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Mafia-style violence in Gaza and BBC reporter

Posted: Monday, April 09, 2007 9:34 AM
Filed Under:

By Martin Fletcher, NBC News Tel Aviv Bureau Chief

Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter kidnapped in Gaza, is in his fourth week of captivity without a sign of life. The word in the Gaza Street is that he could be released in a moment - for a substantial sum.  

Palestinians say money has changed hands before to achieve the release of other kidnapped foreigners. But the price is going up.

The BBC is pursuing diplomatic means to try to secure the release of Johnston – holding high level talks and appealing to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, who is also a member of the militant Hamas movement. 

But, Palestinian sources in Gaza, who do not work with NBC, also say it’s no mystery who is holding Johnston. At least seven of the 32 kidnappings of reporters and foreigners in the last three years in Gaza are said to have been carried out by one family, the Daghmash clan, who number an estimated 8,000 people, and reside in Gaza City. They are also said to be holding Johnston. The kidnapped foreigners have previously all been released unharmed. Sometimes kidnappers demand jobs in the police force; recently it's about money.  

Only one news organization that works in Gaza has named the family, a Palestinian news agency called Ma'an based in Bethlehem. Its Gaza reporters immediately closed up shop after their lives were threatened. And when we called a Gaza source for this blog, he said, "wait a minute, I must go inside. I cannot mention this family's name in the street." Threats work.

The truth is that the conflict here is portrayed as Israeli versus Arab. That's true, but it is only part of the equation of violence. Hamas versus Fatah is reported, but barely. The real violence that regular Palestinians in Gaza face daily, and is now overflowing to involve kidnapped foreigners, is between families.

Mafia-style violence
Yasser Arafat kept the families in check. When a large family in Ramallah turned to violent crime, he ordered Jibril Rajoub, his security chief, to arrest the ringleaders. Their homes were surrounded. When machine guns didn't quiet the family, Arafat ordered the use of rocket propelled grenades. A few dead men and the problem was solved. 

The problem today in Gaza is that Arafat has gone and nobody has taken his place. Neither Hamas nor Fatah dare take on the families, which control their own towns and villages, like mafia clans.

Everybody in Gaza, including the government, the police, Hamas and Fatah, knows about the activities of this particular family, and others, but none dare confront them. 

And here's a personal anecdote. When Israel was bombarding Gaza last summer after Palestinians abducted an Israeli soldier, my NBC team and I spent several days with a Palestinian family in their house in Beit Hanoun.

It was the closest to the Israeli front line. Shells fell all around. Shrapnel hit the corrugated iron roof as we sheltered beneath it. Later his house was flattened by a bulldozer.

When I asked Eyad, the farmer who lived inside with his family, why he didn't take shelter in Gaza town until the fighting was over, he answered, "I can't. We have a problem with a family in Gaza. If we go there, they'll kill me."

 "What, you'd rather face the Israelis?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "With the Israelis I have a chance. With the family, I don't."

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Comments

The last paragraph the reality... Even when Iraeli problem goes away the Palestinian problem will remain, just look at Iraq today. The answer is always within....

Marina, Richboro, PA (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 11:05 AM)

As I've said over and over, these "guys" have to hate someone just to get up in the morning. When they can't kill "Westerners" they HAVE to hate/kill someone else.

Chris (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 11:15 AM)

I hope this man is returned safe and sound.After hearing about this it reminded me of the other reporters that have been taken for ransom. Maybe it would be a good idea to stay out of palestine before they start killing these reporters. If the powers to be in palestine don't think it is important to get their message out to the world. The world should stop trying to do it. If they can't protect the people that come to shed a light and try to get support for palestine and it's people maybe the reportors need to get out and wait for the government there to get control of themselves. It is hight time that the nonsense that they call government stops the power grab and work on realy bringing peace to that part of the world. Stop blaming the other side and settle this once and for all. By now you would think that they would be tired of killng and being killed. They are at a point when the support from the rest of the world is all they have to live on. Because god knows that they will never have the ability to support themselves. They would rather live as beggars than men, standing on their own and not needing anyone to support them and their families. That whole part of the world needs a major attitude change for the good of allAnd if they wont change then let them be till they come to join the rest of the world in their own good time in the interest of true peace with the rest of the world.

