And what is your detailed thoughts of bringing a lot of what you have said about; please tell me the steps? I agree with you on many of things that you have blogged but the problems are a lot and to an extent, complex. I am for sanctions, but precise, realistic and wise sanctions. The only thing with sanctions is that it usually affects the "ordinary" person. Most governments rarely get affected by sanctions that are imposed on them.

Another thing that I noticed is the religious aspect of it all. Believe you me when I say this that yes religious beliefs are playing a big role in the whole Israeli-Arab conflict but to some degree both sides can't come to the diplomatic table talking about "God said this land is for his people" or "Allah said this land is for our people". And this is indeed a difficult thing to deal with but if one side sees something one way that differs in the eyes of the other side it is going to be hard to manage the conflict between the parties.

There is an old saying "It takes a village to raise a child". It is our responsibility to take care of these 2 children (Israel and Palestine). I believe this: Mankind as a whole are the same; physically we are different but on the inside we are all the same. We all have or will feel love, hatred, sadness and so on. This is what makes us one. One of my professors in college told me the way to getting in office is to know the people. He told me that the people is where the power lies at.

The Civil Rights Movement in America is a perfect example to why to some extent it was successful and to another why it failed, amongst many other things. The Civil Rights Movement was done mostly with non-violence from the blacks and other races, regardless of racial size in the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. told his people to use no violence; I believe that violence only begets more violence. Equally as well is the sense of emotional hostility whether the other party feels that or not has, in certain situations, created emotional hostility thus creating/reviving the breeding ground of violence.

With this movement though was a voice of a man who tapped into the hearts of those who wanted change; who wanted....equality, freedom, a chance to have a peaceful life. A life that maybe they wouldn't get but hopefully their children could have.
The Civil Rights Movement was successful in America with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The problem that I have looked at with the Civil Rights Act and why it could've been more globally effective to all people was that it was even more so a movement of human rights then civil rights.

The power is in the people and change comes from the people who demand it, politically and peacefully of course. There is nothing wrong with compassion and a burning fervor in your heart but you must do as your nickname states and start with people at the grassroots level and build. To make this issue in the Middle East have a greater global impact you must have the support of as many people around the world as you can, otherwise it will just be as it always has been, an Arab-Israeli conflict.

There is something that I find myself to think about from time to time when it comes to conflict, especially aggressive conflict; and this does differ from culture to culture. Generally speaking, people like conflict as long as it doesn't affect them or those they love. America is a perfect example; if you watch the television or the movies at the theatre and even the music that is played over the air waves, it sells. Video games are no exception to the collection of negative conflict that is in demand. If people see no impact of the conflict on thier own lives, and I am not saying all people but just a percentage, then there is not going to be that big of an outcry for something to be done.

Don't get me wrong as well when I will say that there is politics in this as well. There are those, in my opinion, who can do something about this but either they feel its not the right time or they simply do not care. Out of sight out of mind.
From what I have thought of so far in trying to change this situation...I would have to say that you need a BIG global effort for those to push for human rights and not civil rights of a group or nation of people. You need the people and the must be organized and united towards seeing a positive change.

Palestinians are not the only ones who are suffering from oppression and tyranny in this world. There are others around the globe who share their pain. I cannot say this enough that this is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue and that it takes humans to act in a united way towards positive change. Some people say that the United Nations needs to be reformed. I find that interesting because the people who say that don't act upon what they say. The power is your brother, use it.

It's Christmas break for me so I will be gone for the next 2 weeks or so but I will be back at the same bat time and same bat place,
Christopher Smith :)

Right now the Israelis are doing exactly what they did last winter for Gaza.
Softening/weakening down the Gazan concentration camp Arab/Muslims for a winter attack,just like LAST TIME!
They are inflicting slow and steady torture on the physical,psychological,emotional strength of the Arab people.
And all because they are NOT Jewish!
How bigotted and racist can WE allow them to be?
They are STARVING the Arab men,women,children and sick,weakening them further so they CANNOT retaliate to defend themselves. WARSAW GHETTO 2!
They have closed the Palestinians in AGAIN,without food,water,hygiene facilities,heat,money,work ON THE LAME PATHETIC EXCUSE that Hamas keep firing a few useless hand guided 'rockets',and a few rocks,at the Israelis.
When really,HAMAS react secondarily,as RETALIATION for Israeli initiated OFFENSIVES.
If Hamas ARE actually the ones firing the Qassam rockets?
Bear in mind that these qassam 'firecrackers' are VERY UNPRECISE when it comes to hitting ANYTHING.They usually land in EMPTY fields or desert areas.
But the are the perfect EXCUSE for the Israelis to ethnical cleanse,murder,torture MORE PALESTINIAN/Arab/Muslims.
Make NO mistake folks:this is SLOW,METHODICAL GENOCIDE and MASSIVE human rights abuse equal to any other the world has witnessed,including the NAZI holocaust.
The ends are to be the same,through just SLIGHTLY varying means!
But murder and torture IS murder and torture. Period!
The Israelis just prefer to span it out and make it look more like neighbourly 'civil unrest',if you can call AN ARMY with state-of-the-art weapons/computer guided missiles/tanks/chemical weapons/1-2 ton bombs, against rocks and fircrackers JUST neighbourly unrest.
I will post this AGAIN,because already on other websites it's being blocked.

