Polls show 80% of Israelis support current actions.

[Clarkie1]

WHY???

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 · Last updated 12:25 p.m. PT
Polls show Israelis support incursion

<snip>

Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon sparked the largest anti-war demonstrations in Israel's history - causing fractures in Israeli society that have barely healed. But this time it's different.

<snip>

A poll published Tuesday in Israel's Maariv newspaper showed 80 percent of respondents support the military's conduct during the offensive.

<snip>

If the Arab community is factored out, approval for the war passes 90 percent, a number almost unheard of in a country deeply divided by religion and politics, Ben Meir said.

Even the staunchest opponents of Israel's previous Lebanon foray back this war.

"This is an existential war. A war over our actual lives," said Orna Shimoni, a member of the now defunct Four Mothers grass roots group widely credited with getting Israel to withdraw from Lebanon in 2000.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Israel_Popular_War.html
---------------------------

Why have anti-war activists like Orna Shimoni changed their minds between then and now? I don't know the answers....discuss.

[manic expression]

1. And?

what in the world is this supposed to prove?

[Clarkie1]

2. I was thinking that myself when I was considering posting this.

It proves absolutely nothing in relation to whether the actions taken are right or wrong. It does not mean the U.S. should be supporting or not supporting Israels actions whatever the public opinion in Israel is. We are Americans, with American values...not Israeli values. It would be expected that some of our values would be the same, and some different since our interests are not identical.

I decided to post it because I'm am curious why public opinion in Israel has moved so far in one direction. Something, or a series of events, must have caused that to happen. I think it may be important to understand why that is happening.

[Erika]

6. I'm curious as to why our taxes should be used to bomb Lebanon

Any answers?

[izzie]

48. I did read that their news is controlled. That does help.

On us paying so much money into their military. I would say that they live pretty good and have a army at US tax payers cost. Or should i say China and Japan are holding the notes which our children etc. will pay for. And the winner? Oil co.

[Erika]

3. Can you tell us how much of the military budget is subsidized

by our U.S. taxes? Christmas paid for by us?

No, thanks. The pics of the dead Lebanese kids did away with any enthusiam I had for using my taxes to promulgate Israel's wars.

[JackNewtown]

11. I believe the figure is 20%

I am not a fan of sponsoring--both financially, militarily, and via providing necessary global political cover--things such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xlImx9akIM&search=Lenanon . I believe this across-the-board, not only regarding Israel. Turkey killed 30,000 Kurds in the late 90's. 80% of its weapons came from Uncle Sam...

If it weren't for AIPAC, would we be financing 20% of the military budget of a colonial nation such as Israel?

[Hardrada]

63. Probably not!

They put on some formidable pressure to keep this albatross around our necks and the the ensuing chain of war crimes to weigh upon our souls.

[SammyBlue]

4. Ooo. . .flamebait. Someone get popcorn!

:popcorn:

[Clarkie1]

5. I hope not.

I want this to stay focused on the question of why public opinion has changed the way it has in Israel. I'm sure people have some ideas.

[Truthiness Inspector]

8. From your article

"This is an existential war. A war over our actual lives," said Orna Shimoni, a member of the now defunct Four Mothers grass roots group widely credited with getting Israel to withdraw from Lebanon in 2000.


Maybe, just maybe, Israelis realize that it's now or never. Or now and forever living under attack.

[jonnyblitz]

9. as long Israelis keep stealing land and slaughtering people

they will continue to get attacked. they will never end "terrorism" anymore than george bush is going to end it in Iraq.

[boston bean]

12. I wonder what happens if they find out it's never.

It is very difficult to fight a guerilla war. We should know that by now, but still we proceed.

There has got to be a better way than military action.

[orleans]

13. maybe they have the kind of media we have

and the kind of government as well

(ie: war is peace; will not sit down and talk/work things out with other countries, etc)

[Clarkie1]

15. It would be really helpful to hear from people who have lived in Israel

then and now. I'd like to hear their thoughts.

[alittlelark]

24. You are spot-on.

Thousands of Israelis are staging protests that get little to no coverage.... Their gov't feeds them nationalistic propaganda....

SOUND FAMILIAR?

[orleans]

36. i heard that yesterday--maybe on a cspan show? but that's

what i was thinking about when i said that--

[Erika]

7. Because they get their way paid for by U.S. taxpayers?

Quite an inducement.

