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Arabs not celebrating Israel's 60th birthday

Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2008 8:34 AM
Filed Under:

By Charlene Gubash, NBC News Producer
 
CAIRO, Egypt - Israel's celebration of 60 years of independence is clearly more bitter than sweet for Arabs, who refer to the 1948 war marking their defeat as "Al Nakba," or "The Catastrophe."

While the anniversary of the birth of the Israel represents the fulfillment of a dream for Jewish people, for many Arabs it is a day of remembrance for the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who were forced to flee their homeland as a result of the Arab loss.

Several wars and peace agreements later, Arabs want peace, but view Israel with mistrust, as a belligerent nation that talks peace but actively works to deny the Palestinians a viable state.

No celebration
Israel's plan for A-list independence anniversary celebrations has rankled many Arab observers. President Bush is expected to attend anniversary celebrations in Jerusalem next week, along with Tony Blair, the former British prime minister and current envoy for the International Quartet, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and a host of other leaders of countries from Burkina Faso to Ukraine.

"While Israel will be showered with words of admiration and congratulations, principally by those countries that helped create it, the Palestinians will be huddled together in exile or under military occupation," wrote one editorialist in the Saudi daily Arab News.

That anger extends to the man who is often seen as Israel's staunchest ally - Bush - who is expected to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt after the festivities in Israel.

"Syrians feel offended that President Bush will be received warmly in Arab countries at a time when Gazans are killed, surrounded, jailed and tortured," said Thabet Salem, a Syrian journalist.

Increasing frustration
Israel's anniversary comes at a time of increasing frustration with the Middle East peace process. Even Egypt and Jordan, Israel's two main Arab partners, are hugely disappointed that successive peace agreements have not led to wider regional stability.

"People were thrilled when they signed a peace treaty," Ica Wahbeh, managing editor of the Jordan Times daily newspaper, said of the 1994 deal signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan. "They [thought we] would have peace and economic prosperity."

Instead, Wahbeh said, many Jordanians have grown tired of the lack of progress. "So many years on, nothing has happened and nothing appears to be happening. They are frustrated."

Salama Ahmed Salama, an Egyptian editorialist, echoed Wahbe's comments, "Peace with Israel has not met expectations to establish a more peaceful environment," said Salama. As a result, he said, many in the Arab world "look at Israel's strategic or national motives with suspicion."

Salama believes Egyptians are also frustrated with decades of failed peace negotiations with Israel. While people don't want war, they would like to see a strong Egyptian government that was capable of delivering concrete results in the peace process, while not caving in to U.S. pressure.

Arms race
While many are frustrated by the lack of political progress, peace partners and enemies alike also fear Israel's nuclear and conventional military advantage and readiness to attack. "Israel is not a threat to Jordan. But look what it is doing by proxy: The U.S. is threatening Iran and Syria - and everybody is blaming Israel," said Wahbeh. She added that Israel's military capability has led to a "vicious circle that doesn't help anyone."

Likewise, Salama believes people must question Israel's intent when it conducts raids in Syria or invades Lebanon, and he finds it hard to see the Jewish nation as a "peaceful entity." He believes that U.S. mediation attempts have failed because Israel isn't interested in negotiation, but only "tries to achieve goals by military force and power."

That threat of military force is acutely felt in Lebanon, where Hannah Anbar, associate publisher of the Daily Star newspaper in Beirut, says fear of Israel is "ever present in daily life."

"It is a country that has attacked Lebanon in one way or another five or six times, in addition to daily reconnaissance flights over Lebanon," said Anbar. "So it's not like it is something that is in our imagination."

In addition to the fears created by Israel's military strength, the regional arms race has taken an indirect toll on neighboring countries, which have invested heavily in defense rather than much needed development. For example, Syria once spent up to 75 percent of its budget on defense and now spends 40 percent, according to Salem.

In Egypt, successive wars have also sapped the nation's resources. Dr. Abdel Moneim Said, Director of the Al Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies in Cairo, believes that the border tension with Israel has taken its toll on society - making it "much more militarized than necessary."

Also a convenient distraction
Some feel the perceived threat from Israel has given leaders a convenient excuse to exert control with an iron fist and resist democratic reform.

"This tragedy has been the crux of the problems in the whole Middle East. All the revolutions, coup d'etats, lack of democracy is because we have an enemy called Israel - so everything is being put on hold," said Anbar of the Daily Star.

Others believe that anger at Israel has inspired Islamic militancy and made it harder to contain.

