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Merkel: No comparison between Iran, Nazis
Roni Sofer
Published: 27.08.09, 16:11
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22 Talkbacks for this article
1. What a hypocrite this Merkel is? You oppressed them in the
Palestinian   (08.27.09)
first place and now you are seeking forgiveness by supporting them oppressing us and stealing our homeland!
2. Not good - guilt as a motivation is fleeting
AY_Lamb ,   USA   (08.27.09)
and actually as a consequence breeds resentment. The problem is, that axiom combined with the exculpatory nature of Christianity leads to double resentment and contempt. Hey how did Persia become Iran in the first place? What does Iran mean? Go back through antiquity and look at transliteration of inscriptions dedicated to Darius - that was one dude that definitely didn't want to be confused with a person of Semitic ethnicity.
3. #1 learn history
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (08.27.09)
Most of us were not oppressed by the Germans but lived in the Middle East. If anyone oppressed us it was the Arabs. Most of the Muslim Arabs who call themselves Palestinians are recent immigrants from since 1920. As for whose homeland it is, read Sura 5:22
4. The difference between Nazis & Iran = .........
Nuke Iran   (08.27.09)
One was secular and the other religious............still murderers!
5. #2 Learn history
Jake   (08.27.09)
1. Darius would not have known what you are talking about. There is no such thing as 'Semitic ethnicity'. It is a modern term that is used to categorize language. However, its use in modern times to encompass race and ethnicity is spurious and discredited. 2. Persia was called Persia throught history. In 1935, under German influence, the Shah of Iran officially changed the name of Persia to Iran, which is cognate to the word 'Aryan'. 3. Persia of yesteryear and Iran of today are like chalk and cheese. The Persian kings Cyrus and Darius were pro-Jewish, and indeed, the first Zionists. The Queen of the Persian Empire and wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) was a Jewess, Esther, AKA Hadassah.
6. MIXTURE LEADING TO NOWHERE
MAHMOOD ,   LONDON-UK   (08.27.09)
Once you have read the article,one tends to conclude that Netanyahu did,after all,suggest a reciprocal arrangement by virtue of which Israel would hold back construction work in exchange for harsher and immediate action against Iran.Well,well well.Mr Netanyahu did not say anyhting in London but the actual incident that occured was that his idea was REJECTED.Secondly,what makes Netanyahu think that Germany is as serious as Israel?Lip service from Merkel only.Business as usual,sir.
7. Don't hold your breath waiting for Netanyahu
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (08.27.09)
to make peace. It's not in the works. There is no need to pray for something that the Jewish leadership really doesn't want. They want to keep the flames of hatred going.
8. Oh, I do beg to differ
Sarah B ,   New York City, USA   (08.27.09)
The Germans did unspeakable things to the Jews; I grant you that. The Iranians have for YEARS been threatening to eradicate the "Zionist entity" (that would be Israel) and to exterminate the Jews. Where's the fricken' difference between the Iranians and the Germans? The only thing that is stopping the Iranians is the fact that there IS a State of Israel that can in all likelihood eradicate them first. Probably should, actually. In other words .... the more things change, the more they stay the same. People are still talking about exterminating Jews. When will it stop?
9. Double standards - Occupation is Occupation!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (08.27.09)
And isn't China occupying a sovereign country, Tibet, which was brutality usurped from its people? If the Uighur people, who are Muslims, want independence, why is the world not insisting that China cease oppressing these people? Why don't Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and the democratic world demand that Russia give Chechnya its independence? The Chechnyans are Muslims too by we don’t hear a world from the Muslim world about their suffering! Surely if the Palestinians and "entitled" to a state so are the abovementioned people? No, it’s always Israel must do this and Israel must do that while others who oppress and commit atrocities get away with it! As for the “Occupation”, well aren’t the Palestinians occupying the land of our forefathers which was stolen from the Jewish people?
10. Ynet, I knew you would censor my 1st post. Cowards.
Jake   (08.27.09)
11. #7, But the fact that Fatah's charter calls for destruction
Jake   (08.27.09)
of Israel, and was renewed at the recent Fatah convention, is a minor detail, is that it? This does not keep the flames of hatred going. Only Netanyahu's lack of trust in Palestinian intentions. Get real.
12. What hypocrisy, Germany is the biggest trade partner to Iran
m   (08.27.09)
13. ANGELA MERKEL MAY HAVE
MAHMOOD ,   LONDON-UK   (08.27.09)
Been put in an embarrasing situation when asked to equal the Iranian policy to that of Nazi.Let us accept the fact,readers,that the Israelis are overdoing it to continue to play the tune of Iranian threats.What worries Israel that they are the ONLY ones having a detterent power of Nuclear weapons.NO ONE else should have them,readers!!! Is it possible?
14. extermination...
