I am not declaring loyalty
The time has come that all of us, irrespective of whether we are Jews or Muslims, ultra-Orthodox or secular, declare our loyalty to the only Jewish democracy in the world. On one condition: the declaration ceremony would take place in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, following a tour of the center of Hebron.
By Akiva Eldar
HEBRON - Why is the government requiring only those seeking citizenship to have to declare their loyalty to a Jewish and democratic state? I want to do it too!
The time has come that all of us, irrespective of whether we are Jews or Muslims, ultra-Orthodox or secular, declare our loyalty to the only Jewish democracy in the world. On one condition: the declaration ceremony would take place in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, following a tour of the center of Hebron.
Every Israeli citizen will then know what his country is doing in his name in the city of the patriarchs. Every Hebrew mother will know "where the only democracy in the Middle East" is sending its sons. Those who like what they see will sign the declaration. Those who will not find in Hebron proof of Jewish values and principles of democracy will refuse.
Before embarking on an educational tour in the center of Hebron, we should take a refresher course: the Hebron Agreement, which was signed in 1997 between the Netanyahu government and the Palestinian Authority, divided Hebron into an Arab area controlled by the PA (H1 ), and a Jewish area controlled by the IDF (H2 ). In the Arab area live 120,000 Palestinians, and in the Jewish area, which includes the old city and the city's commercial center, there are 500 Jews and 30,000 Arabs. In order to prevent friction, Israel has imposed tough rules of physical separation between the two populations and harsh limits on the movement of the Palestinian population in most of H2.
A pack of panting dogs met us at the beginning of Shuhada Street, which cuts through the old quarter of Hebron toward the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The doors of the shops were shut and the market was empty.
Someone covered racist graffiti with smiling faces on a pink background.
A survey of the area around Jewish settlement in the city conducted by B'Tselem and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel in late 2006 found that 1,829 Palestinian businesses (more than 75 percent of all businesses in the area surveyed ) had been closed in recent years. More than 1,000 housing units (42 percent ) in the area surveyed were abandoned.
Yehuda Shaul, founder of Breaking the Silence, says that more than 40 percent of the Palestinian residents have left the area.
Bored soldiers peered at the visitors, and once they were sure that they were "ours" they moved on (perhaps for dance practice ). Even though the IDF told the High Court of Justice two years ago that the ban on Palestinians movement in the streets was lifted, they do not dare come close to this area.
They know that at every street corner they will be asked to show their identity cards and they will be searched. Eran Efrati, who served at the Abu Snuneh post in 2007, says that instructions in the briefing room contained an order to make the residents "feel persecuted."
In the Breaking the Silence database there are testimonies of soldiers who describe creative ways for creating such a feeling. For example, holding a population survey in the middle of the night (the IDF calls it "mapping" ), or banging on pots.
A skinny youth, fringes hanging from under his shirt, is galloping through a field on a white horse. At the bottom of Beit Hadassah, Shaul fixes his black kippa and points to the Palestinian girls' school.
He says that he has a video clip in his office which shows the customary way the neighboring Jewish kids kill their boredom over Shabbat, by throwing stones at the girls.
In an alley leading to the wholesale market, closed following the massacre at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in early 1994, a group of young Jews pushes a cart loaded with building materials. Behind the barred doors of the shops, under the noses of the soldiers, another small settlement is staring.
At the entrance to the Tomb of the Patriarchs our path was blocked by six Border Policemen. Their commander, who was rushed to meet us says that we had been barred from entering the site with Yehuda Shaul, because he belongs to a group with a "political character." The officer confirmed that one or two days earlier, Noam Arnon, the spokesman for the Jewish community in Hebron, accompanied a group of visitors into the Tomb of the Patriarchs on behalf of the Foreign Ministry. The settlers in Hebron, as is well known, are a group without "political character."
