Oh Israel..

[Hauldren Collider]

Please explain how Israel claiming Jerusalem as its capital somehow disproves the notion that eastern Jerusalem is disputed.

It's disputed in the same way the holocaust is disputed, incidentally by the same group of people that try to tell everyone that Jerusalem isn't Israel's capital.

In any case it's not a claim. They actually run the place. It is in fact Israeli territory, administered by Israel, and where Israel has located its government seat. It is its capital, in law and in fact.

[Wezil]

I've claimed Vegas as my capital.

Get out you squatters!!

[Hauldren Collider]

I've claimed Vegas as my capital.

Get out you squatters!!

When the police in Vegas answer to you and you have troops patrolling its streets, I will recognize your claim.

[Wezil]

I'm not interested in your excuses.

It's clear you guys have ****ed the place up and I will do a better job.

Besides, The Supreme Ferret has promised that land to me.

[giblets]

It's disputed in the same way the holocaust is disputed, incidentally by the same group of people that try to tell everyone that Jerusalem isn't Israel's capital.

In any case it's not a claim. They actually run the place. It is in fact Israeli territory, administered by Israel, and where Israel has located its government seat. It is its capital, in law and in fact.

WTF? You can't equate a territorial dispute to a debate over historical fact. And you can't be surprised if there are Palestinian terrorists if Israelis take the attitude that they can just take whatever they want by force and the Palestinians will just have to live with it. After all, using violence to get what you want is perfectly legitimate!

[Hauldren Collider]

WTF? You can't equate a territorial dispute to a debate over historical fact. And you can't be surprised if there are Palestinian terrorists if Israelis take the attitude that they can just take whatever they want by force and the Palestinians will just have to live with it.

This is rich. You are aware of the events that led up to the capture of the old city of Jerusalem, aren't you? And do you really believe in evicting tens of thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) of people who have resided there for their entire lives?

[giblets]

This is rich. You are aware of the events that led up to the capture of the old city of Jerusalem, aren't you? And do you really believe in evicting tens of thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) of people who have resided there for their entire lives?

BAWWW WE OCCUPIED IT FORTY YEARS AGO AND COLONIZED IT WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL COMPLAINING?

[loinburger]

Three days before peace talks were scheduled to occur, the Israeli military farted on every Muslim living in Jerusalem

Whatever, the only people who are complaining about this are the same people who deny the Holocaust and murder kittens

HC, I'm curious: in your opinion, what is what is the worst thing that the modern state of Israel has done? In general (e.g., by analogy, I think that the worst policy enacted by the US was the genocide of the Native Americans) or specifically (again, by analogy, the Trail of Tears).

[snoopy369]

This is rich. You are aware of the events that led up to the capture of the old city of Jerusalem, aren't you? And do you really believe in evicting tens of thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) of people who have resided there for their entire lives?

The true irony is that HC probably doesn't see the irony here.

[Al B. Sure!]

And do you really believe in evicting tens of thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) of people who have resided there for their entire lives?

You're talking about the Palestinians?

[Felch]

I thought Jerusalem is the capital of Judah. Has the Bible lied to me?!

[PLATO]

East Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state. There is no other viable way forward. I would like to see Jerusalem, as a whole, being an open city where Jews and Palestinians can live in any part of the city and live together in peace.

That being said, let's hope that this is just a bargaining chip for Israel and not an intentional derailment of yet unstarted peace talks.

Generations have been born into war over there and it will be difficult for all, but all sides must persevere.

[snoopy369]

I'm curious what would happen if we said "You know what, F*** this. We don't care about what happens in the Middle East anymore. Don't bomb us and don't use nukes and we'll leave you all alone.", and stopped all (federal) aid to all parties until they agreed to figure this out. Including Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and anybody else who feels they have a say in what happens.

Would they all suddenly make a deal? Or has Israel gotten to a point where they are effectively the regional hegemon and could not only survive but could dominate the region without a nickel of US support?

[PLATO]

I'm curious what would happen if we said "You know what, F*** this. We don't care about what happens in the Middle East anymore. Don't bomb us and don't use nukes and we'll leave you all alone.", and stopped all (federal) aid to all parties until they agreed to figure this out. Including Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and anybody else who feels they have a say in what happens.

Would they all suddenly make a deal? Or has Israel gotten to a point where they are effectively the regional hegemon and could not only survive but could dominate the region without a nickel of US support?

Russia and China would rush in to fill any voids.

[snoopy369]

OK, so change it to "We get out of Dodge, but warn other nations that we're still their international allies - just not getting involved in any regional conflict. As long as no nations that aren't in the Middle East or Northern Africa or wherever the hell Turkey is get involved, we're staying out of it.