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Posted June 2, 2001
Israel
Antiwar.com should have a more objective approach to news reporting when it comes to…the number of Palestinian terror attacks and suicide bombers. …Israel has taken a very restrained approach to dealing with Palestinian-endorsed murderers fighting, not against the government, but against civilian targets. You post article after article about settlements made in accordance with Oslo agreements…but practically endorse the use of murder [by Arabs].
…Israel is doing nothing less than what the USA did in Europe and Japan when they were attacked in WW2. They attacked us, they lost and surrendered, and we won the territory. Because of these facts, we have the right to initiate policy. Israel was approved by the UN and attacked in 1948 - and repeatedly afterwards. The attackers (Arabs) lost the fight they initiated, they lost the territory, and they lost the say-so of what policy should be in captured territory…
~ Ken Mentell
The Backtalk editor replies:
A few points: (1) You imply that the Palestinians target civilians but the Israelis don't, a controversial opinion in support of which you provide no documentation. (2) You claim that Antiwar.com "practically endorse[s]" murder, but provide no quotes from the site to support this inflammatory accusation. (3) You cite the US government's "right to initiate policy" in Europe and Japan, as if that so-called "right" is self-evident. (Have you read Antiwar.com's Editorial Credo?)
HaCohen Pro-War?
[Regarding Ran HaCohen's column, "Building Settlements, Killing Peace":]
If your web site is named "antiwar", then [shouldn't you] try to promote antiwar? Arafat signed an accord with Hamas on 12-15-95 that said, "The PA leadership assumes all political leadership for Hamas." Now these are terrorists that strap bombs on their bodies to kill innocent people, and Arafat is the political leader for them. I understand that there are many people who don't know how this all started, well I will tell you: the Arab countries attacked Israel -- just as they do today! If you don't want war, don't start one! That is what should be told to the PA, Arafat, the Pal's, and every Arab country in the world!
~ Eno
The Backtalk editor replies:
Mr. HaCohen's column presents his opinions about how the Israeli government should resolve its conflict with the Palestinians. This does not contradict Antiwar.com's mission, as you imply.
Israeli Settlements
[Regarding Ran HaCohen's column, "Building Settlements, Killing Peace":]
You have a very simple solution for the Middle East crisis: that Israel stop building settlements. The problem is, that a lot of Palestinians don't want Israelis in the Middle East. So when you give the land in the West Bank to the Palestinians, you create a difficulty. What's to stop the Moslem fundamentalists from going after Ran HaCohen? …How can you convince your neighbor in Tel Aviv that his children will be safe if the Palestinians reclaim the entire West Bank? If you can do this, then they can have the West Bank.
~ Stephen Scholle
Ran HaCohen replies:
Dismantling settlements - not merely stopping the settlements' expansion - is the solution. Some Palestinians and some Israelis wish to possess the entire land and dispossess the others. While the Palestinians dream, Israel is actually doing it. Therefore, it should be stopped first.