Can you really not see?

Yes, I can identify with Amira's truth. It is true, what she says. It is also true that I have chosen to shut my mouth for fear of being ostracized by my racist neighbors and friends. I am ashamed as each day passes.

Israel is the strongest state in the middle easr, we can do every we want, the next is colonise Syria, and the must is to colonise Saudia Arabia, thus a good business of travel agencies with moslims why not

Right, Gizelle. Why should the Palestinians agree to be obliterated for the sake of a Jewish dream? A murderous robber insisting that his victim accept his theft and renounce violence against him certainly shows chutzpah.

Rolf, how long have you lived in Europe? How well are you aquainted with it's laws and how many times have you opened a newspaper there? I would suggest, never, not at all and never.

"Le Syndrome de Stockholm"

Was the situation always so bad for the Palestinians since 1948? What made it change?

Thank you... Haaretz is getting braver by the day... You, and Gideon Levy, especially. Keep up the pace! Jacqueline

Thank you for your probing query addressed to the Israeli body politic. For a people who have suffered for their faith so much, it is indeed difficult to understand why they in turn would oppress others as well. How does one understand such behavior? Is David Grossman's "Lion's Honey" relevent? A.STANLEY

Hey Bula, We read you and highly appreciate the good work carried out by Amera and her likes.This piece opens a window of hope for both peoples to live in peace with no arrogance and no this nonsense of "chosen people".Just "human beings" is enough.

This is the language which binds people to gather in their pursuit of human co-existance.Those who do not forsee the future will end up victim of its judgment.Thanks, you are the true Amira

Other than to say the pograms were a good thing. So tell me, chump, if Jews were in this land for 3000 years before the Holocaust, if we never left and kept fighting for our freedom, what does what you anti-semitic Eastern Europeans have to do with Israel existing? You didn't kill us all. That's about it.

skippy, Amira shows that there are Jews who are not hateful. Your attitude of 'my Jewish family right or wrong' shows your hatefullness.

Your article reflects the presence of thoughtful and compassionate Israelis. Why is the existance of Israel and it's right to self defence,(so often used to rob and murder helpless civilians) taken as self evident? Israel was conceived in terror (Pogroms), born of terror (Holocaust), created through terror(ethnic cleansing of Arabs), and mantained by terror (Israeli actions against Palestinians). It's right to further existance seems doubtful.

The Jewish mission statement is to "heal the wrongs of the world" Chosen does not mean priviledged, and it means taking the high ground rather than that of low thinkers, true? Not all Palestinians are Muslim - so clearly there can be pluralism. And many Christian nations have a multitude of different races and religions. This constant terrorisation of civilians - many of whom are moderates and NOT calling for Israels' destruction, are silenced each time a child is killed by a nervous young soldier. This is not humane, and where I could compare it with past regimes, it sullies the argument - the past is not relevant - it is what Israel will do to the people in what might be Palestine TODAY that will define its national character.

Trust has to work in two directions. Israel, sadly, has broken a lot of 'trust' in not adhering to the covenants it makes - this is a matter of record. I believe that the stated objectives of the 10% of Palestine who actually wish for Israel's destruction would be silenced by the majority who want to raise their family in peace should Israel stop, look and listen - and meet the agreements they make. Israel cannot have it all its own way, and the laws of the modern world will sadly force upon it the reality that you cannot have a country of one race and religion - nobody has one.

1) Jews never left the region, even after we were conquered. 2) Jews accepted UNR181, saying both people had rights to this land. Arabs denied Jewish rights. 3) Israel has an 18% ARab minority. Arab States are almost completely ethnically cleansed of Jews. 4) Jews were in Hebron unil '29, when Arab riots, supported by the British, killed dozens and cleansed the rest.\ 5) Arabs ethnically cleansed the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza in '48 Why is it that you act as if Jews have no right to live in the land we've been in since before Jesus and Mohammed were born? Why do you claim Arabs have the right to ethnically cleanse Jews from the West Bank? Attempt a rational answer, not just propoganda through a false analogy.

A man had a lovely lot on First Avenue in New York, long ago. He left it when he moved to Australia. His neighbors came and took care of the land and built a house and lived there for many generations. There was no deed for the land back then, so the new people became legal owners. The Australian ancestors of the original owner fell on bad times, so the King of Sweden, who wanted to make peace, decided to give them back the land their ancestor had originally owned. Even though it wasn't his land to give, the Swedish King gave the house on First Avenue to the Australians and told the owners to move out immediately to the projects. The legal occupants were told that everything the families had worked for and built, the house and neighborhood they loved, suddenly belonged to someone else, since they had lived there first, and there was nothing they could do about it. They had to move to an unsafe area, bad education or none, no water,no way to make a living.

It is nothing but Arab propaganda again. The suffering and hardship of the Palestinian people has been brought about mainly by their own hands. They refuse to have peace with Israel and contrary to what Amira Hass has to say - the Palestinians only want to see the Destruction of Israel and an Islamic State created in its place. Which country in the world would agree to be obliterated for the sake of another's 'Dream'.......?

Let's review: 1) Tupac posted emotional nonsense, minus facts. 2) I posted facts 3) YOu posted emotional nonsense that ignored the facts 4) I posted that the only reason you could ignore facts and repost nonsense about Jews is anti-semitism. 5) Rather than prove me wrong, and address the facts, you reposted the nonsense. As long as you ignore the facts of the situation, and continue to treat the one Jewish State differently than you treat any other nation or people than, yes, you are anti-semitic. Your last post just proved the point. Thanks for playing the game...

And you gutless ozzie should stay just where you are !

Every time I see G.W. Bush on my screen I cringe.. Palestine (not Iraq) needs to be liberated, and it will

Placing the blame for attacks on the Arabs, ignores history (with its annoying facts): "Menachem Begin, the Leader of the Irgun, tells how 'in Jerusalem, as elsewhere, we were the first to pass from the defensive to the offensive...Arabs began to flee in terror...Hagana was carrying out successful attacks on other fronts, while all the Jewish forces proceeded to advance through Haifa like a knife through butter'...The Israelies now allege that the Palestine war began with the entry of the Arab armies into Palestine after 15 May 1948. But that was the second phase of the war; they overlook the massacres, expulsions and dispossesions which took place prior to that date and which necessitated Arab states' intervention." Sami Hadawi, "Bitter Harvest." How about 1967? "The Egyptian Army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us...We decided to attack him." Menachem Begin quoted in "Fateful Triangle".

I was not shocked by this article, but I believe anybody egnores the acts they do against human will pay the heavy price. Israelie government will pay heavy price for their madness policy, inhuman policy and reminds my act of hitler against jews. God help us to get rid of this type of inhuman policy.

"Nah, since I`m a hate filled anti-semite, what you say couldn`t possibly be true" You see always the standard indoctrinated nonsense and fantasies! Anti-semite here, anti-semite there...sure. I know the facts, you clearly only read zionist nonsense..

it would be nice to read similar articles coming from the arab world. if they exist, it would be interesting to see them translated. but even if they don't, it does not legitimize israel's actions as described in amira's article. one wrong does not make another wrong right. the blind eye turned by the majority of israel citizens is a crime. i believe that if you put an end to it - and stop the occupation and opression, you and your neighbours will all gain from it. the same goes to the discrimination against your non-jewish population. and stop defending your actions with technicalities and historical examples (most of them slightly misinterpreted). the past is there to advice us. think about the future.

Israel is in process of dismantling itself. Racist and evil governments are eventually thrown out, either by their own people or the neighbours. The world does not need Israel the way it is now. Betting on the Arabs getting it right has much more appeal, given the accomplishmenets to date. It is ironic, that it is the pro-Israel US neo-conservative actions, are those that force Israel back into compliance with international. Physics at work: for every force there is an equal and opposite force.

As always, another wonderful article! Keep up the great work

I notice you are unable to address even one of the facts I posted. You are, however, able to say the equivalent of "Nah, since I'm a hate filled anti-semite, what you say couldn't possibly be true." Sorry, Arie, denial doesn't indicate anything except your own warped mind. If you can ever take an honest look at yourself, you might be able to take an honest look at the rest of the world. Then you might be able to address the facts and questions I posted. Until then, you're a puppy in a big dog world.

...that the world is against us. Is this not true? Check it out. For generations, Jewish parents have ingrained this perception of victim hood in their children. "There are enemies everywhere," watch Out! Other people can't be trusted, watch out! You will be taken advantage of, watch out! This attitude of "enemies everywhere" turns into a self-fulfilling prophesy. Perceived examples of being hated abound. This is why Israelis cannot see what they are doing. They are forever the victims---it is their birthright---and therefore they falsely believe they have "the right to defend themselves," when in fact they are acting like a nasty arrogant insensitive bully. Nothing else can explain Israel's policy, "if force doesn't work, use more force," for sadly, they were taught as children that the "world is against us." We really would like to live in peace but because you insist the world hates you, this makes peace impossible. Please grow up, Israel, and join the rest of the world.

ARE THERE ANY PAPERS IN THE Western WORLD that are "not" Zionist Controlled???LETS BE MORE JEWISH THAN MOSES....Lets be more truthfull than Rothchilde.....THERE IS NO PEACE BECAUSE OF THE ZIONIST AGENDA... These money lenders can burn in whatever hell they deserve....I am not dragging race through the mud here.... Every man and woman has the right to believe in what he does, Zionism is a non-affiliated elitist attack on all of us..... they just choose the chosen ones to hide behind........

Isreal is the biggest threat to the world in human history

If You have spent years looking through the talmud or the Encyclopedia Judaica, World press or in books supported by our Zionist Education system,You are lucky you can find your own ass.... If you Israel are so rich, Why do you need a six year extention too the 9 billion Dollar loan american tax payers have extended to you??? Eventhough the Zionist controlled Federal reserve can whip you up some of that Out of thin air moola....they still control Israelis by keeping them in debt.....When Germany approached Britain in the 2nd WW to resolve the war peacefully, It was the Zionists who stepped in and bargained Palastine away from the palistinian people if the war raged on....Many died because of this Zionist deal including Jews... and it was at this time that Israel was created. And no ...you didnt read that anywhere either.It was a Zionist/Judea boycott upon Germany which fueled the 2nd world war, so I dont believe that boycotts serve any good purpose.....Truth will win it back for us.

Amira, Thank you for bringing some light to a situation that is rarely explained as clearly as you did and indeed it is probably as close to the truth as can be and probably worst I am afraid ...It is blatant how much we know about the suffering of the Palestinian people and yet the world is silent ,but i hope your article will help . So thank you for this beginning.

David is this complete nonsense taught to you at "normal" education schools in "isreal" or at religious zionist jewish madrassas ? What a sick twist of history you spread here.. Please get human leave zionism before the bombs fall on your head..

To those who think of Israeli Aranbs as a 5th column I must remind them of a very very recent history. Those Arabs have been living on this land for centuries before Israel was created in 1948.

The answer to all the "could it be?" questions is yes. This is the reality perpetrated by the UN, the Arab world, and all those who buy Middle Eastern oil. It's the effect of the policy of appeasement and restraint brought upon Israel by the world. So Hass is a hypocrite, and if he/she lives in Israel, twice so. Personally I find it revolting that Israel gives the Palestinians water and electricity. This "life support system" keeps birthrates at maximum- children are not so poor and deprived that they die, and yet they are too poor to get an education and have a family with just one or two kids (generally as wealth and education go up, offspring per capita goes down). This increases the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis.

Reading this article by Amira Hass has had a sobering effect on me — an anti-Zionist gentile with an absolute loathing for the state of Israel. It makes me feel rather ashamed of myself and even question the legitimacy of my loathing. If Amira can fee like this, then clearly some Israelis have a conscience. Full marks to Haaretz, too, for having the wisdom to allow such articles to be published. Best wishes. Angelique.

In South Africa the white people are starting to lose their land now that apartheid is gone. The same happened in Zimbabwe, Namibia. Is that what you want to happen in Israel? Give them the "rights" and you lose Israel.

