Opinion  Ray Hanania
Radicals taking over
Ray Hanania
Published: 20.03.07, 16:51
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68 Talkbacks for this article
1. Hi Ray
Gil ,   UK   (03.20.07)
we need to get you over here to talk.
2. "Israeli-oppressed population "
mike ,   SD   (03.20.07)
really Hanaina? without surprise it all boils down to Israel, offcourse! Gaza has been jew-free for 2 years, yet its people are somehow magically oppressed by the jews. Please Ray, please explain to us simple folk how this jewish black magic works. Please tell us how an entire group of people can blatantly ignore self responsibility with a self-destructing cult of death, yet still blame their 'oppression' on the jews who arent even there. Tell us, oh wise one.
3. AS ALWAYS WITH PALESTINIANS, BLAME THE OTHER PARTY
Jorge ,   Tegucigalpa   (03.20.07)
Who has been preaching hatred of the Jews in schools, the "moderates" from Fatah, who has been saying that a Palestinian state has to be from the mediteranean to the Jordan River, again the"moderates" from Fatah, who has been driving the absurd "right of return" again the "moderates" from Fatah, who rejected the deal Barak proposed in Camp David, again the moderate Arafat, with moderation like that, it is hard to be open to trust. Radical muslims are out to drive everyone not thinking like them to the sea, even christian Palestinians. You, "moderates" fed them and their hatred for everybody different, now, you deal with them
4. Palestinian/Isreali solution
Catherine Legge ,   Coalville, Ut USA   (03.20.07)
Thank you Ray Hannia for your thoughtful analysis of the Palestinian/Isreali conflict. As we all know, the radical religious fanatics in Palestine and the radical religious fanantics in Isreal do not speak for the majority of their populations but, unfortunately, hold the power through Hamas and through ideologically radical Isreali government policies. With Bush's unconditional support of Isreal's radical Palestinian policy, there is no hope that there ever will be a two state solution.
5. Ray Hanania
William ,   Goldwater   (03.20.07)
Ray, Please change your online photo. You look so un-excited to be presenting us with your great articles. Will.
6. SECULARISM IS A MIRAGE
Bill Handel ,   brooklyn, usa   (03.20.07)
...AND IT'S SLOWLY DISAPPEARING IN ARAB COUNTRIES...AND IN ISRAEL,TOO.
7. He ruined his article
Baruch ,   Boston, USA   (03.20.07)
A lot of what Hanania said about the Islamists is true and problematic. He lost my support when he started to blame Israel in the paragraph beginning "Israel's governments have consistently undermined peace through compromise". This is pure nonsense, and shows he really doesn't understand with whom Israel has been dealing with all these years, first with Arafat, and now with Hamas. They don't want any compromise. They want all the Jews out of the Middle East.
8. Who are you kidding?
Ron   (03.20.07)
There were only somewhat secular Arabs to begin with, period. But, I digress; when Israel has made concessions they were followed by bus bombings and suicide attacks from the early days of Oslo. Now tell me when ever there has been a truce or lull in terror that wasn't based on Israeli deterrent or unacceptable casualties for the Pals or Arabs. You won't because you can't. Religious on nationalist with the arabs doesn't really matter, never has, never will. Israel will never be able to concede enough until surrender (i.e. the law of return).
9. nice article....but
Ben ,   Kona Hawaii   (03.20.07)
you talk about offering compromise that is "fair". The word fair is as nebulous as the idiology of the islamists. A huge part of the palestinian problem comes down to the right of return. How do you solve that?
10. dah! they wanted hamas,
oded   (03.20.07)
they got it and in spades! as if we all needed hannia to waist more space with his colums.... as if he is telling us anything we didn't know already... ynet will do us all a great favor and replace this time-wasting, colmnist with someone who actually has sometihng to say. and btw , he is not funny at all!
11. Palestianian neo-Platoniszation.
James Thompson ,   St Pete, USA   (03.20.07)
Palestinanin neo-Plationization. Neo-Platonism's basis is the Irrational Allegorical Method, by which anything can be used to prove anything else. Neo-Platonisms cannot resolve differences of ideas nor interests rationaly; there only resort is force, shunnings, slanders, violent and dishonorable methods, etc. True Honor , is truly Honor of the Truth. Neo-Platonism totaly disregards the truth, basis of Mankind's most important Virtue, Honor of the Truth. Courage, when not in service of the Honor of the Truth, gives rise the the most vile aggressions, and some of Mankind's most vile deeds.
