In the world's eyes, Israel is always wrong

[littlebuddy]

Charles Krauthammer

In the world's eyes, Israel is always wrong

The world is outraged at Israel's blockade of Gaza. Turkey denounces its illegality, inhumanity, barbarity, etc. The usual U.N. suspects, Third World and European, join in. The Obama administration dithers.
But as Leslie Gelb, former president of the Council on Foreign Relations, writes, the blockade is not just perfectly rational, it is perfectly legal. Gaza under Hamas is a self-declared enemy of Israel -- a declaration backed up by more than 4,000 rockets fired at Israeli civilian territory. Yet having pledged itself to unceasing belligerency, Hamas claims victimhood when Israel imposes a blockade to prevent Hamas from arming itself with still more rockets.
In World War II, with full international legality, the United States blockaded Germany and Japan. And during the October 1962 missile crisis, we blockaded [["quarantined") Cuba. Yet Israel is accused of international criminality for doing precisely what John Kennedy did: impose a naval blockade to prevent a hostile state from acquiring lethal weaponry.
Oh, but weren't the Gaza-bound ships on a mission of humanitarian relief? No. Otherwise they would have accepted Israel's offer to take their supplies to an Israeli port, be inspected for military materiel and have the rest trucked by Israel into Gaza -- as every week 10,000 tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are sent by Israel to Gaza.



Why was the offer refused? Because, as organizer Greta Berlin admitted, the flotilla was not about humanitarian relief but about breaking the blockade, i.e., ending Israel's inspection regime, which would mean unlimited shipping into Gaza and thus the unlimited arming of Hamas.
Israel has already twice intercepted weapons-laden ships from Iran destined for Hezbollah and Gaza. What country would allow that?
But even more important, why did Israel even have to resort to blockade? Because blockade is Israel's fallback as the world systematically delegitimizes its traditional ways of defending itself -- forward and active defense:
• Forward defense: As a small, densely populated country surrounded by hostile states, Israel had, for its first half-century, adopted forward defense -- fighting wars on enemy territory [[such as the Sinai and Golan Heights) rather than its own.
Where possible [[Sinai, for example) Israel has traded territory for peace. But where peace offers were refused, Israel retained the territory as a protective buffer zone. Thus Israel retained a small strip of southern Lebanon to protect the villages of northern Israel. And it took many losses in Gaza, rather than expose Israeli border towns to Palestinian terror attacks.
But under overwhelming outside pressure, Israel gave it up. The Israelis were told the occupations were not just illegal but at the root of the anti-Israel insurgencies -- and therefore withdrawal, by removing the cause, would bring peace.
Land for peace. Remember? Well, during the past decade, Israel gave the land -- evacuating South Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2005. What did it get? An intensification of belligerency, heavy militarization of the enemy side, multiple kidnappings, cross-border attacks and, from Gaza, years of unrelenting rocket attacks.
• Active defense: Israel then had to switch to active defense -- military action to disrupt, dismantle and defeat [[to borrow President Obama' s description of our campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaeda) the newly armed terrorist mini-states established in southern Lebanon and Gaza after Israel withdrew.
The result? The Lebanon war of 2006 and Gaza operation of 2008-09. They were met with yet another avalanche of opprobrium and calumny by the same international community that had demanded the land-for-peace Israeli withdrawals in the first place. Worse, the U.N. Goldstone report, which essentially criminalized Israel's defensive operation in Gaza while whitewashing the casus belli -- the preceding and unprovoked Hamas rocket war -- effectively delegitimized any active Israeli defense against its self-declared terror enemies.
• Passive defense: Without forward or active defense, Israel is left with but the most passive and benign of all defenses -- a blockade to simply prevent enemy rearmament. Yet, as we speak, this too is headed for international delegitimazation. But, if none of these are permissible, what's left?
Nothing. The whole point of this relentless international campaign is to deprive Israel of any legitimate form of self-defense.
The world is tired of these troublesome Jews, six million -- that number again -- hard by the Mediterranean, refusing every invitation to national suicide. For which they are relentlessly demonized, ghettoized and constrained from defending themselves, even as the more committed anti-Zionists -- Iranian in particular -- openly prepare a more final solution.
Charles Krauthammer writes for the Washington Post. His column is distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group. E-mail comments to letters@detnews.com.