The actions of the state in the city where the Patriarchs of the nation are buried, in Sheikh Jarrah, in the Jordan Valley and in the Gaza Strip, have nothing to do with Judaism or democracy. So long as this is the face of the Jewish democratic State, I refuse to declare my loyalty to it.
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"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” - Edward Abbey (American writer)
The problem with loyalty oaths is that those who really want to do you harm are unlikely to hesitate to swear to a loyalty oath. "I was planning on killing you but now I won't because I am too honorable to lie about my intentions"??? Shades of Joseph McCarthy and grow up already.
Berlin could be your Jerusalem
you have no credibility: and amira hass and gideon levi refused to criticize the arabs who savagely lynched two jews dipping their hands in their blood and pulliong out their intenstines.
THANK YOU, Akiva! Well put. The state actions you named in your last paragraph have NOTHING to do with Judaism or democracy. In face, they are morally wrong actions. Good job, Mr. Elder! Kathy Kamp
Who themselves - for their own peace of mind - prefer that it be kept that way. Israel is in its first stages of becoming a full fledged fascist state, and its people are doing the exact same thing, for the exact same reasons, that others have done as its evil began taking root in their country: they're buying into its nationalist fervor and patriotic rhetoric, while closing their minds and eyes to the details of the injustice, persecution, and oppression it involves. The fault of course is NOT with the state of Israel - it's with the fascist who are increasingly in control of its government. IT is THEY who are not worthy of your allegiance - only keep in mind by denying that allegiance, you will become an "enemy" of the state and subject to arrest and confinement according to the laws they will enact defining you as such. And none will raise a voice in your defense, lest THEY be perceived the same.
And it is the second holiest Jewish place. Did you not know this, Akiva Eldar? Did you also not know by the way that in 1929 Arabs masacrad all Jews in the city?
With the same breath admonishes the REAL JEWS who revere the SECOND MOST HOLY PLACE in Judaism.Where King David stayed for 7 years made it his CAPITAL precisely for the reason of ITS HOLINESS.Of course he knows it Boruch,he is trying as do the rest of the Haaretz writers...
Never was and never will be. This nonsense article is just a thin excuse. Kissing Arafat is more his style.
Mr. Eladar, You represent a very interesting, and highly unique, opinion of what loyalty means. I understand that you do not support the policies you outlined in your piece, but if you live in the state of Israel, are a citizen, vote and wish to make your country a better one, then you are a loyal citizen of the state of Israel. This strange problem you have about writing it down or saying it out loud is quite puzzling. For those people reading the comments, you should understand than Mr. Eladar is not alone in this refusal. Loyalty to one's nation does not mean blindly supporting all of its policies and actions. It means that you support its existence and work to change it to be the best possible nation.
Its so shameful and disgusting! I didn.t know that Israel is so lowly in Hebron. What a brute democracy also the only democracy in the middle east..
Having been in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron, I had the experience of seeing and meeting the worst face of the settlers. Their children talk of driving Arabs out of the West Bank to Jordan while throwing stones at Arab girls on their way to school. Acceptance of diversity, whether Arabs or non-conforming Jews, is essential in a democratic state. If Israel cannot control and direct the Jewish zealots to accept diversity and equality, there is no meaning in having a Jewish nation-state. Our heritage is too significant to sacrifice for a nationalism of intolerance.
The state respects you the way you respect state
Ahmed wants to have his cake,and eat it too. That he has the right even to voice his displeasur he must understand,were he living in any Arab state,he'd be put in klink without batting an eye with.
Why do you provide detailed elaboration of every real or imagined Israeli infraction, but provide neither context nor mention of the extensive and deadly Arab attrocities against Jews living iand worshiping in the area? What of the murder of the infant Shalhevet Pass, what of the massacre of Jewish worshipers on the way to prayer, what of the Arab generated mayhem and numerous murders of Jews over many years. Why do you not , in the interest of fair reporting, even mention those? Because the Arabs massacred virtually all Jews living in Hebron in 1929, does that now mean Jews are wrong for wanting to now live there? You logic is at best suspect.
