RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Israel is the only true friend and ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Without our support there would be no Israel. And our support should never cease, on the contrary. The Palestinian and other neighboring Arab countries have made it clear, they don't want Israel. As Christians, we are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, which is the same as praying for the peace of Israel. God said He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her. I believe our support is non negotiable.

God said of Israel, "I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you!"

Israel was attacked first and defended itself, thus resulting in the refugee problem known as Palestine! Israel has 1/500th of the Middle East land with no oil! If they really wanted to dominate the area they would have taken oil rich regions years ago! Winston Churchill said, "The Arabs have no case whatsoever against the Jews." He went on to say, "The Jews enabled them(Palestinians) to go in and swell their numbers."

I think the USA will and should take the Palestinians's side because they are occupied since 1967 by Israelie army .Whyle they leave Gaza strip they build settlements in West bank. Israelie government separate Palestinian families with a wall (we all see what happens finaly to the Berlin's wall).50 percent of Palestinians live with less than 1 dollar/day because of the Israelie military occupation.America is the only country who is able to help Palestinian have their own state and live in peace with Israel.

I say let them go at it and don't support either side. Its sand lots and lots of sand if they want to fight over it let them go for it. Its the way of things over there. If you look at the history on both sides they only have hate for each other. As far as the US is concerned this litter box has not tactical or strategic value why get in the middle of something thats not ever going to get any better than is is right now.

In light of the recent events of the outcome of Palestine's politics, I would like to make the following public statement: "It is my position, both politically as well as purely as an American, that the United States and its President need to address the concern of HAMAS as being the controlling electoral force of Palestine. It is my recommendation that President Bush meet immediately with the United Nations to address this concern in a global effort. In the past, history has demonstrated to us that HAMAS was responsible for several terrorist attacks by their own admission. Now, in light of those confessions, along with evidence to be presented beyond a reasonable doubt, it is my contention that the United Nations, with the backing of all interested parties equally, and in addition to, the United State--address this concern, and potential as well as proven threat to world peace immediately. They must understand, that in NO uncertain terms, will this planet tolerate their governmental actions as a terrorist nation exercising terrorist activities against other nations--no matter who they are and for what reasons. It is not the position of the United States to promote "democracy" and then falter that democracy once it has been institutionalized. However, in the light of this unusual situation, where the "prisoners" have been elected to "run the prison," we must address this threat for the real threat it is immediately. Also, let it be publically known, that with this statement, it is NOT a statement of support for Israel. I do not, and will not, support either particular side in this useless battle between these two nations. Do not let my concern for a "legally operated" terrorist regime be confused with partisanship to one side or the other. I would maintain this same view if the roles were reversed and a terrorist regime became "electorally in power" in Israel. HAMAS is a government that has committed acts of terrorism and aggression in the past, and has admitted to doing such. This government is a proven concern to world safety. It is my immediate concern that the United Nations address this problem immediately--and begin with sanctions against this rogue government that is now in "legal control." It is my personal vote that the United States, equally along with other majority voting nations in the United Nations, begin discussion immediately on how to deal with this perplexing situation. Thank You. ---Mathew Russo."

The Israelis' side. Israel and (I say the following two countries with tongue in cheek) Afghanistan and Iraq are the only democracies in the area. Further, the Israelis are not a bunch of animals sending their children off with explosives strapped to their bodies. We back freedom of expression, freedom of religious practice, freedom of press and economic opportunity. Given these factors, how could we possibly side with the Palestinians?

Israel,by unanimous decision. Palestinians are lucky to be dealing with Jews-and to get a first-hand look at what Palestinians learn about Jews from their own media,check out Palestinianmediawatch.com,try to find something equivalent on Israel's side and read 'From Time Immemorial' by Joan Peters or 'The Case For Israel' by Alan Dershowitz.

It's none of our business. Who are we to take sides?

This one is hard to rate because a plausible argument could be made for each view. Truthfully, taking the Palestinians side would be the wrong thing to do (their not exactly fans of the USA and I doubt the people who have had such a scorn to us for so many years would magically change their attitude because of our stance). Taking Isreal's side would, by the same standard, be wrong because much of the hostility we have encountered has been a result of our support for them. Lastly, while not taking either side seems the most logically, it just might be too late for that and result in absolutely no support for the U.S in the middle east. Obviously this is a very complex issue...

Do not take either side. Stop aiding Israel if they continue to shoot and kidnap Palestinian women and children. Stop giving weapons to other countries where Palestinians can get a hand on them. We have no business with neither side. Let both sides fight amongst themselves.

It's about time to stop playing favorites.People can not co-exist peacefully when one group is dominating the other.

The United States is Israel's sole ally and should remain that way. At the same time, being an ally doesn't mean you have to agree with everything. There's a middleground that can please both sides, I'm just not sure what it is yet. But under no circumstances should we abandon Israel.

