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May 19 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 19, 2004 A real difference to Palestinians and Israelis Mr. Robbins writes that America doesn't criticize Israel [enough] "so as not to offend American Jews." Here are a few other reasons why America doesn't and shouldn't criticize Israel more: Palestinians cheered on 9/11 and danced in the streets; Israelis mourned with us. Palestinians teach their children to revere the homicide bombers. Israelis teach our doctors how to care for terror victims knowing that America is still in the sights of jihad. In Palestinian-controlled territory, members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad (and other groups which reject peace with Israel) openly walk the streets spewing anti-Israel, anti-U.S., hate. Israel shares our belief in democracy and equality and religious freedom. As a country only 56 years old, it is much closer to realizing those ideals than we were in 1822. Israel is our partner in the war against world-wide terror. Israeli technology is constantly integrated into American weapons systems and intelligence gathering devices. Israelis speak Arabic and provide valuable, on the ground intelligence -the area where US resources are weakest. Our military trains with the Israelis both in the U.S. and Israel. We store vast amounts of war materiel in Israel and don't have to worry about offending Israelis by our presence, unlike the conditions that exist in much of the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia. The list could be much longer. Implementing the Geneva Accord may be "obvious" to Mr. Robbins, but it is not obvious to me. Neither is it obvious to the democratically elected government of Israel or the puppet government of the Palestinian Authority, both of which reject it. By focusing on occupation, Mr. Robbins removes the conflict from its proper historical context. Arab attacks on Israel preceded Israeli presence in the West Bank and Gaza. The world wants a Palestinian state and in due time there will be one. But the idea of a Palestinian state is recent. For example, the 1947 UN Mandate (UN Resolution 181) provided for two states: a mostly Jewish State named Israel; and a mostly Arab State named Arab State. The Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey have a vastly stronger case for independent statehood than the Palestinians, but only Israel is called an Occupier. For the PA to establish a real state among nations, it must demonstrate its will and ability to establish and maintain democratic civil control of its territory the extent of which will be determined by direct negotiations with the Israelis. Most Israelis want to be rid of most of the West Bank and all of Gaza. But trying to disengage safely is like trying to get off a bucking horse. The world seems to have forgotten that the 1967 Green Line is an armistice line, not a recognized international border. The true border must be negotiated between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Of course Israel is not above the law. But it should be judged by the same standards as the other member states of the United Nations. Unfortunately, it is not. (See Paul Greenberg's 2/27/04 column Obstacle to Peace available at www.jewishworldreview.com) Israel is regularly vilified in that body by countries with records far worse than Israel on a broad range of basic behavior: free elections; free speech/free press; freedom of religion; equal rights for women; humanitarian aid to other countries. In these areas Israel stands tall; its neighbors barely stand at all. Gerry Mandell Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams