JAN 17 — There's a memorable scene in the Stephen Spielberg film “Munich”. After the 1972 Munich Olympic Games killings of Israeli athletes, Prime Minister Golda Meir tells confidants she wants to show the plotters that killing Jews "is expensive". She then organises for the assassination of each of the plotters.
Today, it is Israel itself that has become expensive. Most directly, it is very expensive to the US, which subsidises and arms it.
But Israel's utter inability to transform the Palestinians from enemies into friends has imposed big costs on us all. We have paid for Israel's failure with bombs on London public transport, bombs in bars in Bali, and even the loss of the World Trade Centre towers in New York.
It is not true that these outrages have occurred because certain Islamic fundamentalists don't like Western lifestyles and so plant bombs in response. Rather, it is Israel — or more correctly the treatment of the Palestinians — that is at the nub of these events.
The world's Muslims have no head: no overarching caliph or pope equivalent exists — no single power source with whom to negotiate. Instead, Islam is remarkably decentralised. So, how extraordinary that Israel and the West have managed to unite this headless, diverse, dispersed grouping without any institutional framework, around just one issue — anger at the treatment of the Palestinians.
Otherwise dispersed groups of Muslims do seem to feel for one another in a way that Christians and others do not. In this respect, the international Islamic community is like a body: kick it in the leg and the rest of the body feels it. Kick it hard enough and the entire body will be energised to defend itself. Pictures of distraught Gazan mothers beside the mutilated bodies of their children are circulating right now among Muslim communities worldwide. It is pictures like these that make them want to do something.
Consider Malaysia. Every citizen of this outpost of Islam has printed in his or her passport that the passport is not valid for Israel. And given that Malaysians are not allowed to hold dual citizenship, this essentially means that every Malaysian citizen, including the 40 per cent who are not Muslims, are banned from visiting Israel.
"When will Malaysia recognise Israel?" I once asked the then finance minister. "Once Israel treats the Palestinians better," was his reply. How would he determine that? "When the Palestinians tell us," he said. It is not Israel's right to exist that is at issue.
The enmity many Muslims now feel for Israel has nothing to do with religion. The historical persecutors of the Jews have been Christians — their punishment for the death of Jesus. Jews and Muslims have lived in peace for hundreds of years in many parts of the Islamic world. When Catholic Spain and Portugal expelled its Jews, the Ottoman sultan in Istanbul invited them in. It is the Palestinian issue that has ruined all this.
Of course, today Israel must defend itself. If the residents of Bendigo started firing rockets into Melbourne you would expect Melbourne to retaliate. But what must Melbourne have done to Bendigo to make them do such a thing? Constantly slapping an opponent in the face, kicking it down to its knees, and watching it struggle in the dirt will not teach the opponent to love or respect you. It teaches only hatred.
Persecuting people does not weaken them. Israel should know that. The Jews have been persecuted for centuries. It didn't destroy them but gave them the impetus to survive.
One characteristic that is common among persecuted groups is a strong investment in education — when people's physical wealth is in danger of destruction from war and persecution one store of wealth that stays with individuals even when they must flee as refugees is education. It explains why such groups often insist on their own schools — education is too important to be entrusted to others.
Hamas did not enjoy the support of all the people of Gaza. It does now. Why does Israel keep getting it wrong?
Trekking in Nepal is fashionable among young Israelis. So much so that many shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara have signs in Hebrew. But once you get on the trekking circuit and speak with local Nepalese guides and guesthouse operators you soon discover how disliked the Israelis are. Many guesthouses in this poor country will even tell Israeli trekking groups that they are full rather than accept them. This has nothing to do with religion or politics: Nepalese people are some of the warmest, most hospitable in the world. Rather, they say that the young Israelis are rude, arrogant, and argue over trifling amounts of money even though they clearly have means.
Israel needs to change. The Parsees of India might provide a model. The Parsees are a very tiny, very rich ethnic and religious minority. They own perhaps most of the land in central Mumbai as well as the country's largest conglomerate. And yet ordinary Indians admire and respect them. Violence against them is unthinkable.
How have they achieved this? They are not flashy or arrogant. Their overriding characteristic is a deep interest in the welfare of others. They have established hospitals, libraries, schools, museums and many other institutions and, most importantly, not for the Parsee community exclusively but for everyone. So the Parsees have peace and the Israelis do not. — The Age
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (40)
Show/Hide comments
no wonder europe wanna kick these people out
written by MZH, January 17, 2009
written by MZH, January 17, 2009
Typical character of Zionist Jews = ...the young Israelis are rude, arrogant, and argue over trifling amounts of money even though they clearly have means...
-
- +0
-
-
eh?
written by kenu, January 17, 2009
written by kenu, January 17, 2009
"One characteristic that is common among persecuted groups is a strong investment in education — when people's physical wealth is in danger of destruction from war and persecution one store of wealth that stays with individuals even when they must flee as refugees is education. It explains why such groups often insist on their own schools — education is too important to be entrusted to others."
eh? is the writer talking about Palestine or Malaysia?
eh? is the writer talking about Palestine or Malaysia?
-
- +3
-
-
...
written by JaguhKampung, January 17, 2009
written by JaguhKampung, January 17, 2009
For a group of people many described as the smartest and most powerful people on earth, I can't understand why they can be so stupid to think that they can make people submissive by force or violence.
-
- -1
-
-
why are Israel rude and arrogant
written by Dude from MY, January 17, 2009
written by Dude from MY, January 17, 2009
Israeli are brought up to think they are master of the universe. their religion religious upbringing is constantly telling them are put her by god to be above the rest. That is why the are always perceived as rude, arrogant and etc.. if Israel needs to change like the writer suggest, its the religious upbringing that need to change, to be more moderate.
