Hudson Jones

Do tell. How much money has the U.S. given to Israel since 1979? I do have a say. We all have a say. This is why we're here.

This sort of simpleton talk works within the foxnews demographic, but not so much outside of it.

You need to familiarize yourself with what the Arabs have done, before going into fear factory mode. The Arab League members unanimously endorsed the peace initiative on March 27. It consists of a comprehensive proposal to end the entire Arab–Israeli conflict. It provides in a relevant part: (a) Complete withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the 4 June 1967 line and the territories still occupied in southern Lebanon; ( Attain a just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees to be agreed upon in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution No 194. © Accept the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. In return the Arab states will do the following: (a) Consider the Arab–Israeli conflict over, sign a peace agreement with Israel, and achieve peace for all states in the region; ( Establish normal relations with Israel within the framework of this comprehensive peace. Link

It's a reply to BushCheney's response to my post. Pay attention.

With more than 3/4 of that going to Israel. Sometimes you need to accept that you've made a bad investment and it's time to cut yourself from it.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it was Obama who was behind the pressure on Israel. That there is no way Israel would voluntarily agree to a ceasefire. Not at that point in the conflict and not under those conditions. This is a ceasefire that has given Hamas legitimacy. Something Israel has done everything in its power to not allow to happen. Despite receiving praise and credit, I just don't see Morsi having that much sway and power to pull off something like that. Maybe Obama believes in Morsi and believes he will bring real change to a long running corrupt system in Egypt and the Middle East. Maybe Morsi is the partner that U.S. has been missing and has been unwilling to find in the past. Maybe Morsi's recent power grab is part of a plan to prevent the old regime from sabotaging a change in the constitution and it's all for the greater good. Maybe this is all part of Obama's master plan to finally be the only president who is able to break the vicious cycle. Just maybe.

Keeping the status quo going is blocking peace. As someone else has pointed out, this has been Likud's plan. To annex as much Palestinian land as possible. The longer there is no peace and no Palestinian state, the more land can be annexed. Since congress and senate are not going to be moved, it looks like pressure from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and other mid-East U.S. allies on both Hamas and U.S. is the only way to achieve this. This is of course, if Bibi is not replaced by a less extreme party/coalition.

I think the point is that the senate and congress are blocking peace.

They're not going to disappear and unfortunately, some of them have too much power to just simply disappear. However, starting to communicate and getting the majority of the public on both sides behind communication and dialogue will reduce the power of the extremists on both sides. Another issue right now is that there isn't any opposition groups in Israel to challenge Likud. In time, we will see how much influence Egypt, Qatar and other Arab states have over the Palestinians and their push to resist violence. The latest ceasefire has been encouraging. Unfortunately, Likud/AIPAC have quite a lot of power in the U.S. congress and senate. J-Street is the other Jewish lobby group, which basically calls for exactly what you are calling for; Dialogue with Fatah, a solution to the settlements and push for a real two state solution. Even though they've gained influence in the past few years, their influence is nowhere near that of AIPAC's. So how will congress and senate back a resolution when they're not willing to? The 535 Americans who are blocking peace in the Middle East Following the Aipac The Congress of the United States consists of 100 senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives; in effect, just 535 Americans are blocking efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Why? Forget the pious guff about Israel being the region's "only democracy" and a "valued friend and ally" of Washington. In the corrupt and dysfunctional US political system, where legislators are outnumbered by special interests, from the gun lobby to Big Pharma, the Israel lobby - specifically, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) that brags on its website about being "the most important organisation affecting America's relationship with Israel" - has a financial stranglehold on both main parties. According to William Quandt, a former adviser on the Middle East to the Nixon and Carter administrations, "70 per cent to 80 per cent of all members of Congress will go along with whatever they think Aipac wants". Link

I am curious to see what you think after watching the interview with the Hamas leader.

Here is the Hamas leader talking about 1967 border, recognition of Israel and the right of return, their relationship with Iran and their stance on terrorism:

Hamas was already negotiated with and the result was a ceasefire. So that's a good sign. Hamas has been able to control the other militant groups when pressed hard enough, like this time for example. Negotiating with only Fatah and trying to side-step Hamas will not work. Unfortunately, Hamas cannot be taken out of the equation since they were elected by Palestinians and they are popular amongst them. Their militant wing aside, their social programs are quite popular and are favoured over Fatah's. Fatah is seen as being corrupt and somewhat useless. The Arab league is also talking to Hamas. This is actually the perfect time to win Hamas over. Syria is no longer a player and Iran is isolated. Countries like Qatar, Egypt and Jordan all want a solution and they realize that the solution will have to include Hamas. They also realize that Hamas needs to change some of its ways for this work.

