The Double Standard
In the WSJ, Michael B. Oren and Yossi Klein Halevi write about how it works -- like how the international media ignore the shelling on Israel, but when Israel finally defends itself, everybody rises up to condemn it:
Israelis across the political spectrum agreed that the state had the right, indeed the duty, to protect its people. But one question remained: Would the international community consent?That question grew urgent in the days before Dec. 19, when the tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas expired. Nearly 300 missiles landed in Israel, paralyzing much of the southern part of the country. Yet Israeli leaders held their fire.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni flew to Cairo to implore Egyptian leaders to urge restraint on Hamas, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told viewers of Al-Arabiyah Television that Israel had no interest in a military confrontation. If Israel was guilty of acting disproportionately, it was in its willingness to seek any means, even at the risk of its citizens' lives, to resolve the crisis diplomatically.
Yet the U.N. Security Council abstained from condemning Hamas and convened only after Israel resolved to act. The U.N.'s hypocrisy, together with growing media criticism of Israel, is reinforcing Israeli concerns that territorial concessions, whether unilateral or negotiated, will only compromise the country's security and curtail its ability to respond to attack. This fear is compounded when Israelis consider withdrawals from the West Bank, which is within easy rocket range of its major population and industrial centers.
Gaza is the test case. Much more is at stake than merely the military outcome of Israel's operation. The issue, rather, is Israel's ability to restore its deterrence power and uphold the principle that its citizens cannot be targeted with impunity.
Without the assurance that they will be allowed to protect their homes and families following withdrawal, Israelis will rightly perceive a two-state solution as an existential threat. They will continue to share the left-wing vision of coexistence with a peaceful Palestinian neighbor in theory, but in reality will heed the right's warnings of Jewish powerlessness.
I think the Arabs will keep killing the Jews no matter what, as long as they're there. The existence of the state of Israel is merely an excuse, and the other Arabs in the Middle East don't give two shits about the Palestinians, except as an excuse to hate Jews.







I saw this on TV and the MSM was saying something like "There were only 20 rocket attacks launched into Israel today." and pretty much condemning Israel for killing hundreds in the Gaza Strip.
All I could think, "Where were you when Hamas was launching 70-80 attacks into Israel?" And what gives them the right?
It disgusts me that they have this double standard.
Jim P. at December 29, 2008 9:04 AM
Go Israel go!
After they've finished sending Hamas to Paradise, I hope they'll do the same to Hezbollah.
Martin at December 29, 2008 9:59 AM
I love to see the Anti-Semitism swell-up every time Israel tries to eradicate the terrorist element... Oops sorry, I meant to say Activists of Hamas. All the well-thinking people are always ready to blame the Hebrew State at the HINT of a retaliation against rocket attacks as if the Palestinians were blessed children.
It is not a matter of death counts or other macabre measure of suffering but a single principle; do a country have the right to defend his integrity? If this is true, Israel have the right to defend itself. If it's not true, let's remember it when the West will be struck by another terrorist attack.
Toubrouk at December 29, 2008 11:04 AM
Can we send money over there to help them? I'm not jewish, but I'll back anyone that kicks that much terrorist ass.
momof3 at December 29, 2008 1:03 PM
M3 -
Forget charity. Israel will gladly borrow money from you! And then give it back! With interest! (OK - not that much interest, but blame the market for that one).
israelbonds-dot-com if you're serious.
snakeman99 at December 29, 2008 1:30 PM
Thanks snake, I am.
momof3 at December 29, 2008 5:20 PM
Time was people weren't so ready to slaughter the prisoners. Some Israelis aren't yet.
http://www.icahd.org/eng/
http://www.btselem.org/English/index.asp
Some Christian organizations support Palestinian Christians http://www.sabeel.org/
It's notable that there is more controversy in Israel over bombing people in their homes than in the U.S. There seems to be a perception that the way to peace is through indiscriminate murder - as long as the right people are doing it.