[orleans]

21. i thought the u.s. didn't give israel as much money as we give

to several other countries (but i can't find anything to prove this now--seems like i read this several years ago)

[Poll_Blind]

62. Israel receives the most of any other country at ~3 Bln. n/t

PB

[greyl]

10. Fear of death?

If a large organized terrorist group in Silver Spring Maryland made a public announcement that they wanted to eliminate Baltimore, some Baltimorians would evacuate, and others would say Bullshit!, let's wipe them out first.

(possibly weak analogy)
edit: to be clear, I'm speaking of the Israeli citizenry, not the government.

[Melody Watson]

14. who did they poll

and what do they have to gain from polling this particular question?

Polls are easily manipulated, question everything.

[Clarkie1]

19. Quite right.

I'm not familar with this paper and they don't cite their source, but perhaps someone who has been to Israel is familar with the paper and any bias?

A poll published Tuesday in Israel's Maariv newspaper showed 80 percent of respondents support the military's conduct during the offensive, while 74 percent said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his government were doing a great job. The poll of 500 adults had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. Ma'ariv doesn't have an English site.

The poll is in Hebrew, possibly in Arabic. There are a few posters who can read Hebrew, perhaps they will assist.

[Melody Watson]

25. exactly, we don't know shit when it comes to the real opinion

of any one anymore, our BS coporate media has too much to gain from lying to us.

[jerry611]

20. I;ve seen even higher polls in the 90s

You would have trouble finding an Israeli that hasn't personally witnessed a terrorist attack. So it isnt surprising at all that a very large majority would favor military action against terrorist groups.

[JackNewtown]

16. What about American public opinion?

What is telling and worrisome is the irrelevance of American public opinon, as usual, on US policy toward Israel. Why aren't our leaders, particularly Congress, expressing the public's view on this? The public is divided on Israel's military action but two-thirds of Americans believe the USA should not take a side in this conflict. Despite this, only 2 of 100 Senators has stood up against the Bush/Olmert/Netanyahu/AIPAC position...

[Melody Watson]

29. Congress hasn't paid attention to the public in years

otherwise we would have left Iraq a while ago.

[jerry611]

34. The United States will never abandon Israel

You can forget about it. The Israeli strategy fits the GOP agenda. So Republicans are all for Israel. And the Democrats are too afraid of losing the Jewish vote.

And there is reason to be afraid... For example, there are heavy pockets of jewish voters in Florida. If the Democrats piss those voters off, you can forget about Florida for 2008.

[Melody Watson]

46. I hav no probs with American Jews

for goodness sake they gave us Jon Stewart!

I don't support the killing of innocents in anyone's name, and I think American Jews are smart enough to make the distinction.

[Erika]

49. So what about the deaths of the Lebanese kids?

Any answer?

[JackNewtown]

52. Muslim/Arab vote?

Muslims and Arabs (I know they are not one and the same but both tend to be pro-Palestinian) in Michigan are a key part of the electorate. Without them Kerry probably would have lost Michigan. Muslim and Arabs are also growing parts of the electorate in Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylavania. There are almost as many Muslim and Arab votes in the US as Jewish votes. Moreover, the Jewish population is declining while the Muslim population is rapdily increasing. Muslims are also considered to be a group that is "up for grabs." If the Democratic position on Israel were just about votes the party would have an even-handed position. However, Muslims and Arabs have no rival to AIPAC and money is the mother's milk of politics.

[jerry611]

66. That's kind of up in the air

Many arabs in Michigan are former Iraqis that hated the Saddam regime. So those arabs actually supported Bush in the last election.

Arab vote has been kind of split the last few elecrions. Not sure what it is now but their numbers are not high enough in the swing states to force either political party to change their policy.

[JackNewtown]

82. They are a minority of the Arab pop. though

Who do you think the other Arabs backed by a large margin? Polls of Arabs in 2004 had Kerry with a huge, I think it was a 4-1 or 5-1 lead among Arabs. Then you have the Muslim population, which voted overwhelmingly for Kerry.

I am not sure how Arabs voted in 96' but I know Muslims backed Clinton that year but switched to Bush in 2000 and then back to the Democratic candidate in 2004. This underscores the fact this group is up for grabs right now. The Democrats could bring them into the coalition like the Dem Party has with virtually every other minority group.

