Opinion
Settlers and human rights
Rafael Castro
Published: 23.12.12, 11:02
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1. Dear Rafael Castro,
Stephen   (12.23.12)
it seems you underestimate the level of knowledge the readers possess on what's going on in the Israel-Palestine. Your article is a blunt propaganda appealing to the naiveté settler-minded, brainwashed, gullible sheep. Please consider more appreciation of the grown-up public, the next time you share your thoughts.
2. Yes!
Jack Klaber ,   R. Hasharon, Israel   (12.23.12)
Indeed a refreshing and valid point of view. And another point: Action equals reaction. "Our" settlers are not less violent than the Palestinian rioters.
3. #1 makes my point...
Steve   (12.23.12)
Rafael Castro, you say the Jews' right to build and live in Judea and Samaria based on the Bible (the Torah, the prophets, etc.) is a losing argument. #1, Stephen, says your human rights argument is a losing argument. Please do not lightly dismiss the Biblical justification for Jewish presence in the land of Israel and then I will not dismiss your human rights argument. Even the Qur'an says Allah gave the Holy Land to the children of Israel.
4. The pure Arab state.
Alistair ,   Scotland   (12.23.12)
Arab is not an ethnic group it just describes anyone who use Arabic as a first language these people can be any colour or religion including Jewish.
5. A powerful argument
Bertram ,   London, UK   (12.23.12)
It is refreshing to read an article such as this. One does not need to agree with every single aspect to accept the seriousness with which the argument is being put forward. The fundamental question is not essentially about one state or two states but what kind of arrangement in this part of the Middle East will have the best chance of safeguarding and enhancing collective political, cultural and social life and aspirations for all its inhabitants. With a slight amendment, I agree with the writer's view: respect for human rights is paramount and must not be sacrificed to placate nationalist or political-religious ideologies of whichever hue.
6. Mr. Grown-up #1
Paul ,   Jeruslem, Israel   (12.23.12)
Since you are all grown up and able to read. Then you must of read the Hamas charter, the PLO charter, Biblical writings, documented history over the last 3,000 years, and Muslim Sharia pertaining to the conflict of Rights, and then you must of based your opinions on a clear understanding of these writings, if you haven't read these texts, and are happy to base your opinions on the fleeting, self-serving attitudes of the modern world (especially when it comes to Jews), then you may not be all that grown-up as you proclaim to be.
7. to stephen
Yehuda ,   Israel   (12.23.12)
That's it. That is all you can write. Wow! you are so smart! I was really impressed by the big words you used to call people names!!
8. RELIGIOUS RIGHT TO BUILD
H ROSEN ,   PA U S A   (12.23.12)
SCRIPTURAL RIGHT TO BUILD HOUSING IN DISPUTED AREAS IS OF COURSE NONSENSE...THE STONGER COUNTRY ALWAYS DOES WHAT IT WANTS ..THIS IS AN HISTORICAL FACT. FIRST BUILD OR TAKE AND THEN JUSTIFY THE POINT IS ...IS IT IS STILL ISRAEL ...ISRAEL IS BUILDING AS FAR AS ONE CAN SEE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THIS OUTCRY FROM WORLD ORGANIZATIONS IS BORDERLINE ANTISEMITISM.. THE ONLY SOLUTION I SEE IS TO LET ARAB/ISRAELI FAMILIES OWN SOME OF THE HOUSING. THEN MAYBE EVERYONE WILL SHUT UP AND MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS
9. stephen
alsky ,   toronto   (12.23.12)
maybe you should go back and read San Remo. there you will see who are the occupiers.
10. Hatred of the Jew.
michael Pielet ,   israel   (12.23.12)
Human rights. Even Jews have human rights. For years the Israeli media has been shouting that Jews have no human rights, no historical rights and certainly no biblical rights in Judea and Samaria. This constant stream of hatred and propaganda has been picked up by the world press, nations of the world, and world leaders. Oslo, and the withdrawal from Samaria and Gaza have buttressed the world's opinion that Jews have no rights. period. As in Europe before and during WW2 and other places before, Jews are depicted as a foreign element that has no right, human or whatever. What is so sad, is the Israeli media and, leftiist elites, politicians, and so called intellectuals contribute to this hatred of the Jew and denial to the Jewish people of any right be it human or historical.
11. It's clear
Burach ,   Brazil   (12.23.12)
No one can discuss the right of the Jews to live in Eretz, I mean the land and territories that in the pass were called Israel. Palestinian leaders have no initiation to do peace or better to give a decent live to the Palestinian people. They want power, money and to keep their people with poverty and no hope. We are part of the plan not the goal. The settlers have the right to live and be in peace. Shalom !
12. There is simplest: JUST REPACE THE UN CHARTER BY THE TORAH.
Allan   (12.23.12)
13. Dear Stephen #1
Ilana ,   netanya   (12.23.12)
I consider myself quite grown up, not gullible or brain washed, and I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to say. By the way, is the word "of" missing after naivete? And what on earth does "settler-minded" mean? And the word propaganda does not need the indefinite article. (When you are so scathing about others' intelligence, you invite comments on your own.)
