SR,

I can only assume that your display of racism and bigotry stems from your hatred of the Jew. And you are clearly a sheep.

I have no connection whatsoever with either Judaism or Israel, nor the Arabs, however, I consider the inability to look at both sides of an issue before making judgements, and trotting out blatant propaganda as biased and bigoted as you have clearly done.

The allies killed millions of Japanese civilians in the final assaults on Japan, Russia invaded and occupied nearly half of Finland in 1940, China invaded Tibet, yet I hear no bleating from the left whingers.

The reality is that the Gaza war was deliberately provoked by the firing of roughly 2000 rockets and mortars into Israel, and before action was taken. The action killed well over 500 militants and destroyed their arsenals and tunnels which Hamas deliberately hid within civilian populations. (a war crime in itself). I defy you to find a single country that would accept that level of aggression without taking action.

As for the pre-conditions that the Palestinians have set for talks, the building of settlements was frozen for a long time, and still the Palestinians would not come to the table.

I don't agree with many of the actions that Israel has taken, but to avoid being a hypocrite, I look at both sides of any story. I suggest that you try it, it could be refreshing.

Dear ShadowMinister,

You wrote;

“The reality is that the Gaza war was deliberately provoked by the firing of roughly 2000 rockets and mortars into Israel, and before action was taken. The action killed well over 500 militants and destroyed their arsenals and tunnels which Hamas deliberately hid within civilian populations. (a war crime in itself). I defy you to find a single country that would accept that level of aggression without taking action.”

Well that takes the 2015 OLO award for the most willfully ignorant statement of the year. You just plucked those figures from thin air didn't you. It is generally acknowledged that Hamas observed a ceasefire from October 2012 and did not recommence until Israel struck targets within Gaza after the kidnapping of the three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank in 2014. It was only after repeated attacks that Hamas responded so when you say “I defy you to find a single country that would accept that level of aggression without taking action.“ that cuts both ways.

You are rather contemptuous of the truth aren't you.

SR,
Normally I avoid joining in when the left whingers are on an orgy of sanctimonious group self-flagellation, but this time the rank hypocrisy, racism and bigotry needed to be addressed.

Firstly the comparison of Israel with Nazism is wildly inaccurate no matter how many token Jewish activists state it, and no one with the IQ greater than a squirrel would claim otherwise. Secondly this claim is purely for the effect of de humanizing Jews and legitimizing the racism and bigotry leveled at them. You won a gold medal for logical twist and backflip there.

Secondly, any comparison between the Hamas government and the Israeli government shows that Hamas is more vicious and vile on every measure. Having slaughtered hundreds of opposition, gays etc and committed violations against women and children.

Thirdly, it takes two to tango in every conflict, and Hamas has done more than its fair share. The ceasefire since 2012 was punctured sporadically by violent tit for tat attacks on both sides, but the lack of rockets was largely due to the obliteration of Gaza’s tunnels and weapons stock piles in 2012, which Hamas diverted the majority of aid to rebuilding and replenishing.

In your willfully ignorant statement, you “forgot” to mention that the incident that sparked the escalation was not just a simple kidnapping, but the brutal kidnapping and murder of 3 Israeli children by Hamas militants, and the retaliation by Israel. The firing of thousands of rockets by Hamas from populated areas, could only have one result, and the deliberate use of schools and hospitals to store weapons and fire them was a war crime and the major factor in the civilian casualties in Gaza.

Hamas’s determination to attack Israel by any means possible is the reason for the blockade (which is not against the Geneva Convention, nor a human rights violation) and their refusal to recognize Israel is the reason why the peace process has stalled.

P.S. In 1979 Israel handed back the Sinai which they had captured from Egypt in 1967 as part of a peace accord, so suck on that.

Dear Shadow Minister;

You wrote;

“the comparison of Israel with Nazism is wildly inaccurate no matter how many token Jewish activists state it, and no one with the IQ greater than a squirrel would claim otherwise.”

Here is part of a letter penned to the New York Times and signed by Jewish identities, the most prominent of whom was Albert Einstein, a man who was offered the presidency of the State of Israel in 1952 by its first president Chaim Weizmann. Weizmann claimed Einstein was “the greatest Jew alive”.

Quote;

“Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.

The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin's political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.

Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin's behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.

End quote

http://archive.org/details/AlbertEinsteinLetterToTheNewYorkTimes.December41948

It was these fascists including Begin who eventually won the day and set the path for what Israel has become.

Good luck making the case that Einstein had the IQ of a squirrel.

Dear SteelRedux,

It is sad to discover that even Einstein was fallible like any other human being.

Yes, Begin and his movement spoke big words with great pathos: "Let my right [arm] be forgotten if I forget the left [east-bank] of the Jordan [river]" and "With blood and sweat we will have a race established that is Genius, Generous and Cruel".

Well, the Jordan's Eastern bank was soon forgotten and when Begin died he still had his right arm intact, but they still harmlessly sing those old songs for Auld Lang Syne, just as others sing (without actually meaning it) "Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set".

In real life where actions speak, not words, Begin was moderately genius, quite generous and cruel only towards himself. He was known to be honest and incorruptible as a ruler.

On the other hand, it was Labor, whom Einstein apparently supported, that conducted the terrible 1967 "6-day" war, that decided to keep the territories thus taken and cruelly tore down Arab neighbourhoods in Eastern Jerusalem. It was Labor's corrupt Moshe Dayan who decided to keep the territories so that he can rob their archaeological sites for his private collection. It was Labor who allowed the first Jewish settlements, it was Labor's Rabin (the so-called "peacemaker") who ordered the Israeli army to raid Arab villages and break the arms and legs of all men there, the same Rabin who earlier, in 1948 ordered to shoot down unarmed Jewish swimmers because they belonged to Begin's camp. Israel's Labor were Idiots, Greedy and Cruel!

The one who eventually returned Sinai to Egypt was... Begin!

SR,

I hold Einstein in great regard as a physicist, but as an astute political analyst, not so much. Also, as the letter was dated in 1948 and referred to the Israeli paramilitary forces such as Herut that controlled Israel before the armistice and elections in 1949 and formation of a democratic Israel.

Herut (freedom party) was formed from a nationalist paramilitary unit, with somewhat extreme views that could at that time be compared to fascism, but coming from just fighting a war on many fronts, this was not entirely unexpected. However, the defining difference between Israel and fascism occurred when the extreme parties incl the communists allowed and encouraged free and fair elections and never played a major role in Israel again.

While Einstein being unable to see the future can be forgiven his concerns, those with 20/20 hindsight have no such excuse.

Notably Hamas and the PLO have forgotten to hold elections for a long time, and have spent considerable effort killing their political opponents