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This is looking at the conflict from western eyes. Religious fundamentalists don't think like that
by mderazon 3y ago
This is looking at the conflict from western eyes. Religious fundamentalists don't think like that
- vcryan 3y agoThe notion that the problem is religious fundamentalists is itself propaganda. The people are just people; the problem is a brutal racist occupation that has gone on for far too long.
- megaman821 3y agoWere they occupied or was it an open-air prison? Just throw everything out there and see what sticks.
- peterashford 3y agoThe West Bank and Gaza are two different locations. The West Bank is occupied and "open air prison" doesn't seem like a bad description of Gaza.
- weatherlite 3y agoYes people are just people and for some people religion is a big deal. It kinda defines their whole world.
- jdietrich 3y agoThe "people are just people" argument is rarely (if ever) applied to domestic politics. Democrats and Republicans may often loathe each other, but at least they have enough respect to recognise that their differences in opinion are meaningful and sincerely held. Many Palestinians are just ordinary people who want to get on with their lives, but some are fanatics. Unfortunately for everyone involved, it is the fanatics who are in charge. Of course, the same could be justifiably argued about the current Israeli government; the crucial difference is that Netanyahu and Smotrich can (and likely will) be removed at the next election. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Israeli_legislative_election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_I...
- mderazon 3y agoIt's not propaganda. It's a dispute about land with each side not willing to give up land because it's a holy land that God bestowed upon them
- sfifs 3y agoAll major conflicts and wars are fundamentally economic and have been so throughout history
- amscanne 3y agoSuch a statement seems, at best, a controversial view. For example, I’m pretty sure that the religious aspects of the crusades are generally accepted as the primary cause.
- tim333 3y agoI think the Gaza war doesn't fit you hypothesis for a start. The Gaza residents could have made it into another Dubai but they prefered to follow a route that resulted in the current situation.
- tstrimple 3y agoBecause Gaza is famously known for its oil wealth. Why pretend like completely different circumstances should lead to the same results?
- nojvek 3y agoWe could have said this about Germany and Japan after WWII. Every human no matter their race and religion cares about having food, water, safety, opportunity, live in a law abiding society where their rights are respected and they get “some” choice to vote for their future.
- bitcurious 3y agoGermany and Japan were conquered and unconditionally surrendered, after massive civilian casualties. Nazis were tried and executed. If Israel is should model itself on those examples, it's doing the right and moral thing in waging war until Hamas is destroyed, or unconditionally surrenders.
- adhamsalama 3y agoEthnically cleansing a population is not right or moral in any case whatsoever.
- gafferongames 3y agoHamas's stated aim and goal is to destroy Israel and ethnically cleanse Palestine of the jews "from the river to the sea". When somebody tells you they want to destroy you, over and over for years, and then builds up terror factories and uses it to intentionally target women, children and elderly civilians on Oct 7, maybe -- just maybe, Israel has no choice other than to deal with Hamas as they are.
- falserum 3y agoIt’s their prime minister who has no choice. As soon as war ends, he is out. Oct events could have been prevented by military presence at the border.
- A4ET8a8uTh0 3y ago<< Israel has no choice other than to deal with Hamas as they are. Maybe. Recent drone strike in Lebanon suggests that Israel is rather capable to strike surgically if it is so desires. In Gaza, it does not appear to strike surgically suggesting it made that choice for a reason. There is always a choice and few would fault just plain self-defense. Based on the existing rubble, current situation is closer to overkill, which does not win Israel support. Something to consider.
- Aeolun 3y agoAnd yet, women in Afghanistan were happy going to university until we let the fundamentalists back in.
- Ozzie_osman 3y agoWorth pointing out that both sides have extreme religious fundamentalists. Also worth pointing out that peace was achieved between Egypt/Israel but it took leaders like Carter, Sadat, Begin to transcend the conflict. Sadly, Biden is no Carter. And there are no Sadats or Begins anymore.
- avmich 3y agoAsk Carter what he thinks about that. I think he'd at least admit that Biden has a huge hindsight - the world today is so different from 1970-s.
- Ozzie_osman 3y agoCarter's approach tells us what he would think. Carter was willing to give the Israelis and the Egyptians massive amounts of aid, conditioned on peace. That is very different than offering one side unconditional support despite that side allowing extremists to formulate and shape plans.
- avmich 3y agoThat's rather similar to what we have or going to have. Both Israel and Gaza may receive - keep receiving - external aid. The difference is that peace around Gaza, today's and tomorrow's, is going to be enforced more elaborately.
- samirillian 3y agoI don't think it's too Western-centric to imagine that Palestinians want freedom, which is a universal human desire. Freedom means statehood and self-governance. Oppression is fertile soil for religious fundamentalists, and radicals of every stripe.
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago> Freedom means statehood and self-governance That second bit is a magic variable.
- samirillian 3y agoI don't grasp the analogy