It must be very convenient that reality always accords with your own opinions, and that everyone who disagrees with you is so blatantly engaging in fantastical propagandizing. It must make for a very comfortable intellectual life, since you never have to struggle thinking about complex situations, or confront anything that challenges your worldview.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
It must be very convenient that reality always accords with your own opinions, and that everyone who disagrees with you is so blatantly engaging in fantastical propagandizing. It must make for a very comfortable intellectual life, since you never have to struggle thinking about complex situations, or confront anything that challenges your worldview.
My opinions are based on facts. Something you tend to ignore, from what i've read.
Its like anything. you should find out as much information as you can on a subject and make up your own mind. Think for yourself.
I do. From what I've seen most of the people on these threads limit their exposure to facts to those sources that won't tell them anything they don't want to hear. What's great about Israel, which is where I am as I write this, is that in this country you can't avoid hearing every side of an argument. In the last day I've read articles bashing Obama and praising Bibi, articles bashing Bibi and praising Obama, and articles that bash both of them (I haven't seen anyone who praises them both, though). I've watched extensive news coverage on Israeli Network News of Israeli-Arab and Palestinian demonstrations, many of them joined by large numbers of left-wing Israelis. I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board, which is why I have no problem saying that many people here while right to sympathize with the Palestinians, and often right to criticize Israel, a lot of the time just don't know what they're talking about.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
I do. From what I've seen most of the people on these threads limit their exposure to facts to those sources that won't tell them anything they don't want to hear. What's great about Israel, which is where I am as I write this, is that in this country you can't avoid hearing every side of an argument. In the last day I've read articles bashing Obama and praising Bibi, articles bashing Bibi and praising Obama, and articles that bash both of them (I haven't seen anyone who praises them both, though). I've watched extensive news coverage on Israeli Network News of Israeli-Arab and Palestinian demonstrations, many of them joined by large numbers of left-wing Israelis. I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board, which is why I have no problem saying that many people here while right to sympathize with the Palestinians, and often right to criticize Israel, a lot of the time just don't know what they're talking about.
I've learned that Israeli's have a better understanding of the situation than most Americans. Not by being closer to the conflict but through an information system that isn't as corrupted as the US's. That does not account for the nationalist bias that accompanies most jewish rhetoric.
Israel spends 2 billion a year on "public relations" in the US. Public relations. 2 billion. A year. another term is propaganda. They know that if they lose their superpower bully/big brother they are an outcast in the international community, that they stand alone in their siege of Gaza. Even leftist television shows in the US are pro-Israel. Dissent does not exist in US media, regarding Israel's siege. US support is crucial, Israel knows this.
What Israel is doing in Gaza is a crime, and will be exposed soon. A serious fucking crime, every day brutality.
II can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board.
That is a very pompous and arrogant statement! Because you are a jew and you are sometimes in Israel makes you the uber expert? Let me have a chuckle.
Well let me see, yes I am a Jew, I grew up going to intensive Jewish day schools and summer camps my entire life where I had a dual curriculum studying a full load of Jewish courses in addition to all the secular courses. My family is religious and I've gone to synagogue every week on Friday night and Saturday morning my whole life. My father is a university professor in Jewish studies (as is his sister), and my mother runs a Jewish non-profit, and their entire circle of friends are Jewish many of them leading academics in Jewish fields, who would come over for Sabbath meals and spend hours discussing Jewish subjects. So yes, I feel very qualified in saying that I know more about Judaism and Jewish history then anyone else here, because quite frankly I know more about Judaism and Jewish history than most Jews.
As for Israel, yeah, I think the fact that I've spent truly significant amounts of time actually living in Israel, that my cousin was a supreme court justice and attorney general in Israel, and actually knew personally and has told me about many of the major Israeli historical figures, that I have friends and family who have served or who are serving in the IDF, that I've spent time in the West Bank and actually met with and spoken to at length Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians who actually live here, and that I devote a great deal of my time reading widely about Israel, and that I make a strong effort to read not just those sources that re-enforce my preexisting opinions, yeah, I think that is a fairly strong basis on which to say that I know more about Israel than anyone else here.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
Mom, Dad, cousins, friends... etc. You're perceived self worth would make me laugh if it wasn't so sad. Hey... maybe I'm a Jewish scholar, from a family of scholars/religious people who lived in Israel for longer than you have lived your life. You just don't know. So stop putting yourself on a pedestal.