I did not trust the palestinian description of the living conditions in israel, I never trusted Arabs as a non-muslim persian trust of badavi tribes of Arabi never comes easy to me but you are brother to him oh sons of abraham you have no mercy in your heart even for your brother, abused becomes abuser ain,t that the truth.

Thanks for being who you are. The history of human kind has had so many wonderful Jews. So many great men and women who have contributed a lot to civilization through sciences, sociology, philosophy, and even politics … Unfortunately, the power seeking and corrupt forces have overshadowed this by murdering civilians, by destroying constructions and leaving millions landless and homeless. Your article proved to me that not all Jews are murders. Not all Jews are exclusive and selfish. Thank you for bringing me some comfort and love. I try not to read the hatred messages on the talkback section. They all remind me of Nazi, I call them Jewish-Nazi. We don’t need them. Thanks again for becoming a source of hope for the region. Stay brave and write more.

The score is tied. Round 1:- Holocaust; Europe 1, Jews 0 Round 2:- Occupation of Shebba, Golan, West Bank; Jews 1, Arabs 0 Round 3:- Time will tell

G-d`s will it will not happen because we, the jews learned after almost 2000 years in exile that only with force we can defend ourselves" There's the crux of your problem. You say G-d's will and in the exact same sentence say only with force can we defend ourselves. So which is it? G-d's will or the force of man? They are not the same and do not serve the same goals. G-d didn't create religion - man did. G-d didn't create war - man did. To G-d, we are all his/her children, not just those who claim through their manmade written creations to be the chosen ones. And G-d will not sanction a homeland for the Jews using manmade tools like war, deception and lies.

Maybe the answer to your question is in John 8:44?

Upon the creation of the Talmud the Zionists set their minds - and put into words - their view of those who are different than they are: subhuman. If I knew someone thought of me as chattle, subhuman and less important than they themselves are, I too would fight their existence. Perhaps it's time to consider how it is that the Talmud came into being and who were it's original designers. Furthermore, who suffered the most under this creation? Torah-true Jews? Most definitely.

if you don't like the laws here in the jewish state, why don't you just move to a muslim one? maybe you will feel better there. in any case, we will feel better here without you. if you want to help the arabs undermine the jewish state, don't do it from here.

In Daniel Jonah Goldhagen's book 'Hitler's Willing Executioner's' the Holocaust was possible not because a few extremists willed it so but because of the complicity of the masses. They were not motivated by fear of punishment for refusing to participate, their tolerance for this genocidal inhumanity was born out of hatred. To this formula I would also add apathy. All of those who proclaim a longing for peace by neccessity must shed all allegiance to the Self. When we are finally able to face each other in Edenic nakedness, without creed and costume, without flag and dogma, without fear of existing and not existing we will see that we all of one family. We are all human, flesh and blood. The indignities we bestow upon the least of our kind we bestow upon ourselves. I pray we are able to accept and no longer blame. Our predicament is that we are all intimatey connected. We no longer have the luxury of seeing and pontifacating from afar. It is time to evolve. Together or not at all.

There are many Islamic states that don't follow Shari'a. Must you be so dramatic? Explain how inorganic creations - whether states or forced democracy - could ever work. The fact that Zionists used underground operations to attempt to displace Iraqi Jews and "encourage" them to return to the holy land and have attempted to recruit for al Qaeda in Gaza only speaks to the deception they will use to achieve their goals; unfortunately it places a might of doubt in the minds of many as to who's truly doing what to whom. Deception as a tool creates a scenario where nobody ever knows the truth, only the illusion, toward the Zionist goal. Who is al Qaeda? Who is Hamas? How are any Arabs served well by either of these entities? How is Zionism served by these goals? Quite well, thank you. But the world is discovering truth and starting to question who exactly is whom in this entire affair by who gains.

This is not just an Israeli Issue. Here in the USA we need many more people like her. And to her critics. Other nation's actions cannot be used as an excuse. Blaming others for our actions might be "conforting" but is not a valid excuse. It would be like saying that because Saddam Hussein was an evil dictator what US troops did in Hadita or abu Ghraib is justified. Luis Daniel.

All it takes for evil to triumph is good men say nothing. Globally everyone is asking themselves, why is it that peaceful people are being thrown into wars that benefit mainly the wealthy of USA and their friends in Saudi Arabia at the cost of Middle Easterner lives mainly Muslim, Israeli and now Christians? This is not about religion. It is about power and greed. How is it Israel allowed USA to install terrorist Leaders in your govt. like they installed Sadam Hussein? How is it Israeli government can force your own men to have to actively participate? How is it Israelis do not see that they are pawns for foriegn elites? Thank you for the couragous Israeli journalism that documents the facts. in USA, the facts are concealed and our govt. robs us of our elections. We are no longer a democracy since George W. Bush was illegally handed the Presidency. Hopefully, enough people will hear of works by Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn and George Soros to act for our civic/moral duty.

Hi Amira Hass's article was very poignant and very touching! Well done - a blow for humanity was struck with this one!

I have read again your paper. I have still some remarks but agree on the essential. and I am very impress. Clod Shalom/amtiés/peace

The difference between Palestinians and others co-existing within Israel's borders is Palestinians were uprooted from their land. Neither democracy nor a state may be created inorganically and anyone who thinks either can are not in reality. There has been not a single "created" democracy that has worked. And the one example of an inorganic, created state has also not worked. It hasn't worked for the world and it really hasn't served the world's Jews very well at all. Anti-semitism is on the rise again and it's directly correlated to Zionist actions. Theodor Herzl promoted anti-semitism and fomenting hatred for Jews around the world as he knew an increase in both would further Zionist causes (at the behest of world Jews). It would appear Zionism is doing it again to the Jews. This time they don't seek a homeland, they seek all the land in the middle east that makes up what they term "Greater Israel" and the argument is the same as it was from late 1800s to 1948.

It seems many of you have gone off-topic and have fallen back into the blame game of who's right and who's wrong. Meanwhile how many of you have actually lived on the Israeli and/or Palestinian side? How many have even visited? The circle of hate will turn to fire and just re-inforce our positions against eachother. That hasn't worked in decades, let go, stop pointing the finger, and start focusing on the true issues at hand. Yes, prejudice, hate, death, human rights violations have been committed by BOTH sides. Neither side is exempt, or justified. No matter how either side spins it, killing and destroying the innocent, which does exist on both sides, is wrong. Period. We can all talk about how things happened in the past, massacres happened by both sides, Deir Yasin, Lebanon, Israel, all people have suffered at the hands of bigotry and masked under the reasons of religious right, the Torah, Koran, Bible, etc. All of it is irrelevent. It breeds hatred and justifies fake truth.

Last night I was reading Ezequias. Again God is condenning Israel. Amira Hass describ it.

What does the Bible have to do with Israel today. Most leaders and people in the army don't even give a thought to the concpet of "Chosen People". You are living in your own mind. Stp projecting. G-d Chose Jews to teach Torah and bring His word to the world. We've been killed for that. But the many Jews in ISrael, and certainly the eleadership have very little connection to the Torah. Olmert, Perese, Rabin, BArak, PEretz et al, none are or were observant Jews. They are "ISraelis" and Jewish, but their actions have nothing to do with being a CHosen People. SO no one thinks they have a right to kill people as a result of that. That is a pure antisemitic canard. They just want to defend and lvie in peace. Contrast with teh views of Muslims re: Jews, who religiously believe they must kill all Jews and Christians.

What does the Bible have to do with Israel today. Most leaders and people in the army don't even give a thought to the concpet of "Chosen People". You are living in your own mind. Stp projecting. G-d Chose Jews to teach Torah and bring His word to the world. We've been killed for that. But the many Jews in ISrael, and certainly the eleadership have very little connection to the Torah. Olmert, Perese, Rabin, BArak, PEretz et al, none are or were observant Jews. They are "ISraelis" and Jewish, but their actions have nothing to do with being a CHosen People. SO no one thinks they have a right to kill people as a result of that. That is a pure antisemitic canard. They just want to defend and lvie in peace. Contrast with teh views of Muslims re: Jews, who religiously believe they must kill all Jews and Christians.

Your ignorance of recent events and international standards is appalling. You had a blow up [not a war] with Lebanon? Yeah, maybe from your side it looks that way. And who started it? You did, by refusing to exchange prisoners. As for your crazy notions of treason, capital punishment does not even exist in Britain (nor I think France).

I am not jewish, not even religious. I hear the news, but maybe I am deaf. Where are the voices of peace? Only in Israel? I admire your courage and the will to see the other side, Amira. Even though the other side seem to admire Hizbullah, Hamas, Saddam Hussain and Usama bin Laden. Even though you can see the sweets being handed out when innocent people are murdered. There are more than 10 million Palestinians, more than 300 million arabs and more than one billion muslims But I never heard one single muslim express his sympathy for Israeli jews. I never heard one single Arab say he feels sorry for the jewish people. I never saw one single Palestinian reach out to jews to offer his friendship. I hope I am blind. I only see Amira...

I was completly wong on amira her background is very singular. First she's a israeli jew. and, I didnt spent 10 years on more in the territories.... By The violence of amira's toward intelilgencia seem exagerated. What about amoz Oz YBeshoua, Gavid Grossman, etgar keret and many others ? Not a single word on "peace now" I reconsider my position of yesterday And most importantI read again the paper.... Shalom/salut/salam Clod

Thank you very much for pointing out the obvious, or at least what should be obvious to anyone who does not lust for the blood and possessions of others. As long as people like you speak out, there is a chance for all of us. We are ALL God's children. A measure of any society is how it treats the least among themselves. And how they treat the rest of the world. Two wrongs do not make a right Israel, no matter how you try to add it up. We have been trying to get our politicians over here to see this, but we will have to let our elections show our dissatisfaction with our current leaders.

And, since you're wrong so often, it keeps me busy. You never do answer me whenever I point out facts, lets watch it happen again. "keep on expanding on Arab lands." What lands are those? UNR181 says both peoples have the right to live on the 20% of British Palestine not completely off limits to Jews (That's Jordan). The UN can't set borders, which is why 181 also says there's no border until both sides sign them. In '48, Arabs ethnically cleansed all Jews from Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. In '49, the Arabs demanded the Armistice make clear that the Green line wasn't a border. UNSCR242 again confirms the need to negotiate borders. So why do you: - ignore UNR181 and support the Arabs' war? - say that ethnic cleansing makes the land "theirs"?? - ignore that there's no border until negotiations set them - think it's appropriate that the Arabs get another judenrein land? - claim that non-binding resolutions you like overrule binding international law? You continue to avoid truth.

The struggle continues, remember the 81 springbox tour of New Zealand, the mobilization of the people of New Zealand against sporting contact with south Africa and the Apartheid system. Lets hope and pray that the world mobilizes against Irael. What happened then "81" is the country went close to a melt down in a big way, civil unrest on a major scale which split the country down the middle. But from that stand we, and others through out the world believe that it helped in South Africa abolishing their racial policys. Not only in South Africa but in New Zealand with the issues of Maori land which are being addressed by the government and the tribes under the Treaty of Waitangi of 1840. So to my Arab brothers and sisters you are not alone the struggle continues but theirs light at the end of the tunnel. As a Maori i see a great future in my country and i'm sure the Arabs and Israeli's will see the light to.

337: Aussie, are you completely clueless? Arab-Israelis not only can buy land, but they own land. They are citizens and all citizens can do so. Foreigners of friendly nations can also own land. Palestinians are not citizens of Israel and aren't part of a friendly nation, but are enemy aliens and can't buy land in Israel. Their government has declared war on Israel, and the PLO, PA, Fatah, Hamas and IJ all have constitutions, covenants and charters calling for Israel's destruction. On the other hand, Israel accepted UNR181 and has always supported the three State solution. So what are you trying to say? That Israel, a country with an 18% Arab population that can buy land is somehow worse than ARabs who ethnically cleansed Jews from the West Bank, Gaza and Jeruslaem in '48, demand another ethnic cleansing, and have laws against Jews owning land? I await your rationalizations.

