Israel should propose a deal.. that Booth can leave by land if she spends a month in Sderot helping repair damage from the Qassams & working with the victims there of her useful idiocy.  Alternatively she could spend half her time in Sderot and half her time volunteering at One Family, a fine organization that helps victims of terrorism (excuse me, that should be "all legitimate means" in the ISM dialect of progressobabble).  And then we could finish off with a stint at a construction site in Jerusalem where they are using bullozers, back hoes, & the like.

Hershel Ginsburg

Jerusalem / Efrata

Laugh all you like, but the fact is is that Gaza is a giant ghetto--which isn't good for anybody. And if you don't think that the reason people in Gaza are relatively more extreme than those in the West Bank isn't because of the conditions on the ground then you are crazy. But whatever, it's best just to sneer I guess.  

dabffert,

For your ediification, allow me to re-post a slightly edited version of something I wrote on the Gaza situation for a previous "Spine" thread:

After Israel left Gaza in 2005, rendering it Judenrein for the 2nd or 3rd time in less than 100 years, leaving the Pals ongoing functioning businesses (i.e., the extremely efficient agriculture developed there by the evil "settlers" with their horns and tails) -- this was yet another of Shimon Peres' hare-brained ideas -- complete with waiting customers in Europe who were just drooling to get their hands on genuine Palestinian grown cherry tomatoes - the ultimate in P.C. eating -- with arrangements in and out of the Strip, including ample opportunities for smuggling via the Egyptian (not Israeli) controlled southern end, safe passage to the P.A. controlled parts of the remaining disputed territories, arrangements for transshipment of goods through two or three other Gaza crossings, and scads of donors and investors (including Jewish ones) just lining up to get in on the most P.C. investment opportunity around, the Pals go ahead and trash it all.

They then go ahead and start launching rockets into **CIVILIAN** area of Israel (I guess that is what Jews are for) for the fun of it.  Contrary to its own best interests (and as permitted by the all so holy and and wise International Law) Israel held back for a while and did not put the Palestinian rocketeers our of our misery.  And even when Israel started to retaliate somewhat, it did so with the utmost in temerity not bringing to bear the force it could have and should have.  And this was still before Hamas took over, dumping their Fatah rivals off of the rooftops (what's this, Fatah folk can't flap their arms and fly?).

Since then, yes Israel has tightened things up a bit.  But by some miracle, you don't have mass starvation (I guess that means that food is still getting in), electricity is still provided, no one is dying of thirst (and no, I don't think the Palestinian scientists have managed to transfer the sodium and chloride ion pump genes from the halophilic bacteria of the Dead Sea bacteria into the Gazan population which would allow them to follow Arafat's dictum and drink seawater) so drinking  water is getting in.  And fuel also gets whenever Hamas or Islamic Jihad is not firing rockets at the fuel terminal in Kerem Shalom, and whenever Hamas actually deigns to deliver & distribute the fuel to it's civilian population.

I don't seem to remember the US or Britain making sure that Germany or Japan had adequate food and fuel supplies during WWII.

No dabeffert, if the Pals are having a hard time in Gaza, they have ONLY themselves to blame.  I suspect that is difficult for you to accept, probably because it doesn't fit your narrative on the Israeli / Arab conflict.  But that's the story.  So if you want to actually help the Gazans, you may want to suggest that they look in the mirror.... If they don't shoot you first.

Hershel G.

Marty,

When I read you on Israel, I say "amen." When I read you on the presidential campaign, I say "what is he smoking?"

But I have reconciled myself to your Jekyll-Hyde persona. In fact, I have found a silver-lining: if Obama wins in November, being beholden to pro-Zionist Democrats like you will hopefully keep him on the straight and narrow vis-a-vis Middle East policy. Thus, you are useful in your wrongheadedness.  

Historically, one of the reasons Israel has enjoyed bi-partisan support in American politics is because Jews (journalists, political professionals, major donors) have taken prominent roles in the campaigns of both parties. It's like corporations donating to both parties - it guarantees a favorable outcome no matter who prevails. So thanks, Marty.

We get "a favorable outcome no matter who prevails" for the same reason as usual, Mr. Krieger. There is effectively no difference whatsoever in policy terms between the "two" parties.

Some pluses, some minuses, but over the long haul it's the best-disguised one-party system ever.

Good point Mr. Powell. But it is the electorate that prevents one party or the other from going too far off course, not collusion between the parties, as you imply. The center has a tendency to hold in the long run.