"Young men can be easily recruited," said Wahbeh. "They find an enemy and fixate on it, and Israel doesn't help. The U.S. and Israel are interchangeable."

At least, a shared desire for peace
But despite hard-bitten cynicism toward Israel, even its most outspoken adversaries recognize the need for peace. "Syrians are known to be relentless," said Salem. "But over the years the mood has changed. They prefer peace to war. Not to mean they accept Israel as a state, but they prefer peace definitely. They have changed their views drastically."

More on Israel's 60th anniversary:
World Blog: Israel at 60 - a land of contradictions
SLIDESHOW: As Israel turns 60, a look at the country's turbulent past
CNBC Special Report: Israeli industry at 60

 

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Comments

60 Years of Isreali existence and Democracy...... Just out of vieew 700K Palestinians whose land was confiscated, and settled (or stolen) and they being forced to live in CAMPS while Isreal, Bush, Blair and the rest of the world that support the autrocities there celebrate. We want peace!!!! They proclaim this as they make their incursions into the Palestinian camps, denying them the basic dignities and rights, Geneva Conventions due them as fellow human beings, and ignore all resolutions by the World Body that outlaws their treatment of the Palestinian people. Happy Birthday, Isreal (or HITLER IN REVERSE).

Harry, Keller,TX (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:22 AM)

The land belongs to God and He gives it to whomever He chooses.  It is His Holy Land chosen out of all the earth.  Obviously He wants Israel to have it because the Bible says so.  It is fulfilled prophecy from the Old Testament.  Ezekiel 37:21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;"

Colorado (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:37 AM)

I have a comment.  I think that it is funny that no one seems to remember how Hezbollah in Lebanon continues to bomb, threaten, and terrorize the people who live on the Israeli border adjacent to them.  Or how Israel is the most hated country in the world after the United States, and how many countries have vowed their resources, time, and lives to destroying Israel.  I am happy and proud that Israel has made it 60 years, and I can't wait to see it make 60 more!

KR, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:49 AM)

Love the article for what it says between the lines - Arab strongmen/governments use Israel as a justification for oppressing their own people and to keep the reins of power.  

These hypocrites really could not care less about their own much less any other people.  How else can 60 years of neglected Arab refugees from Palestine who were urged by other Arab brothers to leave their homes on the eve of the Arab world's attack on Israel be explained?  The only use Arab countries seem to have for those downtrodden folks is if they are kept homeless and in poverty as a festering wound to prolong the conflict - it's simply in the Arab governments' best interests, and their poor gullible subjects are none the wiser.  Hey, if the conflict suddenly went away the Arab governments might actually have to face reality in their own back yard, and why would they want that?  

But what about love for your Arab brother, where is it rally?  

Yes, it's still much more convenient to point the uneducated to a ready scapegoat than to force them and yourself look in the mirror, always been so and no reason to think that'll change.

Alex, MI (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:52 AM)

Your reporting as those of the NY Times, Reuters and the worldwide press equally stress Al Nakba as well as Israel's joyous and determined will after 60 years. That's disgraceful. Abraham and Isaac lived in what is now the West Bank, and are Jewish forefathers well before the term Arab or Palestinian was introduced. In those days, Arabs were tribal and highly migrant traveling the entire Middle East.  Israel or Judea as it was called in biblical days was the Jewish Promised Land to which Joshua was called upon by Moses to lead the Jewish Exodus.  Thousands of years later, many major cultures laid claim to the land and the Crusaders in three efforts tried to conquer it for Jesus and the Catholics.  The  Balfour Declaration of 1917 declaired it the Jewish Homeland, including all the West Bank, giving the Arabs TransJordan.  The UN declared it the Jewish Homeland in 1948, with the Arabs in Jordan.  Hundreds of thousands of Arabs and Jews were displaced. Now we hear only of four million displaced Arabs who want return and obviously Israeli control.  In 1948, the Arabs would not accept partition and attacked the Jews. Six huge Arab armies were defeated by Israel. There were three other wars in 1958 and 1967, in which Israel took preventive action to survive or sought to eliminate blockades against it. Then, in the Yom Kipper War, the Arabs used the holiest day of the Jewish Year to surprise attack the Jews and almost succeeded. What the Arabs could not and cannot get on the battlefield, they get at the diplomatic tables of countries only to happy to appease them because of their resources. It is said Israeli Arabs are very unhappy. Is there unhappiness for Jews in Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Trucial and Gulf States, ad nausem? Of course not! The Jews have been forced out of Arabs lands. There can be Arabs states, but not a Jewish state.  Yet, this world, which shunnned the Holocaust from 1933-1944, limited Jewish emigration of Holocaust victims, and in some cases still deny the existence of the Holocaust, express their sympathies for what are pathetic Israeli Arabs and 60-year-old Middle East Arab refugees. Have you ever heard of second and third generation refugees. They are refugess because no other Arab nation would permanentally settle them, and their squalor and troubles are their own doing.  Israeli Arabs do better than any other Arabs except for the affluent Arabs in the oil kingdoms.  Have Israeli Arabs, or their neighboring allies, appreciated what Israel has done for them despite the fact the Arabs consider themselves enemies of Israel and are, in fact, a Fifth Column within Israel. WNBC, the press, the UN, Tony Blair,and even Jimmy Carter, know all this and should be shamed for what they say and do with regard to Israel's existence as a Jewish State.  The Israeli's have as much a right to be any kind of state they choose as do Moslem, Catholic and Budhist states. If the international pressure on Israel and this emphasis on Al Nakba and press sympathy for an Arab people who are intent on destroying themselves is not stopped, Israel as a democracy will surely be destroyed, its potential medical and scientific contributions and humanitarianism eliminated, and the UN and the West can continue to count on their oil-rich $120 a barrel-plus Arab buddies.  Very serious and very bitter.

