Wednesday January 9, 2008, 8:33 pm
Steinsaltz also asks that the American president work to settle Jews in "every corner of the Land of Israel" and push America Jews to make aliyah.



"I will urge the Jews in my country and hold the corners of their garments to bring them to the Land of Israel and settle them there and to erect the Temple of God in Jerusalem and to push foreigners away from it."

Thursday January 10, 2008, 12:36 am
Pardon me, but I'm very concerned with this type of extreme thinking. Red-flag alert! Red-flag alert! This is bad news for Palestinians AND Israelis. Scary.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 5:31 am
Israel hiding settlement facts to protect image:

THE Israeli Government has told a court that it does not want to reveal the true extent of Jewish settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories because the information would damage its image abroad, a local newspaper has reported

http://snipurl.com/1x15m

Thursday January 10, 2008, 8:22 am
I wish they could see what a threat this is, that the West Bank settlements are a threat to their very existance. They completely undermine any peace efforts. These are more than a threat to them but a threat to the entire world. This is more than just the spark that can ignite another Arab-Israeli war but on that would get the Persian Kingdom involved. If that happens, you know America will get involved too. WW3 anybody?We musn't let illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Jewish capture of Jerusalem undermine what us peace activists are worlking wo hard for: Israeli-Palestinian peace equals WORLD PEACE. We all need to realize that!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 8:54 am
Perhaps I'm blowing things out of proportion but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:11 am
Noted and Thank you Zahra! Prayers for peace.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:12 am
I think people may be afraid to note this for fear of being labeled anti-semitic. You can call a horse a horse but you cannot call a cat a horse.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:25 am
In news I get daily from Al-Awda that Israel has never stopped aggression on Gaza, still underthe Israeli Govt and Israel has never stopped invading West Bank. Just remeber the elected govt there is Demoractic just the way we are! Has US stopped aggression on other countries ? No!! If they do not agree with US policies! There are few similarities Israel shares with US!! As it mentions in the article which Blue sent "One of the petitioners, Peace Now, said Israel had built 122 settlements in the West Bank with official state sanction. Another 100 newer settlements - described as outposts of older settlements following Israel's commitment not to build new settlements - were built without official sanction." More getting bulit in East Jerusalem as we speak...shame and shame as US knows all about it! May be this time US will listen the cries of Palestinians..children and women..men alike!! They are asking right to return and freedom!! Which Americans have taken for granted!! Peace

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:36 am
God is Peace and we shoud strive for Peace as ours is ONE NATION UNDER GOD

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:38 am
I am not against the Jewish homeland. I am against it's unimpeded growth and feel very stongly that Jerusalem should remain neutral. Their are settlements currently being built in key locations around Jerusalem in attempt to capture the city. Jerusalem belongs to Christians, Muslims AND Jews. We musn't let any one people claim it as their own. I wish for Jerusalem to be the city of the future. A city of hope. A city of Peace between religions and ethnicities. All should be welcome to learn and to visit. I beleive in a two state solution but something is just not working. The people on the land now (some I should say) want it all to themselves their own people for whatever reason. It is up to the moderates and for international peaceworkers to make sure that this doesn't happen. Their must be a FAIR SOLUTION. Extremism isn't one of them.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:39 am
Noted, I pray for peace

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:54 am
I hear you and understand your concern Zahra! I do not see you as anti anything other then Anti-hate and that is the message you have gotten out. Thank you. Appalling I think all this is. In the US we have a simular issue. People demanding we set a one language, set one religion. The whole "If your not with us. You MUST be againest us" Phooy!
Noted!
Peace and Love

Thursday January 10, 2008, 9:57 am
Oh yeah, Steinzhalz. This guy is a whack-job, part of the movement to try to rebuild the Temple and reinstitute animal sacrifice.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:00 am
I think there are many who see it as the Arabs have such much land, what is wrong with giving the entire area of Israel (including the territories) to the Jewish people? That wasn't part of the ititial agreement. What is happening is not only illegal but against human rights, and against what was initially agreed upon. It is why I have no support for it's progression. Perhaps this is why the Arab's initially refused the intial terms, because they saw it coming. And now the Arabs and Persians (and other Eastern countries) are currently being irritated by the US presence in the area. Are they supposed to just sit back and let their land be taken over through military force? No to military endeavors and no to acts of terrorism. Keep to the initial agreement and stop the damn fighting. (The illegal) settlers need to return their land to the Palestinians and this needs to be done in a peaceful way.

