Hey I would just like to clarify to complete misinterpretations.
Seeing as I live in Israel and i am currently serving in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), I think i can say better than all of you about the situation. While you can all claim that I have a very subjective view, pro-Israel if you wish, I assure you what I state are excepted facts.
I am not even going to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it is such a complex issue which cannot be resolved in a few sentences. However, if any of you would like to discuss the topic i would be more than interested.
I hate when Jews cry anti-Semitism for every little thing. However, certain events, comments, actions, ARE based and due to anti-Semitism.
The Passion of Christ was deemed anti-Semetic because of the poor portrayal of the Jews of the time. To say it is historically accurate is completely moronic and shows an utter lack of simple historical comprehension of the time. For example, Josephus had a completely different view of Jesus and his story is very very different fot the version fo the New Testatment. The Talmud, again has another portrayal. The Passion of christ is based on one of the FOUR version fo the story of Christ related in the New Testatment, so even they weren't sure which was right, I am interested to know how come you are so sure. Pontius Pilate was an extremely brutal roman leader who couldn't care less about Jesus, and the portrayal of him as a sympathetic leader who was nice and gentle is simply insluting to educated audiences. The Jews in the film are all ugly and disgusting as opposed to Jesus who is a good looking actor whith a charm and holiness about him. The whole scene where the jews riot in front of the palace and finally choose Barrabas instead of Jews, show the Jews as a sick demented wild mob. For reasons such as those the Passion was labelled anti-Semitic. Jews for over two thousands years have suffered at the hands of zealous Christians who blamed them for Jesus's death. Being such a sensitive issue, Jews today were frightened by the meaning and consequences of the movie, especially in this post-Holocaust modern era. To whoever said that "The Jews killed Christ, you can't twist that" all I say is maybe you should do some reading.
While not everyone who criticizes Israel for her politics is anti-Semitic, the notion of being anti-Israel stems from anti-Semitism. It isn't politically correct to be anti-Jewish but it is very fashionable to be anti-Israel. The Palestinians are an oppressed people (although I don't think they qualify as a nation according to the definition of the word, plus they were formed in the 1920's not thousands of years ago as they would claim), but Israel is the victim. The arabs worlds owns an astonishing 22 countries around the world yet none of them have offered a permanent solution to the Palestinians. No let's force the Jews to take them. The Palestinians deserves right and to be treated better (But I might add that they are treated better then they would in any other arab country), however those who say you don't agree with Israel, her right to exist and most improtantly which is so often forgotten, to defend herself and her citizens! without a complete understanding is a quick reaction to media and influence and is based on an anti-Semitics nature.
But to all you people who think you know something and don't, here is a short history lesson.
Jews having been living in Palestine since the destruction of the Second Temple way back in 70 A.D. Although there was never an official Jewry in Palestine there have always been Jews living there.
Jews began immigrating to Palestine (then under Ottaman rule) during the second half of the 19th century. In 1896, the first Zionist Convention was held in Basel, Switzerland, lead by Israel's visionist Theador Herzl. it was deemed then that a Jewish state needs to be formed as a safe haven for Jews around the globe from the escalating anti-semitism in the world. They began buying land (note, NOT STEALING BUT BUYING) land from Arab owners in the Palestine region. After the second world war the Mid-East was divided by the French and British. Britain took Palestine and Transjordan and France took Syria and Iraq. All these countries were formed then. (I think there were some other countires too but I don't remember). In 1917 Britain put out the Balfour Decleration stating that a "two state" resolution should be made for the Palestine issue. The Jews rejoiced while the Arabs rejected the decision. In 1947 the U.N. recognized the right of the Jews to form a Jewish state in the land of Palestine and again called for a "two state" resolution. Again the Jews accepted while the Arabs said no. The U.N. demanded that the British leave and the Jewish state be formed. In 1948 on the 5th of May, Israel was founded when the British left. The Arabs were not happy by this and due to immense pressure from the Soviet Union (they wanted control in the Palestine region for military and influential reasons) FIVE arabs states waged war on Israel: Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Sudia Arabia and Iraq. The world did nothing as they would continue to do in the years succeeding when Israel was attacked. Finally in 1949 after Israel suffered many casaulties, as did the Arabs, a truce was reached based on military considerations. (Now this is important, they did NOT decide final borders but due to military considerations reached a cease-fire) So there is no pre-67 borders it is a myth! The Arabs were upset because basically they got their asses kicked and lost a lot of land (not exactly what they were hoping for...) and they started winging and whining. In 1956 again, Egypt waged war cutting off Israel's water supply. Israel retaliated and conquered the whole Sinai region. But they gave it back due to world pressure. In 1967 again, on the brink of war, Israel made a pre-emptive attack on the countries who had waged war on her and Israel again conquered more lands. In 1973, again Israel was attacked and they again conquered the Sinai Dessert (which was given back in the Israel-Egypt peace agreement in 1979.) So I can continue like this and show you all the facts but I think we get the point. Israel didn't steal anything, there is no Palestinians, oh and the world hates Israel and wants to appease the arabs.