Dan Soskin, Westcherster, NY (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:57 AM)

This is God's Holy Land.  It belongs to Him and He can give it to whomever He chooses.  Obviously He wants Israel to have it because the Bible says so.  It is fulfilled prophecy from the Old Testament.  

Ezekiel 37:21 Then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;"

God gave us prophecy because He knows we are an obstinate people and so we would know Him and believe Him.  

Isaiah 48:3-4  I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it.  Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I knew that you were obstinate, And your neck was an iron sinew, And your brow bronze "

Colorado (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:59 AM)

Cynicism? Is that what you call hatred and the blatant desire to destroy an entire people? This article is nothing but yellow, propagandist writing.

Y. Lock, Lakewood, NJ (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:10 AM)

This article merely reinforces the central geopolitical reality which controls the actions of the entire Middle East.The Arab world can neither live with Israel nor live without it.It is the one concept that unites all Arabs and prevents them from making any progress in any field of human endeavor notwithstanding all of the petro dollars pouring into their coffers.DOES anyone seriously believe that without the existence of israel to unite behind that the Arab countries would be at each others throats more tha they already are? That there would not be a huge civil war between th eforces of fanatical islam and moderat eislam;between the forces of Arab nationalism and Mullah dominated theocracies? It i sless important ot the interests of tHE USA that ISRAEL continue to exist than it is to the Arab WORLD.While a peace agreement with the Palestinians had proved incredibly diffcult,it pales in comparison to the problems which will be created by an independent Palestinian state which will be independent in name only as all of its Arab neighbors prop up their puppets to control its politics much like what has happened in Lebanon except to a much greater degree since in lebanon it is only Syria that interferes while in Palestine it will be Egypt ,Syria,Iran thru Hezbolla,Jordan and Saudia Arabia all with their own agenda.In fact the only country that guarantee the indpendent integrity of a palestinian state is Israel which has a far greater political and economic stake in seeing a Palestinian state indepndent than any any of its Arab brethren .Why would anyone believe that a Palestinian state can come into existence when those who broker its cause like Egypt,SAUDI aRABIA,AND sYRIA have their own agendas to fulfill in the negotiations.If th ePalestinians dont fulfill those agendas ,then the are branded as betrayers of the Muslim destiny,ie,reclaiming JERUSALEM as a holy Muslim cith without any rights to Jews in the same city.
Is it any shock that the Israelis treat the Palestinians the same as their Muslim brothers?

david,baltimore,md. (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:12 AM)

What specific problems have Egypt, and Jordan had with israel?  None that I can think of that weren't started by some failed attack on them.
  How many billion dollars have been given to the palestinians in the last 40 years?  And where has it gone?  Not to build educational institutions, not to rebuild roads, not to start an economy.  It's used to fight Israel.
  I can see why the Arabs feel impotent, for my life, they have been.  They hide like cowards among the populace, then whine and cry when they are actually pursued into ma neighborhood and innocent civilians are killed.  Easy solution, fight like men and don't hide among the innocents.
  I see the Palestinians as a failed people.  Every answer to anything that happens there is Israel.  Their own government has done essentially zero to help the people grow and prosper.
  It might seem manly or corageous all the tough talk they spew against israel, but in the end, you have no economy, live amidst garbage, and for all yopur bombs and bluster and whining, have zero to show for it.
  Why not take 10 years to try and grow the economy.  You might find that using the historical Arab ingenuity and knowledge that instead of fighting for the land, you might be able to simply buy it.