14. It Is Like I Keep Saying: It Is Urban Expansion
emanon ,   USA   (12.23.12)
These are not settlements at all. Israel has a thriving economy with a growing urban population. Israel has the money to build, the people who want to liver there and the land is already part of the city. The only problem I see is jealousy from the arabs. Their leaders squandered all their money on bullets, bombs and BS, so they have no money to build. They have no land because they refuse to negotiate. It is their own neighbors refusal to accept them into neighboring arab countries, so I can't buy into their mythical plea of no room for growth.
15. #6 Since You Are Capable of Reading the Hamas Charter, You
Doug ,   Rochester, USA   (12.23.12)
must be equally capable of reading the Likud charter. Which calls for the desruction of the State of Palestine by replacing it with a nation of Jewish lawbreakers from ocean to river. And the Likud charer somehow has all the Palestinians suddenly disappear but does not articulate how to get rid of them.
16. Skewed argument
Rick ,   New York USA   (12.23.12)
The debate has never been about Jewish settlement in WB but Israeli settlement, which is considered illegal by International law standards and the IV Geneva Convention. The more interesting comment would be on Israel's 'Jews Only' settlement program while claiming to be a democracy with equal rights for all her citizens.
17. So, here's something you CAN understand!
riva schertzman ,   GUSH ETZION   (12.23.12)
Fact: We living over the green line (who DO NOT like to be referred to as settlers) DO NOT have the same rights as all Israelis. We have to hold to old laws of the British Mandate, and as such we suffer in many ways. THIS discrimination has to stop! Second, Israel is a Jewish country, and it is not so unusual that so many people should consider the Torah laws as their guilding principles! Afterall, the Arabs are always using their Koran to justify all the terrorism they do to us (which we do not do!).
18. no 3
AL QUDS ALYAHUDI ,   QUDS HAKA ALYAHUD   (12.23.12)
Jewish conspiracy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quran and pagan allah did not say Holy land to the children of AL YAHUD. AGAIN JEWISH CONSPIRACY!!!!!!!!!
19. Abbas,PA and UN General Assembly
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (12.23.12)
It's so noticeable that Abbas and his Fatah/PA cronies show a touching faith and attachment to UNGA Resolutions if and only if they seem favourable to them.Their latest wheeze is to claim a legal standing for a 'State of Palestine' because the UNGA has approved a resolution which actually confers NO legal standing. If Abbas and his Fatah/PA cronies are so dedicated to UNGA Resolutions and want to be taken seriously,let them publicly adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as part of a future constitution.That,of course,also has no real legal standing,but its adoption would show commitment to human rights and peaceful co-existence. Don't hold your breath waiting. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
20. The modern arguments have been sent often too.
Jrebecca ,   modiin   (12.23.12)
In fact the writer leaves out the most compelling current arguments, that date to before the creation of the state. But he cant help but complain and lay the blame for all ills on the religious. Sad but our worst enemies are within us.
21. #4 alistair
solomon ,   bklyn   (12.23.12)
But in the Middle East, one refers to Jews from arab countries, Israeli arabs, and arabs. More importantly, when Hamas, Hezbollah, the PA, and arab countries refer to arabs, they do not mean anyone with any connection to Judaism. In theory, you are correct. In reality, you are mistaken.
22. Jews' right to reside anywhere in the world
Nina ,   NYC   (12.23.12)
Please do dwell on the so-called 'historical right'. It's not as clear to anyone other than some Jews maybe. Especially tell us about their right to "jew only" colonies to reside in. Jews, like all people, have the right to reside anywhere in the world as long as they obtain that right through the immigration procedures of the country AND do not steal, but obtain legally the land or housing to reside in.
23. appalled?
tiki ,   belgium   (12.23.12)
If Jews would be denied the right to reside in Spain/GB again, the peace activists would be appalled........., would they?
24. #15 Doug
DavidR ,   USA   (12.23.12)
OK Doug, at your suggestion, I googled the Likud Platform and read it. There is nothing in it that even remotely hints at the destruction of any "State of Palestine." How could it since no "State of Palestine" has ever existed. The lIkud platform in no way "has all the Palestinians suddenly disappear" in fact it is clear in its attempt to live peaceably with them. You are just another stupid anti-semitic hate monger.
25. What are you talking about?
Doug from Rochester ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.23.12)
There is not a party in Israel that would ever speak about 'A state of Palestine', simply because, there never was or is there a State of Palestine. There is and always was in the Arabian Peninsular an Arab Nation broken up into several modern-day states, united by language, culture, and religion, except for a brief period of time, there was never a self-governed, independent Arab entity. In fact before the propagandist came about in the 1960's, Jews were referred to as Palestinians. This is all Middle-East 101, I'll wait till you educate yourself about reality, before trying to discuss anything with you.
26. Human rights don't include occupation, land stealing.
Shylocke   (12.23.12)
27. #26 agreed
(12.23.12)
Which is why the Arabs should go back to their homelands in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq
28. arabs tell a lie a million times, becomes a "fact"
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (12.23.12)
The FACT is that G-D Himself gave all of Israel, not just the little sliver the UN useless nobodies made, to the JEWS forever, not until the Romans or the Greeks or any other bunch of killers came, but to the JEWS forever. Say it once or a million times, it is still true.
29. Mr. Castro, you have lack of information
Ali ,   Ramallah   (12.23.12)
As a Palestinians, and this is officially true, we have no objection to have the settlers as the citizens of Palestine with equal rights. We are only againest having them as isolated ghettos.
30. Palestine Israel is the only option now, 2 States, 1 Country
Steven Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.23.12)
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