Could anyone pliz educate me on which people the bible refers to as 'fake jews' in the book of revelation. Its say somewhere in chapters 2 and 3 that there shall come those people who shall claim to be jews and yet are not but of the synagoge of satan, who are those people? Cause today there are people in Israel and outside claiming to be jews and that they are God's chosen peoples and hence they can kill and discriminate, aparthied style, just because they are God's chosen people!! I thought God was LOVE and that CHRIST came to unite everybody, Gentiles as well as non Gentiles. I also thought jews are just from one tribe of Israel (Judah) and NOT from the whole house of Israel??? I also thought the description of the children of Israel in the bible that of a people with woolly hair (the lamb that was slain), which can make locks as in Numbers chapter 6, Songs of Solomon, Judges 13 on Samson and even Jesus being a Nazarite from Nazarene, a town full of Nazarites (dreadlocks (see Numb 6

Can you really not see?...How can you when your heads buryed in the sand,from that position all you see is sand. But seriously the issue brings to light the plight of the Palestinians that has been ignored for to long that it must be addressed, not by the Palestinians but by the Israeli's them selves. The same racist laws that control Palestinians and their lives will not be tolerated for long by the world,let alone the Arabs. The Holocaust was carried out by people who believed in racial purity and had a thirst for more land based on a sick ideology. When people speak out about what Israels doing to the Arabs the natural response from the Israeli's is that you're anti-semitic, to me it means i'm anti-racist,against land grabbers, state sponsored murders, segregation,terrorizing the old and the young all with the belief that we're the "Chosen People" and what we do is right. No wonder the Arabs want to destroy Israel. Israel pull your head out of the sand,cause all we "SEE" is an ass.

"#345 bbl My question is can Palestinians from the west bank buy land in Israel?" I'd guess not, though I may be mistaken. However, that's not so strange in that corner of the world. A Jew from anywhere cannpt buy land in Jordan, Syria, or Saudi Arabia. Absent land within settlements, however, Palestinians from the territories can buy and own land in the territories.

Canada does not have the same rules for non-citizens as it does for citizens. I asked which Western countries do. When human rights groups criticize Israel for "discriminatory practices" it is over the Palestinians living in the territories. It is not for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Name the laws which you oppose please. Haaretz will "afford the luxury of elaboration" you get close to 1,000 characters to do it.

Isreal continues to say it wants peace yet, correct me if I am wrong, settelments keep on expanding on Arab lands. BTW 100% West Bank belongs to Pals see UN resolutions; you might not agree but the World does not agree with you. I agree terrorists need to be cleaned up but so do the Zionists that see themselfs as "Gods chosen people".

and one of the first things we should do about it as ISRAELI citizens, arabs and jews, is to stop the IDF siege and daily killings in Gaza and the West Bank and start talking with Hania and Abu Mazen. Hania offered to stop kassams,terror attacks and to release Gilaad Shalit for Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, cessation of asassinations, and release of some of the 10,000 Palestinians prisoners held in Israeli Prisons, already in July. Isn't that what we all want? I'ts not too late. We have to put pressure on Peretz and Olmert to forward the exchange and not hinder it, to control the military's inhumane attacks on Palestinian civilians and start talking with the PA and the Palestinian government. That is our only chance. The real lesson from Lebanon is that what doesn't go with force DOESN'T go with MORE force. That security is negotiation and peace.

Will not work, democracy is the US was founded by "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". No idea why our billions of dollars are going to support an "apartheid? like State? Israel can?t even claim the democratic principal of a ?separation of Church and State?.

Those who want to see the truth always see it. One needs to rise above the bondage of race and religion to see it from a human perspective and wishing the betterment of entire huamanity. Thanks to people like Hass who have this vision. May Peace Prevail On Earth

the list goes on and on. The oppressor will always find a way to spin the facts. World history shows us that Israel is not the first and most likely won't be the last. Although it is shocking since given what the Jews have gone through that.

I keep on reading about Israeli civilians being treated for ?Shock? and/or ?Anxiety? with these rocket attacks from Lebs and Pals. What gives? I?ve never read anything about Pals and Lebs being treated for ?Shock?. Maybe that?s because they are either dead by the smart bombs or they have a thick skin after years of IDF offensives. I?m a wrong?

It is amzing that an article of this nature is not only published in a Newspaper in Israel but also discussed passionately by its readers. So long as this keeps on happening, Israel will progress, however stutteringly, in spite of some of its inept leaders. Turab

Obviously you have no cogent reply to anything I wrote or you would have refuted the facts I brought forth. What wonderful Arab democracy in the Middle east allows freedom of worship (other than Islam), freedom of speech, etc. Which of them has spent some of the vast sums of oil money to further education, science and create a better standard of living? The original owners of the land? How far back do you want to go? Before 1967, there were no "Palestinians" as the word is defined today. Before the UN partition, the land was controlled by the British who, with the UN, are responsible for the way its broken up today. The UN partitioned Palestine and gave the Arabs a state that they rejected. The "Palestinians" were not kicked of "their" land, they ran away and have been cynically used as pawns by Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria ever since. The only Arab country who treated them right was Jordan by allowing them to become citizens. Stop distorting history...read a book instead of propaganda/

hold on now, hold on. jordan is one of the very few countries in the world that has no jewish population at all. we don't need any synagogues here, we have enough churches and mosques, half of which i'd rather see converted into kindergartens, a lot more useful. most of those houses all over history were used to spew hatered. speaking of racism, i don't think any of the arabs or jews are better than the others, on both sides there is enough racism & hatered to wipe out both "nations" which won't be a bad idea for the rest of the world.

hizb hannah, you wrote "You write such nonsense. Why not try to read the Koran or, indeed, any book before you make a fool out of yourself in a public forum" ahhh, why don't you pick up the clue phone and apply that cute statement of yours to yourself. oh but then that would assume some aspect of intelligence on your part....anyway....keep posting and keep us laughing

Amira Hass, It is not true that you Israelites are not in danger. That is why the controls are needed. I do not know how you feel about all the israelites killed. The problem here is the islamo-fascist mentality that has been arround for many long years. What would arabs give in exchange for real peace? We try with land, they gave us death. Sorry for being realistic. What would they give for peace? Would they tolerate us, as an independent state, no. Thanks for all the IDF soldiers that fight for freedom, allowing all their critics to live under a democratic state. Amira Hass shame on you, is time to get realistic, stop dreaming. Ask their leaders to sit down and make a propper peace, because that is what you want and what all Israel wants. But that is the thing that is not on the arab world agenda.

PART 2 I hate the Palestinians. I hate them for what they've done. I hate them for what they want to do. I hate them for what they are. They are all criminals. Grasshoppers! Terrorists!! No matter how it came to be, there are those who feel and think that way. They hate Palestinians. They see them as less than human. They wish them harm. And they know they're right. They know those that disagree are wrong, blind, or stupid. They can't be reached now, maybe ever. The IDF says that it is the most "moral army" in the world. Then let it lead the war against racism. Let it reject all those who hate and talk hate against the Palestinians. That is a war that must be fought. That is a war that must be won. Let it begin now. The alternative is the continuing existence of hate filled Jews with guns which equals dead Palestinians. An immoral situation indeed.

land in Israel? Thank you for your reply.

To #330 NYC Jew. Did you make good in the USA all by yourself or did your community give you a hand? Did you have your hands tied behind your back and then were expected to make something out of yourself. As you say in NYC "give me a break" or don't bust my chops" put yourself in the Paletinians shoes and then see how succesful you are. With past corrupt Palestinian politicians Israel have had an easy time, now that Hamas are sticking to the betterment of their people Israel have to resort to collective punishment. This is not what one would call justice and "The American Way" or are you more Israeli than American. Dont forget the hand that feeds you. Shalom to those that can see.

1) It was 8,000 Jews on 20% of Gaza. However, your minimization of the first and exaggeration of the second (typical) don't change the point. 2) That's why most Israelis supported the withdrawal. Most Palestinians still poll as saying there can't be peace while Israel exists. 3) "Arabs lived in squaller [sic]". Arafat and his cronies embezzled more than $1 billion dollars, rather than alleviate the squalor. Before the last election, almost 100% of PA money that was spent was spent on salaries. Any unbiased look would show the squalor is the Palestinians' own fault. 4) How about the squalor of refugee camps in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and elsewhere, where fellow ARabs have kept them in camps for almost 60 years (Israel absorbed 600,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands) 5) When was there a Palestinian "home country"? 6) In relation to 5, why did UNWRA find it necessary to define a "refugee" as someone who'd only lived here for two years ('46-48). Explain.

Actually it is the other way around. The whole idea of a Jewish state "Israel" is ofcourse next to a either racist or theocratic or both concept, a backward thought - though ultimately a secular one, since orthodoxy forbids it - a result of a historical falsification based on literary fantasies. The foundation myths and the matching sometimes extremely disgusting zionist propaganda are utterly discredited and nothing of it remains even remotely defensible. However nations are usually born in blood, terror, deceit and coercion. It by itself is not a concept that fits into a moral outlook on the world. The other way around part is that ultimately the precious few Jewish voices who do want to move forward from that frozen point in time, will not be enough and the people like yourself will become the gravediggers of the Jewish state. I'm neutral to that aspect, not to the bloodbath that will come from it.

That's very interesting. They are acting in barbaric ways because of over 50 of humilation and agression. I'll give you that. But how come they also kill eachother in barbaric ways? And why don't Africans go for suicide bombings and other brutalities when their suffering is many folds greater? Israel is no angel but pretending that the Arab mentality is caused soley by Israel is absurd. More Arabs and Muslims are getting killed by their own kind. I wish you stood up for that as enthusiastically as you do to Israeli actions.

My lad, if you were interested in honesty, you'd have seen where I've posted on the paper's "National" section, multiple times complaining about discrimination against Arabs. You therefore lie about my posts. You also ignore the clear point. People such as you, who won't decry much worse discrmination, and lie about other Israeli laws that aren't discriminatory, have no moral or ethical grounds to constantly lambast Israel. The fact that Jews fight for the rights of minorities here is sign of our openness. The fact that your clear focus just on accusing Jews of everything is a clear sign of your anti-semitism. Nothing has changed, and you're still not making sense.

How very sad, for history shows that ultimately those who sponsor such extreme differention of population based on religion, aparthied and/or extreme caste systems, ultimately fall by the wayside and implode from within! Oh well, no winners here, but far too many losers at a future date in time!

To #5 Bob, "enemies within the state" if treated the same all round the world then this should include zionists who are betraying their sponsors ie;the USA. Read the press about spies that work for Israel against the USA interests. Do they deserve the same treatment ? How do you stand on that issue? Or are Israelis above international laws. (and that's just one example) but then "through deception we win" (but it dooes not endear one or then expect peace and trust). Shalom for true seekers of peace.

Part 1 A Palestinian killed my son. He was a good man. They killed him. A Palestinian suicide bomber killed my neighbor's 11 year old daughter. She was just an innocent girl. They killed her. A Palestinian youth threw a stone and cracked open the head of a friend's son. They tried to kill him. A group of Palestinians on TV rejoiced and danced on hearing the news that Iraqi SCUD missiles had landed in Israel. They prayed we would be killed. A Palestinian leader in a magazine article praised Adolf Hilter and called for the extermination of the Jews. They want to kill us. Continued in Part 2

When the Israelis were ocupying a THIRD of Gaza when one million plus Arabs lived in squaller how friedly could they have been to their neighbours? this state of affairs in one form or another repeats itself in numerous parts of the West Bank with all sorts of restrictions on the Palestinians. Rolf, try to imagine yourself to be Palestinian and travel round your home country and then feel the misery of life for you. You would not be very willing to adabt or be friendly to anyone.