john florida (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 11:31 AM)

I have never understood the need to wield power like these families do in the Gaza strip and to have so many people living in fear of reprisal or revenge. When people start killing their own people, it is a sign of a culture and society in a downward spiral. I agree with other commenters; we need to allow the Palestinian people to solve their own problems. This does not need an international solution, as it would prove fruitless to pursue. I hope the Palestinian government can do something to stop the fear and bloodshed.

Kerry Weiss, Sammamish, Wash. (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:03 PM)

Its not that we rather live as beggars than men its just kind of hard to stand on your feet when everything was robbed from you and pushed into this little area. Id rather be a beggar than a thief like the Israelis

Nadal Silwad, phoenix AZ (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:06 PM)

I just read a book titled, "Because They Hate." The author, Brigitte Gabriel, is a Maronite Christian who survived the vicious Muslim onslaught during the civil war in Lebanon. She addresses these issues of violence and clan/religious allegiance brilliantly. She lived in Israel for six years delivering the news (unbiased--rare in the Arab world) on an Arab channel, in Arabic. She was pursued and shot at many times. She now lives in the U.S. and has a very powerful, important message about radical Islam and the Arabic Muslim culture in general. It's fascinating reading and crucial to our understanding of the Middle East, Islam and the relationship of the Muslims to Israel, Christians and Jews.

Ronnie Sanders, Princeton, NJ (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:21 PM)

Bravo for the author to publish this information. It's a shame that a revealing story like this is an entry on a journalist's blog site, rather than published in a major newspaper, or broadcast on a TV news show. Continued intimidation of journalists is depriving the West of learning what's really happening in the Middle East.

Adam, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:22 PM)

Unfortunately, the media seems to only cover what constitutes a "failure" of the US. When we can't facilitate peace bewteen Isreal and the Arabs (it's not just Palestine that hates the Jews!) our failure is broadcast and the world hates us all the more. I wish that someone in mainstream media could show people how TINY Isreal is compared to Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudia Arabia . . . It's like comparing Rhode Island to New York State!It's amazing to me how the other Arab countries won't take in their brothers in Palestine and leave Isreal alone. There was NOTHING there until late 1800's when Jews starting trickling back in and starting farms, industry, irrigation. The Palestinians were bedouins that roamed all over the area. Had no claim to any land, but began to settle in one place when the Jews came back to develop the country and provided jobs to them. I hate that the innocent palestinian and jewish families continue to be torn and victimized in this struggle, but unfortunately, I don't see an end to this. It goes too far back. Abraham and Isaac vs Ishmael and the blood lines continue . . . .

Christine, NC (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:52 PM)

This is the result you get when the whole world turns and looks the other way. Palestinians have suffered and they continue to suffer because the US foreign policy sucks!! Unfortunately they are desperate and when one is desperate they will do whatever it takes to feed their families. Its funny how this gets media coverage but the preagnant lady that went to the hospital because she was in labor found out that the hospital was closed in GAZA because employees were not being paid. The USA and Israelstopped money from going to the palestinians. To me thats terrorrism in itself. I have read some ignorant comments and unfortunately the people that wote their opinions are uneducated about the situation in gaza. If you were in the same position you would probably act in the same manner. The palestinian people are no different than qany other people. STOP WATCHING FOX NEWS and you might learn something!