Arabs are estimated to be 5% of the population in Michigan, 2% in Ohio and Florida, and 1.5% in PA. Then you have to add the Muslim vote to this as well, which would add at least another 1-2% in each state. Jews are 1.1% of the population in Michigan, 1.3% in Ohio, 3.9% in Florida, and 2.3% in PA. So in Michigan and Ohio there are more Muslim/Arab votes while in PA it is a wash--right now (remember the population trends for these groups). Only in Florida is the Jewish vote a big factor. I still maintain that if this were about votes the Democrats would be even-handed.

[cigsandcoffee]

17. I think the results would be similar in this (or any) country...

...if we were fighting a group that was attacking us. Nobody wants a bunch of rockets shot at them.

[Clarkie1]

18. My thoughts as well, but what about the difference between the 1980s

and now? I'd like to someone who lived in Israel then and now about how the perception of the threat, or the actual threat, has changed in their view.

[Erika]

23. I'd like to hear if Israelis would have a change of mind if

they had to pay for their own defense.

[cigsandcoffee]

28. They couldn't afford it to the level...

...that would deter the nations which want them dead. Instead of taking polls, they'd be getting slaughtered - or American troops would be there to intervene. That would be no fun for us at all, on a variety of levels.

Conversely, we could just watch them die, but that wouldn't be very friendly of us.

[JackNewtown]

33. I disagree, Israel's nukes are sufficient deterrants IMO nt

[cigsandcoffee]

41. You want them to nuke Lebanon instead of targeting Hezbollah?

Be careful what you wish for, for God's sake. If a nuke is their only option, they'd have to be serious enough to actually use it - otherwise, no deterrent.

[JackNewtown]

Nukes deter states

Only states threaten Israel's survival at this stage (which is why Iran must be prevented from going nuclear), and currently no state that opposes Israel has the means to destroy Israel.

If they targeted only Hezbollah they would have retained the initial global support they had for their campaign. They went beyond that, though, and paid the price in the court of world opinion.

[cigsandcoffee]

75. Nukes deter nothing unless you will really use them.

Would you really like to see Israel's only defense option be a nuclear weapon? What would that mean if some country were to "dare" them? Think about it.

[JackNewtown]

85. No

I have no problem with military aid to Israel in and of itself. The problem is the price to US interests and our national security. I will never favor weakeaning our security for any other country. Still, I recognize the importance of Israel's survival and its precarious situation. The US should continue to support it but should work to end its occupation and secure peace, even if this means penalizing it by reducing, although not eliminating, its aid package. If the conflict ended, support for Israel, no matter how zealous, would cease to be a major liability for the USA.

[JackNewtown]

68. Nukes deter states

Only states threaten Israel's survival at this stage (which is why Iran must be prevented from going nuclear), and currently no state that opposes Israel has the means to destroy Israel.

If they targeted only Hezbollah they would have retained the initial global support they had for their campaign. They went beyond that, though, and paid the price in the court of world opinion.

[Clarkie1]

84. Good God.

Can you imagine Israel being atttacked from all sides with nothing but nukes to defend itself?

Think about the ramifications of that.

[JackNewtown]

86. That isn't what would happen without US aid

Take away US aid and Israel would still have a substantially larger defense budget than Syria, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. SA already has a bigger one but it is not a serious military force, despite its fairly large budget.

[JackNewtown]

30. Israel without US sponsorship?

I think if Israel lost US financial and military sponsorship it would be much weaker and less agressive and more likely to negotiate for a lasting peace. If Israel lost American political cover as well, Israel would be the new South Africa...

[cigsandcoffee]

38. Actually, it would cease to exist.

If America abandoned Israel, the more aggressive Islamic theocracies of the Middle East would consume it shortly thereafter. Unless America intervened, of course. But then it would be our troops holding back Hezbollah and dying.

[JackNewtown]

70. They won't attack a nuclear regional superpower

It is a good myth to promote US support for Israel but the fact is Syria or Saudi Arabia aren't going to attack Israel and commit national suicide in the process as 200 nukes rain upon them.

[cigsandcoffee]

77. You're obviously willing to bet their lives on that.

I wonder if you'd be so quick to bet your own on the motivations and capabilities of the Iranian Mullahs.

