"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world's major sources of instability. Americans are directly connected to this conflict, and increasingly imperiled by its devastation.
It is the goal of 'If Americans Knew' to provide full and accurate information on this critical issue, and on our power - and duty - to bring a resolution." Explore the web site, If Americans Knew.
20 Comments
"the truth" is probably far fetched, since the site is somewhat biased. unfortunately there is no ultimate truth one can only aim for a broad and unbiased research on the topic.
however, the aim of this site could be summed up as cut the money, end the war. well things ain't that easy.
bias or no, there are more people with direct connections to israel in the us than there are with connections to palestinians. we hear more - and a larger part of the public is more tuned in - because the lines of communication are more open. not sure there is a way to beat this issue, even if media outlets expended many more resources trying to learn about the predicaments of the palestinians. the supply of info re:israel will probably still be greater.
good someone's trying to redress the imbalance, though.
does truth have a bais?
do not have a bias.
How one interprets the facts (i.e. [i]the truth[/]) does.
What a highly biased site! The description of the 1967 "Six-day War" is comically over-simplified. If Americans knew...they would recognize the obvious bias of the site. What no one wants to admit is that both sides are EQUALLY culpable, even though the casualties are so one sided. Peace is a mutual arraingment, and NEITHER side is willing to make the sacrifices necessary for peace in the region.
I wonder what the rhetoric was about south africa in the 80s...were they both equally culpable? The fact that the use of the words terrorism and democracy were used to connote either sides of the conflict is quite revealing to interpretate the language we use today.
consider the apartheid government in south africa was toted as a shining star in africa--a pillar of democracy. and on the other hand, the resistance groups who opposed apartheid were called terrorists etc. even the famed Nelson Mandela was called a terrorist by the reagan adminstration.
so what are the facts? is truth the facts or is it conjecture. who is spinning, that is the real question. and who has the power to spin in this country...
with all though respect, in ZA there was apartheidt, but in israel you have a democratic society, even the west-bank and gaza elected a government if you like. lebanon, basically a democracy aswell is suffering from syrian influence. I would argue that syria is not a democracy, go figure.
point taken. However, In don't think anyone can consider west-bank and gaza a sovereig nation or that the palestinian people have any sovereignty at all (beyond selecting a leader who has no legs to stand on). It doesn't have any real or even virtual control over its borders, its resources, or economy -- these are all controlled by israel. israel's position to the palestinian terrorities is a defacto apartheid state. I don't see how anyone could speak of it otherwise. In the region some people have rights and others don't. In fact Israel passed a law stating that Palestinians who marry Israelis are barred from becoming Israeli citizens or residents.
go figure
They are equally culpable because neither wants to accept the independent existance of the other. Yes Israel is an occupying power (different from apartheid which was a single state with seperate laws) and won't let Palestine be its own soveriegn nation, but Palestine doesn't want to concede Israel any right to exist and thus would never be satisfied to live peacefully next to Israel. They are both wrong, they will both continue to suffer until they both can agree to give up any claim to one another.
I'm not sure that I agree with that information. It seems only Hamas (and Hezbollah) have not (fully) reckonized israel's "right to exist."
I mean really can we spin words any better than that... "the right to exist" that sounds like a prelude to some lofty anti-abortion rhetoric. Israel has been born and its "right to exist" is fullfiled reckonizing by the whole world, but what of the palestinians? are they? slowly but surely I guess.
I also recommend;Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World. By Edward Said.
Hamas is the democratically elected government of the PA, is it not?
Then instead of "right to exist", how about "self-government and self-determination?"
so much for that abortion.
that's not exactly correct. hamas holds a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council since January 25, 2006...before this Fatah held the majority and had recognized israel.
Hamas 74 seats
Fatah 45 seats
Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa 3 seats
al-Badeel 2 seats
Independent Palestine 2 seats
Third Way 2 seats
fyi
"the democratically elected government of the PA is hunted 'dead or alive' by israel."- which is illegal and should be oppossed by all nations. My point is that even if the world stopped Israel from attacking Palestine, Palestine would still attack Israel. And Lebanon has shown no ability (maybe interest) in reigning in Hezbollah. So the situation to the North is the same.
Regardless of the breakdow of their parliment, the ruling party is Hamas, which runs the cabinet, and controls militia that are attacking Israel. Fatah is impotent in stopping Palestinian incursions into Israel. The end point being the same. Both sides continue to fight each other because they will not accept the autonomy of the other.
The real terrorist are from Israel and America...they just dress in "nicer uniforms"..
weather you drop a bomb from a plane or strap it to your chest, its still murder.
If a palestinian marries an Israeli, they can become a citizen and resident.
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