Thomas Friedman: Authority on What Israel Should Do

Nadene Goldfoot

Thomas Friedman works for NY Times, who has the reputation for being anti-Israel. They recently ganged up on an Israeli diplomat telling him they didn't like his country. These CEO's were even Jewish, as Friedman is, and one is an Israeli. What is this world coming to? Havoc, I see. I think the NY Times people are from Chelm.

According to Friedman's opinion piece in the Oregonian Thursday-Egypt delivers shock and awe, Friedman accuses Netanyahu for finding excuses for not coming up with a peace plan. According to Friedman, the Americans, meaning no doubt Hillary and Obama, know it. Wow! What planet has Friedman been visiting lately? He thinks Abbas has offered so much to Israel.

Isn't it wonderful that a reporter, already set in his bias, can decide so much without being a soldier, a diplomat or even live in the area? We're not talking about Canadians, here. We're dealing with the Arabs who have been fighting Israel for the past 62 years plus. They have a mindset that's much different than Canadians, you know. You can't apply rules that are general for all peoples. I guess he's just been too busy to know that Netanyahu has been begging Abbas to talk about a peace deal but that Abbas wants pre-conditions first which means he won't talk until Netanyahu gives in to his demands first and foremost. Oh yes, I see Friedman knows this already when he finally mentions that Obama should put his own peace plan on the table and the two sides should negotiate on it without any preconditions. Well, good luck, Obama. Netanyahu and Clinton have been trying to do this with no avail, and it must be hard not to give in to Hillary.

Another thing Abbas wants, probably as another precondition is that he wants the millions of Arabs that have grown from the 600,000 original number or less to return and live in their Palestine. Of course! That's one way to take over the land and gain Israel. This is unreal and a death threat to Israel. How would you enjoy all of the Mexicans in Mexico to come and live in the USA? Isn't there room for all?

First off, Netanyahu has probably been angering you because he asks the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. You probably think this is the reason for calling it messianic. You had the chutzpa to say "if Israel remains paranoid and messianic and greedy, it will lose all its Arab friends. Now that is a laughable statement that makes me cry. The reason Israel's fathers picked the land of Israel to return to is that we do have a religious and cultural tie to the land, though it has taken us 2,000 long years to get back to it. For all those 2,000 years religious Jews have been praying that they would not forget Jerusalem lest they would lose their right hand. It's a way of saying that they would not forget the land of their forefathers. They had tons of feeling and history there. They had no feeling for Africa. Thus, the deal with the English for the land took place after the Ottoman Empire fell. All of this led to official recognition in 1948 in the UN of the state of Israel. The final piece we got was less than half of the original offered, but Israelis to be were not greedy, they accepted it. Remember, the Palestinians didn't. They were greedy in wanting it all. It was all or nothing and war with their leadership.

Let's take these accusations one at a time. Paranoid? Yes, we do know that Iran has called for Israel's destruction and that scientists think they will have atomic weapons by 2012. The Muslim Brotherhood has already called for Egypt to prepare for war against Israel and kill all Jews. Yes, Egypt may no longer have the stake it had in keeping the peace. They're going to miss the Israeli tourists that gave their people some jobs. They're going to miss the tranquil peace they've maintained since 67. You'd better watch out, Thomas. You're still considered Jewish, regardless of your far out opinions and self denial. Not only that, but Gaza on the West has said they're out for Israel's destruction. They have continued to shell Israel with Grad missles, smaller missiles, and mortars. Egypt is no longer restrained and the peace treaty may dissolve quickly, Lebanon is in the hands of terrorists, Gaza and Abbas would most likely join the others and would join in, Jordan is doing all it can do to stay afloat and that peace treaty also is in danger, being their population is 65% Palestinian, and do you need more reason for being paranoid? As the patient said to his psychologist, "Doctor, I think my neighbors hate me." Can you give me a pill?" "They do hate you," replied the psychologist. Pills won't help at all.

Greedy? There's no way that Israel is greedy. They're a tiny country surrounded by enemies of a culture from centuries ago who are not willing to allow one teeny Jewish state in the neighborhood. Who are the greedy ones? Greedy? There are over 1 million Arabs enjoying citizenship and freedoms they never had before living in Israel. Someone is shooting words around like arrows into our hearts when this is said. Who is trying to take this little piece of land? The greedy ones who live in 47 other Muslim countries want Israel.