I agree with Stanzubeck,I want no harm to Israeli citizens,but the US are such enablers--cut the money,why are we supplying aid to this country?You want peace?You can't alienate a whole continent-in this case 2 continents.Do you think Israel really likes us?They like the money and our protection.As other countries do.Reminds me of the mindset of rich parents who give their little darlings tons of spending money,gives them the license to lay stoned somewhere,getting their pictures taken for the media mags,so their political parents can smile sweetly and say kids,just growing up.Same thing handing out money to these countries.Irresponsibility.

I refuse to support anybody who backs acts of terrorism and I hold in low regard anybody who cheered what they thought was the begining of the end for the U.S. on 9-11. Israel has screwed up plenty too, but pulling support due to pressure from terrorist supporting dictators and kickback taking European powers would be a mistake.

There are a few rules of engagement to agree upon. Palestine (vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority and its leader Yassir Arafat) is a confederation of people attempting to reclaim land taken (unjustly) from them 55 years ago, and has sworn itself to the complete annihilation of the nation of Israel, and all its citizens. Palestinian attacks are primarily suicide bombers who kill and maim innocent civilians where they work, shop, eat and go to school. Most Palestinians cheered 9/11/01. On the other hand, Israel has been a long-established political and military ally of the US. If the US abandons its alliance with Israel, Israel will be nothing but sand and corpses within 20 minutes. Israeli leaders, duly elected, have a responsibility to protect their citizens against violent death, more so than to seek peace. Now, the US has made its diplomatic mistakes regarding Israel and the Palestinian state but has been generally consistent toward both. Israel would benefit enormously from the establishment of a democratic republic in Iraq, as would the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, etc. Neutrality might have worked in 1948, or 1966. But once the Israeli Olympic athletes were massacred in 1972, it became clear that neutrality would mean appeasement (and therefore surrender) to terrorism. The course from here is really pretty clear. The wall will continue to be built and fortified, and there will be peace in this region, eventually, but it will never be free from terrorist attacks. Nor will the United states.

If we get involved (or continue to stay involved), we really should be much more even-handed than we have been in the past. As others have stated, this problem is thousands of years old, and it doesn't seem to be getting better with the passage of time. The Israeli state has to be recognized as having a right to exist; likewise, however, the aspirations of the Palestinian people need to be recognized. The Israelis have really beaten this Holocaust syndrome to death, milked it for whatever it's worth, taekn advantage of it, appealed to emotion - phrase it any way you wish. The Palestinians haven't exactly taken a moderate course, either, but I do think that one has to realize that there are some terrible frustrations on their part - basically, their lives are overshadowed by, and run by, the Israelis (jobs, ability to move or congregate freely, etc). We can call Arafat a terrorist (I don't dispute that), but as I think I noted in a post some months ago, Menachem Begin and his ilk, now lionized by some as Freedom Fighters for Israel's independence, were nothing but terrorists when they blew up the King David Hotel, as far as the Brits were concerned. This certainly is a thorny problem, and has, whether we like to admit it or not, been one of the significant causes of Arab terrorist activity against the U.S. It's a festering abscess that doesn't show signs of reacting to medication (or Band-Aids, as the case may be).

i'm not a huge fan of the israelis because in many ways israel is a totalitarian state, but the last time i checked they weren't crashing planes into our buildings.

That's easy...whoever is good should be the ally of the greatest nation on Earth, the United States of America!

We need to be fair. One of the biggest reasons the U.S. is so widely hated is the perception that we are not fair. This HAS to change, or the terror will only continue, and get worse.

Hmmm. Is drop back and punt still an option?

We're walking a fine line between the interests of both sides.. and I think that's the best that we can do. We should be urging both sides to talk.

Very important issue. Our complete blind allegiance to Israel is killing our foreign policy. Middle Eastern cultures believe that they will never get a fair shake in the international community as long as the U.S. and Israel are in bed together- and they are right.

I don't think America should take either side in this violent conflict. In order for there to be peace in the region, the U. S. ought to stand in the middle and help the Israelis and Palestinians work out a lasting agreement.

It's fairly obvious to me that the US shouldn't have taken either side in a three thousand year old war. It wasn't our place but we've been stuck there since World War I.; and I just don't seee us being able to get out of it ever again. We have delved ourselves so deeply into foreign affairs- not just this either but many others. Affairs in which we should have never chosen a side/stuck our noses in. It has gained us worlds of trouble, enemies and it saddens me that we ignored those famous words of our first president.