We all know Bush isn't the brightest President we've ever had. Can he see this for the extremist proposal that it is? Will he just shake hands and say sure whatever you say? Bush and certain Israeli officials can do alot of damage in the next year. I'm not sure a new President can help much either. Peace is the only solution.

"ONE NATION UNDER GOD" isn't that the American national athem? Does that mean for America to take over the world? Do you think that is peace?Of course it would be great, like the John Lennon song, imagine their no country. But is that realistic though? Do you really see that happening in our lifetime, in a way that doesn't involve one country conquering another....the entire planet? Cause that is what seems to be going on now (and for years). I'm seriously tired of it. No more fighting people, enough wars, enough bombs, enough worrying about nuclear ambitions. We need to be realistic too. It's okay to dream for Peace, but we have to be willing to work for it too.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:01 am
My dear Meenakshi, yes, the Israeli government is "democratic" right now exactly the same way that the US is right now. Our president just does what he wants with NO regard for what the American people want.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:01 am
My dear Meenakshi, yes, the Israeli government is "democratic" right now exactly the same way that the US is right now. Our president just does what he wants with NO regard for what the American people want.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:03 am
The people promoting this garbage get all of the attention, much as suicide bombers and other Islamic extremists get all of the attention.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:04 am
These two hard-line groups of idiot nutcases are the ones preventing peace.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:04 am
These two hard-line groups of idiot nutcases are the ones preventing peace.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:05 am
Thank you all for your feedback. This has been most enlightening process. I appreciate it. We can all learn from each other and I beleive must of us really want the same thing. Peace and harmony (and all that good stuff) ;) Zahra

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:06 am
The same frustration is felt by Muslims/Palestinians and Jews/Israelis at the injustice of being identified with fools who distort Islam and the fools who miss the whole point of being Jewish.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:09 am
Oh no, Zahra, no one should ever think that you're anti-Semitic! (Actually, the Jews who believe this crud have terrible relations with regular old Jews like me; they're violent, just plain mean, and have used violence against other Jews who don't support their craziness.)

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:11 am
I'd love to make aliyah myself, but not to an Israel run by thise guys.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:28 am
Not the national anthem, it's the "pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the republic for which it stands. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, indivisable with liberty and justice for all." Sounds pretty good but what exactly is meant by that, anyhow? I must go play with my kids for awhile. Will be back later, no time for stars. Thank you everybody for participation.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:32 am
I'll re=read the issue from the very beginning,and sign every petition you have to prevent and stop another war,and i feel strongly especially for the children and familiys everywhere. Everyone. Iam with you Zhara!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 10:36 am
Rochelle, would love to go to Israel too, Tel Aviv is beautiful, there is so much history. The Bahai Temple is in Israel. Who doesn't want to see and photograph the majesty of the wailing wall (in Jerusalem)? I also want to go there and to help with the olive harvest in Palestine, inshallah. I love Olive trees and want to take pictures of the fields of beauty and it's people who have lived there for many years are in fact descendents of the original Jews. In essence the original Jews never really left, they just have been converted and conquered over the years. They are the same people. We are all related. Anyway, iIt is an amazing land and I can see why there are those who would like to capture it for their own, in it's entirty. Must go for now. Ttyl, Z

Thursday January 10, 2008, 11:46 am
Yes Thersa!! I agree!!thank oyu!!! thank yu dear zahara for spiking you mind and hearet !! god bless and peace to all!!
Ahava veShalom!! (love and peace )

Thursday January 10, 2008, 12:04 pm

Thanks, Zahra. When two paranoids in a nuthouse get together, they agree on everything. When two religious fanatics who happen to be national leaders get together, the whole world turns into a nuthouse.

