I suggest to take a look in history books related to the subject, be analytical, and frame your own opinions rather than than watching videos or news portals that can hinder your intellectual progression and can lead you to vague and ambiguous conclusions. Above all, be open to discussion.
"and the media's anti-Israeli bias"
ReplyDeleteCould it be that Israel and the land it occupies is the world's largest open-air prison? Many politicians (and the people who have been besieged in Gaza) seem to think so. And let's not forget the people of the West Bank who have been living under occupation since 1967, while their land is being eaten up by government sanctioned-Israeli settlers.
If you watch Fox News all you can see and hear is pro-Israel rhetoric and anti-Muslim diatribe. Don't be so biased next time you write an article, Karl.
I suggest to take a look in history books related to the subject, be analytical, and frame your own opinions rather than than watching videos or news portals that can hinder your intellectual progression and can lead you to vague and ambiguous conclusions. Above all, be open to discussion.
James, you mentioned Fox News which is not a reliable source either. It's way too pro-Republican. The mainstream media is anti-Israel. By mentioning Fox News you are not going to impress anyone. It's like you are mentioning ONE TV or NET TV which are not reliable sources so to speak.
ReplyDeleteI am not going into a history lesson regarding the region. Besides, it is quite a complex subject that requires more time and dedication. But I conclude that Israel has every right for its very own existence and if need be protects its own survival. This does not in anyway mean that I always approve what has been done towards Palestinians in the area.
I don't plan to impress anyone. If you actually think that it is shallow and child's play. If the 'media' is so blatantly anti-Israel, doesn't that tell you something? How so?
ReplyDeleteIt is a given fact that the State of Israel has done some pretty shameful things in the past (as it is doing now). Yet unlike other countries (and former empires), some of which have actually apologized for their past actions (GB being one of them) Israel still projects itself as the victim: the 'David' going against an-all powerful 'Goliath' (the Arab states). All the wars and operations which were carried out post-1973 have actually showed Israel in a not so positive light:
1978: Operation Litani; Israel was busy cackling behind the scenes when Lebanon was sliding into civil war. It promptly attacked and executed a limited war which achieved little. There is no such thing as limited war. The top brass found out soon enough.
1982: Operation Peace for Galilee; while Lebanon was burning, the US Secretary of State Alexander Haig greenlighted a new offensive which brought utter destruction to southern Lebanon. Not only that, but this time, the IDF drove all the way up to Beirut in an attempt to flush out the PLO. The original objective had been to re-do the operation of the previous 4 years, but Ariel Sharon (who was a minister at the time, and who I admire) knew that it would be futile, so he ordered the IDF to drive all the way to Beirut and sack everything within reach. An 18-year occupation then ensued (1982 - 2000) which had the opposite consequences as a new terrorist organisation rose from the ashes: Hezbollah.
And then you have the first and second Intifadas and the counterinsurgency operations in the 90s in the West Bank. Then of course there's Operation Cast Lead (2008 - 09) and the recent Operation Pillar of Defense (2012).
Sure, Israel had to defend itself from the al-Qassam rockets being launched from Gaza (it has every right to as you say). But, may I ask, why were rockets being fired into Israeli territory? What were the causes of such an intractable conflict? Does it have something to do with Israeli policy regarding the Palestinians?
Nearly every major archaeologist (bar rightist Americans, overly devout Christians and Jewish citizens) says that Jews only moved into Palestine after the Canaanites had already inhabited the land. So, technically speaking, the Jews actually have to share the land.
Israel's survival is only down to sheer military might and the Arabs incompatibility in working with each other towards a common goal. Finally, your line 'This does not in anyway mean that I always approve what has been done towards Palestinians in the area...' makes it sound like the Palestinians are only having a bad day. Except this has been going since 1948.
I suggest you read Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky. Others worth reading are Avraham Sela, Norman Finkelstein and Nur-eldeen Masalha.