-
- -5
-
-
...
written by abuhawa, January 17, 2009
written by abuhawa, January 17, 2009
i like this backman. his writing about Malaysian politics is really impressive....
and..hopefully, the israel fanatics can understand this Palestian-Israel much clearer from this backman...
and..hopefully, the israel fanatics can understand this Palestian-Israel much clearer from this backman...
-
- +6
-
-
What does Israel wants? Make war or make Peace??
written by Amadas, January 17, 2009
written by Amadas, January 17, 2009
The current Israeli regime is emulating what the Romans had done centuries ago....be ruthless in killing off its enemies...Perhaps it can attempt to kill off all of its current enemies and impose its terms in Gaza with the tacit support of Uncle Sam but this current action by the Israeli regime will not bring the ordinary Israeli permanent peace in Israel.
It will come a day in the future when Israel has to live by its own means and co-exist with its neighbours. The sooner this happens...the better!!
It will come a day in the future when Israel has to live by its own means and co-exist with its neighbours. The sooner this happens...the better!!
-
- +2
-
-
president bush should read this.
written by mohammad abdullah, January 17, 2009
written by mohammad abdullah, January 17, 2009
a copy of this article should be sent to president bush. that is if he can read. can he ? maybe then shoes wont be thrown at him .
-
- +0
-
-
Backman is wrong this time and rather unfair and silly...
written by Sube, January 17, 2009
written by Sube, January 17, 2009
Mr Backman writes well on Malaysia so far. But here his bias shows thru on the Palestinian issue. Blaming the terror attacks on Israel is unfair. Using that logic we might as well blame all women for getting raped because they are tempting, blame houseowners for getting robbed because they hvae things, etc. The terrorists are intrinsically out to create mischief and a false vision of an Islamic Caliphate reminiscient of a lost past. The Middle east conflict is an excuse. Even after peace they will find another reason to exert their muscles because of this false idea of world domination like the communists! But they will fail.
Jews and Muslims co-exist yeah but on Islamic terms. Has Blackman visited the muslim states in the Middle East? One can also blame the Muslims for forcing Israel into a corner. If the muslims were more reasonable Israel would not have to be so defensive.
Israelis arent the only ugly people while visiting Nepal and it is unfair to use such a narrow anecdotal evidence. Backman should know better. This is how racial prejudice starts. Japanese tourists were once hated as were Americans. I once was at a durian store and suddenly this busload of Taiwanese tourists disembarked from their bus and immediately swamped the store and almost pushed me aside. Then there are the Arab tourists in Malaysia. Ask the local taxi drivers and storekeepers for some of their stories not dissimilar to Backman's Nepal anecdote. Should we then hate the Arabs and Taiwanese too?
Muslims are as unreasonable as the Jews and they are from the same racial stock. You only need to watch an Arab behave and you will know what I mean. The Jews are not the only arrogant people and I have lived among them. But to pick on the Jews in the way Backman has is clearly off the mark and Backman has underperformed in this instance. The Arabs are a cantankerous people and hotheaded and not easy to deal with.
In Malaysia the muslims dictate everything even though they don't have the right. For eg in other muslim countries muslims can marry non-muslims. But in Malaysia only muslims can marry muslims so people convert but never change their religion at heart. And they can't convert back to their former religion. Yet they boast about their religion being just! And all the corrupt cops and those in government are muslims!
If Israel is living on US expense, so are the Palestinians on UN and Arab expense.
Hong Kong had one million refugees from China. Yet it is a prosperious country. Why can't the Palestinians do something constructive instead of just talkign about destroying Israel? Now they are paying the price for those pesky rockets. Why disturb the bull when you know it can be a raging one? Until the Palestinians drop their silly idea of destroying Israel they will suffer more.
And journalists and others who attack and blame Israel without ascribing blame to Hamas are playing into their hands and show their own prejudice. People want to believe what they want and journalists that write so unfairly are jumping on the bandwagon of populism and political correctness. Shame on them!
Jews and Muslims co-exist yeah but on Islamic terms. Has Blackman visited the muslim states in the Middle East? One can also blame the Muslims for forcing Israel into a corner. If the muslims were more reasonable Israel would not have to be so defensive.
Israelis arent the only ugly people while visiting Nepal and it is unfair to use such a narrow anecdotal evidence. Backman should know better. This is how racial prejudice starts. Japanese tourists were once hated as were Americans. I once was at a durian store and suddenly this busload of Taiwanese tourists disembarked from their bus and immediately swamped the store and almost pushed me aside. Then there are the Arab tourists in Malaysia. Ask the local taxi drivers and storekeepers for some of their stories not dissimilar to Backman's Nepal anecdote. Should we then hate the Arabs and Taiwanese too?
Muslims are as unreasonable as the Jews and they are from the same racial stock. You only need to watch an Arab behave and you will know what I mean. The Jews are not the only arrogant people and I have lived among them. But to pick on the Jews in the way Backman has is clearly off the mark and Backman has underperformed in this instance. The Arabs are a cantankerous people and hotheaded and not easy to deal with.
In Malaysia the muslims dictate everything even though they don't have the right. For eg in other muslim countries muslims can marry non-muslims. But in Malaysia only muslims can marry muslims so people convert but never change their religion at heart. And they can't convert back to their former religion. Yet they boast about their religion being just! And all the corrupt cops and those in government are muslims!
If Israel is living on US expense, so are the Palestinians on UN and Arab expense.
Hong Kong had one million refugees from China. Yet it is a prosperious country. Why can't the Palestinians do something constructive instead of just talkign about destroying Israel? Now they are paying the price for those pesky rockets. Why disturb the bull when you know it can be a raging one? Until the Palestinians drop their silly idea of destroying Israel they will suffer more.
And journalists and others who attack and blame Israel without ascribing blame to Hamas are playing into their hands and show their own prejudice. People want to believe what they want and journalists that write so unfairly are jumping on the bandwagon of populism and political correctness. Shame on them!
-
- +17
-
-
Oil for blood
written by swipenter, January 17, 2009
written by swipenter, January 17, 2009
The right to exist as Palestine and as Israel must be recognised otherwise there wont be peace.
