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The JackB

"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'." Groucho Marx

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Israel

Can You Spell Divorce?

December 5, 2024 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Got EmmyLou singing Goodbye while I tap upon the keyboard and think about how it feels like the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Twenty years ago I blogged about a Benny Morris interview and today I read the piece again and shook my head.

A few things jumped out at me:

 

Morris told me that he was not a “determinist,” and believed that “a mindset can change over a generation or two.” The problem with the Arabs was cultural, not racial, he believed. But this did not make him any more optimistic. And it was his historical research for Righteous Victims that forms the basis of his pessimism. “I spent time looking at the whole thing, from its origins in the 1880s until the present day? and the thrust of Palestinian history from the beginning of the Palestinian movement in the 1920s? was rejectionist. It opposed the idea of Jews coming here, it opposed the idea of a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. ‘Not one inch’ – that was basically the slogan, and unfortunately, my study of the last 100 years shows me that they’ve been uniform, monolithic, linear about this.” He then recounted all the opportunities for the Palestinians to accept a compromise – in 1937 (when a British commission called for partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, and population ex-changes between them, with the former getting some 70 per cent and the latter 20 per cent), and 1947, and 1978, and, finally, four years ago. And each time “they reject a peace offer and a compromise based on two states, they lose territory. The Jewish population grows, Jewish greed grows, and Jews take over more and more territory. And then there’s less territory available for Arabs, and they’re offered less.”

and

Similarly, two thirds of Israelis told pollsters in June that they supported Sharon’s plan for unilateral Israeli “disengagement” from Gaza, and 68 per cent said they would be behind a plan to dismantle most of the settlements there and in the West Bank in the context of a peace deal. If there is no partner, then Israel has no alternative but to act unilaterally. Hence the broad support not only for the Gaza pullout, but also for the construction of the security barrier.

Morris is all for a withdrawal from Gaza: “I don’t think we should have 20 or 25 per cent of the Gaza strip’s land for 7,000 settlers when you have 1.5m really impoverished people there.”

Twenty years ago I was beginning to lose some of the optimism over Oslo. I hope the disengagement would lead to a better future but it is hard to see things that way, especially after 10/7.

****

And now we shift into a different world and focus below:

http://www.thejackb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Voicemail_18184452561_20230218.mp3

That is about a year or so old now but I figured I’d share it because some of you seem to have an interest in old material. Might offer a single comment that who I was isn’t necessarily who I am any more.

Filed Under: Blogging, Israel

The Difference Between Sick and Tragic

March 13, 2011 by Jack Steiner 7 Comments

The difference between sick and tragic is sadly much easier to discern than people realize. Tragic is what happened in Japan. I am a native Angeleno and have lived through many earthquakes. The Northridge earthquake was no slouch, it was quite large but what happened in Japan….massive. Read about the Richter scale and you’ll see that the difference between the 7.1 for Northridge and the 8.9 for Japan is enormous. And then the tsunami that followed….well it is the perfect storm. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to those in Japan. That was tragic.

Sick is different. Sick is what happens when terrorists break into a home and slaughter a family. The pictures of this poor family illustrate it better than I can say. WARNING, these pictures are graphic and disturbing.

Read this

The Fogel family was killed Friday night when a terrorist broke into their home in the West Bank settlement of Itamar and stabbed them all to death.

According to police, the suspect broke into the house armed with a knife and stabbed parents Udi and Ruth, along with three of their children, Yoav, Elad, and Hadas Fogel. Magen David Adom rescue services arrived at the scene and found them all dead.

The family’s 12-year-old daughter, who was at a youth group activity, returned to her home at approximately midnight and her calls for the door to be opened for her went unanswered. With the help of a neighbor, they managed to open the door and came upon the horrible murder scene.

It is inexcusable. There are no words, no justification for such action. What happened in Japan is tragic, but what happened in Itamar is sick.

Filed Under: Israel

Flotilla Fools- Crocodile Tears

June 11, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Abraham Lincoln

And so we leave daddy blogging for a moment to revisit the Flotilla of Fools. You remember them, the fine freedom fighters who intentionally provoked a sovereign nation in the hopes of dying as martyrs. The jackass above is Kenneth O’Keefe. Sorry, I really shouldn’t call him a jackass or suggest that he is both a fool and a liar, but the video makes that almost impossible.

Because if you have the stomach to sit through it you will hear him describe those who died as martyrs. You will hear him talk about disarming two commandos. You will hear him say that he took the sidearm away from one. He’ll claim that the removed the ammunition from said weapon.

And to that I respond as I have in the past. If you try to take a weapon from a cop or soldier of any nation you will receive a very severe response, especially if they hadn’t drawn their weapon. But let’s set that aside for a moment.

Because moments later he talks about having three commandos under control or should I use his term, in “our possession.” Mind you that he says that there were 100 or maybe 200 people watching over them.

It is almost comical his recounting of this tale. Really, you almost have to laugh at such a ridiculous story, but you can’t. You can’t because he and his flunkies are responsible for the deaths of their colleagues. You can’t because he and his colleagues did their best to spark a bonfire. A fire that would most assuredly lead to more death.

So I wonder if he is a polished liar who can say these things knowing full well they aren’t true or if he so dumb that he believes the lies he spews.

It is the typical contradiction. In one breath they describe a mighty war machine and then in the next they somehow over power said war machine. Honestly, it is just too much. If you told me that he cracked open an eggplant and smeared it over his face I’d believe you.

Dear Kenny, the Palestinian/Irish man whose desire is to create more hate and distrust among people- you deserve a more serious punishment than deportation. I haven’t any sympathy for you.

