Within the litmus test that is the “pro-Israel” paradigm, even young devout Jews dedicating their lives to religious study and community are often attacked for being hostile to Israel, as became clear when an American Rabbi living in Israel wrote an essay last summer accusing young rabbis of being “anti-Israel.” A group of Jewish students, professionals, rabbis and activists who have lived in Israel and seen the reality in the West Bank are challenging common (mis)conceptions of Jewish connection to the land.
This Saturday, the week of Parshat Hayei Sarah (weekly Torah portion), thousands of Jews will travel to Hebron to affirm Jewish ownership of the ancient city. Citing the portion’s description of Abraham buying what is considered to be current-day Hebron, the settler movement will use the Torah portion as a proof text for their heavily-armed presence in the middle of a Palestinian city. This week, members of a group called Project Hayei Sarah will stand up in communities around the US and Israel to offer different interpretations of Parshat Hayei Sarah, of Jewish values and of the situation in Hebron.
Project Hayei Sarah is a grassroots initiative, started in 2009 by students studying in Jerusalem who visited Hebron with Breaking the Silence or Encounter. Its nearly 50 members are young Jewish leaders who are struggling to reconcile the Jewish values they have learned through Torah and the grisly reality on the ground in Hebron, in which Palestinian residents are subjected to separation, humiliation and military occupation. As part of their efforts to reclaim the parsha and challenge the political situation, Project Hayei Sarah members and friends have shared thoughts on the Torah portion and the situation in Hebron in a series of video blogs. Here are a just a few. More will be posted in the coming days:
To learn more about Project Hayei Sarah
November 19, 2011
7:11 pm
Directorb
“If you see Jewish religion as the root of all evil I have to tell you that the Zionists that founded Israel were mostly secular Jews”
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That is true. Yet the idea that Zionism should be equated to something dirty and unsavoury is also hateful. Simply put, modern Zionism is the idea of self determination for the Jewish people. And that idea arose as a reaction to the type of antisemitism, hatred and persecution that people like EdithAnn exhibits. Contrary to mythology, such persecution was not confined only to Europe. It existed in the Arab world too. Having said that, it is wrong to accuse everyone of it. That would be racist too. But too many people DID have such hatreds. That’s why modern Zionism came about.
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By the way, most Modern Zionists were not only secular but most of them were leftists too. And they accepted the idea of the two state solution right from the word go.
November 20, 2011
1:17 am
@Bosko.. Siiiiiigh. Listen: you see things in very black and white ways, and because you do, you think that others do as well, even when you’re talking to people who are exceptionally grey thinkers. We really can’t talk well to each other, and I think it’s mostly better for my sanity if I don’t try, though I’m sure at times I will succumb. God bless. I believe you are well meaning.
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It’s crazy that Edithann hasn’t been removed from this site, though I suppose it’s good to have people’s response to her, here. This is serious racism, and others have been removed in the past for far less.
November 20, 2011
3:03 am
EdithAnn,
Well you ALMOST spelled my name correctly this time….Just need that extra “l” in my first name and you’re there….Baby steps….:-)
I am not “hiding anything” from the world….A discussion on the Talmud is beyond the scope of this site, as a discussion on Differential Equations would be beyond the scope of an Algebra I class….
According to your “logic” I could come to the conclusion that Islam condones “Jihad” and terrorism against anyone who is not Muslim….But, that would be ignorant, so I think you’d better quit while your ahead….
November 20, 2011
3:28 am
Ayla
” We really can’t talk well to each other”
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Fair enough. I agree that it’s best if you and I don’t talk to each other. I don’t agree that I am the one who sees things in black and white. If you think that I am, then you obviously haven’t bothered to really read what I have been saying. However, there is ONE thing that I feel very strongly about and MAYBE I AM even black and white about. What is that? It is that the Palestinian Arabs contributed to the mess, at least as much as Israel. I’ll say it again: At LEAST AS MUCH … And until they openly acknowledge that fact, there won’t be peace. Much as we all wish for peace. There are some things we can’t cajole or even force. They will have to come to that conclusion themselves. And one day they WILL. In despite of what people like me or you will say or do. They will come to that conclusion off their OWN accord.
