Opinion
Israel partly at fault
Amos Oz
Published: 29.04.07, 16:04
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1. By UN standards, most Pal. "refugees" are not refugees
Daniel   (04.29.07)
2. right of return
Palestinian refugee   (04.29.07)
Why do we have to have two states, one pure Jewish and pure Palestinian? why can't we both live in one state without one persecuting the other. There must be no more fear of persecution because we are in different world now and you cannot get away with that. Why can't I return to Jaffa where my ancestors lived there for thousand years? Is it only because they want to make Jaffa pure Jewish? Do you think this is Human? Away from any interpretations of UN resolution and playing of words, we have the right to return to our homes. Politicians must find the way how to live all in one democratic state and there are many examples in the world.
3. Jewish and pal refugees
moshe shen ,   k.motzkin, Israel   (04.29.07)
Amos Oz : Yes, the pals started a war supported by Arab armies , lost that war, fleeing as a result. If that were the entire story, Israel might be obligated to the refugees that left property. BUT. at approximately the same time , many Arab countries confiscated Jewish property when their Jewish citizens left for Israel. Any settlement of "refugee" problems MUST be equal handed. moshe shen, Israel
4. Concessions made
art ,   jc usa   (04.29.07)
It is time for Israelis, Arabs, the UN etc to recognize the concessions and admissions that Israel has made. Israel has provided financial, technical, educational, and other aid to the "Palestinians". Israel has provided economic aid and maintained the "Palestinian" ecomony since 1967. Remember prior to Oslo and the establishment of the PA the economy in the areas od Judah and Samaria were among the fstest growing economies in the world. The PA totally destroyed the economy. No other nation would keep its borders so open to a hostile neighbor, let alone provide jobs and money. The terrorists did destroy most of this. Over the past 59 years the UN (UNWRA) US and others have provided, and continue to provide billions to the "Palestinians". Where has this money gone?Billions can be recovered from Arafats bank accounts. The Palestinians must also acknowledge their responsibilities and make concessions. They are getting a state from Israel which is more than their Arab brethern have given.
5. to # 3 and any how compares pal to jews refugees
Palestinian refugee   (04.29.07)
It is very strange that the when Europe treated Jews badly they took revenge from Palestinians and now when we ask for the right to return home you again punish us for what the Arabs did to your property. What has this anything to do with stealing our homes? Are you punishing us for what they did to you as you did for what the European did to you? Why don’t you just go and fight for your rights from the Arabs and Europeans and give us pack our properties.
6. A Right of Return for me too
Hans Woolf ,   Koninsberg E.Prussia   (04.29.07)
In 1945, the Russians ethnically cleansed me and 10 million other Germans. I too demand right of return!
7. Right of Return for French Colons is necessary
Jean Paul Dubois ,   Algiers   (04.29.07)
In the 1960s, I was expelled from Algiers where my family had lived for centuries. We, the descendants of the Colons now number 4 million. We demand right of return to Algeria
8. Right of Return to Northern Cyprus for all Greeks
Nikos Papadikis ,   North Cyprus   (04.29.07)
Only after the return of 200, 000 Greeks to the North of the island, we can set up democratic secular Cyprus for all.
9. Jews from Arab Lands: Not hundreds of thousands: 1 million
Semsem ,   New York , USA   (04.29.07)
I am shocked that Mr. Oz mentions that "hundreds of thousands of Jews were uprooted from Arab / Islamic countries." It was "ONE MILLION." A big difference.
10. Palestinian Refugee from Egyptian Jewish Refugee
Semsem ,   New York, USA   (04.29.07)
@2 Palestinian refugee: The reason you cannot return to Jaffa is because I cannot return to Cairo; we Jewish refugees from Arab lands cannot and no longer want to, return to Cairo, Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Khartoum etc. The reason Israel must remain a "Jewish State" is the same reason Egypt, Iraq, etc are "Muslim States." There are Christians in Egypt. Is it a Christian / Muslim State? No.