[Detroitej72]

Hey littlebuddy, what are your thoughts?

You cut and paste links and articles about radical right wing sentiments, why not give your thoughts and opinions? Are you a right wing troll among our mist?

Tell us, littlebuddy, what say you???

[Sstashmoo]

That really pisses me off..

Israel is doing what President Kennedy did? Lttlebuddy [[Paid AIPAC poster) We weren't slaughtering the Cubans, bulldozing their homes and denying the citizenry of basic staples for their very existence. The Russian Government was attempting to install nuclear weapons a few hundred miles from Florida, we stopped them and then lifted the blockade. Probably the last noble thing this country ever did.

No Op-ed piece is going to justify their recent brutality.

[gazhekwe]

When the whole world thinks you're wrong, you just might really be wrong.

[Papasito]

Both sides are wrong.
No one is going to do anything to resolve it.

[Steve]

Food for thought on the issue here:
http://article.nationalreview.com/43...-hanson?page=1

[gibran]

Israel right to exist shouldnt be conflicted with it's behavior...but it's behavior puts it's morals to a test and that is why Liberal Jewish Leader here and in Israrel are thinking hard about it's policies....but let's ask people if they believe in King David's blood letting or his son's Solomon's wisedom? [[who built the temple folks, and who couldn't). That translates to today wher eyou have the Davids vs the Solomon's whose wisedom will prevail. The world knows what we won't acknowledge, but we know that the Jewish people's suffering was real and we liberated that suffering..but not to cause anothers [[Palestinians) suffering..and that is why this has to stop.

Love thy neighbor...means your enemies too.

Krauthammer is from old school -tell big enough lies and maybe simple minds will believe them...typical AIPAC hacks.

[gibran]

Hanson is a neoconconservative writer whose votes included George Bush [[even though he is a democrat)...again the machine roles on....anyone who can't link the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to our security is in denial or blinded by bias...

[gibran]

From haaretz today:

Hanson is a neoconconservative writer whose votes included George Bush [[even though he is a democrat)...again the machine roles on....anyone who can't link the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to our security is in denial or blinded by bias...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that convicted spy Jonathan Pollard was working for the Israeli government, after Israel's Ambassador to the United States apparently contradicted the official state position, Army Radio reported.

After being pressed on whether Israel gathers intelligence on its American ally, Ambassador Michael Oren said in an interview on a Washington radio station that Pollard was working for a rogue intelligence agency.
"Israel does not, does not, I stress, collect information on the United States," Oren said.
Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 on charges of spying on the U.S.
Officials from the Prime Minister's office said that Netanyahu asked Oren to publish an official clarification of his remarks.
Ambassador Oren issued a statement in response saying that in responding to a journalist’s question, he attempted to emphasize that the Pollard incident occurred over 25 years ago by a unit that no longer exists, for which Israel took full responsibility.
He added that Pollard worked for and on behalf of Israel, and that he hopes for his earliest release.‬
When the interviewer from WTOP radio asked on Tuesday morning about the Pollard case, Oren responded: "Jonathan Pollard occurred in the mid-1980s. Now, we're talking about an event that was run by a rogue organization in the Israeli intelligence community. That was, what, 25 years ago?"
For years after Pollard's captured, Israel insisted he was a rogue agent - but in 1998, during his firts term as prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that the agent was part of an officially sanctioned operation.
In 2007, as leader of the opposition, Netanyahu visited Pollard in prison and vowed that if he returned to power, he would work for the spy's release.
But on Monday Oren appeared to revert to Israel's original position, although the envoy said that in the radio interview that Israel "would certainly welcome his release".
The U.S. has refused to release Pollard, despite close ties with Israel and repeated requests for clemency from Israeli officials.