November 20, 2011
3:52 am
@Bosko–you’re proving what I said. As I’ve said to you countless times before, Every journalist here, including the Palestinian journalists, also believes that it takes two, and that everyone is right and wrong. This site goes BEYOND that kind of thinking, but certain commenters, such as yourself, keep trying to respond to intellectual, critical thinking by defending Israel. No one here (the journalists) is anti-israel. it’s exhausting coming back to this over and over with you. It’s like you’re communicating on an entirely different, more base level.
November 20, 2011
11:05 am
Directrob..
I have read the history, and I know the rhetoric. What makes you think you’re foreign to us and that we don’t know anything about you? Do you think centuries of behavior has no memory for ‘others’ too?
It’s obvious that you are all upset. Is what I’ve been saying foreign to you? Are you unable to deal with it?
I know how Zionism was started and how it got to where it is today. Trying to distance yourselves from each other is just not doing it for me..it’s a little too late.
As far as I’m concerned Israels future is up to the Palestinians as it will inevitably be in the long run and that’s just fine with me.
Seems Bosko is just dying to equate me with Hitler. It’s the usual ploy of those who have no defence for what they’ve done, and it’s people like Bosko and Steve, who are determined to make two wrongs a ‘right’, right Bosko, right Aristedies?
However, my contention is that Judaism is not a religion that encourages humanity or love for mankind. Proof of that can be found in the religious texts and in history throughout the ages. But I have to admit, Jewish history has no correlation to facts outside the Shtetl mentality. Centuries of persecutions were always the ‘others’ fault just as the Palestinians are at fault now too.
It’s all part and parcel of the same blame game..ancient Madoffs were not their fault either..get it?
Secular is just another excuse and defence mechanism for when the Sh$t hits the fan and the world starts to take notice. Secularism is the excuse for distancing oneself from the rath of the goy. It’s meaningless. Those so called secularists weren’t born secular, they weren’t raised secular and didn’t go to secular Day Schools. They came from good old Jewish Chosen stock and will probably return in their old age, leaving the next generation of Jewish Secularists to give the same excuses all over again..
Does calling yourself an Atheist mean your not religious? Is Judaism a religion or a nationality? Do you have a choice to be one or the other? Where do ‘self hating’ Jews come into that equation? Are they still Jews, and how do you tell the differences?
I don’t hate Jews, never have..I just think they/you need a whole new direction.
This is all ‘food for thought’! Can you take it?
TATA
November 20, 2011
11:50 am
Edithann – I don’t know why you refer to me or what point you’re supposedly making, but your hate speech is just the mirror-image of Steve’s, and no right is going to come of it.
November 20, 2011
12:46 pm
Ayla
“@Bosko–you’re proving what I said. As I’ve said to you countless times before, Every journalist here, including the Palestinian journalists, also believes that it takes two, and that everyone is right and wrong”
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You might think so but that’s not how it comes across. For instance, an unlimited right of return which many of you advocate is not a solution that implies compromise. Nor is it a practical solution.
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” This site goes BEYOND that kind of thinking, but certain commenters, such as yourself, keep trying to respond to intellectual, critical thinking by defending Israel. No one here (the journalists) is anti-israel”
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Whether that’s entirely true or not, I don’t know. But that still leaves the NON journalists. And even if true about the journalists, there is still room for disagreement with their analysis and proposed solutions. That’s why I am here.
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” it’s exhausting coming back to this over and over with you. It’s like you’re communicating on an entirely different, more base level”
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Fair enough. But please understand that it’s exhausting for the likes of me too to have to constantly remind even those of you who don’t necessarily wish bad things for Israel, that what you say and choose to emphasise is out of context, not constructive and on the whole does more harm than good for the prospects of peace. A bit more fairness and balance would bring better results. Certainly with people like me who is very well informed about the history of this conflict and who know full well how we got to this point. We also believe that there is no substitute to being truthful and that pretence and condescendence towards the Palestinians will not bring about peace. It can only bring unjustified self righteousness and impossible demands. Having said that, I am not one who pretends that everything has done or is doing is appropriate either. Israel too has done wrongs and has made mistakes, as do ALL people in ALL wars.
