If Obama Is Serious

What Mr. Miller (deliberately?) ignores is the refusal of most Arab players to even recognize right to exist as a Jewish state. For them, no amount of Israeli concessions will suffice: they want a "Palestine from the Jordan to the Sea", and nicely underpin this with systematically teaching toddlers to hate and murder Jews.

Also, what nonsense is Mr. Miller propagating by criticizing Barak's "make it or break stategy" at Camp David which "led to a catastrophy"? Was an offer of 97% of the West Bank too little ? And did that crook (never mind murderer) Arafat not unleash the Intifada ? Was it not Bill Clinton himself who clearly blamed Arafat for the failure ?

Mr. Miller should maybe read up on the history of the region although it is to be feared that his anti-Israel bias won't change.

I have a certain amount of heartburn with the statements in the article especially about whether it is right for Israel to hold 1.5 Million Gazans [Palestinians] hostage by denying aid and economic development. Everyone is jumping on the Palestinian [Gazan] issue here. What about the fact that the Hamas Terrorist Group is holding the Palestinian population in Gaza as surrogate hostages? How can you overcome anything when the whole world is saying that the Israelies are hurting innocent civilians, but it is OK for the Hamas Group to continue to display their willingness to see the Destruction of the Israeli State by using its tactics to use the Palestinians as shields. IF it had not been for Arafat and then Hamas I think that there would have been an agreement a long time ago. When will Europe realize that Iran/Syria are the biggest problems for the Muslim Community as a whole and for Europe also. The overall media is using its influence to sway a lot of people against Israel without proper balance against the perpetrators of the overall problem Iran/Syria via Hamas. I would like to see more even coverage of the problems facing all of us as a result of this issue. Israel, I believe would have no problem living alongside a Palestinian State with full diplomatic relations just like any other free country. However, as long as certain Muslim factions [Countries] continue to prod the issue I do not see that in anytime in the near future anything will change. The Palestinian people are too weak to stand up to Hamas because, the function of this type of Muslim coercion is for them to submit the population into compliance rather than let them have a choice for themselves. How many times have Israelis opened up the borders in both directions only to have many, many suicide bombers enter the country. If it were me I would be doing the same thing to defend my family and countrymen.

David J. Mazer
Washington State

I do not have a problem with Obama getting tough with Israel, however the toughness has to be evenhanded. America has influence on what Israel does but has ZERO influence on Hamas. The 2 state solution that has been presented is actually a 3 state solution with the West bank and Gaza being 2 of those 3 states. America must also bring to bear its power to enforce a no missle fired policy on Hamas. Anywhere in the world when a country attacks another country with missles aimed a civilians, that country will respond harshly with war. the definition of war is to defeat the enemy and collateral damage (civilian deaths) are part of war. As for the palestinians in Gaza, they are NOT innocent, they elected democraticaly Hamas and Hamas represents them. just like in the USA, the presedent we elect is the one we deserve and we will suffer the consequences of that election. Gaza is no different

What a despicable and anti-Semitic article!! Get tougher on Israel?? How much tougher can it get when pretty much the ENTIRE world has no problem "sitting" by while a country the size of Rhode Island gets, continuously, attacked by maniacal, soulless creatures like Hezbollah and Hamas?! Those who think it???s all Israel???s fault that there is war being waged in the Middle East are the same buffoons who honestly believe that it was America???s fault that a ???handful??? of evildoers flew planes in to the World Trade Center and Pentagon! These people sicken me because, simply put, they are just THAT STUPID!! If America ceases, even for a second, in doing what is right and that is to continue to stand by Israel's side, come what may, then our country will be in a world of hurt! Irregardless of who likes it or not, or who just refuses to accept it, the Jews ARE God's CHOSEN and BELOVED people and that is the land that GOD gave to His people!! Deal!! The Islamic protest chants of "go back to the ovens!", right here in America, should be met with a steel-toed boot right in the mouth!! Period! Turn on Israel and I, along with countless others, will gather in the streets, we will beat down doors and scream so loudly that it will be impossible to shut us up, until Israel receives the help that "she" is, and will be, in dire and desperate need of! If the Palestinians don???t want their civilian population to suffer any more than it already has, then they need to STOP launching rockets from civilian areas/places! Duh!!! Those who support the nation of Israel and "her" RIGHT to exist in peace will NOT go away, no matter how many disgraceful articles are written to convince us to do so! Nice try, as reprehensible as it was!

how can writers for Newsweek be so incrediibly dumb? Ignorant? The Muslims was Isreal "pushed into the sea." They do not want to live side by side with the Jews. When has ANY Palestinian leader ever said "we recognize Isreal's right to exist and we will live next to them in peace."? So, what does Obama say "Isreal, you have to stop bombing the muslims and just sit back and take their rocket attacks?" AND - Iran will not become nuclear. Isreal, despite Obama, will wipe out their nuclear sites before they are operational. Where does Newsweek get her writers "Whatsamatta U?"