11. #2 Stop dreaming: YOu will be refugees forever
Iraqi Jewish Refugee ,   Montreal, Canada   (04.29.07)
#2. My family were forced to leave Iraq because were Jewish and we Iraqi and 1 million other Jews from Arab / Islamic countries became refugees. Stop dreaming that you will return to Israel. Because of your greed and unreasonable behaviour you will remain refugees forever.
12. #2 & 5 - Palestinian
Otter   (04.29.07)
You say "There must be no more fear of persecution because we are in different world now and you cannot get away with that." Right on this issue of YNET there are articles about Darfur. That's just one example. And if you read a national newspaper, you'll notice that there are plenty of cases of persecution going on right now, many of them by Muslim governments or resistance movements. The world is a dangerous place for minorities . This idea of a binational Israel just does not fly. There are plenty of Arab countries, only one tiny Jewish Israel. Show just one Arab country where Jews have equal rights before the law in all aspects of their lives.
13. The refugees have always been an excuse for violence
Tracy W   (04.29.07)
Mr Oz writes the following regarding the need for Israel to deal with Arab refugees: "In such an eventuality, the level of violence would drop, and the desperation that breeds extremism will begin to wane once the occupants of the refugee camps begin hearing that their lives in the gutters are about to end. " I disagree. It has been proven that it's not desperation that breeds extremism. Extremism has its direct roots on certain ideological beliefs. Westernized Muslims, who enjoy access to institutions geared to effect change in ideas and policies, still resort to violence. There is no ready example where appeasement of this particular ideology has brought results in terms of peace and understanding. Why pursue the same tactic when we know it does not work? How much longer, how many more loses before the Left admits defeat? Arabs were attacking Jews in Israel way before there were any refugees. Sorry, the record does not back up Mr Oz' beliefs. And also, no mention is made on this column of the Jewish refugees from Arab lands. Don't they deserve justice too? One perfect place to start would be by demanding accountability from the PA government regarding ALL the donations that have been poured on them, and any that are yet to come.
14. The Arabs always persecute, discriminate and expel
Roger ,   USA   (04.29.07)
......and yet some Jews want to take responsibility. Nuts! The Jews are crazy. There is no Jew in the parliaments of all 22 Arabs but in the Jewish Israel there are 10 Arabs. Some Jews never learn. They never learn that when you give the Arabs a finger they take your whole body. Please get real
15. The Arabs have expelled 1M Jews. When will the world address
Larry ,   USA   (04.29.07)
the Jewish refugee problem from the Arabs states?
16. You have to give credit to the Arabs and especially
Robert ,   USA   (04.29.07)
the Arabs claiming to be Palestinian Arabs or Palestinian regugees. They perpetuate false reality and sell it to the world. They are the best salesmen in the world. Despite their hate, violence and inability to advance the world buys their fantasies. Even some dumb Jews buy their fairy tales and feel guilty.
17. Of course the Arabs want to live with Jews in Israel
Melanie ,   USA   (04.29.07)
so they can subjugate the Jews to their demands and needs. Take a look at the Arab world. Is there any Arab state where the non-Arabs are equal to the Arabs? NO. It does not exist. Israel is very attractive to the Arabs. They can get their welfare checks, be treated in the first-rate hospitals, socialize, play backgammon, eat hummus, make babies while the Jews work creating the Microsoft-type conglometates which will be heavily taxed to meet the Arab demands. What a deal!
18. Have Jewish refugees from Arab countries
Glenn ,   Canada   (04.29.07)
made a formal request for compensation?
19. right of return
Palestinian refugee   (04.29.07)
You all give yourselves the right to displace us from our homes because you want to make it a pure Jewish state. You all do not want us to return to our homes because you can not return to your homes in the Arab world or you gave up your property there. We will not give up our properties and we will keep fighting to return home. If you have something taken from you in the Arab world what do we Palestinians have to do with that. Why don't you go and fight for it. You always try to abuse the week because you can not get your property from the strong.The difference between us and those who ask us to go and live in the arab world is that we do not give up. You gave up Sinai where the profit Moses use to talk to God “where on earth is more sacred than the place where the profit spoke to God”. You will soon give up the west bank where the Israel kingdoms use to be. What remains? The 48? You never been there before. The solution is that we all share the land and we will return.