If more Israelis and Palestinians thought like you then we would soon find peace in a bi-national secular and democratic state in the historic holy lands. This is exactly what is needed a free democratic secular state with equal rights to all its citizens
Dear Ant of UK ! Be sure that most palestinian people have the same way of thinking like Mr.Eldar . The extremist israelis will never get free from their historic complex unless they open their minds and think like you or Akiva. A new government and new young leaders may arise and free jews from thes close-minded leaders.
and doing that is just stupid.
We already know Akiva is a disloyal citizen.
Even if this problem you described were eradicated and 100 more like it you would still hate the concept of a Jewish state. So please don't be disingenous. Be honest. You aren't fooling anyone
Point me one of the writers here wo woild feel,write a complimetary one verseus one of their own? Oh I know of one,.but he is not a regular writer of their clique..And he is Nadav Shragai.I guess why do not see him here often. That he is not fooling everyone,---at least ,most all (except the Israeli bashers) is no surprise.
It seems a lot of the commenters here are missing the point. Rather than squabble over the history of Hebron, realize that Israel is engaged in a very undemocratic oppression of non-Jewish Palestinians. if you're so worried about maintaining the character of Israel as Jewish and democratic, you must first fix the occupation, not enact loyalty oaths that limit people's freedom of thought and identity.
It seems a lot of the commenters here are missing the point. Rather than squabble over the history of Hebron, realize that Israel is engaged in a very undemocratic oppression of non-Jewish Palestinians. if you're so worried about maintaining the character of Israel as Jewish and democratic, you must first fix the occupation, not enact loyalty oaths that limit people's freedom of thought and identity.
I assume you want to be in a democratic state. So you can convert yourself to another religion, try Roman Catholic, its an easy transition, and later you can even tell yourself : "yesterday I was a Christ Killer but now I am absolved". But be careful, maybe you will meet Jesus in heaven (and I wish you a very long life), and he can be upset at you - he died as a Jew in Israel, along with many others, under much sufferings, mainly in order to be true to his faith - Judaism.
A stare based on religion cannot be democratic, this simply does not go together. Democracy means equality of all citizens, while a religious state discriminates between citizens on the basis of religion. What would you say if Italian Jews were forced to swear loyalty to catholicism?
A Jew is a person whose mother is Jewish. His/her identity has nothing to do with his or her religion.
What else would you expect from a disloyal citizen?
You fail to mention that all the restrictions are due to Arabs not tolerating Jews continuing to live in a place they have a right to be. It is their own fault, and the situation will change when their attitude changes!
have fun in gäza
The expression appears in the law, but is undefined! I don't believe anybody actually ever bothered to define it. There is a basic contradiction between being "Jewish" and "Democratic". Suppose the number of Arabs becomes larger than the number of Jews, would the state still remain Jewish? In what sense? So far, the Supreme Court has to grapple with the meaning whenever a case comes up. For example, by law a party or an individual cannot run for elections if they deny the nature of Israel as Jewish and Democratic. Do the Islamist Knesset members violate this? According to the Court, no. Does the Communist Party, which rejects differences between people on the basis of ethnicity and considers differences based on economics more fundamental, is elligible to run? I don't think this was ever in question. Had I been a Palestinian wishing to attain Israeli citizenship I would have agreed to pledge this meaningless pledge.
the sole purpose of such a law is to ensure that people who seek immigration are willing to recognise that israel is the homeland of the jewish people and that she is founded and wil keep democratic principles.
You came up with such a brief definition of Jewish and Democratic for the oath of allegiance that it is a wonder why it did not replace the statement "Jewish and Democratic" at the cost of a few extra words. The answer, of course, is that your definition does not exhaust the meaning the framers intend the brief phrase to have. But as an unreal character, this is beyond your imagination. So go deal with the Amen Gallery. Leave reality to non-luftmenschen.
