Kasim Hafeez is a bright beacon of truth and courage. Many people are open to the truth about Israel. We need to do a much better job telling it. Begin with Israel's legal ownerhship of Judea and Samaria. Nothing would be simpler than serving proof, provided by international law scholars, on the world that this land is ours.

Kasim, you are a beacon of light and truth. I admire you.....kol hakavod

...or just the beaches around Tel Aviv? Israel is a great, beautiful, country, expand it to include the West Bank, and Gaza, with true democracy and freedom for all.

While some of those who post today wish to split hairs in response to your welcome slant on Middle East affairs, I think your message is one that needs to be spread throughout the world.

hello, kasim. i will like you to stop use the term jews. jewish is the correct way to say,without being a racist. thank you

God bless you Kassim, great article and keep up the good work.

radical Islamists mourn often of suffer because of their race as muslims, that the West (be it secular or religious) hate the muslims. nope, it's not a race problem, we never viewed it as race issue, but rather a "Islamic" or "koran" issue. look at the modernized young muslims living in Asia, (esp in Singapore), they lived harmoniously with their christian or buddhists friends, they can be muslims but not "fundamental-Islaimists" Koran citing radicals! are the muslims here in Asia attacked by their chinese friends? nope, but the arabs in middle east would have the world believe they are hated for their skin colours or genes.... how pathetic!

Oh, there is no question but that Israel will be expanded to include the West Bank and Gaza. It just won't include their Arab residents who are, respectively, citizens of Jordan and citizens of Egypt. Sorry. Sometimes, it sucks to be an Arab terrorist, you know?

not sure what you are advocating here...do you recomend us entering gaza , kicking out the elected government (hamas) and making it part of israel...i think that you understand that israel is the only true democracy in the middle east but gaza is not part of israel...the way your simpilified thinking goes..we should take over all the surrounding countries . now as far as what you call the west bank...part is under israeli control and the rest is under arab settler plo control

Your article was really amazing! I also very much enjoyed your lecture when you spoke at Ben-Gurion University!

which parts don't you agree with....2500 km away?

They all came with a skewed view of Jews and Israel, and left with an amazing experience and new found appreciation for the democracy that is Israel. Over the past 4 years, groups of Muslim women from the UK and Tunisia (arriving as separate tours, different times), came expecting to see discrimination in the streets and be treated like 2nd class people based on their religion. They obviously saw very different. Which is why, before you criticize Israel, come and see for yourself the truth.

Not at all. You are apparently not aware that Christian teaching from the very beginning was that Israel awould be restored as a nation. You should also be aware that among the few defenders of Israel today are many fervent Christians.

if he visited Gaza and the West Bank. The same freedom of movement, the same happy faces, the same families enjoying a growing economy as one can see in Israel today... but the "Palestinians" put a stop to that when they chose a terror war and targeted civilians as their MO. Throughout history, those who choose such violent usually do not prosper. I think Kasim gets this. he's a smart guy. You, on the other hand....

Syrian civilians and rebels have been saying this for months!

and that gave him a more objective eye on which to view Israel. With that, he wasn't able to see what you claim are "massacres committed by Israel". Where are they? Deir Yassin? Completely fabircated. Jenin? Completely fabircated. Sabra/Shantila? Committed by Phalagists in Lebanon who despise "Palestinians" Gaza during Cast Lead? Fabricated, underscored by the Hamas admission in Dec. 2010 of low civilian death count. Hama? That was an operational accident and both analysts and jurors agreed with that. How was Israel created? Through diplomacy, land purchases, and agreements? Now, let's talk about how "Palestinians" were created - in 1964. How about the 87% killed by "Palestinians" being civilians? How about the repeated calls to destroy Israel and its people by your population? Sure, Israel doesn't have a spotless record - no nation does. But it sure signs exceedingly brightly compared to Arab nations, which is why no Israeli Arab citizen is scrambling to leave Israel or have it replaced by some despotic Islamic entity. Here's an equation your ilk can follow. End your terror war and receive peace and a high-standard of living. It worked for Jordan and Egypt, Mr. Genius.

all of the problems there are at the hands of the Gazans themselves and their Tehran-proxy Islamist rulers. What ecological damage are settlers doing in West Bank that is worse than the Pallys themselves? The Pallys dump raw sewage into ravines, even when a treatment plant for local settlements exist and offered to connect a local Arab village. The Pallys routinely burn tires, throw rocks on passing cars which cause accidents and hazardous material spills. And what basic needs do the Pallys have that settlers block? Is it the water that so many Pallys have delivered to their homes thanks to Mekerot? Is it the roads they use to travel? Is it the electricity that comes from Israel and lights most of the villages that had nothing prior to 1967? Is it the numerous academic centers in the area where prior to 1967 there were none? In 2004, Israel provided 367 permits for wells to the PA. So far, only 172 have been drilled. Why no others since then? The PA also threatened to punish any Arab who works in the settlements, but refuse to offer comparable jobs, in salary and conditions. It seems its the "Palestinians" who deprive themselves of basic needs.

There are earlier verses in the Koran which speak of the Jews' right to the land bequeathed to them by G-d, and that they will return one day, and woe to those who try to stop G-d's plan. Are they true Muslims if they believe the verses about Jews should be killed, and ignore those which uplift Jews as a chosen people in their G-d given homeland? From what I've seen for ages now, Islam is a pick-and-choose religion, with massive contradictions. A perfect way to gain a larger following - appeal to everybody with something they specifically want.

Your ignorance is amazing! The continued existence of the Jewish people, religion and Jerusalem herself is another proof, in a LONG list, that Christianity is NOT false. You would do yourself a favor to study the basic elements of Christianity before you open your mouth.

May God bless you and keep you safe.

Thank you so much for sticking your head out and telling what you think! Thank you for risking your life telling the truth!

Really appreciate it. Hope more muslim people will open their eyes what is really going on in the middle east. People must realize that muslim people in Israel have much more security and wealth than in 90% of the arab countries. Even i know we are not perfect, but definitely not evil like it seems on "so called" human rights organizations. I don't see them much according to Egypt, Yemen, Lybia, Syria, Iran and many others.

now enough trying to find reasons to be a hater

If there weren't suicide bombers coming out of Gaza and the W.Bank the boarders would be open. They brought this situation and there oppression on themselves.

it's always a happy thing to hear such amazing words and thoughts from anyone, especially when it's from someone who was (as you say yourself) raised to hate and think the opposite. Great article! I hope more people, no matter what race, religion or gender, will think like you:)

We (the Israelis) are not saints but we are not as bad as people try to make us. Thanks for the understanding, you are most welcomed in our (and also your) country!!!