welcomed piece on the current state of mideast Islam. I would refer the reader to another moderate Moslem political analyst/historian, Tarek Fatah from Canada, who differentiates between the "state of Islam" and the "Islamic state". The title of his book is "Chasing A Mirage" and it's published by John Wiley and Sons, LTD. In general, it's rare to hear from reasoned Moslem critics of Islamic history as well as the current Islamic thinking today. It's too bad that the educated (non-Moslem) liberal leftwing classes in Europe and North America were not more familiar with such writers. It could make an impact. I, for one, welcome such educational discourses!

Syria is already a strong Ally of Iran. It has sold its heart, mind and soul to Iran. The argument in this article is fallacious. Why should Israel fall into the Syrian Taqiyya trap of enabling them to usurp Israel's liberated historic homeland of Golan and threaten Israel's heartland with their heavy guns and rockets in the Golan? It is time that the West stops being fooled and manipulated by the dark forces with their Taqiyya talk of peace. The fact is as Islamist-Jihadist scholar, Omar Abdel Rahman, points out is that "There is no surah called 'Peace.' Jihad and killing are the head of Islam. If you take them out, you cut off the head of Islam." (p. 24, "Islam and Terrorism" [2002] by Mark A. Gabriel, PhD)

Israel cannot be reconciled with the Mafia regime of Assad. Syria will wait till the moment that it sees chances of defeating Israel. Syria cannot efford good relations with Israel. The Assad family has established a hereditary dynasty shored up by repression within, and confrontation and terror abroad. The rule of the Assads is not aimed at improving the lot of their people or forwarding a particular ideology. They changed ideology from secular Arabism to a seemingly impossible confection of pan-Arabism and Islamist extremism because it was expedient to do so. Hafez Assad came to power following a dizzying succession of coups that had made Syria the most unstable regime in the Middle East. The Assads are seated atop a bucking bronco. They are members of the Allawi religious minority who are usually not even considered to be Muslims. They rule a country of disparate minorities with a potential for chaos almost as great as that of Iraq. The radical Muslim Brotherhood is always there, threatening to take over the country by fair means or foul, and the usual Ba’th party rivalries that have plagued all such regimes are also a threat to Assad family rule. Their rule is not about improving living standards for Syria. Syrian living standards have fallen behind the none-too-glamorous ones of Jordan or Egypt. It is not about democracy, a Western luxury Syria can’t afford, according to Bashar Assad. The Assad regime is about stability, and it is about money and power for the Assad family. The regime is comparable in every way to the fictional Corleone Mafia family. Prosperity and peace would ruin the Assad regime. Therefore, Western assumptions that Syrian leadership must want peace and prosperity are mistaken, and it is pointless to “engage” Syria in dialogue except insofar as it is possible to confront them with their violations and insist that they mend their ways as explained at : http://xrl.us/bjcsd

The three main reasons why so called moslem radicals are winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the Arab population are: 1- Occupation of Jersalem. 2-Feeling of humalation. 3-Lack of freedom and democracy. Until thses conditions are met, The radical are going to be the winners in this battle of the hearts and minds of the people of the Middle East.

this elusive search for a "moderate" muslim belies the facts: in poll after poll in the UK, West Bank and other places significant percentages of respondents favored jihad over peace. do the math : if only 7 percent favored jihad = 91 MILLION Islamic fascists.

M Ghadry, in his analyses, consistently fails to take into consideration the 800-pound gorilla in Syrian politics: The Muslim Brotherhood. I always love reading his not-so-subtle calls for a Western-backed (and funded!) overthrow of the Assad regime, basing his arguments on the idea that there are enough "Moderate Muslims" to form the backbone of a liberal, democratic Syria. The demographic reality, however, is far from the rosy picture M Ghadry would like us to believe. Sure, the Assad regime is evil- it goes without saying; but what also goes without saying (to the point that it is never said) is that the Assad regime is the least of all evils that could possibly plague Syria and Syria's neighbors. The region needs Bashar al-Assad more than it wants him, much to the chagrin of Farid Ghadry...

"More than 24,000 people were killed in 1982 by the Syrian regime.” referring to the killing of members of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the destruction of Hama by Hafez and Rifaat al-Assad"

What occupation are you talking about? The Land of Israel is GOD-given and GOD-restored to the Jews since ancient time which Israel liberated from the Islamist-Jihadist occupiers in 1967. Know Ancient History, The Holy Bible and Biblical Archaeology so you can discuss matters like this intelligently.