And thanks to Blue Bunting -- I just stole the link you posted above, and posted it as a news story. ;)

Thursday January 10, 2008, 1:44 pm
Noted, Zahra, and no, I do not you are coming across as anti-semitic. I am very sensitive of people labeling one group of people over another regarding the actions of a few, but what you say here is true. One cannot expect to gain anything if one is not willing to compromise. The majority of the Israeli population (not al of them Jewish, by the way) is against the proliferation of these encampments. And yet, the actions of the few are affecting the welfare of the many.
Anyone associating with Bush to accomplish anything is up to no good.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 3:03 pm
well, Zahra you are a true peace-worker-from-your-soul...any decent person can see this clearly from the things you stand for.

For me as a Jew, one of the MOST furious, egregious issues is the way that the government of Isreal has forced the religious/spiritual nature of Israel to be DIFFERENT from the holy ways in which the ancient wisdom of peaceful spirituality ORIGINALLY spoke of in Jewish history books, Bible, etc....

Isreal was clearly supposed to be a HOLY nation, not a modern nation that is mostly concerned with business, politicians-and-their-ego-and-greed/lust for power, and not a militaristic land that purchases outrageously dangerous weapons like cluster bombs from weapons manufacturers that end up killing non-combatants in stead of enemy troops!
If ANYONE doubts me,,, you should read what VERY devout, pious Jews in Israel feel about a government that is not the "Light of Goodness to the world" that G-d had challenged the Children of Isreal to become: those who would spread good values, ethics & law in the service of protecting the common, decent people of the world----not the rich, greedy, power-lust of politicians of any/all religions that use their fanatics to fuel their wars for worldy, shallow, greedy power.
That's what it's all about...

We need a true renewal or Awakening to the true PEACE and JUSTICE of living good lives with our neigbhors but modern politics and incridibly suble propaganda in the form of tv news reports just keeps stirring the anger & hate instead of spending all that time & effort to communicate EVEY possible alternative for smarter, healthier, ethical equality & justice & peace.

It all comes back to the PATHETIC, little-kings of greed & power-lust that most nations elect as their leaders, congress, representatives, parliaments, who LAUGH to themselves as they "claim on camera & tv" to actually "care" about the true common people they were supposed to serve....it's all backwards----

most people are serving & being manipulated by little kindgs who are ONLY selfish & work for their OWN personal power & goals.
We truly need an awakening to the facts of what goes on behind these leaders' closed doors.
rob
=][=

Thursday January 10, 2008, 3:55 pm
I was taught that no land belongs to a person. Rather that a person has the duty to care for the land with his fellows so that the land will feed him and his family. In the highly complex issues of land settlement in the Middle East where different people have settled the land for differing lenghts of time it seems impossible to find a solution that pleases all. But what we are seeing; the dispossesing of an entire people of the land they grew from has to be worng by the very tenents of natural law.

Is it so hard for more than one people to live side by sdie on the same ground without their wanting to commit murder?
Is it so hard to one people to help another people to survive and have access to health care and free markets?
It is so hard to accept that two peoples both look to the same God/Allah and find therefore that they are siblings? They are brother and sister.
For we dissposses our bretheren.
For we would murder our brother and sister.
And no one wins.
And sadness is allarround.
And the tears of God/Allah flow un-noticed.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 4:25 pm
Search for the Balford Agreement. Israel does belong to the Jews. Like Greece belongs to the Greeks and America belongs to Americans, Mexico to the Mexicans, Ireland to the Irish. Need I go on? There is never enough land for the Arabs who want to wipe Israel off the map.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 4:36 pm
But the Palestinians are the Jews, don't you get it? They are the same people who have been there all along! We are the same people! We are killing ourselves!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 4:39 pm
You all are so wonderful, all of you! I'm so honored to be around such free-thinking intellectuals who truly beleive in something and are willing to express it! Alhamdulilah!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 4:40 pm
But Ann, the people who want to wipe Israel out are not the majority, I don't think. (And they're not all Arabs....) Common sense, pure pragmatism, argues for a peaceful two-state solution.

