In the name of peace, US Jews should pay for rehabilitation of Lebanon?

[kentuck]

Good idea or bad idea??
======================
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/744860.html

<snip>
The directive to "love your neighbor as yourself" has been interpreted as referring to "neighbors" defined as those who share value and belief systems. Most Lebanese indeed share deep values with the Israelis - a deep sense of victimization and loss, a strong national pride, a longing for the power to claim and maintain a sovereign, peaceful state, and an abhorrence of violence and Hezbollah, which holds them captive to provocations and attacks. On the most basic level, Lebanese share the desire to enjoy the cafes, beaches and nightlife of Beirut - as their neighbors wish to enjoy those in Tel Aviv.

If we allow resentment of Israel's recent actions among the millions of Lebanese left homeless and bereaved to fester, we will lose our neighbors to the north and be left with even stronger dominance by Hezbollah.

How disheartening then, that as American Jewish generosity focuses on the needs of brothers and sisters in Israel, not one major Jewish organization has considered investing in humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Lebanon as well. Morally, whether we support or take issue with Israel's actions in the battle with Hezbollah, we should still feel compassion for the immense suffering of millions of Lebanese who do not support Hezbollah. Pragmatically, Israel's stability in the region depends to a great extent on its Arab neighbors reaching the same level of economic development that Israel has attained.

As supporters of Israel, it is incumbent upon us to contribute to this process if we wish to see peace in the region within our lifetimes.

[Totallybushed]

1. I think it

is a good idea. I'm not Jewish, but I'd be willing to contribute myself. After peace has broken out. No use sending money over there to be used by Hezbollah to destroy Israel.

[cali]

2. It's a good idea.

I'm not Jewish either, but I don't see how it could be anything but a positive.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. Fundamental misconception.

US Jews bear no more responsiblity for the destruction of Lebanon than anyone else; this is just another form of collective responsiblity.

If individual Jewish Americans choose to do so, that's great, but they have no more responsibility to do so than others.

[ninkasi]

8. I agree

Using that logic, then Christian fundamentalists should also contribute, since they support Israel's policies. Individual Jewish Americans shouldn't be singled out to pay to rebuild Lebanon. If the U.S. contributes, then that means all of us contribute.

[Zynx]

11. Exactly. The idea that American Jews should be singled out is very

odd indeed.

[JackNewtown]

25. I agree, good post nt

[Jim__]

4. I think all Americans need to contribute generously to the rebuilding

of Lebanon. It's one way that we can constructively protest the actions of our government.

[Zynx]

5. There should not be a "should" in that statement.

Should implies and obligation, which there is not. American Jews are not obligated to pay for it anymore than German Americans should have to pay Holocaust reparations.

[jonnyblitz]

7. we'd have to pay reparations to the whole world if westart

down this road whether it is justified or not. :shrug:

[kentuck]

9. That is the "word" used on the front page of Haaretz...

They say "should"...

[Zynx]

10. No. One opinion writer said that.

[kentuck]

17. Also the headline writers...

Read about 5 or 6 headlines down on the left column...

http://www.haaretz.com/

[wtmusic]

12. With the one fundamental difference

that American Jews, along with all Americans, paid for the bombs which are destroying Lebanon.

[Zynx]

13. Then all Americans should pay equally.

Not just Jews.

[wtmusic]

14. It doesn't say "just Jews" in the article

the focus is less of responsibility than that of considering Israel's best long-term interests

[oc2002]

6. Agreed.

nt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Reparations are paid by states

not individuals... that said when all is said and done the US shoudd pay reparatons to the government of Iraq, whatever form it may take

Another great misconception 0n DU, not to mention a little crazy...

[Lance_Boyle]

16. Maybe the US Govt. should seize

AIPAC funds and use those for reconstruction in Lebanon, on the basis that AIPAC is a foreign lobbying organization wrongly operating as a domestic lobbying group.

[kentuck]

18. OK then, let's talk a ceasefire...

:)

[mmonk]

19. I doubt our government would allow it without

some intimidation. Anyway, it's just not American Jews that should support rehabilitation, but every American. Our government supports further bombardment which means all Americans have their name on it.

[kentuck]

20. I agree...

I think a 5% tax surtax on every American would awaken them to the consequences of their actions. You cannot just go in with your bombs and high-tech toys and kill people any time you wish. Now you must pay for rebuilding the destruction you permitted. I think that might make voters hold animals like Bush and Cheney more in check before they turn them loose.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

21. I'll be sure to get right on that...

Let's see...Israel unilaterally pulls out of Gaza. Then the Palestinians hold elections. They elect a group of thugs who, instead of using funds for schools, hospitals, roads, jobs, and the like, purchase rockets and other ammunition to fire at their former occupier.

Now let's turn to Lebanon. The Lebanese government supports the existence of Hezbollah, supported by Syria and Lebanon, in it's southern territory. Some of those idiots decide to shell Israel unprovoked, and cross the border to seize some soldiers.

That seems to me like an act of war. You commit an act of war, you own the mess you are handed to you.

DBDB

[mmonk]

22. Life is so much easier when you think in black and white.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

23. While on the subject of black and white

Let's just look back at the original topic.

Why should US Jews pay? US Jews are American citizens who happen to be Jewish. Judaism is a religion, not a political belief.

If the statement were "Should US Zionists pay..." you may have a slightly different, albeit equally warped, argument. The sad truth is most people don't understand there is a world of difference between Judaism, a religious belief, and Zionism, which is the political belief that Israel should exist.

You can have Zionists who are not Jews, or who are Jews by birth and don't follow the religion. You can have Jews who are not Zionists. Then even even if someone is a Jew and a Zionist, neither means they necessarily support what Israel's government is doing.

The idea that a particular class of American citizens should pick up the tab is ludicrous. If we were to follow that line, the IRS would be sending out special bills to all Muslims for 9/11. I don't support that either.

The last thing I can say on this is that most governments wind up chipping in for the rebuilding, either directly or indirectly. When the US gives money, whether grant or loan, we are all chipping in as taxpayers. No need to further segregate out financial liability.

DBDB

[mmonk]

24. You are correct in that all

Americans should pay and I'm not for segregating the effort as my post indicates. We are on the same page as far as that goes. Our government is on the same page as Israel in the destruction of Lebanon.

[Zynx]

27. Some here say Israel = EVIL no matter what.

Is that not black and white?

[greguganus]

26. Sure. More money for Halliburton n/t