To comment on the post by "david3636" who said "Why does "peace in the middle east" always seem to focus on Israel being more flexible, or Israel giving up something? I'm sorry, but if Mexico began lobbing bombs into San Diego I don't think we would have the level of restraint Israel has been forced to show. Every time Israel makes concessions, it was supposed to result in increased peace. This has not happened. Let's not forget who began these crises immediately after Israel's creation..."

Yes indeed Mr. David3636, you hit the nail on the head with your words "IMMEDIATELY AFTER ISRAEL'S CREATION". Immediately after their creation...WHERE? On top of PALESTINE! After murdering the PALESTINIANS, Torturing the PALESTINIANS, Raping the PALESTINIANS, Terrorizing the PALESTINIANS, Massacring the PALESTINIANS! In 1948, the UN decided they had the right to create "Israel". Unfortunately, Israel decided they had the right to exterminate PALESTINE!
And what exists today? Palestine? Palestine and Israel? No, just Israel! Who is wronged here? Who has the right to defend themselves here? The nation that was exterminated, or the nation that was built on top of it?

Talk about bombs being aimed at Israel by Hamas, how about the USA made and paid for F-15's, F-16's, Apache Helicopters, missiles and cluster bombs that Israel uses against the Palestinians whenever it feels like it for any reason at all. Why does Israel have the right to defend itself, but Palestinians have no rights to defend themselves? How come they have no rights at all? Not even to live?!?

Funny how defenders of Israel start their history on May 15th, 1948 when Israel was created. Funny how there is absolutely zero history before that. Funny.

If you want facts, learn the truth of Palestine and Israel. (Here's a hint: There really IS a History prior to 1948! Oh, and you may want to ask more than just Israelis and there apologists...oops, I mean, supporters.)

Dewey, did you forget that there had been talks about putting up a wall between the US and Mexico? Some of those Mexicans make their living crossing those borders. When you mess with people livelihood they will react in a very angry and hostile way (trust me, I used to work for a tax prep software company. People would come in with bats). Yes I know they were crossing illegally, but that isn't my point. This could happen anywhere and you are just a typical American to think it couldn't. People as ignorant as you are the reason why if said wall were to ever go up and a pissed off Mexican came across the borders to blow himself up, he'd probably very successful at killing off much more people than a Palestinian does in Israel. I'm sick of Americans talking about it like they have a clue. Go to Israel and find out for yourself what's really going on and then come back and tell us all how great the Palestinians are.

"Obama must get tough on Israel"?? I am sorry, but what planet are you living on? Time and time again, it has been made known to the world that it is the mission of anti-Israel countries to destroy Israel. The attempts to terrorize and destroy Israel will continue, and no one will successfully be able to try diplomatic strategy to stop their way of thinking. It is not going to happen. Israel has every right to protect their country and people. When they have been bombarded with rocket strikes by the thousands even after they in good faith handed Gaza over to the Palestinian's, it speaks for itself. The mission to destroy Israel and America will continue no matter what. This is not about getting tough on Israel. It is simply acknowledging the fact that the anti-Israel countries are not going to stop their mission, until they are stopped. You cannot reason diplomatically with evil, pure and simple. Is Israel evil for trying to protect their county from the attacks that are never ending? Absolutely not. Has Israel provoked the terror groups that are continuously spitting rockets by the thousands into Israel?. Absolutely not. Israel wants their people to be able to live in peace, and anyone in their right mind would understand that is all Israel is seeking. If anyone believes Obama should get tought on Israel, I would suggest that before that comment is made again, go to Israel for about a week, and witness first hand what this country is dealing with day after day. TERROR!!!!!!!