Filed Under: Israel

Flotilla Fools

June 3, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Much has been said about the fools in the flotilla that attempted to break the naval blockade on Gaza. If you buy into the simple narrative that the “Free Gaza” movement is peddling it looks like a simple case of underdog versus bully. Those that buy into that should come speak with me about some swampland that I am interested in selling.

Or better yet take a few minutes to read this post and learn how they tried to dupe the world into believing that they were peace loving people whose sole intent was to engage in altruism when the reality was they prepared for violence. They intentionally provoked a confrontation with the goal of trying to ensure that people died.

Really, it is sick to think of how casual they are about life and how interested they are in death.
ABC has a news story which helps to illustrate how perverse this is. I won’t bother to complain about how they buried this part of the story in the second  half where many people won’t see it.

“Flotilla Passengers Dispute Israeli Version of Flotilla Raid

“They [Israeli commandos] were trying to land on the boat. So obviously there was this hand-to-hand combat and during that process the people on the boat were basically able to disarm some of the soldiers because they did have guns with them,” Burney told Reuters. “So they basically took the guns away from them and took the cartridges out and threw them away.”
Asked if anyone had used the guns against the Israeli commandos, Burney said, “No, not at all.”
“Yes, we took their guns. It would be self defence even if we fired their guns,” Bulent Yildirim, chairman of the IHH, said.
“We told our friends on board we will die, become martyrs, but never let us be shown… as the ones who used guns,” he said, adding that people shouted that the weapons should not be used.

Notice that there is no discussion of trying to negotiate terms. No mention that Israel contacted the flotilla and offered free passage to Ashdod. It was refused…intentionally. The goal was to have a physical confrontation,  to try and be martyred.

Consider for a moment what would happen if you tried to take a gun from a policeman or soldier in any country. Think about it and tell me that they wouldn’t try to defend themselves. Tell me that other cops/soldiers would just stand by and watch, that they wouldn’t be concerned for their safety and that of their colleague.

Now watch this video. Note how the soldiers come down a rope, one at a time. Notice that their weapons are not drawn.

Ask yourself what you would have done had you been attacked that way. Ask yourself how a handful of soldiers were supposed to deal with hundreds of people who were rioting. If their intent had been to harm the passengers many more would have died. But they didn’t come to fight, they came to talk and unfortunately they walked into a trap.

Some of you are probably muttering about how this was illegal, but the reality is that it was not. The International Committe of the Red Cross offers the following:

San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994 

SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT

Neutral merchant vessels

67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:

(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;
(b) engage in belligerent acts on behalf of the enemy;
(c) act as auxiliaries to the enemy s armed forces;
(d) are incorporated into or assist the enemy s intelligence system;
(e) sail under convoy of enemy warships or military aircraft; or
(f) otherwise make an effective contribution to the enemy s military action, e.g., by carrying military materials, and it is not feasible for the attacking forces to first place passengers and crew in a place of safety. Unless circumstances do not permit, they are to be given a warning, so that they can re-route, off-load, or take other precautions.
 
Israel made contact with the flotilla and tried on multiple occasions to engage in dialogue. The Mavi Marmara refused and as you now know it is because they wanted the confrontation. The blood of those who died and those who were injured is on their head. This didn’t have to go this way, but they made it so.

Filed Under: Israel

CROSSING THE LINE – THE INTIFADA COMES TO CAMPUS

February 24, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

via campusintifada.com
Posted via web from thejackb’s posterous
You might also like Israel On College Campuses
 

Filed Under: Israel

Obama’s Peace Process

May 29, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Many people are engaged in all sorts of speculation about the president’s real feelings regarding Israel. The prognosticators are out in force and I have read numerous articles and opinion pieces that lay out exactly what he is trying to do and why.

Since I haven’t been granted clairvoyance or any other sort of supernatural powers I won’t try to tell you what the president’s feelings are. Truth is that I hope that he doesn’t try to negotiate terms based upon feelings, but upon facts.

And the fact is that the peace process is a thorny and complex issue that cannot be solved by making proclamations that are supposed to make both sides feel good. As just another pundit I am just as qualified as the next guy to say that part of the problem is the attempt to try and view this situation in Western terms.

This isn’t the playground. It is not a school yard brawl or a situation where you can slap a kid on the wrist and tell them to be nice. It is not a place where treating others as you wish to be treated means that it will happen. It is a rough and tumble environment where weakness is seen an invitation to be exploited.

And now the president has provided an opening for such behavior. As I said before, I am not going to suggest that he hates Israel, Jews etc. In some ways it doesn’t matter. He can be doing this out of sheer altruism and a belief that he is helping the world. The end result is still problematic.

One of the biggest obstacles to conducting peace talks is the lack of a unified Palestinian government. Abbas does not speak for Hamas. Hamas does not recognize Israel. That is a pretty big stumbling block.

But there is more. The Washington Post reports that Abbas passed on a very serious and quite generous offer from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Here is what was offered

  • 97% of the West Bank
  • Right of Return for Palestinian refugees
  • East Jerusalem

Why did he turn it down? Because he felt that the gaps were too wide. In an interview on Al Jazeera Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat lays out why. It comes down to a refusal to provide acknowledgement of a Jewish connection to the Temple Mount.

And that refusal to recognize the Jewish connection, to accept that it is legitimate is a central reason why the peace process will ultimately fail. If Obama really wants to affect change then he needs to try and find a way to bridge that gap.

I don’t know about you, but I am not real optimistic.

(Hat tip: Jewlicious)

Filed Under: Israel, Peace

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