So General Friedman would have the country give in to anything the Palestinians say just to get them to sign a so-called peace treaty. JUST DO IT sounds like his motto. I wouldn't give you a nickel for that type of meaningless treaty that would be a give-away of Israel.

I am so disappointed in Friedman since I have read his book, from Beirut to Jeruslam that was copyrighted in 1989 and 1990. It seems I read it before 1980, however when I was reading everything I could find on Israel before making aliyah. The nerve to tell Obama to walk away from Israel before the Egyptian riot of about 10 days ago. That was really rotten. What a way to stand with us who support the right of Israel's existence.

Anyone that compares Netanyahu with Mubarek is showing just how little they know about Israel's constitution. Maybe you need to hear again that Israel is a dramatically democratic party. The over a million Arabs that live there and that are citizens have the same rights as all Israelis. The one thing they may be left out of, however, is having to serve in the IDF, although I know of many who are. Israel is the #1 Start-Up Nation in the world, coming up with all sorts of businesses. I know of a Palestinian from Judea/Samaria who works with a high tech company in Israel. Netanyahu just said he will do more for them economically in starting up businesses. Do you remember when all Israelis pulled out of Gaza? They left businesses for them to work in and continue, but they destroyed them all. I guess they enjoyed being on the dole with UN relief much more than working. Can we make a lasting peace with the Arabs? I'd like to see it last more than a day. That's why a peace treaty can't be signed in a day. I, for one, would like to see the two states be in a peaceful state for a certain amount of time to see if it's possible, a trial run, so to speak. However, that's up to Netanyahu and the Knesset as they know a lot more than I. What bothers me is the the Camp David accord treated Gaza and Judea/Samaria as a whole, and Gaza simply won't come around. Is a peace treaty going to work with half the Palestinians constanty at war with Israel out to destroy and kill? What do you all say about that?

I'm sure Obama and all Israelis realize that a huge huge storm is coming and they're doing their best to protect themselves. They're realized it for some time now, and this is like hearing that an unknown hurricane is about to strike.

Friedman came up with a few truths; there is a global campaign to deligitimize Israel, a clever way its enemies fight since so many people love to buy into any bad propaganda about Jews.

What I try to do it is tell the truth about the relationship between Israel and the Arabs, not just disentangle Israel from them. He finally sees that Israel is surrounded by a huge population of young Muslim Arabs who have been living in the 7th Century with cell phones. It's quite a mix. What he doesn't get is that Netanyahu has delivered a great life for Israelis, being the only democracy in the Middle East. It hasn't been easy what with every man being called up on a yearly basis to do his milueem, interrupted from his work, or all the shelling that goes on. Boys and girls that graduate know they go into the army to serve for at least 3 years before college, or even picking up the paper to hear what American Jew has just bashed them and their country, refuge for Jews in peril. Yes, Israel probably feels like the general interviewed in Tel Aviv that what he thought for the last 30 years is no longer relevant with the Middle East now in turmoil of their own making in deciding they finally want to be a democracy. But they'll quickly adjust their thinking and come up with a plan of survival. They're not in a coveted position, we know, but when have they? It would just help more if people with power and able to reach the public with the free press would take off their rose colored glasses to see who the good guy is for a change. After all, you said it, don't become a part of the global campaign to deligitimize Israel.


http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2010/12/tom-friedman-ny-times-editors-ambush-attack-israeli-diplomat/

http://jta.org/news/article/2010/06/30/2739848/op-ed-tom-friedman-must-apologize-for-slandering-israel

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/tom-friedman-slanders-isr_b_630483.html

http://972mag.com/maariv-on-thomas-friedman-obamas-escort-boy-just-jealous-of-bibis-career/
Oregonian 2/2/11, Egypt delivers shock and awe by Thomas Friedman

Middle East Fears

Dictator's Leaving in Tunisia Not Due to Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

Everying thing bad happening has been blamed on either Jews or Israel. Even the 9/11 Twin Towers falling has been blamed on Israel with some extremists. I might add that our American government has been blamed for that, as well. The conspiracy theories keep on making the circuit on the web and in films. Right now Ahmadinejad is threatening Israel and the USA, telling us to stop sedition in Lebanon or the Lebanese will cut off our hands, and that our decline is on a fast track. Even the Saudi investigator into the assassination of the former president of Lebanon has backed out saying that Lebanan is dangerous. Lebanon is made of Christians, Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims, the last two as compatable with each other as Ireland's Protestants and Catholics. They had a sharing power practice that went by the wayside after the assassination. They are no longer the role-models of the Middle East. Terrorism has upset the apple cart.