[ferntruth]

That really pisses me off..

Israel is doing what President Kennedy did? Lttlebuddy [[Paid AIPAC poster) We weren't slaughtering the Cubans, bulldozing their homes and denying the citizenry of basic staples for their very existence. The Russian Government was attempting to install nuclear weapons a few hundred miles from Florida, we stopped them and then lifted the blockade. Probably the last noble thing this country ever did.

No Op-ed piece is going to justify their recent brutality.

I support Israel. Period.

[Patrick]

So after the Holocaust in the late 1940s it was a [[sic) natural for the Jews to go back there-- to their land and reclaim it again. And with the world feeling really guilty right after the Holocaust it made it that much easier to get the land back and kick out hundreds of thousands of Arabs who were living there and dwelling peacefully with their families and loved ones. But it was ours first as it was promised to us by G-d in the Torah so we have a claim to it. And that’s why we have a Jewish Homeland and so I went there this summer with my family for my son’s Bar Mitzvah.

http://www.rabbilive.com/RabbiLIVE/Articles.html

[Sstashmoo]

Then what are you doing here?

[Detroitej72]

I support Israel. Period.

So you support killing innocent people?

Israel has a right to exists, but the Palestinians deserve to have a state as well.

[terryh]

Quote from Ralph Nader- "God is not a real estate agent"..
I know this is probably a very simplistic way to view the Israeli-Palestinian issue, but wouldnt Israel allowing a Palestinian state, under HAMAS, be a victory for suicide bombers and jihadists....
Ive read many examples of ultra orthodox jewry, behaving atrociously, one example being the orthodox jew that opened fire with an automatic weapon in a cave that jews and muslims claim belong to their respective religions..so I know there are abuses on both sides...there is archaelogical evidence of jews residing in the region centuries past,but that doesnt give religious jews to continue building settlements does it?

[gibran]

This not the middle-ages where we turn our backs on people for religion....Islam or any other religion does not have the right to impose their homogeneous nationalism when there is a heterogeneous country...

I am glad people support a country period without conscious... but those are usually on the losing side of history...when you support peace and justice period then you may lose a battle but win a moral war...

In Jewish history Social Justice is a pillar...there are many inside of Israel and Palestine whose life work is for peace ...those whose blind support does not solve anything..period.

I support Israel and Palestine when they support peace and reconciliation..supporting one cart blanc at this point in the conflict is supporting and agenda of hate.

It is a wonder why patrick's Rabbi is not as wise as one who lived long ago who decided loving thy enemy/neighbor as thy brother is one way to avoid battles that still plague us today...

AIPAC wants you to support Israel without conscious and if you don't your label is horrible...[[knowing the history of our Jewish Family)...but that position is seriously fading with the truth and in the truth will bring a lasting peace..despite the naysayers....

There is a movement that will save hundreds of Israelis and thousands of Palestinians..it is called accountability and transparancy...Gods children have many names...and if you want justcie work for it...start by examing your positions on this matter.

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "when you support peace and justice period then you may lose a battle but win a moral war..."

Profound..

[gibran]

thanks stash...what an up hill battle we wage for justice...but it worth the angst..

[Steve]

Article relevant to this discussion in today's WSJ:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...s_Most_Popular

[kryptonite]

When the whole world thinks you're wrong, you just might really be wrong.

Very true.

[gibran]

Steve with all due respect that article is poor journalism at best pure andf AIPAC talking points at the least...in short The WSJ can not report fairly when it comes to the middle-east...or they chose not to. Same with Newsweek and Mort Zuckerman ...

