Maybe Israel just needs to acknowledge Palestinian pain

[Oliver]

Haaretz: "Maybe Israel just needs to acknowledge Palestinian pain"

Many of Israel's supporters around the world have spotted an alarming trend in the debate on Middle East peace. Call it the "Back to '48" approach, which argues that any attempt to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is doomed unless it gets to the root of the problem, tackling not only the "1967 file" - ending the occupation, plus or minus a chunk of land here or there - but also the "1948 file," consisting of the issues left outstanding by Israel's birth. *snip* Isn't it possible to acknowledge someone's pain without promising to turn back the clock and undo the events that led to it? Surely we know from our personal lives that sometimes it is simply the acknowledgment itself - the admission of responsibility - that has a healing effect. *snip* Would admitting the truth of 1948 instantly undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel? *snip*

Full source: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115587.html


Well, would it undermine the legitimacy of Israel? [How so?]

[Thunder]

You just...don't...get it. Do you?

If Israel, let alone the world, acknowledges the Palestinian suffering and pain, then its like the Holocaust never occurred, and Adolf Hitler has won.

Around 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust, and as far as suffering is concerned, the Jews are supposed to be only ones who have their suffering acknowledged.

:)

[Pardalis]

Then what?

[Marc39]

Maybe Palestinians and their enablers should stop their perpetual, 60-year long pity party about their manufactured setbacks caused by the Jews and finally get off of international welfare, cease blaming their self-induced problems on Israel, get their lives together and establish a viable society.

[Arcade22]

Maybe Palestinians and their enablers should stop their perpetual, 60-year long pity party about their manufactured setbacks caused by the Jews and finally get off of international welfare, cease blaming their self-induced problems on Israel, get their lives together and establish a viable society.

Never going to happen, you know why? Because the Palestinians are never going to give up their favorite pastime of launching rockets at Israel!

[Darth Rotor]

Maybe Palestinians and their enablers should stop their perpetual, 60-year long pity party about their manufactured setbacks caused by the Jews and finally get off of international welfare, cease blaming their self-induced problems on Israel, get their lives together and establish a viable society.

I'm sorry you feel that way.












(Internet does not allow for my deadpan expression as I said that.)

[JoeTheJuggler]

Well, would it undermine the legitimacy of Israel? [How so?]

I think if they acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians, they'd have to admit that they're at least partially the cause of that suffering. And then there would be no logical moral way out of changing the policies that cause that suffering.

I wouldn't say that undermines the legitimacy of Israel (as in the very existence of Israel), but it would certainly challenge the legitimacy of policies that cause Palestinian suffering.

[Marc39]

I think if they acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians, they'd have to admit that they're at least partially the cause of that suffering. And then there would be no logical moral way out of changing the policies that cause that suffering.

I wouldn't say that undermines the legitimacy of Israel (as in the very existence of Israel), but it would certainly challenge the legitimacy of policies that cause Palestinian suffering.

What of the Arab League's policy of denying citizenship to so-called Palestinian refugees, even though it was the Arab League's decision to initiate the '48War that resulted in the so-called Palestinian refugee problem in the first place, in order to exploit their suffering as anti-Israel propaganda for over a half century?

This is a crime against humanity.

[jta]

Always, we hear the figure of 6 million Jewish deaths. I've been hearing it all my life, but it pales into insignificance when the total number of deaths in the 2nd World War is looked at.
Somewhere between 58 and 62 million people lost their lives as a result of Hitler's ambitions.
The Palestinians make war on Israel. Israel has been extremely limited in it's response. This has been so for many years. If it wanted to Israel could wipe Palestine from the face of the Earth.
If you want a sobering experience, go and see the museums preserving the memories of both great wars, I guarantee you will be a pacifist afterwards.

[Marc39]

Always, we hear the figure of 6 million Jewish deaths. I've been hearing it all my life, but it pales into insignificance when the total number of deaths in the 2nd World War is looked at.
Somewhere between 58 and 62 million people lost their lives as a result of Hitler's ambitions.
The Palestinians make war on Israel. Israel has been extremely limited in it's response. This has been so for many years. If it wanted to Israel could wipe Palestine from the face of the Earth.
If you want a sobering experience, go and see the museums preserving the memories of both great wars, I guarantee you will be a pacifist afterwards.

150 million refugees were created during the World War II timeframe. Each one, including 12 million ethnic Germans expelled from eastern Europe, was resettled in due course.

900,000 Jewish refugees forced out of their Arab homes in 1948 soon found new homes in Israel, America and other Western countries.

450,000 to 700,000 Palestinian refugees in 1948 have since grown into 5 million Palestinian refugees today, having not resettled, despite the availabiity of 22 Arab countries, 55 Muslim countries and 8 million square miles of mostly vacant land in the Middle East.

The Palestinian refugees, in fact, are the only intergenerational refugees in the history of the world, now entering a fourth generation, the UNRWA, the only UN agency dedicated solely to one group of refugees, having established its own definition of refugee to include descendants of refugees.

The continuation of refugee status accorded to the Palestinians for over a half century has done more harm than good as it has perpetuated a mindset of victimization, resentment, anger and revenge.

[MikeMangum]

The continuation of refugee status accorded to the Palestinians for over a half century has done more harm than good as it has perpetuated a mindset of victimization, resentment, anger and revenge.

Yes, exactly as intended.

[JoeTheJuggler]

What of the Arab League's policy of denying citizenship to so-called Palestinian refugees, even though it was the Arab League's decision to initiate the '48War that resulted in the so-called Palestinian refugee problem in the first place, in order to exploit their suffering as anti-Israel propaganda for over a half century?

This is a crime against humanity.

Your questions don't address the question raised in the OP which I was answering.

But I have no interest in conversing with you since you are admittedly biased (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=4747341#post4747341) on this issue.

[Marc39]

.

[quote]But I have no interest in conversing with you since you...

...are so much more knowledgeable and capable of discerning between right and wrong.

[jta]

450,000 to 700,000 Palestinian refugees in 1948 have since grown into 5 million Palestinian refugees today, having not resettled, despite the availabiity of 22 Arab countries, 55 Muslim countries and 8 million square miles of mostly vacant land in the Middle East.

The Palestinian refugees, in fact, are the only intergenerational refugees in the history of the world, now entering a fourth generation, the UNRWA, the only UN agency dedicated solely to one group of refugees, having established its own definition of refugee to include descendants of refugees.



With respect to any Arabian readers, there does seem to be a completely different mindset with regard to refugees in the Middle East. Perhaps a result of Sharia law. After all, if you are willing to watch public floggings or stoning of adulterers, and even join in, then the plight of a few raggedy arsed Palestinians is hardly likely to get your sympathy. They do make a good stick to beat the Western World over the head with though.

[Darth Rotor]

Maybe Israel just needs to acknowledge Palestinian pain

Here is an idea, send Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Israel and get their leadership to attend her political seminars. She can teach them how to say

I feel your pain

and they can translate it into both Hebrew and Arabic.

I am sure that will heal a lot of wounds. :p

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya...

[Marc39]

Maybe Israel just needs to acknowledge Palestinian pain

Here is an idea, send Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Israel and get their leadership to attend her political seminars. She can teach them how to say

I feel your pain

and they can translate it into both Hebrew and Arabic.

I am sure that will heal a lot of wounds. :p



Hillary Clinton...
The nearly seven million Muslims in our country have enriched our culture, have made us stronger, because of contributions that many of you and others across America have given to us.

Let us recommit ourselves to achieving our common goals, inspired by common values...

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/09/129232.htm