Ella Laurent has 96 posts, 23 fans and has been a member of the Huffington Post since September 2009.
Israeli Police Officer Beaten, Seriously Injured By Settlers
Israel is only prosperous because of our (read US Citizens) tax dollars, donations from Israel-firsters and exports to Europe. Time, time is not on your side.
Iran Test-Fires Its Most Advanced Missile
Thank you, JaseV. It seems that people here forget we are the United States of America, currently suffering from astronomical unemployment, poverty, homlessness and hunger. We are not the United States of Israel. Israel started this with their treatment of the Palestinians, they can fight their own battles.
Iran Test-Fires Its Most Advanced Missile
I, for one, am very happy that Iran has the ability to protect itself from Israel's increasingly unstable government. A government that can no longer control its people (see the violent settler uprising), its military (see reports on soldiers refusing to obey military orders to aid in tearing down illegal settler housing and arresting the culprits), a government that continues to persecute the indigenous population with impunity. Iran has its own problems, without question. But, no other country in that region is castigated so thoroughly for obtaining weapons to protect itself (Israel's nukes? They're OKAY because they're Jews and Jews are harmless, right?) You hear this line a lot from Zionist about Israel, but the truth is, Israel routinely goes to war against a civilian population (where is the standing army that would serve to protect Gaza from the invasion of Israel's army?) whereas Iran is arming itself for battle against a full military. Who is more justified?
[Ahmadinejad stole an election and Israel is the country with the unstable government?]
Israel: British Arrest Warrant For Tzipi Livni Threatens Ties
Again, do Palestinian leaders regularly travel throughout the West promoting an Apartheid state and raising money to purchase more bombs to rain down on innocents? It seems to me that this arrest warrant and others that should follow, are long overdue.
[The implication being that Israeli leaders "promote an Apartheid state" and "rain bombs on innocents"]
Israel: British Arrest Warrant For Tzipi Livni Threatens Ties
Ronnie, what's with the strawman argument? I don't think you'll find anyone here defending Bush, Cheney and their ilk. I say throw them all in the docks along with the leadership of Hamas. That being said, Israelis travel the world with impunity, knowing they have committed war crimes (do Hamas leaders regularly travel to Britain to give speeches and raise money for more bombs?) [Yes]. As far as I'm concerned, the Israelis should be afraid to travel anywhere outside of Israel. They should be immediately arrested.
[Fire up Cerebro! It's time to read some Israeli minds!]
The Last Jews of Beirut
I agree with MarcusT. [always a bad sign] This is irony in its purest form. Sorry, you'll get no sympathy from me, that I reserve for those who do not have homes in East Jerusalem and Gaza. If they want a synagogue, I'm sure they'll find plenty in Israel and it isn't that far away. Moreover, the Israeli government is offering incentives and free or heavily subsidized conflict housing if they would like to relocate.
[She has no sympathy for Lebanese Jews, she saves it for the Palestinians. The Lebanese Jews have no relationship with Israel or what Israel is doing to the Palestinians, but she still apparently has a problem with them. Sounds like her problem isn't just with the Israelis then]
EU Draft Document On Division Of Jerusalem
I have been to Jerusalem proper and the Old City. There is absolutely no denying the overwhelming presence of Palestinians in that city. People speak of East Jerusalem as if it's miles away from the Old City. It is not. You walk through one of the Old City gates and voila, you are in East Jerusalem. To the Americans here who are supporting this action, it sounds to me that you speak out of fear of Muslims and fear of Islam. You should educate yourselves, get yourselves a passport and travel. Muslims ARE peace-loving people, they are the most hospitable, kind and giving people you may ever encounter. We cannot continue to endorse the state of Israel. The Israelis have become irrational in their fear and hatred of Palestinians. To further support the state of Israel would only end badly for America. Why do you think we are losing our hegemony?If the Israelis are indeed our allies, why have they not helped us at all in our two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? We paid for their army and their equipment. Yet our soldiers continue to be killed and maimed while one of the world's most advanced military machines sits comfy in land that we have risked all to protect for them. How is this acceptable to any American here?
[Yeah, why don't the Israelis unconditionally love the Palestinians? It's not like the Palestinians have spent the past sixty years trying to kill them or anything! Oh, wait...]
EU Draft Document On Division Of Jerusalem
It will be interesting to see Netanyahu come crawling back to us after he basically told us no dice on freezing the settlements, but he'd be happy to take our hard earned tax money. Congress will vote to veto any resolution put forth by the EU in the UN and Obama will remain silent as always. Hopefully, the EU's reaction will be to spearhead a full and crippling boycott of Israel and impose sanctions, which will put more pressure on the US to give Israel more money thus causing the population of America to wake up to our true role in this debacle.
