Opinion
Arabs scared of the truth
Nizar Amer
Published: 03.12.11, 10:06
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57 Talkbacks for this article
1. It's Islam vs Civilisation, not Ramallah vs Gaza!
tom ,   tel aviv   (12.03.11)
2. agree with #1
E. G. Marsch ,   Nahariya, Israel   (12.03.11)
It's a nice article and says many things that are true. But it never mentions the word Islam. The hostility of the surrounding countries (which includes non-Arab countries like Turkey and Iran) doesn't stem mainly from brainwashing by corrupt leaders, but from the supremacist ethos of Islam, which remains the region's dominant framework of ideology and affiliation. Only at such time as Islam undergoes a reform, which doesn't look terribly likely, might the hostility substantially dissipate. Israel, however, is growing stronger all the time (demographically, technologically, economically--see offshore natural-gas finds) and therein lies the main hope of peace; Israeli deterrence. It's a tribute to Israel, and reflective of its true nature as an advanced, democratic, tolerant, peace-loving country, that people like Nizer serve in our foreign service. I haven't seen too many Jews lately in the foreign services of Arab countries, or Iran and Turkey. Most of them were driven out long ago or are living in fear for their lives.
3. nice article...viewpoint but
real vision ,   usa   (12.03.11)
But the problem is Islam and the powers behind that do not care how many palestinian generations are lost in the hope that the jews will pack up and move to miami beach. When the Arab street stops yelling kill the jews is when the level of rhetoric and violence will lower or end and true peace can become a possibility
4. Some, no doubt, would say: but he is a paid enemy agent. Yet
JBI   (12.03.11)
can any honest Arab challenge the merit of the views of this countryman of mine...??
5. Blind racist Jews can't see their own crimes
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.03.11)
...and forget that they invaded Palestine from Europe, drove the British Government out, drove most of the Palestinians out, and bulldozed almost all the ancient Palestinian villages.
6. The conflict, it should be clear, is one between the...
Jehudah Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (12.03.11)
...Muslim-Arab ummah (nation) and medinat ha-leom (the nation-state) of the Jewish people. While there is a local dimension to the conflict, it essence is not Israel-Palestinian; it is rather Muslim-Arab - not Christian-Arab, not Druze-Arab, mind you!! - vs. the Jewish people. And, when the Muslim-Arabs come to terms with the Jewish people's right to exercise the right afforded all peoples - one of national self-determination and independence its a people's homeland - will we begin to see an end of it.
7. Israel, you are now expendable! 
John Prophet   (12.03.11)
The world would rather have you disappear than face the prospects of regional instability that would create havoc with already teetering global economies. The rubicon has been crossed and you've been tossed to the wolves. You must attack ferociously the EVIL that surrounds you before it perpetrates the second holocaust. Do to it what the West did to Japan and Germany, crush it into humiliation. The EVIL around you grows more deadly the longer you hold back. Eventually it WILL swamp your ability to defeat it. If the day happens it will pounce on you while the world turns a blind eye. Then, the final solution will come to fruition. Israel, you and only you  alone can prevent this, but time is rapidly running out! You have but a few months left.
8. Rational Study of the "Conflict" Gets The Two Key Concepts
Dallas ,   Canada   (12.03.11)
The two key concepts outlined in the article are based on facts and established moral principles which have evolved since ancient times. Willfully ignoring these concepts results in the anti-Israel bias we see in the Arab/Muslim world and among their allies in the West, yet any serious rational thinker cannot ignore them and retain clarity, regardless of his political leanings. They are: 1) The tired but endlessly useful crocodile tears for the "Palestinian" cause is used by Arab regimes to distract their populations from their own failures, while increasing hatred for Israel, a Jewish state in their midst. 2) Intent determines the morality of violent events which have arisen, and puts Israel on the higher moral ground in the vast majority of events. To ignore these concepts makes it almost impossible for anyone to make sense of the Middle East, and this ignorance generates the many faces of anti-Israel aggression - murder, terror rockets, flotillas, antisemitism, corrupt NGOs, deluded university faculties, BDS movements, etc.
9. It is impossible to love my enemy
Salma ,   Palestine   (12.03.11)
Jews choose to be enimies of arabs and palestinians when they expelled 700000 Palestinians from their land and stole it. civilization of love can not be built on falsehood
10. Yes, the time has come, but we ain't quite there yet.
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (12.03.11)
Stirring words from a brave fellow citizen, but I think he's being too polite. We Jewish Israelis still have to overcome our inherent biases and grant out Arab citizens their rights, but without discrimination. That's our tough challenge - giving Arabs the right to compete for jobs in high tech, and giving them jobs at IAI and other places. Amer is right that the time has come, but he's a little too optimistic about his fellow Arabs across our borders. This subject is quite complex, and a talkback can't go into all the issues - let's just say we Jews should encourage our fellow Arab citizens and take down the big roadblocks we've put in front of them. Israeli Arabs have the most rights of any Arabs in the Middle East, but that's not enough. They need equality at home too.
11. A shidduch!
zaba ,   USA   (12.03.11)
Steve and Salma!!
12. #5 Blind racist Steve can't see his own rank anti-semitism.
(12.03.11)
13. All possible platitudes in one article
berlonski ,   berlin   (12.03.11)
And on top of that naive: "Abandon the path of hatred"? A bit evasive and lofty, no? "Relying on historical facts and objective arguments"? The writer does not understand that these facts and objectivity don't exist. There are two completely different views on history and facts. That's the starting point. Not just blaming the others like a spoiled child.
14. #5 Steve Banassi
Dallas ,   Canada   (12.03.11)
Wow have you ever swallowed the revisionist propaganda. Go and borrow a few books, actually begin to learn history, both ancient and modern. You are starting from absolute scratch.