Palestinian Amercican, Huntington Beach, Ca (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 12:53 PM)

You always kill your own before you kill others. It's the easiest way to consolidate power.

mike, san antonio, tx (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:02 PM)

The concept of sovereign nations doesn't practically apply in many parts of the Middle East where people speak the same language and worship the same religion. The distinguishing factor is centered on the clans, tribes, or 'families'. In fact, the current map in the Middle East and West Asia (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh...) was the work of Europeans in the last 100 years or less. And that's where loyalties lie and source of confusion many people have. As far as these folks are concerned, the clan/tribe/family leaders are the governments that provide food, jobs, security, social welfare, etc. When a hurricane hits Texas, you wouldn't expect Texans to go to Mexico to seek shelter, would you? I'd rather head to Oklahoma or Arkansas. This Palestinian farmer wouldn't cross to Gaza for the same reason. It's a tragedy he lost his home to the bulldozer, but he knew of worse consequences across the 'border'.

Chuong, Austin, TX (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:10 PM)

In America... We have the Bush Clan!

Neko West Michigan (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:15 PM)

(Article by Martin Fletcher + Location: Tel Aviv) what do you expect from such a combination except that "Palestinians are the bad guys the gypsies – and the Israelis are the good guys – the indigenous people" Mr. Fletcher why you don’t write an article about the settlers (who came from Russia, eastern Europe and all corners of the world…) terrorizing the indigenous people (Palestinians) on daily basis

Joe, NYC, NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:18 PM)

Peace between Palestinians and Israelis will only be achieved when each state is governed by a political party that can speak for all its citizens. The Palestinians are currently ruled by competing tribes at war with each other. Peace will not be possible until they settle their internal differences.

Bill Stanley, Carmel, IN (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:29 PM)

Ha, what a joke! The mainstream news media has no intention of reporting any "news" from the Middle East. They would then have to report that the majority of Palestians would prefer to live under Israeli control rather than the Palestian Authority(surprise!). You may notice that no reporters seem to get kidnapped in Israel. Or that Israel doesn't send suicide bombers into Palestine. As long as the news media has a "All the news that fits, we print mentality," this will have to remain on a blog site.

Tom, Kent, OH (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:38 PM)

For those who think that our foreign policy is always to blame for the war in the middle east. Think again, long before we stuck our nose in it, there was the clan (family). Clan against Clan, shia vs sunni, blood fued. This is nothing new, the arab loyalty is the family, not a national government. Sooner we understand and deal with it, sooner we can get our collective asses out of there. We as infediels will never matter in the eyes of fanatics. If they feel like killing each other, we should let them, because those that are still standing will have the power and may even be tired of killing each other. The more we stay out of the way, the fewer of us will be harmed. It is time we took care of our sick and poor. Our homeless, our education system. We have Americans who don't have clean water. We have children going hungry every day. It time to stay at home and take care of our own.

Bob Edwards, Alamogordo, NM (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:42 PM)

I just want to point out to the comments about the Palestinian Government taking control over these families and protecting the Palestinians in Gaze from them: Don't you think that a government being labelled as a Terrorist government because it seeks its own independence in its own country; a government that has to deal with monetary sanctions such that it can't even pay its own employees, let alone welfare to its citizens; a government that is clashing within itself due to outside influence; has better things to do in its current state than protecting its citizens from a bunch of gangster wannabes??? Yes these clans do cause problems, but don't you find the root cause to be the fact that this government is being bombarded from every angle that it cant even stand on its own two feet, let alone solve a national problem as organized crime! Tell me, has the government of the United States ever been really able to solve the problem of organized crime? And did you ever stop to question what is this ransom money actually being used for? Maybe it is used to keep the hospitals open so that pregnant lady doesnt have to go through a still birth like many of the other palestinian women who are not even allowed to cross into Gaza to get to that closed hospital because of the Israeli checkpoints IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES!!

R K, Ottawa, Ontario (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:43 PM)

I suggest to NOT even allow those "radical" Muslims, who are too far brainwashed to not be able to think for themselves, from commenting about news! All they have to say is pure propoganda, lies, "Dark Ages" view of the world, and unless they have it all, their way, they won't succumb. No one ows them anything! They have no right to murder anyone! But this is their only language! They have no place in an enlightened world!

