RE: Another PLO victory

I had the question today on my oral exam history: what do you think about the current situation in Israel. What has changed all since the Oslo peace-talks etc. Such an easy question ! Damn, I was scared they were going to ask me about our complicated Belgian and European institutions Ohh well, tomorrow we’ve got English, which is practically the same BS. Only this guy is more pro-PA (the other one was pro-Israel), so just change my opinion and I’ll get good grades. Isn’t school nice?

Actually, I think teachers should’nt ask for opinions of students in exams. That is just redicilous. One’s grade is then based on an opinion, not on knowing the facts, or analizing them.

BTW, bad thing this attack has happened, both for Israel and the PA. But I don’t think that Arafat can be blamed for this, as it is Israel that is controlling those territories and not Arafat.

Last time I checked the news, the PA was still in control over the Palestinian people. Don’t portray Arafat as a victim, he knows perfectly well what’s going on, especially considering his history.

A good thing BTW, EU has put Hamas and Al Aqsa on the list of dangerous terrorist organisations.

About time they did this.

Shalom,

Jonathan

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-06-02 AT 12:29 PM (GMT)]Skythe, you’re right, I’m sorry. Hey, now you also found the solution to Israel’s problems! You should run for PM! I think we should thank many of our European friends for finally showing us the light!

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

Yeah, and not without a reason of course.

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

Sure, Hitler is not the same as Bin Laden. Bin Laden doesn’t rule a country (anymore). But that is irrelevant. What matters is that both not ready to compromise, both kill out of ideology, and both are willing to sacrifice human lives to achieve their goals. Appeasement will only buy them time to prepare, and become stronger and stronger. It is not going to work.

Shalom,

Jonathan

RE: Another PLO victory

Vortex, nice theory, but the problem is that this approach has already been tried. From 1993 to 2000, during the years of the Oslo process, the Israeli policy was, to quote the late Yitzhak Rabin: ‘we will make peace as if there is no terror, and we will fight terror as if there is no peace’. Unfortunately, the terror didn’t stop, and many busses were blown up by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However, Israel continued to sign agreements with the PLO/PA, which were not lived up by the PLO/PA. The in September 2000 there was the Camp David peace proposal, the goal of which was to end once and for all the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Alas, it was turned down, and the Intifada was started. Frankly, I don’t see any possibility of ending this conflict with the current Palestinian leadership. At best Israel can reach some sort of cease fire with the PA, or enforce a status quo. I don’t think much more can be accomplished as long as the Palestinian leadership doesn’t change.

Shalom,

Jonathan

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

The point is that appeasement doesn’t save lives. Did appeasing Germany with Czechslovakia save lives? No, on the contrary. Had the politicians had the guts to stop Hitler then, it wouldn’t have cost as many lives as did WWII. Of course, this is with 20/20 hindsight, but one must learn from history, right? It doesn’t mean I like war, on the contrary. But sometimes, there are no other options left.

Shalom,

Jonathan

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

One word: appeasement.

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

I’m sorry Geforce, but war is all about black and white. You can’t fight an enemy and say: well, he’s not so bad, and we’re not that good people either. That is not gonna work.

But it might help if you choose you analogies more carefull. I did read your entire post, and it didn’t make sense to me at all. The entire Western world should be alert for terrorism. Muslim extremists made it very clear that they want to destroy the entire western world, but that they would start with the US and the Jews. But the entire Western world is in danger. Perhaps not in acute danger, but it is. Just the other day there was a story in a news program, called NOVA, about what some imams preach in the Netherlands. Shocking, to say the least. They detest Western society, they want Westerners to either be converted to Islam, or to be killed. And that, Geforce, is dangerous. It would really help if the EU, and European countries would start to understand that.

Shalom,

Jonathan