There you go leftist boy...mr award winning leftist journalist...which is by the way, a useless award given to you by cronies from one side of the divide...which in essence makes it worthless.
That there's actually an international law against this as well. Check out Art. 45 of the Hague convention (iv). "Art. 45. It is forbidden to compel the inhabitants of occupied territory to swear allegiance to the hostile Power. " Maybe there can be an exception for people living in East Jerusalem?
That Israel is occupied by Arabs. When even they know that the Koran teaches Jersualem for the jews. Yup thats what it says.
The purpose of this law is to identify those in a particular area as 'troublemakers' and by their refusal allow them to be singled out for 'special' treatment. Obvioulsy, by refusing the Oath of Allegiance they will be declared non-citizens. While they will retain their human rights, they will lose most of their civil rights (vote, own property, possess and use firearms,etc.). The next step is to encourage them to leave the area, followed by seizure of their real property, followed by the distribution of that property to Israeli citizens who have taken the Oath of Allegiance. Thus goes one aspect of the reclamation of the land of Israel that was promised by YHWH. If the application of the Law of Moses can do this, I see no reason to stop the process since it is obviously a Godly method of reclaiming the land. It is the 'justice' that must not be denied the foreigner living in your midst that is perscribed in the Torah and the Bible because he has taken your land which was held in trust for Israel by YHWH. Justice carries a two-edged sword--it cuts against malefactor and those who choose to refuse it. Most of the time, the application of 'justice' is regarded as legalized revenge conducted by the state on behalf of a victim (i.e. a rapist getting a long prison term or the death penalty). But sometimes it is the state having to act in behalf of its constituency against a broader group--misconducted or applied with unnecessary force and this becomes, in its extreme, genocide. Great care must be taken to ensure that humane treatment of the evicted is given in so far as they will allow it. Israel is for the Jews.
This movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg3bky4-FGc&feature=related starts at Jewish quarter in Hebron then passing Arab neighborhood (controlled by IDF) moves to Kiriat Arba (where it gets behind the bus). Movie also shows those "dreadful checkpoints" leftists are constantly whining about. Take a challenge - try to notice them.
...but people aren't as dumb as you seem to think. This wild ride doesn't show anything actually recognizable. It goes so fast that only people living in the region where these images were shot can actually identify anything in this video. Moreover, if the holder of the cam-recorder was in an Israeli car, then, he would probably not be bothered too much at checkpoints. Even less, if they are driving on the roads reserved to settlers! In brief, this video doesn't prove at all your point!
I suggest a better idea.Why not leave the country and go to a "real" democracy in the middle east.
There is a regular bus service from Jerusalem, 18 shekels I believe. Everyone can find out how much truth/lies are in this article. It describes a minuscule area besides Jewish quarter. But if someone would take a walking tour from this place through Arab neighborhoods to Kiriat Araba he/she would see a complete different picture.
What would you do Mr Elder if there was no state of Israel. In the Middle East,surrounded by enemies, it is not only a question of democracy and being politically correct. It is a matter of survival. If that means declaring loyalty to a Jewish State, then so be it.
I am sorry that you still cannot recognize that those you called them enemies, is the outcome of creation of Israel, for more than 70 years to those people was humiliated, killed and rapped by many of the terrorist group (The Haganh, as example) and , Jewish was leaving in peace for many decades with their Muslim and Christian neighbours. This was before taking their homes, their children, their land and their identity. Please read real history, and then only you will know who is harming Jewish. No one but Zionism
Mohamed, while I agree that Edifice above is ridiculous in his assertion, your take on history is also incredibly biased. Arabs in Palestine have not been so eager to live peacefully with Jews as you express. Please don't be so naive regarding your own people. Violence begets violence. There has been violence from all sides.