Living somewhere, speaking to people, going to jewish schools and reading does not make you an expert though it can put blinkers on.
Don't even bother responding to this post because I'm done discussing your 'expertise' and 'knowledge' so superior to all others here.
Mom, Dad, cousins, friends... etc. You're perceived self worth would make me laugh if it wasn't so sad. Hey... maybe I'm a Jewish scholar, from a family of scholars/religious people who lived in Israel for longer than you have lived your life. You just don't know. So stop putting yourself on a pedestal.
Living somewhere, speaking to people, going to jewish schools and reading does not make you an expert though it can put blinkers on.
Don't even bother responding to this post because I'm done discussing your 'expertise' and 'knowledge' so superior to all others here.
Are you an expert? If you are then I guess I'm wrong. If you're not, then it would seem that you just have a problem with the perceived "elitism" of someone who actually does have some degree of expertise and isn't afraid to say so. Seriously, you really think it's a winning argument to say that a bunch of non-Jews who probably have had no exposure to Judaism other than that they may no a few Jews have a deeper understanding of Judaism than a highly educated Jewish person who has spent his whole life studying Jewish subjects? That just doesn't make any rational sense.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
Mom, Dad, cousins, friends... etc. You're perceived self worth would make me laugh if it wasn't so sad. Hey... maybe I'm a Jewish scholar, from a family of scholars/religious people who lived in Israel for longer than you have lived your life. You just don't know. So stop putting yourself on a pedestal.
Living somewhere, speaking to people, going to jewish schools and reading does not make you an expert though it can put blinkers on.
Don't even bother responding to this post because I'm done discussing your 'expertise' and 'knowledge' so superior to all others here.
Are you an expert? If you are then I guess I'm wrong. If you're not, then it would seem that you just have a problem with the perceived "elitism" of someone who actually does have some degree of expertise and isn't afraid to say so. Seriously, you really think it's a winning argument to say that a bunch of non-Jews who probably have had no exposure to Judaism other than that they may no a few Jews have a deeper understanding of Judaism than a highly educated Jewish person who has spent his whole life studying Jewish subjects? That just doesn't make any rational sense.
Either you know about it and dont' give a shit, or you dont' know about it. Either way its kind of fooked.
Gaza is under siege, and say what you will about Israel, without a superpower backing them they would be against the world in their siege of Gaza. Alone against the world.
And its every goddamn day that Isreali brutality is felt by the Palestinians, every single day. Its a fucking siege, apartheid, a crime against humanity.
Well, Im a Muslim (not Arab), but my aunt married a palestinian and has 5 children. So I guess that makes me know MORE about Islam and the Palestinian suffering than most of the people here. I'm just not an "elitist".... :roll:
I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board, which is why I have no problem saying that many people here while right to sympathize with the Palestinians, and often right to criticize Israel, a lot of the time just don't know what they're talking about.
you can't guarantee jack shit.
you are aware that pearl jam have approximately 73,417 paid members, and 354,111 registered members aren't you?
What's great about Israel, which is where I am as I write this, is that in this country you can't avoid hearing every side of an argument. In the last day I've read articles bashing Obama and praising Bibi, articles bashing Bibi and praising Obama, and articles that bash both of them
As for Israel, yeah, I think the fact that I've spent truly significant amounts of time actually living in Israel, that my cousin was a supreme court justice and attorney general in Israel, and actually knew personally and has told me about many of the major Israeli historical figures, that I have friends and family who have served or who are serving in the IDF, that I've spent time in the West Bank and actually met with and spoken to at length Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians who actually live here, and that I devote a great deal of my time reading widely about Israel, and that I make a strong effort to read not just those sources that re-enforce my preexisting opinions, yeah, I think that is a fairly strong basis on which to say that I know more about Israel than anyone else here.
It's not possible to debate this issue, and study this issue in any detail without being exposed to the views of Israel's apologists and supporters. Most of what you contribute to these debates are just your own personal opinions. The facts often contradict your opinions, but don't let that stop you. You happen to be in Israel now after flying over there from your country of origin, the U.S, so clearly your every word on the subject is sacrosanct.
