Singling out Israel unfairly

I agree. As long as the state is not delegitimised because it's Jewish, which seems to be de rigueur in many quarters these days, it shouldn't matter how successful or not successful it is or how beneficial or not to the world it is.

However, it is ridiculous when people call for a boycott of Israel while consuming the technology and medication developed there.

I own up to the italics. Perhaps my words were over emotional. However, I do believe that compared to 99% of places, Israel does represent everything that is "positive and intelligent". And we neglect to note it at our peril. This does not mean that she is perfect. No country is perfect.

Which countries btw are better? The UK? France? Italy? I have my doubts.

So although my comment was written in the heat of a blog debate, and was certainly more effusive than my usual stuff, I think that it does hold up to some scrutiny.

"The issue is one of self determination, for both Israelis and Palestinians, no?"

Actually, I believe in a binational state. The two state solution will never work.

And closer to Israel? What about her neighbours? Syria? Egypt??

And further away..

Saudi Arabia which is blessed with oil .. what precisely should we admire there? And in Iran?

There comes a time when one actually has to evaluate the true nature of different societies.

And when the Islamists finally calm down, thre is no reason why Jews can't live at peace with their Muslim cousins. Obviously, this is some way down the road and, of course, the Palestinians must recognize that The Jews are there to stay. But when they get fed up with Jihad and suicide bombing, then a lasting peace can be attained. It is not impossible.

Dan took the words right off my fingertips ( I bet he is a closet catholic )

And what the freaking hell is a bi national state ?

there will be two states or one state. And if you are dreaming of a one apartheid state....dream on

ok I have a question....well several

question one...

who do you think is the more self composed, happiest in their ethnically neutral personal skins and most comfortable in their jewishishness...Dan Judelson or Jonathan Koffman I mean Hoffman ?

question two...

Who do you think is the more self composed , happiest in their ethnically neutral personal skins and most comfortable in their jewishness, Deborah Maccoby or Yvetta ?

If we have to have self hating jews , if it is somehow mandatory and you had to pick two of those four to play the role which two would you pick ?

stephenb,

One state. Palestinians and Jews living peacefully together. Call it "Palestisrael"

Of course, on the basis that Jews can build synagogues in Saudi Arabia. So we are
inevitably looking a few years hence.

I would envisage Palestisrael to be a secular state. Rabbis and Mullahs would not sit in Parliament.

what has saudi arabia got to do with it ? So like one state with proximately 5 million jews an the same number of arabs an everyone has full civil and political rights freedom of movement and settlement etc ? wow scuse me im off to become a zionist I LIKE it you shudda made this clear earlier then we wouldnt have fallen out

When Saudi Arabia allows Jews to build synagogues than it will be an indication that Islamocentricity is no longer a dominant force in world affairs.

Palestisrael will have to be a secular state. Equal numbers of Jews and Palestinians.
Full civil and political rights. Live wherever you like.

What about the Mormons?

so lets get on with it why wait for fruit loop princess executing hand chopping saudi arabians to see the light

let israelpalest be the light and lead the way

And just call it Israel wots in a name

No morons.

I think that the new state will only be able to come into being when there is a massive change in how the Islamic world thinks. All this Islamist/ Jihadist/ Sharia stuff will truly have to be history.

I envisage this new state (whatever one calls it) as part of a very different middle eastern world.

What do you have against Mormons? And here, I was going to start singing Kumbayah....

No multiple wives in the new state.

no they will only be allowed one wife and multiple mistresses this is gonna be a western style state

Yep. Bring on the mistresses. And they won't be black-eyed virgins. Oh no.

Shhhhh....don't tell Amber.

ok like I say lets get on with it And I am gonna go live in this state. ( serious )

Can I bring my Fiddler On The Roof DVD ?

And can we at least ban Scots Presbytarians from migrating into and settling in the place ?

Oh and by the way....I am here today to tell you ...virgins , black eyed or otherwise, are very much over rated

Are you seriously suggesting that nobody should blow themselves up?

And anyway, I can't believe that out of 72 of black eyed variety, a couple of them can't be any good.

Of course, it takes perserverance but Mecca wasn't built in a day. Was it?