Opinion
Iceland against Israel
Manfred Gerstenfeld
Published: 18.07.11, 18:13
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220 Talkbacks for this article
31. Honest declaration
Gábor Fränkl   (07.18.11)
Israeli webportal Ynetnews took a grudge against me (in other words: felt severely offended and insulted) for stating the truth: that's it's a cheap politicized anti-Netanyahu leftist mouthpiece 24/7, hence blocked my two comments on Iceland's political nature vis-á-vis Israel right after the other. Well done Ynet, way to go! One day you'll grow up man, rushing frantically behind your computer at the rectangular, dimly-lit asbestos-infestedTel Aviv office built in the late 1950s,the reputed Commie "glory days"! Or perhaps not...
32. It's not about arrogance
Yael Schlichting ,   Raubling Germany   (07.18.11)
The problem is, that the radical left and the radical right have a few things in common. They have crude ideas and theories and they don't like minorities, since minorities usually are the exception who unmasks their theories as plain rubbish. Such minorities are Jewish, Sinti, Roma and depending on the political opportunity sometimes gay, black, single mother/father..... or whatever. Particular Scandinavian countries already have a record in the implementation of inhuman practices, such as enforced lobotomy against the patients will. Particularly in Sweden the authorities get deeply involved in issues, we would consider our personal matter. There are weird things. Iceland is only one of them!
33. Majority of Icelanders..;..................
Sigfried S. Kuhn ,   Aberdeen USA   (07.18.11)
According to the 2019 Times almanac, over 60% of births are to unmarried women. Calling the government of Iceland b-----ds is justified. Its a shame that countries like Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have such an antisemitic tradition.
34. Iceland and Israel
P Nathan Johnson ,   Winnipeg, Canada   (07.18.11)
Why so worried about what Iceland says or does? Bibi and his far-right minders are doing fine all by themselves in giving Israel a bad name and a worse reputation. They don't listen to other Israelis; why should they worry about a few Icelanders?
35. Iceland
Alex Lubet ,   St. Paul, USA   (07.18.11)
My wife and I had considered Iceland for our 30th anniversary trip. Glad now we changed our minds. We're going to Alaska.
36. #28
Cyndi Schwartz ,   Israel   (07.18.11)
You got that right.
37. Iceland
max ,   washington dc   (07.18.11)
Not to worry about anti-semites in Iceland. With Global Warming Iceland will soon melt into the sea. So maybe they are preparing for a humanitarian flotilla to settle in Gaza?
38. I´m an Icelander, not an anti semite.
Birgir ,   Iceland   (07.19.11)
Most Icelanders are not anti semites. Creating the idea that Icelanders are all anti semite based on what our most stupid politician is doing is quite unfair. He´s just a famewhore with a very small brain, So please don´t curse the whole lot of us. P.S. Have you ever been to Iceland? If not how can you be so sure that this article is telling the truth?
39. ship all the muzzies and left wingers there to freeze
(07.19.11)
40. Shakespeare: Something rotten in Iceland.
Stephen in New York   (07.19.11)
41. Everybody is an antisemite!
Avi ,   NYC, USA   (07.19.11)
Or a self hating Jew, or a leftist, Islamist, a-frog-eating Frenchman, a Nazi, etc. All this just so that we do not have to look in the mirror. Guys, I grew up in Israel, served in our pathetic IDF, and have also lived in Iceland. This is a nation of proud, hard working people. The lowliest truck driver in Iceland is higher in every aspect than our highest and mightiest politicians, rabbis, you name it.
42. Rotten fish? Seems you are correct
Yerushalmi ,   Jerusalem   (07.19.11)
Swedes, known for their filosemitism, also eat rotten fish. Surströmming. So do Norwegans. rakfisk. Danes, least antisemitic norse country don't eat rotten fish. Your point is proven, eating rotten fish is linked to antisemitism.
43. iceland jewish first lady
william stern ,   new york,ny   (07.19.11)
The presidents wife is Dorrit Moussaieff, the wife of Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, She is the duaghter of Shlomo Moussaieff ,a bukkarian Jew ,very wealthy and who gives to Jewish causes. Maybe Shlomo should give his daughter a slap on the behind.
44. 2 face
mister d ,   iceland   (07.19.11)
funny how people find it easy painting every icelander as an anti-semite and then follow it up by re-hashing the standard insults thrown at icelanders.
45. #23 Whoever you are, while I yearn for
Mark ,   Lodz, Poland   (07.19.11)
those days that you describe in your post, it's not practical. In today's changing world you have to read the writing on the wall. I don't need to spell it out. Move on ...oh and btw..Israel's just doing fine
46. WHO CARES??!
Isak ,   Oslo, Norway   (07.19.11)
Iceland is a tiny country on the brink of bankruptcy, who cares what they think about Israel (or about anything else for that matter)?
47. Where the *&^%$#@ is Iceland,they sound like real %$$#@
Lior Eliraz ,   TA Israel   (07.19.11)
The mouse that roared,another jackass to add to the rest of these jackasses from the Loony Left......