Switzerland is only one of those who think there's something that analysis leaves something to be desired.
http://www.icahd.org/eng/news.asp?menu=5&submenu=1&item=640
opit
at December 29, 2008 8:12 PM
Yep, it's justifiable for oppressors to continue and oppress people that have had nothing (no economy, little food, no assistance) for years. Keep telling your selves lies so you can continue to fall asleep at night. You disgust me. These people have been continually squeezed by the Israeli government with nothing, and you are going to say justify this load of crap that Israel is defending itself? 6 months planning this awful assault, how dare anybody justify their tyranny. Israel's actions against the Palestinian people is worse than Hitler's actions against the jews. Defending itself against what, to shitty rockets that did nothing? are you serious? Israel has all the defense mechanisms and weapons and continually destroy these people, and you are going to justify it and say they are defending themselves? If you had just some objectivity, some conscious, some heart Amy you wouldn't post this load of crap. I'm sure you make yourself feel better by doing your charity work because someone who is so hateful surely must relieve her conscious in some way. And it's shocking that you grew up in a city that is full of Muslims, yet you still will jump at any chance to write against Muslims and quote people who just have hate and can't see the world for what it really is. You don't believe in God, which may be a good thing for you...but how about Karma? Let's just say you continue to post shit like this and shit will happen to you. Karma is good. And I grew up in Farmington Hills as well, I can't imagine that my city produced such a hateful angry bigot of a woman.
Jenny at December 29, 2008 9:25 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/12/29/the_double_stan.html#comment-1617423">comment from Jenny.And it's shocking that you grew up in a city that is full of Muslims, yet you still will jump at any chance to write against Muslims and quote people who just have hate and can't see the world for what it really is.
Hey, Jenny, you want to see some Detroit-based hate, you check out some of those Muslim hate rags from Dearborn that my dad used to send me. Ugly, ugly stuff.
Or, Google for Imams preaching death to the infidel. (Hint: This would be most of the people commenting here.)
You might find me hateful (I really don't *hate* anyone, but I do hate death cults!)...but unlike so many Muslims, I'm not deadly!
Sorry...did you think it was a bunch of atheists who murdered 3,000 people at the World Trade Center? My friend's husband only got out of that one because she had a meeting and he had to take the kids to school that day...making him just late enough to the WTC not to die in the mass murder plotted by Mohammed Atta and all those other, uh, Quakers, in those planes.
Islam is not a religion but a totalitarian system masquerading as a religion; one which calls for the conversion, death, and/or taxing/humiliating of all infidels (this, again, would be most of the people commenting here). Am I intolerant of such behavior? Why, certainly! The question is...why aren't you? Accidentally dim, or wilfully so?
Enquiring minds...!
More on the nitty-gritty of Islam here:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023153.php
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2008 12:04 AM
Jenny...one final question: If the Canadians were lobbing rockets over the border into Farmington Hills, would you just shrug your shoulders and hope they don't land on your house or in your tomato garden?
Do tell us what you think would be an appropriate response from the Israelis, who, by the way, live in peace with the Druze. Why? The Druze do not profess a desire to run the Israelis into the sea.
The Israelis take care of Palestinian children in their hospitals -- the children who want them dead. Muslims have not been responsible for scientific or medical innovation for decades. The Israelis are just a diversion. They're usually busy killing each other, as they have been for centuries and centuries.
If you really want to see bigotry in the Middle East, check out how Egyptian Muslims feel about black people who are Muslims. I believe Egyptian soldiers murdered a few of them somewhere near the border to Israeli -- refugees from Darfur.
Israel was taking in Muslim refugees from Darfur, by the way. Those Zionist bigots!
Amy Alkon at December 30, 2008 12:15 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/12/29/the_double_stan.html#comment-1617427">comment from JennyIsrael's actions against the Palestinian people is worse than Hitler's actions against the jews.
I missed this one. Jenny, it's no surprise why I post in my own full name and you only post as "Jenny," with a link to CNN.com. If I said something this moronic, I'd take pains to hide my identity, too.
"Shitty rockets that did nothing." Tell that to Shirel Feldman. Oh, wait, you can't - Shirel's dead in a rocket attack. If the Palestinians wanted peace with the Israelis, they'd have it. Unfortunately, they have a mandate to drive them into the sea. It starts in that nasty book of bigotry and hate, aka The Quran.
Finally, you write: "? Let's just say you continue to post shit like this and shit will happen to you."
Are you threatening me? Please let me know, so I don't bother the FBI desk sergeant unnecessarily. It's not unexpected, considering the topic. People (Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Salman Rushdie, Wafa Sultan, etc.) who criticize Islam live in fear of their lives, under fatwas. Disgusting. People who criticize Judaism and Christianity are merely labeled offensive. People who leave Judaism and Christianity are sniffed at. People who leave Islam are condemned to death. Note a difference here -- on the same old death-cult theme?
Finally, do let us know, not only your name, but your affiliation (it's clear you're not just an objective observer from suburban Detroit). What's that word for how it's okay for Muslims to lie...taqq...you know...help me out.
