Comments Posted By 1234

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60 Minutes on the Plight of Palestinian Christians

Jennifer Rubin of the WaPo has a roundup of opinion from both sides of the politcal spectrum.

» Posted By 1234 On April 24, 2012 @ 4:58 pm

You’re forgetting one thing: In 2000, Yasser Arafat turned down a deal that would have given him about 95% of what the Arabs had been demanding—the Israelis were ready to sign on the dotted line.

But Arafat turned it down. Turned. It. Down.

“In December 2000, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were brought to Washington. And on December 23, President Clinton presented a new plan to them. The Palestinians would get 97 percent of the West Bank, Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem would become the capital of the new Palestinian state, refugees would be allowed to return to Palestine but not Israel, and a $30 billion fund would be established to compensate refugees. ”
…
So every single one of the ideas that was asked of him [Arafat], he rejected.” How can Ross be so sure of that? He was in the room with Clinton and Arafat when it happened.

He turned it down.

The ramifications were these:

1) It assured that the Arabs—I do not call them “Palestinians” as they were not called “Palestinians” until the American media started doing so in the 70s— would be satisfied with nothing less than getting 100% of what they demanded, thus perpetuating the hostilities of their own free will.

2) It told Arab families that their sacrifices had been futile and would be continue to be absolutely necessary until Arab goals had been achieved 100%. No compromise was acceptable. They, therefore, had not choice but to fight on to the bitter end.

3) It cemented the idea in the Arab world that nothing less than the complete annihilation of Israel could be considered victory. The total annihilation of Israel is the goal of every Arab organization: Hezbollah, Hamas, the PLO.

The Arabs could have had peace years ago. They did not want it.

Yeah, I know about Menachim Begin and the Irgun. There is no excuse for terrorism. There is never any excuse for terrorism. And I know some of the Arabs must be suffering, but not to the extent made out by the Leftist media. Read, for example, this article from the Wall Street Journal from December of 2009: Building Peace Without Obama’s Interference. Neither side is blameless.

It’s a tragedy that this has worked out as it has. As George suggests, it is a complex issue—far from black and white. Unfortunately, anti-semitism is fashionable once again, and we should take into account the horrible events of the 1930s-40s before we jump on that bandwagon again.

Joseph:

Clearly, one of us is ‘deluded and brainwashed’. Time will tell.

» Posted By 1234 On April 24, 2012 @ 1:35 pm

A Message to CBS:

““Christians in the Middle East are facing a tragedy of historic proportions. As Islamic terrorists step up their attacks on Christians and their houses of worship, we are witnessing the collapse of ancient Christian communities in Iraq, Egypt and Syria. Yet Bob Simon and 60 Minutes chose to focus on Israel’s response to this shared threat — rather than the terror itself — as the true source of Christian suffering in the region. It is deeply disturbing that Simon seems interested in the plight of the region’s Christians only to the extent that he can use it to bash Israel.””

Sign Christians United For Israel letter to Bob Simon at CBS:

“By focusing on the wrong story and blaming the wrong party, you have squandered a precious opportunity.”

» Posted By 1234 On April 24, 2012 @ 7:30 am