I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT I WAS NOT REFERING TO THE KILLERS WITH BOMBBELTS. I WAS REFERING TO THERE VICTIMS. AS FAR AS REFERING TO THE NAZI AGAIN YOU SHOULD REALLY START WATCHING SOME OF THOSE MOVIES YOURSELF. YOU MIGHT REALIZE THAT THEY WHERE CITIZENS OF POLAND WHICH IS A COUNTRY. MORE IMPORTANT GUS, WHAT SIMILARITIES OF TACTICS DO JEWS IN POLAND HAVE TO DO WITH RANDOM ACTS OF TERROR AND MURDER IN ISRAEL. NICE TRY BUT THE NO. IT IS NICE TO HEAR HOW AGAINST YOU ARE BUT WHY DON'T YOU CONVINCE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT LISTENING TO REASON AND RATIONAL. YOU GOT IT IS YOUR PEOPLE NOT MINE.

WHAT IS SAD IS THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE. I ASKED A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION AND THAT IS WHAT YOU REPLIED. NOW ANSWER THE QUESTION "EY". SINCE YOU ARE THE HISTORICAL SCHOLAR. ENLIGHTEN ME ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE. YOU SEEM TO COME OFF LIKE YOU KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T SO PLEASE I AM WAITING. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3000 YEARS. YOU WANT TO TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING 3001 YEARS AGO. COME ON SAD, I AM THRISTY FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE LIKE THE SO-CALLED PALS ARE FOR WATER IN LINE. TELL ME SOMETHING THAT HAS A FOUNDATION IN HISTORICAL UNDENIABLE TRUTH. CAN YOU "SAD"? I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WAITING TO HEAR THIS.

..."Answer to your question: love for all people indiscriminately!..." Thanks for bother to answer with such a love tone. May God creates millions over millions of people like you over the a next generation or two.

A pity Amira returned after a well deserved break for the Ha'aretz public with increased hatred for her own people and biasedness. Yes there is discrimination in israel, but our democracy certainly also covers Arabs who call Hezbollah hero's and who actively support terror groups and locate the positions of their own soldiers to the enemy. Amira if Jews would have located Syrian troop movements for Israel during a war they would be executed, we give them a trial and put them in jail. Remember that before you call for a boycot of all Israeli institutions from academic ones to movie makers as we know very well what you mean. Again does any Palestinian know what Hamas means when they say they want to eliminate the 'zionist entity'? I guess so, which is a war crime and crime against humanity but signing a petition is not enough to fight it. They need to confront it head on or should face...a boycot. Amira please regain your sanity as I start loosing my believe in your personal integrity

Is it really hard to figure out why palestine takes the measures it does while surrounded by israel ie not one ally the 13th century fundamentalist jew is a fetid hole deep and dark with little understanding of humanity or social values the radical jew has proved inobedient and untrustworthy to keep his word to all the nations of the world by breaking all un resolutions enacted upon him in modern society we have freedom of religion not jews only settlements , no shooting neighbours and taking their lands, the radical jew will ultimately fail because the world is not going backwards its just a question of how many suicide bombers need to die in order to squash this last primitive movement

Man you wrote a good article and I agree with some of it, if you take the word Muslim and replace it with a JEW. You will find out it is exactly how we feel at this point. You said "radical Muslim front will fail ultimately because the world is not going backward."I say Radical Jew will fail ultimately because the world is not going backward, you have racist laws on the books even south Africa got rid of them. YOu occupied a nation, you colictivly punish a whole nation for the act of the few. You kill thousands of innocent without mercy. Boy this is all backward, The ARAB are going forward, very slow but forward. Look at the gulf of Arabia, 50 years ago you could not find a road. Now Hospitals, Universities,banks, tourist attractions etc..., Lebanon is a head of you in many aspects, vibrant people with more tourist that goes to Israel, most other states are doing fine, some are still backward but it takes time. Iraq is horrible and most of our leaders are worhtless but they are trying

Wow, I have never seen a more venomous post on any of the boards in any of the blogs anywhere on the net. You should be proud, true colorful language and so much hate, I particularly like " appreciate that we allow you to work like dogs for us. Build my home, wash my dishes and say thank you for that chance to serve me". How many other Jews think like you? and if you think like this over in LA, what would your hate be like if you lived in Israel?. Tell you what, I have imagination. no need for a reply

the rest stays on the conscience of the elders of zion not to sign the fate of jews buy the continuation of animosity with 1 billion people, who sooner or later will over run israel, unless a completely different relations are being established, the least of which is a secular state on the whole of palestine where arabs and jews will live in one country with equal rights. a 2-state solution will end hosilities only for a while.

Canada is one... but forget non-citizens. I have something better for you. Let's talk about the arab Israelis who are citizens of Israel. These people don't have the same rights as Jewish Israelis... Human rights groups are constantly criticizing Israel for discriminatory practices. Name one single western nation that blatantly favours one group of citizens over another and is involved in similar practices. Sorry I can't elaborate; Haaretz doesn't afford the luxury of elaboration

Hi Bor! Still working that new age anti-Semitic "nazi-Zionist" angle,I see. Good to see that your are determined in one part of your life.Your rants become you;they let us see your soul. However, something happened today which puts in in juxtaposition and clarity. A great man passed; you wouldn't know him. His name was Naghib Maufuz;great Egyptian writer, winner of Nobel Literature Prize, lover of peace, proponent of co-existence with Israel, hater of religious extremism. His books will always be with us. He will be missed. ---Your kind will not. Write Soon! Shalom!

I make more sense in broken Arabic than you make in fluent English.Are you a high school student?You sure talk like a nasty little girl dont you.

Of course Jews can see the suffering of the Palestinians, but the reason they cannot assist them is because the Palestinians do not understand or recognize the 3,000 year longing of Jews to return to their land. I am sure you could also find it hard to be kind to a neighbor of yours whose objective is to chase you out of your house and hopefully kill your family in the process. The Jews were the original owners of Palestine. For over 700 years Jewish kings ruled there and did, contrary to your statement Joe, have great armies and could easily be brutal. Now we have returned to the land that is historically our home and until you and the Arabs understand this there will never be peace. Should the Arabs learn their own history perhaps they could save themselves the death misery and humiliation now and in the years to come.

Could you provide the all elusive evidence that there has ever been an independant nation called Palestine. Which history books tell of any nation or society other than the Jews that made Jerusalem its capital. The history books that I have read indicate that when King Hussain of Jordan annexed the West Bank and Jerusalem ('49? '51?) he did not make Jerusalem the capital of Jordan. My history books also tell me that in the 20 years that Jerusalem was part of Jordan not a single Arab leader paid a state's visit to Jerusalem. Do your history books tell otherwise? Please inform us.

When I was younger, I was all about changing the world. Then I realized, the very problems I want to solve, support my lifestyle. My world benefits from chaos in your region. While we flame your conflicts, while we constantly point out how different the Israelies and the Palestinians are, while we see hundreds of your young people kill themselves and each other, and while we pour money and weapons into your conflicts, our interests in the region are garaunteed. You wear gas masks, we go to Hawaii and enjoy the sun. You kill eachother and we go to disneyland and sip Lattes. You loose your sons, brothers, and sisters, and we get to drive our SUVs with airconditioning. Interestingly, we support your wars, but we can't even point to Israel or Palestine on the map. So, keep on massacring each other; maybe one day you'll prove a point to eachother.

Where is the top Arab journalist with tears flowing decrying that Jews can't travel or own land in Saudi Arabia? Where are the synagogues in Amman? Which Jew can join a professional union in 'moderate' Jordan? I can hang a PLO flag in Israel, can you hang an Israeli flag in Tehran? Damascus? Yemen? Have you talked to Copts in Egypt lately? Racism indeed. Bend over, people, because Leftists like Hass aren't your conscience, they are your downfall.

Face it, they anyway like to die, get heaven and 70 virgins (do the women get Male strippers or do they become men?). We'll have an suicide bomber Olympics, relay race (hand of the belt), the high jump (blast gets you more distance) or domino bombers, with laser lights atatched to the belt for good special effects (they can Macys' talent). Moms can look on proudly as their kids blow up and then all meet goether in Heaven, moms looking on as their beuatful children hump the virgins" "that's my boy, good show" (nothing like a proud muslim mother). Then we can give the West Bank to the Tibetans, who never blew up Chinese buses or restaurants (think the strong arm tactics of China had anything to do with that? Naahh). West bank will be open to Jews and non-Jews and guarantee a thriving commercial and cultural environment. Heck, lots of groups woud love the chance to build their own society in Gaza, just not the Pals. No not them. Try it. Least this way we'll know if its Jews or Pals fault.

There are over a million Palestinians living as Israeli citizens. They are free to buy and own land (as many of them have and do). Nobody goes to jail for selling land to an Arab. Certainly no one gets the death penalty.

For your information all the people who strap bombs aroud them and try to kill you do not tell their parents, but they will not admitted to you, They do it because of lack of hope and because they see so much suffering of their people day in and day out, they lose hope in life, I am against it 100% and no one should justify it but JEWS did fight to death against Hitler in the Gettos in Poland, they gave their lives to Israel, many of them knew that they will die, you and Israel made heros of them, wath your movies. it is simple desperation and time has come for you to reconize a palestinian state and help establish it and help train their police and help building it, not destroying homes and put family of 8 or 12 on the street, not put obsticals for them to aquire permit, not treating them like animals, even animals are treated better then you treat them. So spare us your lies, who taught the little girls to sign the bombs so our children in Lebanon can die?

Sorry #303 my message was for #311!

YOU ISRAELIS ARE ABSOLUTELY 100% CORRECT YOU SHOULD NOT STOP OCCUPYING PALESTINIAN LAND BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A STRONG WILL TO KILL YOU, but here are the underlying reasons why they want to kill you , basically its for the retaliation of over 60 years of oppression killing of innocent palestininans land grabs , economic reasons such as almost all the aid dollars sent are spent in israel or sent through israel via land border because thats the only way to help them there for it is a benefit to the economy of israel and not the palestinians who most of them live on 600 hundred dollars or less a year where as the israelis greedy as they may seem live on an average of 26,ooo dollars, so you shouldnt leave occupied lands , or the palestinians will kill you,, you should first off treat them nicely help their economy slowly reduce checkpoints even though there will be retaliation by the palestinians you should continue to do this until the palestinians become well educated with good pay

I wish you ask why people come to this point? I will tell you why, because of 58 years of oppression, 39 years of occupation, ehtinic cleansing, massacres, Deir yasin, Sabra and shatila, destroying homes, jailing thousands of youth, killing and tortoring, arrogence,million of refugee with no hope on site, cutting the olive trees and I can go for a year listing your criminal behaivors. You have robbed them their humanity and their dignity. That is why people are willing to carry your guts and say Allah of Akbar.

The primitive self-destructive, dispicable,repugnant minds of some Israelis is perfectly portrayed by this creature calling himself major.

How old are you? 10? What sources and history books are you reading?

"PA law making it a death penalty crime to sell land to Jews". David Teich. What is the Israeli law say about Palestinians wanting to buy land in Israel?

Hamas is driven by survival like anybody else,they are trying to stay above water,why these considerations are so impossible for you to consider as plausible is a sign that you are total denial and are seeing what you want to see.

You might consider waiting until there are enough actively peace-seeking Muslims to form a minyan before implying that Israeli Jews are Nazi-era Germans, Amira....But I suppose it is more important to you to feel virtuous (and virtuously alienated) than to change anyone's mind. So, do you get a perverse feeling of freedom from identifying with righteous gentiles protesting the fate of the "new Jews", ie Palestinians? For sure it can be tedious to be an old-fashioned Jew after all the hopes for "normalcy" have been dashed. But is it really better to be with the smart set -- post-adolescent Hezbo groupies, smelly-faced old trust-funders,Jimmy Carter, obscure Scandinavian leftists, photoshop frauds, the whole unsavory lot?