Thursday January 10, 2008, 4:43 pm
Actually, Zahra, you DO look like one of my cousins! Yes, I pray (and agitate and try to educate) in hope for the day when you and I can go pick olives there together. Inshallah! Alevai! ("Alevai" means roughly the same thing, not literally but in intention.)

Thursday January 10, 2008, 5:16 pm
Citizen diplomacy is what is needed - there are peace-loving people in every country, and they are in majority, too - just the ruler's aren't always in favour of peaceful solutions, common decent people always are, of themselves - it takes heavy propaganda to move ordinary people to go out to be killed in wars...
Thanks for a good thread - an please note: in Europe their exists no country where only one single ethnic group lives - all European countries are multi-ethnic and so has it been for generations and generations - in every country one has to learn to live with both old and new minorities - the one nation-one language-one religion idea is a 19th century propagandistic idea with no foundation in history... and note that Hitler picked it up, he found it useful for his agenda, let that be a warning...
BTW I can recommend Zahra's group "Middle East Needs Peace"... do join for joint efforts to make a difference...
Thanks Zahra for the submit and all! You walk your peace-talk!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 5:33 pm
And Zahra, "one nation under God was not in the pledge of allegiance originally; it was added during the big anti-Communist foolishness during the 50's, and you're right, it was inserted in the spirit of a big bully!

Thursday January 10, 2008, 5:52 pm
Noted, Thank You Zahra, I, along with many other people in this world agree with you and support this cause 100%. Many blessings.....

Thursday January 10, 2008, 7:09 pm
My Dear Zahra - if you are anti-Semitic, then so am I - and I am Jewish. I believe in Israel, and I believe in a Palestinian homeland. Why can't we all just live side by side as brothers and sisters? We have more in common than we do that separates us. G-d created us all. There is only one G-d.

I wish for peace in the Middle East. It is the governments that create more of the problems. When I talk to individuals, most people want the same - peace - to live in peace with one another, and to accept one another as equals.

Friday January 11, 2008, 12:20 am
Dear Zahra, Noted it. Sending Love & Light with Blessings of Peace. Peace is not impossible..we have impossible beliefs..and pride...

Love, Light & Blessings,

Nachi

Friday January 11, 2008, 1:06 am
Well I am feeling scared, just really suspicious. Don't trust what is going on at all.
I have a funny feeling about Bush being pushed in to this peace deal that I just can't shake.
It doesn't seem right, something is fishy to me.
He's not known for being particularly intelligent.
He is very easily manipulated.
I am very concerned about this new Peace Deal. I want for either the UN to be on it or the new president we elect, a real president who can think for himself.

Friday January 11, 2008, 4:02 am
I think it is a huge burdon to expect any country to accept sharing their capital would it stop there or would Israel continue with the kadema wish. Netenyahu previously worked for the US cia under Bu$h seniour so there is much to distrust however i think peace is worth persuing if it takes longer to reassure all parties esp the unincluded. thanks Zaha love n peace

Friday January 11, 2008, 4:41 am
Shalaam, Zahra, I believe in all that you are fighting for my good friend, and I, as another HUMAN BEING, can see through your eyes, what you are seeing happening. And it is a RED FLAG......So, I say bua to Allah for you my "igido" (sister)..and wish you many blessings of love and light, and right on sister! Keep the Peace going & Keep fighting for your beleifs, I am with you all the way! I have your back, just let me know what I can do, "gi na li i" (my friend)...I believe in the rights of all HUMANS, on this planet..
This is noted, Shukran..Zahra..and Mashalla...Inshallah sister..."dohiyi" (peace)..
FreeSpiritRunning...

