The Mideast crisis

These questions and answers are really good! Anyone with an interest in the peace process for Israelis and Palestinians should read the whole thing!! Here: http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20030821007/tscript.htm I cut and paste only a few of the questions.

Ali Abunimah, a writer and commentator on Middle East and Arab-American affairs lives in Chicago.

Washington, DC: Why did the Palestinians bomb the bus in Jerusalem if there was a truce?

Ali Abunimah: The suicide bomb in Jerusalem two days ago, which killed 19 Israelis, including a number of children was a particularly cruel and senseless attack, and like all attacks on civilians was morally reprehensible. This one seems to have been calculated to cause as much horror as possible. The Israeli government is, unfortunately, trying to make political capital out of the horrible death of its citizens by -- as usual -- blaming the Palestinian Authority for it. The Israeli government knows quite well -- and the Israeli press is reporting -- that this attack was organized and carried out from Hebron, a Palestinian city which is under complete Israeli military occupation. The Palestinian Authority has absolutely no forces or freedom of operation there, and there is, in fact nothing they could have done to stop this attack.

New York NY: If Palestinians are upset about living in horrendous conditions, why don't they ask Arafat to hand over some of his personal ill-gotten gains? And please don't respond with nonsense about Israeli occupation. Israelis didn't steal that money - Arafat did.

Ali Abunimah: Once Palestinians are rid of the tens of thousands of heavily armed foreign troops who are systematically stealing their land in order to give it to Jewish settlers, they will, in freedom, be able to elect leaders of their choosing -- not Israel's or Washington. Corruption, is unfortunately endemic to our region -- as the scandalous revelations about the corruption of Sharon and his sons, Gilad and Omri demonstrate.

Miami, FL: Palestinians supported Saddam Hussein. They danced in the streets on September 11. Tell me, given those facts, why in the world would I sympathize with you and your cause? With people who strap explosives to themselves and DELIBERATELY target babies?

Ali Abunimah: Really? Did you ask them all? Did you conduct a poll? This is an example of the kind of ridiculous statement that so distorts this debate. Let's have a serious discussion.

I already said what I feel about the attack in Jerusalem. You on the other hand do not seem at all concerned that the Israeli army has killed more than 400 children in the past three years, including two children yesterday. Why should anyone support YOUR cause, when Israel does that. I suppose that you would argue that when Israel murders babies it is "self-defence." Well, that is exactly the logic that the supporters of suicide bombings.

excellent

And it is especially good to see it in USA Today.

Americans deserve more "fair and balanced" reporting and commentary on the issue which for most of the world, is the flagship of US policy, and in a lot of ways, defines the US for billions of people.

Do you know, the thing that struck me the most is the fact of the bomber came from Hebron which is under complete Israeli occupation and control. So to blame the PA, it is like tying up a jail warden to a tree, then blaming him when the prisoners get out! But the news reports they don't talk about this fact very much.

I do not like USA Today as a news-worthy source, but I am hopeful that maybe this is a sign of more fairness and balance in the future.

in the West. It's the only newspaper I've seen in the U.S. that doesn't horribly distort things in a pro-Israeli direction.

I found several news stories, on different issues, that I had bookmarked because I thought they were good, and at the time I hadn't really paid much attention to what paper they were from.

I guess I better put it in my regular rotation :)

While this poses interesting and provocative questions, it is not really suitable for the Latest Breaking News Forum, and is being moved to the I/P forum for further discussion.

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

pile!