When did Israel displace the Palestenians? Israel never belonged to a Palestenian entity. It was a mass of land until 1948. The British cotrolled until that time. Jordan was as well a mass of land until the British gave it to the Hussin family. Why is Jordan any more real than Israel. All Britain did was say that their will be an Israeli government and an Arab government. One called Israel, the called Palestine. The Arabs attacked and people fled in the hope of returning to take the Jewish homes (yes, there were thousands of Jews in ISrael and over 40,000 living in J'lem until 1948 when Jordan took over after the war and kicked them out). The Zionit idea did not displace anyone, they ran away, in the hopes of displacing indigenous Jews

Why does everyone blame Israel? Are the Palestinians so pathetic, so retarded that they can't make anything happen without Israel giving it to them? How condescending. Are you excusing failure to "keep" not "turn" Gaza as a testing ground for beautiful working society because of what u deem Israel's oppression elsewhere. If the tables were tured, I gty you that Jews would have turned Gaza into an oasis. That is the problem. Palestinians feast on these articles and thus do nothing to change their situation.The feast on hate. This consumes them, and makes them inadequate to run their own affairs. Amira is the same person who blastd Israel for not trusting Arafat, but never took him or his cronies to task for corruption. This knack to blame Israel for all faults allows the corruption to spread and creates the impotency of their society. For once, focus on chanign the Palestenians. Not Israel. Tell them to forget Jerusalem for now. "Allah" will take care of J'lem. Build a life!

Great post, like so many others that like to point out the obvious. Do you think we like to lower ourselves to this level. What are we suppose to do. Why should Israel always be compeled to take the high road when we are dealing with deaf and blind ears.How are you suppose to handle this situation. Give land not give land back, it is not and never was theirs. So they will stop trying to kill us. You want to make israel out to be some horrible country but what are we up against. I have many arab friends and we discuss this all the time and to my surprise there views are so much more harsh then mine in regards to dealing with this issue. I want to hear from you. what is your way of dealing with people that want only your destruction and they can live happy ever after but historically they never have been able too ever(without jews in the mix). It is not israel's responsiblity to teach them anything it is theirs and this is the reaction to there action not the reverse.

Hass thinks that by hypercritical hatred of Israelis she defends her cowardly self from Arab terror. That and her desire for adulation from her global ultra-liberal anti-Israel peers leads to her ignoring/whitewashing of Arab failures, violence, atrocities and hatred & her broken-record like villifaction of Israel.

As a right wing person, I can tell you it saddens me that Palestinians suffer. I don't like it one bit. But Amira Hass, by essentially calling Israel an apartheid state, and ignoring both the basis for Israel's actions in seeking protection from terror and history, actually hurts Palestiniens. For this article ingores the root problem, which is severe hatred for Jews, and corruption that leads to Isaeli distrust. Rather than calling on Palestinians to reform, she calls on ISraelis to turn a blind eye. Nothign is created in a vaccum. One wonders if Amira ever met a "settler" for is she did, she would know that they are not hateful and evil people. The fault lies not with Israel, even if its actions might be excessive, it is common of humanity to err on the side of caution, and unfortunate. Amira, get your Palestinian counterparts to write critical articles of their culture. That would give us hope for change and foster trust.

Did you not read that Olmert would like to see that this insane round of fighting leads to a peace agreement with Lebanon. Meanwhile the leader of Lebanon has declared that Lebanon will be the LAST country to sign a peace deal with Israel. You said "There is no reason to balk against the peace proposal of the Secretary of the UN, Koffi Annan." It appears that it is the Lebanese who are "balking".

"Israel has allowed itself to be victimized by Zionisim once again. " Your statement seems to indicate that you don't really understand the meaning of the word Zionism. It is not a catchall for all that is wrong with Israel. I'd be interested in your actual definition of the word "Zionism". Please let us know how you define it.

Nothing in JoJo's last posting suggests what you attribute to him/her : "In the face of reason some can only fall back on their insane belief that belonging to a certain religion makes one a better person than the "goy". Enough already for people like you belong in the mental assylums of history." Where does Jojo assert that "belonging to a certain religion makes one a better person"?

ARE THERE ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM PAPERS IN THE ARAB OR MUSLIM WORLD THAT DEGRADE EVERY THING HOLY TO THE MUSLIM OR ARAB PEOPLE OR THAT QUESTIONS THE RIGHT TO THERE COUNTRY OR DEGRADES THERE MILITARY AND THE LIST OF UNIQUENESS AND WANTING TO PERSUE THAT UNIQUENESS. 'LETS BE MORE CHRISTIAN THAN THE POPE'. THIS ARTICLE DOES MUCH HARM TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THE ARTICLE NEGATES THE REALITY OF REALITIES. THERE IS NO PEACE BECAUSE OF THE ARAB AND MUSLIM COUNTRIES. WE JEWS ARE A TINY MINORITY IN A MUSLIM SEA. THE POOR MASSES OF MUSLIMS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE AND THE WEALTHY SHEIKS ONLY LAUGH IN CONVUSIONS WHEN THEY READ THIS SELF HATING ENEMY WITHIN DIATRIBE. WHEN ISRAEL WILL HAVE PROPER ELECTIONS AND A JEWISH GOVERNMENT IS FORMED, THEN SUCH ARTICLES WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS FALSE NEWS AND INCITEMENT TO RACIAL HATRED AGAINST AN IDENTIFIABLE GROUP-THE JEWS. THE DAY COMETH SOON WHEN SUCH SELF HATERS WILL NO LONGER LAUGH AND INCITE AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE.

"The reason it does not make print is Zionist control of media.....and before you call the ADL about anti semitism on my part , please note......." Zionist contol of the media is an increasingly difficult myth to uphold. Witness the latest spat with Hezbullah and the coverage that followed. You can't seriously assert that 400 million Arabs aren't capable of producing media that is outside of Jewish influence. There are a billion Muslims in the world. Are you suggesting that they are so lame that they cannot write and produce news from their own perspective? As for your definition of semetic, you are correct. Do not, however assume that the word antisemetic is simply an extention of that word. The word was coined in the 1800 by some European and it specifically referred to hatred of Jews. The history and entymology of words is not irrelevant to the current appropriate usages of such words.

PETER SM who probably lives in wealthy Caulfeild, drives a late model european car and if he had to wait for more than 10 minutes in a bank queu at a Westfeild shopping centre may change banks in a heart beat.

Absolutely disgusting! And you are giving the cherries for the cakes of those, rapidly growing, who detest you.

Everything Amira says is true. But Israelis are waiting for voices like Amira to come from the Arab world and not privately but publicly in their newspapers. This is an important point that can not be ignored. Two are required to make peace.

"Please try" ... "to use spell checker, as your posts are almost undecipherable." Indecipherable.

I have so many things going on in my head. I don't know where to start. Damn those soliders for keeping the pals away from my family. Why can't I be the one they pass candy out for. Maybe I could ride in the back of a amulance and carry weapons. Wait I always wanted to be in the movies maybe I can play dead and jump on one of those coffins and everybody can parade around me chant death to israel death to america like I see on Al jazzera. I have been so blind to think I wanted to raise my family to be honest and kind. To learn a trade and help mankind. when all along the truth was right there in front of me. I should support terror and teach my kids to hate and kill in the name of a bastard son of abraham. Why have I always protected my kids from harm. When I could have just put them in harms way. I am going to practice. I will take my kids to the firing range and see if they can run across when they start shooting. Wow I feel so at ease now.

"The point is not to compare to Arab countries, but to do so with developed western nations that don`t have any of the discriminatory laws that Israel has." Which nations are these? Most countries have laws similar to most of Israel's laws. You can't name a "developed western naion" that affords non-citizens the exact same rights as citizens. There are very few Israeli laws that treats some law abiding adult citizens differently than others.

From Russia with hate I fly to you Much wiser since my goodbye to you I`ve travelled the world to learn I must return from Russia with hate I`ve seen places, faces and cringed for a moment But oh, you haunted me so Still my tongue tied, young snide Would not let my hate for you show In case you say hello To Russia I flew but there and then I suddenly knew I wouldn`t care My running around is through I fly into you, from Russia with hate

Oh amira you are so right I have never seen it that way before. I am going to take back all the tears I have shed for all the people I knew that lost there life at the hands of these peaceful humane people. I am going to burn my passport right now. I can't believe I have been so stupid to think that pals are so blood thristy for jewish blood. I am so stupid, all along it was me thinking I should be able to have a country free of terror and murder. thanks amira you have shown me the way. I want to learn everything about daily life of pals. where can I sign up for bombbelt class. I want to learn how to ripp a person into peices with my own hands and carry there guts around and chant allah akbar without a hint of humanity. Now that is the kind of person I want to be and want to have as a nieghbor. I am going to make as many babies as possible so I too can live with the thought that my little boy can go to the movies and blow him and everybody around him up and wow I get 25,000.00 dollars.

Aren't they the people that strap bombs to there kids to collect money. Aren't they the ones that pass candy out when an israeli or american is gruesomly killed by there hands. Aren't they the ones that voted a known terrorist militia as there leaders. Aren't they the ones that use cartoon characters like mickey mouse to teach there children that Jews drink the blood of muslims. Come on people are you all so dellusional that you think for a second we are going to care for a bunch of idiots that can't even realize there own fate has been manipulated by there so-called brothers. the responsibility is not ours. Ours is to protect ourselves first. Protect us from them. Till they show within there own a willingness to be humane to each other forget Jews then we have something to talk about. Would you rather wait hours in the hot sun or be without water and electricity or be blown up into little pieces or burned alive. tell the parents and friends of the ones that have been killed by pals

Is it really so hard to figure out why Israel takes the measures it does while surrounded by not one allie... The 13th century fundamentalist muslim mind is a deep, dark, fetid hole with little understanding of modern enlightened social value or humanitarian perspective... The radical muslim adherrent has proved himself untrustworthy to keep his word with any individual or country unless its another radical muslim.. In modern society, we have freedom of religion...no more inquisitions, burning at the stake, stoning, or other types of religious conscription common to the middle ages.. The radical muslim front will fail ultimately, because the World is not going backwards...its just a question of how many innocents will die in order to squash this last primitivist movement

What about not allowing Jews to live in Gaza? Is that racism or not? What about allowing Arabs not to serve in IDF?

I have spent years trying to find some historical evidence that there ever was a palastine before Israel was the homeland for jews. I am yet to here one undeniable fact that tell what you monsters are and where you came from. Come on pal supporters of the world answer this question or shut your traps. to the people who want to boycott israel. Ohhhh so scary do you morons really think you have the ability to beat the Jews we own more and retain more wealth then any nation on this earth maybe we should boycott you. Maybe we should stop treating your children when they are sick or refuse to sell you a house or give you a loan or help you with your taxes. You should all bow your heads and thank us. You have shit on our heads for as long as facts have been written. But we are still here and willing to listen to reason. this is not it. Cry all you want for these scum bags. Wait they do make great hummus and foul. I guess i should let them kill me and my family now.

Without the USA $ billions each year,Israel would be no more. Seems also Eygpt,gets $billions to kowtoe by ass kissing Israel

I have two cousins with the name Siegfried..I affectionately call them Siggie. Amira Hass is a lost soul and has turned her back on her Jewish family and entered the dark side with the palestinians. At first when I read her articles I was saddened now I rarely read them because I don't want to get sick. Let her live amongst those that want to destroy her people...I for one never want to see her inside Israel proper..she will desecrate the country.Pitiful stupid woman...and Haaritz is not any better for printing her rubbish that only appeals to those that hate Israel and the Jews. What a combination.

You Are nothing but a despicable Arab apologist and a downright teller of lies. You know that there is no occupation and certainly no illegal settlements other than Arab occupation and land theft by squatters. What a yarn you spin full of deceipt. Jews returned to their homeland and have a right to assert sovereignity as per the League of Nations mandate. You and that appeaser Amira the angry have the unmitigated gall to peach the destruction of Israel both with the connivance of that Nazi connection Haaretz. It is a good thing that people like me put the brakes on your crap that you post and Thank G-d that we are in the majority. Contrary to haaretz wishes I intend to continue to show up your lies. PS STOP USURPING THE BEN GURION LEGACY.

