How Israel is Wrong and the Palestinians are Misguided

In my mind, there are two fundamental problems with what the Israelis and Palestinians are doing. Israel is occupying the West Bank (and effectively Gaza because they control the borders, the airspace, etc.). What are they going to do with it -- hold on to it forever? Obviously they have to address this enormous injustice. And the Palestinians have been headed in the wrong direction for 60 years. As I explain in the video below, violence will never get them what they want:

Mandela, Gandhi and King were not just non-violent -- they were bold. They took the fight to their opponents, risked their lives and put everything on the line to get what they needed -- justice. It's not just that they were heroes for being non-violent, they were also heroes for accomplishing their goals. They gained the freedom for their people that the Palestinians have been looking for this whole time. Isn't it about time they considered this approach -- not just because it's more moral but because it works?

Young Turks on You Tube

UPDATE -- Israel killing Hamas leaders and their family, as they did today, is deplorable. And invites retaliation. It makes our argument of non-violence to Palestinians so much harder when they are faced with such ruthless violence on the other side.

Imagine what American reaction would have been if Hamas had just killed one of the top Israeli leaders -- like Tzipi Livni -- and her family. No one can honestly say that we would have the same reaction of indifference.

They would be called butcher, madmen, terrorists. Even if you are a hard-core Israel supporter no matter what they do, you have to agree with that. Hamas would be called terrorists for that same exact action. The double standard is sickening.

Comments

[davidz]

We have seen Muslim countries promote only hatery and death for the Jewish state while Israel promote peace for palestine

[beautifulady2003]

How do you respond with non-violence when you're being bombed, shot at, starved and denied medical attention, and the most powerful country in the world takes the side of your tormentors? People all over the world are protesting over this latest Israeli atrocity, yet the governments who are responsible for it all could not care less.

Before you condemn Hamas, imagine yourself living in the West Bank or in Gaza, as an Arab non-Jew. If you don't know anyone living there, it's hard to picture. I know people living there, if living is what you call it. And while they suffer, the west pontificates about the "terrorism" of Hamas, without acknowledging the terrorism of Israel.

Thousands of Palestinians have died or been injured in the past year. How many Israelis? Four. And Israel claims Hamas' rockets are the reason they are slaughtering the people of Gaza. If you believe that, I've got some nice swamp land I'd like to sell you.

[jericho4119]

You are so close Turk!

Never forget, black Americans were living in a world of terror when MLK stepped on the scene. Black people of any age were always living under the threat of death, should they violate one of the unseen rules of Jim Crow - irrespective of which state in the union in which they resided.

So is this latest assassination of a "Hamas leader" unfortunate?

Yes.

Should it be allowed to become the excuse for one more retaliatory strike?

No.

[Michale32086]

@euthman

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"Specifically targeted" is a convenient mechanism to narrow the definition of "terrorist" to cover your enemies and exclude your allies. I see no reason to accept the definition. Dead civilians are dead civilians, whether they are specifically targeted or blown up in a massive overreaction to a few ineffective rocket attacks.
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Of course you can't accept the definition..

Because it totally negates your position.

So, you must deny reality to make your position valid in your own mind.

I understand completely.

But that IS the definition of terrorism..

Using your definition, every war ever fought would be "terrorism".. And that is just not in keeping with reality.

As far as your "ineffective" rocket attacks claim, answer me this. Would you mind if a few scumbags walked by your house at all hours of the day or night with old single shot shotguns and fired blasts in your home. Where your family slept or played or worked??

Would that bother you? Why? They are old shotguns and mostly ineffective... So, what would the problem be???

And, just a note for you. Those "ineffective" rockets have killed and maimed HUNDREDS of Israelis..

But, you really don't care about Israelis, do you? That is what makes you such a devoted Hamas supporter....

Michale.....

[disintaGreatNation]

The Palestinians have already tried nonviolence.
Mubarak Awad is a Jerusalem-born Palestinian devoted to Gandhi-type nonviolent resistance. The Israelis understood the treat posed by leaders who advocated nonviolent resistance to their occupation. They kicked Awad out. He now lives in exile in the U.S.A.

[ReneeGold]

I am sorry that Cenk Uygur is not better informed. Yes, all of us, including Israelis and Palestinians, are human and deserve peace. But ...WHY do Israelis restrict activity in Gaza? They're not doing it for fun. Do you think Israeli parents want their sons in battle like this?
Israelis, in a Democracy, have all sorts of opinions and complain all the time about their government.
The people of Gaza are manipulated BY HAMAS. If they had the freedom to say so, they would.
Do you think young Palestinians WANT to commit attacks by suicide? Their grievances will always be solvable by peaceful means.
When Cenk refers to Palestinians going about getting "what they want" the wrong/violent way--he ignores that "what they want" is not the ability to pass check points (set up for the protection of Israelis against terrorist acts) but the destruction of The Jewish State, which is Israel.
Understand that the vast majority of Israelis (not the fanatic-settlers) favor a two-state solution and would give land for SECURE PEACE. But they're not going to accept a false-peace promised by terrorist leaders, who have proven, time and again, they're out to destroy Israel.
The Palestinians, themselves, should rise up against Hamas. They're petrified to do so. Arabs in this country are petrified to oppose Hamas. . A few criticize the "methods" but not the goals of terror groups.
Cenk should come to the defense of Israeli AND Palestinian people trapped by Hamas.

