Comments on: Letter to Lebanese Reporter http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/ Israel news, politics, people, pictures, video and much much more .. really! Trust Us .... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:29:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Beka http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16851 Beka Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:34:30 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16851 I'm glad to see such "democratic" dialogue occuring, but my heart breaks to think of the democratic behavior that I once saw blossoming in Lebanon. I lived in Beirut for almost a year and I saw more passion for life and freedom there than I have ever seen in my own home of America. I don't think its fair to blame the Lebanese entirely; you wouldn't cut off a man's legs and then yell at him for not walking, so how can Israel bomb Lebanon consistently so that people are trapped in their homes and then say, "Why aren't you doing anything to help us?" As for public focus on Lebanese "refugees" as you mockingly called them, they are stuck--you are free to move to a safer part of Israel, but there is no safe part of Lebanon, the country is surrounded in every possible way. The difference is we all know Hezbollah to have been wrong, but Israel had a chance to preserve their honor and forge alliances with their Muslim and Christian brethern and instead Israel bombs Red Cross Ambulances, civilians, UN officials, Lebanese military--who are not retaliating--and relief aid such as food and medicine. Finally, I would like to add that when I lived in Lebanon the border was closed, so my question is this: Do Israelis want peace and prosperity that comes from having a healthy relationship with their neighbors or do they want to return to a state of building walls and closing borders and pretending that their Arab neighbors don't exist? Because I can't see peace in the Middle East arriving without all of us tapping into our human side and getting to know each other. For my own part, having an Israeli heritage was never used against me by the Lebanese, and yet now I watch Israelis cheer as my Lebanese family--via marriage--wait for an assumed certain death. My heart is broken and divided and I hope that others will learn to look past the hate as my husband and I did, until then all I can do is thank God that we will one day have little Israeli-Lebanese children to aid the peace process. I’m glad to see such “democratic” dialogue occuring, but my heart breaks to think of the democratic behavior that I once saw blossoming in Lebanon. I lived in Beirut for almost a year and I saw more passion for life and freedom there than I have ever seen in my own home of America. I don’t think its fair to blame the Lebanese entirely; you wouldn’t cut off a man’s legs and then yell at him for not walking, so how can Israel bomb Lebanon consistently so that people are trapped in their homes and then say, “Why aren’t you doing anything to help us?” As for public focus on Lebanese “refugees” as you mockingly called them, they are stuck–you are free to move to a safer part of Israel, but there is no safe part of Lebanon, the country is surrounded in every possible way. The difference is we all know Hezbollah to have been wrong, but Israel had a chance to preserve their honor and forge alliances with their Muslim and Christian brethern and instead Israel bombs Red Cross Ambulances, civilians, UN officials, Lebanese military–who are not retaliating–and relief aid such as food and medicine. Finally, I would like to add that when I lived in Lebanon the border was closed, so my question is this: Do Israelis want peace and prosperity that comes from having a healthy relationship with their neighbors or do they want to return to a state of building walls and closing borders and pretending that their Arab neighbors don’t exist? Because I can’t see peace in the Middle East arriving without all of us tapping into our human side and getting to know each other. For my own part, having an Israeli heritage was never used against me by the Lebanese, and yet now I watch Israelis cheer as my Lebanese family–via marriage–wait for an assumed certain death. My heart is broken and divided and I hope that others will learn to look past the hate as my husband and I did, until then all I can do is thank God that we will one day have little Israeli-Lebanese children to aid the peace process.

]]> By: Matt http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16844 Matt Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:18:13 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16844 Ed Gordon, the people of Lebanon have turned to Sheikh Said Hasan Narshallah for aid - just as you have turned to George W. Bush and Condy Rice for aid. Israel is a basket case and would have long perished if it was not for the charity given by the US. Never forget that. As for terror cells, Israel was the first country in the world to create the modern concept of Terror - remember Begin and the David Hotel? Ed Gordon, the people of Lebanon have turned to Sheikh Said Hasan Narshallah for aid - just as you have turned to George W. Bush and Condy Rice for aid. Israel is a basket case and would have long perished if it was not for the charity given by the US. Never forget that.

As for terror cells, Israel was the first country in the world to create the modern concept of Terror - remember Begin and the David Hotel?

