Avi, another one of those myths that takes only the slightest amount of honest research to disprove.
Time and again, Israel has offered peace, and time and again, Arab leaders rejected it. Israel accepted partition, withdrew from Gaza, made peace with Egypt, made peace with Jordan, and has honored those agreements. The pattern is clear. When there is a government willing to live alongside Israel, peace has endured. When there isn't, conflict continues.
What frustrates me is that all of this information is readily available. Anyone who genuinely wants to know the history can find it in minutes. That leads me to believe many people aren't really searching for the truth—they've already decided on the conclusion.
Personally, I think we should spend less time trying to understand people who ignore the facts and more time strengthening our own side—improving our messaging, building stronger institutions, and reaching those who are genuinely willing to learn. There are plenty of open-minded people worth talking to. Trying to convince those who refuse to acknowledge the historical record is usually time better spent elsewhere.
The issue to be debated is a great litmus test of sorts because it helps crystallize the disingenuousness of those who want israel to disappear and will obfuscate or lie in that quest. The speakers in favor of the resolution like so many who manned the college quads of America or marched in the streets of London( and elsewhere) and today win primaries in NEW YORK CITY itself have a desire for one thing only : no more israel and that of course means lots of dead jews .
Oxford is no.longer a revered English institution. It has bastardized itself as can be witnessed time after time in the Oxford Union. Of course England itself increasingly is a mere historic relic.
👏👏👏👏👏 the willful ignorance of these fools brings down the reputation of Oxford Uni. As Jesus said, "Love your neighbour." And all his neighbours were Jews.
Whether or not Jews have an historic claim to the land of Israel always seemed irrelevant to me. Over many, many years, numerous attempts were made to establish a homeland for Jews. In Africa, in Russia, in the Far East, in New York State (of all places). But none proved politically or otherwise viable. A window of opportunity opened after the defeat of the Ottomans and Jews seeking a homeland took it. Now, eighty years later, they are there and will NEVER go elsewhere. Whether or not it was our home before doesn’t matter. It is ours now.
The most sorrowful thing about a Jewish homeland surrounded by enemies is what it has done to the peaceful spirit of Judaism. As a people, we are (generally) thoughtful, contemplative, analytical, imaginative, sensitive, appreciative of beauty. At least that was how I was raised to be. Over history we have been brilliant scientists, scholars, writers, musicians, artists, businessmen, philosophers. Now, in Israel, in order to survive, we have necessarily become warriors and, yes, killers. That is not in our nature. That is why, while I realize the necessity of Israel’s existence for Jews everywhere, I grieve and despair about what Israel has done to us.
Avi, another one of those myths that takes only the slightest amount of honest research to disprove.
Time and again, Israel has offered peace, and time and again, Arab leaders rejected it. Israel accepted partition, withdrew from Gaza, made peace with Egypt, made peace with Jordan, and has honored those agreements. The pattern is clear. When there is a government willing to live alongside Israel, peace has endured. When there isn't, conflict continues.
What frustrates me is that all of this information is readily available. Anyone who genuinely wants to know the history can find it in minutes. That leads me to believe many people aren't really searching for the truth—they've already decided on the conclusion.
Personally, I think we should spend less time trying to understand people who ignore the facts and more time strengthening our own side—improving our messaging, building stronger institutions, and reaching those who are genuinely willing to learn. There are plenty of open-minded people worth talking to. Trying to convince those who refuse to acknowledge the historical record is usually time better spent elsewhere.
Excellent article.
The issue to be debated is a great litmus test of sorts because it helps crystallize the disingenuousness of those who want israel to disappear and will obfuscate or lie in that quest. The speakers in favor of the resolution like so many who manned the college quads of America or marched in the streets of London( and elsewhere) and today win primaries in NEW YORK CITY itself have a desire for one thing only : no more israel and that of course means lots of dead jews .
Oxford is no.longer a revered English institution. It has bastardized itself as can be witnessed time after time in the Oxford Union. Of course England itself increasingly is a mere historic relic.
👏👏👏👏👏 the willful ignorance of these fools brings down the reputation of Oxford Uni. As Jesus said, "Love your neighbour." And all his neighbours were Jews.
Send them penniless to Gaza
I think there should have been mention in the speech of Muslims being about to turn every single agreement down no matter how generous
Whether or not Jews have an historic claim to the land of Israel always seemed irrelevant to me. Over many, many years, numerous attempts were made to establish a homeland for Jews. In Africa, in Russia, in the Far East, in New York State (of all places). But none proved politically or otherwise viable. A window of opportunity opened after the defeat of the Ottomans and Jews seeking a homeland took it. Now, eighty years later, they are there and will NEVER go elsewhere. Whether or not it was our home before doesn’t matter. It is ours now.
The most sorrowful thing about a Jewish homeland surrounded by enemies is what it has done to the peaceful spirit of Judaism. As a people, we are (generally) thoughtful, contemplative, analytical, imaginative, sensitive, appreciative of beauty. At least that was how I was raised to be. Over history we have been brilliant scientists, scholars, writers, musicians, artists, businessmen, philosophers. Now, in Israel, in order to survive, we have necessarily become warriors and, yes, killers. That is not in our nature. That is why, while I realize the necessity of Israel’s existence for Jews everywhere, I grieve and despair about what Israel has done to us.