Al, searching for my Habeas Corpus in the Holy land (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:12 AM)

Syria is the key. It is the only state still technically at war with Israel, and the issues between them are easy enough to resolve. The problem is that Syria acts as a regional proxy for Iran, whose geopolitical ambitions are vast. If Syria disengaged from Iran and did not facilitate the continued arming of Hezbollah and Hamas, there would be peace rather quickly. but of course, Assad rules Syria, a majority Sunni nation, as a non-Sunni himself and has his own reasons to stay under the Iranian protective umbrella.

dyinglikeflies (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:20 AM)

In response to "Al Nakba," TOUGh.  Get over it!

Eli (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:20 AM)

Could you please tell me which countries in the Arab world are so anxious for peace?  Is it Syria (oops that was the making of a nuclea arms program that was recently eliminated, and the ones that support Hezbollah, and killed the Lebanes president) or maybe Lebanon (oops that Hezbollah out of Lebanon that fired thousands of rockets down on Israel and captured its soldiers) oh, matbe it is Saudi Arabia (no, cant be them, they are the ones that finance all of the anti west and anti Israel Madressas. Perhaps it is the Paelstinians (oops sorry, they are the ones that have fired over 8000 kassam rockets into the city of S'derot).---I know it must be Iran---you know thae one that continually volunteeers to wipe 0iasral and all of its Jewish inhasbitants off the map. Thanks for your isitefull writing.----Marty

Marty, NJ (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:27 AM)

I as an american hate Isreal because it causes the rest of the world to hate us.  We have no real strategic interest in Isreal.  The have no resources we need.  We would be better supporting the Arabs with the oil.  I can not think of one good reason to support them over the arabs

Levi in NYC (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:29 AM)

Israel is not the threat, the arabs still cant accept Israel, but they need to realize Israel is here to stay. The palestinians need to realize they lost, accept it and move on. They will never ever get the land back.

marcG (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:34 AM)

Wow.  Your blanket assertions and just-so statements certainly show where you come down on the issue.  I'm beyond anger.  It's just sad.
An interesting project for some enterprising reporter might be to compare a day of Israeli TV with a day of Palestinian TV.
Think about that the next time a rocket falls on Sderot--which won't be long from now, of course--it never is.

Haakon Dahl, Yokohama, Japan (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:36 AM)

Right. The only true democracy in the region that has given the world immeasurable aid in the fields of medicine and technology, Israel should continue to be shunned.

Whatever.

Mark, Sonoma, CA (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:38 AM)

What a pile of arab brotherhood propaganda crap. The arabs who reside in the former British colonial territory of Palestine have been repeatedly offered a peaceful 2 state solution since 1920, always rejected. When they begin to love their children more than they hate the jews, perhaps there will be a meaningful peace.

alan g., Amelia Island, fl. (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:39 AM)

Surprising how there is no mention of Arafat's rejection of Israel's peace offer. One thing the author did get right is that the Arab world has found in Israel a convenient scapegoat for all their woes. In order for there to be peace with Israel, there first has to be a revolution in the Arab world. When Arabs prefer peace and prosperity (as opposed to their current obsession, which is to deny the Jewish people their right to the land of Israel), there will be peace and prosperity.

Aaron New York (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:48 AM)

May God bless Isreal forever.

john haskell san diego ca (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:50 AM)

Apparently Israel is the cause of ALL of the problems of the Arab world.

Israelis have endured suffering, conflict and trauma for at least the past 60 years. Why have they not resorted to suicide killings, extremism, terror, and succumbing to dictatorships?

Israelis are a peace-loving people that are surrounded by a hostile enemy, which continually threatens and invades them. The 1948 War, the Six Day War, the Yom Kippur War - all initiated by foreign Arab countries. You say Syria spends a majority of its budget on defense? It sounds more like offense..