Historically there wasnt a country each for Jews and Palestinians. These peoples lived together and amongst themselves in what we loosely called the "Holy Land". History & politics and religions are the root cause of what is happening to those living in that part of the world tracing back to the Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, the Crusades, WWI and WWII, and now the present geopolitics and oil; the Jewish religion, the Christain religion and Islam. It is all so very mixed with history, politics and religion and now access to fossil oil and gas. There will be interim peace and ceasefire but only elusive long term peace.
If one day that arid part of the world (middle east) runs out of fossil oil and gas or there is an alternative rival supply of oil and gas found somewhere in the world then perhaps peace would be possible there. Really who is interested in sand if not for the oil and gas below it. That part of the world (middle east) cannot support much human population if not for the wealth generated and made possible by oil and gas. Nearly all the neccessities to support present level of population is imported made possible by oil wealth. And the world derives most of its energy from oil and gas to make it go round and work otherwise the world that we know now will breakdown.
Historically there wasnt a country each for Jews and Palestinians. These peoples lived together and amongst themselves in what we loosely called the "Holy Land". History & politics and religions are the root cause of what is happening to those living in that part of the world tracing back to the Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, the Crusades, WWI and WWII, and now the present geopolitics and oil; the Jewish religion, the Christain religion and Islam. It is all so very mixed with history, politics and religion and now access to fossil oil and gas. There will be interim peace and ceasefire but only elusive long term peace.
If one day that arid part of the world (middle east) runs out of fossil oil and gas or there is an alternative rival supply of oil and gas found somewhere in the world then perhaps peace would be possible there. Really who is interested in sand if not for the oil and gas below it. That part of the world (middle east) cannot support much human population if not for the wealth generated and made possible by oil and gas. Nearly all the neccessities to support present level of population is imported made possible by oil wealth. And the world derives most of its energy from oil and gas to make it go round and work otherwise the world that we know now will breakdown.
-
- +5
-
-
a broken clock is right twice a day
written by Abu Abdullah, January 18, 2009
written by Abu Abdullah, January 18, 2009
Israel needs to change. The Parsees of India might provide a model. The Parsees are a very tiny, very rich ethnic and religious minority. They own perhaps most of the land in central Mumbai as well as the country's largest conglomerate. And yet ordinary Indians admire and respect them. Violence against them is unthinkable.
How have they achieved this? They are not flashy or arrogant. Their overriding characteristic is a deep interest in the welfare of others. They have established hospitals, libraries, schools, museums and many other institutions and, most importantly, not for the Parsee community exclusively but for everyone. So the Parsees have peace and the Israelis do not.
Indeed, the Parsees of India do provide a model, but not in the way Backman's hatchet job on the Jews intended.
The Parsees are ethnic Persians descending from Zoroastrian refugees who fled the slaves of Allah's invasion of Persia (present-day Iran). (Rhetorical questions: Why would they flee the approach of the Religion of Peace that is Islam? Were they, you know, getting the wrong impression about Islam hundreds of years ago like we are getting the wrong impression about Islam now as Islamic apologists never tired of claiming?)
They as Persians who retained their Zoroastrian culture are a good model to compare and contrast with their ethnic cousins in Iran who have been forcibly Arabized into slaves of Allah and have had memories of their Zoroastrian culture wiped out. Whereas Zoroastrian Persians are peaceful model citizens (to paraphrase Backman) who pose no global terrorist threat, their Islamized kinsmen are busy plotting and funding the Shia brand of Islamic terrorism across the globe. Therefore, intentionally or unintentionally, Backman's effective message is that
How have they achieved this? They are not flashy or arrogant. Their overriding characteristic is a deep interest in the welfare of others. They have established hospitals, libraries, schools, museums and many other institutions and, most importantly, not for the Parsee community exclusively but for everyone. So the Parsees have peace and the Israelis do not.
Indeed, the Parsees of India do provide a model, but not in the way Backman's hatchet job on the Jews intended.
The Parsees are ethnic Persians descending from Zoroastrian refugees who fled the slaves of Allah's invasion of Persia (present-day Iran). (Rhetorical questions: Why would they flee the approach of the Religion of Peace that is Islam? Were they, you know, getting the wrong impression about Islam hundreds of years ago like we are getting the wrong impression about Islam now as Islamic apologists never tired of claiming?)
They as Persians who retained their Zoroastrian culture are a good model to compare and contrast with their ethnic cousins in Iran who have been forcibly Arabized into slaves of Allah and have had memories of their Zoroastrian culture wiped out. Whereas Zoroastrian Persians are peaceful model citizens (to paraphrase Backman) who pose no global terrorist threat, their Islamized kinsmen are busy plotting and funding the Shia brand of Islamic terrorism across the globe. Therefore, intentionally or unintentionally, Backman's effective message is that
-
- +8
-
-
His mother should wash his mouth out with soap
written by lb, January 18, 2009
written by lb, January 18, 2009
As an Australian, I am shocked and disappointed with the hate views that this author demonstrates. His views are so fully of inaccuracy's as to be shameful.
1. To truly believe that the Bali bombings, 9/11, and London Bombings, started with Israel is to be seriously divorced from reality.
2. "A warm day does not make a summer" is akin to say that no other country but Israel have misbehaving persons.
3. Like the Parsees, Jews around the world have contributed over and over again.
a. Over 178 Jews have won the Nobel Prize
b. Here is but a small list of Jews who have helped make this world a better place.
Albert Einstein Physicist
Jonas Salk Created first Polio Vaccine.
Albert Sabin Developed the oral vaccine for Polio.
Galileo Discovered the speed of light
Selman Waksman Discovered Streptomycin. Coined the word 'antibiotic'.
Gabriel Lipmann Discovered color photography.
Baruch Blumberg Discovered origin and spread of infectious diseases.