The fact is that until the people who control the messages realize that portraying Israel as beyond the law and always misunderstood is underestimating the intelligence of it's readers [[accept a few) If Israeli firsters feel that they are not at all responsible for the suffering of their people and the GAzans then we will continue to perpetuate this conflict..both sides have been wrong....but one has better PR...

We should all push for the release of the young soldier Shalit the IDF soldier, at the same time pushing for release of all the women, non violent-peace activists and teenagers in jail in Israel held without trial and the 5000 prisoners that have charges not yet brought out in courts of law just held without trials..and I am not talking about Israel's right to hold terrorists caught in the act or plotting acts...we are talking about stone throwing youth [[at tanks).

and if the shoe fits where in in regards to South Africa...[[diamonds and nukes testing aside ..they [[israel) seem to have taken page from their history in their peace proposals)

you want real peace support the 20% of ISraelis who view their governments actions as wrong and want a justifiable peace. There are activists on both end of the wall..but articles and like the WSJ just is plan bias and a shrill of Rupert Murdoch..

Time for accountability ...will Obama have what it takes to hold our allies accountable is the question

[Detroitnerd]

Here's a counterpoint to Krauthammer's article

http://www.counterpunch.com/ridley06222010.html

[gibran]

Lani Kass is a senior advisor to our government ...she has been pushing the issue of cyber warfare ....she now has an sponsor in congress ..J.Leiberman...here is where it gets interesting...she is a naturalized citizen of Israel..whose presence was in the General Petraeus's dressing down after his statement...she was the only other official in the room with the general and her pentagon boss...she has access to our cyber security....conspiracy theory or not...do your homework..in how far the neocons [[she was appointed around the Reagan years..into delicate positions) will go to influence decision making...that is why we have to be better balanced..Source [[ Washington Report)

here is why you should never support any country without really understanding it;s agenda...read some Zinn he is an outstanding historian ...and passed to soon...

or http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/nc-green.html

[maxx]

http://www.thenation.com/article/159...els-insecurity

"...
Our politicians, pundits, and correspondents breathe the same air in the same unthinking fashion, and so they hesitate to put much pressure on Israel to change its ways. As it happens, without such pressure, no Israeli government is likely to make the compromises needed for a just and lasting peace in the region. Instead, Israel will keep up its attacks on Gaza. In addition, if the Palestinians declare themselves an independent state come September, as many reports indicate might happen, Israel will feel free to quash that state by any means necessary—but only if Washington goes on giving it the old wink and nod.
If American attitudes and so policies are ever to change, one necessary [[though not in itself sufficient) step is to confront and debunk the myth of Israel’s insecurity..."

[rb336]

Quote from Ralph Nader- "God is not a real estate agent"..
I know this is probably a very simplistic way to view the Israeli-Palestinian issue, but wouldnt Israel allowing a Palestinian state, under HAMAS, be a victory for suicide bombers and jihadists....
Ive read many examples of ultra orthodox jewry, behaving atrociously, one example being the orthodox jew that opened fire with an automatic weapon in a cave that jews and muslims claim belong to their respective religions..so I know there are abuses on both sides...there is archaelogical evidence of jews residing in the region centuries past,but that doesnt give religious jews to continue building settlements does it?

first - didn't Ralph read Exodus???
second, wasn't creating an Israeli state in the first place giving a victory to the people the Brits AND americans called "terrorists" back then - the very "terrorists" who would become the political leaders of the new Israeli state?

[maxx]

Quote: "when you support peace and justice period then you may lose a battle but win a moral war..."

Profound..

And where do the victors of the moral war go? To the grave. I was talking to my neighborhood grocer who has six brothers in Syria. He advises them to stay at home, but they say that they want to be out in the streets with everyone else. I asked him if they have guns, and he said that the people wanted to deal with the gov. peaceably. But he also said that hundreds, maybe thousands, are being killed by gov. forces. I don't see the point in being mowed down in the street. Ghandi was able to achieve independence for Indians nonviolently, but that tactic doesn't work with hard-bitten authoritarians.