Mr. Eldar should try to become a citizen of the U.S. and find out what happens when he refuses to take the loyalty oath required of new citizens there.
because we don't require immigrants to uphold any religious or racist values in our oath.
Akiva Eldar writes very well about the situation of palestinean, i really like the way he describe whole situation of Hebron, hope everyone in isreal should understand this
Everybody - with some good will -.can understand this message. It shows the complexity of the whole situation.
Most of the jewish population on this borrific night were saved by their arab neigbors. true - a pity he missed it out. He could also have pointed out that many of the jewish survivors didn't want the ultra nationalist, violent and bigoted settlers to take over their homes.
Akiva's article is a declaration of loyalty to democratic principles.
Akiva's article is a declaration of loyalty to democratic principles.
....Not that Hamas is better.... So, if there are so many pockets of bad people, both among us and them, let's then drop Democracy from everywhere. In Tel Aviv too...Everywhere in Israel, because of that misery in Hebron....does that make sense? Whom are you punishing? Me?
I am sorry that you still cannot recognize that those you called them enemies, is the outcome of creation of Israel, for more than 70 years to those people was humiliated, killed and rapped by many of the terrorist group (The Haganh, as example) and , Jewish was leaving in peace for many decades with their Muslim and Christian neighbours. This was before taking their homes, their children, their land and their identity. Please read real history, and then only you will know who is harming Jewish. No one but Zionism
..... what you wish to express. There is an enormous diversity among the various books, thousands and more thousands of history books - thousands per country, thousands per groups of people (Leftists, Rightists, Communists, Capitalists, Religious , etc, etc,) Every book has a different point of view, etc. See what I mean? Better don't ask that.... Just make your point as you just did. I read you and I appreciate your point of view. I don't agree with it. There never was a one sided humiliator, killer, terrorist, etc. Both sides have done their worst and their best. Israel has done both. You can see not only the bad but also plenty of the good. Less good I can see from the Palestinians. Why? Read History.............
Israel does not need you, or anyone like you. Your time has finished, Akiva, it's time for you to get out.
Why do people tell others to leave because they disagree with them? Why don't you leave, Shmuel? One could easily argue Israel doesn't need you or anyone like you either. So since you and I have different opinions, why don't you just leave Israel? This is your logic. Clearly you don't agree with democratic or Jewish values regarding the healthy exchange of ideas so how will you swear loyalty to this state?
You won't find the answer in the geographical location, but in the roots of the words and the religious symbols: HEBRON = society ; TOMB = pyramid. All those Patriarchs failed and died by entering into a society built on the pyramidal structure where people don't live according to God's Law of Truth and Justice, but according to corrupted laws. The Tomb means death because God's Wisdom has been buried under the huge stone symbolized by the pyramid. That's why Jesus said: "Raise a stone and I am under it". And what Jesus was talking about was all about salvation by God's Instruction.
Jesus quoted the Old Testament saying that the 'stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone'. He also said, referring to himself, "Tear down this Temple and I will rebuild in three days."
Monique, I have no idea what the hell you are talking about
Pure, unadulterated hatred. Yashar Koach!!!
Mr Eldar, if you hate Israel so much, then leave. No one is stopping you, If you can't have loyalty to your own state, then your state does not need you here.
We see no evil and hear no evil..so it is not there? I know settlers who after doing reserved duty in Hebron became totally shattered by the experience and the evils they saw. The people there, the children are not necessarily evil...but the deeds and the blindness we all suffer surely are! Ledar at times exxagerates..his agena is clear..but he has eyes and he sees!
But what if one loves Israel, and wants it to be a far better, more moral and just country. A true light to the nations. I think that may better describe Eldar's position.
