Al Jazeera Plays the Race Card in the Israeli Conflict
Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 01:38PM 
This is how Al Jazeera is spinning the current Israeli conflict in the Middle East:
Racism is "the belief that one 'racial group' is inferior to another and the practices of the dominant group to maintain the inferior position of the dominated group. Often defined as a combination of power, prejudice and discrimination."
This is how the British Library defines racism on its Web site. The above definition hardly deviates from the essence of almost all definitions of the ominous concept. And, indeed, the concept is being fully utilized with Israel's onslaught against the Palestinians, and the international community and media's mild, if not accommodating response to the onslaught.
The capture of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit is an act of self-defense. According to international law and the Geneva Conventions, he can be considered a prisoner of war, but not according to CNN, Fox News and the BBC, who present the soldier as a victim "kidnapped" by Palestinian "militants" who are "affiliated" with the Hamas government.
If you are an avid viewer of Fox News or a reader of the New York Times, then Israel is yet to exceed its legitimate legal boundaries: that of a democracy opting to defend its citizens. But only racism can lead to such rationale. Only a racist media portrays the capture of a soldier whose army units have besieged Gazans for years, denying them food and medicine, as a violation of all that is holy. Only a racist media presents the kidnapping of 9,000 Palestinians, now in Israeli jails, as a just outcome of Israel's routine arrests of Palestinian terrorists or potential terrorists. Only racism can play down the Israeli destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, which is justified without question, for such actions are necessary to impede the militants' efforts.
And yet, Israel is praised for its "generous" act of allowing some food to be transferred to Gazans, who ironically have gone hungry because of the Israeli-spearheaded international campaign to punish Palestinians for electing Hamas.
Is it racist to jail terrorists caught trying to annihilate Jews? Is it racist to not trust the Palestinians who cannot keep a peace pact or cease fire if their lives depended upon it? Is it racist that the Palestinians have done virtually nothing with Israel in 1500 years while the Jews in 60 have made it a 1st world superpower? Perhaps if Palestinians could have refrained crossed over the Israeli border to blow up Jews the wall on Gaza strip's West Bank would not have been necessary. There are plenty of jobs and wealth in Israel, yet the Palestinians, continually seeking to kill the Jews, have made their own poverty by virtue of their own racist agenda. Palestinian refugee situation exists because of their own effort to eradicate Israel since it attained statehood 60 years ago.
It is debatable whether the Palestinians et al consider themselves superior to the Jews, but it is certainly racist to seek the annihilation of a country based on its race as is being done to Israel. When Hamas recently kidnapped an Israeli soldier and Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed at least eight last week, they did so trying to portray the abductions as "acts of self-defense". Israeli soldiers are being held as bargaining chips to release the Palestinian prisoners who are incarcerated because of the crimes they've committed against Israel.
Let's examine Hamas and Hezbullah.
Hamas, largely funded by Iran, was founded in 1987 and is the Gaza Strip branch of the Sunni Pan-Arab Islamic Muslim Brotherhood movement. Hamas is opposed to the "existence of Israel" but perhaps disingenuously offered a 10 years truce last year in exchange for several conditions including a complete withdrawal from the occupied territories. Hamas' tactics include using women suicide bombers and even children under the age of 10. They have also been known to coax women under the threat of "honor killings" to carry out suicide bombings against Israel.
Hamas is now the governing party of Palestine. Hamas leaders have openly called for Israel to be "wiped off the map". Palestinian Foreign Ministry Mahmoud al-Zahar said earlier this year:
"I have dreams of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it...I hope that our dream to have our independent state on all historic Palestine (including Israel). This dream will become real one day. I'm certain of this because there is no place for the state of Israel on this land".
Hezbollah is a Lebanese Islamist group founded in 1982 to fight the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. It has been responsible for the murders of Jews since its inception. It has been accused of kidnapping and/or murdering over 30 westerners between 1982 and 1992. Hezbollah is believed responsible for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beruit killing 63, the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks killing 241 Marines in 1983, bombing the replacement U.S. Embassy in East Beirut in 1984 killing 22, and hijacking of TWA Flight 847 in 1985. This is only a partial Hezbollah resume'.