20. Blaming Israel is like charging a Jewish jaywalker
Walter ,   USA   (04.29.07)
and an Arab murderer with the same crime.
21. Not important
Korem ,   New York, USA   (04.29.07)
Until Israeli presence in the West Bank is ended, the right of return should not even be discussed (much less granted). First we need a better leadership than olmert in Israel and then we need Hamas to be willing to recognize and negotiate with Israel. Then things can go forward.
22. #2 fanatasy: there is no "pure Jewish" state
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (04.29.07)
Israel has a 20% Arab population. Gaza is a "pure Palestinian" state, having a %0 Jewish population. your fantasy of a "bi-national state" is one where you swamp and overwhelm and kill or drive out the Jewish population, leaving a 100% pure Arab ethnically cleansed population, just like you have in 22 Arab states and Gaza.
23. emotional breakthrough or emotional bankruptcy?
JPS ,   Efrat   (04.29.07)
Ok, bankrupt might be a little extreme. On what does Amos Oz base his theory of an "emotional shockwave" that will positively affect "the continuation" of talks. First of all, I'm only assuming that Oz thinks the result will be positive (he implies it, but doesn't say so explicitly). However, how Oz makes the quantum leap from Israeli admission of responsibility to the Palestinians rushing to continue peace talks without any basis in fact or logic. There are no peace talks, so there is nothing to continue from. And the Palestinians are more likely to simply say "we told you so" and then maintain their exact same refusal to negotiate peace with Israel. Or maybe Amos Oz has simply ignored what the Palestinian government has been saying since they were elected - they do NOT want peace with Israel. Admission of anything, therefore, is pointless at this stage of the game.
24. In the Land of OZ Israeel is ALWAYS at fault
malcolm   (04.29.07)
25. I must confess that I like the idea
Abdullah ,   EuMe   (04.29.07)
It seeks justice. How can anyone be opposed to that?
26. The Arabs must know that Jews have nothing more to give
Alan ,   USA   (04.30.07)
When the Jews question their status it gives the Arabs an impression that they can squeeze something else. The Jews gave up as much as they could. There nothing more they can give the Arabs. In fact, they should cut off the power and water to Gaza. Only the Jewish meshugas would supply the enemies with services when they determined to kill every Jewish man, woman and child. It is about time the Jews take care of their own and stop worrying about the Arabs who claim to be Lebanese, Jordanian or Palestinian.
27. In order to win this conflict and bring the Arab adversaries
Gregory ,   USA   (04.30.07)
to reality the Jews must be patient. There are 2 basic principles that would defeat the Arab enemies: 1. Jews must demonstrate patience 2. Jews must mantain a technological edge and be strong economically and psychologically The Arabs are waging a psychological warfare with Israel and so far they have been successful. The author of this article demonstrates that the Arab psychology and patience works otherwise no normal Jew would ever admit the guilt when the guilty party here are clearly not the Jews but those who surround them.
28. #18 The Jewish regugees were absorbed by Israel
Steve ,   USA   (04.30.07)
while the Arabs want to keep the issue burning simply because they have not reconciled their thinking with the existence of the Jewish sovereignity in the Middle East. They could have easily absorbed the Arabs claiming the Palestinian identity. They own 99.9% of the Middle Eastern landmass. Unfortunately, unlike the Arabs the Jews are not good salesmen because the Jews are failing in informing the world that the Arabs can commit horrendous crimes and easily get away with it. There are no people in this world who get as much attention and sympathy as the Palestinian Arabs do despite the fact that they continue perpetrating the murderous acts.
29. The Jews must accept that they cannot make peace
Michael ,   USA   (04.30.07)
with those who do not want to play ball. Kicking a ball in your own net is not an intelligent strategy.
30. One country, 2 people?
David ,   St Louis USA   (04.30.07)
Yeah that is working out nicely in the P.A. and Lebanon for your Christians brothers.
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