Isreal, the PLO, and the war against terrorism.

So Isreal is mirroring the U.S. Stance towards the Talibon with its own stance toward the PLO. The PLO has declared it is gathering evidense and making an investigation into the assassination of an Isreali Political figure, but the Isreali are calling them liars and demanding they hand over the accused immediatly or face military reprisal. Sound familiar? I imagine Isreal will make good on its wars threats, it has shown as little restraint as those who fight against them. War looms thicker over that land and it ain't a video game either.

Also The U.S. didnt put the Hammas on it updated terrorist list and that pissed Isreal off real good! The U.K.'s Tony Blair has been treating Yassar Arafat like an actual head of state when he met him recently discussing a Palestinian state and the war against terrorism. I saw some bad medicine between old friends in this news. Although Isreal has gone its own way with regards to the U.S. and U.K. policy in the past, this time they are breaking sticks at the same time America and its supporters are breaking big sticks too. This could jepardize the balance of public favor in the middle east, where Isreal has again become more unpopular with it neighbors, particularly in the last 18 months. How will the game play out? Will our relations with the Isreali sour and the mid-east peace process lost? Do the Isreali bluff? What will an " all-out" war waged by the Isreali against the Palenstinians entail? More gunship assassinations is my first guess from history, but I really dont know.


Informed comments about any of this anyone?

I personally think that Isreal wanted to use the planecrashes for it's own good and overpushed it. they kept on saying that They were the good and they were batteling the bad, and islamitic mind you, palastines (you know islamitic like Bin Laden) and that's why Isreal should reobtain the Palastine Area's (palastines as islamitic you know).

I'm glad the western world didn't listen to the Israeli since the palastines have as much right to live there as the isreali, and the isreali keep on sabotaging the peace nagociations. I'm not saying the palastines don't, i honestly wouldn't know. But What the Isreali have to do is first to think whether they got the right one (show evidence) and make sure the palastine CAN hand them over. Since terrorists are good at hiding (sounds very familiar to me too)

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[Yorick]

I think the Jews are the most wronged, persecuted and dispossessed nation in the history of humanity. No-one should be quick to judge the actions of a nation surrounded by enemies denying their right to existence, yet who this time have the temerity to confront their enemies on their own terms, rather than be led like cattle into chambers of gaseous death.

Kudos to Israel for doing what no other nation would have done, when, during the Gulf War - despite 37 Iraqi scud missiles raining down on Jewish civilians - they turned the other cheek. Everyones patience has a limit though. We are only human.

If Colin Powel or Queen Beatrice (for you Rikard) was assassinated would your nations not want an end to terrorism.

Again I say, terrorism is an extreme evil of cowardly proportions and must be eradicated. I mourn 'the lights going out' in the middle east, but if terrorism is wiped from human conception then perhaps one less evil in the world will be removed.

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[This message has been edited by Yorick (edited 10-19-2001).]

[Silverquick]

Well first of all, the PLO dont exist anymore, they were disbanded after Beirut. If you mean the Palestinian Authority then this is a very interesting circumstance.

The Palestinian Authority under Arafat has come under scrutiny lately because of Arafats inabillity to control Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Sharon has been adamant about Arafat asserting control over the Hamas and "cracking down" on millitants. Thats what he's talking about when he says that.

Here is where it got interesting. The Israelis last month turned over a list of people who were ignoring the truce and continuing attacks on Israeli civilians. Arafat didnt bother to even take a second glance at it. He made some token attempts then didnt bother. Hamas continued its attacks and ignored the Cease fire and Arafat. Arafat had egg all over his face.

Arafat however did take MAJOR steps to crack down on Palestinian demonstrations in support of Bin Laudin however. He even closed down religious schools and arrested "millitants" of the Islamic Jihad for promoting them.

This was a MAJOR shift for Arafat who had not bothered previously to enforce the cease fire under similar terms.

Sharon after seeing this took two steps. He loosened the Checkpoints for the Genereal non-involved palestinians and began selective assassination of those who were not listening to Arafat.

A Crazy thing happened shortly after that...

A relatively obscure Palestinian millitant group Assassinated an Extremist Israeli Minister who openly broke ranks with Sharon and defected the Sharon alliance in the Knessett (think Israeli Parliament or congress) over the actions Sharon had taken concerning loosening up on Palestinian roadblocks and re-engaging a possible Palestinian state.

This is is priceless. Sharon is litterally eliminating Arafats problem children... and somehow the Palestinian groups have specifically targeted Sharons opponents.

This is classic. I would say it but I cant be sure. It would appear they are assassinating each others problem areas that keep the peace process from moving forward. You'd almost swear its a conspiracy if they didnt hate each other so much.

[Silverquick]

The Palestinian Authority or PA is more like the Palestinian Government in the Occupied areas. That would be a good way to think of it. They maintain their own police force. This is the Palestinian Security Force.

The PLO or Palestine Liberation Organization was litterally a terrorist organization that hijacked planes, set up attacks on Israeli civilians and attempted to win back the Holy lands by declaring all Israelis the enemy including its civilians. This is what they are talking about when they call Arafat the father of Arab Terrorism. Arafat lead this organization too. This was the first time Attacks were actually turned into attacks on Israeli civilians rather than just on its millitary and resulted in the current policies you see by the Israelis today. (It was General Ariel Sharon who lead the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) into Beirut with the Task of Destroying the PLO who were making their attacks from Lebanon. Ironic isnt it?)

Hamas is an offshoot that sprung up after Beirut after the PLO was disbanded.

That will help you understand who is what.

Silverquick,

thanks for posting that info--I must admit I am more than a bit jaded on the whole Israel vs. Palestine affair and have ignored them lately. This certainly sounds *highly* interesting--I love the idea of them working together even if it is unintentional!

Yorick,

here, here!!!!!!! ::clapping::

Garnet

Originally posted by Silverquick: The Palestinian Authority or PA is more like the Palestinian Government in the Occupied areas. That would be a good way to think of it. They maintain their own police force. This is the Palestinian Security Force. The PLO or Palestine Liberation Organization was litterally a terrorist organization that hijacked planes, set up attacks on Israeli civilians and attempted to win back the Holy lands by declaring all Israelis the enemy including its civilians. This is what they are talking about when they call Arafat the father of Arab Terrorism. Arafat lead this organization too. This was the first time Attacks were actually turned into attacks on Israeli civilians rather than just on its millitary and resulted in the current policies you see by the Israelis today. (It was General Ariel Sharon who lead the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) into Beirut with the Task of Destroying the PLO who were making their attacks from Lebanon. Ironic isnt it?) Hamas is an offshoot that sprung up after Beirut after the PLO was disbanded. That will help you understand who is what.

Thanks for the info and the insights, I didnt know the PLO was disbanded, so I go back in time and replace PLO with PA in my earlier post.

[Silverquick]

Well you are welcome, if you want to talk Israel we can go into a lot of depth. once you understand what leads to what, you realize just how gray of an area the Israeli/Palestinian thing can be.

The Palestinians are not innocent and bloodless, unfortunately neither are the Israelis.

Israeli response on things are heavy handed, but most of the time you cannot fault them for taking those actions. This makes the United States position a difficult one.

[John D Harris]

I want to add something about the Israelis being anti-Islamic there is a sect(sp?) of Islam called the Druse that are afforded complete Israeli citzenship, infact the Druse have their own military units in the Israeli armed forces commanded by Druse.

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