So when the Israelis ATTACK the Palestinians AGAIN this winter,WHICH THEY WILL, you will know and remember the truth,and remember where OUR taxpayers dollars are going--and to do WHAT!
No-one should deny,or IGNORE,the full extent of the truth,and when it happens very soon,again,no-one can say they didn't know(like many Germans did,because they didn't know in many urban areas),just that they didn't CARE or didn't know what to do!
Again! Imagine these people are your sons and daughters.
What would YOU do,feel,say?
The Israelis think/hope that no-one is watching,or caring about,or feeling pain for the Palestinian people.
But Israel!
Mark my words----THE WORLD IS WATCHING EVERY MOVE YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE,and you have the most to lose and waste.
May the Lord give you the wisdom,the compassion,the humility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWurp6PSMs

Peace,Salaam,Shalom.

You must excuse my "caps lock" use lol!
I guess my emphases,express the desperation in my heart and soul?
The passionate anger that butts heads with my calm rationale.
It's a reaction I get to witnessing anything that is so INHUMANE,and UN-necessary and against ALL my better principles as a person of common-sense peace,not war.
One who believes that diplomatic dialogue,flexibility and rationality is courageous and PARAMOUNT to avoid ANY death and destruction.
After WW2(in European 'theater'),witnessing of the opening of the gates,and remembering that DREADFUL sudden sensorial disorientation,when life is put on 'pause'and you forget that you are breathing,if you ARE,and not knowing which planet you are on,because surely your fellow 'humans' could NEVER do such things to other fellow human species,including the ultimate innocents,i.e.children?
I guess I can't stay SILENT when I see history repeating itself in an equally savage way,when it could,and SHOULD,be so different,and is very achievable,if both sides humble themselves before God and man,and admit that they are getting NOWHERE fast and things could be SO MUCH better for all.
I get very frustrated with that right now,especially Israel,which needs no other enemy than itself right now,and is losing friends,allies,support and world sympathy SO FAST,and is only on a path to self-destruction.
That is something anyone of humanity,and good conscience would not like to see,including myself.What a waste!
It's not JUST what they are doing to OTHERS,it is what they are inflicting on themselves also!
But what Israel is doing to its neighbours is universally, legally,morally,ethically,spiritually and HUMANLY unacceptable.
So,what to do?
Where is the magic wand Harry Potter? lol!
There 'aint' one.
Ideally,I would LOVE to see a ONE State solution,where Israelis/Palestinians,all ethnicities,faiths,cultures living side by side with MUTUAL respect and courtesy.
I would love to see Jerusalem undivided as a MULTI-FAITH center of spirituality and hope.
Jerusalem belongs to NO faith exclusively,it represents God,and God sees ALL persons as being equal.
That's why my solutions would be very similar to those proposed by Richard Falk:

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/183ED1610B2BCB80C125751A002B06B2?opendocument

And other UN observers like Desmond Tutu,who was also refused entry to the concentration camp of Gaza,which is nothing more than the Israeli version of Warsaw or Soweta.
I agree with the global media,who signed the petition to encourage Israel to open the doors,if there is REALLY nothing to hide,or that they should be ashamed of?
LOL! As they say,"level the playing field",so I have to say that UN/International sanctions and blockades on EVERYTHING that Israel has,that they use as a weapon against the Palestinians,who HAVE NOTHING but fists and stones(comparatively)would be a good start.
Tear down that obnoxious concrete wall,that divides the Holy Land belonging to God and MAN! It's an insult!
Israel! Adhere to Geneva Conventions.
Restore Right of Return.
Withdrawal to 1967 borders.
Hamas and Fatah should bury their political differences and personal arrogances and put their PEOPLE,and The State of Palestine first,as ONE NATIONAL IDENTITY.
Quit the Qassam firecrackers,that always miss,lucky for the Israelis.
Quit the tank,helicopter,boat launched guided missiles from Israel(those NEVER miss).
Absolute ceasefire,on ALL sides.
Jerusalem is sacred ground that should be UNDIVIDED ground for ALL FAITHS,equally and mutually.
No destruction of spiritual monument/ground in the Holy Land of all faiths.
Heck, even turn the Holy Land into an open protected(UN mandate)spiritual 'PARK',for five years(renewable)until absolute peace is habit.
Close down Dimona,and both sides must sign on to a nuclear-free treaty.
Each should have OWN rights to Oil/Gas/Water in each area.
Palestine should have open maritime/fishing rights in Gazan-Med waters.
All Arab nations should donate an annual tithe to rebuild Palestines economy and infrastructure,tourism etc.
Europe/USA should invest in BOTH areas(non-militarily).
Knock down,and remix the concrete wall,to build new homes in a State of Palestine.
Leave six blocks standing,as a memorial,on the border,in an all faith Central Park of Peace,to remind everyone of what to never do again.

But before a State of Palisrael,or Israelistine(must be a better name than those) happens there is SIXTY YEARS++(of recent history only)of bitterness,hatred,mistrust and burned out hearts,minds and souls to allow to heal,and SCAB OVER,if you will,in order for skins to unite,mutually,with strength.

So,a two-State solution is the first imperative as the bridge to the ultimate ideal,which will take time,patience,humility and enthusiasm from all as equals.
Right now the wounds are CONSTANTLY re-opened and further infection spreads from local to systemic.

Israel has to come down from it arrogant horse,and realise that without the unconditional support from the USA it COULD not survive in its present state anyway.The USA is the life-support machine to Israel.And if Israel is REALLY an independent Democratic State,that 'machine' should not REALLY be necessary.
SO....
It has to imagine that the umbilical cord between the USA and Israel has been cut.
Just as a child must learn to endure without its parent if needs must.
So,how does Israel survive,maintain itself,prosper,flourish and nourish its people INDEPENDENTLY,and live peacefully with its neighbours?
By changing its WHOLE method,and priority and facing the reality of today,so that the dreams of tomorrow MAY COME.The young people are coming with new and peaceful ways,unencumbered by past baggage.
The US has to admit,too,that its UNCONDITIONAL financing and therefore condoning of Israels brutality(where NO other country on this planet would do so,so arbitrarily),is ruining its INTERNATIONAL reputation,making the USA a laughing stock and turning Israel into an unwelcome ball and chain around its 'ankle'.
As long as the US Government ignore/deny Israels actions we have NO authority to condemn others for the same,and expect to be taken academically/spiritually seriously! LOL!
As long as our government condones the inhumane actions of the Israeli government,we cannot pertain to be ANYONE elses mentor of 'DEMOCRACY",without appearing to be massively hypocritical/two-faced.
Right now the USA is in its own DEEP doo-doo.
More so than EVER before.
It has no moral/ethical leg to stand on,internationally,after the carnage of Iraq and Afghanistan(and Pakistan/Iran/Russia pending).
It certainly is in NO POSITION anymore,to provide UNCONDITIONAL support to another bully thug called Israel,especially when the present administrations level of National public support is at an ALL TIME LOW!
The US Government does not,and HAS not spoken for the American people for decades,merely itself,and has said to Americans,"OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY brother!"
Now Americans have had ENOUGH for TOO long!
They can feel Democracy and Freedom slipping from their grasp.

We have lost many international friends,admirers and willing business partners(just like Israel),which doesn't help our image.
And it's our FAULT for thinking that Corporate business men should control our Government and MILITARY.
And worst of all,we have allowed incompetent business men to take us into ILLEGAL WARS,invasions and occupations for the sake of LOOTING of land and resources,that DON'T belong to us,to feed our greed!

I believe,sadly,that in its present form,Israel is fast becoming a failed State with NO working political Democracy.
It survives by draconian military dictatorship,military exercise,domination,occupation and oppression/suppression through apartheid(and I remember well South Africa).
The racism,segregation,ethnic profiling,pogrom intimidation,containment in camps,collective punishment,starvation,dehydration,psy-ops,destruction of infrastructure,stifling of economy,assault on human dignity,constant harassment,brutality and torture.
All of which is unforgiveable.
But I think what really pains my soul to the core,Chris,is seeing all this done by a people who,only 60-70 years ago(modern history)were having the VERY SAME done to them,by the same method of MADNESS,and inhumanity.
Its as if everything that the Israelis do TODAY,to Palestinians and ANYONE else non-Jewish,is excused by their OWN pain sixty-odd years ago.
And I guess I am just so appalled that they should USE and abuse that global sympathy for them,for SO LONG,as the opaque shield to blurr what they are doing NOW to others,to the point where that global sympathy is now depleted,moot,spent,kaput!They have no 'get-out-of-jail-free-card' left ANYMORE!
Instead of making Israel a "promised land" in reality,quality,quantity,desirability to ALL(even if it remained,on paper known as a 'Jewish State'),they isolated themselves into an imagined aristocracy/kingdom.
Built their "iron"(concrete)walls of exclusion.
Divided,instead of nourished,the land and resources,and looted everything that should have been SHARED equally
by the indigenous people and the new 'settlers'.

