Reply #17: Oh Jack [View All]

[Resistance]

you force me to get all serious 'n stuff (and I've been having so much fun on other threads learning how the ISM are the same as Hamas and want to blow up all Jews ... LMAO!!! The things you "learn" down in the I/P basement, eh?)

OK but seriously - here's my view.

A comment on Dersch first, to help clarify how I see it: the fact is that Dersch does not condemn the atrocities and defiance of international law from both sides. Therefore, the guy is bogus - nothing more than an ultra-nationalist ideologue who is either 1) severely lacking in mental capacities, or 2) he's just got no conscience. Take your pick.

My view on using ambulances as cover for carrying out attacks is that it is obviously wrong - dead wrong. It should be severely condemned by anyone who is serious about advocating human rights. I join in condemning the act and have no problem doing so.

However, I would like to ask: where is Dersch (and other blinded ideologues) to be found decrying the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory? Nowhere.

Where is Dersch to be found condemning Israeli missile strikes on crowds of civilians. Nowhere. (in fact, I'd be willing to guess that he openly supports such crimes)

Where is Dersch on condemning massive bulldozings of homes and villages by Israeli forces (in order to make room for more illegal settlement growth)? Nowhere.

Where is Dersch to condemn the blatant theft of land by way of erecting the Apartheid Wall? Once again (and as usual), nowhere.

I am against use of ambulances and I think it should stop, immediately. However, I am also against Israeli war crimes and aggression, and I also call on those to stop, immediately. This is the correct view for a progressive to take. The phoniness comes in when one 'side' begins arguing "oh, there are no Israeli crimes - it's all self-defense" or "they're fighting terrorists and take all precautions in minimizing civilian deaths and injury". Yeah right - Israel is just as guilty as Palestinian extremist groups are in defying international law and in carrying out atrocious war crimes against their 'enemies'. Civilians are killed on one side, so the other goes out and kills civilians, and in response the other side kills civilians. And on and on.

But the fact is this: ultimately Israel benefits from the ongoing cycle of violence and tit-for-tat exchanges of atrocities, because in the end we see the continued theft of land from Palestinians and into the hands of the State of Israel. That's why Israel continues the aggression, and rather than taking steps towards a peaceful resolution, they actively and willfully provoke and add fuel to the fire. They know that under the cloak of a "conflict" that everyone debates about and focuses on, they can continue stealing more and more away from Palestinians. So whether your concern is for suicide bombings or if it's on Apache Helicopter attacks, in the background to all this, Israel continues building away, stealing more, and bulldozing more homes so that more and more can be stolen.

I would like to add (while I'm on a roll) that I am increasingly of the belief that this thing actually can end rather simply (note I didn't say painlessly - both sides will have to make concessions for it to work) - but we first need just a few things to happen:

1) New leadership on both sides.
-Real leaders will put human rights first, not promote a view of the other side as evil and horrendous who either a) must be tossed into the sea, or b) have all their land stolen from them. A human-rights-first leadership is clearly in the best interest of everyone involved.

2) Immediate international intervention.
-Extremists from either side will fight against peace, but it can't be up to either party (Israeli or Palestinian) to quell disturbances or violence. Why can't it be up to either party? Because neither side has proven themselves capable of acting responsibly. A non-partisan international force is necessary.

3) Continued negotiations and dialogue.
-Concessions will be painful for ideologues and those who have suffered. But it is the only way. This current course will only lead to more pain, more fear, and more misery.