An answer to your three narrow-minded explanations for radicalism: 1) Jerusalem wasn't "occupied" as you term it in 1920,1929 but radical Muslims found no problem in following Al-Husseini in his calls to slaughter Jews and deport them from the region. Same too leading up to 1967 when Jordan ruled E. Jerusalem and destroyed all Jewish artifacts and holy places. 2) Humiliation? That felt by Arabs today are either at the hands of their own leaders or a result of their own violent actions. Israeli Arabs in Haifa live free while violent Pals navigate roadblocks. Cause and Effect. However, please explain why those minorities subject to Arab oppression and humiliation do not resort to radicalism - Kurds, Samaritans, B'hais, Druze 3) Freedom and democracy - talk to your leaders about that. Getting to vote for one person is not a democracy. But since average Arabs are such tools of radical leaders based on hate and pride - it seems the real onus rests on the absolute ignorance of the Arab street.

the difference between a Moderate and a Radical Muslim is minute. A radical muslim calls for death to Israel and Jews NOW. A moderate muslim calls for death to Israel and Jews, eventually. To the author, I ask: where in the Muslim world has the Umma Islamic University been built and co-existence came to blossom? I am not an expert on the Arab ME but I haven't seen one example of co-existence in the ME where underlying hate wasn't brewing.

Its time for Muslims there to give back land taken during the 20s by England and arabs. Also, time to end the Muslim occupation of the Temple Mount, the Holy of Holies that is desecrated daily by Muslims. When this occupation and desecration of Jewish land ends, we can make peace. Afterall, Jews were there before Arabs/Muslims. The Arabs need to respect Jews and much as Israel respects Arabs/Muslims. It cant be a one way streak. How about compensating the 800,000 Jewish refugees for the land stolen also. That has to be considered. as well as removing racist laws like the Jordan Palestine one banning Jews from citizenship and land ownership. Afterall, Jews lived on trhe land for centuries if not longer until forced out by the British and Arabs. So you and I agree. The problem is you agree to your demands and chose to ignore the facts and history. One question. Did you know Jerusalem had a jewish MAJORITY or plurity going back to the 1850s if not longer? Its easy to find in census data. The Arabs were not the majority in E Jerusalem until Jews were kicked out in the 20s.

He has never been to Syria and he knows nothing about anything in Syria. He does not represent any Syrian.

In regard to the "resaons" you mentioned counted: 1-Whether Jerusalem is "occupied" is but a point of view. Now, just for the sake of argument let's say it is under occupation - wow, quite a lot of lives were taken and rather lots of blood was spilt over this, and it's only because Islam finds it right to mass murder over this cause. 2-Boo-hoo humiliation. Humiliated by whom, for crying out loud? By all the Western world taking milions of Muslims in as legitimate citizens and residents and getting terrorism in return? 3-Freedon most Muslims have, well, if you count out the tyranny in many Muslim states... which rules out democracy, obviously. Now, if you meant the Palestinians, well, they had many more privileges under the Israeli jurisdiction than under Jordanian or Egyptian ruling, that is until the Intifada and the massive waves of terrorism. Stop moaning. Start thinking. The ways of Extreme Islam lead only to distruction.

The three main reasons why Israel has moved to the right and figures like Baruch Marzel, and Itamar Ben-Gvir are winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the Israeli population are: 1- Arab Occupation of Jerusalem. 2-Feeling of humiliation by majnooni Leftists who do more to enable Islamic terror than stamp it out. 3-Lack of freedom and democracy in the so-called "only democracy in the Middle East". Until these conditions are met, the radicals are going to be the winners in this battle of the hearts and minds of the people of the Middle East. You can pound water all you want, but it will remain water...

Husni of Egypt, yet both Israel and USA have wonderful relations with him

Better to deal with the devil you know, than some unknown devil waiting in the wings? However, he's merely a mild-looking figurehead for a creepy, ugly Baath regime. It's only a matter of time before he's replaced by yet another malevolent, conniving type. For the Israelis: damned if you do, damned if you don't.

