Israel-Palestine - who do you support more?

[FutureTaoiseach]

Which side in this conflict are you most in sympathy with?

Personally I'm with the Palestinians. It appears that the Israelis are even holding children in jails. They expect the Palestinians to accept this but they won't accept the kidnap of one of their soldiers. By all means release him by let's stop the hypocrisy here.

Israel gets support from the pro-Israel lobby in the US. 58% of Americans in the most recent poll say they support Israel compared to 10% for the Palestinians and 33% neither. The US needs to take a more even-handed approach in this conflict instead of pandering to crazy Christian fundamentalists who regard supporting Israel as necessary for the "second coming of Christ".

This is a colonial conflict. As usual in such conflicts, the oppressor calls the separatist-fighters "terrorists" - including when it relates to attacks on its military. But they don't think it "terrorism" when they kill Palestinians by the thousands.

[sean1]

Palestine.

[mbari hogun]

Whatever the above two intellects are for, I'm against.

[DevilsAdvocate]

Israel.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Israel.

Why do you support a colonial power?

[mbari hogun]

How, exactly, is Israel a "colonial power"? What colonies does it control? As far as I can see, the only "colonies" owned by Israel are the West Bank settlements, which, as bad as they are, hardly make it a power of any sort.

Just so you know, the more common argument is that Israel is an American (or, AmeriKKKan, if you like) colony, rather than an imperial/colonial power in its own right. The latter is largely reserved to old school conservatives and other borderline anti-semites.

[bobbysands81]

Palestine

[sean1]

I despise Palestinian terrorism but Israel should give up the land they stole a few decades ago.

[FutureTaoiseach]

How, exactly, is Israel a "colonial power"? What colonies does it control? As far as I can see, the only "colonies" owned by Israel are the West Bank settlements, which, as bad as they are, hardly make it a power of any sort.

Just so you know, the more common argument is that Israel is an American (or, AmeriKKKan, if you like) colony, rather than an imperial/colonial power in its own right. The latter is largely reserved to old school conservatives and other borderline anti-semites.

A colonial-power is a country ruling another country against it's will. Which Israel is doing illegally over the occupied-territories since 1967. The charge of anti-semitism is used to silence criticism of Israeli policies in the US. I don't think it will work as well with public-opinion over here.

[toffeebhoy]

Palestine.