Friday January 11, 2008, 5:22 am
well, thank you DORIS, for saying this:
>>"Citizen diplomacy is what is needed - there are peace-loving people in every country, and they are in majority, too -
just the ruler's aren't always in favor of peaceful solutions,
common decent people always are, of themselves -
it takes heavy propaganda to move ordinary people to go out to be killed in wars.."

Friday January 11, 2008, 6:58 am
I loved reading this thread....it is so encouraging. Zahra, I'm completely in accord with you in every way. Peace and blessings

Friday January 11, 2008, 7:07 am
You are all my family. I value what you say. Each and every one of you.
Pete, the CIA? That is a HUGE deal.
Good old Daddy Bush comes into the picuture again!
Lil' Bush, when are you going to grow up? Be a real man?
And I got news for you, being President doesn't make you one either!

Friday January 11, 2008, 7:50 am
Like that old joke about the rich woman whose child is in a wheelchair and someone asks "Can't your daughter walk?", and the mom answers "No, but thank goodness she doesn't HAVE to!", Bush will never grow up; he doesn't HAVE to....

Friday January 11, 2008, 7:50 am
Like that old joke about the rich woman whose child is in a wheelchair and someone asks "Can't your daughter walk?", and the mom answers "No, but thank goodness she doesn't HAVE to!", Bush will never grow up; he doesn't HAVE to....

Friday January 11, 2008, 4:26 pm
Thanks, Zahra
I agree with you

Friday January 11, 2008, 5:40 pm
Rocehelle, please read the comments on the IWPS, the "opportunity" news submit. There is a message for you I think you may like. :) Thank you Mada. :) Here is a thread I'd like to recommend to those interested for reading on this topic at Middle East Needs Peace:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=10172&pst=869194&archival=&posts=5

Saturday January 12, 2008, 2:20 am
Thanks for the info, Zahra, noted.
"President of the west" my a$$.
A request to a whacko by a total whacko...

Saturday January 12, 2008, 2:59 am
why must religion always be a cover for greed and immorality. I should probably not even comment here as it will be taken wrong I am sure. But I am tired of wars and I am tired of death,and I just want people to be able to live in peace with one another.

Saturday January 12, 2008, 5:19 am
Joyce, I think that you speak for all of us. But the ultra-ultraOrthodox crazies aren't doing it for money so much as because they are religious FANATICS. They are a minority, but a super-powerful one, without whose support no government in Israel can be formed---at this point. (These are the Israelis who also say that the state of Israel should not exist as a regular nation WHILE LIVING THERE! Not reasonable people.)

Sunday January 13, 2008, 2:19 am
balfour, you mean, ann? :) fantastic. let's go back to the balfour borders, then, shall we? i'm sure israel's current politicians would have an apoplectic fit at the idea. :D

but seriously, ireland belongs to the irish, because the irish are the original natives of the land, just as china belongs to chinese, iran belongs to persians, and america belongs to, erm... native americans. :D whoops, wrong example there. it slipped out. how did they lose their native lands, please remind me. but seriously again, both jews and palestinians can be considered natives of that land, historically. some palestinians must've been descended from the people the exodus jews drove out, thereby making them native, and some must've been descended from arabs who are cousins of jews, which makes them both closely related and one brother cannot be native while the other is not! and then also the inter-marriages, etc. so... i think the argument that one side is native and the other is not is just too preposterous. especially as the brother being accused of being foreign hasn't left the land for hundreds of years, and the accusing brother (excepting the eastern jews who have always lived there, of course) just lately come back with a huge entourage of relatives. :S the world just does not make any sense. it is one thing to insist on fair access to the holy sites of jerusalem, quite another to kick people out of their land. and anyway, surely it is possible to migrate to israel out of love of the land and *not* settle yourself in an already occupied land by clearing off the people still living there? and if God intended for the land to be exclusively for the jews, surely He can manage to bring it about without humans second-guessing Him and 'helping' Him along? note that this is the same thing i say to certain muslims holding the equivalent extremist view that the holy land is supposed to be cleansed of jews, and christians believing that a jewish israel is the precursor to the end of days, after which the jews not converted to christianity will somehow be taken care of. making things happen is God's job. we who are to be judged are only supposed to live well and hope to end up in heaven!

