Apparently Hatred, Bigotry and Fundamentalism Goes Both Ways!
Judaism, Jewish culture, Jewish Video, Israel, On G-D, Online Media, Politics of Religion, Orthodox, Jewish Learning July 26th, 2007This morning I woke up at the ung-dly hour of 5 something AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. So I decided to see if there was anything new and interesting to watch online and that’s when I came across this.
They do not believe in peace talks. They do not want to share the land. They are well armed and are carrying out increasingly violent attacks, even targeting innocent civilians. They are members of Israel’s militant far right, and they are threatening to become Israel’s next big problem.
Read more about this documentary on the PBS webpage.
I’m far from being the most informed person when it comes to the many complicated nuances involved in the Israeli/Palestinian situation. However I just don’t understand how the extremists in this video can see themselves as being any different than Palestinian extremists. Murder is murder and misappropriation of G-D is insanely wrong regardless of whether you call him Allah or Hashem. Don’t get me wrong I think that much of what is done at the hands of Palestinian extremists is horrible but watching this documentary it’s clear that the bullshit flows both ways.
Anyhow I was disturbed by this documentary but it was very informative and I highly recommend checking it out.
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four
Part five
Part six
Technorati tags: Jewish Extremists, Israel, Palestine, Middle East Conflict, PBS, Terrorism, Frontline
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July 27th, 2007 at 2:37 am
TG,
You wrote:
“However I just don’t understand how the extremists in this video can see themselves as being any different than Palestinian extremists.
…much of what is done at the hands of Palestinian extremists is horrible but watching this documentary it’s clear that the bullshit flows both ways”
I only watched the first video so my comments are based on that and what I have seen of the conflict. I have previously voiced my opinion against the fervor of some Zionists and they have attacked me on my blog for my views.
But I think we need to be very careful about putting some type of equivalency between Palestinian actions and Settler actions. Sure the Settlers have extreme views and opinions, but they have a right to their beliefs (free speech) even if we don’t agree with them. (As do the Palestinians)
However the Palestinians have had thousands of suicide bombers and murderers that have killed thousands of innocent people. With all the rhetoric there are only two people that anyone can point to among the Settlers as an equivalent level. Yigal Amir who assassinated Shamir and Goldstein who murdered 29 Arabs.
TWO Vs. THOUSANDS.
Two people versus thousands! You can not compare or put them anywhere in the same league. When the number is TWO its clearly an aberration (a sick one no doubt, but clearly not the norm.) The same can not be said for the extremists among the Palestinians.
Clearly the distinction boils down to rhetoric versus actions. While you may disagree and/or condemn the rhetoric you can’t compare it with people who take murderous actions.
July 27th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Being at the internet cafe; I dont have time (nor the desire) to watch the videos . . .
Suffice to say, the media has an anti-Israeli bias that most be taken into account at all times.
Of note to Passionate Life:
Amir killed Rabbin,
As to Goldstein . . . It has been noted that he took action because of a planned attack coming from that mosque (a weapons cache was found there). While I profess no deep knowledge of what went on there, it is not quite as simple as it seems.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
P-Life
thanks for taking the time to post but it’s a pity you didn’t take the time to watch all of the videos or to think about what I was saying because you’ve missed the boat.
I didn’t say things were equal or the same in any quantitative sense of things. However having said that qualitatively the Jewish extremists in the documentary are no better than Palestinian extremists who blow up busses. The people in this video did in fact plot and attempt to have a bomb go off in front of a (Muslim) girl’s school and that’s just wrong. This documentary doesn’t just focus on two people it looks at a radical right wing theocratic ultraorthodox sector of Israeli society. And members of this community openly admit/claim that there are thousands of other jews who feel the same way the people in his video feel and are actively trying to push Israel into a war with the Arabs. Your claim/comparison of two people to thousands is pure bullshit and it’s disingenuous to frame it that way. Having said that of course in general I feel that Israel shows phenomenal restraint compared to the Palestinians but that doesn’t justify the behavior of these people or the two you mentioned. Worn is just wrong! There is an organized all for right wing religious underground and it’s engaged in doing horrible things which are on par with anything the Palestinians are trying (at least in my opinion that is).
Of course feel free to disagree but if you’re going to comment on a post like this at least watch the videos and match your feedback to the comments I’ve made. All I said was that it’s clear that the shit flows both ways and that’s the qualitative truth.
Mottle, thanks for posting but my thoughts are if you have not watched the video (and have no interest in watching it) what is the point of commenting because you’re basing everything on pure assumption and speculation. Maybe not in terms of the general (potential) media bias towards Israel but certainly a least in terms of the content of this post, including the video.