G. Edelman Discovered chemical structure of antibodies.
Briton Epstein Identified first cancer virus.
Maria Meyer Structure of atomic nuclei.
Julius Mayer Discovered law of thermodynamics.
Sigmund Freud Father of Psychotherapy.
Christopher Columbus (Marano) Discovered the Americas.
Benjamin Disraeli Prime Minister of Great Britain 1804-1881
Isaac Singer Invented the sewing machine.
Levi Strauss Largest manufacturer of Denim Jeans.
Joseph Pulitzer Established 'Pulitzer Prize' for achievements in journalism, literature, music & art.
Then you have the Guggenheim Museum, the Cedar Sinai Hospital, the list goes on.
Peace on Earth.
1. To truly believe that the Bali bombings, 9/11, and London Bombings, started with Israel is to be seriously divorced from reality.
2. "A warm day does not make a summer" is akin to say that no other country but Israel have misbehaving persons.
3. Like the Parsees, Jews around the world have contributed over and over again.
a. Over 178 Jews have won the Nobel Prize
b. Here is but a small list of Jews who have helped make this world a better place.
Albert Einstein Physicist
Jonas Salk Created first Polio Vaccine.
Albert Sabin Developed the oral vaccine for Polio.
Galileo Discovered the speed of light
Selman Waksman Discovered Streptomycin. Coined the word 'antibiotic'.
Gabriel Lipmann Discovered color photography.
Baruch Blumberg Discovered origin and spread of infectious diseases.
G. Edelman Discovered chemical structure of antibodies.
Briton Epstein Identified first cancer virus.
Maria Meyer Structure of atomic nuclei.
Julius Mayer Discovered law of thermodynamics.
Sigmund Freud Father of Psychotherapy.
Christopher Columbus (Marano) Discovered the Americas.
Benjamin Disraeli Prime Minister of Great Britain 1804-1881
Isaac Singer Invented the sewing machine.
Levi Strauss Largest manufacturer of Denim Jeans.
Joseph Pulitzer Established 'Pulitzer Prize' for achievements in journalism, literature, music & art.
Then you have the Guggenheim Museum, the Cedar Sinai Hospital, the list goes on.
Peace on Earth.
-
- -1
-
-
Backward thinking and onesided
written by kaka noor, January 18, 2009
written by kaka noor, January 18, 2009
Backman you are very backward man. one hand cannot give a clap.
-
- +1
-
-
Wake up dear Arabs, we can't hide behine anti-semites like Backman. Nobody takes him seriously
written by Ibrahim Masood, January 18, 2009
written by Ibrahim Masood, January 18, 2009
What happens when a fly falls into a coffee cup?
The Italian - throws the cup and walks away in a fit of rage.
The Frenchman - takes out the fly, and drinks the coffee.
The Chinese - eats the fly and throws away the coffee.
The Russian- drinks the coffee with the fly, since it was extra with no charge.
The Israeli - sells the coffee to the Frenchman, the fly to the Chinese, buys himself a new cup of coffee and uses the extra money to invent a device that prevents flies from falling into coffee.
The Palestinian- blames the Israeli for the fly falling in his coffee, protests the act of aggression to the UN, takes a loan from the European Union to buy a new cup of coffee, uses the money to purchase explosives and then blows up the coffee house where the Italian, the Frenchman, the Chinese, and the Russian are all trying to explain to the Israeli that he should give away his cup of coffee to the Palestinian.
The Italian - throws the cup and walks away in a fit of rage.
The Frenchman - takes out the fly, and drinks the coffee.
The Chinese - eats the fly and throws away the coffee.
The Russian- drinks the coffee with the fly, since it was extra with no charge.
The Israeli - sells the coffee to the Frenchman, the fly to the Chinese, buys himself a new cup of coffee and uses the extra money to invent a device that prevents flies from falling into coffee.
The Palestinian- blames the Israeli for the fly falling in his coffee, protests the act of aggression to the UN, takes a loan from the European Union to buy a new cup of coffee, uses the money to purchase explosives and then blows up the coffee house where the Italian, the Frenchman, the Chinese, and the Russian are all trying to explain to the Israeli that he should give away his cup of coffee to the Palestinian.
-
- +0
-
-
bit late
written by bigone, January 18, 2009
written by bigone, January 18, 2009
Your knee jerk reflex is a bit late, Andrew. That was yesterday's news.
Today's is that it is Hamas that refuses to stop shooting while the evil zionists have stopped.
Today's is that it is Hamas that refuses to stop shooting while the evil zionists have stopped.
-
- -1
-
-
Backman should back up his opinion
written by saywhat, January 18, 2009
written by saywhat, January 18, 2009
Is this guy for real? Just as well the article is an opinion and not based on actual evidence. If I want to read fiction, I will buy a book. Get the facts straight mate, and then perhaps you could be taken seriously!
-
- +3
-
-
Die Sturmer, 1939, The Age (Michael Backman), 2009
written by icjs, January 18, 2009
written by icjs, January 18, 2009
This Backman piece is disturbing because suddenly one is reminded of Die Sturmer, 1939. Backman’s opinion is the ugly face of anti-Semitism. Backman and people like him are too cowardly to say that they hate Jews, so they vilify Israel.
When Backman tries to persuade the public that Israel is responsible for global terrorist attacks, we are reminded of Hitler telling the German people that the Jews were responsible for, amongst everything else, the losses they suffered in World War One. Here’s a novel idea. Why don’t we blame the perpetrators of these evil events rather than the Jews?
One last point: Backman wrote "It teaches only hatred" when referring to Israel. Well Mr Backman I feel like a teacher speaking to child when I point out the racial slander such as this piece fits your description: It teaches only hatred.
When Backman tries to persuade the public that Israel is responsible for global terrorist attacks, we are reminded of Hitler telling the German people that the Jews were responsible for, amongst everything else, the losses they suffered in World War One. Here’s a novel idea. Why don’t we blame the perpetrators of these evil events rather than the Jews?
