I have been scrolling through the blog posts from the last two months, trying to find a post where Muslims shed a tear for thousands of Muslims who died in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and anywhere other than Gaza. Is it because you hate Jews more than you love Muslims that you speak of nothing else?
I will answer: no. It is because you are afraid to try to exercise any influence with Muslims that is not already supported by the jingoistic masses. You are not racists. Just cowards. You do nothing for peace, and nothing for the wellbeing of Palestinians.
That's the truth.
Comments
I could only hope that people here don't hate Jews. I think a common misunderstanding is that it is Jews who are the issue and they're out there to support Israel's offensive on the Palestinians, many of whom are civilians.
Let's make one thing clear to everyone reading this. Do not blame or hate Judaism for this, nor any Jew. There are lots and lots of Jews who are against what Israel are doing and feel that Israel does not represent their beliefs. Take a look at the example of the Orthodox Jews in New York. That had an impact on me.
Don't blame one group on an entire religion.
It is Zionism that is the issue and everyone who supports Zionism.
I applaud and congratulate every single Jew against Zionism.
That's all.
You're wrong the bias has been touched upon over here http://www.therevival.co.uk/poll/who-are-most-valuable-muslims
This website is hardly used anymore and the Palestine issue just came up again so obviously there's going to be more about it. Admin's the main person to blog about such stuff and he's done it for everywhere not just Palestine so you obviously haven't looked very well. I personally haven't done it because I just don't understand the issues and I have nothing to say. I say my duas and I do talk about how it's wrong, but I don't see the point of making blogs about them. I have posted links to vids which explain conflicts in other places as that is actually beneficial.
To be honest I probably could be called a coward but iin this case I have no idea why you're calling me it. I have no idea why you think writing on a website for or against Israel/afgh etc shows our cowardice or strength??? IT DOES NOT. What are my words going to do?? I'm more likely to be screwed by the govt for being Anti-Israel than anti- ISIS. My fellow Muslims are not going to look down at me for saying I think what's happening in Syria or Egypt or Kashmir is wrong. I really don't get your point at all.
It'd make more sense if you actually did think we're racists :/
Btw you support Zionism don't you?
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Ive just clicked on the Blogs link at the top and scrolled through a few pages.
For the past month, the posts here have been Israel-centric. which is a given considering what has been happening.
Past two months? no so much, I was focussing on Michael Gove.
Past year? I blogged about free schools, Michael Gove, surveillance, Turkey, Egypt. The site in general was split on religious issues not linked to the world and issues that effect UK muslims.
Before May 2014 the last blog that I can find was in November 2013 and then May 2013. 3 posts in 12 months.
Before then the last posts on Palestine were the last time Israel decided to attack Gaza.
While I do agree that Muslims do not focus on other tragedies around the world as much as Palestine, that has not been the case on this website.
Take away the last month and I have focussed on Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Burma (though I am not sure if I have blogged about it) and Iraq more than Palestine.
But this month, what is happening now takes focus. I have other topics that I will blog about but the here and now is what is happening in Gaza.
Now that an Israeli has been killed I expect things to get much worse.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
To add to the above, I agree that the content on other places is weaker than it should be and there needs to be more.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
If you have not been blogging on this subject or have also been outlining opposition to, say, IS, Boko Haram or Al Qaeda or taking the side of the oppressed in other conflicts this blog post was not about you, clearly you are a humanitarian and not just a jingoist, but for anyone who has been blogging on this subject I have not seen your recent blogs about other conflicts. I went back to the beginning of June.
Nor have I noted a scintilla of complaint about Hamas' rockets, whereas Hummus rightly points out there is no shortage of progressively minded Jews who, whatever they think of Hamas, have made their voices heard in opposition to Israel's military position. My own position is that sooner or later sustained rockets - be they from Gaza, Lebanon or anywhere outside the borders of Israel proper - will have to be met with a military campaign.
I also believe that if Hamas abandon outright opposition to the existence of Israel they will find Israel able to negotiate and give up its military control of Palestinian borders. As it stands nobody wants terrorists in control on or within their borders, and for that reason Egypt is no friend to Hamas and has cracked down with incredible, inhumane force on the Muslim Brotherhood.
The modus operandi of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Al Qaeda, IS, Islamic Jihad and Boko Haram (just who spring to mind; there are many other such groups) is terrorism against the state, and inevitably their rocket fire, however lame, will be met with forces intended to quell them absolutely. I don't see how any army can avoid civilian casualties in that situation, and it does not make them evil. But it is a tragedy. There have to be limits, but if I am pushing for limits - which I am, and I am very harsh with any Jews who adopt a nationalistic attitude - it would be highly reassuring to see that Western Muslims, far from aligning with Hamas, were urging Hamas to stop. Then the violence would stop.
"Btw you support Zionism don't you?"
What are you asking if I support?
I believe that there is nothing wrong with having a Jewish state in the middle east. I would like Israel to make a peace with Palestinians so that Palestinians don't live in misery and Israel is not militaristic. Hamas believe that a Jewish state in the middle east must be opposed by all Muslims. This is their charter. You will no doubt see that it is not a document to reason with, and sets them up for war.
Do you agree with it? What do you support?
Joey, who do you expect to blog on these issues or who exactly are you calling a coward/anti semite/racist (one is anti-semite, well I certainly am not. I'm anti-zionist) considering this website has hardly been used?
I am not going to blog on something I don't understand.