Roy, Washington DC (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:55 AM)

It's a shame that we are celebrating a land conquered by force from its own people.  Those Zionists who left Europe because everybody hated them, commited the same atrocities done to them by killing, raping, torturing the Palestinians.  Then, after their Palastenian genocide, they put the rest of them in refeguee camps.  Yet, we Americans are not only watching and laughing but we are helping them commit more atrocities by giving them our hard-earned money.  Billions of our dollars are being poured in Israel every year. That's why they have the most advanced nuclear capabilities.  That's why they earn more than us Americans and they live better life.

When are we going to stop encourging genocide and terrosim by those zionists and start concentrating on our own people?  Thanks to the US, Israelis are well off to do now, they live a luxurious life way better than the Americans.  We helped them way more than enough.  Israel is now becoming a liability for us, it is costing us wars, trillions of our dollars, and more importantly innocent lives.

Let's put our priorities straight for once.  No more pouring money for genocide and terrorism.  Enough Israel!!

Jamie, Washington DC (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:57 AM)

Someone should remind the Lebanese people that the reason Israel routinely flies over their country and keeps an eye on things is due to the presence of Iran's little helper - Hezbollah. Syria, in the past and today, does not make matters any better (i.e. the Mughniyeh incident), so for them to complain about Israel's policies is a bit contradictory. Especially when their own policies (75% defense budget spending) reflect a position of opposition and military posturing towards Israel. If America is so bad, then why do we pour millions of our taxpayers' dollars into Palestine? Why does Israel supply them with electricity? What is Egypt doing for its' Arab brothers and sisters? Not much, because rational thinking and actions lead to little when you have groups like Hamas and Hezbollah (baby Iran)engaged in continuing the cycle of destruction. Without Iran's agenda fueling what is happening in Syria and Lebanon, Israel would have little military interest there at all. Syria choses to put itself in this position, at least its leaders do, as well as any Lebanese people who support Hezbollah. They make their own beds, and they can lay in them too! Its like "trickle down stupidity", and anyone who blames Israel for its military strength must not be paying much attention. Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria (to a lesser extent) are like puppets on strings being jockeyed by the Iranians. As for Jordan and the Saudis, I commend them for at least being rational about the whole situation. All this mess over soil and religion? Hey, Arabs over there, the World is tired of hearing you complain with your mouths about problems you create with your actions. Wake up, shut up, and start contributing something to the world other than radical militancy and whining about Israel.

Paul, Ohio (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:58 AM)

i'm afraid i have to disagree. the torture and murder of the palestinians came mostly at the hands of other palestianians, namely yasser arafat, who stole billions of dollars in aid from his own people.the palestinians are their owm worst enemies. when israel gave them gaza, they turned it into a wasteland. they embrace terrorists like hamas. if they want their own state they have to look at themselves as to how to how to make it work. unfortunately as is usually in the arab world, they are taught to believe that america and israel are to blame for their troubles and not the despotic leaders that keep their people downtrodden. israel is the only country that is asked to give it's own land away. why don't other arab countries take up the plight of the palestinians?

kelly nyack, ny (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:00 AM)

The creation of Israel is the cause of most of the world's (at least the middle east) problems.  Israel was created illegally as a "Jewish" state, which by its defination automaitically excludes the Arab inhabitans (both Christian and Muslim).  Israels creation was at the expense of the Palestinians and continue to undermine any attempts at peace by building settlements and breaking un resolutions.

Joujou Madbak (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:01 AM)

Of course the Arabs aren't celebrating Israel's anniversary, it's not their country.  To use a parallel, the U.S. doesn't celebrate Eritrea's birthday!

Rahim Richardson (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:04 AM)

Israel can thank the United States !

Bessy Chicago,IL (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:05 AM)

They have little reason to celebrate.  Israel has become as reactionary and rigid as any other dictatorship.  Its leaders believe that only by crushing their neighbors will they be popular.  When Hamas was elected the US and Israel had a chance to finally end the problems with Palestine and the "camps" which are cities now.  If they have given the new DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED hamas government all the aid we give Israel, then the Palestinians would have had the ability to build infrastructure, power and water facilities and started enough business to employ their chronically and massively unemployed youth (ages 16 to 40).  People who have jobs, a nice place to live, money in their pocket and a satellite dish on the roof do not blow themselves or their fellows up.  But no, after demanding that Palenstine democratically elect a government, the US then immediately insulted the people by saying, "well, you didn't elect OUR choice, so your election doesn't count."  That Bush's brand of democracy (all facists feel that way) but its not America's.  Treat the Palestinians with respect and shut down the abuse (for God's sake Israel can cut off electric power, water and natural gas in Palenstine whenever it wants to, and which it does frequently as punishment), give them something to live for, and the violence will become as unpopular as it has become in Northern Ireland.  But then Bush has never read a history book either.