Either you know about it and dont' give a shit, or you dont' know about it. Either way its kind of fooked.
Gaza is under siege, and say what you will about Israel, without a superpower backing them they would be against the world in their siege of Gaza. Alone against the world.
And its every goddamn day that Isreali brutality is felt by the Palestinians, every single day. Its a fucking siege, apartheid, a crime against humanity.
Well, Im a Muslim (not Arab), but my aunt married a palestinian and has 5 children. So I guess that makes me know MORE about Islam and the Palestinian suffering than most of the people here. I'm just not an "elitist".... :roll:
It must be very convenient that reality always accords with your own opinions, and that everyone who disagrees with you is so blatantly engaging in fantastical propagandizing. It must make for a very comfortable intellectual life, since you never have to struggle thinking about complex situations, or confront anything that challenges your worldview.
Thanks, dude. Its probably better that I did not respond directly.
I will add that I now have even more evidence regarding Commy's reading comprehension skills, though. Not worth responding.
Well, Im a Muslim (not Arab), but my aunt married a palestinian and has 5 children. So I guess that makes me know MORE about Islam and the Palestinian suffering than most of the people here. I'm just not an "elitist".... :roll:
I'm sure that as a Muslim you probably do know more about Islam than most people here. I'm sure you know more than I do about it.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board, which is why I have no problem saying that many people here while right to sympathize with the Palestinians, and often right to criticize Israel, a lot of the time just don't know what they're talking about.
you can't guarantee jack shit.
you are aware that pearl jam have approximately 73,417 paid members, and 354,111 registered members aren't you?
And you are aware that these Israel threads generally have no more than 10 people who get involved in the discussion. My best friend is also a huge Pearl Jam fan, and I know for certain that he knows way more about Judaism than I do, having spent many more years studying it seriously post-high school than I have. He isn't on these threads though. Between me, you, Badbrains, Byrnzie, Pepe, Commy, Alivegirl, Reborn, and the one or two other people that sometimes comment on these Israel threads I think I can say without a doubt that I know more by far about Judaism than any of the rest of you, and more about Israel as well, especially since not only am I the only one who has ever lived here, but also seem to be the only one who has ever been here period. For you to claim otherwise would be like me saying that I have a deeper knowledge of China than Byrnzie does having never been there and knowing nothing about the place other than the very limited information I get about its politics and economics from the news. I would never claim such a thing, because I'm smart enough to know what I don't know. Apparently some of you can't say the same.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
As for Israel, yeah, I think the fact that I've spent truly significant amounts of time actually living in Israel, that my cousin was a supreme court justice and attorney general in Israel, and actually knew personally and has told me about many of the major Israeli historical figures, that I have friends and family who have served or who are serving in the IDF, that I've spent time in the West Bank and actually met with and spoken to at length Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians who actually live here, and that I devote a great deal of my time reading widely about Israel, and that I make a strong effort to read not just those sources that re-enforce my preexisting opinions, yeah, I think that is a fairly strong basis on which to say that I know more about Israel than anyone else here.
It's not possible to debate this issue, and study this issue in any detail without being exposed to the views of Israel's apologists and supporters. Most of what you contribute to these debates are just your own personal opinions. The facts often contradict your opinions, but don't let that stop you. You happen to be in Israel now after flying over there from your country of origin, the U.S, so clearly your every word on the subject is sacrosanct.
And virtually every word you contribute to the conversation is unadulterated Palestinian propaganda, gleaned from a handful of radical leftists way out beyond the furthest fringe of rational opinion, supported by a partial (at best) and twisted recounting of history that bears very little resemblance to "fact."
And yes, Reborn, I'd love for you to be the Canada expert. But you shouldn't say no one cares about Canada. Both my parents are from Montreal, so I care a little.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
And yes, Reborn, I'd love for you to be the Canada expert. But you shouldn't say no one cares about Canada. Both my parents are from Montreal, so I care a little.
Cool ... My father's side of the family (French Metis) is from just outside of Montreal.
