Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

For those who don't know the background:
A couple of days ago Israel released 178 terrorists as long as they "promised not to do it again". [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
They then had a show of them being "disarmed" by the Palestinian government.

This is what the guys released had to say about it:

[ QUOTE ]
"It's all a joke. It's just a joke." That's how the Palestinian terror commanders in Judea and Samaria explained the show they made of handing in their weapons to Fatah commander Mahmoud Abbas's official militias over the weekend.

"This is all a big joke," they told reporters while posing for pictures. "Abbas asked us to sign a declaration saying we won't attack Israel and so we are."
And why not? The Palestinian Authority Chairman agreed to pay them thousands of dollars in exchange for the photo opportunities.
There is also the non-financial incentive. In exchange for their propaganda photos and their signatures on declarations not to engage in terror anymore, Israel has pledged to take these murderers off of its wanted list. So just for participating in a satire, these men get to walk without fear for the first time in years.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, who says we Jews are smart?

I took this from a Jerusalem Post article.
See the rest here

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

Does this have something to do with the recent palestinian power struggle? Seems like an unwise move on its own, but maybe it will help Abbas argue for a less Hamas, more reconciliational course?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

Yes.
They claim it is in order to "Strengthen Abbas's situation". However, in previous cases this has not helped in any way.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

A gesture of goodwill is rarely stupid IMO, even if you know your opponents won't care or will misuse it or will mock you for it.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

What makes you think the Israeli government are idiots? I think that there is something to this and that for the first time ever the situation is right to make a peace deal w/ the Palestinians (at least those on the West Bank). There must be something major in the works. Let the process begin. I think it's worth almost any risk to finally get a peace deal, a real peace deal, done.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

I would agree with you if it wasn't for the previous times.

This is not the first time that terrorists have been released as "Good will gestures" and in each case they have gone back to "work".

Some terrorists have been released more than once!

Can you imagine Bush releasing a member of Al Qaida if he promised to be good?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
Can you imagine Bush releasing a member of Al Qaida if he promised to be good?


[/ QUOTE ]

I can't even imagine Bush thinking that a detainee in Guantamo might be mistakenly detained, although, obviously, some were! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

A bit like the state execution system in the USA... never makes a mistake... LOL as long as it is not your or me, right? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Bush is not a good example for your argument.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

It will be perceived as it always is by these folks, a sign of Israeil weakness.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

So you are a member of the minority (even in Israel) that thinks your nation is being to easy on the palistinians.

If I would make a statement like "the Israelis have commited and continue to commit atrocities against the palistinians," would you call me anti-semetic?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
If I would make a statement like "the Israelis have commited and continue to commit atrocities against the palistinians," would you call me anti-semetic?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you hold Jews to a different standard than the surrounding countries, yes.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]

For those who don't know the background:
A couple of days ago Israel released 178 terrorists as long as they "promised not to do it again".
They then had a show of them being "disarmed" by the Palestinian government.

This is what the guys released had to say about it:

[/ QUOTE ]

If Israeli politicians and military leaders are aware of only one fact its most likely this: surrounded by countries that hate you its probably best not to alienate you other friends to much. Without US and European support Israel never comes into existence, without continued support it will be overrun by their enemies. If Israel thinks its international support is waning to much then moves like this may gain more than enough in political currency to outweigh the military drawbacks. Think how it plays in the London newspapers when one of those 178 is caught in a new terror plot, think of the latitude it gives them to make moves in the future against such terroists.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would agree with you if it wasn't for the previous times.

This is not the first time that terrorists have been released as "Good will gestures" and in each case they have gone back to "work".

Some terrorists have been released more than once!

Can you imagine Bush releasing a member of Al Qaida if he promised to be good?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Israelis must take every opportunity to make a peace deal, even at the risk of lives. This has gone on long enough and I'm hoping that now is the time to get a deal done. I'll place again here what posted in my thread around here somewhere: Arab League sending envoys to Israel. I attach great significance to this development. I've long thought that peace would finally be made when it was the Arabs telling the Palestinians that it was time to make peace and not the Western nations saying the same thing. IMO, Israel must take chances right now and do everything possible to strike a deal.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

Andy Ross,

I don't think the US should send my tax money to fund any military that participates in the repression of people based on their race. This includes Turkey as well.

Howard, the current Israeli and American planners do not seek a peace deal, only the illusion that some sort of "road map" is in the works.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]

Howard, the current Israeli and American planners do not seek a peace deal, only the illusion that some sort of "road map" is in the works.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is very cynical and I hope is merely a reflection of your disappointment with developments up until now. I can understand that. However, I have the feeling that this time you will be proven wrong. I'm very hopeful right now and would be sorely upset if I am proven wrong. We'll just have to wait and see.

This is What Happens When......
 

This is what happens when you elect a lswyer to run your country...

Lawyers are experts at falsifying billing records and cheating their clients out of every penny they can but these skills don't transfer well in the real world...

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
Andy Ross,

I don't think the US should send my tax money to fund any military that participates in the repression of people based on their race. This includes Turkey as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, not because its a wrong statement, but because you are applying it to the situation here in Israel

No Arabs in Yafo or Haifa or Ramla are subjected to military operations and your argument is totally useless.