Jim, Denver, Colorado (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:06 AM)

Much much happiness for glorious Israel!  If it's such a big deal for the Palestinians to have some land then why don't the Arab countries give them some of theirs? Israel earned their land in blood by winning several wars.  To the victors go the spoils.  

Muhammed Abdullah, Dearborn, Michigan (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:07 AM)

There are many places and lands on earth that were lost in a war.  The crux of today's problem is the arab world's failure to accept responsibility for their huge role in losing Palestine fo the Palestinians.  Lets face it:  Palestine never existed as a country until it was created at the same time Israel was.  They'd be celbrating their 60th birthday as well if they hadn't tried to destroy Israel and ended up destroying Palestine instead.  If Lebanon doesn't want to be attacked maybe they need to disarm the private army of Hezbollah which attacked Israel and caused the last invasion.  

SKIUM609 - Boston - Massachusetts (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:09 AM)

The birth of Israel....A terrorist state is born...

Haha at the comment that millions of dollars have been sent to palestine. Learn your history peeps...

A S (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:12 AM)

Those Arabs living in Paslestine during 1946 -1948 were not forced to leave.  The major Arab  countries ; Egypt , Syria , Saudi Arabia ; Trans Jordan advised Arabs to leave Palestine so that the Jews living there would be pushed into the Mediterranian.  This fact is not related in text books  nor does the  biased media inform its readers or listeners of this fact.
Nakba(naqba) means catastrophe in Arabic was created prior to 1938 by a  Christian Lebanese - Egyptian.  The word was created to support the creation of a Palestian state.  He was not successfull and when 90% of Israel was offered to Arafat this was also refused.  The only fact this proves is that the Arabs wish the destruction and annihalation of the Jewish People.  Once this is accomplished radical Arabs under the guse of the Koran can then begin the annihalation of the world.  Do as I say or goodbye.

Arthur Elbling Seattle WA (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:12 AM)

Man, will the religious nuts please go to another site, such as "the world is ending, let's all hate somebody".  For those who think, please note that the US funds Israel.  Without US aid that country would be a wasteland and desert. However, US aid is not tied to any logical policy of insisting that ISrael be part of the solution and quit being the cause of the problem, it is tied SOLEY AND ABOSLUTELY TO US CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY JEWS IN THE US TO US POLITICIANS.  So the tail wags the dog and idiots like Bush toady to their contributors, while nobody works on a economic solution to the middle east issues.  Instead we perpetuate the issues becuase that's good politics, and keeps the contributions arriving at campaign headquarters.

Jim, Denver, Colorado (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:14 AM)

The main obstacle to implementing a two state solution to the problem remains the Palestinian position that all Palestinians (and their decendents) that fled Israel in 1948 be allowed to go back to their previous homes.  But it's far too late for that.  In 1948 there were 700,000 Jews in Israel, now there are 6 million.  What the Palestinians need is a leader who would be willing to say that obvious truth out loud, so they could move on to accept a two state solution, which is still possible.  Hamas, for one, will never do that.

Alex Kaplansky, Hillsborough, New Jersey (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:20 AM)

The Creation of Israel for the last 60 yrs was made on the killing of civilians as they forget that they once where a victims. How this nation can sleep when there are a daily killing of kids booming homes and making a life of millions of civilians even worth than what Hutler did? Isreal needs another 60 yrs before they can talk about Democracy that they claim it.

Sam, MI (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:21 AM)

The Arab side needs to share their responsibility for the history that has unfolded.Their words and academic approach is that they are innocent.You cannot always make excuses. Israel takes a significant risk by leaving the West Bank, as the Gaza experience PROVES. Israel would be 8 miles wide. No light consideration. It would help tremendously if Arab educational institutions, journalists and TV took a critical look at their own past actions to help chart a future that is guided by wisdom. Arab rejected compromise in 37 (Peel Commission), 1948 partition, the 3 No's of Khartoum in 67,Yasser Arafats's embrace of Intifada vs. negotiation, election of Hamas after Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. These are significant errors in judgment! And the blanket statement that Palestinians are experiencing Holocaust/Genocide is just irresposible, inflamatory, and deceptive. I don't see the Arab people truly embracing 2 states for 2 peoples despite the Arab Peace Initiative with this kind of distorted rhetoric. The number of high government officials in Arab governments who truly believe that the Jews should go back to Europe (Bashar Assad, Shekh Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyah, Khaled Meshaal) is problematic. Israel has made tangible compromises (return of Sinai, return of territory to Jordan in 94, Gaza withdrawal) and its time the Arabs made a minimal move in their universities, TV, and in speeches by Muslim clerics. The Arab interpretation of what happened in 48, 67 etc clouds their judgment to this day and precudes any advances for peace. If you do not change the mindset of the Arab public then Israeli concessions will be a waste and will diametrically lead to war!