I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board, which is why I have no problem saying that many people here while right to sympathize with the Palestinians, and often right to criticize Israel, a lot of the time just don't know what they're talking about.
you can't guarantee jack shit.
you are aware that pearl jam have approximately 73,417 paid members, and 354,111 registered members aren't you?
And you are aware that these Israel threads generally have no more than 10 people who get involved in the discussion.
i'm fully aware of it. but that's not what you said is it. you said "I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board."
that's exactly what you said. you didn't say ''people who get involved in a discussion".
My best friend is also a huge Pearl Jam fan, and I know for certain that he knows way more about Judaism than I do, having spent many more years studying it seriously post-high school than I have. He isn't on these threads though. Between me, you, Badbrains, Byrnzie, Pepe, Commy, Alivegirl, Reborn, and the one or two other people that sometimes comment on these Israel threads I think I can say without a doubt that I know more by far about Judaism than any of the rest of you, and more about Israel as well, especially since not only am I the only one who has ever lived here, but also seem to be the only one who has ever been here period. For you to claim otherwise would be like me saying that I have a deeper knowledge of China than Byrnzie does having never been there and knowing nothing about the place other than the very limited information I get about its politics and economics from the news. I would never claim such a thing, because I'm smart enough to know what I don't know. Apparently some of you can't say the same.
you sound like a tool.
i can assure you ''mr king of the world", you are not the only one that has ever been there.
That's great. Who else has come for a visit? How long did they stay? Where did they stay? Do they speak Hebrew? I really don't get why this should be a point of contention. There pretty clearly isn't anyone other than me on these Israel related threads who knows the first thing about Israeli society. Byrnzie, to take just one example, seems to construct his picture of Israel based solely on his extensive reading of Norman Finkelstein, Chomsky, and Counterpunch. Clearly this is going to be a somewhat skewed perspective, to say the least.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
That's great. Who else has come for a visit? How long did they stay? Where did they stay? Do they speak Hebrew? I really don't get why this should be a point of contention. There pretty clearly isn't anyone other than me on these Israel related threads who knows the first thing about Israeli society. Byrnzie, to take just one example, seems to construct his picture of Israel based solely on his extensive reading of Norman Finkelstein, Chomsky, and Counterpunch. Clearly this is going to be a somewhat skewed perspective, to say the least.
again, it just shows how ignorant you are to make a statement that out of approximately 73,417 paid members, and 354,111 registered members, you say "I can guarantee you that I know more about Israel and Judaism than anyone else on this board."
you are just the loudest zionist apologist on the board. that's your only claim to fame.
And yours would be what? Illiteracy? Cause I'm fairly certain that I said I was comparing myself to a group of about 10 people give or take, not 73,000. Or perhaps you aren't numerate? Seriously, this is dumb. I'm not saying I know more than everyone on earth, or every one who is a fan of Pearl Jam. I'm saying that with regards to certain subjects I know more than you and a handful of other people seemingly too ignorant to even contemplate the fact that they may, in fact, be as ignorant as they are.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
When you weigh in on the situation in Gaza, from what i've seen, its always to paint Israel in a positive light. In a sense what you post is pure propaganda, as there is reality and there is your point of view. That is why you are a target. End support for Israel, I could respect that man.
Israel is a racist zionist militant State, conducting a siege against an impoverished group of people, brutalizing and terrorizing every day. that is reality.
Man, against my better judgment, here goes ...
Commy, I do not unilaterally support Israel. In fact, I have recently taken great pains to explain that I HAVE changed my views on the topic quite a lot since I first started posting here in like, 2001? Sure, you've probably seen me do what you perceive as defending Israel, although my overall perspective is summarized here:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=125661&start=30
You know, I just said this to someone over PMs and I might as well say it publically too ....
I argue about some of the details that a peace plan does or does not need to feature, and apparently this sends the message that Israeli actions like the assault on Gaza in 2006 are excusable. I do not wish to be misunderstood: I do believe that Israel holds most of the cards here. The Palestinians are an oppressed people who deserve basic levels of self-determination. ... They deserve food, shelter, and dignity. They do not deserve to be corralled in Gaza and the West Bank and killed. Any peace plan will require that Israel make some pretty drastic changes, including a withdrawal to proper borders and cessation of settlement expansion. Me arguing that Hamas might need to make some changes as well (e.g., officially recognize Israel) does not mean that Hamas or the Palestinians in general are responsible for what is going on: The argument is largely a pragmatic one, based on knowledge about how people compromise. Because people have trouble seeing this point, I am going to let it go and just acknowledge that the Palestinians are not ultimately at fault here. There may be things they can do to ease the peace process, but they did not choose to be oppressed. There was a time when I naively felt that it really all was about terrorism, and that position is simple and incorrect.