What a despicable and anti-Semitic article!! Get tougher on Israel?? How much tougher can it get when pretty much the ENTIRE world has no problem "sitting" by while a country the size of Rhode Island gets, continuously, attacked by maniacal, soulless creatures like Hezbollah and Hamas?! Those who think it???s all Israel???s fault that there is war being waged in the Middle East are the same buffoons who honestly believe that it was America???s fault that a ???handful??? of evildoers flew planes in to the World Trade Center and Pentagon! These people sicken me because, simply put, they are just THAT STUPID!! If America ceases, even for a second, in doing what is right and that is to continue to stand by Israel's side, come what may, then our country will be in a world of hurt! Irregardless of who likes it or not, or who just refuses to accept it, the Jews ARE God's CHOSEN and BELOVED people and that is the land that GOD gave to His people!! Deal!! The Islamic protest chants of "go back to the ovens!", right here in America, should be met with a steel-toed boot right in the mouth!! Period! Turn on Israel and I, along with countless others, will gather in the streets, we will beat down doors and scream so loudly that it will be impossible to shut us up, until Israel receives the help that "she" is, and will be, in dire and desperate need of! If the Palestinians don???t want their civilian population to suffer any more than it already has, then they need to STOP launching rockets from civilian areas/places! Duh!!! Those who support the nation of Israel and "her" RIGHT to exist in peace will NOT go away, no matter how many disgraceful articles are written to convince us to do so! Nice try, as reprehensible as it was!

America is most definitely involved. We have been, at varying degrees, arming Israel. Who then is arming Palestine? Mostly Saudi Arabia, along with other Islamic states. Can't you see the war behind the war here? Its a war against Arab fascism. Israel should be free and be able to fight for its territory, and retaliate at any time for hostile action. Americans don't understand this, we're too fat and lazy. If Mexico started sending rockets over on a regular basis we would probably negotiate and give them Arizona and New Mexico!!!!! American Revolutionaries used German mercenaries and French arms to defeat the British. Why can't Israel be given the same advantage. It's policy for Iraq to live in freedom and counter terrorism, but its not policy for Israel to do the same? This tells us how contaminated the press and Washington are. Israel is the only free country in that region, not to mention what they have done to the area in the past 50 years. And what has Palestine done with their "land"? Kept it a hell hole for centuries.

If the Palestinian's weren't so damned busy acting like thugs who want what they don't have and work on getting those things maybe there would be more peace and tranquility. Why should the Israeli's give them jobs, food, good places to live only to have their places of worship, gathering, markets bombed because the Palestinian's want it all. Even if they had it, their lot in life would not change. They need to change their mentality to get anywhere.

You all assume that Hamas is willing to "sit down" and "honor" cease fires. They want nothing but the complete destruction of Israel. They (Palestinians) have been given land to form a country on more than one occasion and rejected it, even when it was over 75% of Israel back in 1948.
And by the way, I thought the United States does not negotiate with terrorists...Why should be expect Israel to? And why wont any of the other 25 Arab countries let the refugees in? Because they dont want them... What about that?

America is most definitely involved. We have been, at varying degrees, arming Israel. Who then is arming Palestine? Mostly Saudi Arabia, along with other Islamic states. Can't you see the war behind the war here? Its a war against Arab fascism. Israel should be free and be able to fight for its territory, and retaliate at any time for hostile action. Americans don't understand this, we're too fat and lazy. If Mexico started sending rockets over on a regular basis we would probably negotiate and give them Arizona and New Mexico!!!!! American Revolutionaries used German mercenaries and French arms to defeat the British. Why can't Israel be given the same advantage. It's policy for Iraq to live in freedom and counter terrorism, but its not policy for Israel to do the same? This tells us how contaminated the press and Washington are. Israel is the only free country in that region, not to mention what they have done to the area in the past 50 years. And what has Palestine done with their "land"? Kept it a hell hole for centuries.

The most foolish and ignorant people in this discission board are the one whos talking about god and religion. Just remember every religion in the world uses the word "belive" which means whatever is YOUR OWN belief. People in every religion believe that they are following the most correct religion and their god is "THE" onle and correct god. There is nothing wrong in believing your god but it is wrong to impose your belief on others and say that they are wrong and you are right. It is best for everybody to stick to their own god and belief but to respect others. Remember the word - "believe"? Yes, you can never force your belief on others because it is just a belief which you think is right. So, lets all think in terms of human first instead of putting on our religious caps (eg. Bible, Koran, Tora) and the world would be a peaceful place.