I am an extremely moderate Leftist. I believe a two-state goal is most practicable, I condemn extremists wherever they are, and feel just as hostile to the distributors of the "Protocols of Zion" in the Arab world as I do to the ethnic cleansers on the Israeli/Jewish side. I wish they would all go away.

Youngsteve

I am in agreement with you. Unfortunately extremists don't go away, it is the moderates who do.

Bushbred

On the question of atomic bombs, the world does not question India or Pakistan who also have bombs. It does question Korea and Iran. It is a question of trust. A nation which denies rights to women and people not of the state sanctioned religious faith, practices stoning, and whose leader runs a conference denying the holocaust is generally considered more dangerous than the nations where the leaders have to face the voters and independent law courts.

I have approached the question of nuclear bombs, now will someone answer the matter of non Muslims edged out of from Islamic countries and the failure of those very countries to then give shelter to those Muslims who left a non-Islamic country in the region?

'A nation which denies rights to women and people not of the state sanctioned religious faith, practices stoning, and whose leader runs a conference denying the holocaust is generally considered more dangerous than the nations where the leaders have to face the voters and independent law courts.'

Are you saying this applies to the military dictatorship in Pakistan?

CHRISTIAN CLAIM on TEMPLE MOUNT. I should add something to this point, because prior to reading logic's mention of a Church having been there before the Mosque of Omar/Al Aksa.. I was not aware of this.

As far as I'm concerned, (and I doubt we could find very many Christians of any flavor who think to the contrary, except perhaps some liberals) we Christians have no claim whatsoever on that piece of ground.

Christianity does not depend on Geography or buildings, it depends on the living hope we have in Christ, our LORD.

So, for the record, I for one would be most happy to see any vestige of former Church buildings on the Temple mount being completely removed. Especially so, if it was to make way for a re-establishment of the Jewish temple which many of also long for, as it would be a very imminent sign of Christs return according to some eschatological views.

I don't see any future for lasting peace in the human sense, because the theological positions are too opposed,extreme and entrenched. (Islamic and Orthodox Jews) Christians simply observe the providential work of God as history unfolds.

INTELLIGENCE_GATHERING
One way to test this theory, would be to ask a MUSLIM journalist to quizz key Hamas and other Islamic figures regarding the Hamas Charter, and the concept of "Islamic Waqf" or Muslim lands, and gain a cross section of opinion for the record.
Ask Imams, Muftis, Scholars etc.. and make sure its from a cross section, and includes Sunni and Shia.

I say a "Muslim" journalist and add 'in arabic' so that people speak freely and give their true opinions. It might be a worthwile exercise.
Then..after gathering this information, it should be rated and weighted in terms of 'radicalism/propensity2violence/justification of Jihad' to support the views.

This will provide a reasonable_estimate of the likelihood of future_outcomes.

Carl

I was referring to Iran. While Pakistan is less democratic than India I am not aware of it being anything like Iran.

I have just received information about the ‘Independent Australian Jewish Voices’ Petition.

This was by someone whose name was placed on their petition without their consent. This was someone who actually strongly opposes their view. Apparently there are others.

There are also bogus names including at least one which apparently means something rude in Hebrew.

Their petition is just a sham. One wonders how many real names appear on it.