Jay Florida (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:48 PM)

Isnt it amazing that you never hear a Palestinian complain about Egypt's sovereignty over Gaza and jORDAN'S sovereignty over the West BANK prior to he 6 days war when Israel gained control.Why wasnt there an intifida against Jordan and Egypt for an independent Palestinian state prior to 1967? Here is a no brainer prediction:Within one week after the palestinians get their own independent state,it will be occupied by Syria ,JORDAN and Egypt,each hoping to make it a a puppet like Lebanon has become for the Syrians and each holding out to the Palestinians that their goal is the destruction of ISRAEL as a justification.When the Palestinians realize that a strong ISRAEL IS THEIR BEST HOPE FOR independence because it will not tolerate another puppet state on its borders,only then will they have a chance for true indepndence.

DAVID Baltinore (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 1:50 PM)

As long as we refuse to acknowledge the injustices in the world- whether it be family feudes, city, village, or feuds among countries- as long as we deem some human beings less than others, and treat them accordingly- there wil be no peace, and crime and war will be the order of the day. Period.

trevor martin (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 2:32 PM)

Why are there no comments from outside the US?

Scott Hamsher, East Wenatchee, WA (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 2:43 PM)

I keep hearing about the lack of money is the problem in palestine, and this is closed and the people are not getting paid and so on and so on. Well when the money was coming in it was skimmed for years and it realy all went to help palestine. Somebody tell me how was arafat able to be worth millions. When he died how much did they estimate his worth to be.I did not know he was such a good investor! What he invested in was hate and killing .He had to have ripped his people off for god knows how much. And what the cost to the palestinians was in human lives.All i have ever heard was the peace talks are on ,no no wait a minute the peace talks are off again, no their is hope, no no all hope is gone and so on and so on.Well it is all worn out, if palestine wanted peace there would be .peace.You are a small country that needs all the help you can get, and i for on would like to see you get it, but you need a government that realy gives a crap about it's people. You elected them and it is up to you to see that they put an end to your stuggle. No people want to live in fear of anyone. All people want is peace and quite in their lives it's not that hard. Put your past behind you and move forward. Israel is going no place, i personaly don't care where they are in the world, but they ended up back in what was i believe JUDEA. It would be a lot better for all concerned if the bombers stopped and politicians that truly care put an end to all this nonsense.But that would stop the money grab and they would have get a job instead of letting you kill each other for ever so they can profit by it. Your neighbors are killing Jews and use you to do it, and your leaders get the benefits all you get is DEAD.don't let them kill you let them go out and do their own dirty work, it's the fight they want let them fight it.

john florida (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 2:52 PM)

WE CANNOT POSSIBLY SOLVE THE AGE OLD ISSUES THAT PLAUGE THE MIDDLE EAST. AND HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER REASON TO PULL OUT OF THIS REGION AND LET THE LOCALS FIGHT IT OUT.

MIKE@NYC (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 2:54 PM)

Just a quick comment to David from Baltimore, the Palestinian government represented by Abbas IS a puppet to the Israeli government. And a sovereignty of another nation over Palestinian territory did not include the daily humiliation and degradation of the Palestinians, nor did it equate to a constant cleansing of the Palestinian people to "reclaim" ANCIENT LAND! By the way the Isreali government and the Zionists are going about taking over Palestinian lands, very soon the Arabs should start reclaiming their lands in Andalusia Spain, and the Turks should start respreading their empire all over Europe, along with the Romans and the Greeks!...seriously this is getting pathetic...Just stop laying blame on anyone and stop trying to solve other peoples problems. If the Israeli government would respect the territory it now holds then the Palestinians might be able to stop worrying about being bombed everyday, and the Israelis can worry less about suicide bombers!And if the United States government would stop trying to ignite wars everywhere in this world just to make a bigger profit selling weapons and controlling the oil, the world WOULD be a better place. At least then, maybe peace could have a chance...