48. Left or right wing politics has nothing to do with it!
Elias ,   Reykjavik   (07.19.11)
As an Icelander I´m very surpriced at the comments. There is no army here and people here don´t understand your military actions against ordinary Palestinians. Nor do we like the hamas, hizbolla terrorist actions against Israel. We hate wars of any kind, and I find it stupid of our foreign minister to take a side with one. I don´t believe Icelanders are generally against Israel, that doesn´t make any sense and is totally false. In fact I think most people here would like Jerusalem to belong unsplit and united with Israel. We are Christians for God sake!
49. Iceland against Israel
Masson ,   Fjarðabyggð Iceland   (07.19.11)
Maybe the Icelandic perception of Israel as an aggressive, militant bully is because of the treatment Israel has given the Palestinian people? I don't think that anyone should be surprised by that. Iceland was oppressed by Denmark for centuries and understands the feeling of being the small one. Exactly as Mr. Gerstenfeld points out in the opening of his article. I support my government in this "arrogance".
50. Iceland & Israel
Kris ,   Reykjavik, Iceland   (07.19.11)
We all know what happened to Jesus and he wasn't half as bad as the Icelanders. Icelanders: say your prayers!
51. #38, Birgir, not an anti semite
Anna ,   Montreal, Canada   (07.19.11)
Maybe you are right, maybe most Icelanders aren't Anti-Semites. But all of you chose your leaders and all of you allow them to mistreat Israel for the benefit of her enemies. Is it justifiable? The reason why Israelis are so angry is simple: they feel victimized.
52. Strategy?
R ,   Israel   (07.19.11)
Perhaps Iceland's GOVERNMENT (and not necessarily all of its citizens) believes that putting Israel down and getting cozy with the Palestinians and their representatives such as Hamas, Hizbollah, and the Arab states, will generate a generous investment in their economy, just like in Greece. We'll have to come back in a year and ask "how's that working out for you?"
53. Israel's image not good in Iceland
Gisli ,   Reykjavik   (07.19.11)
Israel gets no sympathy from the majority of Icelanders, but anti-semitism has nothing to do with it. Israel is mostly seen as a bully, treating the their own arab citizens unfairly, stealing their land with settlement building and buldozing arab housing. Undoubtedly the situation is more complicated than that but never the less this is the general perception. Reading the talkbacks here gives me no hope that understanding and tolerance will ever play a part in the arab/jewish situation.
54. Difference between Iceland and Israel
Hafsteinn ,   Iceland   (07.19.11)
is that Icelanders are not trespassing on others property. Iceland wasn't occupied when the first settlements were established in late 800's. Israeli occupation is established upon religious bullshit. Maybe Israel can relocate to Svalbard or Falkland Islands (just buy it)
55. Chill guys
Fritz ,   Reykjavik, Iceland   (07.19.11)
We, God's frozen people have nothing against you, God's chosen people :) First of all would you really like your country to be judged be the behavior of your politicians? It is also incredible that the only real example of anti-semetic writing by icelanders that the author points out is 400 years old! You probably had to dig a bit for that. The fact that President Olafur Grimsson, then a member of parliament spoke of an Israeli murder of Hezbollah leader Abbas Musawi does not make him a jew hater. As the author mentions, the guy must at least love one i.e. his wife Dorrit Moussaieff. What the heck is the author trying to pull? Are Icelanders anti-semitic jew haters because their government feels that the Palistinians have a right to form their own state? If this is the authors opinion, fine he can have it. Just don't expect anyone to take him seriously.
56. Agains Israel, or agains human right violations?
Daniel ,   Bristol, UK   (07.19.11)
The substance of most of the comments posted here speak for themselves, and do not reflect much intellect, opposed to prejudice. Being anti-Israelian foreign policy doesn't equal antisemite; not that any of you will wise up anytime soon.
57. Many Icelanders hope Skarphedinsson moves to Gaza
David ,   Reykjavik, Iceland   (07.19.11)
Do not worry, most Icelanders are also embarrassed by Skarphedinsson's one-man-show in Gaza, and the local press didn´t give it too much attention. Don't judge us by an egotistical phenomenon, which most Icelanders are hoping to get rid off in the next elections.
58. No.44 Saddly, very sadly your correct
John Phee ,   Sydney, AUSTRALIA   (07.19.11)
59. Bjork
Simcha ,   NYC   (07.19.11)
She is from Iceland.....'nuff said....let them drown in their debt.
60. I like Iceland
Eitan ,   Israel   (07.19.11)
OK, there is one way for us to act: lets have a knee jerk rection to every comment disapproving of Israel and dig for more material to forever label whole nations as antisemitic pathetic losers, be it Iceland, Scotland or any other. Or, lets be a little bit mature and recognize that one voice does not define the whole nation. There is an anti-Israeli sentiment present in every country, and some occasionally get to the stage. If every time it happens we are going to collect as much material as possible to disqualify the whole country, we are going to isolate ourselves to extinction.
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