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...The Israel Monologues Ha'aretz and the Jordan Times provide up-to-date news. The Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority offer their views on events in Israel and the occupied territories. The UN news service Middle East section provides news and posts UN Security Council resolutions. The US State Department posts information on its efforts to promote peace in the region—click here and here. Documents relating to the peace process are published by the Israeli government, including the Tenet plan, the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. The State Department posts the Mitchell report. Note: These letters represent the views of their individual writers and should not be construed as representing the editorial policy of Bush Watch. (For editorial positions on the Middle East taken by Bush Watch, see The Israel Dialogues.) Letters may be edited for privacy, civility, clarity, brevity, or readability. Peace in the Middle East will not be achieved as long as the United States continues to blindly bankroll an Israeli regime set upon expansion. American support enables Israel to pursue its belligerent policies. These policies provoke indigenous resistance and contempt for the United State. The ill will created by this asymmetrical relationship with Israel brings endless costs in terms of American blood and American treasure to the people of the United States. In the interest of Israel, and not our own people, we have become the target of wrath generated by Israel's unenlightened, racist, and militaristic policies. It is time for Americans to regain their own destiny and refuse to provide unconditional support of Israel. Stephen, Austin, Texas Dear Mr. Wilgus: Thank you for your letter of rebuttal [see below] to the "Open letter from an Israeli" - it's good to put the arguments and counter arguments on the table. Perhaps you will be interested in responses to your points of view (prefaced with a ">" character), which are followed by my thoughts (in bold): > 1. Israel should have been content with its original gift of land, but the exact opposite is apparent, for it's rather obvious that the military actions it has taken were more about acquiring land than they were about acquiring security for her citizens. There is certainly no evidence that it has treated its neighbors---particularly the defenseless Palestinians from whom the original land was taken---with courtesy or respect either. Israel looks pretty bad when you focus on it's faults this way - the only problem is when you compare Israel to almost all the other nations of the world, either past or present, it actually looks pretty good. In fact, Israel looks fantastic when compared with the key Arab states supporting the Palestinian "homicide-bombers", who are amongst the most vicious, blood-thirsty, and repressive regimes in the history of the world. The Jews who lived in these countries didn't exactly get "courtesy or respect" either - they mostly went to Israel and got a life. Is this what really bothers you? > 2. While I deplore them, I cannot criticize Palestinians for the methods they have and are using to resist oppression and occupation by an aggressor nation, because they have no other means at their disposal. Someday, perhaps, your family and loved ones will be blown to bits by some freakos claiming they are so full of despair that they must murder innocent civilians. When you pick up the body parts of your family and put them into shopping bags, remind yourself that the killers had "no other means at their disposal." > 3. The military might that Israel is using against Palestinians is as at least as deplorable as the terrorism that the Palestinians are employing. If the Israelis were as bad as the Palestinians, it would be very simple for them to kill tens of thousands of civilians upon the slightest provocation. This is how the Arab regimes and the real Gestapo avoided having to deal with "homicide bombers". Can you imagine these regimes allowing external groups to provide money, housing, and college scholarships to the families of the killers ? Instead of a benefit package, these regimes simply killed the familes of the killers and everyone in their village. 4. The only effective security measure against terrorism is to adopt policies that preclude the need for it. In other words, be a good neighbor instead of an enemy! If the bleeding hearts in the Arab world had been good neighbors to their "brothers" in Palestine, they could have easily helped them get a life and get a job. 5. I'm sick and tired of the `poor us' whining that some Jews engage in. The policies and tactics of the government of Israel and those of its citizens who have and do support them are to blame for the current state of its relations with Palestine and the rest of the world. Sorry it upsets you to find out that about 1/3 of the Jews in the entire world were killed in the last century - maybe if 1/3 of your religion were treated this way, you wouln't be so "sick and tired" about hearing about the brutality visited upon Jews by the rest of the world over thousands of years ? Don't you see a pattern here? Or do you think it has suddenly stopped after going on for so long? By the way, when it comes to being seen as a victim, the Palestinians the "Rembrandts of suffering". Who else in the world could get away with cheering the killing of 3,000 American civilians on 9/11, who else could get away with sending their children to blow up innocent civilians, followed by a celebratory parade, and then pretend to be "victims" ? 