12. Come on
J K ,   NYC, USA   (03.20.07)
"They have refused to acknowledge Israel's role in creating the Palestinian refugee problem." Israel created this problem? Puh-lease. The Arabs created this problem in '48 when they told all their buddied to move out of the way for the Arab freight train that was going to steamroll Israel. That didnt happen and they all got stuck in refugee camps in the surrounding Arab countries where, instead of integrating them into society, the respective countries have left them in a squalid hell. Of course in the year 3535, they will still be refugees too, in perpetuity. This is ludicrious Ray,and you know it. They need to face facts that they arent going back to Haifa and they arent going back to Yaffa. Pipe dreams. This extremism is only Israels fault to the extent it wouldnt and wont capitulate to Arab demands to undo 1948 and beyond. Boo freaking hoo. You pays your money you takes your chances. Multiple wars to remove Israel and it hasnt happened. And wont. If no one was clear that you are a comedian up to this point, you have removed all doubt, Ray.
13. ISLAM FOR THE WORLD!
Abdul-Bari ,   Detroit USA   (03.20.07)
Islam will prevail over all ideologies and philosophies. Islam is the only force that prevents the Western nations and Zionist Israel from economic and social domination of the world. Only Islam is keeping Occidental imperialism and racial supremacy in check. Only Islam will liberate Arab lands from the Zionists. Secular ideologies are only tools of the Satan that spiritually weaken and mentally enslave the people. Only the truth of Islam will set the Muslims free.
14. THATS JUST IT RAY - WE HAVE A "CAUSE" TOO
Andrew ,   Miami,FL   (03.20.07)
THE ANTHEM IS CALLED HATIKVA - THE HOPE: As long as deep in the heart, The soul of a Jew yearns, And forward to the East To Zion, an eye looks Our hope will not be lost, The hope of two thousand years, To be a free nation in our land, The land of Zion and Jerusalem WHICH "CAUSE" PROMOTES LIFE ? AND WHICH ONE PROMOTES DEATH ? JOIN US RAY
15. An American Jew Speaks Out Against Israel
Mikael ,   Bellingham, WA   (03.20.07)
I write this as a Jew who once visited Israel and who was once very sympathetic to Israel. She is currently headed over the falls, taking with her her biggest ally, the United States. Both political entities have become shadows, mere caricatures of what they once were. They have also been exposed to Islam peoples and the rest of the world as genocidal and quasi-fascist regimes, not that different from Hitler's own Reich. In all three cases, national interests were defined as revolving primarily around a genocidal, military-industrial corporatocracy that was allowed to define the states' ruling policies. After what Israel did to Lebanon, I am hardly the lone Jew in America wishing Israel Godspeed in her blind commitment to short term gain and long term self-destruction. Israel has become an anachronism. My personal hope as a Jew who still believes in the principles of Judaism (One God, One Being) is to wish Israel's enemies in Iran and elsewhere Godspeed in breaking Israel's will. This is hardly incitement to violence. It is, I think, a very widely held view not only reflected in Jihadist thought, but even in Jewish thought that is not umbilically tied, in a totally codependent way, to the fascist and racist state that Israel has become.
16. Palestinians voted for Hamas.
DR ,   Florida, USA   (03.20.07)
There are very few "moderate" Palestinians . The majority buy into the religious crap and would no sooner push a red button to make Israel go boom!!! Ray's analysis is correct, but putting the blame on Israel is insane.
17. good views
anywhere ,   cha   (03.20.07)
I think if israelis give their effort on improving palestinian's living condition, there will be less battle.
18. #15
israeli ,   israel   (03.20.07)
I am a middle-aged Israeli wishing to see peace in my lifetime, for the sake of my children and grandchildren. I would also like to see Palestinians living in peace side by side with us according to negotiated borders. Unfortunately, the constant Qassam attacks following the Gaza pullout and especially what Hizbollah did to Israel last summer, I might be in favor of fewer concessions. However, be careful about what you wish me and my compatriots, lest it be visited upon you first!
19. And secular Palestinian condition for piece is...
Benjamin ,   TA Israel   (03.20.07)
Right of return: Repatriation of 10 millions of Arabs into Israel proper. No compromise on that. And how it's better then Hamas target to destroy Israel ?
20. great rouski!
(03.20.07)
so don't go visit us. no problem. just don't come.
21. Setting in place a compromise
Steve ,   USA   (03.20.07)
B"H Ray, I hear you saying that Israel needs to set in place a fair compromise and that the secular Arabs are not being supported enough, leading to a situation where the dogmatic Arabs are imposing their sense of morality on the entire Arab population that includes murder of accused prostitutes and the shutting of Christian restaurants during the day of Muslim fasting in Bethleham. The dogmatic Muslims, however, have the military backing of countries such as Iran to enforce their power on the population. So to support the "secular" Arabs requires arms transfer to the seculars. However, those arms find their way to the dogmatics even so. But if Israel clears the arms out, it is accused of "occupation". If it keeps the arms away from the dogmatics with roadblocks, it is accused of "occupation". And the seculars also then buy into the "plight of the occupation" empowering the dogmatics further. You mention a compromise where Jerusalem would be put in the hands of the secular Arabs. There are Israeli Arabs who are able to freely travel there. But as for Arabs under the Hamas organization, these are making active war against Israel making it more difficult to support the seculars. I appreciate you raising the difficulties. But I do not have an easy solution yet for this problem. It is worthwhile to continue to write about the situation, and we will have to see if there are any gem ideas out there on how to better resolve the issues then are currently being implemented.