R K (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 2:55 PM)

What can you expect from uneducated, illiterate people who for the most part eat with one hand? They have a religion based in hate, and power is force, who has the most. My opinion is that we should exterminate them with nuclear weapons, then regrow the country with a whole new generation of educated survivors.

chris huggins oakland park fl (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:16 PM)

THIS IS A PRAGMATIC VIEW INTO THE FUTURE. WE HAVE ALLOWED DEMOCRACY TO BECOME A "MORE SORRY FOR THE MINORITY" SOCIETY. AS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CASE THE MAJORITY IS SUPPOSED TO GET THIER WAY, NOT HERE! WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS, BY VIRTUE OF THINGS LIKE THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT,SET INTO MOTION THE SAME SENARIO. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS THAT THERE IS NO LOYALTY TO ONE'S NATION OR FLAG. THE CLAN OR TRIBE IS THE FIRST LOYALTY, SOON OUR AFRICAN-AMERICANS& MEXICAN-AMERICANS WILL AND HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO FEEL THEIR OWN SEPARATE LEVELS OF POWER. FIRST WILL BE THE OFFSET OF THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF MAJORITY RULE, WE ARE DEEPLY INTO THAT ALREADY. NEXT THEY WILL HAVE AN UNDESERVED OUT POURING OF COMMUNITY FUND, ALREADY IN PLAY. BUT THE PART I CANNOT WAIT FOR IS WHEN THE MINORITIES OUT NUMBER THE RICH SOON TO BE MINORITY, THEN WILL BE THE DAY OF RECONING.

HANK, LAREDO TEXAS (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:27 PM)

Thanks for having the courage to tell the world what's really going on. If people believe its not happening in their country then they're sorely mistaken.

poobah (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:45 PM)

Why won't/can't the Palestinians take some responsibility for the messes they've created for themselves? Why do they constantly pity themselves and blame the whole world for their own misfortunes? Why are the Palestinians not allowed to assimilate in the other Arab countries? Why don't the oil-rich Arab countries invest their petrodollars with their brethren in Gaza? Why are the borders of neighboring Egypt and Jordan sealed so tightly against the Palestinians? All good questions, I think, and the answers are obvious. The world is sick and tired of watching Palestinians wiping crocodile tears from their eyes with one hand, while throwing a bomb with the other one.

Mark, Los Angeles (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:49 PM)

Independace will come with or without the support of the United States. If anyone thinks a palestinian really cares what the United States thinks...think again! Palestinians are disgusted byt the United States Support for the terrorist State Israel. Settlements continue, a wall is being built on Palestinian land, constant killing of innocent palestininan women and children, Palestinian elected officials are held in prison with no charge and list goes on! Palestinians are the rightful owners of the land. My grandparents orange croves and homes was stolen from them. Our family has the right to defend itself with or without the blessing of the United Staes or the rest of the world! ISRAEL IS A TERRORIST STATE! The Palestinians have been fighting a war against terrorism long before the United States started its war against terrorism. Israel is an evil State and its time will come inshallah! I am not against the Jewish people although I am against the State of Israel.

Palestinian American, Huntington Beach, Ca (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:50 PM)

to Pal.am. and Silwad. Have you ever been to israel? you would see just how palestinians really are just by going. they do not want to work or let the gov. help in any way. they only want all jews dead. greenhouses were left to be worked in gaza and the palestinians only tore them down.these were good jobs given by Israel,they could have made money but instead they tore them down, because they were built by a Jew. Tom from Ohio hit the nail on the head. They kill there own people. America wake up!!!!!!!

ss fl. (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:51 PM)

Us Humans must learn to share our small planet. The root cause of the Arab Israeli war is ‘extreme Arab greed’ There are more than 20, (yes.. not 5, not 10, not 15 but 22 ‘Twenty Two’) Arab countries that span across huge swaths of land in Asia and Africa, the richest natural mineral lands on our planet, aside from practically sitting on liquid gold (fossil fuel).. But all this is not enough. They want yet another country. If I hear one more mention of how the Palestinians are suffering I’ll puke.. Roadblocks don’t constitute suffering, and neither does not receiving weekly funds from the UN/ EU etc. constitute suffering’. Guessing by the amount of land under Arab control I would think there is enough space to grant every living Arab a parcel twice the size of Israel. Makes you wonder how the so called Palestinians have Trademarked the word ‘victim’. Think about the peoples of Africa, Eastern Europe, and Northern China etc. they would be very happy to be such victims. (Pal TM) We must share our planet!, Jews deserve more then a tiny peace of desert.