What Arabs fear most is losing their power and control over their people. Israel coming along practicing their democratic values is a wrench thrown into their works. This seems to be more of a threat than practicing Judaism. Since Jews don't proselyze, Arabs aren't really concerned about that. These rulers have felt they have to stop this idea of freedom.

Like a chess game, the Arab chieftains have put the USA on the defensive because they have backed the hated Israel. Democracy and it's inherent evils are too close. The USA changed its tactic trying to show how fair they are to Arab countries by giving a cold shoulder to Israel . They've been quite successful showing that they aren't favoring Israel. Even a lot of Israelis now believe this. Poor decisions have been made, such as breaking our promise to Lebanon to be against Hizbullah.

The West needs to see that as dictatorships fall, such as in Tunisia, it leaves Israel as the only democratic state in the Middle East, a country that is aligned with the West with Western values and can be depended on. My question is, can Israel trust the West? Evidently the Knesset still does.

A Tunisian, an Egyptian and an Algerian have recently set themselves on fire in protest of their respective governments. They didn't do it because they were protesting Israel and the Palestinian situation. Most average citizens everywhere are concerned with their own needs and happiness. These three weren't able to be heard at all in their type of governments. Tunisia just had an overthrow of their government because the people all united into a demonstation against a president acting like a monarchy, in power for 23 years and not doing what was necessary for his people.

The Palestinians have been raised since gestation on the idea that Israelis are to be hated and killed. Their mothers have taught this, their schools are teaching it, and they are brainwashed into not being concerned with their own desires other than seeing Israel disappear. As a teacher I'm very concerned with how Israel is ever going to bridge this monumental elephant in the room. To me it would be a sign that Abbas's Fatah is actually interested in making peace if schools start teaching neighborly behavior with Israelis and then hope the children can convince their parents that this is the best route to take. For what is said in English to Westerners is not what is being said to his subjects. Then again, the idea of freedom's democracy and mutual decisions of getting along with Israel would have to take place in Gaza with Hamas and all their little factions of terrorism. How long will all this take? Perhaps another 62 years. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Israeli fears right now must be on the UN planning on voting against them for building in Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem, which is part of their own capital. Though USA and Israel will be against this vote, it may pass. A Jewish family of 10 just made aliyah to Israel, fearing the safety of their lives if they remain in Tunisia, while another more cautious family came to Israel on just a visitation from Tunisia.

Of course, Ahmadinejad's threats to destroy Israel with atomic weaponry in his hands is no political rhetoric like Palin's crosshairs. His threats have to be taken seriously. I ask what the U.N. has done about his constant threats? How long the stuxnet virus will warp his computers is not known, but every day is a blessing, for it's stopping an atomic threat to all of us from Iran.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0111/glick011811.php3 Article by Caroline Glick
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=204318

Not Against Jews Just Hates Israel

Haifa, Israel

History Professor Kaukab Siddique insists statement calling on Muslims to 'stand united to defeat, to destroy, to dismantle Israel – if possible by peaceful means,' was blown out of proportion. 'I am against Israel, not against Jews," he says

This Middle East Professor teaches at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. This is an odd remark , to say the least, in that Israel is a state created as a Jewish state and contains about 6 million Jews and about 1 million Muslims. So is he saying he is not against just certain Jews who don't live in Israel?

I sure am glad I'm not taking a history class from this fellow. He certainly will have a distorted view of the history of Israel, in my opinion. I'd like to see the books he uses.

Reference: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3973777,00.html

What Osama bin Laden Likes

Today's Oregonian ran an article about 53 year old Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaida and no lover of Israel.Osama just made two new audio recordings on Friday and Saturday with the following comments. I'm surprised as to the days released. Friday is the time of the Muslim sabbath.

This man, who sees himself as a world leader and has caused the twin Towers to fall, killing over 3,000 people as well as other terrorist acts, commended the writings of Noam Chomsky, the professor of Linguistics who has dabbled badly into Middle East History from MIT. He has bashed Israel so in so many of his books that bin Laden now admires him. I wonder if this impresses Chomsky.

Osama bin Laden also praised Jimmy Carter's book on the Palestinians and cited the 2007 book written by John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt of Harvard, two American professors on the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, which tears it apart. That book was absolutely appalling to those of us who love and support Israel and understand the duress and terrorism that she is under.

