Discussions

Since the geopolitical banter has all but died off on this forum, might as well start a new hot topic that I know many on the left will disagree with me about ;). (This was a good idea bcglorf)  
 
First some news  
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Israel opened negotiations to fly through U.S.-controlled airspace in Iraq to carry out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, a British newspaper reported Saturday. Israel's deputy defense minister denied the claim. The Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted an unnamed Israeli defense official as saying the talks were aimed at planning for all scenarios, including any future decision to target Iran's nuclear program.  
 
Israeli bombers would need a corridor through U.S.-administered airspace in Iraq to carry out any strikes, the official was quoted as saying by the newspaper.  
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And some real debate starter, how about some myths and realities about Israel.  
 
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Myth: European Jews who went to Palestine displaced the Palestinians who had been living there.  
 
Reality: Jews immigrating to Palestine during the first Aliyah were moving to a vastly unpopulated area. The land onto which the Jews moved was bought primarily from absentee landlords and real estate speculators. The Jews of the first Aliyah really started the process of fertilizing the land and increasing the population of Palestine by creating jobs and infrastructure.  
 
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Myth: The Jews have used the holocaust to gain 'sympathy' for a Jewish state at the cost to the Palestinians, who bear no responsibility for the Nazi's genocide against them.  
 
Reality: At the time, the Palestinian leadership actively supported and assisted the Holocaust and Nazi Germany.  
 
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Myth: The Israeli War of Independence was expansionist aggression, and was started by Israel.  
 
Reality: The Jews of Israel defended themselves from a genocidal war at the hands of their Arab neighbors.  
 
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Myth: Israel started the Six-Day War of 1967.  
 
Reality: While Israel fired the first shots against Egypt (not against Jordan), the war began by Egypt's decision to close the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping and to order the removal of UN troops from the Sinai.  
 
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Myth: Israel has made no serious attempts at peace with the Palestinians.  
 
Reality: Israel has offered the Palestinians every reasonable opportunity to make reasonable peace, but the Palestinians have rejected every such offer.  
 
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Myth: Israel is a racist state. (Or in Carter's delusions, "apartheid state")  
 
Reality: Israel is in practice a secular state that is religiously and racially pluralistic with freedom of religion for all.  
 
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I think thats good for now, lets debate about Israel! It is one of my favourite topics to discuss on.