[What debacle? The ongoing existence of the state of Israel?]Netanyahu: Prisoner Swap Not A Done Deal
I understand armed struggle. At each point in our history as Americans, we have undertaken armed struggle. We did so unfairly against the Native Americans, we did so against the British, we did so against Germany, and we continue to do so (rightly or wrongly) against those who would seek to do our country harm. I cannot, therefore, condemn others who also wish to engage in armed struggle when no other course of action has been successful. I gave you a bit of my experience on the buses in Israel because although I obviously come down heavily on one side of this debate, I have been there, and I have felt the fear that Israelis must endure everyday and I am sorry for it, sorry for them. But, I also cannot condone Israel's current position on the rights of the Palestinians. Not because I am anti-Israel, but because I believe in equal treatment for all people. Like as not, all Israelis are implicated in the treatment of the Palestinians, just as all Americans are implicated in our government's policies overseas. It is always shocking and painful when chickens come home to roost, but had we been more cautious with our right to vote (as so the Israelis) perhaps we wouldn't have to suffer such horrible acts of retaliation.
[So are all Palestinians implicated in the actions of the PLO and Hamas? If so, then Israel is right to treat the Palestinians poorly. If not, then she's a hypocrite]Netanyahu: Prisoner Swap Not A Done Deal
Four rockets? Where is your source? How many Palestinians have been murdered this month? (Didn't we just see a HuffPo article about one incident?) How many have been carted from their homes, faced down a bulldozer in Jerusalem? And if you don't see how settlement expansion and bulldozing homes in Jerusalem are acts of aggression, I don't think you and I have anything further to discuss. If someone bulldozing your home is not an act of aggression, what is?
Netanyahu: Prisoner Swap Not A Done Deal
With Israel controlling the roads, water supply, Jordan River valley, waters off the coast of Gaza, travel and commerce? That is not a Palestinian state, I believe you would call what Israel is proposing a ghetto. The only solution is a one state solution, which would guarantee Palestinians the same rights and opportunities as the Israelis. A true democracy, not the theocratic racist Jewish state of Israel.
Netanyahu: Prisoner Swap Not A Done Deal
Can anyone believe anything this man and his government says? Honestly, people wax on about how horrible Hamas and the Palestinians are, yet when was the last time Hamas or the Palestinians committed outright acts of aggressions against the Israelis? When was the last time the Israelis committed acts of aggression against the Palestinians? Let's see...the building of settlements, destruction of Palestinians homes in East Jerusalem, the murder of Palestinian protesters, continuous harassment at checkpoints. No one is saying that Hamas and the Palestinians did not commit acts of atrocities in the past, but they have managed to control the rocket fired into Israeli territory...this one act was the only leverage they have. What more do these Israelis want? Who are the bad guys here? If settlements will not stop, if expansion continues, if they won't discuss peace, if they won't entertain a right of return, where does that leave the Palestinians, living in perpetual imprisonment? Ethnically cleansed from their land? Will we stand by and let these people become casualties of Israeli aggression?
Israel Angers U.S. With Plan To Build New Homes In The West Bank
Absolutely Israel was attacked and rightly so. You don't come into anyone's home and tell them that you are going to split it down the middle, you take the best half (the half of the property where the water well is dug, the main entrances to the house and access to the staircase are located) and give me the less than desirable part of my home, the home I worked to maintain and nurture for years. ANYONE and EVERYONE would pick up arms and fight. And if you win the first time around, then I would continue to fight and send my children to fight and their children to fight because you have no right to come into my home and take what you wish and leave me with close to nothing. If the Palestinians were recruiting for an army today, I would send each one of my children. There must be some restitution for these people.
[YEAH Palestinian violence! Go Palestinians go, die for your home! I'll be over here in my house supporting you all the way! BTW, "send each one of my children"? How unbelievably creepy is that?]
Israel Angers U.S. With Plan To Build New Homes In The West Bank
Why not cut all aid? These 'Israelis' have socialized healthcare, their Orthodox Jewish population lives off the state, a state that we are propping up with our tax dollars. We have men, women and children DYING here in America because they don't have access to the services the Israelis do. What do they need our Aid money for? To offer services to their people that we don't even have here at home? Really?? And how is this in the best interest of America?
[Um, I thought Israeli aid was used for bombs, not healthcare. Which is it? Or does every industry in Israel run off US dollars?]