]]> By: ayuli http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16656 ayuli Sun, 30 Jul 2006 08:46:16 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16656 And to further clarify... I am a woman (so no Tsav Shmone for me...) and currently resides in Canada. All of my family still lives in Israel and I have friends in the North, pretty much everywhere, that I constantly worry about. I also have two Canadian friends (of Lebanses origion) who are in Beirut now, visiting family. one went for his sister's wedding that was obviously cancelled once the war started(spoke to him over the messenger and his experiences sounded horrid.) I constantly worry about them too. Maybe that is why it is easy to me to see how both sides suffer. I am guessing very few Israelis have to worry about Lebanese friends in Beirut, most of us never got the chance to make Lebanses friends... (although I guess there must be some, like me) And to further clarify… I am a woman (so no Tsav Shmone for me…) and currently resides in Canada. All of my family still lives in Israel and I have friends in the North, pretty much everywhere, that I constantly worry about. I also have two Canadian friends (of Lebanses origion) who are in Beirut now, visiting family. one went for his sister’s wedding that was obviously cancelled once the war started(spoke to him over the messenger and his experiences sounded horrid.) I constantly worry about them too. Maybe that is why it is easy to me to see how both sides suffer. I am guessing very few Israelis have to worry about Lebanese friends in Beirut, most of us never got the chance to make Lebanses friends… (although I guess there must be some, like me)

]]> By: ayuli http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16655 ayuli Sun, 30 Jul 2006 08:33:25 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16655 alright. That was worded better and I understand. I hope you understand why a sentence like "Germany definitely has it’s share of Muslims, and many other European countries (like France and Holland) have an even worse problem" could be taken the wrong way. Just put Jews instead of Muslims... know what I mean? However, your revised comment makes sense. Thanks for clarifying. Take care alright. That was worded better and I understand. I hope you understand why a sentence like “Germany definitely has it’s share of Muslims, and many other European countries (like France and Holland) have an even worse problem” could be taken the wrong way. Just put Jews instead of Muslims… know what I mean? However, your revised comment makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.
Take care

]]> By: Ed Gordon http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16654 Ed Gordon Sun, 30 Jul 2006 06:20:49 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16654 Ayuli, My comments were NOT MEANT to stereotype all Muslims radical, any more than any other religion. Unfortunately, it appears that more and more Islamic terror 'cells' are cropping up all over Europe. There are for sure other hate groups around as well, especially right-winged ones. But with all that is happening in our post 9-11 world, it appears that more incidents of terror are now attributed to Islamic groups like Al Qaeda,The 'friendly' Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Abu Sayaif, and Hamas. WE hear of fewer incidents from groups like ETA, the IRA, and what was once called the Baader-Meinhoff gang. So please don't take my comments th wrong way. Ayuli,

My comments were NOT MEANT to stereotype all Muslims radical, any more than any other religion. Unfortunately, it appears that more and more Islamic terror ‘cells’ are cropping up all over Europe. There are for sure other hate groups around as well, especially right-winged ones. But with all that is happening in our post 9-11 world, it appears that more incidents of terror are now attributed to Islamic groups like Al Qaeda,The ‘friendly’ Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Abu Sayaif, and Hamas. WE hear of fewer incidents from groups like ETA, the IRA, and what was once called the Baader-Meinhoff gang.

So please don’t take my comments th wrong way.

]]> By: virginia http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16653 virginia Sun, 30 Jul 2006 01:10:46 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16653 Many just do not understand how and what they are creating in another. To me it seems simple child physiology. Tell a person (or a race of people) that they are no good long enough and they begin to believe it, once believing it, they become it. We all have the ability to bring out the worst in people. We also have the ability to bring out the best in them. It is a choice, and every choice has a motivation. What we allow others to bring out in ourselves is also a choice; However, self control takes hard work and much discipline. Many just do not understand how and what they are creating in another. To me it seems simple child physiology. Tell a person (or a race of people) that they are no good long enough and they begin to believe it, once believing it, they become it. We all have the ability to bring out the worst in people. We also have the ability to bring out the best in them. It is a choice, and every choice has a motivation. What we allow others to bring out in ourselves is also a choice; However, self control takes hard work and much discipline.