It is very easy for this writer to write on and on about how palestinians are beign mistreated.. he has this luxury thanks to the efforts of his country, the endless work that Israeli soldiers go through to make this writer's country a safe place. A safe place to say what you want to... a safe place to travel... a safe place to rest his head at night... and for all this, the thanks that Israeli government and Israeli soldiers get for this priviledge this writer is one long whine about the rights of palestinians, arabs... What this writer could use is a month long life in Israel without its protection of jews. I am quite sure the whining would stop and the yelling begin, "Where is my protection??HELP HELP HELP!", if he were to even survive the month long ordeal. Its easy to critisize when your so far removed.. perhaps many in Israel need to step into a world without a government to protect them from these "innocent" people that are being put out on this writers account.

it is so fuuny that you pal cry babies jump on the band wagon when some idiot starts chanting your tune. you sorry sad people. why do you think israel has to care about you. do you care about us. do you cry when we are blown up into little pieces when one of your animals finally after waiting so long in line(boo hoo) blows up a bus or disco or pizza parlor "NO" you don't you pigs you pass out candy and dance in the street. what the phuck does this b-tch think she is. our blood is spilled ever day for thousands of years all over the world. Who the phuck comes to our rescue. "WE" do ourselves and we have our historical homeland. no blood thristy whinning monsters are going to take that from us. Burn in the sun and wait and appreciate that we allow you to work like dogs for us. Build my home, wash my dishes and say thank you for that chance to serve me. to all those die hards for these monsters. israel does not care what you think or what you think you know about us or our land.

..someone in Israel sees the truth. Amira Hass should be greatly admired.

30 August 2006 I wish to send a special thanks to Amira for telling the truth and it can be painful indeed. Unfortunately, Israel has allowed itself to be victimized by Zionisim once again. When this happens the voices of citizens are silenced, and only fascist military action taken. There is no reason to balk against the peace proposal of the Secretary of the UN, Koffi Annan. Frankly, I believe the Israeli people do not want war, inspite of the 'talk tough and bomb them out of existence' policies of the prime minister. In fact, many Israelis want this man to go, however who will be his successor and what position will HE take. In other words, the next guy would more than likely be worst, taking the hardline attacks to another extreme. Well, my thoughts are with you. Others in the world realise the plight of many Israeli citizens who are not against their Palestinian neighbours.

POOR DELUDED IGNORANT OF THE FACTS HANNA. Danite is right Amira is an angry at the world journalist for being born Jewish and to compound the problem these Jews will not lie down and die at her behest. Bust hysterical and wild exaggerations are Arab traits so perhaps mental illness is not hereditary and social conditioning works. It worked on you and Amira, Both of you have spent considerable time with Arabs haven't you?

JoJo the last to comment almost called Amira a self hting Jew. lol. It is a shame that he or she would sink to such a level. In the face of reason some can only fall back on their insane belief that belonging to a certain religion makes one a better person than the "goy". Enough already for people like you belong in the mental assylums of history. It is time for the people of Israel and the world to put aside their religious beliefs and see the love in all man kind, together and individually making our invaluable contributions in establishing a world we can all take pride in. A world our children, all our children can be glad to be born into. Shame on JoJo Peace and love to all. Lucy

Since you like precision, I would like to inform you that "projection" is no longer used. A more "precise" word is now used. The word is "transference." Again, response not required.

I will not be long in my writting... I only have a ONE WISH ; Pls people of all religions and of all origins try to be fair to/respect each other... NO religion ask for war and hatered. We are all in the eyes of God HUMANS...

The reason it does not make print is Zionist control of media.....and before you call the ADL about anti semitism on my part , please note........Palestinians are Semetic....So are Iraqis, so are the lebanese.... so are the North African.....and the Saudi's and yes some Israelis are as well.....But Zionism started in Europe in the 1800s....and most of their founders were Aryan(decendents from Iran)that crossed the Caucus Mountains into Europe(thus Caucasian)Please understand this....Not all Zionists are Jewish, and not all Jewish people are Zionist.....thus it is unfortunate that chosen Jewish people are held accountable for Zionist wizardry.....

You previously said you are proud of your grammar and precise English. I find a lot of syntax errors in your responses. The grammar is fine. A few spelling errors here and there. The message is unclear because your responses are hysterical diatribes which are unworthy to read. Get a hold of yourself. I don't think anyone is impressed by your nonsense. However, if you are lonely and want to draw attention to yourself so you will get personal responses, such as this, you have done a wonderful job. I suppose you thrive on that? You don't need to respond. I am not lonely, angry, or need attention.

Many of those who are opposed to the author compare Israel to Arab countries. The point is not to compare to Arab countries, but to do so with developed western nations that don't have any of the discriminatory laws that Israel has. You have to open your eyes, Israel's laws are discriminatory, this is a FACT that any rational being with any inkling of logic would see. So what if Arab countries do this or that, whatever they're doing is very wrong. You should progress, not compare yourself to primitive regimes. I've come across many closed minded people that often sound like Nazis(towards Arabs) which I find extremely ironic. Of course, they will have something to say about my post which I guarantee will not be logical. It seems as though anything they don't agree with is immediately erroneous & anti Israel. Behaviour like this only displays backwardness & pure illogical reactive rage. There was nothing wrong or illogical about the article.

No matter how many times you repeat unprovoked, we know that is not the case, though maybe Israelis are like Americans are not informed of the actions they take against the sovereignty of other nations. Do you really think constant spying on your neighbour is not provoking?. Look how quickly Isreal created the embargo, was it not planned in advance?, we all know it was so stop with the inocenct routine please.

Bravo Amira, Surely there is hope yet for Israel if people such as Amira Hass can be published in a daily newspaper. I hear there's a possible vacancy in the Prime Ministerial area..

Ok, it's a loaded question. But I have to wonder. Why does an article like this get placed in talkback, while the following articel does not: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/756392.html That article describes an event in Jerusalem held by Israeli Jews that is donating money equally to the rebuilding efforts in Israel and Lebanon. What purpose does it serve to allow commentary on the always self-flagellating articles of Ms. Hass, but not on articles that point to the more positive aspects of Israeli culture. I'm glad that Ms. Hass can publish, though I rarely agree with her perspective. But, again, why feature her in talkback at the expense of the more inclusive view represented by other writers? Any thoughts?

Dear Rolf, You are wrong about Christians : we are not "God's Chosen People". The very point of Christianity is that we think that EVERYBODY on this Earth is God's Chosen People. You are also wrong about European newspapers : saying that the State of Israel discriminates its Arab citizens is authorized and has been done many times...and for good reasons : we have freedom of speech, you know. What is not allowed (and for good reasons too) is to say for instance that "All jews are racists", or that "Al muslims are terrorists", etc. Have a good day!

"To all those who are Concerned about the unproportional leftist comments posted on Haaretz and suspect unfair censorship by Haaretz editors" - Viktor Are you afraid that the censors show a bias? If you browse through the various pages, you'll see that everybody now and then gets affected by it, both pro-Israel and anti-Israel posts. Just look at this post; fourth try already, if not more. "Please be vigilant and do not give up on your posts." - Viktor I'd be happy to teach you how to make that simpler. Drop me your email addresss, and I'll give you my consultancy rates.

Good for you Amira, but you are a lovely lonely voice in the wilderness.

Ignoring the actions of the Pals for the last 100 years is your problem

once a just two state solution is implemented, this relationship won't look so lopsided and disgusting. palestinians can return to palestine and jews can return to israel. if amira would read her history, she would see that the blame does in fact rest mostly with palestinian and arab leadership.

Amira tries to be the conscience of Israel. She forgets that life is not always conscience. Unfortunately it is also force and response to suspisions. Does the pronouncement of a single man deserve that much attention? I doubt it; it is Amira's supersensitivity at work. I have no doubt that Israel and more likely individual Jews act irresponsibly, cowardly and pathetically towards Arabs some times; and this needs oversight. But so long as the Arabs cant get themselves to be loyal citizens of Israel but r rather supporters of those who seek to destroy it , I dont see how any praching of morality to Israelis on this subject is more than an exercise in personal conceit. Amira-- R u that conceited?

Have you asked why Islamic states are not condemned as racist by the General Assembly.?Kurds,B'hais,Christians,Jews etc all have cases for discrimanation.It is punishable by death to convert out of Islam why does the G.A. ignore that? Did you know that the vote was reversed?

Sara, you don,t have to do anything. Amira's job is done. I can't beleive this I am a 46 year old Australian male and am f*%#ing crynig.

How convenient to ignore that these events are a REACTION to Arab terror.None of this was present when Israel offered peace in return for ALL the West Bank and Gaza nor for years afterwards. The FENCE went up as a REACTION, the check points and serperate roads are a REACTION.Security at hospitals are a REACTION to failed suicide bombing. It is racists to take it out of context,ignore Palestinian and Arab racism and its ramifications,the terror aimed almost invariably at Isaraeli civillians and the Hamas covenant and scream racist. Above all else ignore the future withdrawal from the West bank which will probably be at least 90%.

You are calling Amira hysterical? Projection, yet again. Please try, when hysterical, to use spell checker, as your posts are almost undecipherable.

Absolutely true. Before the intifadaas Arabs prospered and built new houses by the thousands, Later Israel had to import Thai, Rumanian and Chinese workers as it was too dangerous to have Arab workers. Ergo, poor Arabs! They killed the golden goose and now are whining,,,,

.. countinue Dear Amira.. have you ever tried to live like a Mexican in U.S.? or an African in Europe.. an Israeli in a Muslim country ... maybe an el salvadorian in Mexico... or Cuba? or an Iranian in Holland ? should I go on? face it Bubale... it's a screwed up world and don't tell me we Jews envented it this way.. because even Kambodians had a Holucost.. again let's give or have an enferior feeling about how we dealing with "some who chose to live with us" rather than going to some neiboring Arab country Love Revach

god bless you, Amira Hass Domenico Accili, MD Columbia University New York, NY

Dear Amira I sould say you are cute! you have a lovely soul. I do believe every Jew feels just like you and maybe even kinder.. we Jews love to live in your dream world where all equal and love is in the air. Unfortunately dear Amira we live in a jungle called the earth which it rules to live like how we are trying to live ..even in our little lovely country of Israel.. remember even when we wanted to be around "them" how we were treated.. why we go so far let's try to live in France the peek of your ideal country now. see how many jews are leaving that excelent country for the reasons we all know... don't you please ruin our lovely Israel's rules. then it will have nothing in common with any other country.. or you have more ideal place in mind. like in Europe or Asia, Africa? New zeland? or is there any country that you have in mind? like Syria? or Iran? Afghanitan? Swizterland? China? U.S.? don't know how you pampered you were brought up. remember you are out of school world now!

I am so sorry to see a Jew disengage from all that is holly and sacred. I feel as if a person like Amira is not entitled to the elevated position of having been born a Jew. As a person who has tried and is still trying to convert to Judaism, I think she is koferet ba'ikar, she misses the main point about Jewish compassion. What does she write when Israelis are killed? Does she ever write about that, or is she only concerned about the materialistic and destructive Arab world?

"To all those who are Concerned about the unproportional leftist comments posted on Haaretz and suspect unfair censorship by Haaretz editors" - Viktor Are you afraid that the censors show a bias? If you browse through the various pages, you'll see that everybody now and then gets affected by it, both pro-Israel and anti-Israel posts. Just look at this post; fourth try already, if not more. "Please be vigilant and do not give up on your posts." - Viktor I'd be happy to teach you how to make that simpler. Drop me your email addresss, and I'll give you my consultancy rates.

Good God of heaven, who can't see the incredible injustice and war crimes beging committed daily by the occupational forces in occupied Palestine? Jews see the checkpoints, the tanks, the jewish only roads, the illegal settlements, the discrimination, the assassinations, the daily hell average Palestinians must endure just to get through to the next day, but the question is not seeing or hearing, BUT DO THEY CARE, do they give a damn what Jews do to NON-JEWS? They have been programmed to only care about what IS DONE TO JEWS and admittedly, this is new way of thinking for Jews, as they never had armies or been brutes or opressors before and so the Zionist sold the myth they are victims and sold the myth they are David fighting the Palestinian Goliath and sadly, as we have seen during Nazi Germany, PROPAGANDA AND BRAINWASHING WORKS. I have lived in America and know all too well how Jews in America fight hard--if not the hardest--to protect rights of minorities, the underpriviliged and fight against discrimination of any kind. Jews know what's happening in Israel is dead wrong but do they care enough to rock the very fragile Zionist boat? From their view, it's the only little boat we got to call our own but is that a moral reason to remain silent against grave injustice?

