israel. Things look bad for the Dems in Michigan so maybe they're trying for white factory workers votes?
"Things look bad for the Dems in Michigan so maybe they're trying for white factory workers votes?"
If that's so, they certainly found the formula: California progressive Kamala Harris and her open borders, no shoplifting prosecutions, gender-fluid ideology and Tim Walz, who served 23 years in the Army and retired the day after he got orders to deploy to Iraq.
Those are definitely the way to appeal to middle America.
The polls on American support for Israel have been long-standing:
Absolutely right!!!! You have been told repeatedly not to fight back under the most horrendous circumstances! Nobody has any right to tell you how you can fight back and when you can.
Your strength has proved to be right over the last few weeks! The brilliance of your fight back has jolted the world. Carry on on this path, your lion is roaring and you are incredibly strong.
Lets not get too cocky ..... we don't need permission but we would like approval from the West and most importantly from our biggest ally, the United States. We would like military equipment from them, we would like whatever intelligence they have, we would like their veto power at the UN, we would like their approval for many reasons. We cannot afford to become a pariah among the nations of the world.
Having said that, we must not let any of the above weigh in when it comes to the survival of Israel and the safety of its citizens. We have to stay the course. Afterall, we are fighting the good fight. In truth, we are fighting their fight. And guess what? The US knows that very well, The Western world knows that very well. Why do they not show it? Why do they seem to always equate us with the enemy? Why do they call it a "cycle of violence" when we defend ourselves? That's somewhat puzzling but my guess is the ever increasing Muslim/Islamist population in Western countries has most to do with it. But I guess each country has its own reasons. In the US, its the marriage of the Islamists and the Marxists who demonstrate before an election so the cowardly Dem party has to play both sides of the conflict.
There is an irony to all this. In the last month we have taken it to the enemy. We didnt do the usual react to them, we initiated. It started with the pagers and that led to the target killing of their leaders and now we have military on the ground in Lebanon. We have ignored what "they think" and we are doing it without any concern for approval. So what is the irony? The irony that I see is that we are quietly earning the respect of all involved. Now they seem to want to join us, to openly show their support. Iran hit us with missiles yesterday and the US was there and the news is saying how Iran has crossed the line in a major way and they need to be dealt with. I notice a much more aggressive response now then when Iran hit us the first time. Do you not agree? They are more outspoken now on our behalf.
Why is that? Because everyone want to be on the side of what is right especially when the right side is winning and kicking ass.
Welcome to America, where our government now advocates negotiating with terrorists. I’m so deeply ashamed of my country. But I am so unbelievably proud of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai. 💙
The Arab terrorists continue the work started by Hitler, and the West is fully involved in this work, supporting it financially through various organizations.
Yes, these organizations do a good job, but it's an eye bandage for the West, as a byproduct the Arabs use the rest of their grants for weapons, and by building infrastructure to destroy Israel, I see nothing different from Hitler in that. That's how quickly the West forgot its history, just 75 years.
Parts of the West in Europe ran The Nazi Party continuously from 1945 up to now. They actively Re-Formed The Nazi Party in 2012, and we monitors have now amply substantiated this fact, from 2012 here in London. They have been supporting Nazi Militias in The Ukraine who murdered up to 10000 Ethnic Russians in The Donbas from 2014, as Anti-Russian, and have an Alliance with Hamas, as Anti-Semites.
There is a straight line between the Qu'uran which calls for the death of all Jews and the charters of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the PA. Moreover, it claims all land once coming under Muslims sovereignty remains Muslim lands forever regardless even if they lose control over them. Hence, the statement "[Peace processes] fail to address the fundamental issue: an undying refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist" misses the point that this conflict will not end until its religious roots, the Qu'uranis emended. Good luck with that.
"The idea that Israel needs to justify defending its citizens is not only absurd but morally bankrupt. Every country has the right to protect its people, and expecting Israel to act differently is a blatant form of discrimination."
Yes but double standards are OK when it comes to Jews. And discrimination is not discrimination when it comes to Jews. We're just so sensitive, we fly off the handle at the least little thing. Nobody meant anything by it, they *said* they were allowing us to defend ourselves! Just as long as we don't defend ourselves too well.
Because to doubt whether Israel has the right to defend itself reveals that what you really doubt is the fact that Israel has the right to exist, and that reveals the fact that you really doubt that Jews have the right to exist.
The hypocrisy is so tiresome. At least the Islamists are honest that they want to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. The West wants to too but they don't want to feel guilty about it.
%100 correct!
I wish the so-called supporting nations of Israel, including my own, Canada, would be honest. They say Israel has the right to defend their own, but they really don't give a damn. Our anti-Israel, pro-Hamas government is to9 worried about "protecting" the growing Muslim population, many of who danced in the streets on Oct. 7. In the name of "liberal diversity, etc., the government leaders "demand" Israel to give the Arabs as state. They had many opportunities in the past 75 years to have a state, but they don't want a state, they want the entire area. That is in spite of the Koran that states that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews. I fear for my children and the generations of those who have even one tiny drop of Jewish blood in their veins, as the next Holocaust could be the end of Judaism on the face of the earth. The one people whose faith created the means by which we should be living, enjoying the earth, learning, developing and making peace. We love life, unfortunately our enemies love death and martyrdom. Am Yisrael Chai. Shana Tova. 5785!!!