That's still how I feel (and no, I am not suggesting that you need to remember or read all my posts). However, I have no qualms about pointing out changes in Israeli behavior that I view as positive, and yes ... Israel could have turned Gaza into a cauldron again when that Thai worker was killed, as they did in 2006, and they did not. This is a good thing, and saying so does not make me a propagandist. You are too free and loose with that term. A lot of the stuff you agree with fits the definition as well.
And yours would be what? Illiteracy? Cause I'm fairly certain that I said I was comparing myself to a group of about 10 people give or take, not 73,000. Or perhaps you aren't numerate? Seriously, this is dumb. I'm not saying I know more than everyone on earth, or every one who is a fan of Pearl Jam. I'm saying that with regards to certain subjects I know more than you and a handful of other people seemingly too ignorant to even contemplate the fact that they may, in fact, be as ignorant as they are.
Comments
Its like anything. you should find out as much information as you can on a subject and make up your own mind. Think for yourself.
That is a very pompous and arrogant statement! Because you are a jew and you are sometimes in Israel makes you the uber expert? Let me have a chuckle.
Israel spends 2 billion a year on "public relations" in the US. Public relations. 2 billion. A year. another term is propaganda. They know that if they lose their superpower bully/big brother they are an outcast in the international community, that they stand alone in their siege of Gaza. Even leftist television shows in the US are pro-Israel. Dissent does not exist in US media, regarding Israel's siege. US support is crucial, Israel knows this.
What Israel is doing in Gaza is a crime, and will be exposed soon. A serious fucking crime, every day brutality.
Well let me see, yes I am a Jew, I grew up going to intensive Jewish day schools and summer camps my entire life where I had a dual curriculum studying a full load of Jewish courses in addition to all the secular courses. My family is religious and I've gone to synagogue every week on Friday night and Saturday morning my whole life. My father is a university professor in Jewish studies (as is his sister), and my mother runs a Jewish non-profit, and their entire circle of friends are Jewish many of them leading academics in Jewish fields, who would come over for Sabbath meals and spend hours discussing Jewish subjects. So yes, I feel very qualified in saying that I know more about Judaism and Jewish history then anyone else here, because quite frankly I know more about Judaism and Jewish history than most Jews.
As for Israel, yeah, I think the fact that I've spent truly significant amounts of time actually living in Israel, that my cousin was a supreme court justice and attorney general in Israel, and actually knew personally and has told me about many of the major Israeli historical figures, that I have friends and family who have served or who are serving in the IDF, that I've spent time in the West Bank and actually met with and spoken to at length Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians who actually live here, and that I devote a great deal of my time reading widely about Israel, and that I make a strong effort to read not just those sources that re-enforce my preexisting opinions, yeah, I think that is a fairly strong basis on which to say that I know more about Israel than anyone else here.
Living somewhere, speaking to people, going to jewish schools and reading does not make you an expert though it can put blinkers on.
Don't even bother responding to this post because I'm done discussing your 'expertise' and 'knowledge' so superior to all others here.
Are you an expert? If you are then I guess I'm wrong. If you're not, then it would seem that you just have a problem with the perceived "elitism" of someone who actually does have some degree of expertise and isn't afraid to say so. Seriously, you really think it's a winning argument to say that a bunch of non-Jews who probably have had no exposure to Judaism other than that they may no a few Jews have a deeper understanding of Judaism than a highly educated Jewish person who has spent his whole life studying Jewish subjects? That just doesn't make any rational sense.
Gaza is under siege, and say what you will about Israel, without a superpower backing them they would be against the world in their siege of Gaza. Alone against the world.
And its every goddamn day that Isreali brutality is felt by the Palestinians, every single day. Its a fucking siege, apartheid, a crime against humanity.
you are aware that pearl jam have approximately 73,417 paid members, and 354,111 registered members aren't you?