Dave, Upstate, NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:52 PM)

You will never get peace in the Middle East as long as you do not have a powerful ruler. It has been proven in the past that unless you deal with these people who will blow themselves up for any cause, or kill others whenever the wind blows is dealt with. Syria, Jordan,Iraq, and Iran, the people in these countries are scared because if they do something their whole family will be killed or put in jail, this is how the Middle East has been basically ruled and the only thing these people fear. My solution is America is to nice to insurgents and other terrorist and these people know this so they are not afraid of the US. Untill our government starts realizing this, that we have to be mean and violent ourselves over in the Middle East these cowards that kill all these people will keep killing, all for Allah.

Brad Illinois (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 3:56 PM)

I dont believe this crap, why cant people be act human towards each other? Its just a bunch of bull that things like this happen to the innocent. Arafat dealt with them harshly, but in the right way i believe. Why someone in government just doesnt wipe the clans out, or better yet find a way to untite them, i cant fathom.

Cameron, Whitefish, Montana (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:05 PM)

I'm sure the clans there are a problem for the pepople who live there, just as gangs are a problem for the people of this country. What we refuse to understand is it's a problem for them to solve not us.We need to get out of everybodies backyard and let them fix problems for themselves just as we should do. When did the US become the worlds police and problem solvers. Ask any policeman anywhere what a thankless job it is. We need to take our money and not give it away to anybody but put it to work in our country where it needed badly by many people. Maybe if we kept our money out of the middle east completely we could use it to hire police, teachers, firemen and support our crumbling society and once again become what we have the potential to be it this country. I'm sorry about the woman who couldn't get to the hospital for the birth of her child. I for one would rather see my tax dollars pay to keep hospitals open in this country to help our people. If we are not careful we won't need to look to the middle east to see these problems, they will be outside our own windows and on our streets.

Tim, Virginia Beach, Virginia (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:07 PM)

As if the Jews in Israel don't act like a large mafia-clan?! Give me a break. This is the same type of Jewish thinking that attempts to justify assassinations (targeted killings). What crappy reporting.

Rebekah, Colorado (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:09 PM)

I was born and grew up in the great state of Palestine. Do not talk badly about us! If we want to have as you call "gangster like families" we will. How is it American's right to judge us? He who said we wake up with hate is correct, why would we not? Hate is good. I hate my own father if I think he weak. Do not meddle in us politics, because we now hate you.

Nassir, New York, New York (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:09 PM)

The entire article is biased against the Palestinians! How typical of a Tel Aviv correspondent. Regarding Mr. Johnston, the missing reporter, I'm fairly certain he was taken by the Israelis for reporting on unflattering attrocities committed by the IDF. The fact that no group in Palestine has him or has claimed responsibility is a good indication that he's in the hands of the Israelis. May God help him!

Adam Benning, Los Angeles (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:14 PM)

I am disgusted with how many ignorant comments I've read. Let me just ask who brought on this fighting in Palestine? Did the Palestinians tell the Jews to come over and start a fight? Many Jews even lived in Palestine alongside the Palestinians before WWII and there was no problem. Its when you take the Jews and put them in Northern Palestine (Israel), set up a government, give them a military, give them NUKES, is when you start having problems. Ever since the end of WWII the U.S. has been supporting Israel which has conducted the most terrorist acts. Yeah hows the war on terror Bush you f***ing hypocrite. I'm not saying kick the Jews out of Northern Palestine or "wipe them off the map" because we should all live peacefully as God or Nature or whatever you believe has intended. Just know that it was the installation of Israel in Palestine that started this fighting. Ever since then, the upcoming generations have been exposed to nonstop violence. Everyday Israeli settlements slowly take over Palestinian lands. Israel has a f***ing wall built around Palestine. Some Palestinians live without water. Please understand that with all these factors, people slowly start to do anything possible to survive, even fighting other families. It is easy to criticize Palestinians considering what this biased, Jewish-run media has taught us. I am not anti-Jewish in anyway, just voicing my opinion. I apologize if I have offended anyone. God bless the world!

