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Ari Levy, 45, Tel Aviv, entrepreneur:
I've taken part in numerous demonstrations against Israel's badly formulated policies. Even if it doesn't help, I find it increasingly impossible to sit back and do nothing. We need to change people's minds on both sides, and until this happens there will be no lasting solution. I am ashamed to be an Israeli because so many people are being killed just to prove that Israel is strong. It wouldn't do any good, won't stop the Hamas missiles coming into Israel and won't win anyone more votes in the next elections. My own people have hatred in their eyes.

David Davidovitz, 48, self-employed, Jerusalem:
Hamas must be stamped out. Forget about a ceasefire, forget about peace agreements. Hamas should be annihilated. We can't let it continue that people can't sleep in their own beds at night for fear of being killed by rockets. It's affecting everyone, we're all sad and depressed that our young soldiers are being dragged into death traps because of the mistaken policies of all sides.

VOICES FROM EAST JERUSALEM
George Khoury, 40, security guard, East Jerusalem:
People everywhere are worried after seeing children and families blown up in Gaza. The Israelis are acting not just against Hamas but against Palestinians in general. Here in Jerusalem, life goes on despite everything. Israel wants us to shut down, to hide away but we'll keep moving, we'll keep going no matter what happens.

Nasser Dakaki, 47, owner of a pizzeria in East Jerusalem:
Israel is carrying out a criminal act as the world watches. What do children have to do with this? Israel is trying to force its own one-sided version of peace on us. I'm not pro-Hamas. but I support my brothers in Gaza.

VOICES FROM THE WEST BANK
Nada Kiswani, 20, radiology student at Al-Quds University in the West Bank:
I don't know anyone personally in Gaza, but I feel like the people in Gaza are my family and that they've been abandoned by the rest of the Arab world. Why don't Arab leaders stand up and protest this? The Palestinian people badly need the support of Arab leaders in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. One hand can't clap on its own.

Mohammed Hani,   45,   vegetable seller, A-Ram, near Jerusalem:
Ever since the troubles began in Gaza, sales have plummeted. People are demoralized and frustrated by what's happening and also afraid it might spread to the West Bank. I have four children, and I'm terrified when I see what's happening in Gaza. Most of my customers are people on their way to work in Jerusalem, but now they've disappeared, afraid to go to work. Fear is in the air. Despite everything, I believe that peace can still be achieved, even with the enemy.

As told to Joanna Chen and Hasan Jaber

© 2009

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Cruiser2 @ 02/04/2009 3:48:19 PM

    Israelis are Bullies / Cowards / Greedy / Motivated to gain more land for their overwhelming population since people around the world have finally figured out who the jews are....cowards and murderers....
    They are so gun happy and ready to fight even a mosquito, that this past slaughter, did nothing but to think Israel is king in the region....king of what ?...you betrayed a man named Jesus 2000 years ago,,so you don't have any friends....Israel has to always have their hands in someone elses pocket, they have to think they are superior
    Forget your past of 60 years ago...there are and have been larger and deadlier holocausts than WW11....
    Most of you little jerks in Israel can't even decide what is right and wrong....a few homemade firecrackers against a Blitzgrieg ....Really the sign of a Man of Peace....move to S.America and see if the alligators like the taste of you.
    Start the War Crimes Tribunal,,or is everone still in denial that Israel slaughtered people and expects to get away with it...

  • Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 01/13/2009 9:10:01 AM

    Disregarding media role in the events,
    Israel has imposed ban on journlist,
    entering in to Gaza.

    What is the reason behind this action,
    according to them the safety of correspodents,
    relating to different newspapers.

    Significance,significance,
    the fact is that,Israel don't want real picture will be releas to the world,
    attributed the attrcities,committed by it.

  • Posted By: forjustice @ 01/12/2009 5:49:39 PM

    When it comes to standing up to violations of international laws and norms including Secutiy Council resolutions, the Americans act like a bunch of cowards, all the US Presidents have followed this shameful tradition and I don't think BO's admin will be any different either.

    Overall, USA has always been one of the best countries of the world, except its ridiculous support of indenesible Israeli atrocities and to a lesser extent its support for the undemocratic corrupt regimes in the middle east. I have never understood this, but perhaps there are military secrets which make USA act like a noodle. In fact it will be not an exaggeration to say that Washington is liek a satellite capital of Israel although it is washington which literally finances and arms Israel. What is the staretgic interest, God knows. [Isreel is a democrcacy argument is obviously a BS]

    Having said that, the Arab countries are noodles too when defending human rights because the rogue regimes are also the big violators of human rights in theor countries. Isarel at least has great record of human rights for its citizens of Jewsih faith..

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