15. #9 Falsehood = "Palestine".
(12.03.11)
16. my family is not from Europe
Golan ,   modiin   (12.03.11)
We came from Israel. And when the Jews were expelled by the Romans we ended up in lands eventually controlled by Muslim Arabs. Our homes in Al Medina was stolen by a madman. Our rights in Fez were taken from us. And when we moved back to our ancient homeland the Arabs massacred us in Hebron and T'veria twenty years before we declared our independence. You promise us peace at the end of a bloody sword. Our crime is to love life like you love death We shall not die, and we shall not perish. Israel forever!
17. Muslims, please read the Quran
Confused Soul ,   NJ USA   (12.03.11)
Muhamad (PBUH) talks about the Jews. Is it because Judaism did exist before Islam? Hm, I wonder. Was El Kuds build on nothing, or what used to be a typical behavious at the time. Destroy the Christian enemy and the Jewish temple and build your own. on top of it. (See Spain, or Turkey) Muslims, please understand your own history. At least you should not distort your own facts.
18. It's the same old story....
(12.03.11)
http://emunadate.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post.html
19. Dangers of Internet Learning
Dallas ,   Canada   (12.03.11)
I thought I heard it all, and yet I was surprised anew at one post in this column - a post which is the result of marinating one's mind in 30-second sound bytes of anti-Israel propaganda. #5 Steve's comment shows us the dangerous result of the utter falsehoods easily spread on the internet. A few YouTube posts, lots of Pallywood, flat out lies from anyone who wishes it, absorbed by anyone with a computer - functional illiterates who have never read an intelligent book (one using historical truth and correct logic, regardless of origin and belief) - and what plops out the other end are complete and utter lies. Unfortunately these people form some kind of misguided and immoral "morality", they vote, and in daily life spread the lies they have ingested to others. They illustrate to us the reason that the world is no disassociated from reality these days. We are in for some terrifying times ahead.
20. #9 Salma - "Stole" the Land?
Dallas ,   Canada   (12.03.11)
When land is purchased, how can you conclude that it's theft? Erroneous premise, sorry. And what actually were the causes that perhaps 450K Arabs fled, while many remained? "Expelled" is likewise an erroneous premise, sorry again. Read the history of the war in 47-48. Truth is truth - it becomes false when condensed into oversimplified statements with ideological agenda.
21. salma #9 reads too many books!
Moragh   (12.03.11)
I notice you have quoted a part paragraph from a book once again. Your'e just not intelligent enough to think intelligently.... give it a break salma!
22. Benassi @ 5
03.12.11   (12.03.11)
Like your friend salma, you read too many books and actually believe every word you read!
23. Steve Benassi - Aren't you Americans the criminals???
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (12.03.11)
I've said it before and let's state the facts again: 1) Jews come from Israel, not Europe. We were refugees in Europe, and factual history shows that Jews indeed come from Israel where we were occupied and turned into refugees 2000 years ago. 2) History and fact show that white Europeans like Steve Benassi invaded North America, committed genocide, and stole an entire continent from its rightful owners. Steve Benassi is worse than a pot calling the kettle black. He's a modern American who forgets that he himself is an occupation settler on stolen land. If he's interested in "ancient" towns of the Holy Land, he'll note that the main ones were once populated by Jews, not Arabs who now call themselves "Palestinians".
24. Who is really scared?
Jeff2010 ,   VA, USA   (12.03.11)
Arab People or Arab Leaders? There is big difference more than day and night. One will exist forever the other won't so long!!!
25. Main obstacle: West Bank settlements
Eric ,   Toronto   (12.03.11)
The author is totally ignoring the settlement problem on the West Bank. If settlements stopped Arabs would start listening more to logic. But as long as Jews continue to settle in new territories and construction continues, do not expect any reasonable action on the part of the Arabs.
26. You keep going over this again and again
Ahmad ,   Tanta, Egypt   (12.03.11)
@23,,, Brian my man these white Europeans who invaded the Americas were indeed white European Jews and not only did they destroy the American Indians but a whole race a of black people of whom they bought and sold for barrels of rum. This modern day Jew is an Euro invention with no connection to the Middle East whatsoever, you just can't make something the truth and it is not, plain and simple, do the leg work do the study, it hurts, I know,,, only those who deny true history and those who have motives other than peace, maybe a colonialist or fraud.
27. And Obama and his friends want to do the same character assa
Alan ,   SA   (12.03.11)
sination
28. 9
john Darren ,   cairns-Australia   (12.04.11)
You are your own worst enemy-lying and violence is what you worship.If you stopped in-breading and perhaps your lives would be better.I am always amazed by your Arab non sense.
29. arabs are not the problem
bakaar ,   indonesia, mecca SA   (12.04.11)
it is not arabs that are the problem. it is the lack of education, truth censorship, false truth by youtube and websites that are spewing fake history, schools that taught fake history. censorship is not always bad. the problem is the liberals in all over the world are taught from early age to hate cencorship even if its to censor lies and deceit. just look at livni. she is totally against the new laws that is kinda pro cencorship towards lies. israel is hopefully will become like saudi arabia soon. the ultra orthodox are going to be the majority and will play a big role in the next generation government.
30. #26 Ahmad , Tanta, Egypt
Millie ,   CO, USA   (12.04.11)
"...these white Europeans who invaded the Americas were indeed white European Jews..." All I can say is WOW!!!! I'll bet there are millions & millions of Americans (whose ancestors came to the Americas long ago) who are going to be VERY surprised to learn that they are Jewish. Come on, get a clue!!!! Good article as far as it goes.
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