Reply #15: And a concession on my part... [View All]

[David__77]

I apologize for my statement regarding Lori Berenson. It's simplistic to link the Peruvian situation to that in Israel/Palestine. MRTA is its own thing, and therefore the issue of her alleged support for them is not relevant to the questions in the Middle East.

I would like to be open to what everyone has to say. I certainly am not the most knowledgeable person on these questions, I admit it. I have heard compelling stories from supporters of Israeli policies as well as from Palestinian people opposed to them.

Anti-semitism is evil. It is a central feature of reactionary politics across the centuries. Jewish people are among the vanguard of struggles for human freedom and have made incredible contributions.

I just can't seem to understand--to reconcile--the notion of Israel as a "Jewish state" to what my American-fashioned concept of democracy is. I'm open to understanding progressive Zionists' standpoint on this question. Why does "Jewish state" have to mean Jewish majority? Why is the Israeli Arab minority seen as such a threat? Why can't Israeli Arabs have a political party that wants to do away with ethnic and religious distinctions? (It seems that this was ruled illegal.) I'll make an effort to disengage from more pointed rhetoric because that's not my intention. I'm most interested in hearing others' views on certain questions.