George Kelly Barnes, Memphis, Tennessee (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:27 PM)

Us Humans must learn to share our small planet. The root cause of the Arab Israeli war is ‘extreme Arab greed’ There are more than 20, (yes.. not 5, not 10, not 15 but 22 ‘Twenty Two’) Arab countries that span across huge swaths of land in Asia and Africa, the richest natural mineral lands on our planet, aside from practically sitting on liquid gold (fossil fuel).. But all this is not enough. They want yet another country. If I hear one more mention of how the Palestinians are suffering I’ll puke.. Roadblocks don’t constitute suffering, and neither does not receiving weekly funds from the UN/ EU etc. constitute suffering’. Guessing by the amount of land under Arab control I would think there is enough space to grant every living Arab a parcel twice the size of Israel. Makes you wonder how the so called Palestinians have Trademarked the word ‘victim’. Think about the peoples of Africa, Eastern Europe, and Northern China etc. they would be very happy to be such victims. (Pal TM) We must share our planet!, Jews deserve more then a tiny peace of desert.

Dave, Oneonta, NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:44 PM)

Read Iran for the Families-- What Iran is doing is the same thing on a larger scale. No one dares or wont stand against them. They Kidnap , Hold Hostages and develop Nuclear Technology because no on will take a stand against them. Little guys are learning from the big guys or the big guys had early training from the Families

Fred NYC NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 4:49 PM)

Yes, the violence between rival groups of palestinians and all the other civil wars in the arab world, prove that "solving israel" is NOT the key to peace in the middle east. to those who blame israel for the situation that the palestinians have put themselves in, israel has offered them compromises time after time and the response has always been not just "no" but "no, we're going to kill you and take everything". the reason is that this conflict ins't about land and independence for arabs, it's about destroying israel to deny those things to jews--for the greater "glory" of islam.

david indianapolis IN (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:03 PM)

The fanatical Arab/Palestinians and Israels are two historically mortal enemies sleeping in the same bed. Couple this with the mideast culture of a love for anger and violence. Than add in a world trying to contain the problem by pressuring both sides to get along in this tiny country, and we get to the point where nothing is likely to be solved with nothing but more of the same on the horizen. Maybe both sides should be allowed to fight it out, winner take all, survival of the fittest, just like nature herself settles disputes.

John Anserson Tulelake, Ca (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:05 PM)

Finally the truth about the human struggle to live together and prosper in "peace". The fact that the historical role of religion and government has always been to attempt to keep the peace in populations is finally coming to surface as the prime source of violence is fingered, the power of organized crime. I think you will find these family organizations are quite common in the region as they are traditionally the first sources of security. The struggle to inject democratic rule with a respect for the laws of nations in these cultures is going to be up hill all the way.

Eric, troy, NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:21 PM)

A note to Mr G.K.Barnes, while you are entitled to an opinion it reflects the real problem in the region, the inability of some people to accept change.

Eric, troy, NY (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:26 PM)

And everyone wonders why I no longer care what happens in the Middle East? After reading these comments, from ignorant, anti-Semitic racists to those with no sense of history, I can honestly reaffirm my believe that no matter what happens in the Middle East, there will never be peace. Even if Israel was wiped off the map, the Arabs would take to killing each other in larger numbers than they do now. There has NEVER been peace in the Middle East...it's ALWAYS been one state, tribe or family against another. If it's not fighting over land, then it's fighting over religion. The Middle East; South America; Sub-Sahara Africa; the Balkan states...apparently they learned NOTHING from history except revenge and hatred and intolerance. A pox on all your houses! Die out and leave the rest of us in peace.