]]> By: ayuli http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16648 ayuli Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:42:16 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16648 Radical anything should not be victorious. Fanatics of any religion are dangerous. However, I am sure most Muslim citizens of Germany are nothing but German citizens living their lives. A statement like that is dangerous and creates racism, the kind that led to Jewish persecution in the past. Please do not confuse this war (or any war) with hatred or fear towards a whole race. Radical anything should not be victorious. Fanatics of any religion are dangerous. However, I am sure most Muslim citizens of Germany are nothing but German citizens living their lives. A statement like that is dangerous and creates racism, the kind that led to Jewish persecution in the past. Please do not confuse this war (or any war) with hatred or fear towards a whole race.

]]> By: Ed Gordon http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16646 Ed Gordon Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:12:25 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16646 Hi Canarche, Please tell people in Germany that this battle is for their benefit as well. Germany definitely has it's share of Muslims, and many other European countries (like France and Holland) have an even worse problem. Radical Islam must not be allowed to be victorious, or one day, even your country will see the consequences. Narshallah wants to turn the entire region into an Islamic Caliphite, with him, of course, as it's ruler. He must not be allowed to do this. War is never pretty, and as Germany was able to rebuild itself after WWII, so can Lebanon - into something better than a country literally run by Narshallah and his group. Hi Canarche,

Please tell people in Germany that this battle is for their benefit as well. Germany definitely has it’s share of Muslims, and many other European countries (like France and Holland) have an even worse problem. Radical Islam must not be allowed to be victorious, or one day, even your country will see the consequences. Narshallah wants to turn the entire region into an Islamic Caliphite, with him, of course, as it’s ruler. He must not be allowed to do this.

War is never pretty, and as Germany was able to rebuild itself after WWII, so can Lebanon - into something better than a country literally run by Narshallah and his group.

]]> By: Canarche http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16645 Canarche Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:45:48 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16645 You said it-All the things that doesen`t hit Reuters or any other mass mediea. All the things that people here in northen Germany and Denmark do not understand, because they are not a part of it. For them.. it`s just news...and it`s so sad. Im writing my BA on Israel, and this is slowly turning out to be a far harder task then I imagined to start out with. Do please take care everybody. Shalom Canarche You said it-All the things that doesen`t hit Reuters or any other mass mediea.
All the things that people here in northen Germany and Denmark do not understand, because they are not a part of it. For them.. it`s just news…and it`s so sad.
Im writing my BA on Israel, and this is slowly turning out to be a far harder task then I imagined
to start out with.

Do please take care everybody.

Shalom
Canarche

]]> By: Ed Gordon http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16643 Ed Gordon Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:18:01 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16643 Sorry man, I really thought you were in the middle of all that mess up there in Lebanon. I hope you don't get called up yourself (Tzav Shmoneh). Everyone is suffering in this thing; and hopefully it will not expand into something even more problematic. I'm also Jewish and live in Israel. Over a million of us are still living in shelters and northern' Israel's economy is an absolute shambles - even though not has much physical damage has not been suffered (so far anyway) as in Lebanon. If you read Yidiot over the weekend you could see what the soldiers are going through as well. Take care and Shavuah Tov! Sorry man,

I really thought you were in the middle of all that mess up there in Lebanon. I hope you don’t get called up yourself (Tzav Shmoneh). Everyone is suffering in this thing; and hopefully it will not expand into something even more problematic. I’m also Jewish and live in Israel. Over a million of us are still living in shelters and northern’ Israel’s economy is an absolute shambles - even though not has much physical damage has not been suffered (so far anyway) as in Lebanon. If you read Yidiot over the weekend you could see what the soldiers are going through as well.

Take care and Shavuah Tov!

]]> By: ayuli http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16642 ayuli Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:03:44 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16642 One more thing: I think otherwise her piece was strong, and if she avoided being so condescending it would have had a better impact. It is important for the world to know the suffering Israelis have to endure as well. It seems that most people know very little about how Israeli civilians have been affected by this war. Unfortunately, she lost me as an audience when she tried to belittle the Lebanese suffering. This could have been an important piece. Instead it is one more 'poor me' type articles that the world have learned to expect from Israel. And that's a shame. One more thing: I think otherwise her piece was strong, and if she avoided being so condescending it would have had a better impact. It is important for the world to know the suffering Israelis have to endure as well. It seems that most people know very little about how Israeli civilians have been affected by this war. Unfortunately, she lost me as an audience when she tried to belittle the Lebanese suffering. This could have been an important piece. Instead it is one more ‘poor me’ type articles that the world have learned to expect from Israel. And that’s a shame.