Ophir ,   New York City   (08.27.09)
is a word that might be used if you are referring to a bunch of mischievous, towel headed, suicide bombers who contributed absolutely nothing to this world except landing on a sand pile with oil and then agreeing to sell to the western world who needed it for their inventions such as the combustible engines. they would otherwise have been uninfluential til this day. Jews on the otherhand are the most influential and brilliant people in society, contributing to every major improvement in the world - medicine, arts, finance, sciences, technology, military...just to name the basics. in the 60 years since Israel was sand dunes and maybe 100,000 people, we have surpassed the accomplishments of the entire arab world and plenty of the balance of the countries who have historically tried to erradicate us. please refrain from using the term 'extermination' in the same sentence as Jew. ps (ALL arabs will kill me & you - the people who will deny that are just people who haven't had any contact with them but rather get their ideas of poor innocent arabs from cnn)
15. Merkel should be quiet...
The White Shadow   (08.27.09)
...having come from a nation of weak people. Even those in Germany who did not submit to the Nazi party said nothing as their Jewish neighbours were led off to slaughter. Now, Merkel seeks to lecture Israel on what comparisons to make. Her parents and contemporaries were likely the one who stood and watched as murder became the law of the German state. She should be quiet and acknowledge that she has no right to speak. Rather, she should acknowledge the shame of her country, instead of hiding it under a rug. Germany cannot take back what it allowed, either through evil works or through silent weakness. If Germany truly wanted to redeem itself and lecture others, it would condemn, without hesitation or qualification, the acts of states around the world that practise a similar evil to that which Germany once practised. It would condemn Iran and China and Russia and Turkey and others, instead of trying to be the friend of all nations. If Germany could put aside its weakness and finally stand up for the truth, then it would perhaps gain a right to lecture.
16. #4
Radka ,   Athens, Greece   (08.27.09)
Let's see... How many Jews did Nazi Germany kill? Ca 6 million. How many Jews did Iran kill? Uh.... (Even considering Hamas and Hizbullah as Iran puppets.) I'd use the "apples and pears" analogy, except it sounds silly -- so I'l go for the Greek one: "comparing bowties to U-fronts." (modern translation)
17. WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS......#12
MAHMOOD ,   LONDON-UK   (08.27.09)
No one cares.Like, you might be consuming the best Iranian pistachio supposedly imported from Turkey with no trace of Iranian label on the packing and oil from Iran through other European countries and don't want to know more about its origin.Same applies to other countries.
18. Bibi's trip has been a disaster for this
Persian CAT   (08.28.09)
incompetent right wing Israeli PM. The tone of the meetings are dry, bordering on hostile in spite of the talk of possible sanctions. Israel has lost all credibility and the whole world is pointing that out. But is there anyone in Israel who's paying attention? I sure hope so.
19. To: No. 16
Sarah B ,   New York City, USA   (08.28.09)
Mmmhmm. And Greeks just love the Turks, right? Especially on Cyprus, I'm guessing. .
20. Merkel goes Ga Ga
Bernard Ross ,   St anns bay, jamaica   (08.28.09)
Iran has already existentially threatened the jewish state of Israel, DUH! Perhaps angela is becoming senile as she clings to failed ideas such as harping on settlement building. Sorry angela, even though your euro compatriots exiled the jews 1000'sof years ago Israel is th ejewish homland where jews should live anywhere. Even taking the lands of the usurpers.
21. To: No. 18
Sarah B ,   New York City, USA   (08.28.09)
Lost all credibility you say? As opposed to oh, Ahmedinehad and that recent fiasco that passed for an honest election in Iran? Yeah, right, little kitty cat. Don't expound upon that about which you haven't a clue.
22. Jakey - Jake "learn history"?? WTF mon
yamalb ,   USA   (08.28.09)
No need to be rude but, since you are I can only reciprocate. "Jews" In the time of Cyrus or his progeny Darius were little more than Helots (emancipated by Cyrus). Look at the Behistun Inscription - Darius clearly and adamantly emphasized that he, like his forbearers were proud Aryans. Now you propose that Darius wouldn't understand the term "Semite" well you are correct (good job) since that term is really a 20th century term coined early on, after Francis Galton (cousin to Charles Darwin) started cataloguing human physical characteristics and ushering in the science we now refer to as eugenics. Alas though, I neither am not an Ov or a necromancer, nor am I the Jesus, so I don't speak to the dead or through the dead and I wasn't addressing my comments to the long deceased Darius. I was positing, to entities that I at least thought were alive and possessed a modicum of sense. Also, language and cultural norms are very much a part of what we call "ethnicity" and Semitic (i.e. Arab and Yehudit qualities weren't introduced into the "Land of the Aryans" or “strangers” until the adoption of Islam; it was individuals by the likes of Alfred Rosenberg and other pseudo-intellects of mid 20th century Europe that held this penchant for acclaiming "Aryans" or peoples of "Aryan" derivation in such a lofty esteem. Oh yeah - Also modern day mental-midgets and bigots such as yourself, oops not midget I meant pigmy - oops not pigmy I meant little person. Oh shoot!! I give up and I'll just call you the inoffensive "Cro-Magnon"
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