You write such nonsense. Why not try to read the Koran or, indeed, any book before you make a fool out of yourself in a public forum. We all know why so-called Israel commits war crimes and crimes against humanity. If you are going to try to make excuses for zionist genocide, do try to do it with more intelligence.

Take it easy Gabe. Hannah and her cohorts need attention, so they exude poison in order to get responses from people who find the intelligence level of their response a few notches below that of retarded mosquitoes. Lonely people do that. It gets attention and they thrive on it. Pity. They may have something interesting to say which would contribute to civil dialogue and even better understanding. As it stands, anything resembling something interesting is being overshadowed by their incoherent and juvenile diatribes.

Yup, in precisely the same way that Jews, particularly those in the Warsaw Ghetto, were solely responsible for bringing the Holocaust upon themselves. Imagine: They demanded suicide for themselves and six million of their own people.

At present, a fool's radicalism is to be an antisemite. To consider Israel's continuous effort to survive in the Middle East as a crime against humanity is, to say the least, a falacy. It is more than a falacy. It is a coward's stance. To remember at all times that there's no other land but the land of Israel where Jews can live not only as individuals, but also as a people, that is the main call for a Jew. Holocaust? Holocaust is the systematic extermination of a people, and - leave alone ill willing people who harbour hatred for the Jews - would never dare make the disparate comparison. It takes true courage to admit that we, the Jews, Israel's raison d'etre, are trapped in the Middle East, suffer awful losses, are confronted with our own extermination on a daily basis and, on top of it all, are hypocritically blamed for trying to defend ourselves. I wouldn't publish Amira's articles, not even in order to please the readers of the English edition.

There is only one thing to say about Amira Hass and that is the fact that all of the Israel bashers and Jew haters climb out of the gutter in support of her.. What is wrong with this picture,,,, ..that she only appeals to those that want the destruction of Israel. Amira you might live amongst the palestinians and carry the torch for them but mark my words when you are no longer necessary for their cause you will cease to become their supporter and return to being a Jew......then you will have to worry. .. and PLEASE do not come back to Israel..you have made your bed now sleep in it.By the way does anyone know if Hass is married to a palestinian or if she dates one.. maybe she is brainwashed?

Wow...I read your blog on the Haaretz website. You are beautiful. Thank you.

"I CANCELLED MY DAILY SUBSCRIPTION TO HAARETZ" - ALLCAPS, LOONY BIN, ISRAEL Then why are you here telling us? Let me guess. No, why bother.

Danite, it is easy to be an "idealist' when you don't have to deal with reality. Dealing with reality is hell on ideals and morals. You confuse the actions of men suddenly - and sooner than they planned - thrust into having to deal with the reality of governing with desperation. You are also confusing a first bargaining position with a final offer. At this time Hizbollah is showing restraint in Gaza. Islamic Jihad is making trouble, even some elements of Fatah, but Hamas has shown great restraint. They are doing so for a reason - a political reason - and not out of fear. They are not my sort of people. I generally have a problem with religious fanatics that want to control society for it's own good. But Hamas is not an organization driven by insane hatred or cowardice. The plan to destroy Abbas worked. Israel ended up with Hamas. Might as well deal with Abbas and Hamas as what will be left later if the plan to destroy Hamas works - Islamic Jihad.

Could it be that you are suggesting that missles and rockets and guns and bomb belts should be built and fired from closer range? could it be that your emotional concern for the consequences of others actions, makes you wish you were dead than to have to live with the reality that every decsion has conseqences? and that the collective decisions of the unrepentant Jew haters, in the leadership of child sacrificing whoremongers who would unashamedly kill you rather than to let you hold a democratic government that serves them. Arab-Israelis live better and have greater freedom than any Jew in any Arab nation, BAR NONE! But that is not enough. Intolerance, envy, strife, and unrest are the fruit and meat of fanatic Islam. If moderate Islam exists, which I don't have faith it does, it sure isn't in control anywhere in your neighborhood!

and that is the eye that sees the Palestinian suffering. I wonder if she was up North to see the rockets falling on Israeli children and women both Jews and Arabs. Could it be, Amira, that you agree with such brutal intentional murder of innocent people, could it be that you have forgotten the last 60 years of hatred and incitement against Jews by Arabs, could it be that you agree with all the anti-Semitism spewing from the mouths of Muslim leaders. Could it be that you need to open your other eye to see both sides of this sad story?

"Israel should control its appetite." - Ben Gurion How typical of Ben Gurion. A uncanny combination of Pragmatists, Idealist, and Dreamer. Israel still has it's rejectionists. Witness the four fools who beat up some IDF to return to their settlement. The Revisionists wanted it all Mr. Ben Gurion. Practical dreamers were happy to hang on to more than anyone thought possible.

Hi Bor! Still working that new age anti-Semitic "nazi-Zionist" angle,I see. Good to see that your are determined in one part of your life.Your rants become you;they let us see your soul. However, something happened today which puts in in juxtaposition and clarity. A great man passed; you wouldn't know him. His name was Naghib Maufuz;great Egyptian writer, winner of Nobel Literature Prize, lover of peace, proponent of co-existence with Israel, hater of religious extremism. His books will always be with us. He will be missed. ---You will not be. Keep Up the Good Steady Hate-You remind us why Mahfuz was great, and why you are a mere pimple of a person. Write Soon! Shalom!

It seems the Emperor doesnt like being told he's naked. M.

We do see it, we're not stupid. But the Palestinians are the cause of so much grief for us, that we choose not to care. You may say that they've turned us into the barbarians they once said we were, and you'd be right. But we still don't care.

AMIRA ! You are great, people like you can safe the world from a new wave of anti-jewisness, cause more and more people see no differance between the israeli regime and it's unbelievable satanic deeds, and true and normal jews around the world (incl. israel).

Had Israel not treated others with such brutality, the situation would be different. Just like fundamentalist Moslems there are fundamentalist Jews aka Zionists. Treat someone like an animal and keep tem in cages and control their food and water with no mercy or value for their life and you be the recipient of animal like rage.

Hi Bor! Still working that new age anti-Semitic "nazi-Zionist" angle,I see. Good to see that your are determined in one part of your life.Your rants become you;they let us see your soul. However, something happened today which puts in in juxtaposition and clarity. A great man passed; you wouldn't know him. His name was Naghib Maufuz;great Egyptian writer, winner of Nobel Literature Prize, lover of peace, proponent of co-existence with Israel, hater of religious extremism. His books will always be with us. He will be missed. ---You will not. Write Soon! Shalom!

When the pals had access to the same roads, they used the occasion to kill Israelis. This is the reason for preventing them to use those roads. If they were peaceful people, there would be no need to have separate roads.

Amira Haas is right. Israel's Declaration of Independence calls for equality of all citizens. It's about time that the bulk of Israeli Jews make this a reality. For that matter, American Jews, who generally have been at the forefront of movements for equality among peoples in the US, should get interested in promoting equality within Israel's borders too. One can be a Zionist, supporting Israel as a place where Jews can live safely and freely, and at the same time insist that non-Jewish Israelis deserve the same.

"To all those who are Concerned about the unproportional leftist comments posted on Haaretz and suspect unfair censorship by Haaretz editors" - Viktor Are you afraid that the censors show a bias? If you browse through the various pages, you'll see that everybody now and then gets affected by it, both pro-Israel and anti-Israel posts. Just look at this post; fourth try already, if not more. "Please be vigilant and do not give up on your posts." - Viktor I'd be happy to teach you how to make that simpler. Drop me your email addresss, and I'll give you my consultancy rates.

dear amira, you are a living saint.we pray that God will grant you eternal blessings and the graces necessary to persevere. i am fowarding you article to the los angeles sentinel for reprint a very small newspaper but all of the readership will will relate to your article can you really not see?God bless verdun

I am glad that there are few in Israel who have not bowed to neoconservatism. There is indeed hope for the future of the world. Well done Amira!!

Who marginalised Abbas? it was the Israelis who pretended to want solutions and peace but were not willing to back the moderates other than offer lip service. If they want peace then they should make the sacrifice and make substantial concessions. Not being genuine with Abbas with deals lead to the turn of the palestinialn public to Hamas. Wake up all of you anti Amira you want 100% of the cake whihc you will not have only when you make the concession will you get the peace that all of our kids and yours desrve and we owe it to them if we have any sense or love to the human race.

Mr. Sullivan and the author of this article would certainly have what to talk about but may not be compatible in other respects. Just do a Google on Yaakov Sullivan and "A Queer Carol", to understand why. Here's another reason why Sully spends so much of his time deamonizing Israel. http://www.xxxxx.dircon.co.uk/Cart/1ys.htm A "convert to traditional Judaism" - Who converted him ? Mel Gibson ?

But it's with the enemy. Congratulations.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on armed Palestinian groups that are firing rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip, saying they were responsible for bringing death and destruction to the Palestinians. Addressing thousands of Palestinian demonstrators outside his office in Ramallah, Abbas said: "So far we have about 250 martyrs in the Gaza Strip and thousands of wounded people and destroyed houses. Why? What are the reasons for this? Let's start searching for the reason for all this." Abbas was referring to the number of Palestinians who have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the kidnapping last June of IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit. His comments, which were interpreted as an implicit criticism of Hamas and its government. (Source: today's JPost headline). People like Amira Hass see only the consequences, never try to find out the reasons. Disgusting.

History shows us that Arabs had a golden era long ago. They are now in a dark era where they even fight one another to death. If they want to change that and live in modern times, they should recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Mrs Hass is precisely not helping Arabs make the move. She wants them to keep their old habits and prejudices. She wants Israel to change instead of asking Arabs to adapt to modern times and stop working towards the destruction of the Jewish state. This seems to be the only objective they have.

Hi Bor! Still working that new age anti-Semitic "nazi-Zionist" angle,I see. Good to see that your are determined in one part of your life.Your rants become you;they let us see your soul. However, something happened today which puts in in juxtaposition and clarity. A great man passed; you wouldn't know him. His name was Naghib Maufuz;great Egyptian writer, winner of Nobel Literature Prize, lover of peace, proponent of co-existence with Israel, hater of religious extremism. His books will always be with us. He will be missed. ---You will not be. Keep Up the Good Steady Hate-You remind us why Mahfuz was great, and why you are a mere pimple of a person. Write Soon! Shalom!

Yes, we see, Amira. And we call it normal war time procedures. Oh, yourself and your Arab, Iranians and French friends don't like it? Well, sorry. Survival, you know, is the name of the game. NEVER AGAIN!

It is obvious that the USA cannot sit down with Israeli and/or "American" Jewish negotiators and expect to achieve results that will protect American interests. It is also obvious that the American "neo-conservative" movement has been heavily permeated by zionist Jews. Now bear with me, with these "neo-conservatives" leading the choir for Israel here and the USA having a president that got his "knowledge" of Israel and the Middle East (ME) after a tour with Sharon and that famous helicopter ride, is it really hard to understand that the American ME foreign policy is such a mess? This bush Bush is being taken for a ride and accepts all the inhumanity that Israel dishes out. Since whenever..... What a fool.... And what Israeli fools keep pursuing their own long term destruction. Only they are not aware of it and the innocent Jews will pay for the sins of the guilty. Trust me - it is matter of no more than 8 to 10 years.............

Hizballah are being asked to disarm. This would leave Lebanon defenceless.

I was trying to read #245 Michael Greenberg's post.It turns out it is part 3.So what happened to his PART ONE,AND TWO?? No monkey business please.I sent a couple more myself.But that is not why I am a bit annoyed now...

OK. So why does Israel go through all of this?