BACKGROUND
Israel has belonged to the Jews since approximately 1500 B.C. After the Jews were dispersed into exile and Jerusalem destroyed in 586 B.C., they came back to Israel and lived under Persian, Greek and Roman occupation for hundreds of years. In 70 A.D. came the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and the scattering of most Jews. In 135 A.D., the Romans finally drove most of the remaining Jews out of Jerusalem, creating a second diaspora. The Romans named the area Palaestina, or in English, Palestine.
With the signing of The Balfour Declaration of 1917, Britain stated its support for the creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine without violating the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities. In 1920, based on the Balfour Declaration, Britain received a provisional mandate over Palestine. The British were to help the Jews build a national home and “promote the creation of self-governing institutions”.
After World War II, the United States and other countries pressured Britain to allow immigration of the Jews back to Palestine. The Jews were displaced after surviving the Holocaust in Europe. Arabs in Palestine resisted the immigration of 100,000 Jews. Britain found Palestine to be ungovernable and so it returned the issue to the United Nations. On November 29, 1947, U.N. Resolution GA 181 was passed and Israel was recognized to be a sovereign nation. The geography had to be reworked, but Israel was now it’s own nation again, despite the vocal rejection of the Palestinians. Virtually from that moment on, the Arabs of Palestine have been fighting the new Israel.
During the 6 Day War of 1967, Israel defended itself against Egypt, Syria and Jordan and in the process took back the West Bank of the Gaza strip, hence, the "occupation". If Israel had not been attacked, this "occupation" would not have been necessary.
CALLS FOR ISRAEL TO USE RESTRAINT
Now, the leaders of the G-8 Summit are calling for Israel to stop its military attacks on Lebanon/Hezbollah as well as for the return of the abducted Israeli soldiers. HERE IS THE FULL G-8 DOCUMENT. Part of the document reads:
The immediate crisis results from efforts by extremist forces to destabilize the region and to frustrate the aspirations of the Palestinian, Israeli and Lebanese people for democracy and peace. In Gaza, elements of Hamas launched rocket attacks against Israeli territory and abducted an Israeli soldier. In Lebanon, Hizbollah, in violation of the Blue Line, attacked Israel from Lebanese territory and killed and captured Israeli soldiers, reversing the positive trends that began with the Syrian withdrawal in 2005, and undermining the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos and provoke a wider conflict. The extremists must immediately halt their attacks.
It is also critical that Israel, while exercising the right to defend itself, be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions. We call upon Israel to exercise utmost restraint, seeking to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure and to refrain from acts that would destabilize the Lebanese government.
In 1993, just after Bill Clinton was elected President, George H.W. Bush, Sr., visited Kuwait, which the U.S. had liberated from Iraq. Saddam Hussein ordered an assassination of Bush, which was thwarted. Pres. Clinton responded by ordering the Air Force to bomb Baghdad. On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden carried out its terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC., and a failed attempt to fly a plane into the White House. The response is Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Sovereign countries have the right of self-defense and to answer attacks. In Israel's case, there is a duty to fight for the abducted Israeli soldiers.
In contrast, when Al-Qaeda bombed the USS Cole on October 12, 2000 killing 12 U.S. seamen at a port in Yemen, Bill Clinton's response was to do nothing, as G-8 leaders and the Vatican are urging Israel to do. When the U.S. Marine barracks were bombed in Beirut killing 241 Marines, the U.S. pulled troops out of Lebanon. In October 1993, U.S. Army Rangers fought the warlords of Mogadishu, Somalia and lost 18 soldiers. The Clinton administration cut our losses and ran. As a result of this Osama Bin Laden became emboldened and planned new attacks against the US: “Our people realized more than before that the American soldier is a paper tiger that run[s] in defeat after a few blows.”
There is no need for Israel to repeat the mistakes of the United States. Both Hezbollah and Hamas have said that they are sure their course is correct because in the past, Israel has negotiated the release of Palestinian terrorists and presume Israel will, in time, do so again. For Israel's part in this war on terror, their conduct has been admirable.