Charles, Tampa, FL (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:50 PM)

Isreal has from day one fought to surive--small though it is and completely surrounded by nations that wouldn't think twice of totally destroying and wiping off the face of the earth it surrives by the will of GOD. Humanity still has the power to change and make peace throughout--trust in GOD Almighty and he will deliver us all from evil.

Emilio Chavez from Albuquerque, NM (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 5:52 PM)

Dear Mr. Fletcher, I hope that Mr. Johnston is released unharmed and is returned safe and sound to his family. It is frightening to think that this family wields so much power over the region that nobody is willing or maybe able to stand up to them. The Middle East comes across as one large violent area and I know that not every person living there is part of a fighting group. This region is in dire need of a leader that can be trusted to help get rid of violent clans and make the citizens feel comfortable living and working in any area the choose. These people have endured enough punishments and need to reside in peace. Hopefully it will be bestowed upon them soon and the rest of the world can join them in their triumph of peace. Peace to all!

Lisa McNeil, Alpharetta, Georgia (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 6:10 PM)

Three cheers for George Kelly for telling it as it is. It's amazing how much hatred can be found in just this blog-we're far more brain washed and ignorant than anyone else in the world. Hank from Laredo, Texas, get any one of those "top doctors", "top engineers", "top scientists" books and you'll find that approximately 80% of them are jewish and asian. Better still, look up any college, any hospital, any law firm, any major corporation and look at the top management-you'll find the same thing there. Jews and asians make up less than 15% of the population of America; so Hank, can your majestic minority prevailing over majority thing, because what always prevails is intelligence and hard work.From what we can observe throughout history, jews seem to have been far more intelligent and successful than any other race, despite their relatively tiny numbers, despite the fact that they draw from different ethnicities (although mostly semitic and caucasian) and despite the constant persecution they have faced throughout history. They have set an example for all of us to try and emulate. But what we all, especially zionists, have to realize is that muslims today are being singled out for hatred and persecution for the exact same reason that jews have always been vilified-for hanging on to the core principles of their faith and living their own way. America has moved dangerously far from it's founding principles. We must see our own faults,particularly our incessant and blatant meddling in the muslim world and our bigoted middle-east policy, set them right and then we might have a little right to point the finger at anyone else.

harold angel (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 6:17 PM)

This is to Mr. Kelly Barnes. I really cant understand how you can say there is so many ignorant comments when after just reading yours, it is the most ignorant of all. The cussing. Why is that needed to probe your point? You have all these things that you hate including Bush and you think that cussing will entice people to think that what you are saying is believable. I have read one of the posts that say that the Palestinian people would live in harmony with the Jewish people. Yes this is true. What I can’t understand is why they just don’t. I don’t think that this whole thing has much to do with someone taking another person territory, but has more to do with radical believers, whether it is Muslim, or Jewish faith. The leaders that these people choose to follow don’t lead the way of their holy book, but lead in a way that will give them power. This is the main problem. The disputed territory that they like to say that is their cause for the bloodshed really has nothing to do with it for the majority. One thing that you have to remember when you talk about this is that when Israel claimed this land, they were the ones that were attacked by several others Arab states and as Israel pushed them out, they took this disputed territory. More often than not wars are fought over territory and this is something that Israel took. Yes it should be given back, but also there is no reason that they cannot live in harmony with each other. There should be people representing them there that have an interest in peace and not in who can take the other persons territory or who can control the vast majority of the populace. And for Nassir, you say that you wake up hating. Then you say you will hate the U.S. One thing that I will say to you is that if you don’t like us, this is a free country. Feel free to depart this great land and live in your own home nation. No one is stopping you.

Steve, Butte, MT (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 6:19 PM)

RE:CHARLES FROM TAMPA, FL:"A pox on all your houses! Die out and leave the rest of us in peace". Well Charles, after fighting proxy wars there, after stealing their land, after sanctions, after bombing and invading them, you want them to leave you alone?Thats like saying, "Stupid dog; I cut off his limbs,starved him and slit his throat and he does'nt even have the decency to die quietly".

jason falls (Sent Monday, April 09, 2007 6:23 PM)



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