Sunday January 13, 2008, 4:58 am
I think that nearly everyone responding to this post does support returning Israel's borders to pre-1967 formation, Nuraini. Is it helpful to bring God into this discussion? I think that it's only helpful to bring God into this to remind us that the theology of all three religions represented here does hold, as a core belief, that peace is the goal. Of course, peace cannot exist without justice.

Sunday January 13, 2008, 4:58 am
I think that nearly everyone responding to this post does support returning Israel's borders to pre-1967 formation, Nuraini. Is it helpful to bring God into this discussion? I think that it's only helpful to bring God into this to remind us that the theology of all three religions represented here does hold, as a core belief, that peace is the goal. Of course, peace cannot exist without justice.

Sunday January 13, 2008, 5:02 am
Also, in this discussion, people lose sight of WHY Israel was created: One third of Jews worldwide had just been murdered systematically, while the rest of the world LET IT HAPPEN. Obviously, Jews needed someplace to be to prevent the same thing happening again. We didn't just say one day, "Hey, let's go really mess everything up for he people living there. It'll be fun!"

Sunday January 13, 2008, 5:03 am
(And yes, I personally DO support giving most of the US back to the Native Americans.)

Sunday January 13, 2008, 12:06 pm
Salaams Zahra...my feelings on this matches yours!!

Allah created us all to live in this world he gave us to look after and to live in peace and prosperity and harmony but today all seem lost because people have turned barbaric, narrow minded, selfish and wanting to claim land that belongs to our Creator...which He created for all mankind to live in peacefully and to care and love for whats around us!!!

I'm all for PEACE and hope that this can work out for the best.

Monday January 14, 2008, 8:58 pm
Dual citizenship Israelis (neocons) have taken over our government. http://www.viewzone.com/dualcitizen.html

Tuesday January 15, 2008, 12:10 am
Blue, thank you for the green star, but your claim here is another bigoted anti-Jewish post. We've heard that kind of stuff before. It got 6 million Jews tortured to death.

Tuesday January 15, 2008, 12:38 am
I think declaring Israel belonging to the Jews is going to happen whether we like it or not.
Because apparently, the countries (and I mean the powerful ones) are run by a few people who want to see it done.
Bush's trip to some Arabic countries has some purposes and one of them is to have a military base in each of these countries (for the next war on Iran) and to bring money to the Palestinians who live in camps outside Palestine as a compensation.
And this is the whole problem in Lebanon, they wanted to take Kulayaat (a Lebanese Military airport in the north) to settle it as an american military base but they have not succeeded because the Americans doesn't rule in our country (for now). And that's why they are fighting Hizbullah. So they do not want the Palestinians in OUR land to come back to Palestine.
Therefore, all they have been planning on is being done!!!

Monday April 20, 2009, 4:35 pm
Israel to Jews only: Jewish racism, pure and simple.

Why all that hypocritical outrage and walkout en masse at Geneva Conference today? And look who's walking - British ex-masters of the planet, Americans, exterminators of Native Tribes of America, French (Algiers, anyone?). New Zealand, Australia (where are all those Maoris today?). Germans, hmmm, they're not colonizers! (ahhh, Holocaust, sorry. But that's totally different story, right?) And, naturally, them, the Holocaust victims - sending Palestinians to KZ Bantustanes, and demanding Israel for Jews only.

Right. Even Hitler said: Deutschland fuer Deutschen!