great article

you should get a picture with it - that would go well with the story.

You may have noticed from my talkbacks on this site that I am extremly right wing, you even answered me on a couple of occassions in order to disagree with me and condemn my opinions. Ray, I am right wing because I wish to erase the hatred from the minds of your kinfolk, I wish that they will either give up voluntarily their desire and policy to "eradicate the Zionist entity", or, if it be their choice, to be utterly and totally defeated on the battlefield. These are the only two ways in which peace will be achieved, negotiations will not work. I prefer the first and not the latter. I want peace because I want us to live together, I do not want to "transfer" you, I do not want to "eradicate" you, I want cooperation and a sense of mutual destiny and even one of brotherhood or, if you will, "cousinhood". I am right wing because this is my goal and not because I hate Palestinians or wish to deprive them of their basic human rights. I am anti Haredi and ultra orthodox for the same reasons, because as long as they are around there will be no progress in the desired direction, desired that is, by normal people like you and I. Ray, I love Jerusalem as much as you do, my whole life of 67 years has been dedicated to this land, sometimes at the expense of my family and my wellbeing. It may seem very paradoxical that I embrace right wing ideas and actions in order to eventually instigate left wing policies, but then this area of the globe almost invented political contradictions and anomalies. Ray, you are welcome in your Jerusalem and I hope that you will one day return, even if it is to buy a second home, a temporary or sometime residence. I also hope that when it happens I shall still be around to welcome you. I shall do so with open arms. I shall say to you mabruk and saha, no, I shall say sahtein ya Sidi Ray. In the meantime, until that day and until Hamas and its philosophy are erased and until the extremist religious Israelis are brought under control, I shall continue to be right wing in the name of survival because as the man said,"in war there is no substitute for victory". We are at war Ray, a war not of our choice but consistently at the choice of your folks for 59 years since the establishment of The State of Israel by international convention or for 80 years since the unfortunate advent of your fellow Jerusalemite Haj Amin who led you down the wrong path, the path of hatred, because as you well know Ray, hatred is self destructing, it usurps the soul and warps the mind and twists the human psyche. I am waiting Ray, with open arms. Have a nice day.

that if you have nothing better to say you refrain from saying it. I also suggest to the editors, with respect, that they in future do not allow such posts.

An awful lot of saccharin, way too sweet with that artificial taste of chemicals. We all have sad stories to tell about our families, those of us who have any family left. None of the sad stories bring us any closer to some solution. Why don't you write about hate-filled education in Palestinian schools or the connexion between the Palestinian leaders like the Mufti of Jerusalem who helped Hitler kill us? Or how morally abhorent suicide bombers are? I'm not very interested in the "good old days" - I'm far more interested in our future security.

Some of my family moved to israel from n. africa and turkey, religious and devoted to the land of "promise". Regarding your statement and I quote: "I am anti Haredi and ultra orthodox for the same reasons, because as long as they are around there will be no progress in the desired direction, desired that is, by normal people like you and I. ", I must congratulate your "movement" on its success in decimating their ancient jewish spirituality. Oddly enoug it is the haredi, that your movement now wishes to "eliminate", that "rescued" some of them from completely loosing their heritage. My family were religious, superstitiously so, but they were "normal" people with their own dreams linked to their spirtuality and as much rights to live in palistine/israel as you. And not just to live but to practice their religion and heritage, just as you continued to practice your own beliefs. Long before your movment emerged jews, and i mean "ultra-religious" jews, lived in peace with arabs. So perhaps if this is truly your goal, you should learn the beliefs of those specific "ultra-religious" jewish sects that lived in palistine/isael before your areligious/quasi-religious movement was even conceived and adopt their beilefs and teach others these beliefs and go back to that peaceful coexistence of the anti-zionist ultra-orthodox jews and arabs. For the most part of 2000years many people tried and failed to eliminate what you call today "haredim". Your movement opened a pandoras box when it came to palistine/israel, with half-baked european nationalist ideas. Now you have too alternative futures to look forward to IMHO. A jewish theocracy or a bi-national state, or two or three bi-national states. And even the bi-national state option will mean that jewish affairs will be controlled by "haredim". The jewish future in palisitine/israel is "haredi" which ever way it goes. Even if your movement forces the arab/muslim world to surrender, your final battle will be with the "haredim" who even after 2000years of brutal oppresson have remained undefeated. IMHO, I would say set realistic goals and join the haredim.