Arafat more than proved that the Palestinian leadership is NOT actually interested in having their own state, because doing so would deprive them with a never ending flow of complaints and excuses for terrorism in the name of defending Palestinians, whom, in fact, they themselves are hurting, rather than Israel! They made this very, very clear in Paraguay, when they accepted a bunch of Palestinian refugees. Ciudad del Este, on Brazil's border used to have a vibrant and prosperous Jewish community. In no time they had driven them out and replaced with drug smuggling and extremely violent crime syndicates, turning almost the entire border with Brazil into a war zone! Than also did so in Gaza. How on Earth then can anyone dream about a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in Peace! It's beyond Utopia, it's outright Insanity!
Arafat wanted to keep the "cash cow" at all costs.
Well said. L’shana Tova to you.
Judith, I am not religious at all so I am not going to play the God card to make you more hopeful. I am going to play the reality card. The reality card is that things are extremely different now than they were in the past. We have Israel, a country, an incredibly powerful country, filled with immense intelligence and creativity. As Canadians we have a home to go to if things get unbearable in the Diaspora. Keep doing what you are doing now, be active, let your voice be heard whenever something comes up. Above all, make sure that you do not vote NDP or Liberal. You. called it perfectly about Trudeau and the Canadian government. Like you, I fear what will become of Canada if they get re-elected. Fortunately, it is the Conservatives who are way ahead and that will be good for us.
Be well Judith and always remember that we have a wonderful refuge home that wants us. papa j
Trudeau is appalling in so many ways. He and the Liberals need to go.
Well said! Al Carajo con Trudeau! (To Hell with Trudeau!)
Trudeau is a spoiled rich brad, a moronic clown that puts Great Canada to shame!
Fear not; their numbers are far greater but the evolution that developed has produced a wiser, more clever, still empathetic human being. And now a highly suspicious and no longer trusting human being (can Israelis ever trust their Palestinian neighbors again?) My belief: if the world abandons us (again) then it will be time for the return of the dinosaurs. Yisroel am chai.
Damn right it needs nobody’s permission … to do ANYTHING.
Amen!
What are you babbling about ?
Does not "need." Israel gives a ton in return for said money and assistance. It is as mutually beneficial as any international arrangement on the market.
“No sh*t, Sherlock” is an old Yiddish expression.
Israel is quite possibly restructuring the ME on its terms, and if successful this will be far more durable and beneficial to all parties than an externally imposed negotiated settlement from outside parties with ulterior agendas. Necessity is the mother of invention and sometimes it’s just a plain mother.
As far as the U.S. selling arms to Israel: Yes and, so what ? They sell arms all over the world. Israel is the only country that’s suppose to continuously profess its gratitude. Egypt gets a lot of American aid, but I don’t hear people talking about Egyptian ingratitude. I don’t see Egypt genuflecting in front of Joe Biden or Anthony Blinken. Besides, it’s good that somebody who knows how to actually use the weapons has them. The USA doesn’t do anything for Israel that isn’t based on a quid pro quo. They only do that for the Taliban and Iran apparently.
If the USA didn’t value the relationship, they would exit. If you don’t like Jews who shoot back, too bad. Get used to it.
(And I think you are a Plant, Andrea Schreiber.)
We are beyond humility and arrogance, (Talking Points for the enemy). Israel is measured on one thing only now: Military effectiveness. And for Military Effectiveness She Passes completely.
Right
The time for humility l, for kissing the shoes of the feckless American president is OVER.
The days of the Jew cowering in his/her shtetl are over. The days of tolerating the latest pogrom, reminding the Jew of his/her inferior position in the world, are over. The days of Arab riots of raping, pillaging, and murdering the Jew are over. "If you prick me, shall I not bleed?" Jews are human beings too, equal to any other on this planet. As PM Netanyahu told the UN last week, "Enough is enough!" The day of reckoning has arrived.
https://jewscanshoot.org/
Kahane Chai !! … as some wit among us said the other day…
'Bad Image' you say? Absolutely not! More like: Absolute Respect and Admiration for how Israel and The Jewish People Defend ourselves! That is how we are viewed now where and with whom it matters.
As far as I'm concerned Iran played right into Bibi's hands. We have total justification to go in and take out the Iranian regime. I hope we can do most of this through cyber warfare to spare our precious IDF troops and our assets. I also think we need to find ways to help the Iranian people do most of the fighting against the regime. There is tremendous hatred for the regime there amongst freedom-loving Persians and various ethnic groups.
Or as President Reagan put it "we don't need to be loved but we need to be respected"
Walter Russell Mead has pointed out that the United States allied with Israel after 1967, when it was clear Israel could be a strong ally while before it had an arms embargo. Strong allies are an asset, weak ones are a liability.
