Dear all,

Let me refer to an article written back in 2007 titled "Lithuanian government considering building over ancient Jewish cemetery"
By: Israel Insider staff
Published: August 23, 2007.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896589.html

This is an excerpt:

Unfortunately the Lithuanian government and the Vilnius municipality are not sensitive to such an important issue. This could not happen in a [western] European state," said the Chief Rabbi of Lithuania, Chaim Burshtein.

The cemetery was closed by the Tsarist Russian authorities in 1831 and partly built over. In the 1950s, Soviet authorities built a stadium and concert hall, but allowed the remains of the Vilna Gaon, Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman, to be removed.

Jews say the burial ground is still sacred and no work should take place to disturb any remains. "There is no such thing as a 'former' Jewish cemetery," Burshtein said.

Me: So, "there is no such thing as a former Jewish cemetery" but there is a such thing as a former Palestinian cemetary? Was the Chief Rabbi "inciting hatred" when protesting against the construction of a block of apartments on top of a Jewish cemetary - I don't think so.

Thank you for writing this article, Ms Hamka.

It is a shame that so may of those who post here have the words to hate with, but none for care. Maybe some of them the sort of people George Orwell thought of when he conceived the Ministry of Love. It is a blessing that, on careful examination, few humans ever fit their stereotypes.

Bushbred, may I remind you that Jesus was a rabbi, and there were no "Christians" at the time of his execution.

State-sanctioned Christian anti-semitism dates back to the reign of the Roman Emporer Constantine. Echoing claims originated in the 4th century AD only make it easier for some folks to confuse all followers of Judaism with the most slavish followers of the current Israeli administration.

I thought the article was generally well-written, apart from a few spellos that shouldn't have got past an alert editor, but sheesh, you'd think the author was advocating drinking the blood of fluffy little kittens, judging by some of the hysterical comments already.

Sikni

There in lies the major problem with the internet and its maxim "have prejudice will express...no mental effort required."

What some of these posters don't seem to be cognizant of is that they are by and large indulging in the mirror image of what they accuse you of.

The idea that anything is balanced in Israel/Palestinian conflict is an Oxymoron in terms.

One of my criticisms of the media is the sensationalist WAY in which it displays so called "balance".

Usually it means quoting or allowing the two extremes to say their individual extremist sensationalized spin to maximize the popular apatite for simplicity and conflict. Both sell better than Objectivity. The result is neither inherently fair nor a true reflection of reality.
Reality is prosaic, day to day grind of living and ultimately death, nothing sensation.

Consequently I prefer objectivity to balance.

In this case, the act of trying to build a "museum to tolerance" there, is clearly another Oxymoron.

I submit that building the museum on that spot is objectively,(in that both sides would react hostilely to desecration of their respective graves) morally, reprehensibly insensitive and provocative if not racist.

As for stirring up hatred, that horse bolted once the plan was made public.

Consider it this way, what sort of shriek would ensue if a developer wish to build a museum to the glorification of indigenous culture over any cemetery full of Aussie graves?

We partitioned for Galipoli to become a memorial to our war dead there. Given it isn't our land and we were invading the Turkish response to Galipoli Bay is a lesson in tolerance/acceptance.

Israel's behaviour here however, is as subtle/sensitive and tolerant as a charge from Genghis Khan. As if the Israel/Palestinian conflict need more reasons to continue with it's unbalanced Carnage.

The protests of their supporters are simply trying to deflect rightful criticism.

The article is poorly written because it lacks a coherent structure: is it about "tolerance", a specific museum or what?
In addition it gravitates between personal comment and quotation from others without adequate linkage.

I do NOT quote from Wiki.

I see the Israeli apologists are out in force,Runner,ODO and co are just par for the course,Israel can do no wrong, its a wonder the old and rather boring Anti Semitic slur did not get a run.
Damm those pesky Palestinians lads they should just cop have their land stolen by the settlers(murderers),be kicked out of their homes in East Jerusalem,the cheek who cares if you have deeds and titles this is given to us in the Bible.
Which must be about the most discredited book going around a fairy story,ever noticed how lots of the Settler (thugs) have US accents,
The land of what is now Israel was handed over to the Zionists by the Brits so they could get money to keep financing WW 1(blood Money?).
The Israelis who came in set about methodically dispossesed the Palestinians over the years,and have nearly succeeded in imposing Apartheid on the country,and have built the biggest concentration camp in the world.
But don't criticize it or the ministry of Propaganda and its pawns with scream blur murder,I think the article told the truth if you and the men from the ministry cant handle it to bad.