You may want to read up on some of Aharon Barak's judgments in the supreme court, which its worth noting are binding on the government.

I agree with theblitz. This [censored] will mean more terror, which means more army operations in yehuda/shomron, which means more posts from canis telling everyone how "race" is somehow the reason for the missions, and more dead bodies on the streets of tel aviv.

This is so standard from olmert, it makes me sick. netanyahu and likud will win the elections and this [censored] from kadima is why he deserves to win.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

These are the non violent guys anyway--none of the guys who have actually killed anyone are being released. Marwan Barghouti who is also in prison is being cited by many as the natural leader to the Palestinians being more of a leader than Abbas and much more conciliatory than Hamas. He however, has blood on his hands and is serving 5 consecutive life sentences plus 20 years (whatever that last part means). Israel detains lots of people for small reasons anyway but is reluctant to prosecute its own soldiers when they are accused of something similar--that's just the way it works in this part of the world.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]


This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, not because its a wrong statement, but because you are applying it to the situation here in Israel

No Arabs in Yafo or Haifa or Ramla are subjected to military operations and your argument is totally useless.

You may want to read up on some of Aharon Barak's judgments in the supreme court, which its worth noting are binding on the government.



[/ QUOTE ]

Any jew in the world can get citizenship in Israel, but palestinians who lost their homes to settlements or war suffer humiliation at checkpoints. Yeah, it's not about race at all.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, not because its a wrong statement, but because you are applying it to the situation here in Israel

No Arabs in Yafo or Haifa or Ramla are subjected to military operations and your argument is totally useless.

You may want to read up on some of Aharon Barak's judgments in the supreme court, which its worth noting are binding on the government.



[/ QUOTE ]

Any jew in the world can get citizenship in Israel, but palestinians who lost their homes to settlements or war suffer humiliation at checkpoints. Yeah, it's not about race at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Race? Race? They are all Semites.

Hey, how come the Arab countries don't allow the Palestinians to become citizens? Huh? Has there been a longer lasting group of 'refugees' in history?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, not because its a wrong statement, but because you are applying it to the situation here in Israel

No Arabs in Yafo or Haifa or Ramla are subjected to military operations and your argument is totally useless.

You may want to read up on some of Aharon Barak's judgments in the supreme court, which its worth noting are binding on the government.



[/ QUOTE ]

Any jew in the world can get citizenship in Israel, but palestinians who lost their homes to settlements or war suffer humiliation at checkpoints. Yeah, it's not about race at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Race? Race? They are all Semites.

Hey, how come the Arab countries don't allow the Palestinians to become citizens? Huh? Has there been a longer lasting group of 'refugees' in history?

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, it's mostly by the choice of the Palestinians (and in a few cases like Lebanon, the choice of the government). Many Palestinians don't want to forget so they want to remain stateless as a statement while in the case of a few less populated countries, the governments are afraid of the former Palestinians voting as a bloc and influencing the internal affairs politically.

Yes, very dumb.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, not because its a wrong statement, but because you are applying it to the situation here in Israel

No Arabs in Yafo or Haifa or Ramla are subjected to military operations and your argument is totally useless.

You may want to read up on some of Aharon Barak's judgments in the supreme court, which its worth noting are binding on the government.



[/ QUOTE ]

Any jew in the world can get citizenship in Israel, but palestinians who lost their homes to settlements or war suffer humiliation at checkpoints. Yeah, it's not about race at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

a) Anyone in the world can get citizenship through the normal channels, in fact its easier to get into israel than canada or the US, even if youre not jewish.

b) Every country on earth gives a huge weight on immigration "scorecards" to those descended from natives (i.e. has an Italian or American grandparent)

Arab-Israelis and the "Palestinians" are the same "race". Israels treat one group as equal citizens of the state and the other as violence-ridden animals?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

"Hey, how come the Arab countries don't allow the Palestinians to become citizens?"

Who want's to live with a bunch of serial killers?

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Hey, how come the Arab countries don't allow the Palestinians to become citizens?"

Who want's to live with a bunch of serial killers?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd get banned if I called all jews serial killers.

Re: Our Israeli Government prove themselves to be idiots once again
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Hey, how come the Arab countries don't allow the Palestinians to become citizens?"

Who want's to live with a bunch of serial killers?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd get banned if I called all jews serial killers.

[/ QUOTE ]

(That is a good point and makes me think that maybe my question could be misinterpreted so I'll add:)

Sometime back I was watching one of the innumerable TV shows on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and when asked the question of why the Palestinians were still in refugee camps and were not allowed to emigrate to other Arab countries answered something like: 'We are not going to allow the Israelis and easy way out of dealing with the refugee problem.'

They are willing to make who knows how many people suffer in order to keep the pressure on. The Cambodian, Vietnamese, Sudanese and every other refugee peoples that I can think of have been re-settled. I don't think there have been a longer lasting group of refugees than the Palestinians ever.

Re: This is What Happens When......
 

[ QUOTE ]
Lawyers are experts at falsifying billing records and cheating their clients out of every penny they can but these skills don't transfer well in the real world...

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha, that's an awesome line. With the proper delivery it would make some damn fine stand-up material. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]