November 20, 2011
12:50 pm
EdithAnn
Why don’t you go and take your medications, rather than indulging in your favourite pass time of tearing wings off flies?
November 20, 2011
2:55 pm
EdithAnn,
“Directrob … What makes you think you’re foreign to us and that we don’t know anything about you? Do you think centuries of behavior has no memory for ‘others’ too?”
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You are attacked me for my Jewish heritage? No problem I do not mind but please leave others out of it. You are attacking people not for what they did or do but for what ethnic group or religion they choose to belong to. I also must object to blaming the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
November 20, 2011
6:58 pm
Gilad Atzmon..THE WONDERING WHO
Shlomo Sands..The Invention of the Jew
Israel Shahak..JEWISH HISTORY,JEWISH RELIGION
TATA
November 20, 2011
7:07 pm
EdithAnn
Yes we heard about Gilad Atzmon. He is making a good living out of gullible haters such as yourself. He ekes out a living by feeding your lust for hatred. Enjoy him. He is yours.
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By the way, have you taken your medication yet?
November 20, 2011
7:46 pm
Oh Bosko..are you the poor fly who’s wings are being torn off?
You sound so pathetically defenseless. You make me want to cry. You sound like Israel whining about security when you are armed to the teeth with ‘The Bomb’ a ‘missile defense shield’, the latest US planes and drones to pinpoint defenseless targets and best of all, monstrous bulldozers!
So what’s the peace offer Israel is trying to get across to the Palestinians, and would Israel accept the same deal if the Palestinians offered the same deal?
Be careful how you answer that one, you wouldn’t want to prove my original statement on ‘Empathy’ now would you?
I love how you all still deny responsibly. ‘Mistakes were made as in all wars’, now that is a profound statement, but it doesn’t let you off the hook old man, especially when the initiative was always Israel and the Jews.
Poor Alya can’t seem to find peace and refuses to believe it’s her own guilt for supporting what’s now becoming intolerable situation for her..
Along with Israel, the US should be up on war crimes too at the Hague. I only hope Iraq and Afghanistan have the good sense to finally go for it.
Do you think we should find a Goldstone to change the scenarios too?
TATA
November 20, 2011
8:18 pm
EdithAnn
Your contention is that an entire group of people, secular, religious and anyone in between are mini madoffs, usurers, haters and criminals. If I said anything like that about others, you would be the first to call me a racist and a hater.
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This was my last post to you. I guess if others want to give you the time of day, it’s up to them. Either way, as far as I am concerned, I don’t care what happens to you. Whether anyone responds to you or not. Whether you keep spewing your hatred or not. But believe me, you won’t be doing a favour to this site if you will keep on posting here.
Tata
November 21, 2011
12:27 pm
But you are a racist Bosko, and a hater too!
You haven’t addressed one point I’ve made or answered one query. But you’ve told me to take my medication. Now that wasn’t very friendly.
Don’t be frightened of me Bosko, you’re well protected by the lies you’re all surrounded by. It’s the maintance of those lies that become destressing after awhile. Especially when it forces you to take a look at what you’ve really been doing to the Palestinians.
Anyway, I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity to at least read Atzmon and the others.
And like Bobbi Burns said, “maybe see yourselves as others see you” and change?
TATA
November 21, 2011
12:39 pm
EdithAnn
“But you are a racist Bosko, and a hater too!”
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If you count hating Nazis like you, then you are right. I do hate the likes of you.
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“You haven’t addressed one point I’ve made or answered one query”
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Because you haven’t made a single point that was worth addressing.
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“But you’ve told me to take my medication. Now that wasn’t very friendly”
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At least you have a sense of humour if you expect me to be friendly to Nazis like you.