© yosi
Wow! Israel really is the greatest!
It's not possible to debate this issue, and study this issue in any detail without being exposed to the views of Israel's apologists and supporters. Most of what you contribute to these debates are just your own personal opinions. The facts often contradict your opinions, but don't let that stop you. You happen to be in Israel now after flying over there from your country of origin, the U.S, so clearly your every word on the subject is sacrosanct.
Yeah, but he's an elitist intellectual expert.
*Touché*
Thanks, dude. Its probably better that I did not respond directly.
I will add that I now have even more evidence regarding Commy's reading comprehension skills, though. Not worth responding.
I'm sure that as a Muslim you probably do know more about Islam than most people here. I'm sure you know more than I do about it.
And you are aware that these Israel threads generally have no more than 10 people who get involved in the discussion. My best friend is also a huge Pearl Jam fan, and I know for certain that he knows way more about Judaism than I do, having spent many more years studying it seriously post-high school than I have. He isn't on these threads though. Between me, you, Badbrains, Byrnzie, Pepe, Commy, Alivegirl, Reborn, and the one or two other people that sometimes comment on these Israel threads I think I can say without a doubt that I know more by far about Judaism than any of the rest of you, and more about Israel as well, especially since not only am I the only one who has ever lived here, but also seem to be the only one who has ever been here period. For you to claim otherwise would be like me saying that I have a deeper knowledge of China than Byrnzie does having never been there and knowing nothing about the place other than the very limited information I get about its politics and economics from the news. I would never claim such a thing, because I'm smart enough to know what I don't know. Apparently some of you can't say the same.
And virtually every word you contribute to the conversation is unadulterated Palestinian propaganda, gleaned from a handful of radical leftists way out beyond the furthest fringe of rational opinion, supported by a partial (at best) and twisted recounting of history that bears very little resemblance to "fact."
And yes, Reborn, I'd love for you to be the Canada expert. But you shouldn't say no one cares about Canada. Both my parents are from Montreal, so I care a little.
give me a harper sux and you can have the sole honour! ...
Cool ... My father's side of the family (French Metis) is from just outside of Montreal.
Harper sucks ... Mostly.
i can assure you ''mr king of the world", you are not the only one that has ever been there.
you are just the loudest zionist apologist on the board. that's your only claim to fame.
Man, against my better judgment, here goes ...
Commy, I do not unilaterally support Israel. In fact, I have recently taken great pains to explain that I HAVE changed my views on the topic quite a lot since I first started posting here in like, 2001? Sure, you've probably seen me do what you perceive as defending Israel, although my overall perspective is summarized here:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=125661&start=30
You know, I just said this to someone over PMs and I might as well say it publically too ....
I argue about some of the details that a peace plan does or does not need to feature, and apparently this sends the message that Israeli actions like the assault on Gaza in 2006 are excusable. I do not wish to be misunderstood: I do believe that Israel holds most of the cards here. The Palestinians are an oppressed people who deserve basic levels of self-determination. ... They deserve food, shelter, and dignity. They do not deserve to be corralled in Gaza and the West Bank and killed. Any peace plan will require that Israel make some pretty drastic changes, including a withdrawal to proper borders and cessation of settlement expansion. Me arguing that Hamas might need to make some changes as well (e.g., officially recognize Israel) does not mean that Hamas or the Palestinians in general are responsible for what is going on: The argument is largely a pragmatic one, based on knowledge about how people compromise. Because people have trouble seeing this point, I am going to let it go and just acknowledge that the Palestinians are not ultimately at fault here. There may be things they can do to ease the peace process, but they did not choose to be oppressed. There was a time when I naively felt that it really all was about terrorism, and that position is simple and incorrect.
That's still how I feel (and no, I am not suggesting that you need to remember or read all my posts). However, I have no qualms about pointing out changes in Israeli behavior that I view as positive, and yes ... Israel could have turned Gaza into a cauldron again when that Thai worker was killed, as they did in 2006, and they did not. This is a good thing, and saying so does not make me a propagandist. You are too free and loose with that term. A lot of the stuff you agree with fits the definition as well.