[TiaL27]

@Michale32086

ok, tell me this - why has Israel been dropping bombs on Palestinians since 1948? We now know Hamas wasn't factor before 1987 because they didn't exist. Are you going to tell me it was always about self-defense?

Do you see Israel as military occupation? Do you acknowledge that the Palestinians are being ethnic cleanse and they are kick off their own land by Israeli settlers from Europe?

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3txrW6zHS5A

The Balfour Declaration:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Balfour_declaration_unmarked.jpg

Do you know why Former President Carter called the Israeli occupation Apartheid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0T3jMRNwV8

[ihavenobias]

This should be featured on the HuffPo homepage.

[Michale32086]

@euthman

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Under Michale's definition, the Allies were "terrorists" in World War II (Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki). Currently, the Israelis also qualify as "terrorists," because they target residential areas, which contain civilians.
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Actually, you are wrong on both points..

In WWII, the targeting was infrastructure which is a legitimate target in times of war. Hiroshima had one of the largest Japanese ports and Nagasaki was a vital smelting and iron manufacturing area. (Or the other way around, can't recall and am too lazy to confirm). While the loss of innocent civilian life is regrettable, that doesn't negate that all were legitimate military targets..

In the case of Israel, she is not targeting civilian areas. Israel is targeting missile launchers and other military equipment, which are legitimate military targets.

There is only civilian casualties because HAMAS insists on placing those targets within civilian areas.

These are the facts.

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

@bermanator

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With the UN involved, what could go wrong? ;-)
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"That's humor. I recognize that.
-JT Walsh, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM

Michale.....

[bermanator]

Comparing any member of HAMAS to Tzipi Livni is deplorable. Any high-ranking member of HAMAS is a terrorist, Tzipi Livni is a progressive, modern politician.

Otherwise, your video promotes a positive message that both sides could learn from, some more than others...

[euthman]

A rank and file Palace Tinian might have the exact opposite view. Like Cenk Uygur, I no longer use the term Tarrer Ist. When my guy kills people, he is a defender or freedom fighter. When your guy does it, he's a Tarrer Ist. The word has no objective meaning.

[Michale32086]

You are quite incorrect.

Terrorism does have a specific and definitive definition.

"Terrorism is defined as ongoing and systematic attacks of violence specifically targeted against innocent civilian persons or property for the purpose of furthering a political, economical or ideological agenda."

The concept of one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter is THE biggest pile of carp of ALL the piles of carp that exist in the world...

A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist..

There is nothing noble about a terrorist. There is nothing about "freedom" in terrorism...

NOTHING justifies terrorism.. NOTHING....

It's THAT simple...

Michale.....

[euthman]

Under Michale's definition, the Allies were "terrorists" in World War II (Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki). Currently, the Israelis also qualify as "terrorists," because they target residential areas, which contain civilians.

Sorry, but for rational discussion, "terrorist" is a useless word.

[bermanator]

The world have no objective meaning to you because you have no objectivity, apparently.

[Michale32086]

@TiaL27

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Are you saying that no bombs were dropped on Palestinians before Hamas came into existence?
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No, I am saying that no bombs were dropped on Palestinians before Israel was attacked .....

Michale......

[TiaL27]

I totally agree Cent, the only way for them to get the Western world to see the truth of what is going on is to avoid violence.

However, I will say I have seen video footage of Israeli Jews and Palestinians peacefully protesting together. There are plenty of peaceful protest but it doesn't get any media coverage in USA.

Hamas was found in 1987. Israel has been bombing Palestinians (the Native people of Israel) since the 1940s. That is the inescapable truth.

[Michale32086]

"If you want truth, Professor Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall."
-Indiana Jones

I prefer to deal in FACTS.

And the fact is, the only impediment to peace is the simple FACT that the Palestinian people support terrorism against Israel...

Period..

Michale.....

[TiaL27]

Are you saying that no bombs were dropped on Palestinians before Hamas came into existence?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXBX2KWkT0

[katis]

Cenk had the guts to say things people are afraid of saying and I agree with him. One more time: "How Israel is Wrong and the Palestinians are Misguided" - Cenk Uygur

[stephanemot]

Fueling hatred is the very aim of the game for Tel Aviv hawks :

http://e-blogules.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-gift-for-fundamentalists.html

[skaterdon66]

Let's see if this gets thru the censors...

Fueling hatred is the very aim of the game for Hamas Terrorists...