November 21, 2011
4:30 pm
Edith Ann,
I will not read Atzmon (although he fights for some of the same causes), I think it is a waste of time, I cannot trust the information he gives and I do not like his religious conspiracy theories and cheap Michael Moore like tactics.
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I rather listen to Avi Shlaim or Shir Hever. I rather read the UN site about the occupied territories (ochaopt), jnews, magnes zionist, tikun olam, haaretz, aljazeera or the palestine remembered site. I can also recommend this site. People here are serious about information.
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You had your game. In the end I like Bosko and Ben Israel more, they are who they are. I disagree with them wholeheartedly but they are welcome, sometime they force me to investigate new things. I rather talk with them.
November 21, 2011
7:01 pm
Directrob
“You had your game. In the end I like Bosko and Ben Israel more, they are who they are. I disagree with them wholeheartedly but they are welcome, sometime they force me to investigate new things. I rather talk with them”
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I appreciate your comment Rob. Perhaps I too misjudged some of you guys although I am sure we still disagree about many things. I have come to realize though that we both want peace between the Israelis and the Arab peoples but we have different ideas about how to get there.
November 21, 2011
7:51 pm
Directrob..of course you’d like Bosko better then me, he’s a guy, and I can sing..we know how dangerous women can be to some Jews who know more then they do….hahaha
What ever makes you think I was playing a game? I’m dead serous..
Judaism is the cause of all your problems. Your stealing of land, crops, homes, and you’ve honed lying into an art form destabilize the whole Middle East and get us to go to war for you..While you’re IDF hot house plants are free to savage Palestinians. Do you really think I would make such statements if I didn’t know what I was talking about and had proof of what I say?
I too have read Avi Shalaim, and some of the others…but ‘you’ still ‘don’t get my point’, however, I think Shlomo Sands does.
I think you might enjoy this video. Don’t worry it’s not Atzmon, you’re safe!
We wouldn’t want you to start questioning your Jewishness to rapidly.
The following is Avi Shalaim and Shlomo Sands..Now be good boys and watch it.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2542146
TATA
November 21, 2011
9:20 pm
EdithAnn
“Along with Israel, the US should be up on war crimes too at the Hague. I only hope Iraq and Afghanistan have the good sense to finally go for it”
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EdithAnn
“Judaism is the cause of all your problems”
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OK EdithAnn, we get it. You hate …
1. Israel
2. Americans
3. Judaism
4. Jews
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I wonder who you could be? I wonder who else do you hate? Come out with it, dearie. While you are here, we really would like to know. Let it all hang out EdithAnn. Don’t go all shy on us now.
November 21, 2011
9:41 pm
EdithAnn
“What ever makes you think I was playing a game? I’m dead serous..”
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No dearie. You got that one wrong. You are dead … Dead inside. Your hatred has taken over and destroyed your humanity.
November 21, 2011
10:10 pm
Hey Bosko;
I have no problems. I’m not Jewish..It’s you who have the problems with the PA’s, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Turkey, Israeli Arabs, Americans and ‘moi’! Aren’t they the ones you hate?
Anyway, hate is a ‘killing’ emotion and is exactly the impetus for Jews to do what you’ve been doing for the last 60+ years.
I’m not into hating or killing anyone but it’s obvious you are just seething with hate and having a hard time with it.
Just look at the drivel you’ve just posted. That’s because Judaism has left you with so few options. It’s difficult when you’ve been religiously genetically modified, to exclude the most basic emotions of ‘empathy’ and ‘compassion’.
But if you work hard at it, you can probably work through it as Atzmon, Shahak, and Sands did. It’s difficult I know, but if you put as much persistence and energy at changing, as you do in trying to kill a whole people..there might be hope for you…
I see you were petrified at watching that video..so sad, or maybe it was over your head.
That last post was quite sophomoric..so how old are you anyway,12?
See if you can muster up some IDF courage and watch that video..
Now take your hate-filled Torah and Talmud and run along.