After Iran's April attack all the talk was of restraint. Now all the talk is about helping Israel exact revenge. What changed? Probably Hezbollah's Hellish Fortnight which began with the pager caper, then the killing of its top military commander Ibrahim Aqil and 13 of his 14 direct reports and culminated with the killing of Hezbollah's supreme leader of 32 years.
Suddenly the existential threat of Hezbollah's 100,000 fighters and 150,000 rockets is replaced the new reality of a weak organization receiving one blow after another.
Israel's astounding victories in Lebanon in the last 2 weeks made it appear strong and opened the world's eyes to the real possibility of a future without Hezbollah.
What country doesn't want allies like that?
I have a suspicion that what changed must be polls showing that most Americans back Israel. Things look bad for the Dems in Michigan so maybe they're trying for white factory workers votes?
"Things look bad for the Dems in Michigan so maybe they're trying for white factory workers votes?"
If that's so, they certainly found the formula: California progressive Kamala Harris and her open borders, no shoplifting prosecutions, gender-fluid ideology and Tim Walz, who served 23 years in the Army and retired the day after he got orders to deploy to Iraq.
Those are definitely the way to appeal to middle America.
The polls on American support for Israel have been long-standing:
Harvard-Harris poll: p17, 39, 44, 45, 56-62
https://harvardharrispoll.com/
I disagree with Golda. I cant forgive them for killing our children.
Israel should do whatever whenever whenever and wherever necessary to defend itself without worrying about approval from the woke left
Absolutely right!!!! You have been told repeatedly not to fight back under the most horrendous circumstances! Nobody has any right to tell you how you can fight back and when you can.
Your strength has proved to be right over the last few weeks! The brilliance of your fight back has jolted the world. Carry on on this path, your lion is roaring and you are incredibly strong.
Lets not get too cocky ..... we don't need permission but we would like approval from the West and most importantly from our biggest ally, the United States. We would like military equipment from them, we would like whatever intelligence they have, we would like their veto power at the UN, we would like their approval for many reasons. We cannot afford to become a pariah among the nations of the world.
Having said that, we must not let any of the above weigh in when it comes to the survival of Israel and the safety of its citizens. We have to stay the course. Afterall, we are fighting the good fight. In truth, we are fighting their fight. And guess what? The US knows that very well, The Western world knows that very well. Why do they not show it? Why do they seem to always equate us with the enemy? Why do they call it a "cycle of violence" when we defend ourselves? That's somewhat puzzling but my guess is the ever increasing Muslim/Islamist population in Western countries has most to do with it. But I guess each country has its own reasons. In the US, its the marriage of the Islamists and the Marxists who demonstrate before an election so the cowardly Dem party has to play both sides of the conflict.
There is an irony to all this. In the last month we have taken it to the enemy. We didnt do the usual react to them, we initiated. It started with the pagers and that led to the target killing of their leaders and now we have military on the ground in Lebanon. We have ignored what "they think" and we are doing it without any concern for approval. So what is the irony? The irony that I see is that we are quietly earning the respect of all involved. Now they seem to want to join us, to openly show their support. Iran hit us with missiles yesterday and the US was there and the news is saying how Iran has crossed the line in a major way and they need to be dealt with. I notice a much more aggressive response now then when Iran hit us the first time. Do you not agree? They are more outspoken now on our behalf.
Why is that? Because everyone want to be on the side of what is right especially when the right side is winning and kicking ass.
papa j
Israel not only has a RIGHT to defend itself vigurously, without having to ask for permission to do so from anyone. but rather an OBLIGATION to do so!
Welcome to America, where our government now advocates negotiating with terrorists. I’m so deeply ashamed of my country. But I am so unbelievably proud of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai. 💙
Canada is even worse.
That’s disheartening. I’ve never liked Trudeau. I don’t know much about the politician challenging him. Does he make you at all optimistic?
My only hope is he loses the next election. He’s polling very badly right now.
I applaud you. This so resonates & speaks to my heart. I hear you. It all makes so perfect sense. I root for you! Thank You!
The Arab terrorists continue the work started by Hitler, and the West is fully involved in this work, supporting it financially through various organizations.
Yes, these organizations do a good job, but it's an eye bandage for the West, as a byproduct the Arabs use the rest of their grants for weapons, and by building infrastructure to destroy Israel, I see nothing different from Hitler in that. That's how quickly the West forgot its history, just 75 years.
Parts of the West in Europe ran The Nazi Party continuously from 1945 up to now. They actively Re-Formed The Nazi Party in 2012, and we monitors have now amply substantiated this fact, from 2012 here in London. They have been supporting Nazi Militias in The Ukraine who murdered up to 10000 Ethnic Russians in The Donbas from 2014, as Anti-Russian, and have an Alliance with Hamas, as Anti-Semites.
It was a mixed interpretation.
There is a straight line between the Qu'uran which calls for the death of all Jews and the charters of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the PA. Moreover, it claims all land once coming under Muslims sovereignty remains Muslim lands forever regardless even if they lose control over them. Hence, the statement "[Peace processes] fail to address the fundamental issue: an undying refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist" misses the point that this conflict will not end until its religious roots, the Qu'uranis emended. Good luck with that.