I am firmly on the side of the Palestinians. I don't wish any harm upon ordinary Israeli citizens, but they have it pretty sweet compared to the wretched lives of most Palestinians. Israel has been very effective in the past at portraying themselves as the victims and the Arabs as the aggressors, but this is a complete lie. It is the Palestinians who are victimized, sujugated, humiliated, and brutalized on a daily basis. Even when the suicide bombins stopped briefly, Israel did not even slow down their systematic destruction of all things Palestinian. The Palestinians have been forced at gunpoint to live in desperate squalor for several generations, ever since the 'War' of Independence when the Zionists razed over 400 Arab villages to rubble, machine-gunning the residents if they didn't flee within five minutes. Five minutes is also the average time a Palestinian family has after an eviction notification to grab their things and clear out before the bulldozers crash through their walls. Home destructions are arbitrary and collective, homes are most often demolished simply because Israel wants to build a road through there. There are also nearly a quarter of a million Jewish settlers living illegally in the occupied territories, on land forcibly confiscated from Arabs. The wall that Israel is wasting billions of dollars on will convert the West Bank into three completely separate 'Bantustans' with the Palestinians completely cut off from the rest of the world and from each other. Israel controls all of the water supplies flowing into the territories, and every road passing through. Countless Palestinian infants die as their pregnant mothers are arbitrarily delayed at IDF checkpoints and are forced to give birth in the filthy streets. What Israel is doing is full-scale genocide against the Palestinians, and they have the endorsement of the US in the form of 3 to 5 billion dollars a year. As for what the United States should do, I can't say. Anything the government decides to do will probably be wrong and unjust and will result in the deaths of thousands of innocents. The US should just probably withdraw entirely from the conflict and not support either side. I don't see any benefit to us either way. We're just lighting $3 billion/year on fire and scattering it to the four winds.

we should always support Israel especially against violent criminals like the Palestinians.

We must take Israel's side without question. We must support all freedom-loving nations at any cost. The rest of the arab world is nothing but brutal dicatorships and corrupt kingdoms. Israel is the only bastion of free thought and free speech in the entire region, yet the so called liberals think they have no right to defend those freedoms. Arafat must be killed immediately for crimes and murders against the Israeli people. No more capitulations to the evil Palestinians.

This problem is almost unresolvable in the long term. The Arabs and the Jews have to realize that they are going to have to live together. Building a wall between them isn't going to solve anything because there are Jews on the Arab side and there are Arabs in the Jewish side. Blocking each other off will only breed more resentment. In an ideal world, the one state solution would be ideal. Arabs and Jews both get equal representation in their legislature and that's it. But the problem is that the Jews and the Arabs want all or nothing. The leadership of that country does not help the situation either. You have an Israeli leadership that looks like a stick in the mud. Sharon isn't going to bring peace to the area; I felt before that maybe he would be like Nixon going to China but the only thing he does is encourage this cycle of violence while not addressing the root political problems that cause terrorism; the Arabs do not have their rights respected. Likewise, the Palestinians under Arafat, a terrorist, are not going to solve any of their problems by constantly being a thorn on Israel's side. Both the Jews and the Arabs need a new generation of leadership to come up with new long term solutions to the problem. Both need to come to an understanding that they need to share their land. The two state solution isn't going to work in the long term, for the population lives all over the place. The long term goal ought to be acclimating both sides towards the one-state solution, but that's not going to happen as long as the bullets are being shot and the rocks are being thrown. The US should remain as neutral as possible in dealing with Israel and as a matter of fact with dealing with the Arabs as a whole. We need to change perceptions in that part of the world if we're going to see the terrorist threat go down.

wow, I don't know...this is all such a mess it's hard to take sides because both sides have done some atrocious acts. I can see where we would want to support Israel as they do have a more western style of government, and when Rabin was in power, I had so much more respect for Israel. However, I don't think Sharon is the type of person we want to support either. Arafat is no better, maybe even worse. The bottom line is that both sides need to be accomodated and people who just blindly side with Israel without taking the Palestinians into account need a reality check because the Palestinians have made it very clear that they are not going anywhere. God knows how this will play out, however. It's a mess. A big mess.

In a perfect world, neither. However, our country has more of a link with Israel in religious beliefs and form of government, so our policies naturally side more with them. Bush and Clinton have both done a good job of trying to appear more neutral, as Palestinians must trust us if we plan on brokering a peace deal.

I say take neither side. This isn't our war and we should have nothing to do with it. I've met people from Palestine and I've met people from Israel. Their culture is very much alike in many ways. And the Arabs and Jews in America get along fine. I think the Palestinians and Israelis vowing to kill and nuke eachother off are the ones who give a bad name to all Muslims and Jews. Personally, I think we should stay out of this war. I think both sides will stop once we withdraw support.

Israel's. They are the only democracy in the whole region. Surrounded by regimes who want to steal thier land, support terrosim, have declared war on Judaism, and want to kill all Christians and Jews. Yasser Arafat is a terrorist who wants all Jews to die. The man can't even control his own people. Im glad the Israeli government voted to expel him. Most of the Palestinians are poor, uneducated, and hate everyone who isn't Muslim. On the other hand, Israel defends freedom, democracy, and thier land. By the way, the Palestinians were there first argument is not valid. Should we also give every square foot of America back to the Native Americans? After all, they were here first.