Hey Sagi "Shukran ichteer" ... thank you very much. Your words were very kind. I thinkt hat is the spirit we should hear more of from your compatriots. It makes such a difference when both sides focus on the good ... Both sides have their Hajj Amin al-Husseinis, although neither likes to admit it. In the spirit of your kind words I won't mention the others :) I will say that I do hope we get a chance to meet. So many have asked me why I don't post here any more ... I stopped writing back to talk backs mainly because it doesn't seem to add more to the conversation than the original column ... but in the future, please those who wish to correspond genuinely, please email me ... I don't want to add fuel to the fire by responding. A good friend of mine in Israel suggested that tact. (And here I am violating this agreement already. Isn't that so Palestinian. Just joking.) Anyway, Sagi's letter and the kind words from Gil and others inspired me to at least say this. Thanks Sagi. We don't have to agree on facts figures or history. All we have to agree on is that we need to find a way to let both sides feel that they have a place int his great land. I think most Palestinians agree with me. The few you read screaming hate are the loud exception who do have power over the rest. But I and others hope to change that so we can find a non-violent, peaceful and fair way out of this maze. We both deserve it. Thanks Ray Hanania stop by one of our comedy shows this coming week

MOST OF HIS ARTICLE ARE BIASED TOWARDS THE ARABS OCCUPYING ISRAELI LANDS... FUNNY I THINK THAT RAY HANIHAHA REFERED TO ISRAEL IN 1900 AS PALISTINE...AND THAT HIS FATHER LIVED THERE .... And it was a jewish community..... HANIHAHA IS NOT A JEWS FRIEND. BECAUSE HE WON AN AWARD BY THE LIBERAL SOCIALIST PRESS IS MEANINGLESS. JEWS MUST WAKE UP.. THE ONLY FRIEND TO JEWS IS 'GD' OF ISRAEL. NOT THE POOP IN VATICAN NOT HANIHAHA NOT ABBAS NOT THE EVANGELIST XTIANS THE ONE FRIEND IS MORE HAMAS WHO TELLS YOU, THEY WANT THE JEW DEAD. THE ONLY FRIEND THAT WON THE ISRAELI WARS IS THE 'GD OF ISRAEL' THE SOLUTION IS FOR JEWS TO GET CLOSER TO 'GD' IN 'HIS WAYS' THEN HELP AND ANSWERS WILL COME LIKE MAGIC. SO WILL MASHIACH(MESSIAH)

I wonder, if any arab newspapers would print stories about Jewish love for Jerusalem.

But you are not Hamas and Hamas is not you.

can help humanize "the other" if one is open to building bridges rather than maintaining walls. Propaganda demonizes the enemy, while personal stories can build understanding and support the process of peace. Thank you, Ray, for sharing :-)

Thank you for removing post # 1.

Some of my family moved to israel from n. africa and turkey, religious and devoted to the land of "promise". Regarding your statement and I quote: "I am anti Haredi and ultra orthodox for the same reasons, because as long as they are around there will be no progress in the desired direction, desired that is, by normal people like you and I. ", I must congratulate those who share your "ideology" on its success in decimating their ancient jewish spirituality. Oddly enough it is the haredi (apparently the new target of your ideology) ", that "rescued" some of them from completely loosing their heritage. My family were religious, superstitiously so, but they were "normal" people with their own dreams linked to their spirtuality and heritage. They had as much rights to live in palistine/israel as you. And not just to live but to practice their religion and heritage, just as you continued to practice your own beliefs. Long before your ideology emerged, jews, and i mean "ultra-religious" jews, lived in peace with arabs. Its nly when your ideology was born that the probelms began. So perhaps if truly your ultimate goal is to live peacefully with arabs, you should abandon your present ideology and learn the beliefs of those specific "ultra-religious" jewish sects that lived in palistine/isael in those days of peaceful coexistence. And teach others these beliefs and perhaps you can regain the peaceful coexistence again. The movement you represent erred by opening a pandoras box when it came to palistine/israel, with half-baked nationalist ideas. Now you have too alternative futures to look forward to IMHO. A haredi jewish theocracy or a bi-national state(s). And even the bi-national state option will mean that jewish affairs will be controlled by "haredim". The jewish future in palisitine/israel is "haredi" which ever way it goes. Even if you defeat the entire arab/muslim world, your final battle will be with the "haredim" who even after 2000years of brutal oppresson have remained undefeated by all kinds of people with all kinds of schemes. IMHO, I would say set realistic goals and join the haredim.

