15 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Robert Jaffee's avatar

This is the same trap America fell into after 9/11. We wrapped patriotism into a vestige of hate, and Muslims suffered greatly. We saw a rise in hate crimes and deaths around the world. Americans and Muslims died, and in the end, nothing good came of it!

I watched liberal Americans last week cheer when innocent Israeli women and children were massacred. People were being brainwashed to think that Jews are not people, and now we’re seeing the same thing against Palestinians.

Somehow, many believe every Palestinian is responsible for the terror in Israel, and the same can be said, who think all Jews are responsible for Netanyahu’s and his far right government’s policies and crimes. Nothing could be further from the truth; but the dehumanization efforts begin; and hate is the end product.

I heard the President of Israel, Herzog, claim all Palestinians are responsible for the massacres; wrong! They are victims too. When we can no longer distinguish between the innocents on both sides, then Humanity is lost, and all is left is hate.

I truly hope Israel will not invade, because we’ve seen this movie before. Hamas attacks, Israel responds harder, and then implements even more draconian laws that strangle the Palestinian people. Rinse, lather, repeat!

And in the end nothing changes. Hamas grows stronger, not weaker and Israel responds in kind.

The definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result!”--Albert Einstein

Yes, this time will be different; lots more death and destruction that will make all of the past incursions seem tame. So I only question is, “and then what?”

My thoughts and prayers to all: Palestinians and Israeli’s alike. I have family in Israel and I am truly terrified for all.

Expand full comment
M Tree's avatar

Robert Jaffee, I am sorry for your pain at this time.

I agree with you. I separate those who water the seeds of violence from those who water the seeds of compassion. I wish no ill on anyone, but my heart breaks more for the suffering of the peaceful Israeli and Palestinian people who do not want violence anywhere.

Expand full comment
Mary Rose's avatar

I grew up in N. Jersey. My whole family fm NYC. I could always tell where there was a war by who my bar tenders & cab drivers were. Chatting w a cab driver on my way home late one night I asked: where are you from? Lebanon. Ms. Buzzed: who won that war? thinking how smart I am to know there’s a war. Cabbie turned around like he was going to slap me, stared long & hard at me and realized I was 20-something & clueless and said: nobody. Nobody wins a war. Everyone loses. Every family on both sides lost at least one family member- mother, father, sister, brother, child. Many lost more. And the war turned us all into murderers. I believe he was yelling: murderers. Talk about a sobering ride home. Israel may kill a lot of Palestinians. But many Israelis will be murderers: some will justify it & others will be forever harmed by becoming murderers. Is that a win? Does any mother want their child to become a murderer? What would Golda have done? We need experienced peace makers.

Expand full comment
mark cramer's avatar

BLESSINGS !!, added, to Your Prayers !, Mary ! PEACEMAKERS ! ,,,, and FAITH !

Expand full comment
Robert Jaffee's avatar

Agreed, and the cab driver was very wise. There are no winners in war; just varying degrees of losers.

Expand full comment
Vittorio Felaco's avatar

Totally agree!

Justice for all must prevail.

Nationalism essentially says: my country is better than yours; I must be better off than you are or else… etc. etc. etc.

We are not teaching the economic gospel that we cal all make it… even if it’s hard work… but if 1 or 2 percentages of the human race thinks - perhaps naively for the good of all - that they must own over 80% of all the wealth and income… then something is absolutely wrong and must be fixed. By us human beings… and the politicians are not politicians if they uphold the super rich and do their darnest to keep us enslaved.

Expand full comment
mark cramer's avatar

Vittorio, JESUS STATED, ' LOVE ! , Your Neighbor ! ,, AS, YOURSELF !' IF ! Any, ,,,, in MANKIND Does Not, follow HIS PRECEPT,,,,,,,, I Will BE SORRY to SAY, ,,,,, "YOU !, are Following, ,,,, A PLASTIC ! jesus ! AMEN !!

Expand full comment
mark cramer's avatar

Robert ! MANY Believers, Are Fervently PRAYING ! , For ISRAEL, And, Its 'Inherited Children',,, BECAUSE ! These !, ....ARE CHRISTS, BRIDE ! FAITH ! and Prayers! For Your Families SAFETY, and For YOU !! GOD BLESS !

Expand full comment
Daniel Solomon's avatar

Note my suggestion, surrender to the PA, below.

Expand full comment
Robert Jaffee's avatar

I read your comment below. Excellent points. Well said. My only problem with the PA is they are weak and corrupt. Good luck getting Hamas to surrender to them. Hamas hates the PA almost as much as they hate Israeli’s. Hence, if Israel didn’t exist anymore, we’d see a civil war. And I’m sure ISIL and Al Qaeda, two well funded terror organizations, would gladly move in during all the chaos, and fill the power vacuum left by Israel.

Expand full comment
Daniel Solomon's avatar

Empower the PA so that they can resume the land for peace process. They outnumber Hamas 100 to 1 in the West Bank.

Expand full comment
Robert Jaffee's avatar

Agreed, but they have little power in Gaza and it will never occur while Netanyahu is Prime Minister. He has deliberately been playing both sides against each other. Hopefully, there are new elections after this war ends, and new leadership emerges, willing to negotiate a two state solution.

Expand full comment
Daniel Solomon's avatar

Likud had the same profile, if not worse than Netanyahu, believed the West Bank was Biblical Samaria, but did the deal with Sadat to get peace.

Expand full comment
Robert Jaffee's avatar

But Netanyahu wasn’t PM then. He’s become radicalized. I used to think he was a voice of reason back in the 80’s, when he was ambassador to the UN. Something changed, perhaps right-wing money from the Armageddon evangelicals in the US...:)

Expand full comment
Daniel Solomon's avatar

Likud is more strident than Netanyahu. The new coalition is not from.

Expand full comment