6. Regardless of who started the current Israeli - Palestinian conflict, the time that it should have ended is long past, and that can only happen with the permanent withdrawal of all Israelis from the `Occupied Territories' that is demanded by justice. Israel occupied these territories after being attacked by it's neighbors. It will be kind enough to return them permanently when the "infanticada" ends. Regards, Ed Shalom I have taken the time to learn what I could about this ongoing conflict. It's really quite simple, as you read about the chronological events you would have learned that the palestinians were essentially farmers. The Israels decided upon themselves in the 1940's to simply take the land when apparent land owners were absent from their property (a vacation, etc.) these people were not given ANY consideration for taking their land back, no financial payment, or their day in court. The UN told the Israels at least 28 times to return the land to date they have not. United States is the template for the Israels occupation of Palestian. As the europeans invaded what is now called America, the 0 generation americans removed the natives from their land by force (Trail of Tears - I'll bet you did not know that the europeans who removed the natives were largely fresh on the soil). They brough their imaginary lines and decided that anyone south of the Rio Grande are aliens (even though we have blood ties) to date we are considered aliens in our own land. Over 200 hundred years later the natives are still being murdered by mysterious sharp shooters, their land is constantly being coveted by the government, they have little rights even the black people have more rights than the first nation people. The funds that should have been established (over 200 years of interest) are constantly looted with no explanation. The natives are so oppressed that it is an extremely rare sight to see a native family having breakfast anywhere. When was the last time you yourself witness this everyday event? I have total respect for the palestinians...I understand that if they do not fight for their land than like the natives, the palestinians will become invisible. They will have 90% of their population destroyed forever...these are people with souls. They have every right to defend themselves from the oppressors. How smart are the Israels? Can they not see they themselves are acting like Nazis? Maybe we should start calling them Nazis. The jews resisted the nazis when they tried to round the people up the Jewish women also put explosives on themselves and blew up soldiers. Why was it ok for them but so horrible for the palestinians? If you would just read the history of the Israels and the treatment of the Palestinian people then you would understand how they have been brutilized by them. I watched a program yesterday the Israel stated clearly they will NOT discuss the possiblity of a Palestinian state they want it all. Now I ask you is that fair? If you were of native descent I think you might have a different view of this country. If your from european descent than you probably take for granted how your ancestors came here and probably don't care. Read! Question! Learn! Sincerely Deborah If Israel is in the right, why is the Israeli army planning on burying the dead in Jenin themselves? Why do they refuse access to the media to investigate what they have done there and elsewhere? And wouldn't a real terrorist organization, such as Al qaeda, be blasting those tanks and helicopters with rocket propelled grenades? Or is someone going to have me believe that they have the weaponry and are saving it for when they really need it and this isn't that time. I hear it often said that Israel is a "democracy." Do the Palestinians get to vote for and against those who have dominion over them? The claim is made that Arafat was appointed by the other Arab nations, so his leadership is not legitimate. Has Israel ever directed the Palestinians to actually have elections? Or is Israel too afraid of confronting a leader with legitimate grassroots support? Why do I have the feeling that Israel doesn't have a single defensible answer? Paul Texas Dear Politex, Many months since I wrote to you. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the letter you posted by Ariel Ben Attar. It is the best, most concise, most accurate thing I have read about the current conflict. I visited Israel a few months ago for the first time. It was an amazing eye-opener for me - having learned my whole life to revere and pray for and hope for Israel I finally saw the country. It is the most beautiful place! There are forests and lush greenery where there used to be nothing but sand, it is modern and thriving culturally and intellectually. Americans would be amazed at how similar their society is to Israel's. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem through the West Bank to the Dead Sea. We got lost in Palestinian Authority (PA), and were nervous until we got back onto our route. Passing into PA is like going from the US into a third world country. The poverty and hardship of the lives of the people is heartbreaking, their daily suffering and lack of necessities sad and dismal. It is these awful conditions that breed the type of hatred and despondency that give rise to exploitation by their own leaders to turn their future - their youth - into a dead end - suicide bombers. The majority of Jews that moved to Israel after 1948 were poverty struck refugees with nothing. The Palestinians who left Israel were the same. What was the difference? The difference was that the entire world community of Jews poured their support into Israel - economically, physically, emotionally. The Arabs never did that for their own. Every country makes an effort to settle the never-ending waves of immigrants into neighborhoods and homes so they can make a life for themselves. The Palestinians are the only group I am aware of that chose not to integrate their refugees into society and help them achieve a future. Nowhere else do people keep their own in squalid refugee camps indefinitely. To the people who think the US should withhold economic aid to Israel (mostly left-wing liberals - but wait, that's me!), I offer this: My oldest daughter graduated from Barnard last May and I had never once seen a transcript during her entire college career. My friends said to me: my money, my grades. I wouldn't pay tuition if I didn't get to see the grades, etc. I continually talked to my daughter and would make sure she was on track to graduate. She worked to help pay the bills and support herself. She did 2 volunteer jobs: tutoring at an HIV positive school in Harlem, and working with a domestic abuse group doing their databases. Who the hell cared about her grades? I trusted her to know the best thing for herself and her own method of achieving it. I would ask my friends, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR MONEY IS BUYING YOU? This is the republican ethos of buying access which actually translates into buying control. Not only is Israel the only democracy in the middle east, but they are the only society that shares our common value system and outlook. I laughed when I read the current idiot administration was perplexed that the Arabs won't denounce terrorism against Israel when it's so obviously in their own best interest to do so! You cannot go along assuming that the Arab community has the same value system and goals that the western world embraces - specifically life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you for letting me ramble on. The writers like Denis from Brooklyn should read some history and visit the middle east before making such condemning statements about Israel. Then he will discover the wisdom of Golda Meir when she said: "There will never be peace in Israel until the Arabs love their own children more than they hate us." Thanx again, Aviva M. Rich-Shea Sharon, MA An Open Letter to Ariel Ben Attar, an Israeli (see Beb Attar letter below) Mr. Attar: 1. Israel should have been content with its original gift of land, but the exact opposite is apparent, for it's rather obvious that the military actions it has taken were more about acquiring land than they were about acquiring security for her citizens. There is certainly no evidence that it has treated its neighbors---particularly the defenseless Palestinians from whom the original land was taken---with courtesy or respect either. 2. While I deplore them, I cannot criticize Palestinians for the methods they have and are using to resist oppression and occupation by an aggressor nation, because they have no other means at their disposal. 3. The military might that Israel is using against Palestinians is as at least as deplorable as the terrorism that the Palestinians are employing. 4. The only effective security measure against terrorism is to adopt policies that preclude the need for it. In other words, be a good neighbor instead of an enemy! 5. I'm sick and tired of the `poor us' whining that some Jews engage in. The policies and tactics of the government of Israel and those of its citizens who have and do support them are to blame for the current state of its relations with Palestine and the rest of the world. 6. Regardless of who started the current Israeli - Palestinian conflict, the time that it should have ended is long past, and that can only happen with the permanent withdrawal of all Israelis from the `Occupied Territories' that is demanded by justice. William Wilgus The Public Cause Network Director@ThePublicCause.Net http://www.thepubliccause.net The letter from Israel (see below) is a new low in emotional blackmail. The writer pulls the classic rhetorical dirty trick - you can't accuse me - I'm the victim. When will Israelis stop playing the victim card. They are like the child who was abused and who now abuses children -- seek therapy, please. This is not about the Holocaust. This is not about the Spanish Inquisition, it is not about the Crucifixion. It is about Israel's behaviour toward the Palestinians and the questionable way that Israel was created out of the ruins of the Ottoman empire. The British Mandate was to create two states - one for the Jewish people so that they could have a homeland - this first mentioned in the Balfour Declaration of 1913 - and one for the native Arabs of Palestine. When the League of Nations got involved and later the U.N., the British were more than happy to sign off on the whole matter given that they had been victims of Jewish Terror attacks - most notably the attack in the King David Hotel which killed 95 British soldiers. The newly created state of Israel eventually gained suzerainty over the entire region and inherited the Palestinian people and have