Oh, actually, even more finally, I find it weird and creepy that you, who have come to my site a handful of times since October 14 to post propaganda glorifying Islam, seem to know so much about me: where I'm from, what my a-religious belief is. What's the deal, Jennykins?
You'll find most of the Jenny-ganda here:
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/10/14/why_it_matters.html
My favorite comment from over their was a Gog response to Jenny:
Now that I see what you've posted on my other entry, Jenny, I'm a little worried that what appears to be a threat from you is real. I suggest you e-mail me your real name and information and clear up that you aren't threatening me. Again, I hate to bother the FBI unnecessarily.
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2008 12:21 AM
Jenny, the muslims have been trying to kill the Jews for 1300 years.
Now the Jews have the capacity to wipe them out utterly, and yet they don't. I wonder why that is?
There is no such thing as an innocent Palestinian. And the only good muslim is an apostate.
Go ahead, send your goon squad. Threaten me. See what happens.
brian at December 30, 2008 5:11 AM
Amy, don't waste your time looking over your shoulder. "Jenny" is an ITG. Jenny, and most of the Dearborn muslim community that finds itself siding with Hamas need a wake-up call.
They also need to drink a big tall glass of shut-the-fuck-up.
brian at December 30, 2008 5:13 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/12/29/the_double_stan.html#comment-1617450">comment from brianWell said, Brian.
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2008 6:22 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/12/29/the_double_stan.html#comment-1617459">comment from brianBrian, what's an "ITG"?
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2008 7:10 AM
actually, i am more afraid of you than you could ever be of me. Ha, you think if I published my real name you would actually respect my ideas? THe first time I did you just insulted me over and over again (many of the commenters on the blog). You continue to post jihadwatch quotes and believe that they have any credibility! And besides, the last time I wanted to comment on your blog I was blocked...hmmm, truth hurts, eh?
Jenny at December 30, 2008 7:14 AM
You know I don't even know why I visit your blog, cause my blood boils every time I do. I think you are the extreme perspective that at one point I thought "maybe' i could change. but alas, it's impossible. your mind is set. Don't tell me you don't hate, because someone who accepts comments on their blog such as "a good Muslim is a dead one" but rises up when an objection comment that defends Muslims is posted is clearly a bigot and someone who hates these people. And if you don't feel that your comments damage Muslims and spreading the racist thoughts of jihadwatch aren't hateful, then clearly you're out of touch.
Jenny at December 30, 2008 7:19 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/12/29/the_double_stan.html#comment-1617464">comment from JennyJenny, you come here to spread propaganda for whatever Islamic organization you work for. What I don't see is you speaking out against terror and the reality of Islam: killing of apostates, death orders on Ayaan Hirsi Ali and others, and all the other barbarianism. You don't publish your name because you'd then reveal your identity and then we'd know that you work for CAIR, or in some similar capacity.
Address what I wrote about the death cult aspects of Islam - as commanded by the Quran. We're waiting!
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2008 7:22 AM
Amy, fair enough, give me a couple of days to pull up some resources and I will post something that proves Islam is no death cult! I don't work for CAIR although again, I don't understand why you have something against them too! Hey, they should be the "good guys" in your eyes since they continually condemn terrorist acts of any sort (Islamic, Israeli, etc.) Anyhow, I will be back to address some of the lies that are continuously posted here :)
Jenny at December 30, 2008 8:00 AM
Ahhh, irrational Jenny. How we've missed her! A muslim debate without her is like an abortion one without me-just empty and boring :)
momof3 at December 30, 2008 8:58 AM
Jenny, whatever else you come up with, you must address Hamas rocketry.
Do note that I detest a great deal of the actions of the Israeli government, as well as the undue influence they have on American politics.
Yet I can find no alternative to rocket attacks other than counterattack. Israel knows what soft Americans, comfortable in front of the flat-screen TV with their Panormous pizza, do not: reason does not work against people shooting at you.
Radwaste at December 30, 2008 9:57 PM
ITG: "Internet Tough Guy". syn pussy.
Jenny - either you've got some serious reading comprehension problems, or you decided to speak the truth for once.
I said "apostate", you said "dead".
I understand that in most muslim societies being an apostate leads almost inexorably to being dead, but that was not the context I was aiming for.
Although you're right about one thing. Islam isn't a death cult. It is the implementation of the hopes and dreams of a psychotic megalomaniac hell-bent on world domination.
Oh, and any condemnation from CAIR is not worth a bucket of warm piss. What they say in public and what they say when they think nobody's listening are quite different. CAIR is a known supporter of Hamas, and have never once condemned the actions against Israel.
brian at December 30, 2008 10:01 PM
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