22. #15- Your Progressive tripe betrays you, Mikael
Cameron ,   USA   (03.20.07)
Hopefully, that kind of dead-end nonsense will always remain on the outside, looking in
23. Mikael #15
Allen ,   USA   (03.20.07)
Aren't you an anti-Semitic Jew? Full of self-hatred and self-loathing? Otherwise, what has provoked you to such hatred for your own people? I am astonished by what you wrote. It's shameful and disgraceful. Shame on you!
24. Ray- the secular pals wanted to negotiate?
Rob ,   NY   (03.20.07)
Are you insane? Arafat and his cronies negotiate in as good faith as they protect Jewish Holy sites such as Joseph's Tomb. You show your agenda when you speak like this.
25. Ray's propaganda machine
Concerned Israeli   (03.20.07)
Again, Ray writes another great piece of lie-filled propaganda. If I didn't know he was just a peace-loving American/Christian/Palestinian comedian (I think that's what he considers himself), I could swear he was on the PA payroll. He starts off by offering an amazingly hypocritical statement that Israel oppresses the Hamas controlled Palestinians in Gaza. Does anyone see the irony in that thought? Hamas, a bloodthirsty fanatically oppressive religious terrorist group, has Palestinians in a "headlock," but Israel is the "oppressor," even though there is not one single Israeli settler or soldier left in Gaza. Hanania loves that word "oppressor," especially when he can throw it around at Israel at whim. He then goes on to make the senseless claim that Israel has never made a substantial offer of concession to the Palestinians, even though Ehud Barak offered 97% of what they were supposedly asking for in 2000. This was an unprecedented act of generosity on Israel's part, but it was met with a prompt "no" and then, subsequently, an intifada by Arafat. Does Hanania mention any of this? Of course not because it wouldn't fit into his sickening subversive agenda. After all, it's much easier to just leave out facts that you don't like. I simply don't understand how Ray is given a platform to spew this venom. It's one thing to have an opinion and I have nothing against people who have different views than my own. It's another thing, however, to blatantly lie and throw honesty and scholarship into the trash. That's the difference between legitimate criticism and propaganda.
26. Israel's responsibility???
Osnat ,   Rehovot   (03.20.07)
Israel has been prepared to make concessions time and again, but the Palestinians have never shown that they understand the concepts of "compromise" on their part and "thank you" for concessions Israel made. It takes 2 to tango, and without a willing partner, there can be no peace. This a disgusting article to appear on an Israeli website. Shows how antisemitic we are. Israelis have spliied too much blood because they made concessions, and nothing in return. Enough is enough.
27. Arab refugees
Amy ,   Delmar, US   (03.20.07)
If Arab countries surrounding Israel had made the same commitment to take in refugees that Israel made to the Jews kicked out of Arab countries, there would be little to no refugee problem. The Arab states have always liked having the Palestinians in the position of refugees and have made sure that they remained that way. It was not best for the people, but it worked for the Arab governments. Shame on them. Shame on you for putting the entire problem on the Israelis.
28. Shame on you
Ms. Andy ,   New Jersey / Tel Avi   (03.20.07)
Ray. Judjing by you name, you are a Jewish fellow, why then are you trashing Israel. It seems that if you don't have you facts straight, you should not be writing on a public board. Israel is the last resort for us Jews whom the world hates with no apparent reason and no matter the century. Look to the history books. I should say, you, a jewish person sould not be slandering Israel who is only trying to survive. The world does not pay attantion to the good things said about this country but only to the bad, therefore, YOU and other people like you are adding fuel to this fire. Angry, Ms. Andy.
29. This is what war looks like in slow motion
Shuki   (03.20.07)
30. i#29, n fairness to Ray
(03.20.07)
Maybe not everyone likes to read. But Ray wrote: "Although it is easy to blame the Palestinians, the truth is Israel HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED to the failure of peace by always only offering minimal concessions FAR SHORT OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE to Palestinians and fairness." Which means Israelis are NOT to blame, but they share in the blame. That seems different than saying Israel IS to blame. Then again, I read the column. #29, you hit the nail on the head: these talkbacks reflect conflict in slow motion.
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