"The British Mandate Government gave my father a Provisional Palestinian Passport that identified him as a “Palestinian,” a fact that some insist on ignoring." NOBODY BUT ARABS ARE IGNORING THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY RESIDING IN BRITISH PALESTINE WERE BEARERS OF BRITISH PALESTINIAN PASSPORTS... Your brethren suffer of permanent brain death...

i have been reading every article written by yourself when ever i have the chance. and i alwayes enjoyed your honesty and love for peace. however i think this time you had a bad expereince with some Muslim fundemental which made you distort history just so you can sell yourself as a peace loving advocate of peace. my fellow human being an Israeli will never be truthfull when it comes to history of the alnakba let alone distort it in order to reach peace. Abba Eban will never lie to look as a peace loving man because he genuinly beleive in peace. their are so many historical lies in your article in an attempt to equate both people suffering you pushed yourself far away from your people and the cause of peace. trust me we all want peace even the right wingers that love to hate us. please Ray the jews has suffered enough at the hands of the white christian europeans and not at our hands. we are the ones who are paying the price of their suffering so please dont equate the palestinian victim with the Israeli army (Goliath). these are two distinc historical epics that should be seperated and explored on their own merit. the suffering is shared but does not make them equal.

for a nicely written, personal piece.

Why is it that a German born in Kalingrad cannot automatically return to live there but an eskimo from NE Siberia can move there easily? Is this fair?

I enjoyed your article very much. Your articles add some sanity in this highly charged area. People on both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict are losing their humanity. This article reinforces what both sides have in common and the way to peace is to reinforce that aspect of a common humanity which in the long run will bring peace.

B"H I enjoy your stories and the personal stories of your family. You had a family who had the priviledge of living in Eretz Canaan, and it seems you truly appreciate how beautiful a land it is. These are truly positive qualities, and I understand that you are also leading a comedy tour in Israel. You are returning in stages. In your process of excile and return, you acquired American citizenship which set standards for behavior that are necessary for your sojourn as a comedian and your success in that sojourn. But for that growth to occur, your father had to make the decision that Palestine was not his place. Then he went to the United States. He joined the United States army. He gave birth to a citizen. And he taught his son how to write. He educated his child for a better future. This is so essential for the future of those living in Eretz Canaan, and we have to admit that the Hamas legislature is not going to prepare those living under it adequately to take the necessary responsibility properly. Although I understand the Arab position to be against expulsion, I have to ask you seriously, would you have the means and skills to blossom as you have were it not that your father decided to pack up and leave a situation that was not bearable for him for one that is better? How is that reformation possible under Hamas? It surely is not possible, and this is a great part of the "tragedy" is that Hamas no matter what treaty is signed is always there to undermine it so that the piece of paper is almost worthless, casting the Arabs into a state of lack of education and almost permanent frustration. Plus, the Jewish people are unable to fully integrate the Hamas Arabs into Jewish society because of differences in government concept. The Jews are looking for local responsiblity which is diametrically opposed to foreign dictatorship. I understand, with the multiple trips to Syria, that Hamas is based outside of the Land of Canaan. How is this a society that is able to stand on its own? If it is truly love of the Land of Canaan that binds Jews and Arabs to it, then it must possible to find some commonality to that love, perhaps in specific zones to start out with. I think the comedy club is about the best zone to start with, if any. So I congratulate you on your efforts and your stories. But there is still some very serious work that needs to commence to rehabilitate those unable to live in the Land of Canaan any further. I am not seeing how any but your father's path is going to resolve the struggle.