When Jordan ethnically cleansed Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem of every single Jew.

to win the heart and minds how it comes .. by democracy .. which democracy .. by the war it would fail like in iraq and in palastine ... i like to win my heart and my mind better than the hearts or the minds of western or israili . so be yourselfe if they want it or not you must defend your heart and your mind ...it is all

Farid ?? they claimed that Mary (the mother of Jesus ) had a teenage pregnancy ) and that Jesus PBUH ..is too fat ,that he was unable to walk on water in the sea of Galile ..and that is why he died early at 33 ..because he was too fat . that was on national TV joking on channel 10 . if this is what they do to christians ...immagine what they are doing to the muslims living there .. you are hanging around the wrong crowd my friend .. wake up and smell the flafel .

you will rise twice ..the quran said .. the first one ...was befor Islam ..and now is your second ..and last . what happened after that ....????? we all know ,but ask your Rabbai.

What WE are doing to MUSLIMS?! What are you talking about? The beautiful thing about Israel is that foloowers of the three monotheistic religions are free to practice and celebrate their faiths. You have to be stupid and/or brainwashed to claim otherwise. It's Islam that threatens people of other religions in the world today. If you don't believe me, check out Fadi #23.

so you want to say moderation is good but there is no moderation in israil or do you want to say be moslem before the moderation or do you want to say christians who are all moderate are joks to israil .. but i want to say one thing to fareed ..i like fareed alatrash becouse he is syrian live in egypt as egyptian he believes inhimelfe his sence his art he did the best to the arab singing he did not speake politics as he knew little of it or may be know better in songs and music ... so fareed ghadry if he thinks that he knows the best in policy itis the joke hahaha let the world laugh

You pretend to call for moderation and justice. You called to build a moderate Islamic University in Damascus and a Holocaust memorial next to it. Well that is a good start, but can youy explain why you failed to add to that a memorial to the victims of Deir Yassin massacre for example? Or to the children and babies killed in tthe Gaza war? Think about that and you 'll find out that you are no different than any of the tyrants you are talking about except in selecting the victim to whom you both administer yourt injustices and bigotry

Keep comparing the systematic genocyde of Jews by the Nazis to the sad loss of people who were used by terrorists as human shields. A very intelligent comparison. Wonderful propaganda - it seems to work well for you. What can really be compared with the Nazi genocyde is the Islamic dream of Jihad. Which compares to the Nazis also in quality of propaganda, no doubt. The difference is, we've had one holocast and we're far more alert now - and we'll fight back. You should thank Allah that the Dutch let you live in their country. Just imagine you had to live under a Muslim regime?!

Yes, Khalid. Add those "babies from Gaza" which were killed while being used as human shields by Hamas terrorists. Add to that also the Gaza civilians who were used in the same way. Add to those the thousands of Gaza Hamas opponents who were murdered or tortured and crippled for life by Hamas during their terrorist putsch, during the Hamas terror rule, and after the Gaza war. Add to that the hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians, including children and babies who have been under Hamas rocket fire for 8 years! Add to that the thousands of Israeli civilians - women, seniors, children and babies who have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists. Think about THAT Khalid and you'll find out that YOU ARE THE TYRANTS, THE RACISTS AND MURDERERS! There is NOTHING to justify murdering babies, yet Hamas trains kindergarden kids in the "art" of suicide (homicide) bombing and uses them as cannon fodder! Add them too to the list! The only Muslim Holocaust which exists today is brought by the Muslims upon themselves! Enough of Hamas propaganda on Israeli forums! Keep them on Haaretz or Al-Jazeera talkbacks!

Sayid, the author may represent Syria as little as you represent Sweden, but there are quite a number of facts pointing in wright direction, for example: 1. Arabs (whatever the country where they are citizens) have repeatedly proven that they are backward, dictator-loving people who don't know how to spell the word "democracy" and "freedom". 2. Being completely unable to do anything about the horrible situation in which the Arab world has put itself they are always looking for scapegoats to blame for their own mistakes: US, Israel, West in general. They NEVER think that it is preferable to look in the mirror. 3. Arab world is extremely corrupt, PA is just one example - the highest foreign aid per capita - to no avail. 4 Arab world has the biggest share on analphabets - more than 50% of adult population cannot read and/or write. Arab world has poorer Internet-coverage than Sub-Saharan Africa (from the UN-report "Arab Human Development") you should be eternally grateful to US and Israel - whom would you otherwise blame for your own mistakes?

Maybe its about time Israel did too... Because ... we wont be Moderate for much longer.