Firstly, don't bring emotional physcological warfare in this debate. I am very sad for your friends, however, I too have known several people who have been killed through terrorists attacks and fighting. A friend of mine was killed on a bus bomb, another in a terrorist shooting at his school. And i can go on for hours but lets face it, both sides have suffered. However, a difference should be made. Now don't take this as an insult to you or your friend, but ALL and I stress all Israelis that have been killed in this conflict were INNOCENT (as you put it) civilians. Now when I say innocent I mean that they were targeted simply for the fact that they were Israeli/Jewish. That is not the case with the Palestinians. While I admit that innocent people have been killed, like your friend, which by all means is wrong, several terrorists were killed too. That makes for a huge difference in the definition of the casaulties. Personally, I think that when assessing the Palestinian casaulty number the terrorists should be disregarded from the count. I think it is an inslut to those truly innocent people such as your friend.
You asked me if i have ever questioned Israeli tactics. The answer is yes but I then understood that the situation calls for certain actions. Israel is NOT "all perfect and cannot do wrong", BUT for it's worth, the situation that Israel is in, they are doing blo*dy well. Israel is not the west, and things don't go here like in the U.S. and until the world understands that, we won't have a solution. The Middle East is different!! A different way of thinking.
Israel is the victim. Israel is the victim of racism and pure hatred. Israel is the victim of terrorist organizations. Groups like the Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Hizbollah, the Fatah, and many others. These organizations are sponsored and allowed to run free by the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Syria Lebanon, and Iran. Iran, Lebanon and Syria all openly sponsor the Hizbollah, Syria funds the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and the Hamas. Egypt funds the Jihad, the Hamas and Al Aqsa. Do you want me to continue? They are not a few people from Gaza who have risen up, they are a new form of attacking Israel. When the sorrounding states realised that they could not defeat Israel through convential warfare they resorted to terrorism, and the WORLD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT!! These nations pry on the Palestinian people to achieve their goal. they could not care less about the Palestinians. Tell me if they do care, why have they not offered to take in the Palastinians to the thousands of miles of land? Why do they not help them? Fund education, health care, etc?
The story of you at the checkpoint saddens me to think that people, especially from my country could behave like that to another human being. However, to take an individual and claim he is the whole is silly at best. I know many people, including myself, who treat the Palastinians very respectfully at checkpoints. The Israeli army denounces and Court Marshals soldiers who act badly at the checkpoints. The army as a whole is moral and they attempt (I admit that it fails sometimes, even a lot of times) to protect innocent civilians from harm. That is IDF policy. Fact.
I feel that whatever Israel needs to do to protect herself from those who rise up against her, to destroy her, then yes is justified. I wouldn't say that about any country, the whole "whatever they need to do" because different countries would have different concpetions of "whatever" is. But since it is Israel, then yes whatever. Because I know that the "Whatever" of Israel is within the bounds of excepted morality. It is a country based on a moral and ethical religion, and democracy, taking a lot for the West and the stongest democracies around the globe. And the country attempts to live up to those standards. i have full belief that Israel will never go beyond the realms of ethical judgememt. Again this is not about individuals, but the country as a whole.
Regarding the crime situation in Lod. All i can say is that Israel is a very new country. Having only been around for fifty years, the country is doing amazingly, especially considering the situation. Unfortunatly, the police have more important matters to worry about, i.e. terrorism, and the therefore the war on crime has suffered. The whole country is experiencing the setbacks and Jerusalem too has crime. But you should know that crime in Israel is one of the lowest in the world...
Phew... Hope i answered.
