Any Jews out there?

[JockSporran]

I'm not Jewish myself, but I support you. The state of Israel has every right to exist.

I'm probably dropping a spanner in the works here.

Shalom.

[4GS]

I know at least one member of the Jewish faith who is a regular ABer
I'm right beside you with your support for Israel, I visited that beautiful country two years ago and am planning to go back sometime

[jake-the-peg]

Absolutely they have the right to exist.

It's their right to invade other countries that annoys people

[WaldoMcFroog]

^
|

What he said.

[Clanad]

Such as, jake? Oh, you're not going to bring up that King David/Philistine thing again, are you?

[jake-the-peg]

I'm thinking a bit more recent than that!

Occupied territories ( the clue is in the name)
Golan heights
Lebanon
Violation of Syrian territorial airspace

This is where you come in and say how Israel has to invade other countries to guarantee it's own security.

And we all laugh ironically

[Octavius]

Its like the debate over the travellers setting up home on your local green and then allegedly vandalising and nicking stuff from the neighbourhood, but obviously as the Daily Mail would probably attest, on a much much greater scale than the trivial Arab-Israeli conflict.

[Clanad]

Just one question, jake... who invaded whom?

What was England doing in the Falklands... no really, what were ya'll doing?

[tiggerblue10]

I think atheists should take over the planet!

[Bewlay Bros]

Personally I think Palestine and Israel should be one country again, like it used to.








But this time run by the Jews so the wicked, vicious Hezbollah camel humpers can spin on my twozzle.

[Octavius]

Clanad, defending British overseas soveriegn territory from an invading hostile military force. We weren't 'invading' our own territory.

[tiggerblue10]

When did the Brits first go to the Falklands?

[Clanad]

Ah, Ha! I see it now, Octavius... thanks for that! I must have been dozing when I sensed an applicable bon mot rejoinder before... I stand appropriately corrected.

[Octavius]

Of course I was referring to the recent Falklands war, but if you are referring to the 1833 episode, then we were laying claim to a penal colony full of �runaway rebels and murderers� (according to Darwin) which nobody really much wanted, even the Argies just sailed off into the sunset so it wasn't really an invasion. Much like our �invasion� of Australia I suppose.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh don't start defending British Imperial History Octavious.

You're on a looser (opium wars etc?)

But as Clanad so succinctly pointed out in his first post we're talking modern not ancient history here.

Let's imagine that in response to the Brighton bombing British jets had Buzzed the Dial in Dublin or British troups had driven tanks into southern Ireland to "wipe out terrorist bases"

This is pretty much what passes for acceptable foreign policy in Israeli and "neo con" American circles.

[Octavius]

Nope, never would deign to defend British imperialism JTP, I was just a bit thrown by the Falklands link.

I bow to superior knowledge of course and do not particularly wish to be seen vocal one way or the other, but in analagous terms wouldn�t it be more like the Irish, the Scottish AND the Welsh ganging up on the English, rather than just one regional entity? In such circumstances, would the English not want to defend itself and even take military action to the doorstep of the other 3?

[Octavius]

Which, when you think about it, is kind of what we did for a few centuries innit?

[jake-the-peg]

Israel's justification for it's attacks on Lebanon last year was due to it suffering attacks from Hezbollah groups based in Lebanon.

This is why I draw the analogy with the IRA

Of course British jets never attacked Dublin, and never killed 28 civillians ,16 of whom were children.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/30/mide ast.main/index.html

Israelis always seem to justify these actions by saying "look we're the victims - we were attacked first"

But Hezbollah are a terrorist organisation and Israel is meant to be a democratic country.

Unless they want to be treated as a terrorist organisation too they need to stop endangering civilians

[Octavius]

Ah, like the Allied Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq then.

[Lonnie]

I'm the chap that John, (4GS) has mentioned, and your right, it is a beautiful country,

I'm not going to get into the rights and wrongs, except to say, 'The Destrution of the State of Israel', is still on the Palestinian Mandate, until thats removed, there can be no peace.

[whiffey]

I am very grateful that USA and I hope UK are firmly behind Israel, which is a shining beacon in an otherwise savage backward area of the world.

The country is about the size of Wales, and beset by foes who would happily exterminate it to the last man - not merely subjugate, but exterminate. My best wishes go to them at all times.