An explanation of why ME peace isn't possible

[Sandman]

I doubt that an Israeli contribution would have saved any lives. The 68-strong British team failed to rescue any survivors.

The article is just hate-mongering.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Originally posted by Ecthelion
but you don't live in the ME, so don't lecture us.

Neither do you. Have fun paying your reperations.

[Pekka]

Sandman, maybe, maybe not. Every possible help should be still given. The people are dying there now, it's cold and all that, the ones that survived I mean. There's going to be whole lots of more victims if there is no extra help soon.....

Funny quote from that story posted:

"Humanitarian issues should not be intertwined with deep and chronic political problems," Khatami said.

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So, the problem with Israel according to Khatami is not political. Not even deep and chronical one. Hmm, then what is it, if not political? Why don't they accept Israels help, when he says they don't mix up humanitarian aid with politics?

[Fake Boris]

Don't forget the Iranian government is at its root a fundamentalist Muslim one, and that a huge part of the population does not support it heartily.

There is such an history of hatred between Jews and Muslims in the 20th century that their reaction is understandable, but certainly not justified. Do you really think Israel would have wanted help from Egypt or Syria if they had been in the same situation? What would the US have said of Russian secourists during the Cold War?

This is a sad story for sure, but it's everyone's fault there: a human's natural desire for vengeance surpassing everything.

And no, Palestine has not always been ran by the fundamentalists. I'm quite sure the suicide bombers only gained importance in the 90s. This said, Israel neither is not very far from Sionist fundamentalism itself.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Pekka
Sandman, maybe, maybe not. Every possible help should be still given. The people are dying there now, it's cold and all that, the ones that survived I mean. There's going to be whole lots of more victims if there is no extra help soon.....

They just need tents, blankets, and food now.

[Agathon]

When the US butts out, peace is only a matter of weeks.

[Gatekeeper]

I, too, noticed that little news item ... but I've simply shrugged it off. If people are going to change, they will have to do so on their own. Help cannot be offered if help isn't wanted.

Gatekeeper

[Zevico]

Do you really think Israel would have wanted help from Egypt or Syria if they had been in the same situation?

Yes. But it seems that they wouldn't help, I think, because Israel and Jews are demonised and etc in their education systems and media; if the governments helped they would completely contradict what they themselves are telling their own people in their propaganda.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Agathon
When the US butts out, peace is only a matter of weeks.

This is wrong. The ME war is largely an autonomous phenomemnon. There has been much involvement from outside (US and USSR), but non of this is the cause of today's war between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Hatred, depp-seated hatred is the main reason behind it.

[Sikander]

I agree with those who say that there are many shades of opinions other than those put forth by the respective political leaders in the ME. Unforunately something that seems to be about as Muslim as apple pie seems to be democracy or almost any real form of representative governance. Instead one group controls the levers of state power which in the vast majority of cases include a large chunk of the media. Compare to Israel where anyone has access to a much more varied set of news sources, and even fairly small groups have some hand in the governance of the country. Sharon is a reaction to the fact that the Palestinians either:

1) Cannot select anyone who is empowered to speak for the in a meaningful way about peace. Those who want peace cannot or will not confront those who would thwart the majority decision to negotiate.

2) Are embarked on a cynical campaign to talk in order to fight better, and fight in order to negotiate better.

Israel tried to make peace years ago, and they found that they didn't have a competent partner. Why give anything when the real negotiations haven't even started?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
They just need tents, blankets, and food now.

Non-Jewish tents, blankets, and food.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Sandman
I doubt that an Israeli contribution would have saved any lives. The 68-strong British team failed to rescue any survivors.

Probably not. But Israel has helped and rescued lives in such operations before, and while I don't know how they compare to UK rescue teams, they could have had one sizeable advantage - they probably could have gotten there before the British teams given that Israel is a lot closer. And in cases like these, time is an important factor in cases like these, given that you'd want to rescue anyone trapped in the rubble before a major aftershock happens.

[Solver]

Do you really think Israel would have wanted help from Egypt or Syria if they had been in the same situation?

Yes, for a simple reason. Israel is a poltical rival of Egypt and Syria - obviously. However, just like every civilized country should, it places top priority on the survival and well-being of its citizens. And, if such a thing happened in Israel, they would of course gladly accept any help - whether British, Russian or Syrian.

I'd like to believe that the Syrians would offer Israel help, but I really can't.

[The Viceroy]

The people of Israel can still contribute, by donating to international organisations like the red cross (which works with the red cresent) .. This is all Political bull.

If you want to help you can, regardless of who you are.

[Solver]

And it's exactly what Israel does. They've managed to find a way to deliver aid packages to Iran...