TATA
November 21, 2011
10:40 pm
EdithAnn
“I have no problems”
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ROFL … Really? You are a walking disaster area. You are one gigantic problem (to yourself). Have you read what you wrote lately?
November 22, 2011
12:00 am
“Judaism is the cause of all your problems.” [End of Rant]
Uh, moderators?!?! I believe other posters have been banned for less. Substitute the word “Judaism” for “Islam” and I’m sure this poster would have been banned (or at least the post edited or deleted)….
November 22, 2011
1:14 am
@mitchell – very true. remember, we do not have full time moderators.
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@edithann: Your comments up to now will not be erased, but future ones in this spirit will get you banned from the site.
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Please read our comment policy on the about page.
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Thank you.
November 22, 2011
7:32 am
I thought each poster was to moderate the comments attached to her own post.
November 22, 2011
1:37 pm
aristeides..
Edithann – I don’t know why you refer to me or what point you’re supposedly making, but your hate speech is just the mirror-image of Steve’s, and no right is going to come of it.
I went back and realized I was wrong to you lump in with Bosko and Steve..I apologize as your argument was on point and exactly my sentiments.
To me universal values override tribal values espoused by Bosko and Steve. I believe moral values are instinctive in the species and are reinforeced with reason, unless deliberately thwarted.
TA
November 22, 2011
2:02 pm
EdithAnn
“To me universal values override tribal values”
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And according to EdithAnn an example of such universal values is that everyone born Jewish. Every man woman and child is inherently evil. Even if they were not raised to be religious.
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I wonder where and by whom have we heard such views espoused before? And what was the outcome of that?
November 22, 2011
3:57 pm
It is amusing but not surprising to see EdithAnn making a grab for the high moral ground. Her ilk always resort to such tactics. But here are a few selected quotes of hers which show clearly what she is about …
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EdithAnn
“However, my contention is that Judaism is not a religion that encourages humanity or love for mankind”
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EdithAnn
“It’s all part and parcel of the same blame game..ancient Madoffs were not their fault either..get it?”
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EdithAnn
” Those so called secularists weren’t born secular, they weren’t raised secular and didn’t go to secular Day Schools. They came from good old Jewish Chosen stock and will probably return in their old age, leaving the next generation of Jewish Secularists to give the same excuses all over again..”
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EdithAnn
“. That’s because Judaism has left you with so few options. It’s difficult when you’ve been religiously genetically modified, to exclude the most basic emotions of ‘empathy’ and ‘compassion’”
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The above represent EdithAnn’s idea of morality. But we all know where that kind of morality led to in the past. It is unfortunate for the Palestinian Arabs that in their war against Israel, they acquire such “friends”. With such friends, they don’t need enemies. Such “friends” don’t do their cause any good. They should make every effort to disavow such racist “friends”.
November 24, 2011
11:34 pm
Busy celebrating Thanksgiving and didn’t intend to reply as it seems no one is open to other facts.
However, here is something I think might be of interest. It’s safe and it’s not Gilad Atzmon…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2011-11-23/study-of-marines-ptsd/51386488/1
I think everyone is born with a moral sense, until it’s deliberately thwarted at an impressionable age and continually reinforced till early adulthood.
TATA
November 24, 2011
11:49 pm
EdithAnn …
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“I think everyone is born with a moral sense”
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Really? So what happened to YOUR moral sense? Who thawrted it?!
November 25, 2011
5:10 pm
EDITHANN – It’s spelled “wrath” not ‘rath’. Just an FYI.
November 26, 2011
4:30 pm
Did a typ0 or spelling error change the meaning of what I had to say? Did spelling make you discount my opinions?
Are you also 12 years old?
TATA
November 26, 2011
4:54 pm
EdithAnn
What? You have opinions too? Could have fooled me. I sensed only primeval hatred, vilification and racism from you towards the Jewish people. Not opinions.
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You don’t believe me? Then try and substitute the words “Islam” or “Christianity” in place of the word “Judaism” and see what people think about what you say.
