> JPost.com » International » ArticleJul. 16, 2006 0:04Putin: Israel has goals other than troops
16 July 2006, 06:37
Russian President Vladimir Putin said early Sunday he believed Israel was pursuing wider goals in its military campaign than the return of abducted soldiers. This seems fairly obvious given the huge amount of destruction in Lebanon and the Occupied West Bank over two soldiers. (Israel routinely arrests and detains Palestinians—including hundreds of ’political’ prisoners.) It is strange, however, that the Russian President has to mention this instead of someone from the U.S. Media!
What also should be mentioned is that the Palestinian people have been occupied for 58 years now essentially experiencing life in an ’open-jail’ like environment. While illegal acts (e.g., bombings, kidnappings) should never be condoned by either side, the actions of the Palestinians can be understood when all the attrocities of the Israelies (against the Palestinians over nearly six decades), are understood. Have we forgotten the 62 U.N. Resolutions against Israel’s behavior—that have been essentially ignored? The hundreds of bulldozed homes (and that is mostly civilians, mind you)? And those bombs being dropped on Lebanon? As for the $3 Billion dollars in foreign (e.g., U.S.) aid annually being spent on Israel, remember, this is the result—a HUGE use of unnecessary force against an incredibly repressed people. And as usual, whenever Israel uses aggression against the Palestinians, it’s always ’in retaliation’, never as the aggressor. Whenever Palestinians attack Israel, it’s always ’the Terrorists...’ This has been true since Israel mastered the use of Public Relations world wide, since its loss in Lebanon 24 years ago.
As for the causes of terrorism, that’s an entirely different issues. Hezbollah is to blame for their kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, (however much they claim it to be warranted), but the Israeli response has been rediculously extreme. It certainly doesn’t promote the cause of peace. And if Israel were seriously interested in peace, a prisoner swap seems most reasonable at this time. Tom P, Spring Valley, New York
Russian President Vladimir Putin said early Sunday he believed Israel was pursuing wider goals in its military campaign than the return of abducted soldiers. This seems fairly obvious given the huge amount of destruction in Lebanon and the Occupied West Bank over two soldiers. (Israel routinely arrests and detains Palestinians—including hundreds of ’political’ prisoners.) It is strange, however, that the Russian President has to mention this instead of someone from the U.S. Media!
What also should be mentioned is that the Palestinian people have been occupied for 58 years now essentially experiencing life in an ’open-jail’ like environment. While illegal acts (e.g., bombings, kidnappings) should never be condoned by either side, the actions of the Palestinians can be understood when all the attrocities of the Israelies (against the Palestinians over nearly six decades), are understood. Have we forgotten the 62 U.N. Resolutions against Israel’s behavior—that have been essentially ignored? The hundreds of bulldozed homes (and that is mostly civilians, mind you)? And those bombs being dropped on Lebanon? As for the $3 Billion dollars in foreign (e.g., U.S.) aid annually being spent on Israel, remember, this is the result—a HUGE use of unnecessary force against an incredibly repressed people. And as usual, whenever Israel uses aggression against the Palestinians, it’s always ’in retaliation’, never as the aggressor. Whenever Palestinians attack Israel, it’s always ’the Terrorists...’ This has been true since Israel mastered the use of Public Relations world wide, since its loss in Lebanon 24 years ago.
As for the causes of terrorism, that’s an entirely different issues. Hezbollah is to blame for their kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, (however much they claim it to be warranted), but the Israeli response has been rediculously extreme. It certainly doesn’t promote the cause of peace. And if Israel were seriously interested in peace, a prisoner swap seems most reasonable at this time. Tom P, Spring Valley, New York