Does Israel have a single piece of military equipment we didn’t sell them? I’m not saying Trump or his toadies are correct, but we do a lot of intimidation in how we support other countries
Yes, we sell them a ton of weapons. But they do also make some of their own. The US pulling all support from Israel would be a huge deal. Very complicated. It would cost the US a ton of soft power in the region, not to mention they have a ton of surveillance information. I don't think it's something that can just happen responsibly. I think Biden and Kamala were taking a responsible position. Even if I do wish they could have been more forceful. I would definitely prefer that AOC or Bernie would have been making that decision so it was less likely to be about money. But I know there is some very critical stuff going on with Israel that the US relies heavily on.
So Hi Everyone, new in the forum. Got here as I follow Deni as I am Isreali. Noticed this topic here, would like to let you know that if you have any questions or want to hear Israeli input (mine at least) about this whole situation, I'd be happy to discuss. Few notes in advance - I am 40 years old. Lived my whole life in rural Tel Aviv. I always have and always will wish for being able to live peacefeully with all peoples. I do consider myself zionist - but I have come to learn that my defention of that is starkly different than the one being defined in the U.S. Anyway.. be happy to share input and thoughts if the place allows this voice.. If the preference is otherwise - I will keep my focus on NBA only topics elsewhere around the forum.
Thanks for reaching out. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, your voice is very welcome. How does your definition of zionist differ from how it is defined in the US? What are you thoughts on a two-state solution? Do you know if Gal Gadot likes dogs, especially poker-playing ones?
@SlyPokerDog , I just want to go on the record and say that my rookie hazing sees NO color, creed or nationality. I haze equally across all walks of life.
Hi there, Some tough questions... With regards to my definition of Zionist - I actually looked at the Wikipedia items now and read the English. Arabic and Hebrew definitions.. I think it is a good example for how we no longer live in a factual world - but a narrative one. In which all narratives can be voiced, and the ones with the highest volume becomes the staple, even if it is not true. For me personally - a kid growing up in Israel in the 90's, I knew nothing about Zionism, except what they teach in Schools - that there was a movement (Herzel) that wanted to establish a nation state for the Jews who were dispersed all over the globe. Now as a child growing in Israel - I felt and knew I have a home. I have a nation - so Zionism is more of a 'history' lesson topic you learn of - than something that in 2-3 decades will be almost synonyms and attached with negative and vile tint to some. When I read the English Wikipedia definition and see the following sentence: "Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine with as much land, as many Jews, and as few Palestinian Arabs as possible.[4]" I don't know if to laugh or cry.. as I realize this sentence is added with malicious intent to incite, divide and promote hatful debate and ideations. I understand many might disagree with me on this - but I am just sharing my personal experience and saying that I have never connected Zionism to "as much land, many jews, and as few Pal. Arabs as possible" - for me this is plain propaganda. As Israel when erected was supposed to live in the 1948 borders alongside it's Arab neighbors, and to this day there are many Arabs who live in Israel and under Israeli Sovereignty and as equal citizens with same rights and demands. With regards to a two-state solution: Again, growing up in the 90's, I was the Generation of "Dor Shalem Doresh Shalom" - which means - "a whole Generation demands peace". I was living in a time when people were talking about peace, co-existence and living together and prosper together. I saw terror attacks and suicide bombing of busses, alongside steps towards reconciliation with the Oslow accords. Once Rabin, who was a promoter for dialogue and peace was assassinated by fanatic far right wing activist, the penduline started to shift the other way around. The main problem as I see it with the two state solution - is that a vital pre-requisite for it - is trust between peoples. I believe that in 1995 the trust was at it's highest ever - and peace could/might have been obtained. However, whenever a change in status quo is immanent - people who are on the extreme side of things for both sides - will do whatever they can to disrupt such processes. That is why 1995 was bloody as hell, and why Rabin was assassinated. Since then - the ability to promote trust and being able to see shared interests was slowly hindered. Israeli leaders (Barak, Ulmert, Bibi) were unable to reach and agreement with Arafat and Abu Mazen - and each time negotiations went south - the trust was further emaciated. The Israelis had a growing impression that nothing is going to satisfy the Palestinian demands, while Palestinians felt a compromise or taking a deal would not be in their best interest. Following October 7th massacre, it is safe to say the trust is at an all time low. Ideations of co-existence and living peacefully side by side are unfortunately rendered irrelevant for the time being. I do not think a two state solution is even a topic relevant for discussion these days.. but what is? what can be a solution? Well, here is my wishful thinking.. I hope that once the region quiets down a bit, and some of the dust of war settles - some progress can be made. But what is progress? The question is - what each side wants. and what each side can actually get. Once both parties can realize compromises must be made - maybe then will a peaceful future be feasible. But, in order for that to happen - the following must be done - and that is a process that is going to take IMO few generations (3-4). 1. Both sides needs to change their education systems - and preach for dialogue and pragmatism instead of messiah/caliphate ideations. 2. Both sides needs to except that no one is going to leave their homes. Israel cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa etc.. are Israel. This is not going to change (i.e chanting from the river to the sea which means exactly that). While Palestinian Cities such as Ramallah, Tul Carem, Jenin, Iblin or the the entire Gaza strip.. are Palestine - and this too is not going to change. Right now the mutual hate is sky high. Once friction reduces over time, things might fly. I don't expect anything positive / peaceful to materialize over the next few years - but I do hope that just as I grew up in a generation being taught to dialogue and reach out - if both side now enter a course of quiet years - forgiveness and acceptance might follow... But as I said, this is probably just my wishful thinking.. And with regards to Gal Gadot. I did meet her once in a social event when I was younger. The greatest thing about her is that she is just herself. all the time, and she is a good person all around.
Thank you so very much for the well-thought-out and detailed reply. No rush to answer this next question but I have not used it for the current Israel/Palestine conflict, there have been times, especially during our occupation of Iraq, that I would read Al Jezzera. It seemed to provide a more complete or at least a different perspective then US based news providers. Can you recommend some US and non-US-based news organizations that you feel provide a more accurate view of what is happening with Israel and Palestine that I can add to my Google news feed? Also are you a die-hard Deni Advija fan or does Israeli sports news follow him regularly and how he and the Blazers are doing? I don't know of a Blazer fan who doesn't love him on the team.
Fantastic reply. Thanks so much. And thanks to @SlyPokerDog for asking the question. I'm terribly sorry all of this is going down. Your thoughtful response gives me hope that we can turn this around more quickly than over the span of a few generations.
I would appreciate your opinion on if the Abraham Accord can be a catalyst for peace in the region and the rebuilding of GAZA? Thanks
Interesting how times have changed. My wife's 81 year old sister passed away last Halloween. We were cleaning out her stuff and came across a photo and program from a Christmas pageant my wife participated in as a first grader (Lutheran school) in 1961. My wife was one of several kids who portrayed the local "Bethlehem" populace at the manger scene. In the program, rather than listing them as Israelis or Jews, they were listed as "local Palestinians". I thought that was rather unusual......and actually accurate. I am her age, attended Catholic schools and "hangers on" (hey, every kid needed a part in the pageant) at Christ's birth were always identified as Jews. Dumb story, but it was the first time I had ever heard any reference to Palestinians in relation to the story of Christ's birth. Almost tacit acknowledgement that Palestinians had a right to call that land theirs......
