Opinion
7 Questions for Israel
Farid Ghadry
Published: 21.08.08, 09:24
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31. #13 - Said, Seeing as you resurrected the topic...
Joe ,   Ramat Gan   (08.21.08)
Seeing as you resurrected the topic, Said, what evidence do you have that Palestinians exist as an ethnic group distinct from other ethnic groups in the Levant? Bear in mind that differences in dialect, cuisine, and traditional dress are hardly convincing evidence. Based on these criteria, one could make the argument that Aleppo, Lattakia and Damascus are all distinct "nations"- something absolutely absurd.
32. #25
(08.21.08)
thanks! you are right. their fruit is exceptional. additionally, their innovative agricultural discoveries and patents, their agricultural high tech research as of now, is in highest demand by european and african agricultural institutions. israeli agricultural and desalination researchers are now working in europe and many african nations to teach and train and share their high tech knowledge so that these foreign societies can benefit from israeli knowledge in the field. like i said, we do not export terror, but rather life and research that can solve many of the hunger and thirst of nations that are faced with limited resources like ourselves. considering the country is basically an infant of only 60 years without any natural resources, a trip taken to our universities, research facilities, schools and cities will finally convince idiotann that no matter what she wishes for israel, we always have the answer. idiotann is one of these people who are such a hater and is rankled by the success of jews in their own country. just because she wishes we are dead, doesn't mean we will honor her wishes. let her stew, be jealous, be uncomfortable and be resentfull. we, on the other hand, will plow on suceed, discover and have all the positives on our side while our enemies will forever live in scientific obscurity and a societal dead end. one can destroy bodies, but not the mind.
33. "change your own country" #4
srw ,   US   (08.21.08)
He is trying to change his country!! That's why he is the leader of the Reform Party of Syria! He can't help being denied his Syrian citizenship now because of his views and desire to change his government! There are so few people (Muslims especially) being vocal and sticking up for what is right. It is in poor form for you to discourage Farid's intentions. The very essence of his platform is to change hearts and minds of his people.
34. Syria's government
Nice Bloke ,   Rochdale   (08.21.08)
Salam and respect Mr Ghadry You stated:- "If your government had not stood in the way of regime change in Syria, or not listened to its allies, would Assad today be enjoying the glory of his ties to Iran, Hizbullah, Hamas, and now Russia at the expense of the Israeli society?" I fail to see how Israel can be held responsible for the regime currently at the helm in Syria. A cursory look at history will explain how Assad jnr became President of your country. Since when does Israel choose Syrian Presidents?
35. Too much time on your hands
Suncountry ,   U.S.   (08.21.08)
In having Israeli friends and having visited Israel, I would say to Mr. Ghadry that what Israel really wants is to spend their time in the labs curing cancer, improving agriculture, creating new music... if the neighbors (e.g., your Syria) would just stop shooting at them and leave them alone, the Israelis would accomplish even more than they already are. It would make Israel's benefits to the world even more striking, including to your Syria. Maybe you could get Syrians to focus on improving *this* world also rather than distracting producers with endless pestering.
36. Farid Ghadri
ZD ,   USA   (08.22.08)
this vermin doesn't speak for Syria and he will be hanged on the first tree if he dares to come the Syria.keep him as your doggy friend and enjoy.
37. what would be happened if america do not entered iraqu
sawsan ,   amman   (08.22.08)
no one know .but i listened to many iraqi that they wish if sadam is still rulling their country
38. #37, then stop talking to ex-Baathists
Danny   (08.22.08)
39. #31 Joe, Ramat Gan
Said ,   London, UK   (08.22.08)
Simple, they decide if they're a distinct group or not. No one else can. Consider the ancient Greek city-states: all of them considered themselves Greek (simialr clothes, customs and same language), yet Sparta and Athens were completely different - i.e. distinct. Neither you, nor I, could decide for the Palestinians what they want to be. Just as Jews, or anyone else for that matter, don't like being told what they are or aren't, I find it curious that you deem yourself judge, jury and executioner on this matter.