One last point: Backman wrote "It teaches only hatred" when referring to Israel. Well Mr Backman I feel like a teacher speaking to child when I point out the racial slander such as this piece fits your description: It teaches only hatred.
-
- +2
-
-
commenters 1 and 3 saw their opening...
written by Adam, January 19, 2009
written by Adam, January 19, 2009
Because this is the most antisemitic article I can remember in a general interest newspaper. And in the business section of The Age!
-
- -2
-
-
Racist and uneducated
written by Edward Jones, January 19, 2009
written by Edward Jones, January 19, 2009
Blackman is a racist and an uneducated fool. He is like the rest of the media who post information that will bring out emotions (often anger) in people whether the information is true or not. In this case it is not true. Many people hate Jews and they do not even know why. Do some research people before forming beliefs based on false pretenses.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by speach, January 19, 2009
written by speach, January 19, 2009
What everyone forgets here is that Israel has completed a complete pull out from the Palestine in 2005, leaving schools, factories, shops and houses intact. Guess what Palestinians did when they went there.... destroyed everything!!! How dumb!!!
In June 08 Egypt negotiated for Hamas and Israel to stop firing at each other. Guess how many rockets Hamas send to Israel from that day.... something around 5000 I believe is the number. So instead of try and rebuild/build their cities and towns they spend all their money on buying rockets from Iran. I am surprised Israel lasted that long before retaliating. If it happened to my country, I would expect a retaliation within HOURS!!!
What also everyone is forgeting that the original occupation of the territories came after a six day war, when 7 Arab countries attacked Israel in a hope of complete distraction and inhalation of Jews. Those territories were captured in a counterattack. Now... if every country in the world followed Israel and gave all the captured territories, maaan this word would look so much different: USA would have to give away two states to Mexico, Germany would have to give half of their land to Lithuania, Lithuania would have to give half of their land to Poland, Russia would have to give a away Kamchatka to Japan and Kaliningrad to Germany. I'm not even touching Middle East (Iran/Persia, Kuwait/Iraq and etc)..... it will never happen. It's just happen to be that Israel and Jews were kind enough to give all the Palestinian territories back to them.
Blackman... has a lot to learn about world history and war history. He's obviously has only gone through a primary school and not high school. Oh well, the world is full of unreasonable people and he is just one of many. Just like Hamas, that even in their training books says that kids must be present next to Hamas shooters during gunfire. Using women and kids as a human shield is not a bravery, its a cowardness and that is what hamas represents and stand for!!!
In June 08 Egypt negotiated for Hamas and Israel to stop firing at each other. Guess how many rockets Hamas send to Israel from that day.... something around 5000 I believe is the number. So instead of try and rebuild/build their cities and towns they spend all their money on buying rockets from Iran. I am surprised Israel lasted that long before retaliating. If it happened to my country, I would expect a retaliation within HOURS!!!
What also everyone is forgeting that the original occupation of the territories came after a six day war, when 7 Arab countries attacked Israel in a hope of complete distraction and inhalation of Jews. Those territories were captured in a counterattack. Now... if every country in the world followed Israel and gave all the captured territories, maaan this word would look so much different: USA would have to give away two states to Mexico, Germany would have to give half of their land to Lithuania, Lithuania would have to give half of their land to Poland, Russia would have to give a away Kamchatka to Japan and Kaliningrad to Germany. I'm not even touching Middle East (Iran/Persia, Kuwait/Iraq and etc)..... it will never happen. It's just happen to be that Israel and Jews were kind enough to give all the Palestinian territories back to them.
Blackman... has a lot to learn about world history and war history. He's obviously has only gone through a primary school and not high school. Oh well, the world is full of unreasonable people and he is just one of many. Just like Hamas, that even in their training books says that kids must be present next to Hamas shooters during gunfire. Using women and kids as a human shield is not a bravery, its a cowardness and that is what hamas represents and stand for!!!
-
- +2
-
-
Anti-semitic diatribe
written by David, January 19, 2009
written by David, January 19, 2009
Will the editor have the gumption to remove the article by Michael Backman (Jan 17)
from this publication? The principles of the Malaysian Insider on the About Us page state that people should 'refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, vulgar or derogatory nature'. I would suggest that they practice what they preach.
from this publication? The principles of the Malaysian Insider on the About Us page state that people should 'refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, vulgar or derogatory nature'. I would suggest that they practice what they preach.
-
- -2
-
-
...
written by Gabrielle, January 19, 2009
written by Gabrielle, January 19, 2009
Disgusting to see such Islamist agitprop in an Australian newspaper. No wonder the nickname of The Age is 'al-Age' -- Backman's piece could have been written by a jihad apologist.
-
- -1
-
-
Well, well Mr Backman
written by ilana Leeds, January 19, 2009
written by ilana Leeds, January 19, 2009
I hope you don't think that articles of this nature will advance peace in the Middle East. Your defamatory ignorant 'essay' on why the conflict in the middle east surprises many by its defamatory nature and yoour sheer ignorance of factual knowledge.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, mien kinder Hitler would be so proud of your essay which is 70 years in the past. Let's hope you are recognised by most readers for the petty, uninformed ignoramus that you are.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, mien kinder Hitler would be so proud of your essay which is 70 years in the past. Let's hope you are recognised by most readers for the petty, uninformed ignoramus that you are.
-
- +3
-
-
Anti-Semitic Trash
written by Michael Haag, January 20, 2009
written by Michael Haag, January 20, 2009
This article by Michael Backman is the sort of anti-semitic trash that was published in the Nazi propaganda sheets of the Third Reich. The Age, for which this disgraceful piece was originally written, should be ashamed for having published it -- but at least it has withdrawn it. Likewise the Malaysian Insider should feel itself cheapened and made filthy by publishing such trash and should withdraw it at once.