There is nothing racist about protecting one's country and defeating one's enemies when attacked. Racism is Arab countries trying to wipe Israel off the map in the same way Adolf Hitler persecuted the Jews because of a belief in his Arian race. For these reasons, I SUPPORT ISRAEL.
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Reader Comments (21)
Lest I be accused of overlooking the obvious, however, the facts and history of it don't favor the "Palestinians". Israel had the most internationally legal creation/founding/whatever of any nation to ever exist.
So true! My girlfriend and I were talking today about how liberals, even liberal Christians, always seem to defend the Muslims attacking Israel or each other. Why? Do women victimized by "honor killings" matter? Do liberals realize that women and children suffer far more under Islam than Israel or the U.S. inflict upon the victimizers? And it IS a spiritual issue, you're right. Just as with Hitler in Nazi Germany, starting with euthanizing crippled children, gays, the elderly and the sick, so demonic is the nature of Islam that promotes killing anyone who isn't one of them. There is a demonic thread running through Islam and their hatred of Israel.
Predictable....
How convenient of Britain to send Jews to some distant land. God forbid, they allow them to populate Europe and Britain instead.
I am not sure why the British empire and its allies didn't decide to grant the western world to its rightful owners(the NATIVES), as well.
Convenient? It's what the quasi-Israelis of the time wanted, a land of their own. The Zionist movement existed long before the Holocaust, but that was apparently the galvanizing force for them. And after a tragedy of that magnitude, who can blame them??
AmyP-
You're right about the demonic influence remark. Ultimately you're either for Jesus (ie, He is your Savior and King) or you're against Him... and being against Him takes many forms but all ultimately lead to the same place. The godless liberals and the Muslims have different religions... but the same master is holding the leash.
No need to worry. Now the Muslims are populating Britain. Along with the rest of Europe. You do realize that countries have territories all over the world, right?
The fact is that 1) Israel belongs to.... Israel, 2) the Palestinians have done nothing in Israel for over 1500 years to better the industry/economy or bring Palestine into the modern world (imagine that, from Muslims) and 3) in 20 years the Jews turned Israel into a thriving 1st world country. Israel was legitimately made a country whether the Palestinians like it or not, and I'm sure bleeding heart liberals must support the plight of a persecuted people. Actually, I take that back. Just like libs don't give a flying flip about suffering Iraqis, they don't give a flying flip about any Arab people under attack, only Arabs who attack. Weird.
Perhaps you think that the Jews have some sort of supernatural power to overcome poverty? Hilarious.
Trent, perhaps we should also account for the countless tragedies that are unfolding in front of our eyes at the moment.
I am still waiting for an answer to this question: Are you guys willing to concede America to the Natives? **birds chirping***
What exactly do you have against Israel and why?
Such as?
"What exactly do you have against Israel and why?"
Like a typical liberal he is against any country willing to defend itself.
"I am still waiting for an answer to this question: Are you guys willing to concede America to the Natives?"
Why should we? What sacred property rights did the Indians have to this land? Remember, "they were their first" isn't exactly a univeral right to ownership.
"Amy Proctor, you are hilarious, of course Israel is a thriving first world country, when the entire western world is in support. 40% of America's foreign aid goes to this little tiny pseudo-nation known as Israel."
Israel's only halfway dependable ally is the US. Few others in the western world will support them. Quite the opposite, they're the ones who have to put up with their cafes full of innocent civilians getting blown up everyday with the international community telling them to "show restraint". In my opinion, any reaction they show short of what they have would be inviting more attacks.
"Trent, perhaps we should also account for the countless tragedies that are unfolding in front of our eyes at the moment."
Do you want to play the "I've got a hyperlink" game? Israeli military forces don't target civilians. I'd love to know how the MSM defines "civilian" (technically a terrorist would qualify as he's not an official soldier) but irrespective terrorist forces have a habit of operating from within civilian areas. It's their calling card. This isn't the same as targetting civilians. If that were Israel's goal, there'd be more efficient ways of accomplishing the task.
"I am still waiting for an answer to this question: Are you guys willing to concede America to the Natives? **birds chirping***"
What does that have to do with Israel battle with Hezbollah?
Let me guess, this so called "universal criteria for ownership", is based on what? You have to be of caucasian race, or perhaps an expatriate of the british empire to claim "ownership"?
