Comments on: A Jewish-American Advocate Against the Injustice of Occupation

By: Video: Jon Stewart Interviews Jewish American and Palestinian Nonviolence Advocates - Brian McLaren - God’s Politics Blog

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:37 +0000

[...] Stewart courageously hosted an American Jewish woman (Anna Balzer) and a Palestinian political leader (Mustafa Barghouti) who are working across lines of conflict [...]

By: bvo

bvo — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:51:29 +0000

While it is true that Palestinians were offered a share of (their own) land and water, that share has been dwindling since 1948 because of the conflict and ongoing Israeli encroachment. It has also been reported that Arafat was offered a good deal (under the reconciliation efforts of then-President Clingon) and he walked away. But, in fact, it was not a good deal. Although the percentage of land “offered” to the Palestinians was reportedly a decent amount, it was chopped up into virtual cantons (some use the term swiss cheese) which would have not made possible a viable and contingent country. Anna Baltzer had an excellent map produced by an independent sourse that showed the current landscape of Israel and Palestine – with Israeli settlements IN Palestinian land and Israeli-only roads slicing up the countryside, it does look a lot like swiss cheese!!

Yes, both sides must make some concessions but there needs to be a better sense of what would make it a viable solution.

Thank you Phil and Anna for your reasoned and justice-seeking telling of the story.

By: bvo

bvo — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:51:29 +0000

Yes, both sides must make some concessions but there needs to be a better sense of what would make it a viable solution.

Thank you Phil and Anna for your reasoned and justice-seeking telling of the story.

By: squeaky

squeaky — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:31:09 +0000

Yah, den. Your point vould haff had more impact, den, iff you vould haff written it all in dere Norvegian script. don'tcha know, den. Uffda. Ya, ya betcha.

By: JohnH54

JohnH54 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:31:58 +0000

Yes. That does not mean they are above criticism, but as a general principle, yes.

By: JohnH54

JohnH54 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:23:05 +0000

Yes. That's not to say we need to support them in everything, but as a
general rule, yes.

By: kansasmennonite

kansasmennonite — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:11:46 +0000

Tell me what you think John. Should we give loyal support to Israel just because the Jews are God's chosen in Bible times?

By: JohnH54

JohnH54 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:51:04 +0000

What do you expect them to do? They are growing.

By: kansasmennonite

kansasmennonite — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:47:38 +0000

And they keep bulding!

By: JohnH54

JohnH54 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:42:25 +0000

But, there they are.

By: kansasmennonite

kansasmennonite — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:49:59 +0000

I alwasy felt a little uneasy when I heard at my home church (and every conservative religious program since) that Israel was to be protected or God would not protect us. I'm glad I've found that religious people here and in the Mennonite USA conference that “generally” we don't believe that modern Israel is God's people as found in the Bible. They need to be praised when due and rebuked when due.

By: ando

ando — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:56:40 +0000

Of course, yah don't vant two vehicles takin' off at the same time either….said one of dem friendly Norvegians from a neighboring state.

I read a Leon Uris book — can't recall the title — that takes place in Palestine, 1948. It's decidedly pro-Israeli, but if there's a grain of truth in it, the Palestinians were offered a share of the land and water, but their leaders were so vehemently anti-Jewish — even though the general population wasn't — that all they wanted was blood. I've always been amazed that a nation of 6 million has been able to survive for so long surrounded by so many enemies.

By: squeaky

squeaky — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:40:10 +0000

"But first, it would be good if the Palestinians themselves would take action. "

We have a lot of four-way stops in the town I live in. That would be OK if people in this town knew how to proceed through one (and if we weren't all friendly Norwegian Minnesotans). Instead, when two people arrive at the same time, we get this "you go first""no, you""no, you""no, really, you" "no, I insist. you" phenomenon. No one goes first, each waits for the other to go with the end result being no one goes at all.

True, someone must go first. Whether it is the Israelis or Palestinians, I could care less. As long as someone just takes the initiative and goes. Otherwise, they will be sitting at that crossroad forever.

By: jazzact13

jazzact13 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:21:12 +0000

–That’s the point for her – to get people involved as well as informed. “The goal is not sympathy,” she says. “It’s change. Palestinians don’t need more people feeling sorry for them. They need people to take action.”

In a way, I agree with her. But first, it would be good if the Palestinians themselves would take action. As in, getting rid of Hamas and other anti-Israel factions, not letting their kids watch anti-Israel shows, and so on.