tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post102759511835345892..comments2024-03-29T17:12:19.648+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Cleansing SolutionsChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-35123485193450560122009-02-12T15:11:00.000+13:002009-02-12T15:11:00.000+13:00Every evening Al Jezera shows another pile of Pale...Every evening Al Jezera shows another pile of Palestinian corpses outside shattered buildings is good for another 1000 recruits to Al Qaeda. Despite most of the Middle East being run by corrupt US yes-men, current Islamic fanaticism would largely melt away should peace ever break out in Palestine. The Arabs by nature are no more fanatical than anyone else and very forgiving. Except in the case of inter-tribal conflicts, they do not harbour grudges once wrongs are righted. <BR/><BR/>If justice were seen to be done in Palestine, Israelis would have nothing to fear from their neighbours. Of much more concern would be the reaction of their own fanatics, who, as you have alluded to, continue to cling to Zionism's principle of ethnic cleansing. However, the removal of threats from neighbouring countries would at least result in their political marginalisation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-78007827699209300522009-01-10T12:46:00.000+13:002009-01-10T12:46:00.000+13:00I must say I agree with Steve on two counts. I too...I must say I agree with Steve on two counts. I too have been an admirer of Chris' writing and am disappointed in this piece.<BR/>History is very relevant to this matter. The Jewish State is founded on an historical claim to the land. One that is spurious according to Shlomo Sand, Professor of History at Tel Aviv University. See:<BR/>http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959229.html<BR/><BR/>http://mondediplo.com/2008/09/07israel<BR/><BR/>It is to History we must look if we are to understand the rockets being fired at Sderot.<BR/>This town was founded in 1951. It stands on the ruins of Najd, an Arab village that was ethnically cleansed by Jewish militia - before the State of Israel was declared and before the Arab league moved to stabilise the area on 15 May 1948.<BR/>The surviving villagers, who were driven to Gaza and remain there, still possess legal title to over 12,000 dunums of land. They are prohibited from returning and have received no compensation. Jews owned about 400 dunums in 1948.<BR/>(Khalidi, Walid, ed. All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated By Israel in 1948. Institute for Palestine Studies: Washington, D.C., 1992.)<BR/>In my view, these facts give a whole new perspective to the conflict.<BR/><BR/> January 10, 2009 12:36 PMBrewerstroupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011600547966200031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-42129059119349962052009-01-09T14:05:00.000+13:002009-01-09T14:05:00.000+13:00Chris, I usually find your writing inspired and in...Chris, I usually find your writing inspired and inciteful. This, however is a fantasy piece that bears no resemblance to the reality on the ground.<BR/><BR/>Hamas "winning" would mean that the people of Gaza might be able to remove the stranglehold that Israel has imposed on them and at least have access to food, water, electricity and the vague possibility of a half decent existence. <BR/><BR/>The actions of Israel are like that of a madman. A one trick pony that uses overwhelming force to defeat an idea. Each time the result is the same - the idea gets stronger and more and more people support it. <BR/><BR/>If the British had dealt with the IRA by carpet bombing Southern Ireland, support for the IRA would have galvanised internationaly amongst the Catholic population and the Irish problem would have spiraled out of control. Remember that the IRA directed attacks and killed UK civilians on British soil. Ultimately the Irish situation was solved by talking and mutual respect but not by overwhelming force.<BR/><BR/>Please get real. Israel is the only nuclear power in the Middle East and is supported militarily and financially by the USA. Western European pays lip service to the Palestinian cause and most Arab governments are effectively US clients. If indeed the extremists of Hamas dream of a "final solution" for Israel it will only ever be a dream when one considers the balance of power in the region. <BR/><BR/>If Israel wants security they should dismantle the settlements and honestly negotiate with the people who's land they are occupying. Until they do that they will never be able to occupy the moral high ground and they will always be resisted.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279864313076181990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-72752925462235657842009-01-08T19:50:00.000+13:002009-01-08T19:50:00.000+13:00It's the poor bloody Canaanites I feel sorry for. ...It's the poor bloody Canaanites I feel sorry for. Alas, history is written by the winners.Will de Cleenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03555957698892853110noreply@blogger.com