[JackNewtown]

87. Iran without nukes is not a military threat to Israel

If it got nukes then we would face the prospect of a 2nd Holocaust, which is why it is vital the fundies in Iran not be allowed to acquire nukes,

As far as my own life, I am not a big fan of increasing the terrorist threat to me and my country because of zealous, blind support for a foreign power. I view the I/P conflict through the prism of US national security interests.

[Truthiness Inspector]

35. They do

with mandatory service for males and females at age 17. They pay with actual human lives and service.

[Clarkie1]

83. If Israel had to pay for their own defense they would not exist. nt

[JackNewtown]

88. What about pre-1970's Israel?

It did not receive a big US aid package then and yet managed to crush the Arabs twice, beat Egypt along with the UK and France in 56'. All this during a time the Arabs were heavily armed by the USSR. The USSR is now gone and Israel would maintain its military superiority with or without free weapons.

[Clarkie1]

89. If you have links on U.S. aid to Israel over an historical timeframe.

I'd appreciate it...."not big" needs more definition.

[JNelson6563]

90. Here's some info

http://www.wrmea.com/html/us_aid_to_israel.htm

U.S. Financial Aid To Israel: Figures, Facts, and Impact

Summary
Benefits to Israel of U.S. Aid
Since 1949 (As of November 1, 1997)

Foreign Aid Grants and Loans
$74,157,600,000

Other U.S. Aid (12.2% of Foreign Aid)
$9,047,227,200

Interest to Israel from Advanced Payments
$1,650,000,000

Grand Total
$84,854,827,200

Total Benefits per Israeli
$14,630

Cost to U.S. Taxpayers of U.S.
Aid to Israel

Grand Total
$84,854,827,200

Interest Costs Borne by U.S.
$49,936,680,000

Total Cost to U.S. Taxpayers
$134,791,507,200

Total Taxpayer Cost per Israeli
$23,240

[cigsandcoffee]

27. I'd guess many have given up on a peaceful solution.

They've watched such "solutions" fail spectacularly for the last 24 years.

[JackNewtown]

37. Israel has two peace treaties, both have worked nt

[Behind the Aegis]

39. With sovereign nations. n/t

[JackNewtown]

54. Yes, hopefully Palestine becomes a sovereign nation too ; ) nt

[cigsandcoffee]

57. They've had lots of chances.

It would be nice if they were to take one.

[JackNewtown]

72. True, thankfully Arafat is now gone

Of course, Israel has not offered peace since Sharon took over and that resulted in Hamas winning...

[Behind the Aegis]

58. Can't disagree with that! :)

[regnaD kciN]

26. Actually, that's down quite a bit...

According to this, support for the war was 95% a few days ago.

Actually, this shouldn't be surprising at all for anyone who lived through either of the U.S.'s Gulf Wars of the last fifteen years. In each case, the minute hostilities started, opposition (even that which was expressed in massive anti-war rallies mere days before) vanished and "Support Our Troops!" became the mantra of the day.

Once a war has begun, it's a normal reaction to set aside misgivings and hope for a quick victory -- because, after all, the alternative is something you don't want to think about.

However, I would also point out that this poll came from Maariv, which one Israeli leftist commentator referred to as "the Fox News of Israel."

And if you're interested in Jewish and/or Israeli anti-war sentiment, I would recommend looking here and here.

[Erika]

31. Ask the Israelis if they would pay for the war themselves

and the poll numbers would go way down.

[Truthiness Inspector]

40. Israeli sons and daughters are fighting this

That is the highest price.

[Erika]

45. Ten Lebanese deaths to every Israeli death

And Israel is becoming the occupying force.

[Truthiness Inspector]

56. Wait a minute

You asked who is paying for this, as far as Israel is concerned. Your question was answered, now you are switching gears.

Aren't you omitting just a few Hezbollah (terrorist) deaths in your calculation, as well as the question of who funds Hezbollah? Hezbollah is not defending a nation; they were ordered to be disarmed and should not be a part of Lebanon, at least in any enforcement capacity.

[Erika]

61. Hezbolla reps were duly and democratically elected

to the Lebanese goverment.

[Behind the Aegis]

69. and so was Bush? Your point?

[Erika]

76. Who are we to turn over a democratically elected gov't

Because we didn't like the make up?

[Behind the Aegis]

81. No one is trying to turn over the Lebanese government.

Nice spin though. :eyes:

[Truthiness Inspector]

73. 23 were, that is correct

So, who funds Hezbollah? Can you answer that one question?