If "Israel" don't treat its citizens equally, and this is the truth because they distinguish between a russian jew and a polish jew, a jew from the east is treated differently from a jew who migrated from the west, etc... What do you expect from them with Isareli Arabs? I believe Israel should give up the north to Palestine. and Leave them alone

When the pals had access to the same roads, they used the occasion to kill Israelis. This is the reason for preventing them to use those roads. If they were peaceful people, there would be no need to have separate roads.

Dear Mr. Ehud, your words give me hope, they come from the heart of a real Jew. All the Jews that I met in the State, Lebanon, egypt has been good loving people, I go crazy when I hear and read some of the racist horrible things written and justfied in some of the talkback. I am so glad I read yours, it give me hope that maybe someday we can sit all around a table and have fun and exchange love and friendship, I know that I am day dreaming but I rather be dreaming then seeing this horrible reality, everyone please read #161.

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT,WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. BY THAT I AM INFERRING THAT OUR PEOPLE AND COUNTRY COME FIRST AND FOREMOST...

"Has any Arab country given the same rights to muslims and non-muslims ?" lebanon

Thank you. You are reminding us that we should all be equal no matter of our race or religion. Peace to you from a person who lost many members of his relatives in S. Lebanon due to the IDF air strik. Many children lost their lives for no good reason. They use to have names but then only numbers to identify them. No place was safe in Lebanon or north of Israel and did not bring back the two Israeli soldiers. Many died and no longer are with us and for what? UN 1701. Congradulation IDF, Olmert and Bush on this victory by killed more than 1,300 Lebanese civilians most of them children, destroyed many bridges made an environmental desaster and many many homes destroyed as having had anything to do with Hezbollah.

GF I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU'D CANCELLED YOUR SUBSCRIPTION A LONG TIME AGO... p/s Haaretz is using its usual censorship tool again I see...

When I ask a reasonable question about the quality of the IDF, I do not expect a response about where I should or should not live. At any rate, there is absolutely no point in trying to discuss anything rationally with one such as you who is in such deep denial about the reality around him.

It is maddening to read the "Israel, right or (never) wrong, my country" fanatics' diatribes. They use the eternal "anti-semite" and/or "self-hating Jew" as if it still had any significance. When they (and the American "neo-conservatives") abandon the smallest indication of justice in order to buttress their arguments, they in turn give Israel a free hand to use strength without any sense of justice. This allows Israeli tyranny over its "Untermenschen" to turn themselves into "Uebermenschen". Coming to think of it, this sounds like what some Nazi homeboys did back in the 1930s & 40s. Was it wrong then? Is it wrong now?

I am very happy to see that even in the darkest nights there is still hope. We whould do a register of the 'justes entre les nations" . Your name would be at the top of the list. As well as many names of anonimous Israeli who do not support the system. Thank you!!!

Hi Maral! You wrote: "But why is it that the others don`t? It`s not about "can you really not see?". It`s about "why the hell can`t you?" I suppose your answer is found in the parallel universe to your question and Amira's. To suppose I, as an Israeli, "cannot see," presupposes that I am not human or "un" human. Yet,if an Arab leftist yelled in rage at the Arab masses, "Why do you tolerate Jew hating and fearing "the infidel"? Why do you not see that Shari'a "dhimmi" law is anachronistic"? Why are you willing collaborators in denying your people freedom while teaching hate to your children and loving them as Shahids but not as builders of a new society? Why do you blame the "other" for our society's own failings?" I suppose the reaction of my average Arab friend would be, to say, "who are you to say we cannot see these things?-we live with them everyday. You can afford to rant, we cannot. But it is we,the people who change things, you, the ranters, never do." Shalom!

And that's why they retreated, weeping and sobbing? Many of the IDF dead were shot while running away. The IDF was not capable of taking one small hillside village in three days of trying, but they did succeed in losing 30 'men'. And this is 'success' of the rank-and-file? I agree with you about the upper echelons of the same IDF. I simply see the entire organization as being cut from the same cloth.

30 August 2006 Dear Staff: I am writing in response to the article by Amira Hass, who is trying to explain the opinion that is often hidden in military posturing of Israel, the need to remain humane. Right now Israel has the support of the leading Western nations especially the United States, which gives consent to every political move made by within the holy land. Still, the voices of many Israeli residents are never heard outside this land. At the beginning of the war that lasted several weeks, on South Lebanon and Gaza, at least five hundred Israeli citizens protested the bombing and aggresive position taken by the prime minister and staff. These people were treated inhumanely themselves, the story buried amidst the 'tough response' against Hezbollah. What became of these voices so quickly silenced by other horror stories of war and attacks? I believe many of the world's people would like to know what the people of Israel do when their are not signing bombs to be dropped on their enemies. Is that so hard to tolerate? The voices being silenced are the true voices of Israel. Is it getting harder to see the future?

You are the most decent and honorable woman for telling the truth like it is. I salute your courage. As a Palelestinian American you brought tears into eyes after reading your article. Thanks for your honesty and thanks to Haaretz for having wisdom and courage to publish your article.

I you only stop stealing their lands and build roads to sever your illegal settlemt and destroying their homes and killing their children, they will stop being"Murderer" if you try to take my house and say "God gave it to us" and take my land and say "God gave it to Us "and take my farms and say "God gave it to us" then screw you God,he did not tell me that and I donot believe in your God. So leave the west bank and build a bigger wall, make it thicker and give them an outlet to the world so they can live in peace.

Sarah Don't start blaming the media or whoever.If you are so concerned and really want to do something,at the same time feel Israel should be strong and free.You have a choise. Have you no mind of your own? Are you so bereft from thinking without outside help? First you tell Amira about Israel's survival,and its consequence should they give in etc. In your next post(Isent you a response)you are begging her to help you. Give me a break Sarah!Make up your mind.You cannot have it both ways,either one or not at all...END

You can lie all you want about the Arab and Muslims, yes there a lot of people who hate you now but not all, There are people who do not know how to hate but they are frustrated with your continious killing of the Palestinians. It is true that Israel is not the only guilty party here, most Arab leaders are worthless, but we do not hate the general pucplic, we are agianst your appartheid system and more and more are shifting to the hate zone but it was not born with us, it was the results of 58 years of atrocities.

Hi Bor! Still working that new age anti-Semitic "nazi-Zionist" angle,I see. Good to see that your are determined in one part of your life.Your rants become you;they let us see your soul. However, something happened today which puts in in juxtaposition and clarity. A great man passed; you wouldn't know him. His name was Naghib Maufuz;great Egyptian writer, winner of Nobel Literature Prize, lover of peace, proponent of co-existence with Israel, hater of religious extremism. His books will always be with us. He will be missed. ---You will not be. Keep Up the Good Steady Hate-You remind us why Mahfuz was great, and why you are a mere pimple of a person. Write Soon! Shalom!

"To all those who are Concerned about the unproportional leftist comments posted on Haaretz and suspect unfair censorship by Haaretz editors" - Viktor Are you afraid that the censors show a bias? If you browse through the various pages, you'll see that everybody now and then gets affected by it, both pro-Israel and anti-Israel posts. "Please be vigilant and do not give up on your posts." - Viktor I'd be happy to share with you the script I wrote to do exactly that.

SLAVISHLY PRAISING HER TO THE SKIES. NEED WE SAY MORE?? END

How nice of Amira Hass to recite the Al Chet--the communal confession of sins on Yom Kippur--but she talks as if the Other Side is without sin. Speaking about racism, what about the Palestinians, with their determination to render Judenrein every last bit of territory Israel hands over to them? Are they not racist? Israel has a 20% non-Jewish minority: how large a Jewish minority would a Palestinian state be prepared to tolerate? What about all the Arab countries that ethnically cleansed their ancient Jewish communities after 1948? We can't even compare Israel's treatment of its non-Jewish citizens with Arab treatment of their Jewish minorities, since for all intents and purposes, those minorities no longer exist. So who are the real racists? No more double standards, please!

Sara You can debase yourself if you like.But bear in mind though,that not once,or ever,has she come out and condemned the people she lives among who murdered our innocent civilians by her proteges. She does not merit any accolade or any help from you dear Sarah! You'd well to feel compassion about your people who's life was terminated by her dearly beloved THUGS! END

What a surprise. Is seems that Amira is still surprised about the cowardice of all the intellectual people knowing,and sometime approving by their silence, if not more, the criminal behaviour their democratic elected criminal leader. The problem is, that beside that she is chocked by the incredible situation of the people of Palestine, she is not telling us how to stop it Meanwhile for our daily breakfast killed women and killed children will be served.

there is no place in the Quran where you can find that muslims are the pepole chosen by god...in fact it is the oposite, in many verses of the Quaran, you can find the the nation of sons of Israel were the chosen of god. And they still can be the chosen nations if they protect justice ou good deeds...and for any normal human being what israel is doing with palestinians is not justice at all..for us muslims we don't even have the right to be unfair with animals how can you say that you are for god justice if you keep treating palestinians like you do.....and second I grew up in morocco (casablanca) and all my neighbours were and are still jewish families...and we all lived in peace supporting each other in goog moments and bad moments of life. So yes at least in some arabic countries it was and it is still possible to see jewish and muslims in peace...thats why even if I see what is happening there in Israel (for both jewish and muslims)I will never be able to hate jewish..

..and America's shame. Martin Luther King If there were no brutal laws and if there peace and equality there will no longer be tunnels, weapons, suicide attacks or anything of that sort. The USA changed it's laws and adapted and do did South Africa and so will Isreal. No nation can go on being at war all the time. "UN clearance experts had so far found 100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets at 359 separate sites. What's shocking and completely immoral is: 90% of the cluster bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict, when we knew there would be a resolution," Jan Egeland talking about the recently concluded war with Hezbollah. You are a shameful immoral country and the supporters of the horrible Israeli laws and your leaders should hide in a hole till they depart this earth.

Long overdue.

Mr Egeland said today the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre had assessed "nearly 85 per cent of bombed areas in south Lebanon" and identified "359 separate cluster bomb strike locations that are contaminated with as many 100,000 unexploded bomblets". "What's shocking and I would say completely immoral is that 90 per cent of the cluster bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict when we knew there would be a resolution, when we knew there would be an end," Solution: Call it an anti-Semitic lie and ignore. Even better Mr. Haaretz censor just squash this post. There, that was easy!

Those who disagree with Amira's point of view seem only to be able to attack her and HaAretz in very nasty ways. The only conclusion I can come to is that the truth hurts and the nastiness is born from Amira's efforts to pierce their denial. EVERY SINGLE HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, B'TZELEM, CONFIRMS WHAT SHE STATES IN HER EDITORIAL. It is so easy, isn't it, to have a knee-jerk defensive reaction and simply dismiss the truth by saying, "they deserve it," "it's their fault," "if they do the right thing first, then we will too," etc. What's wrong with that rationale is that it is not democratic, it is not moral or ethical, and it is most certaintly not Jewish! The way Israel treats its most vulnerable citizens & minorities is the measure of the strength of its democratic values. How strongly you adhere to your values in the face of adversity and fear, shows your strength of character. Amira has immense strength of character.

All Rolf will do is deny, deny, deny and deny. For him the world can only be against the Jews. Period. The irony is that zionism was meant to solve all this, to restore the Jew to a natural status, of a producer rooted to his ancestral land, no longer existing on the whims of anti-semites. Look what it has created. It is just another example in the long list that goes to show that those once persecuted when they get the power become the persecuted. All that they have produced is the worlds biggest ghetto, hardly a normal state.

Why do the Jews risk there precious lives to make the life of Palestinians harder? There is a reason. We don't do if for fun. Professors always look into reasons why suicide bombers kill themselves but they never ask why Israel would keep occupying a land that has no resources. Think. They started it the conflict by not acknowledging their own Quran that admits that the jews settled in Israel before there where any Muslims. This is the problem, not that Israel has thirst to goes conflict.. Hey professors, ask why Israel occupies. You were smart enough to ask why the bomber kills himself and innocents but you stop there. Ask why Israel goes through all of this.