Just an update of an issue that may lead to some combustion: Yesterday was supposed to be a day in which Hamas returns 4 dead hostage bodies as part of the deal. They made a spectacle broadcasting everything over Al Jazeera - you are welcome to look it up and form your opinion of this presentation. Anyway- the bodies were tranfered on locked coffins. Israel transported them to the pathological lab for identification - and the outcome was very surprising. The following 4 hostages were reported by Hamas to be retuned- 1. Oded Lifshitz - 83 year old. 2. Shiri Bibas - 32 year old, mother of Kfir and Ariel. 3. Ariel Bibas - 4 year old. 4. Kfir Bibas - 9 month old. (All ages refer to on date of abduction) However, the pathological exem resulted in confirming Oded, Ariel and Kfir were returned (while stateting that according to forensic examination they were murdered), but the female body was ruled out and is not Shiri Bibas nor any other known female hostage currently held. The reason I bring this issue up, is to provide my input that in these types of such deep conflicts - perhaps it doesn't matter. What do I mean by that? If you are a pro-israel actvisit - you will say: this is another example for how awful Hamas is and how grotesque and barbarian they are. If you are a pro-palestine actvist - you will choose to not believe the israeli side reporting and claim this is all a hoax and false reporting to justify further military actions vs Gaza. The point I am trying to make here, is that reporting of ongoing events are sadly somewhat irrelevant. What needs to be solved first is the fact that we live in an ever growing echo chamber. If I log on to youtube and watch several Al Jazeera / Pro-Palestine videos - my feed will further provide with the same content (Mehdi Hassan etc) allowing me to reaafirm my newly established opinions. If I happen to watch pro-israel videos, the same will happen too (Douglas murray etc).. I wish people would become aware of that and activly seek view and perspective from all sides. Which is my further point - voice. We know nothing about people going thru horrible realities around to globe just because they don't have a voice. In this conflict - both sides have a voice - but we should take into account what enable each of these voices to be heared, and in what volume. Edit (update): the following day of my comment Hamas returned Shiri Bibas body (middle of the night, directly to the red cross and without any bells and whistles) and she was identified subsequently at the pathological lab. In two hours from now the release of additional 6 male hostages is expected to take place.
Wonder when Israel and US going to take out Irans nuke infrastructure? Im thinking it's inevitable. I think once the theocratic radical islamist clergy are gone the people of Iran will be able to govern themselves.
UNRWA stands for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. It's a UN agency that provides humanitarian aid and protection to registered Palestine refugees. What does UNRWA do? Provides basic education, primary health care, and mental health care Offers relief and social services Provides microcredit Responds to emergencies, including armed conflicts Improves infrastructure and camps When was UNRWA established? The UN General Assembly established UNRWA on December 8, 1949 It began operations on May 1, 1950 The UN General Assembly has repeatedly renewed UNRWA's mandate, most recently extending it until June 30, 2026 Why does UNRWA exist? UNRWA provides vital services for the well-being of Palestine refugees while the question of the Palestine refugees is resolved UNRWA is the primary source of humanitarian support for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region UNRWA's role in the war in Gaza UNRWA has been a key part of an inter-agency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza Israel's displacement orders and bombings have presented serious delays and obstacles for UNRWA
I would point out the those who oppose UNRWA see it as a tool to perpetuate the conflict instead of resolving it. This is a 'philosophical point of view' argument. I would compare it to Morgan's Freeman comment about how to end racism? By "stop talking about it". (And it is just fine to agree or disagree with this stance - it is complicated). UNRWA is an agency that promotes a narrative of perpetual victimhood accrording to those who oppose it. UNRWA schools were a greenhouse for teaching ideologies of hate against Israel to little kids. And the status of 'refugee' being passed on to next generation only applies to Palestinians. These two U.N promoted ideations (refugee status and education system) are to some the exact reason for this perpetuating conflict. So the resolution a-la Morgan Freeman would be - Stop perpetuating hate and victim idealogies and initiate prosperity, peaceful and pragmatic views. One would also note that dismantling it - doesnt mean humanitarian services will be stopped. They won't - but instead there will be a re-instated Non-UN backed agency that will promote humantiarian aid and support, that is not so entrenched within by people whos intrest is to promote the ongoing clash and hate.. https://unwatch.org/the-case-against-unrwa/ + UNRWA schools curriculum from two years ago (pre Oct 7th massacre) Just my attempt to provide the pro-dismantle UNRWA view..