[jerry611]

42. They are paying...with their lives...

We may be paying it with money...but the Israelis are paying it with the lives of their young men.

[Erika]

44. Lebanese are paying 10 lives to every Israeli death

Get a perspective.

[cigsandcoffee]

47. So you'd like to see a 1:1 kill ratio...

...before you feel things are fair?

This is war, for God's sake, not doling out M&M's fairly to a class of toddlers. When a nation goes to war, they'd better be damn sure they can win it (something we didn't do in Iraq) and do so in the shortest possible time.

Israel will lose a war of attrition - badly. They just can't afford a 1:1 kill ratio.

[Erika]

50. It is the Lebanese toddlers who are dead

Is Israel proud of declaring a war they can win, killing toddlers, and having the price tag paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

You think that is fair?

[cigsandcoffee]

55. That's very melodramatic to focus on toddlers.

It's an appeal to emotion, but misses the point. A person should mourn and feel regret for all of the innocent dead in war, men women and children included. I wish there were another way for Israel, but I believe Hezbollah has narrowed their options.

[Erika]

59. Hezbollah kidnapped 2 soldiers

Israel is decimating Lebanon and it's civilians by the hundreds in retaliation. Israel, with it's war paid for by U.S. taxpayers, is targeting civilians. Yes, most of us do find a toddler's life more precious than an adults. Call it emotion or what ever you choose.

[cigsandcoffee]

64. And killed a few more at the same time. Let's not forget that.

I think all life is precious - toddlers and adults alike. Then there's the question of all of those rockets being shot at Israeli toddlers.

You see, quite unlike Israel, Hezbollah is actually hoping to kill civilians. If killing civilians was Israel's thing, you wouldn't believe the carnage they could have inflicted on Lebanon by now - it would make what's happening at the moment look like riding bumper cars at the fair.

[Erika]

67. Israel is inflicting carnage

and they are unapologetic. Paid for by the U.S. taxpayers.

The interview of Lebanese tonight praised Hezbollah for truly caring about the people. Israel may win the carnage war, but lose the P.R. war.

[cigsandcoffee]

71. Israel could make Lebanon look like Warsaw in 1939.

Totally flattened.

You should recognize restraint when you see it. They may be going further than you like, but they are far, far away from a full scale war on Lebanon.

[Erika]

78. Restraint. Give me a break

Israel killing hundreds of innocents is restraint?

I note you do not address most is paid for by the U.S. taxpayers, and therefore, in our name. Interesting.

[Truthiness Inspector]

79. Who funds Hezbollah?

[cigsandcoffee]

80. They could kill everyone in Lebanon. All of them. Wipe them out.

They are very clearly restrained in this action.

And I fully support America's support of Israel, both militarily and any other way - much like the majority of leaders in my Democratic party. I apologize if that wasn't clear.

[izzie]

65. Is the saying that they win the war and not the peace?

I an sure between Israel and Our weapons we can win the war. That seems almost to be the easy part in this but we do not seem to win the countries. I think it is because we fight for some thing like land, or a building. The other side seems to have a mind set of another thought in it. It is like a battle of the minds of people. The more we win the more they gather up power with their people.

[Erika]

74. True. Hezbollah is seen as the peoples power

The U.S. and Israel are seen as against their people.

[Clarkie1]

32. Thanks for the info! nt

[Clarkie1]

51. I found this from one of your very helpful links.

It differentiates between what is happening in Gaza and Lebanon, and I thought it worth posting because I haven't heard this argument before:

Yitzhak Frankenthal
The Arik Institute For Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace,In Memory of Arieh Zvi Frankenthal. (??"?)

Seeking peace; forced to fight.


Lebanon, by abducting two Israeli soldiers, firing at Israel and killing eight Israeli soldiers, has this morning declared war. Such attacks, when carried-out from within Lebanese sovereignty, can be seen as nothing but a declaration of war.