They turned it into a wasteland of blood and hatred,where NOW,the natural resources won't sustain EITHER side for long.
The aquifers are drying up,rivers are shrinking and FULL of human excrement and disease.
Take away the Israeli OVERUSE of sprinkler/irrigation systems and ALL people would share the same wastleland covered with spent ordnance,and farm excrement.
The land has been ravaged and covered with concrete.
Agriculture is a joke.Fishing is gone.Tourism is FADING FAST,because no-one wants to go to a constant war-zone.Even my Jewish friends REFUSE to go,lol!
Palms,olives,figs,dates ALL GONE!
IT'S SO RIDICULOUS!
The Holy Land was NEVER a land WITHOUT a people.
There were ALWAYS the indigenous people of all faiths.
The Jews,Christians and Muslims all come from the same genetic source and blood line and ALL BLEED red(not PURE GOLD,as some would like to believe,LOL!).

All this,just because a PEOPLE,of one faith(Judaism),insisted on a plot of "land",as promised in a Holy book,to prove that a prophesy was possible.
At the same time that another group of political thugs(the Zionists)were merely EXPLOITING the whole situation to get the land by ANY means/ends fair or foul.
Go figure!

The ironical thing in my mind,I suppose,is that prior to the State of Israel being bestowed upon them by the WW2(human not biblical)super-powers,the Jewish peoples 'land' was the whole planet!!! lol!
'Israel'is supposed to be the SOUL and core of Judaism.
The constant fire in the 'hearth of welcome' to a Messiah(who has probably been and GONE,in disgust,if he had any common-sense).
But,all the maniacal political zionists have done,is wall themselves(the Jewish people)up into ANOTHER stinking,festering camp,AND created a similar concentration camp for their neighbours(and equals) the Palestinians,to BOOT!
And left the whole world with its motto,ringing in its ear:
When it comes to Israel,"NOTHING IS SAFE"!

Is that good enough for a start? lol!
Constant occupation by oppression is never going to create shared peace.
If the Israelis want to keep their real estate,they have to share with,and respect their neighbours,otherwise they will have NOTHING,and deserve nothing.

Time for tea!
Peace,Salaam,Shalom!

I just watched that Israel has expelled UN envoy Mr. Richard Falk from Israel. What is surrounded in this political sphere is the accusations of wrong military practices by Israel. In my opinion and from what I have watched so far I would have to say yes Israel is indeed at fault. The source for my new posting is from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkF1XxdXQFc

If you are going to cut off financial aid to Israel then in what sector would you cut them off at? Financial sanctions and the like must be done very specifically towards certain areas. If you were to say cut financing in Israel's defense sector then yes I would agree to an extent. If you were to say cut funding that is used for regional development i.e healthcare, education and other social welfare services then I would say no.

I would agree with lisak's number 2 solution or at least to use that is some type of groundwork idea to build upon. What to call it can be considered later in my opinion. The problems that I see with that though is how do you desegregate a region that has strong lineage cultures in their blood so to speak. As I suggested in my earlier post, I think it would take a major international effort, grassroots if you will, to move something like this forward. It is possible but people would have to understand as well that in the meantime there would possibly be more bloodshed. Mankind's history is full of our current problems but when can solve these problems if we look to the past and have open dialogue with one another.

I will conclude that once again, you cannot take Israel out of the picture because they are just as apart of the conflict as is Palestine. You want to avoid backing anyone into a corner or at least making them feel that way because then they will become uncooperative and stubborn to a point of, maybe, no return. As I stated, you must be constructive, not destructive.

Christopher Smith

"We" (Americans) can start by cutting all aid that we give to Israel, both financial and military. Israel should be ashamed of itself. You would think that a people that have been so categorically persecuted throughout history would be sensitive to the situation of an oppressed people. Instead, they have become the oppressors. Look, I'm not trying to minimize the Jewish struggle... yes, the Holocaust sucked, Roman slavery sucked, but the Arabs have been there just as Israelites. You can't just go invade, segregate, and invent your own country when people already live there. It's one thing to want to resettle the area, but settle on open land, not land already occupied. This is not rocket science!