-
- +1
-
-
Typical Jew bashing
written by Celetina, January 20, 2009
written by Celetina, January 20, 2009
Heck let's just blame the Jews for everything that has ever gone wrong in our lives, shall we? It never ceases to amaze me how much misinformed, hateful, anti-Semitic garbage passes for "journalism" these days. I guess this is what buying a newspaper in Germany in the 1930s was like. Typical that the Age would publish it - I wouldn't even use that newspaper to collect my pet rat's poop.
-
- +2
-
-
The Age Newspaper Apologises
written by michael_aus, January 20, 2009
written by michael_aus, January 20, 2009
This is medieval hate by someone who is either bigoted or ignorant, nothing more.
Today, the Age ran an apology for publishing this article that read, "A column by Michael Backman headlined 'Israelis living high on US expense account' (BusinessDay 17/1/09) was published in error.
The Age does not in any way endorse the views of the columnist, apologises for the distress the column caused to many readers, particularly the Jewish community, and regrets publication of the column."
Today, the Age ran an apology for publishing this article that read, "A column by Michael Backman headlined 'Israelis living high on US expense account' (BusinessDay 17/1/09) was published in error.
The Age does not in any way endorse the views of the columnist, apologises for the distress the column caused to many readers, particularly the Jewish community, and regrets publication of the column."
-
- -1
-
-
backman's inversion
written by David W, January 21, 2009
written by David W, January 21, 2009
I am disgusted at the anti-Israel vitriol spewed forth by Michael Backman. According to his inverted world view, it seems the onus is upon Israel to "transform" the Palestinians from enemies to friends, and their fault if they are unable to. He thinks the entire reason for the Islam's hatred against Israel and Jews boils down to the treatment of Palestinians.
Between 1948 and 1967, when the Palestinians were governed by Egypt and Jordan, did Malaysia recognize Israel? No! Did Israel's neighbours accept the formation of the state any more in 1948 when it was formed than after the 1967 war when Israel won the West Bank and Gaza? No!
The fact is that the very existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East is a permanent blight on the Arab world, and they will not rest until it is destroyed. This is why school children in Gaza and the West Bank are taught to hate, and to celebrate death and martyrdom, from a young age. This is why Iran openly proclaims its desire to destroy entirely the state of Israel.
Not content with this already twisted picture of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Backman concludes with the absurd notion that Israelis bring this upon themselves because they are rude and arrogant tourists. These same rude and arrogant Israelis have used the finances provided by the US and others to build a robust democracy, to create industry, and significant contributions to the world of technology, medicine and much more. In contrast, the billions of dollars of aid sent to the Palestinians have been either embezzled by corrupt officials, or used to smuggle arms and continue the fight, rather than to help their own people have a better quality of life. So who is really using their funding better?
Between 1948 and 1967, when the Palestinians were governed by Egypt and Jordan, did Malaysia recognize Israel? No! Did Israel's neighbours accept the formation of the state any more in 1948 when it was formed than after the 1967 war when Israel won the West Bank and Gaza? No!
The fact is that the very existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East is a permanent blight on the Arab world, and they will not rest until it is destroyed. This is why school children in Gaza and the West Bank are taught to hate, and to celebrate death and martyrdom, from a young age. This is why Iran openly proclaims its desire to destroy entirely the state of Israel.
Not content with this already twisted picture of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Backman concludes with the absurd notion that Israelis bring this upon themselves because they are rude and arrogant tourists. These same rude and arrogant Israelis have used the finances provided by the US and others to build a robust democracy, to create industry, and significant contributions to the world of technology, medicine and much more. In contrast, the billions of dollars of aid sent to the Palestinians have been either embezzled by corrupt officials, or used to smuggle arms and continue the fight, rather than to help their own people have a better quality of life. So who is really using their funding better?
-
- +2
-
-
Truth from Backman
written by Jack Hammersmith, January 22, 2009
written by Jack Hammersmith, January 22, 2009
I am so glad we have a courageous journalist like Backman to finally tell the truth. Of course, his career will be ruined as a result...
-
- +5
-
-
...
written by Nurit Greenger, January 22, 2009
written by Nurit Greenger, January 22, 2009
This is a very wicked and the sickest antisemitic article. Michael Backman is a sick antisemite!
Neither Israel nor Israelis live on US expense account. In fact, in all likelihood the balance of benefits Israel and the USA get from one another is rather balanced. The USA greatly benefits from its financial aid to Israel, probably more than from any other Arab nation that receives the same financial aid or greater.
“But Israel's utter inability to transform the Palestinians from enemies into friends has imposed big costs on us all. We have paid for Israel's failure with bombs on London public transport, bombs in bars in Bali, and even the loss of the World Trade Centre towers in New York.” --Israel needs to transform the Palestinians? None of their brethren in 21 countries want them around–so Israel needs to!
Neither Israel nor Israelis live on US expense account. In fact, in all likelihood the balance of benefits Israel and the USA get from one another is rather balanced. The USA greatly benefits from its financial aid to Israel, probably more than from any other Arab nation that receives the same financial aid or greater.
“But Israel's utter inability to transform the Palestinians from enemies into friends has imposed big costs on us all. We have paid for Israel's failure with bombs on London public transport, bombs in bars in Bali, and even the loss of the World Trade Centre towers in New York.” --Israel needs to transform the Palestinians? None of their brethren in 21 countries want them around–so Israel needs to!
-
- -2
-
-
Kindness begets Gratitude
written by Fero, January 25, 2009
written by Fero, January 25, 2009
When the Parsees landed in India having been forced out from Iran following the Arab conquest, they were received hospitably and allowed to live in peace. They repaid this favour exponentially by their contributions towards their nation of adoption, far out of proportion to their microscopic population. To quote Gandhi, the Parsee's are "In number's beneath contempt, in achievement beyond compare"
The point is, had the Arabs welcomed the Jews fleeing the horror's of Europe with the same hospitality that India showed the Parsee's, the history of the Arab world, ( and arguably the entire globe ) may have been very different. Imagine how the Jews, highly educated, entreprunerial, hardworking, would have acted as a potent force multiplier for accelerating the development of the entire middle east. They would have been a resource to Arab states, far more valuable than the oil that lies under their sands.
