Bob

What a joke.

Basic necessities are permitted into Gaza. Repeating a lie doesn't make it true. Reject the truth all you want, but the truth remains - the more we liberalize the restrictions on Gaza with respect to the crossing of good and persons in both direction, the greater the economic burden is placed on us. Not to mention the increased risk of mistakes being made and Jewish blood being spilled.

Any country would have massive costs if in Israel's situation. As a Canadian, you should show some humility and recognize your own hypocrisy - as Canada freeloads off of the provision of American security. It's easy to save money on security costs when you've got three neighbours - the Atlantic, Pacific, and the USA. It's even easier when America covers virtually all of the costs... We're also not "global welfare recipients". We receive military aid from the USA, and the USA does receive benefit for it through military R+D and a strategic alliance in n important region. If you want to talk about global welfare recipients, point your finger where it belongs - the Palestinians (and many Arab countries).

Read these books: Snakes in Suits Without Conscience Then come back and tell me the Bernardo should have the chance to be released by some "experts" at a parole review board.

I'll add one more thing - it's pathetic for people, organizations, and governments to criticize Israel for not permitting certain items into Gaza from our end without realizing what I mentioned above. Gaza is a burden to us, not just economically but in terms of lives and suffering. If you want more things to be permitted to enter Gaza from our end, give us the money we need to handle the increased burden in inspections. Since you know nobody's going to do that, stop complaining.

You're right. We do.

"Give me liberty or give me death".

Again, you're speaking about things you don't understand. Let's assume you at least acknowledge that Israel has legitimate security concerns with respect to what and who goes into and out of Gaza. It is therefore easy to understand that Israel will do what it can to ensure that what and who goes into and out of Gaza will be managed. What you don't read about in the newspaper is that Israel has to pay for this management. It's not cheap to station soldiers and continually update protocol based on updated intelligence and political considerations. If the permitted list of items that could enter Gaza was everything except weapons and dual-use materials, then there would be a massive influx of goods that we'd need to inspect. The larger the permitted list, the greater the costs incurred by us. Moreover, the greater the risk that we'll make a mistake and Jews will be killed. Every extra package that is permitted to enter is another inspection - which is another cost and another risk. That is why non-essentials aren't permitted to enter Gaza, because there's only so much money and manpower we can spend in order to ensure that little Mohammed and Fatima get their favorite breakfast cereals. Unless you're going to volunteer to man that checkpoint and inspect packages, then stop complaining. I won't even get into the concerns we have about what comes OUT of Gaza, let alone who can go in and under what circumstances we allow people to get out. All the conditions which regulate the movements of people and goods, of course, are constantly being attempted to be taken advantage of by people that want to kill us. Just another one of those things you don't understand because CBC won't tell you.

I didn't know that. That's pretty messed up. I still don't know when a conception should be granted human rights, though. It's a question I can't answer.

It's so pathetic how Canada and the USA offer lip service to the demonstrations at this moment. As if the grievances of the Egyptians towards their leadership is something we're all learning about for the first time with the onset of this civil unrest. Just empty words from empty men.

I don't see that as the same thing.

It's sick. No words can describe how disgusting this is.

For those who don't already know, Egypt has a secular dictatorship, while Iran has an Islamic dictatorship. EDIT - Egypt's dictatorship is quite a bit more secular than Iran's.

The restrictions on Gaza from our end don't prevent basic necessities from getting in.

Hey Bill, I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of Egyptian culture and society is very low. All I know is from Egyptians I've met in Canada and spoken with. Still, I think the Egyptians that you've had the opportunity to meet and speak with are not representative of the broader population (engineering students, Egyptians who speak English, etc). I'd be careful about making assumptions about their society and culture based on what you've seen. I agree, Egypt is certainly not an ultra-religious society. There are strong religious organizations with serious support from the Egyptian public, however. Obviously, the Muslim Brotherhood is the foremost opposition movement in Egypt. All I'm saying is that I'm certainly not convinced that this Egyptian turmoil is primarily driven by an interest in sincere democracy and freedom. Opposition to Mubarak is one thing, but mobilization towards modernity and liberty is bigger and broader. I'll reserve judgement on this story until I learn more. I hope you're right, but I'm far from certain.

I also think it's obvious, but I want to know what you're getting at. What's obvious to me may not be obvious to you. What should Israel be concerned about, specifically? What kind of goods are we worried will get into Gaza, and why?

Who are you talking to or responding to?

Wild Bill, what gives you the impression that these protests are being lead by people who support liberalism and freedom? These people are products of an oppressive system that tries its best to indoctrinate them. I don't know enough to comment on the nature(s) of the uprising, but I'm not about to take your word for it and believe that its grounded in democratic principles of freedom and plurality. Don't make the common hubris-related North American mistake of assuming that all people are alike. Middle Eastern countries (aside from Israel) are not multi-cultural, and have not been exposed to serious pluralism in any real sense. I have no idea where you're coming from when your describe Egypt as a modern, progressive state, and having been so for several decades. Are we talking about the same Egypt? Yes, they are certainly more educated and modern than the people of Afghanistan, but isn't that setting the bar a bit low?

Yes of course, the UN representing the "principles of the majority of the world". The same world that looked the other way while we were were being put into gas chambers. Excuse me for not accepting popular opinion as equivalent to truth and justice, especially considering that Jewish people compose a tiny fraction of one percent of the world's population. The endless claims from people on your ideological end that you have popular international support rings hollow. Try finding better reasons to justify putting Israel into an indefensible position with borders, and thereby endangering Jewish independence and self-determination. Aligning yourself with UN positions and portraying that as the representation of morality and justice got old about forty years ago.

Probably depends who you ask. Anyways, it's complicated.

I'm not so sure. For many years and in many situations, Israeli leadership has placed its people and soldiers at increased risk for the benefit of the enemy and international politics and pressure (anti-Semitism). I can provide endless examples of this, big and small - from Golda Meir not striking first before the Yom Kippur when she knew our enemies were about to wage war on us, to the IDF rappelling troops onto the the terrorist-ridden Mavi Marmara, one at a time, armed with paintball guns. Our track record of prioritizing our lives and security about that of our enemies and anticipated international outcry (anti-Semitism) isn't stellar.

I would reserve judgement until we know more. I'm also unsure if Israel can easily deal with another front. Egypt has an advanced military, also, due to significant American-aid. We also know that international support for us exists only when we're being murdered, and even then many justify and celebrate the killing of Jews. No matter how threatened we are, we're always perceived as the aggressor by many. The potential international reaction to future hostilities between Israel and Egypt is more almost certainly bad for Israel. Naturally, the anti-Semites are salivating at the idea of another hostile neighbour to Israel. Lastly, we're speculating a bit too much.

This link should bring you to a small gallery with pictures of the events. Gallery from the Jerusalem Post.

Judaism doesn't advocate "eye for an eye". The statement in the Torah is viewed as metaphorical for monetary compensation. So, if I assault you and blind you, there is a system through which I am beholden to you for the value of your eyes. I might be liable to you monetarily and/or through service.

The usage of the word "chance" doesn't change the absurdity of his proposition. A monster like Bernardo should never, ever have even the chance of being released, with or without fantasies of rehabilitation. A monster like him cannot be rehabilitated. Moreover, he has forfeited all of his rights to freedom when he did what he did. The suggestion that he should be given the chance to be released is abhorrent and offensive. We'll just add you to the looney-tunes club named "Perversion of Justice" of which TrueMetis is a card-carrying member.