A major issue, at least on the part of America, is that American's don't even know what is going on there. I mean, actually can't even find the region on the map and know nothing about its history. Most of Americans, sadly, don't even care. Until the American public starts stepping up and taking a stand, our part in this tragedy will continue.

I have three solutions:

1. Slice Israel in half, diagonally, right through the heart of Jerusalem. Call the North and West areas Palestine, and the South and East areas Israel. Open borders. Jerusalem is shared. GAZA and the WEST BANK remain Palestinian

2. Since the above mentioned would never be agreed upon, how about just ENDING Jewish settlements and segregation all together. No Checkpoints. No Military Action. Everyone is free to move about, there is a joint Arab-Israeli democratic government, and the communities are kept safe by adequate policing. Call it Israelistine or Palisrael

3. Or why not just leave Gaza, West Bank, and Golan alone! Israel is vastly underdeveloped... go build somewhere where you're not going to be ruining the lives of an entire people.... no need to be racist, genocidal assholes!

I watched this video. How should I start. Israel has done a lot of wrong things in the Arab-Israeli conflict over the years but also Palestinians have done such horrible acts as well. Let me add before I continue that when I say "Israel" or "Palestinians" I am not saying all but a certain percentage.

I would like to address a part of Grassroots comment that stated that "Israel MUST BE MADE, by the rest of humanity, to stop this---NOW!". My question is how. How do you stop such violence on Israel's part? And in return, how do you stop the violence on Palestine's part? What do you mean by stopping this? With the caps lock button on it seems to purvey to me that you want an aggressive retaliation, in the form of violence, against them; if not that then maybe some harsh sanctioning by the United Nations or some other intergovernmental organization. Yes, no?

Throughout wars and conflicts in mankind's recorded history, armies have been used against the civilian population in terms of violence. Do not get me wrong that I do not condone these acts but I want to state that this is nothing new. Now having said that I do agree that something must be done but when I read this and other comments that I have seen in regards to Israel's actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as well as other neighboring countries I get the feeling that there is a sense of Hitlerism if you will in the air. Not saying that there might arise a form of nationalism on steroids as Hitler had but another type of "it's the Jews" mentality.

When you state "must be made" please define that. On the one hand we cannot allow, as a global society, acts of violence committed by the Israeli army but nor can we "pin" Israel in a corner and expect to have diplomatic and peaceful policies. There is always going to be ordinary people whose lives are impacted by governments and their orders for their military forces. History should show that war/violence is not the answer. It never has been and for anyone to think that is in my opinion not thinking things through thoroughly. Peace can be had between Israel and it's neighbors. The question is how, especially since violence between the two has been going on for so long.

In my opinion, there has to be a concerted effort by the international community to push very hard for a peace treaty between the two or more countries in this conflict. There has to be a common ground that the parties can work on and an understanding that everyone has the right to existence. I would also have to say that good education, health care, employment and realistic opportunity must be available to the Palestinians as well as the Israelis. On the one hand I find this to be a complex issue but on the other hand I don't.

It is going to take all parties, realism and time to achieve peace. It must be recognized that Israel has a right to exist; Palestine has a right to exist as well and that it can be done peacefully. If the democratically developed countries or simply those who want to see a better Israel/Palestine relationship push forward in the peace process with open dialogue and respect for one another's views then it is possible to end this violence. Yitzhak Rabin was close but he was assassinated.

I will close with this. Hateful, negative and unconstructive remarks does not help. Yes there is blame to go around to all sides but by constantly talking about one ethnicity or another and what they have done wrong is in no way, shape or form constructive. And I cannot stress enough that this peace process is going to take time, effort, resources i.e money and the the strong desire to see peace through.
If Martin Luther King Jr. gave up as well as other civil rights activists where would black people in America be today?

Happy Holidays,
Christopher Smith

P.S. Grassroots, this is not an attack against you or how you feel about the situation, I just feel that dialogue between many people is the way in finding a solution to the problem. Take care my friend.

To all those in pain:

For years and years my heart has bled,
For years and years the 'life' they've led
is nothing that God wished for any man on earth.

This video is not easy to watch.
It is,however,the TRUTH,and no good conscience person can ignore the TRUTH,by ignorance OR delibaration.
An army AGAINST CIVILIANS?
So I do not apologise for posting something the WHOLE WORLD should know about,and CARE ABOUT,where-ever they may be,because it may NOT be far away from YOU,tomorrow.

Israel MUST BE MADE,by the rest of humanity,to stop this----NOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWurp6PSMs

Peace,Salaam,Shalom!