Naomi Ragen Pt 1
As an Israeli, I don't always feel IÕm living in the same universe as
the rest of the world.  We seem to be in parallel universes.
In my universe, Yasir Arafat has violated the Geneva Convention on
Human Rights -- which calls the murder of noncombatants a crime
against humanity-- in 11,326 terrorist attacks over the last 18
months that has left hundreds of Israelis dead and thousands injured.
In my universe, that makes him a war criminal.
But in the parallel universe, it makes him a great freedom fighter
who deserves visits from diplomats, sympathy, and the offer to head
his own state where he can conceivably continue his activities with a
formal cache of even more deadly weapons.   In the parallel universe,
the people who think this way consider themselves liberals and
humanists.
In my universe, Saudi Arabia, is a totalitarian state which cuts off
the limbs of thieves and stones women suspected of adultery, and
drowns young daughters in swimming pools to preserve family 'honor'.
In my universe, it is a place where woman are nonpersons who cannot
work, or drive, or go out unaccompanied by men. In my universe, itÕs
exhibited medieval antisemitism:  In Saudi ArabiaÕs government daily,
Al-Riyadh, columnist Dr. Umayma Ahmad Al-Jalahma of King Faysal
University in Al-Dammam,  wrote on March 13, 2002 (yes, today) that
the special ingredient in Jewish Purim holiday cake is human blood
from non-Jewish youth.
In the parallel universe, this same Saudi Arabia has suggested that
Israel withdraw to its '67 borders for more empty promises of
'peace' and this is considered a serious 'peace initiative' which is
soberly discussed by reporters, politicians, talk show hosts, and
editorial writers.
In my universe, following ten years of 'talking peace', signing
agreements in which the Palestinians agreed to renounce the use of
terror in exchange for Israel turning over  95% of the West Bank and
all of Gaza to Yasir Arafat's Palestinian Authority, giving the
Authority millions of dollars and  thousands of guns to 'control the
terrorists', Israelis were rewarded by having their children  blown
up in pizza parlors,  discos, bar mitzvahs, and cafes; being shot in
their cars, having rockets destroy their homes and watching
Palestinians, who were our peace partners, celebrate these deaths in
their streets.  In my universe, after wringing its hands, and risking
our lives, and making useless appeals to Arafat to reign in his
terrorists, our government finally sent in soldiers to gather up the
weapons.  These terrorists, who are ready to make 'brave' forays into
Israel in order to  shoot nine month -old babies and grandmothers,
engaged in a short gun battle until forced to surrender when
confronted by armed combatants.
In the parallel universe, Israelis are condemned for 'humiliating'
Palestinians, and calls go out for international observers to protect
these same Palestinians.
In my universe, the United States, which has always seen itself as
Israel's greatest ally, and which has itself suffered thousands of
casualties from terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists, calls on
Yasir Arafat to stop the terror on Israelis, and is ignored.

Naomi Ragan -Parallel Universe Pt 2
In the parallel universe, IsraelÕs greatest ally reacts by calling
for the establishment of a Palestinian State,  in which Mr. Arafat,
like any other head of State, can establish his own army, airforce,
and police force and import unlimited amounts of arms.  Where he can
continue his present educational system, encouraging toddlers to view
themselves as future martyrs; where his television and radio
broadcasts can continue to show blood libels,  and revel in nonstop
incitement.  Where instead of terrorist attacks, he can prepare
himself to launch all-out war.
I invite all those who are convinced they know what Israel should do,
to visit my universe before giving advice.

What ticks me off about folks who support a Palestinian state, is that they ignore the fact that once the Palestinians have obtained sovereignty over the West Bank and Gaza they will have all of the rights of a sovereign state.

Meaning they could invite their old buddy Saddam over with his Republican Guard and some heavy armor for 'joint military exercises' near the Israeli border!

What's to stop them?

Oh yeah, the United States.

I'm certain that this answer won't go over well with a few on this Board!

Eric The(AndYouKnowWhoYouAre)Hun[>]:)]

I think we have a few in our forums living in this parallel universe.  

Maybe even a third parallel universe.  One in which it's really all our fault for being the good guys.  If we and the Israelis weren't so readily identifiable as the good guys, the Palestinians wouldn't be so obviously the bad guys.  Yeah, that's it!  You can't have bad guys if there weren't good guys.  It's our fault.  And of course, those nasty Jews.  

Living in the United States today can be like an episode of the 'Twilight Zone' as well.



That particular point [b]has always[/b] been an issue and one that the Israelis would take into consideration in any agreement. I believe that the US and Europe would back them to the hilt on that as well. The geography makes it extremely relevent and clearly a deal breaker.

IMO such a peace agreement must also include a ban on heavy or sophisticated weapons from the PA, which they can ill afford. If the deal is broken (and anything is possible with these people) I have no doubt that the Israeli airforce will terminate the threat.



Not everyone who takes issue with specific policies of the Israeli government has a problem with you, Norm... despite your inability to differentiate between the two.