Alas it was not to be...
The point is, had the Arabs welcomed the Jews fleeing the horror's of Europe with the same hospitality that India showed the Parsee's, the history of the Arab world, ( and arguably the entire globe ) may have been very different. Imagine how the Jews, highly educated, entreprunerial, hardworking, would have acted as a potent force multiplier for accelerating the development of the entire middle east. They would have been a resource to Arab states, far more valuable than the oil that lies under their sands.
Alas it was not to be...
-
- -2
-
-
Ignorant Backman
written by Es, January 26, 2009
written by Es, January 26, 2009
1)I challenge Backman to live in Israel for just one day (in addition to all the other ignorant readers above who believe Backman spouts 'truth'-ie those who believe anything they read and the inciteful media). There Backman would see a paradigm of an Israeli nation going out of its way to accept Palestinians. In Israeli hospitals, Palestinians are granted treatment equal to Israelis. Just speak to any Palestinian who has had the benefit of being treated at an Israeli hospital - a relative of mine, a doctor there, certainly has. It's just a shame that Palestinians, while being treated, cheer at televised images of qassam rockets killing Israelis. Inciteful propaganda like that of Backman's does not highlight any truth and perpetuates the myth of the Jews as the bad guys.
2)If the world, Backman and the above critics are serious about finding a solution for the Palestinians, then the world must turn its head to the plight of the Palestinian people as an Arab problem, not as a problem the Jews must resolve. If all the Arab bodies that form part of the EU and UN (as well as global Arabs worldwide and all the above critics of the Jews) were REALLY serious about helping the Palestinians, they would encourage their brethren in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia etc to accept Palestinians. The sad truth is they don't want to help them and are happy to let Israel do all the dirty work. If the Arabs are serious about Palestinian welfare, they and not others need to start taking responsibility for themselves. The nanny state is long gone!
Sadly, the real issue (unlike what Backman states) is not the welfare of the Palestinians but an Arab desire to annihilate the Jews and Israel and make as many land gains (including globally) as possible. In such an environment, I wonder what the ignorant world will be like in 100 years...
2)If the world, Backman and the above critics are serious about finding a solution for the Palestinians, then the world must turn its head to the plight of the Palestinian people as an Arab problem, not as a problem the Jews must resolve. If all the Arab bodies that form part of the EU and UN (as well as global Arabs worldwide and all the above critics of the Jews) were REALLY serious about helping the Palestinians, they would encourage their brethren in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia etc to accept Palestinians. The sad truth is they don't want to help them and are happy to let Israel do all the dirty work. If the Arabs are serious about Palestinian welfare, they and not others need to start taking responsibility for themselves. The nanny state is long gone!
Sadly, the real issue (unlike what Backman states) is not the welfare of the Palestinians but an Arab desire to annihilate the Jews and Israel and make as many land gains (including globally) as possible. In such an environment, I wonder what the ignorant world will be like in 100 years...
-
- -1
-
-
...
written by Es, January 26, 2009
written by Es, January 26, 2009
i forgot to add - the palestinians treated in hospitals were suicide bombers
-
- +0
-
-
Very ignorant.
written by JC, January 29, 2009
written by JC, January 29, 2009
Backmam is pretty ignorant. The 9/11 attacks, Bali Bombings and London bombing have nothing to do with the West's support of Israel.
Organizations such as Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya seek the return of a purer, stricter and more fundamentalist implementation of the Quran. Their grievances are not born out of the treatment of Palestinians but out of ideological grounds. Osama Bin Laden frequently denounces the Western military occupation of holy Islamic land, pointing to the fact that American troops are stationed in Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy cities of Islam. Al Qaeda also opposes what they see as the cultural threat that the West poses to the identity of Muslims, and considers the concept of democracy as one of these cultural threats of the West.
In addition, 9/11 attack was motivated by the West's support of the authoritarian regimes of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, not Israel. They oppose the secular government in Egypt and demand a ruling order with stricter and more conservative religious convictions. The majority of suicide bombers target Western democracies, motivated only by a desire for self-determination and to fight military occupation.
"The treatment of Palestinians" is just an excuse. Islamists don't give a shit about the Palestinians.
Organizations such as Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya seek the return of a purer, stricter and more fundamentalist implementation of the Quran. Their grievances are not born out of the treatment of Palestinians but out of ideological grounds. Osama Bin Laden frequently denounces the Western military occupation of holy Islamic land, pointing to the fact that American troops are stationed in Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy cities of Islam. Al Qaeda also opposes what they see as the cultural threat that the West poses to the identity of Muslims, and considers the concept of democracy as one of these cultural threats of the West.
In addition, 9/11 attack was motivated by the West's support of the authoritarian regimes of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, not Israel. They oppose the secular government in Egypt and demand a ruling order with stricter and more conservative religious convictions. The majority of suicide bombers target Western democracies, motivated only by a desire for self-determination and to fight military occupation.
"The treatment of Palestinians" is just an excuse. Islamists don't give a shit about the Palestinians.