40. I find Mr. Ghadry's
marc ,   franch   (08.22.08)
As a Syrian, I find Mr. Ghadry's questions very relevant considering the state of affairs in the Middle East. Furthermore, what most Israelis do not realize is the support they have from Syrians within the country but our lack of freedom and Assads's propaganda prevents us from expressing these thoughts or dilute our message of peace and admiration for the State of Israel. What Mr. Ghadry's leadership represents to Syrians is hope that the future will be a bit brighter than many realize because he speaks for many of us
41. Assad's replacement would either be military or Islamist.
David Turner ,   Richmond, USA   (08.22.08)
Your "questions" demonstrate either an extreme naiveté of Syrian politics, or you are secretly an agent provocateur for Iran. And who do you think would replace Assad should he be overthrown, a president freely elected by the people? Give it a rest! Waiting in the wings are mid-level army officers obligated to their Iranian mentors and masters or, if a "popular" uprising should occur, by a radical Islamist party. For Israel that would be a disaster, surrounded by three Iranian puppets in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. As I said before, either you are totally naive regarding regional realities, or you are on the payroll of Iran. Self-serving your questions may be. But definitely not in Israel's interest to act upon!
42. # 39 You make a good point
Thomas   (08.22.08)
The Spartans and Athenians did inded view themselves as Greeks which is what allowed them to unify against the Persians but their differences led to the Peloponnesian War. Historians can give an account of what made these two groups different. You can't do that with Palestinians. Because the Arabs themselves never made that distinction until 40 years ago out of political need. Arabians always identified themselves by tribe. As for Jews we have our own religion, languages, histories, diet, etc. Everything that makes a nation unique. We have more to identify ourselves then merely telling people that we're different. I've never heard anyone tells us that those distinctions aren't real. You can bring up Khazaria, in respect to the Ashkenazim but that still gives them a unique history. As opposed to the Palestinians who evidence shows comes from all over the Islamic world in the 19th and 20th centuries.
43. #39 - Said, Funny how your criteria...
Joe ,   Ramat Gan   (08.22.08)
Funny how your criteria aren't true for the states that surround Israel. Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Kuwait are all brainchildren of the British and French who imposed these borders on what was the Ottoman Empire. In fact, relations between these five countries over the past 80 years have been fueled by these arbitrarily drawn borders. Each of these 5 nations has a definitive date when it was brought into being. Each of these 5 nations has at one time been politically been sovereign. What is true for these 5 nations is also true for other ancient nations such the Armenians, the Assyrians, the Kurds and yes, the Greeks. As regards the Greek city-states, I am afraid you are engaging in a false analogy. Quoting Wikipedia here: "The ancient Greeks had no doubt that they were 'one people'; they had the same religion, same basic culture, and same language." What Wikipedia does not mention here is that their religion, culture and language were fundamentally distinct and different from other nations surrounding them. The same criteria of language, culture and religion could be used again to postulate that Aleppo, Damascus and especially Lattakia are each separate nations, but the lack of distinction in all these three criteria from the regions that surround them is what negates the assertion that they are all "nations" or different "peoples". While it is nice to believe that a people can decide itself into existence, independence and political sovereignty are the empirical markers of nationhood and peoplehood. While I personally may not like being told by others who or what I am, my identity is defined by the social constructs around me, constructs which take no regard to my personal likes and dislikes. And unlike the "Palestinian" nationality, my nationality as a Syrian Jew with Israeli and American citizenship was not created post-facto with the sole purpose of negating another people's political ambitions. This is not something I could say without lying if I were a "Palestinian"...
44. Seven Questions But Only One Answer
Israeli ,   Israel   (08.22.08)
Our government is a bunch of self-serving shmucks that will do anything and say anything to preserve the status quo. Regime change unfortunately begins at home, Monsieur Ghadry.
45. This guy's a Syrian Chalabi wannabe
Mark Marshall ,   Toronto, Canada   (08.24.08)
This man is clearly an opportunist and a charlatan, who has gotten fat sucking on the teats of the Washington neocon think tanks. Not to be taken seriously. Syria has real opposition leaders, principled and patriotic people who do not write articles in the Israeli press asking Israelis to lobby for a US aggression against Syria. Patriotic people do not lobby foreign countries to invade their countries and murder their people, no matter how abhorrent the regime in power is. This man clearly has no base in Syria. Like many Arab and Muslims, he clearly believes that Israel and the Jews control US policy, which is why he has published this appeal on Ynet. He stinks of opportunism, charlatanism and Chalabism. Israelis would do well to avoid him and his ilk.
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