Jun 22, 2012 -- 9:36AM, ted08721 wrote:

Jun 22, 2012 -- 9:02AM, habesor wrote:

Ted,

Matti Peled was a powerful witness for peace. The Palestinians with whom he negotiated were not only powerful witnesses for peace but a good deal braver that Miko. Unfortunately you can't go see them unless you visit their graves as they were assassinated by other Palestinians who did not share their views on peace and reconciliation.

Ted, over here we live in the real world. Someone pontificating about peace from the safety of the USA  will be given a hearing but his words will not be taken very seriously. If you want to meet some serious Israeli and Arab witnesses for peace, you might want to talk to some of the people in the Parents Circle-Families Forum. 

Habesor

There are always people on both sides of the fence that do not want to live in peace for various reasons but I believe the majority of people are good regardless of race or religion.
While I have never have had the oppotunity to travel to the Middle East I have friends that have and have stayed with families throughout the region, some of these people even stayed in the homes of the Iraqis while U.S. bombs fell, they all seem to paint a different picture than the one you paint, I guess it all depends on which side of the town you live in, some have electric, running water, stores and schools while others don't.

That makes a lot of sense.  I was watching news of a violent attack on resort in Afghanistan today.  I thought WTH?  There are still resorts in Afghanistan?!  

I'm sure the folks who've been frequenting Afghan resorts have a different view of life there than those who live in huts and are ruled by the Taliban.

Jun 19, 2012 -- 11:19PM, rangerken wrote:

A lot of Christians, the large majority of us I believe, support Israel Ted, and damn well do NOT support the Palestinians, and won't as long as they allow Hamas to exist among them.

Ken

>>>>>>>> Hamas and Al-quida were supported by many countries including Israel during 80's. Today Hamas is only popular in Gaza. Which is a tiny patch of land (Probably the state of Texas has single firms larger than Gaza!).

I think to make Hamas ineffective, it is easier to simply attack to their preassure points. Which is the occupation and daily humaliation of non-Jewish native civilians.

People in the west Bank are supporting secular parties and just addressing basic needs to Gazan can solve most of the issues resulting in violence.

Since occupation, supporting hamas (Then attacking Hamas), blockade etc did not work in last 60+ years, let us try to seek an alternative way to address basic issues.

Quote:

'

"We all have choices to make" - and day after day after day, HAMAS chooses to toss rockets at the Negev.'

 I have always wondered about Hamas rockets, what do they look like? How big, what are they made of how are they propelled into Israel.

Likewise about Israeli rockets.

From the first link above:

Palestinian reaction

The firing of Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel has been opposed by those living closest to the firing location due to Israeli military responses. On July 23, 2004 a family attempted to physically prevent the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades from setting up a Qassam rocket launcher outside their house. Members of the brigade shot one member of the family, an Arab boy, and wounded 5 others.^{[17][18][19][20]} In October 2010 five children and three women were injured after a Qassam rocket training site exploded near a crowded residential area of Tel As-Sultan in Rafah. Palestinian Center for Human Rights has condemned Hamas for storing explosive material near civilians. In August a similar explosion wounded 58 and destroyed seven houses.