This is not a flue epidemic. This is the death of the ecosystem. Why bring it on? Do you feel that our efforts cannot make a difference?

Many political parties grew out of their terrorist phase. Including Fatah. Even past Israeli prime ministers such as Begin and Shamir were heads of terrorist groups, Lehi and Irgun. Those two groups were part of terrorist attacks on the British and part of a few massacres against the Palestinians. Hamas is something you cannot pretend does not exist. They are part of the package. The Arab countries have put a lot of pressure on them and the pressure has worked. Not only has Hamas abandoned suicide bombings, but they have even stepped up to say that they are willing to negotiate based on the 1967 border. This is the same Hamas group who never minces words.

The Arab Peace Initiative is something that should be looked at and revisited. Syria was the only opposition to it and they're no longer a player.

Solution: Follow international law and negotiate based on resolutions 181 and 242. This is something Fatah recognizes, Hamas has said they recognize and the rest of the world recognizes. - Stop the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank - Border based on the 1967 border with land swaps to address the large settlements inside the West Bank while dismantling the smaller settlements - Right of return: Compensation for Palestinian refugees (1.6 million) given by Israel, U.S. and Europe for them to settle in the West Bank and to remain in the surrounding Arab countries. - Full recognition of the Palestinian state and rights and freedom of Palestinians Regarding Hamas: Israel finally recognized that they can no longer pretend that Hamas is not part of the equation. They were forced to negotiate with Hamas during the latest ceasefire and that is the only way to go forward. Many Israelis recognize this, including top Israeli military personnel who are usually driven by realistic understanding of the situation, instead of extreme nationalism zealotry which is a trademark of the settler movement.

A new report commissioned by the World Bank paints a picture of a world convulsed by rising temperatures. We're doomed if we do nothing about climate change say experts. The thing is, even those who are making money from the status quo will be effected. So will they look at the impact this wil have on their grand children's world, and act? Will people show any urgency and stop pretending that it's not happening? Humans must immediately implement a series of radical measures to halt carbon emissions or prepare for the collapse of entire ecosystems and the displacement, suffering and death of hundreds of millions of the globe’s inhabitants, according to a report commissioned by the World Bank. The continued failure to respond aggressively to climate change, the report warns, will mean that the planet will inevitably warm by at least 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, ushering in an apocalypse. Link

Kemp is a member of Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. JCPA is "a pro-Israel organisation, promoting a positive image of Israel, advocating Israels right to exist and fighting anti-semitism." So basically, you're quoting a lobbyist. Why don't you ever post thousands of reports and research done by non-partisan human rights organizations? I can answer that. It's because they don't follow the narrative of the Israeli PR like paid lobbyists do.

A sensible talk on Gaza:

Youtube version of jbg?

Even though it's a relatively short paragraph, you managed to make a lot of misinformed comments. If you care to learn a little more about Morsi and the political dynamics involved in Egypt, I would recommend reading this article.

The natives continue to live in Canada and have the same rights (plus more) than the colonists from 3 centuries ago. They have a freedom of movement and can live anywhere they please. Many of the Palestinians were forced out by the colonist and cannot return to their land. The Jewish colonists also have an immigration system that is different than Canada's. Anyone is able to immigrate to Canada, whereas the Israeli immigration law is racist. Palestinians who live in Israel cannot simply live anywhere in Israel. Palestinians living in the occupied territories are under occupation. How is the comparison working out for you? How is it a fallacy when their acceptance and legal status as a state was voted in by the united nations? Without their vote, Israel would not be. "Not be undone"? "Apologists for terrorism"? How dramatic are you? Have you been watching too many Christians for Zionism infomercials again? I don't think anyone here is asking for Israel to be dismantled and removed. This is about Israel leaving the occupied territories and not getting in the way of a Palestinian state.

It's your ridiculous comparisons that grow weary. It's not easy to take someone who compares the world and its rules from 3 centuries ago to now. No. The nation states allowed Israel to become an independent state. If it wasn't for Great Britain and eventually a vote at the United Nations, Israel would not have a status. It's something that you need to accept. Israel cannot continue with the status quo, which is delegitimizing the Palestinians' right to a state and human rights. The world doesn't have the stomach for it anymore.

The melting of the glaciers and the rising of the sea levels are already happening. We don't need a nuclear war for that to happen.