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You vilify an entire religion based on your superstitions and false beliefs fed to you by your fellow haters. A religion which gave the world the 10 commandments and a myriad of other enlightened laws on which both Christianity and Islam are founded. Yet you only wish to concentrate on the negatives that are mentioned in the bible. Even though in those ancient times, those negatives were the general norm in the ancient dog eat dog world. Yet you want to judge today’s Jewish people by the few negatives that their ancestors pepetrated thousands of years ago. By your standards, everyone has at least as much to answer for. Yet you vilify only the Jewish people because you are a racist, EdithAnn.
November 27, 2011
10:33 am
@ Bosko..But aren’t you stealing Palestine in the name of those very same so called ancient rights?
>>>’Yet you want to judge today’s Jewish people by the few negatives that their ancestors perpetrated thousands of years ago’>>
Yes, I judge you all by what you’ve done, said, say, and what you continue to do in the name of those so called ancient ancestors.
Aren’t they the excuses you’ve use to steal Palistine in the first place?
You are all so proud of those ‘ancient ancestors’..you’re now developing pilgrimages to visit their old (?) tombs…hahahaha.. Looks like you want to imitate Arabs. Jealousy is such a worthless emotion..
As someone previously said…Anyone who follows a God who sets his flock to attack others, killing them, their children and livestock just to steal their lands, has to be questioned and summarily discarded.
Why would anyone follow a religion whose premise has been to destroy others?
You don’t realize how your minds have been in bondage for centuries. Proof of that is your fear of defending your premise. You’re afraid of it being blown apart by logic and common sense, so you call me names and try and vilify me. It’s so sad, telling, useless, but so Jewish!
You are here attacking me, apparently you are most disturbed at what I’m saying. It can’t be comfortable for you! Try reading G. Atzmon, learn how to become your own man, then S.Sands, and learn how you’ve been brainwashed and conned!
TATA
November 27, 2011
11:39 am
EdithAnn
“Why would anyone follow a religion whose premise has been to destroy others?”
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You are a Nazi Edith Ann and you are projecting your own qualities onto us.
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You claim Jews stole Palestine? That’s a lie too. Jews lived in Palestine continuously to the present day. Arabs were relative late comers to “Palestine” compared to Jews. Yet in 1948, the Jews accepted the two state solution. It was the Arabs who rejected it and made war. In 2000/2001 and in 2008 again the Jews accepted the two state solution yet the Arabs rejected the offers again.
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So EdithAnn go and spread your lies and superstitions elsewhere. Here, we recognize who you are. You are not fooling anyone. Your own claim that every Jewish man woman and child is a criminal labels you as a Nazi and we all know what Nazis did and what they are capable of. Stop projecting your immorality onto others.
November 27, 2011
11:49 am
Oh and EdithAnn, it might comfort you to know that people like you were the impetus for the recreation of the Jewish state. It is hatred like yours which caused the persecution of Jews for 2000 years which caused European Jews to finally decide and join the small remnants of Jews who never left “Palestine” and create the state of Israel. Without the hatred and the persecutions of people like you, it would have been more difficult for the Zionists to persuade the Jews of Europe to return.
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So you see EdithAnn? With friends like you, the Palestinian Arabs don’t need enemies.
November 27, 2011
3:23 pm
Hey Bosko..You’re a hipocrititical 12 year old who can’t tell the truth about his own history.
GILAD ATZMON, ‘THE WANDERING WHO’, SHLOMO SANDS, ‘THE INVENTION OF THE JEWS’…..
TATA
November 27, 2011
4:25 pm
It’s spelt hypocritical, dearie.
November 28, 2011
12:22 am
Please EDITHANN, BOSKO, and anyone else, if you enjoy simply insulting one another then please find another forum to do it in. This forum is designed for debate and dialogue. Being snarky has its place, but I believe you have gone far enough.
November 28, 2011
1:05 am
Fair enough I agree. I am stopping as of now. But I must say, this EdithAnn has some very offensive racist views. Having said that, I will be ignoring her from now on.