I'd like to learn more about this ingeneous criteria of yours, that apparently defines land ownership.
Trent, incase you weren't following the thread, the discussion lead to the reasons why Israel should claim ownership to disputed land. Why do the Jewish people have more of a "right" to this land than any other people?
I brought up the natives, because they were the original migrants to the western world, so perhaps by the same reasoning it would be reasonable to allocate all this land to the Natives?
Didn't think it was that complicated.
Thats nice, you read a couple of paragraphs and decided I was a "liberal Jackass". Please share some more of your expertise about my affiliations.
Did you care when Saddam KILLED hundreds of thousands of Iraqis?
Which disputed land? Gaza? Judea and Samaria? Jerusalem?
There's a huge difference between blowing a building filled with terrorists and inadvertantly killing a civilian who happened to be in the building at the time and strapping a bomb to one's chest and walking into a crowded outdoor cafe for the sole purpose of blowing up as many women and children as possible.
If you can't see a difference, I can't help you.
I'd like to learn more about this ingeneous criteria of yours, that apparently defines land ownership."
Well Mavic, point to where I implied such things and then we can have a discussion. Otherwise, go away and let the grown ups talk. I didn't give you any criteria at all. You seem to base yours on "finders keepers." Brilliant.
"Thats nice, you read a couple of paragraphs and decided I was a "liberal Jackass". Please share some more of your expertise about my affiliations."
I'd be happy to but the request was directed at Phil. Its not just a couple of paragraphs, ite every moronic post you make that defines you as a liberal jackass.
" Amy why is it that Saddam Husein is an issue 20-30 years after the fact?"
Because liberal jackasses like Carter and Clinton were to dumb to see him as a threat. Reagan saw him as a threat, and decided to exploit him, and Bush Sr. was bullied into a war with Iraq by the same U.N. dumbasses who are trying to bully Bush Jr. out.
**"Whether or not Israeli forces "target" civilians or not is irrelevant, when people are being KILLED. Is it that complicated?"
And:
**"Are you guys willing to concede America to the Natives? **birds chirping*** "
I've pulled out my violin. My heart is bleeding. Israel, my friend, is NOT targeting civilian targets. 1) they are dropping leaflets warning citizens to leave certain cities that will be bombed. 2) they are returning fire..... missiles are being lobbed from residential areas/homes in Lebanon, friend. Return missile fire lands on those houses. In essence, Hezbollah has turned residential areas into military targets. Kudos to Israel for attacking its enemies. More power to them. They have been very deliberate in their targeting.
NEWSFLASH: People have been getting killed for decades because these Arabs and Persians have been killing Israelis for decades and millenniums. Again, you libs are very selective about who gets killed. Just like not killing murderers (anti-death penalty) while killing unborn babies (abortion).
Native Americans have reservations. The US government pays for those reservations and Natives don't blow up the rest of us. Do you think there might be a difference between America and Palestine?
Why is it that liberals defend Islamic Jihadists? And why be against Israel? They are not terrorists. Israel has been attacked since the blessed U.N., whom I thought liberals love, gave Israel back to the Jews. It makes no sense, accept that liberals identify and sympathize with the bullying tactics of terrorists.
I don't need to be a military strategist to understand that blowing up bridges and other such structures would most probably result in civilian casualties wouldn't you say?
Tim, let me know when you're done contradicting yourself over and over again. Reagan saw him as a threat and decided he can benefit from having ties? You seem proud of this fact? Its aayy OK to have ties with the great satanic dictator if there are possible economic benefits.
Bush senior was pressured into a war? What makes this great war March so much more of a noble endeavour in comparison to that "pressured" war of in the 90's? History seems to indicate that Saddam was much more of a threat during those days, but obviously Tim would have a different version of history to recollect for us.
Dropping leaflets is more than Hezbollah did for Israel.
So what I hear you saying is..... stop the killing. Israel must stop killing. Any advice for Hamas and Hezbollah?
Israel is bombing bridges so Hezbollah cannot carry out military operations. Do you think Hezbollah has good intentions for the neighborhoods it lobs missiles into?
Just come out and say it: You're against Israel and for Hezbollah.