Dean (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:22 AM)

Israel has as much to be ashamed of as it has to be proud of. Taking land/water from people by violence and then calling them terrorist when they fight back is nothing to be proud of.

Archie Haase Maine (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:25 AM)

Israel is the only country in the region to take in refugees from other countries - the Palestinian refugee thing is so bogus. Please, Arabs, get on with your life - you don't have one country that is half as normal as Israel - what a waste all your hatred has been.

Simon, Cleveland,Ohio (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:27 AM)

I have to believe that the author of this article is an intelligent person - her name seems to indicate she may be an American married to an Arab from the neighborhood.  Those outside the situation are often much more vocal about what goes on - could be how they're educated.
So, the Arabs want peace??  Someone needs to help me see how that is evidenced.  Every time an Israeli or American dies, they all stand up and cheer and yell "Allah Akbar".  And they want peace?
700,000 "forced" to flee?  How about the fact that all the so-called neighbors of Israel, on the day of the UN announcement, mounted an all out attack against the State.
And the Palestinians have been denied a state?  Maybe you should conjure up Arafat and ask him why he said no to 90% of everything he demanded.  That wasn't good enough and then, the next day he smiled as he waved his magic wand for the the intifada - killing Jewish civilians wholesale.
Exile? The leaders of the Arabs told them to leave and expect to come back shortly because they were going to drive all the Jews into the sea and everything the Jews had done to create "wealth" in the land would be theirs.  Surprise, we didn't die and you didn't get what your leaders told you was in the offing.  Believe me, we know what weak leadership looks like.
Killing Gazans? Targeted killing of known Hamas murderers is what we do.  More Gazans are killed by Hamas and each other than israel - do the math.
And, economic prosperity - according to the Arabs and Palestinians, will come on the backs of the Jews.  Last I checked, more Nobel Prizes are given to us than any other group.  I guess we've rigged that too.  By the way, maybe you can tell me what the Palestinians were thinking when they destroyed all the farming and supplies left behind by the Israelis when they were removed (by our own army, mind you).  Was that because they were interested in economic progress?  

Nurit Amichai, Zichron Ya'akov, Israel (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:29 AM)

Whereas I support Israel's right to exist. I have a dear friend who's father-in-law still has the key to the house he was forced out of in 1948 by gunpoint.  Arabs and Jews are cousins. If the Jews begin to respect the common Palestinian and recognizes that its their homeland too, then perhaps things will improve.  Cutting the power off to Gaza doesn't weaken Hamas, it strengthens them.  The more brutal they are in their "defense" the more Palestinian babies die of disease and hunger and the more ammunition the Arabs have to incite young men to the suicide squads.  If Israel wants to end this, they should pump millions into improving the lives of their neighbors and building hospitals, schools and clean water initiatives.  Recognize the Palestinian right to have homes in East  Jerusalem and force settlers to respect Palestinian territory.  There are blatant land grabs and oppressions happening.  I expect the Israelis to be better simply because of the suffering the Children of Israel have suffered for 2000+ years.  I would think their suffering would have taught them compassion and sharing.  Frankly, I think they have been blinded by foreign rhetoric.  Never will the suffering of anyone bring Peace.  Lets Pray the insanity ends, that with Arafat's passing the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah continues to work for the 2 state solution and that compassion overtakes hardline Israelis and they sympathize with the Palestinian mother and her poverty and fear.

Praying for Peace in Utah (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:33 AM)

Sadly, it all comes down to man wanting more than they have.  This region will fight forever because they are unwilling to agree on anything.  You throw radical muslims in the mix and things get even worse.  Every single human being on this planet has rights and if we ordinary humans from every corner of the earth were to stand up and say no more, the powers that be would have no choice but to sit down and discuss peace.  Disgusting that in 2008 we are not human yet.

Terri B, Blackwood, NJ (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:36 AM)

I dont understand why this reference:
- BIRTH OF ISRAEL in 1948, when the truth is ISRAEL has been there for thousands of years.