I am sorry that you still cannot recognize that those you called them enemies, is the outcome of creation of Israel, for more than 70 years to those people was humiliated, killed and rapped by many of the terrorist group (The Haganh, as example) and , Jewish was leaving in peace for many decades with their Muslim and Christian neighbours. This was before taking their homes, their children, their land and their identity. Please read real history, and then only you will know who is harming Jewish. No one but Zionism
These kinds of articles, whether rightwing or leftwing, make zero contribution to the debate because they assume a political point of view and then prove everything from that. A rightwing Eldar would also have everyone come to Hebron to see how much protection 0.4% of the population needs because of the violence of the intolerant 99.6%. The article would cite all the murders of Jews that Hebron's Arabs have perpetrated. What's the point of such articles? What would be useful, for example, would be to compare what messages the respective religious leaders of each community sends regarding tolerance/hatred, and also to see what religious bridges might be built in such a context.
your suggestion is not invalid..the outcome it would be uncomfortable for some of us.. but i think someone doing a deep analysis our religious leaderships response to our misdeeds will find them seriously lacking.
If Israel wants to remain "the only democracy in the Middle-East", it must put an end to the lunatic errands of the far right-wingers. You can't have it all : religious state and democracy. What would Italian Jews say if they were forced to declare loyalty to the Pope???
The Pope does not represent Italy although the Vatican is situated in this country. He is the head of the Catholic Church which has "branches" in other countries as well.
The point is, if what if Italian Jews had to swear loyalty to Catholicism?
I'm happy to give the same deal to arabs not happy with a Jewish state.
Yes because you can be a US jew, but the Italian jew cannot be italian and has to "come home" to Israel. failed logic. Everyone can believe whatever they like for me. I dont care, but the day when the worst invention by any human ever, religion, is dead and gone I will be dancing of joy. You have the same crazy ideas about THE SAME GOD. If it is the same, then why bother to kill eachother over it? The invention of religion can destroy the human race and destroy the one thing we actually are good at, finding and believing the true facts. Not to believe some insanity scribbled down some thousand years ago. So what is the true difference between Judaism and Islam? Do both religions have their own religious laws? yes. Do certain extremists require both special hairdresses and clothing? yes Do both require animals to be slaughtered in a special way? yes Do both religions have Jesus as an important part of their religion, but not as the son of God? yes. Is it racism when certain jews discriminate and harrass certain other jews, just because of their skin color? yes. Is judaism a racist religion? No. Learn to see your similarities and not the differences.
By claiming that the god of the muslims and the God of Christians and Jews are one and the same, your show your lack of education. the muslim god is the old moon god of arabia. his caricature was once inscribed on the ka'abah in mecca. mohammed mixed the religion of the Jews and the old religion of th arabic moon god, al-illah, to form islam and shaped it by his oral tradition (he was illiterate). If he was indeed instructed by an angel of light, it was that old deceiver, satan or lucifer, not Gabriel or Gibril since lucifer is also known as the 'angel of light'. May the Lord God remove the scales from your eyes and help you to see clearly.
What amazes me is how quicky talkbacks are so quick to answer like" go back to gaza or some arab country" how about really reading such articles ,then give an adult opinion, instead of just mouthing off.
Such dribble doooo doesnt need any intellectual responses since it is totally void of any thought provoking truth that surrounds the history of Hevron and our patriarchs as an Israeli Arab who is proud to be an ISRAELI WOULD YOU BELIEVE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND A JEW WRITING SUCH DESPICABLE GARBAGE AND THE HAARETZ POSTS IT FOR WHAT HIDDEN AGENDA??
Hebron with the Tomb of Patriarchs forms the spiritual basis of our settling in Eretz israel . Since the article is translated into English for the sake of readers not necessarily familiar with Jewish sentiments , may I suggest that some historical background ( of our perspective I must admit) should be briefly added. The neutral reader definitely understands that Jewish lunatics disturb the everyday lives of pastoral Arabs Unless Mr Eldar believes that Hebron is a foreign land occupied and subjugated by a nation of invaders ("listim " as Rashi coined them) . It will be instructive to remind the readers that the Tomb is a Helenstic building erected by Jews and further upgraded by Herod The Great.