-
- -1
-
-
Israelis are Living High on US Expense Account.
written by A.Noaman, February 08, 2009
written by A.Noaman, February 08, 2009
Many Malayesians are still under the Zionist's pseudo propaganda.Israel has all along been the sole representative of the Western colonial powers in the region.Knowing its importance to the Western World,Israel , through its Zionist's networkings, managed to infiltrate every political level using all means possible,bribes,balckmail and violence including terrorist acts when necessary. Israel's main objective was to secure enough political, militay and economic coverage allowing Israel to behave in the manner it sees fit with its own iterest as a superpower in the region.Present manifestation of Western cowardice in criticizing Israel over Gaza's massacres is but an indicative factor as to how much infeluence Israel has over the Western World.Now, for those still under illusion of "Israel for ever", changing realities in the region have produced evidence that while Israel is loosing credence, deterrence,Arabs are gaining more world understanding to the nature of their conflict with Israel.Even its ties with Arab countries, once considered Israel's gate to the Arab world,are now eschewed in the face of rising public criticism agaist Israel and were replaced by a more defiant and aggressive opposition to its criminal policies, as Turkey did in the Davos Forum.Israel must realize that without reaching a just and a viable solution with the Arabs,there will be no room in the region for an entity called Israel.Thats what history and historians,including Jewish ones, have said.
-
- +0
-
-
Reply to kindness begets gartitude - Fero
written by Hornstein, February 11, 2009
written by Hornstein, February 11, 2009
What utter rubbish. Israel was not formed out of the holocaust. The project had been going on for more than 50 years before that. i suggest that you do more research into the murky past of the Zionists. The Zionists had already declared their racist intentions beforehand and even before 1948 had started purging Arabs from their villages in Palestine. None of Israeli leaders current or past put together can compare to Gandhi. His greatness comes from the fact that he practiced non-violence. Israel was formed by Zionist terrorism.
Criticizing Israel, or Israelis behaving badly as tourists, is not antisemitism. On that count most Europeans would be labeled Racists for criticizing the drunken behavior of many Brits abroad on holiday. The greatest anti-Semitics in fact are Zionists themselves. In 1935 an American, Ben Frommer, a writer for the ultra right Zionist-Revisionists, could declare of no less than 16 million of his fellow Jews that: "The fact is undeniable that the Jews collectively are unhealthy and neurotic. Those professional Jews who, wounded to the quick, indignantly deny this truth are the greatest enemies of their race, for they thereby lead them to search for false solutions, or at most palliatives."
In 1942, the Chaim Greenberg the editor of Jewish Frontier, a Zionist publication wrote: “To be a good Zionist one must be somewhat of an anti-Semite”.
These are but just a few examples.
The Zionists were also prepared to join the Nazis in the hope of establishing “the historical Jewish state on a national and totalitarian basis, and bound by a treaty with the German Reich”. Yitzak Shamir, the late Prime Minister of Israel, was a member of this group.
And no, I do not regard Backman as anti-Semetic, anti-Zionist yes but not anti-Semetic. Backman is in the good company of Norman Filkinstein (who actually lost family in Auschwitz), Prof. Avi Schlaim of Cambridge and the British Labour and Jewish MP, Gerald Kaufman, who equated the Israelis to Nazis. All of these notable people are courageous anti-Zionists Jews who carry the respect of all just and humane people of the world.
Criticizing Israel, or Israelis behaving badly as tourists, is not antisemitism. On that count most Europeans would be labeled Racists for criticizing the drunken behavior of many Brits abroad on holiday. The greatest anti-Semitics in fact are Zionists themselves. In 1935 an American, Ben Frommer, a writer for the ultra right Zionist-Revisionists, could declare of no less than 16 million of his fellow Jews that: "The fact is undeniable that the Jews collectively are unhealthy and neurotic. Those professional Jews who, wounded to the quick, indignantly deny this truth are the greatest enemies of their race, for they thereby lead them to search for false solutions, or at most palliatives."
In 1942, the Chaim Greenberg the editor of Jewish Frontier, a Zionist publication wrote: “To be a good Zionist one must be somewhat of an anti-Semite”.
These are but just a few examples.
The Zionists were also prepared to join the Nazis in the hope of establishing “the historical Jewish state on a national and totalitarian basis, and bound by a treaty with the German Reich”. Yitzak Shamir, the late Prime Minister of Israel, was a member of this group.
And no, I do not regard Backman as anti-Semetic, anti-Zionist yes but not anti-Semetic. Backman is in the good company of Norman Filkinstein (who actually lost family in Auschwitz), Prof. Avi Schlaim of Cambridge and the British Labour and Jewish MP, Gerald Kaufman, who equated the Israelis to Nazis. All of these notable people are courageous anti-Zionists Jews who carry the respect of all just and humane people of the world.
-
- +0
-
-
Don't let Zionist get away with it.
written by Hornstein, February 11, 2009
written by Hornstein, February 11, 2009
Try to give this article as much publicity as possible. The Zionists must not be allowed to get away with blatant censure in the name of phony antisemitism. Shame on teh Age. Write to them and complain.
This article is also available on this web-site.
http//www.mpacuk.org
This article is also available on this web-site.
http//www.mpacuk.org
-
- +1
-
-
Learn more about the backgrounds............
written by Max, February 20, 2009
written by Max, February 20, 2009
Dear readers,
Learn more about the backgrounds in an unbiased form, visit http://iamthewitness.com/index.html where you will find lots of historical books and intervieuws. Watch the video The Moneymasters,
http://video.google.nl/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936&ei=dsOeSYvJHKb8iALm3JWJAg&q=The+Moneymasters&hl=nl&dur=3
Listen to the Benjamin Freedman 1961 Speech
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5224839731207532170
Or you can read the speech at your leisure on http://www.sweetliberty.org/is...eedman.htm
History needs to be rewritten and most people need a re-education!
Regards, Max.
Learn more about the backgrounds in an unbiased form, visit http://iamthewitness.com/index.html where you will find lots of historical books and intervieuws. Watch the video The Moneymasters,
http://video.google.nl/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936&ei=dsOeSYvJHKb8iALm3JWJAg&q=The+Moneymasters&hl=nl&dur=3
Listen to the Benjamin Freedman 1961 Speech
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5224839731207532170
Or you can read the speech at your leisure on http://www.sweetliberty.org/is...eedman.htm
History needs to be rewritten and most people need a re-education!
Regards, Max.
-
- +0
-
-
Write comment
Show/Hide comment form