Why 'birth' ? in 1948 when it's true birth is far over 5000 years ago?

I dont understand. It is the same as if saying...China or India 'birth' in 1948 ?
Ridiculous! I dont understand.

I just ask God bless to Bless forever ISRAEL and the City of DAVID, Jerusalem! shall never again Fall.

Dena (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:39 AM)

With your obvious bias towards the Arab world and the response you have gotten don't you think it is time for you and the rest of out of synch media to get real? Israel is a shining examole of democracy and fredom surrounded by petty dictatorships and oppression. Naturally the dictators want to blame the Israelis so they can continue to hoard the wealth of their nations while their people simmer in poverty and ignorance. You are a stooge for the "lords."

Paul friedman (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:40 AM)

Why is Israel more important than Egypt, Jordan, or other Arab countries that want peace? It is Israel that refuses Peace, by not accepting a ceasefire in the Gaza strip.

MarcG..You are not very clear on Peace. You must be for McSame.

Bessy Chicago,IL (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:40 AM)

This blog makes it seem as though all Arabs want peace.  I hardly find that to be the case, especially when most Arab groups are clearly against ever finding peace with Israel.  Arab anger over a zionist movement in the 1920's/30's that led to violence against Jewish settlers way before the creation of Israel is partly responsible for seeding the situation they have today.  The "catastophe" is not some single even that happened when UN partitioned the land but is a prolonged condition, a disease that is only spreading, one that teaches young children to hate with all their heart their neighbor.  I am certain many want peace, but at least be real and admit that the problem of unattainable peace stems from BOTH sides, Israeli AND Palestinian, and both of their voilent actions.

James, New York (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:42 AM)

We as Americans should be happy with ISRAEL! They are our only REAL friends in the middle east!!

Josh Sandeigo CA (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:44 AM)

Another one-sided article from the biased Western media that seems to eat up Arab and Palestinian propaganda without question.  Again, the media provides no comment from Israeli citizens or leaders.

MJM, Washington, DC (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:46 AM)

It is truly a Catastrophe.

The Jews won't take the peace offer being handed to them by the Arabs, denying them to live a free life without war.

And yet, here we are celebrating how the Jews stole Palelstine. And yes, they stole with it with the help of the United States, Britian, and other world powers.  And why?

Because, we didn't want to deal with them.  

You can yell about it all you want, or say they are ones being murdered for no good reason. But, thats all lies.

My father is from Palestine, he calls himself a man without a country. Its sad for me to hear that, and when he heard that there might be a Palestinian State, he was soo happy. But, he's 53. I don't think there will be one before he dies, with the way things are going now.

The battle between the Arabs and the Jews are not only political, but mostly if not all based in our different faiths, and how got the land they were banished from by God.

I don't care what you guys say or think after you read this.. Just only that you read it.

Nadia Elmasri, Omaha Nebraska (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:47 AM)

Thank g-d that many on this board see through the same old tired rants against Israel.  It is unbelievable that so many people focus time, energy, resources etc. on hatred of Israel.  Perhaps one day, the arab world will wake up and realize that if it redirected its energies inward, helping its own and creating self-sustaining economies not based solely on oil, how much more positive and influential in the world it will be.

RG Nashville, TN (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:49 AM)

you know the biggest problem here is none of you people see it how it really is past all that political b.s and all the other moronic b.s everyone thinks just put it like this in your head for one second lets just say you are a resident of the detroit area and all of a sudden the germans and the russians decided to give michigan to the canadians how long and how hard would you fight to get back the land you were born in if you were ever deprived of your heritage your religion your everything would you fight for what is yours before you go and talk more political b.s and slander another arab ask yourself what would you do

george (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:50 AM)

The "fact" that all Arabs living in Palestine were not forced to leave is not related in text books because it is not true.  Thousand of Palestinians were in fact expelled from their villages by zionists.  The fact is that Israel occupied the Palestinian land and Jeruslem in 1967 and has defied U.N. resolutions and international law by continuing to occupy these areas and by building settlements in the occupied land. We, The United States has been very hypocritical regarding Israel, we demand that Arab countries adhere to U.N. resolutions and international law while allowing Israel to defy them.  And to say that the land there is Israels because "God gave it to them" doesn't really hold up legally.  After all, the Old Testament was written by Jews.  It would be kinda like me writing a book that said God wants me to have California, so it is legally mine.

Dave Reece, Barstow, Ca (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:51 AM)



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