These people he loves have only hurt Israel in so many ways. It's not enough that Israel has been fighting terrorism since its birth but has to endure irrational criticism from such people. I think these three have only wanted to feather their own nests and egos and certainly have not care a hoot as to what harm they have done to Israel. They have just joined the side of terrorism as far as I'm concerned. When Osama bin Laden agrees and likes your views, you're in trouble.

Reference: 10/3/10 Oregonian p. A10: Audios show another side of terrorist

Olympia, Washington Food Boycott Against Israel

On July 15th the Olympia, Washington 10 member board of their Food Co-op made a decision to boycott Israeli-made products. They speak for their 15,000 to 20,000 active members. Their board met last night and had a debate about their decision. About 115 people wanted to speak. Many said that the board's decision was a "beacon of hope" for the Palestinian people. Dr. Muhammad Ayub, an early arriver, spoke in support of the boycott. Ayub spoke and said that "the boycott will be good for Israel in the long run, just as an international boycott was for eliminating apartheid in South Africa." He went on to say that "we don't tolerate bullying in schools; why should we tolerate it in world politics?" The board had said their decision was a way to "compel Israel to follow international law and respect Palestinian human rights,"

Therefore, this propaganda stunt is to benefit Palestinians, meaning either Hamas terrorists in Gaza, or Fatah governed by Abbas, one of their own, in the Judea/Samaria area. Note that Abbas has been unwilling to speak with Netanyahu who has asked repeatedly for talks with him. They are also calling Israel bullies although it is the Gazan terrorists who are shelling Israel. I note that since January of this year till July 120 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel, so who is the bully? I ask, just who is respecting Israel's right to endure and not be destroyed as the Hamas charter's goal remains as such.

This food co-op has just joined forces in denying Israel's ability to survive economically by eliminating a cog in the wheel of their exporting food products. They've joined the side of people against this small state that is trying to survive against tremendous odds of Nazi-style propaganda meant to destroy Israel. They say they are not targeting Jews, but the Israeli government. Well, yes, the knesset has Arab representatives, but Israel is a Jewish state and created as a haven for Jews in a world that had been against Jews. They may not all have been at war and participated in killing Jews, but many nations did nothing to prevent it, either. To me, they are against Jews by being against Israel. Half of the Jews of the world live in Israel. I have a feeling that most co-op members have never even met a Jew, being they are living in Olympia, which does not have many.

The only thing that Israel is guilty of is in defending their citizens. They have not laid down and died. They have fought back against their adversaries who want them to decease and desist. Muslim Arabs are fighting against Jews. There are millions of Muslim Arabs and only about 6 million Jews in the Middle East. The odds are against Jews, yet the Jews have prevailed. I'd like to think it is the hand of G-d who is assisting Israel. It's G-d who brought us there in the first place long long ago.

Palestinians have never had a need for their own state being there are at least 22 Arab states in the area that they came from in the first place. They've been offered their chance to have a state since 1948 and keep refusing the chance. Their goal is to wipe out Israel, and that only. It's too bad that these ten board members haven't studied the issue more deeply instead of impulsively gone ahead and voted against Israel.

The co-op was not carrying many Israeli products. They have removed gluten-free crackers, ice cream cones and moisturizing cream. The cream is something I'd surely want to buy as I can't find a good moisurizing cream around here that I like. They donated these items to the Thuston County Food Bank.

The South Sound Jewish community protested. Harry Levine, one of the ten board members, chose not to vote with the other board members because not all staff members agreed with the decision of the board.

Every vote of disapproval against Israel becomes a rocket that may take a life. It's ridiculous for this board to delude themselves in thinking that they are helping. The only way they could possibly help is in telling their "friends" to stop shelling Israel and change their charter.

12:58pm
In the meantime Palestinians are planning a boycott of Israeli products at New Seasons in Portland. See: http://www.auphr.org/index.php?option+com_extcalendar&Itemid=36&extmode_view&extid=415.
Amid all this negativity, the US and Israel have signed an agricultural collaboration agreement in that they will work on research to alleviate the world's food and fiber needs and other important agricultural issues. This is a 5 year agreement. Climate change, international food security, energy, etc, will be worked on. We are sharing our efforts. Here we have people who refuse to deal with us because we are Israelis right here in the USA. These are people who will benefit from our research but they are refusing to buy any goods.

Reference: The Olympian Newspaper, Rolf Boone, staff writer of article: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/13/1334728/boycott-debate-cordial-passionate.html?storylink=addthis