been abusing them ever since. No amount of past suffering on the part of the Jewish people can justify their treatment of the Palestinians. Denis Brooklyn Open Letter To The World >>Dear World, I understand that you are upset by us, here in Israel. Indeed, >>it appears that you are quite upset, even angry. (Outraged?) Indeed, every >>few years you seem to become upset by us. Today, it is the brutal repression >>of the Palestinians; yesterday it was Lebanon; before that it was the >>bombing of the nuclear reactor in Baghdad and the Yom Kippur War and the >>Sinai campaign. It appears that Jews who triumph and who, therefore, live, >>upset you most extraordinarily. >>Of course, dear world, long before there was an Israel, we the Jewish people >>upset you. We upset a German people who elected Hitler an upset an Austrian >>people who cheered his entry into Vienna and we upset a whole slew of Slavic >>nations Poles, Slovaks, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians and >>Romanians. And we go back a long,long way in the history of world upset. We >>upset the Cossacks of Chmielnicki who massacred tens of thousands of us in >>1648-49; we upset the Crusaders who, on their way to liberate the Holy Land, >>were so upset at Jews that they slaughtered untold numbers of us. >>For centuries, we upset a Roman Catholic Church that did its best to define >>our relationship through inquisitions, and we upset the arch-enemy of the >>church, Martin Luther, who, in his call to burn the synagogues and the Jews >>within them, showed an admirable Christian ecumenical spirit. And it is >>because we became so upset over upsetting you, dear world, that we decided >>to leave you in a manner of speaking and establish a Jewish state. The >>reasoning was that living in close contact with you, as resident-strangers >>in the various countries that comprise you, we upset you, irritate you and >>disturb you. What better notion, then, than to leave you and thus love you >>and have you love us? And so we decided to come home to the same homeland >>from which we were driven out 1,900 years earlier by a Roman world that, >>apparently, we also upset. >>Alas, dear world, it appears that you are hard to please. Having left you >>and your pogroms and inquisitions and crusades and holocausts, having taken >>our leave of the general world to live alone in our own little state, we >>continue to upset you. You are upset that we repress the poor Palestinians. >>You are deeply angered over the fact that we do not give up the lands of >>1967, which are clearly the obstacle to peace in the Middle East. Moscow is >>upset and Washington is upset. The radical Arabs are upset and the gentle >>Egyptian moderates are upset. >>Well, dear world, consider the reaction of a normal Jew from Israel. In 1920 >>and 1921 and 1929, there were no territories of 1967 to impede peace between >>Jews and Arabs. Indeed, there was no Jewish State to upset anybody. >>Nevertheless, the same oppressed and repressed Palestinians slaughtered tens >>of Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Safed and Hebron. >>Indeed, 67 Jews were slaughtered one day in Hebron in 1929. Dear world, why >>did the Arabs the Palestinians massacre 67 Jews in one day in 1929? Could it >>have been their anger over Israeli aggression in 1967? And why were 510 >>Jewish men, women and children slaughtered in Arab riots between 1936-39? >>Was it because Arabs were upset over 1967? And when you, world, proposed a >>UN Partition Plan in 1947 that would have created a Palestinian State >>alongside a tiny Israel and the Arabs cried no and went to war and killed >>6,000 Jews was that upset caused by the aggression of 1967? And, by the way, >>dear world, why did we not hear your cry of upset then? >>The poor Palestinians who today kill Jews with explosives and firebombs and >>stones are part of the same people who when they had all the territories >>they now demand be given to them for their state attempted to drive the >>Jewish state into the sea. The same twisted faces, the same hate, the same >>cry of itbach-al-yahud (Massacre the Jew!) that we hear and see today, were >>seen and heard then. The same people, the same dream destroy Israel. What >>they failed to do yesterday, they dream of today, but we should not repress >>them. >>Dear world, you stood by during the holocaust and you stood by in 1948 as >>seven states launched a war that the Arab League proudly compared to the >>Mongol massacres. You stood by in 1967 as Nasser, wildly cheered by wild >>mobs in every Arab capital in the world, vowed to drive the Jews into the >>sea. And you would stand by tomorrow if Israel were facing extinction. >>And since we know that the Arabs-Palestinians dream daily of that >>extinction, we will do everything possible to remain alive in our own land. >>If that bothers you, dear world, well think of how many times in the past >>you bothered us. In any event, dear world, if you are bothered by us, here >>is one Jew in Israel who could not care less. >>Ariel Ben Attar Israel for the industrial strength version... Bush Watch is a non-advocacy site paid for by Politex, a non-affiliated U.S. citizen. Editorial Policy: All entries are dated and documented as needed. Text (c) Politex. Permission of author required for reprinting. Duration of working link not under our control. Updated daily at various times. Send all e-mail to Politex.

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