]]> By: ayuli http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16641 ayuli Sat, 29 Jul 2006 18:50:36 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16641 Shalom Ed. How did your response relates to the point I made? Never have I said anything about anybody's 'fault', or applied that Israel is at fault. Why the defensive tone? All I said was that I found her 'compassion' and feelings of relating to the Lebanese suffering (that according to the writer are painfully similar) not too sincere and the comparison not fair. Regardless to 'who started’, we all know that the numbers of Lebanese displaced (and the losses) are rocketing and that is what I was pointing out. And finally, nice touch on the 'Ahalan ya ayuli'. You have just made the assumption I was an Arab? In fact, I am a Jewish Israeli who served in the IDF. Ayuli is a nickname for Ayelet. Shabbat Shalom. Shalom Ed. How did your response relates to the point I made? Never have I said anything about anybody’s ‘fault’, or applied that Israel is at fault. Why the defensive tone? All I said was that I found her ‘compassion’ and feelings of relating to the Lebanese suffering (that according to the writer are painfully similar) not too sincere and the comparison not fair. Regardless to ‘who started’, we all know that the numbers of Lebanese displaced (and the losses) are rocketing and that is what I was pointing out. And finally, nice touch on the ‘Ahalan ya ayuli’. You have just made the assumption I was an Arab? In fact, I am a Jewish Israeli who served in the IDF. Ayuli is a nickname for Ayelet. Shabbat Shalom.

]]> By: virginia http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16636 virginia Sat, 29 Jul 2006 13:32:35 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16636 First the individual, then the community. All over the world; every individual, every community. None is immune. You can't get rid of your malignancy by operating on someone else. First the individual, then the community. All over the world; every individual, every community. None is immune. You can’t get rid of your malignancy by operating on someone else.

]]> By: virginia http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16635 virginia Sat, 29 Jul 2006 13:20:50 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16635 "I can’t sit back while this malignant cancer grows in me, and then cry that it has taken over. It’s my responsibility to get rid of this malignancy on time, and if I don’t – the price is mine to pay." Powerfully, true words;in or out of context, for the individual and/or the community. “I can’t sit back while this malignant cancer grows in me, and then cry that it has taken over. It’s my responsibility to get rid of this malignancy on time, and if I don’t – the price is mine to pay.”

Powerfully, true words;in or out of context, for the individual and/or the community.

]]> By: Ed Gordon http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16632 Ed Gordon Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:41:19 +0000 http://www.onejerusalem.com/2006/07/29/letter-to-lebanese-reporter/#comment-16632 Aahalam, Yaluli, You should turn to Sheikh Said Hasan Narshallah for aid. After all, HE stared this mess. And where is he? Why in Damascus, or course, being given the Key to the City by Bashar Al-Assad. And I imagine he is on the phone all the time with his good friend Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over in Tehran. Maye Iran should think about sending money and not arms. Yes the Lebanese people have gotten a ad deal out of this, but so have 20% of the Israeli people as well. War is neer plesant, by the Sheik should have thought about this beforfe he decided to play 'hard ball.' On second thought - I think he definitely did think about all this. that's how he was able to get out of Lebanon thru the "back door". So go talk to him. Maybe he'll invite you for tea, along with Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal. Aahalam, Yaluli,

You should turn to Sheikh Said Hasan Narshallah for aid. After all, HE stared this mess. And where is he? Why in Damascus, or course, being given the Key to the City by Bashar Al-Assad. And I imagine he is on the phone all the time with his good friend Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over in Tehran. Maye Iran should think about sending money and not arms. Yes the Lebanese people have gotten a ad deal out of this, but so have 20% of the Israeli people as well.

War is neer plesant, by the Sheik should have thought about this beforfe he decided to play ‘hard ball.’

On second thought - I think he definitely did think about all this. that’s how he was able to get out of Lebanon thru the “back door”.

So go talk to him. Maybe he’ll invite you for tea, along with Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal.

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