I am not a supporter of any settlement because by definition, moving a minority forcefully into a majority population will cause conflict. But it is never recognized by any of the sides that the dance we have between Arab and Jew takes two. Arabs throw stones, Jews throw stones, Arabs call the Jews foreigners, Jews call the Arabs foreigners, the army comes in to side with the Jews, the Arabs revolt, etc. etc. And the cycle goes on and on.
Good idea. But why only after fuflilling Eldar's political agenda. Why not do it after studying the 5 Books of Moses? Why not do it after studying the first Rashi on Breishit? Why not do it after studying Avraham's purchase of Chevron? Why not do it after studying about all the Avoth and our obligatory connection to modern day Israel? It's all there to be learned! Why begin in the 1900's Eldar? Because you are not interested in truth, only what your arrogance determines to be relevent. As such, your suggestion is irrelevent.
I am sorry that you still cannot recognize that those you called them enemies, is the outcome of creation of Israel, for more than 70 years to those people was humiliated, killed and rapped by many of the terrorist group (The Haganh, as example) and , Jewish was leaving in peace for many decades with their Muslim and Christian neighbours. This was before taking their homes, their children, their land and their identity. Please read real history, and then only you will know who is harming Jewish. No one but Zionism
Bye- bye
away from bad neighbors, even if you are our brother... Oy leRasha Oy leshceno Cursed be the evil doer and cursed by his neighbor.
WHAT A GREAT ADD FOR DEMOCRACXY IN ISRAEL. CAREFUL MATE YOU WILL TURN A GREAT NATION INTO A FACSIST STATE WITH YOUR ORDERS FOR ESTHER AND OTHERS TO LEAVE. THATS RIGHT YOUR FASCIST VIEWS ARE A BIG DANGER FOR ISRAEL.
Everybody - with some good will -.can understand this message. It shows the complexity of the whole situation.
When millions of Jews are visiting our holy city, we will all be able to walk around safely without worrying about terrorists.
Before 1948 Jews lived quite happily alongside the native Arab population. Not only in Hebron, but across all of Mandate Palestine. It was only after the forced ethnic cleansing, massacres, and Jewish violence of the early Zionists did the friction arise.
You chose the wrong name. Revisionist is more appropriate.
THATS RIGHT MATE AND THE MUFTI WAS IN GERMANY FOR A SKIING HOLIDAY WHEN HE WAS SNAPPED STANDING WITH THE FUHRER, SORRY BUT THATS HISTORY SOMETHING YOUR A BIT SHAKY ON.
The Hebron Massacre of the Jewish population. Remember it was in 1929.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/hebron29.html Do you know anything about history?
Which was set up by the Zionists for propaganda ................against the Pals ....thereby justifying the Zionist existense..............
But why would anyone work for Israeli public office while holding the country and nation in such contempt... You could try to do like rest of those unfortunate chosen ones who believe in ideals while doing some professional services without having to sow hatred.
You sound like a very spoilt underiped child though you photo shows an old man Move to Gaza if you dont like it nobody stopping you
Do you live on stolen Palestinian land? Have you ripped up any olive trees lately? Taken some family's house? Shot at old men riding donkeys?
You really hit the nail with your carefully formulated arguments, focusing on the facts of the article. Obviously, a lot of research has gone into this response. Carry on - you are serving the right side in this conflict in the best possible way!
Have you any knowledge of History???? ANY?
He probably has, Gill. But even more imprtant, Mr. Katz appears to have a good knowledge of the present, unpleasant as it may be to you.
I read the article and it took boredom literally to go through to the end with endless repetitions and inuendoes it was like driving in circles with no stopping in site of course I researched the contents and I came up with a lot of hooee and pooee concerning the article and the author's intellectuality if youre really an intelligent person posting on Haaretz - which prides itself of being the Intellectual Think Tank thats my proper response the rest go learn and study