Israel Angers U.S. With Plan To Build New Homes In The West Bank
The common denominator (and relevance) being the continuous oppression of the Palestinians. In Jerusalem, they simply evict them, in Gaza, they bomb them, starve them and bulldoze them. That is the relevance and yes, both articles are interconnected, one examines oppression and theft of land in the West Bank, the other examines oppression, murder, collective punishment, and bulldozing of flour factories and farm lands in Gaza. All of which are carried out against the Palestinians.... Need I really go on?
Abbas Not To Seek Re-Election, Say Palestinian Officials
Who can blame the poor guy? The United States urged him not to back the Goldstone Report and he did so, only to have Israel continue building settlements and the United States turn a blind eye. He was humiliated before his people and he no longer has any credibility. The USA and Israel played this man like a fiddle. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter who leads the Palestinians, Israel will continue building settlements and the Pals will continue with internecine fighting.
[Well, all righty then]
UN Endorses Goldstone Gaza Report Accusing Israel Of War Crimes
Rand, that is because the lines have been blurred by Israel. Nightly raids into Palestinians homes are so common now who is to say when these raids are carried our for legitimate purposes and when they are carried out simply to intimidate? Gaza does not have a standing army, there Israel cannot in all conscience launch a 'war' against this strip of land. To do so is to launch a war against a civilian population. I have no qualm with Hamas and the IDF battling it out. I abhor Hamas. But leave the women and children out of this mess, their lives are difficult enough.
[One of the most twisted arguments I have ever heard to excuse Palestinian terror. We don't have an army, so you can't fight us! Nyah!]
UN Endorses Goldstone Gaza Report Accusing Israel Of War Crimes
Why do you continue to deflect? You consistently do this in each post about Isreal's war crimes. Even when Lieberman made that statement about there being no chance for peace, you deflected. Why? No one here, I think, denies Israel's right to defend itself. However, Gaza has no standing army to speak of, so when Israel invaded and launch a war against Gaza, it was quite literally launching a war against the civilian population who, even if they had arms, did not have time to prepare itself for such. Could Israel have not simply sent in the Mossad to take out those who were launching the rockets? Did it really need to roll their tanks down the dirt city streets? Destroy agriculture and textile plants? Why? Israel has defeated the Palestinians in every way and yet still, with quiet dignity, they hold on to their rights. While the world has turn its nose up at their cause, yet still with quiet dignity, they hold on. Give these people a state and the right to self-determination and then Israel will live in peace, but not a moment before this time.
[Oh, geeze, I'm sorry they didn't consult General Ella Laurent before going in!]
UN Endorses Goldstone Gaza Report Accusing Israel Of War Crimes
Bring on the sanctions!
[*crickets, crickets*]
Israel Prepares To Fight War Crimes Claims After UN Gaza Report
With what resources will the Palestinians fight these charges? With the money generated from their self-sustaining economy? Oh wait.....they don't really have one, do they? With the money generated from imports/exports...oh wait...they don't really have access trade either. With the money generated from fishing off the coast of Gaza? Oh wait....they aren't allowed to do so. Perhaps they should just elect a delegation to fight these charges....but they can't really because what panel appointed by Hamas or elected by the people of Gaza will the international community hold as legitimate? So basically, Lonely God, were it not for the crimes committed DAILY against the Palestinians, they would have recourse to defend themselves against accusations of defending themselves against an occupation. The depravity of the Israel-firsters knows no bounds.......
Majority Of American Jews Think U.S. Should Strike Iran: Poll
Sane and rational people who lock the minority segment of their population in an open-air prison, blockade basic necessities from entering, bomb them indiscriminately when one or two of their population shoots rockets that haven't killed anyone in years into territory that belonged to their ancestors, attack them when they protest an illegal wall which runs through their farmland and separates them from their families, ration their water and prevent them from fishing the waters off of their shores. Does this sound like the behavior of 'sane and rational people'?
[Implying that Israelis are "insane" and "irrational". Smells like racism...]
Israel Pushes Ahead East Jerusalem Building Plans
Building in East Jerusalem, what else for these people? Things are so bad in Israel for Arabs that their young men are now joining the IDF to fight against their own people. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/docarchive/docarchive_20090904-1030b.mp3 How anyone can condone the continued mistreatment of these people is beyond any reasoning.
[Um...what?]
