Comments on: Supporting The War Coalition In Beirut

By: Emollient Mike

Emollient Mike — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Did and does the USA and the British army behave like this in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Direct comparisons are always hard to make. Probably the most similar action to that in Gaza was the Falluja operation, and in that case the US did give civilians a couple of weeks to leave before they went in.

The problem in Gaza is there isn’t really anywhere to go, and Hamas are a very long standing grass roots organisation, unlike Al Qaeda in Iraq. But I take your point.

By: Karl Pfeifer

Karl Pfeifer — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:42:30 +0000

Benjamin and others repeat the mantra about Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
But when we compare the Israeli behaviour with the behaviour of some western countries, we find out, that Israel warned those harbouring launching pads for rockets, explosives and weapons that their house will be bombed and that they should save their lives. Did and does the USA and the British army behave like this in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Israel did interrupt the fight for 3 hours so that hundreds of trucks could enter Gaza.
Now compare that with Hamas, who killed a few hundred Fatah members when taking power, Hamas who killed just now about 100 alleged collaborators. And when we speak about Human Rights, Hamas is holding an Israel soldier more than 940 days without allowing the International Red Cross to visit him.
So when we consider, that all those fervent Israel bashers never said a word against such breaches of Human Rights, we can qualify them as bigots and hypocrites.

By: vildechaye

vildechaye — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:38:14 +0000

Oh, and as for “redressing the balance.” Funny i always thought that’s what HP does, how unbalanced and anti-Israel/Zionist virtually all commentary on left blogs is. I find it curious, and interesting, that this is the so-called “balance” you choose to “redress.” It’s a joke, really.

By: vildechaye

vildechaye — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:34:29 +0000

Benjamin: What’s interesting psychologically is how you flatter yourself into thinking it’s you who is dispassionate, when it’s obvious you have a bee in your bonnet about Israel. Nothing dispassionate about that. And I hope your references to accusations of anti-semitism didn’t refer to me. I’d like to see you or anyone else back up that canard.

By: Benji stabbed himself in the head with the tines of his fork again

Benji stabbed himself in the head with the tines of his fork again — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:17:05 +0000

Benjamin, you aren’t redressing any balance, you are an apologist for Hamas which has just announced that unless the PA desists from any and all peace talks with Israel there can be no reconciliation with Fatah. You write that all your quotes are accurate, but merely because you say so isn’t any proof. Prove it.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:17:18 +0000

I would prefer psychotic or personality disorder, or something like that, much more hardcore. Can I slip you a tenner?

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:15:48 +0000

As I said asperger’s.

Thank you kind sir. I expect your diagnosis in the post air mail special.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:14:28 +0000

No doubt benjamin and others will blame the jews.

Not at all. As I said, its HP that is into Jewish particularism, not me.

By: GW

GW — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:16:56 +0000

“I’d really like to know HP’s opinion on the financial crisis, but I doubt their writers can function away from the certainties of the middle east conflict.”

Financial crisis ? No doubt benjamin and others will blame the jews.

By: The Ghost of Havelock Ellis

The Ghost of Havelock Ellis — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:56:45 +0000

I just think its all a fascinating peek into the mind of nationalists. I am not a Jew or an Arab, and I am not a patriot or a nationalist of any kind. Its just so all so silly and pointless.

Belief in the concept of a nation state does not preclude compassion for others. Quite the contrary, diplomacy pre-/during/post-Cast Lead has been most effective when conducted by individual states in concert; with similar values and ideals. By contrast, the vastly inefficient and undemocratic transglobal behemoths like the UN and EU have looked and acted like institutional shits.