It would behoove you to sort out the facts before you match pen to paper. the phenomenon known as Haredi Judaism has not been around for 2000 years as you state. It is 250 years old, it is a product of the Diaspora Jewry of Poland. It was in its time an attempt, a pathetic one at that, to copy the life style of the Polish nobility, to dress and act the same as them, to respect a local noble and pay homage to him. The Hatzer was the substitute for the land and the Rebbe was the substitute for the noble. What is more my friend, this particular brand of Judaism has no place in our history, in our heritage, in the ancient practices of the Israelites and I shall go further by saying that it is a distortion of our religion and causes only strife internally and invokes laughter and derision externally. Haredim are to be equated to the extreme clerics of Islam who try to impose their doctrines on society as a whole, the only difference is in the method, the Haredim are not given to physical violence and corporal punishment, but rather to political violence, verbal violence and coercion with a touch of blackmail now and again. Yes I said the Haredim are to be equated with the Ayatollahs, and I meant it, the ideal is the same , the aim is the same, the desired outcome is the same, only the method is different. Extreme policies, in any field of life, lead to disaster. This is axiomatic and has stood the test of time. The clerics of Islam have, and are continuing, to lead their communities into darkness and poverty, ignorance and hatred. If the extreme elements of Judaism ever got complete control of the Nation our fate would be no different. Religion, in an extreme form, is like a yoke around one's neck, it holds you back, you move slowly, and when the master, whoever that may be, wishes it, you come to a standstill. Life, the creation, the universe are dynamic and that is the way it was meant to be, not static or regressive. I suggest you learn a little history and then a little about life. I also suggest to you and to others of all religious leanings that it is time that we, the inhabitants of this globe start to do things in the name of man, in the name of woman, in the name of children, in the name of nature, rather than in the name of God or Allah or the Son of God or the Holy Spirit or in the name of any metaphysical entity for that matter. Let's act and do things in our name. We are here now and we are responsible for future generations.

If all the Arabs like ray loved Jerusalem so much, why did they forfiet it in going to war? They did so because the risk of loosing Jerusalem in the 1967 war (which according to their Soviet military analysts was almost non-existent) was far out-weighed by the expected gain of destroying Israel.

For those of you who don't know about such things, Ray Hanina no longer lives with his beloved Palestinians in the West Bank not because living conditions are much better in America (which they are) but because as patriotic and pro-Palestinian as he is and as much as he has done for PA Arabs, his welcoming commitee were he to return home would be a lynch mob. Yes guys, Ray would be killed by his compatriots just like all the other "collaborators" who didn't leave town in time, and he knows this. P.S. No offense Ray, in fact I pity you and actually Identify with you very much, because as you will have noticed I too live in exile, so to speak, although I do so also mainly because of the threat that your fellow Palestinians pose to me should I return, not because I would be unwelcome to Israelis (although most of them would also have some choice words for me if they knew my views).

That's all very fine and well, but what does that have to do with Ray's column? (Can't you be a little soft for just once?) Ray wrote a nice column. Ray, if you are reading this, thank you!

Why should Ray be killed as you claim??? Hanania is telling his life experience and how proud he is to be a Jerusalmite... We are proud of him too....! No one in the Palestine can say something and expect people to 100% to agree with him. But at the same time, our culture is not based on hate as you may think. We did not impose our selves on you Israelis... You did impose yourselves on us... We did not invade you lands,,, you came to occupy Jerusalem... You are Israelis not Israelites,, You are Jewish in faith and not Jews from Judea... Enough Racism, enough hate to everything that is Palestinian.... Ray, keep up the good work.

As for the residents of the actual Palestine Mandate, only the Jews referred to themselves as "Palestinians." The Arabs called themselves "Arabs" and claimed that the Holy Land was Southern Syria. The British brought the term "Palestine" back to the Holy Land because the name held a reference for the Jewish people. (Rome had renamed the Holy Land 1800 years earlier after the Jewish dispersion.) "Palestine" has no reference to Arabs. There's no way in the world that Arabs spent 1800 years with a LATIN name in a country that has absolutely no "Palestinian" history. The "Palestinian Narrative" was invented in 1968-1969. The UN and League of Nations has absolutely NO record of a "Palestinian People" until after 1969.

Thank you!