West Bank Settlements: Israel Approving 500 New Apartments
Don't forget about the 'exciting' organs coming out of Israel as well. [deleted]
[That's what she said! ....I apologize for that. I have lowered the level of intelligence on this blog several points]
West Bank Settlements: Israel Approving 500 New Apartments
We give money to Saudi for oil. To Egypt to keep them from attacking Israel. I believe that most of us would be happy to stop giving everyone aid and keep our money for ourselves. Did anyone else see the story on CNN about the serviceman killed in Afghanistan just to ensure that his family had Health Care coverage from the government because he lost his job? It is unbelievable that we are giving Aid money to Israel when our own people are dying and going to extreme measures to provide for their families.
[Um...what? I thought Egypt had a peace treaty with Israel]
Chavez Calls Israeli Government 'Genocidal'
And how many Israelis were killed in these attacks? How many Gazans are killed weekly by the bombs dropped on the tunnels, their ONLY recourse to bringing basic necessities into their strip of land? What do you want these people to do? Honestly, lie down and die? Just accept the occupation? They aren't even allowed to peacefully demonstrate. Have you no understanding of self-preservation and one's desire to survive and live in freedom? Why the continuous press for the acknowledgment of Israel as a 'Jewish' state? What will happen to the Arab-Israelis, will they be removed from their homes by force? In exchange for a 'Jewish' State, will the Jewish settlers in the West Bank fall under Palestinian rule in their 'Arab' state? Does Israel want a democracy or a theocracy? And if it is a theocracy, then what will happen to the secular Israelis? Will they be removed from their homes by force as well? Are they going to write Jewish law into the constitution (if ever they get round to writing a constitution)? And how will the secular Jews feel about living under religious law? Perhaps they will be herded into open air prisons, enclosed behind walls and sprayed with green sewage and targeted with tear gas whenever they assemble in protest. Israeli democracy at its finest.
[Rah! Grah, rah! Grr, snarl, grr!...]
Chavez Calls Israeli Government 'Genocidal'
For anyone who believes that the Palestinians have recourse to peaceful protests.....that the Israeli military only attacks when provoked...that the Palestinians only know violent dissent, I invite you to view this report and tell me what more the Palestinians can do to stop the occupation of their lands? To improve their lives? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LKXlu9c_Fo
["report" is from Al Jazeera.]
Madonna Performs In Israel After 16 Years, Dines With Opposition Leader
This is an article about Israel. This is not an article about human rights violations, genocide and other atrocities committed elsewhere. It really is poor sportsmanship to use the 'but what about' argument. But, since you did. I will say that the genocide that took place in Darfur was not funded by US tax dollars, discrimination against Arab women is not funded by US tax dollars, suicide terrorist bombs are not purchased with US tax dollars, the stones used to stone women in Iran are not funded by US tax dollars. Do I care about these things? Absolutely, but the difference lies is the fact that the bombs dropped on the civilian population of Gaza, the helicopters used to attack helpless men in wheelchairs, the bombs dropped on UN schools in Gaza were funded with my tax dollars, the tax dollars of my family and friends. We are responsible for the actions of the Israelis. We have become accomplices in this crime. And while I can vote Bush and Co out of office with my vote, we cannot, as a nation, seem to elect congressmen who are moral and decent human beings who will call for an end to this madness. So, I speak out against these atrocities (that those of us who work help fund) at every opportune moment. Quite frankly, it helps me sleep at night. How do you sleep at night?
[Madness?]
Madonna Performs In Israel After 16 Years, Dines With Opposition Leader
I don't understand how artists, world leaders, members of Congress and citizens of the free and democratic USA continue to support an apartheid state such as Israel where discrimination is so blatantly on display and international law is so easily ignored. Whenever I read stories like this I am reminded of how soul-destroying it was for we African-Americans in America to fight for equality. There was a time when our government turned its back on us, when the populace of America turned a blind eye to our struggles for equal education, housing and opportunities. I can remember my mother and father, as a child of the 60s, wondering aloud how it was possible that the 'civilized' world would tacitly allow their abuse at the hands of the people whose salaries they were paying with their tax dollars. Whether or not we were really living in democratic society amongst a civilized population and if so how these notions of freedom and equality ceased to apply to the African American community. As the Palestinians must feel. I watched Generation Islam documentary on CNN and found myself repulsed by the UN's attempts to 'educate' Palestinian youth into accepting Israeli occupation, accepting their second class citizenship, living lives wholly different and less than. Why should they accept this? Why shouldn't they fight against the boot on their necks? Anyway,enjoy this aged, pathetic woman's attempt to entertain with geriatric gyrations. While next door, people are lacking in basic necessities. Absolutely disgusting.
[Yeah, because the Palestinian educational system that says killing Jews will get you into heaven and we should liberate all of Palestine is SO much better!]