A distinction must be made here, between Lebanon and other sovereign states, and the Palestinians. The Palestinians are fighting occupation, the worst form of terror, and the occupier. If I was a Palestinian I would undoubtedly be struggling for my independence and vigorously opposing the occupation. To do so is the natural duty of every Palestinian. Opposing the occupation and struggling for independence can be done in numerous different ways, however. Personally, I would have chosen to oppose it by massive demonstration (hundreds-of-thousands' of Palestinians), without letting up until Israel ceased its occupation of my lands and my people. I would not use force of arms or suicide bombers for a number of reasons, not the least of which being:

a. Israel is incomparably stronger, especially in contrast to the Palestinians.

b. Terrorizing Israel will not force Israel into surrender, as no nation can afford to give in to terrorism. Palestinians as well, cannot afford to despair and surrender in the face of Israeli terrorism.

c. Those who take part in terrorist activities inevitably reduce themselves to the level of those who they are fighting with just cause – ultimately placing themselves in the wrong.

d. Terror aimed at civilian populations is justly perceived by the world as an illegitimate form of warfare. Without support from the free world, establishing a sovereign state is impossible.

True, in this regard we can see a great degree of hypocrisy in the world: despite Israel's incessant terrorizing of the Palestinian population, the world does not look upon Israelis as terrorists. When Palestinians terrorize Israel on the other hand, they are unjustly equated to fundamentalist Muslim terrorists such as Bin Laden.

The events which occurred this morning on the Israeli-Lebanese border are an act of war. Israel has an obligation to retaliate and defend itself. Lebanon, unlike the Palestinian population, is an autonomous country. The Hezbollah in this case is of no interest to me. Only the Lebanese government, which cannot control the armed factions within it, is of interest to me - a government that cannot control the armed forces within-it is nothing but a government of puppets.

Within reason, I would be willing to do anything to achieve peace. As an Israeli, however, I cannot tolerate a self-governing country attacking mine. If I was the Prime Minister of Israel today, faced with the events of this morning, I would give Lebanon an ultimatum by which to return the abducted Israeli soldiers to Israel - alive and in one piece. If they failed to fulfill this deadline, I would begin bombing infrastructures in Beirut, starting with the electricity. If the soldiers are still not returned, I would destroy every bridge in Lebanon - and if the Lebanese government remained stubborn, I would have Lebanese soldiers, dignitaries and Hezbollah operatives captured - only to be released in return for the Israeli soldiers.
I am not playing games… As much as I want peace, I want my fellow Israelis to live securely in their country. No more fooling around with Lebanon.

Gentlemen, peace is realized in order to live peacefully. We have had no quarrels with Lebanon for the past few years. The ruthlessness and belligerence of the various terrorist organizations there do not interest me. I don't recognize the Hezbollah. It does not interest me. What interests me is the Lebanese government, as it is solely responsible for maintaining peace along its borders.

I cannot emphasize enough the fact that there is a significant difference between the Lebanese government and the Palestinian population - the Palestinians are justified in their battle against the occupation and the occupier. The Lebanese/Hezbollah are nothing but a gang of brutes which Israel has an obligation to defend itself against.

I would not be surprised if Syria is backing the Hezbollah. Syria has a right to fight Israel in order to re-possess the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel – especially in light of the fact that the Syrian President has repeatedly addressed the Israeli government calling for peace, given the return of the Golan Heights to Syria. For Syria to attack Israel via Lebanon, however, would be a first-class case of malevolence. The Lebanese have suffered more than enough and if they controlled the terrorist enclaves in their own territories, deserve to live in peace and quiet.

In summary, I think it is entirely possible that we will go to war with Lebanon over what happened this morning. It would be a very unfortunate, a very regrettable war, but an entirely justified one. We cannot let terror - be it Lebanese, Israeli or Palestinian - win.

To be able to differentiate between the different varieties of terror we must be able apply a healthy dose of common sense. I hope that wisdom will soon reach our region – we all deserve to live in peace and security.

Yitzhak Frankenthal

http://www.tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/news_item.2006-07-13.2604750814

[Hatalles]

43. Maybe it's the media in Israel?

"Israel is a deeply indoctrinated country, and it is also an isolated country. There are hardly any pictures on TV of the damage to lives and infrastructure in Lebanon. I was born in this society, and I know that if they would know then they would act differently and convey an alternative."

http://www.naseeb.com/naseebvibes/interview-detail.php?aid=5161&pg=1

[Erika]

53. Maybe if they saw the dead Lebanese kids, they would

rethink their war.

Most of the world would.

[Ignoramus]

60. Based on how people acted around 9/11 in America

I'm not suprised at all.

How brave the people of Spain are. They didn't have the obvious reaction to their train bombing.

Unless I actually have loved one's blown up by a missle, I won't know for sure if I would act according to my principals.