Banjo,

So you have the impression that Obama is a petulant idiot?

Reversing 30yrs of American diplomatic policy to thumb your nose at the incoming president is stupid mainly because the new president, especially one whose party also controls the congress, the senate, and the majority of state governors, can easily more than reverse the consequences of the UN vote.

As I said before, the US recognising Israel's new borders would put a complete spanner in the Palestinian and BDS causes, as would sanctions on any country or company that implements BDS etc.

"Israel is not a nation"? A serious drug problem or just plain stupidity in that statement!

Oh Julian you offend your namesake.
The US cannot reverse the UN resolution. If the US moved a rescission
motion it would fail because Russia would veto it.
So as Shadow Minister said the only path left to Trump is to recognise
the existing real borders. The US moving its embassy to Jerusalem
would make a very clear statement. It might also prompt other counties
to follow suit.

The unrealistic Islamic belief that Jerusalem has always been an
Islamic city and was never Jewish seems to say the least weird.
However they have a UNESCO decision that is just the truth !
According to UNESCO we should now refer to Jerusalem by its Arabic name.
I did see it but cannot remember what it was. It was indeed forgetful.

As we are now operating in Alice's Wonderland perhaps we could reach
a compromise (ha ha ha) with the Arabs and call it Atlantis.

Never the less forget the Middle East, they are just not worth worrying about.

Dear David,

I agree that forcing others how to practice their religion is a problem, which Israel has. Jews should rather discover the wonder and beauty of the Sabbath on their own terms. However, rather than throwing the baby with the bath-water, chucking everyone into a mega-state (the ultimate example being the Soviet-Union) where their voices are unheard, my preference is to shrink states to the sizes of single communities of similar values, which then have no authority over those living outside.

You say that observant Jews such as the Hasidic Satmar and the Neturei Karta prefer to live in the US rather than in Israel. Could you please explain why, because as much as I know about Israel I know very little about the US. Are American laws so liberal that religious freedom trumps (as should) all local and national interests? Some European countries for example forbid Kosher slaughter: are similar laws truly impossible in the USA? Is it impossible for example for Jews to be called for jury-duty on the Sabbath or on Jewish holidays? Doesn't Jonathan Pollard, an observant Jew, still have to wear an electronic bracelet even on the Sabbath, even on Yom-Kippur? This couldn't happen where observant Jews enjoy full autonomy.

But could there be other reasons for observant Jews to prefer America? Perhaps due to the conscription in Israel? Perhaps because Jewish law requires more of Jews who live in Israel? Keeping Shmita for example (not cultivating the land every 7th year; and not eating anything that was owned/cultivated by Jews during those years) or not leaving Israel without a very good reason? Perhaps because it's considered an arrogant rejection of God's judgement to return to Israel before the Messiah arrives?

Now if the reason is that observant American Jews have more freedom-of-religion rights than in Israel, then the question arises why they cannot enjoy similar freedoms within Israel; or better still, have their own independence in their enclaves. I believe that every group of people is entitled to self-determination on their own land if so they wish, regardless how small it is.

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Regarding education, I agree that the scientific attitude is inherent in the western/secular tradition - and this is just one of the dangers of exposing children to that culture.

The scientific attitude is known to ruin children's innocence, tempting them (and adults too) to wilfully try to "progress" and improve their material situation as if life was about that, to try to manipulate and conquer the world outside instead of working inwardly to conquer one's own animal nature. Judaism on the other hand, teaches that this world is merely just a corridor (http://torah.org/torah-portion/perceptions-5772-kisavo/).

[As Jesus explained,] One cannot simultaneously serve two masters.

Dear Julian,

As you said, Israel has no constitution. The reason is that the people of Israel are too diverse to agree on one.

Israel owes its continued existence to its enemies, including people like yourself - otherwise, without the external existential danger, it would have disintegrated long ago. Without agreed positive causes, only the fear of Arab violence and anti-Semites like yourself brought it together to begin with and keep holding it together ever since.

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Dear Banjo,

«the US recognising Israel's new borders would put a complete spanner in the Palestinian and BDS causes, as would sanctions on any country or company that implements BDS etc.»

Yes, it may indeed hurt the so-called "Palestinians" and their friends, but first and foremost it would hurt Israel.

There is a limit to the philosophy of "Bigger is Better". Israel is suffering and is being morally decimated ever since it swallowed the poison of the 1967 territories. Recognising Israel's "new borders" is like encouraging your overweight friend to eat more.

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Dear Ttbn,

When Julian writes that "Israel is not a nation", I read it as a compliment. Since nationhood is a negative feature, I wish Julian's words were true.

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Dear Bazz,

«The US cannot reverse the UN resolution.»

Oh yes, it can - by closing down the UN, then nothing that was said there remains relevant!