However I do understand killing innocents is wrong. That is all.
Hamas' rocket killed one civilian today apparently, and that's wrong. The three teens that were kidnapped and killed was wrong. The whole world is saying it's wrong, why do we need to explicitly say it here?
Again, I don't really know Hamas' position and what Palestinians want, I get the feeling at least some do support them. But they have the right to retaliate and their rockets do not do nearly as much damage as Israel's bombs do.
I don't think Palestine/Hamas should just give into what Israel want. Why should they? They have a right to fight for what is theirs.
I'm not saying I'm for or against Hamas, I am just talking about Palesting and Israel - one is the oppressor and the other is the oppressed and I support the oppressed.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
I posted a link to their covenant. http://www.palestine-studies.org/files/pdf/jps/1734.pdf
Israel wants them to abandon terrorist attacks - rockets and suicide bombs - and their outright opposition to Israel. Then, if what they want is for Israel to clear off its borders and provide for freedom of trade and movement, Israel can do that. While they are what they are, and I hope you have referred to that link so that you will be able to simply say yes you agree with their position or no you don't, Israel cannot do that. I have met, including locally, British Muslims who will not be at all interested because it messes with their heads too much. I think that is why you have not been taught what Hamas stand for, whereas you are all too eager to enter the debate nonetheless.
I am going out, but will keep an eye on these blogs this week for any replies.
Hamas largely stuck to the 2012 ceasefire, even though Israel did not fulfil all its ends of the bargain.
Israel did not. Israel has in previous ceasefires promised to allow open borders, to allow trade etc. This has always been a lie and not something that it ever had any intention to folow through on.
Netanyahu has been looking for an excuse to hit Gaza, and it found it in events that occurred in the West Bank.
You keep pointing to Hamas' charter but it has previously confirmed that it is willing to agree peace with Israel if the siege on Gaza is lifted. Israel is unwilling to do this.
The alterntive for the Gazans is to be like the West Bank - to turn a blind eye to Israeli aggression. All that has resulted in is more land being stolen, more settlements being built, the Palestinians being deprived of even more resources.
Even that has not brought peace - Netanyahu more or less confirmed on Friday 11 July 2014 that it will never allow the West Bank to become an independent state. This time he couldn't use the bogeyman of Hamas, so he used the bogeyman of ISIS.
Netanyahu is recorded on camera confirming that he deliberately scuppered the prospects of a peace deal in 2000 and we know he is not willing to compromise an inch now.
Onto the conduct of Hamas. Until today, Hamas has not been in control. Israel had plans to assault and pummell Gaza, which it did. Hamas didn't need to do anything and until today there was nothing it could do.
So until today, it was without reproach in its conduct IMO. If I wanted to criticise a Palestinian faction, it would be Fatah of Mahmood Abbas, not Hamas.
Today they had a chance for agreeing to a ceasefire. While saddened at the continuing violence, I respect the Gazans decision to not agree to the same without the conditions of Gaza being improved. They did not start this latest round.
They were the victims of Israeli aggression taking its anger out on them through a carefully orchestrated cynical ploy designed by Netanyahu to punish the Palestinians for seeking a unity government and I understand why they want the circumstances improved so that they are no longer simply a punching bag for Netanyahu.
This is not just politics - most people are of the opinion that if matters escalate, this is an existential nightmare for Hamas and it could be wiped off the map. The Palestinians are not dogs to be given whatever scraps Egypt decides to throw them.
They have the right to dignity and a just peace just as the Israelis. It cannot be allowed to go on that the Israeli guns silence and the Gazans simple wait for the next time Israel decides to take its anger out on them in the near future. That is no way to live.
Though some will argue what is the point of holding up any pretence that they can fight back when they can't. they are outgunned and ineffective. Any response to military might is like spitting in the wind and inevitably leads to more Palestinian deaths.
But what is the alternative? remain trapped and under siege like they were before Israel decided to unilaterally start a bombing campaign?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
A "civilian" supplying the military at the border crossing.
But the Palestinians will be made to pay. The recent going rate has been around 1000 Palestinians murdered for every Israeli.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Yes I know. But I wanted to point out to Joey that I treat every innocent's life as an equal and if they call him a civilian then I'll go with it to make my point.
I've read as Admin pointed out that Hamas want the siege to end, I don't see why they should come to any agreement with Israel if they can't even provide that. Why would they stop opposing Israel if Israel does not even let them live.
What do you think of this Joey? http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/08/israel-soldiers-speak-out-b... Do you support this? Do you support Israel 's UN violations?
Out of interest, how much do you agree with this guy? http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2014/07/05/as-a-jew-living-in-america-...
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
We single Israel out because we in the west are shamefully complicit in its crimes
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Joie, the Hammas charter link doesnt work.
and in reply to the original post, i think its more ignorance than cowardice. the masses jump at whatever issue is thrown at them, and if they feel they can do something to help and it looks pretty simple, they'll do it. then it wont be mentionned in the news and they'll keep on living, except for the informed one, the one who went and looked into it all, and then it sticks, and then we get an activist.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
nice article, gave a very nice summary of the situation and I really liked the links to other articles.
something that's bugging me, I hate how i dont know what the 3 israeli hitchhikers look like, or what their names are. The victims have been forgotten, can you imagine if the media focussed on the victims, mentionning their names and their families, rather than the conflict?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
The three teens have been shown in the media
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
i didnt mean just these 3, i felt i should clarify.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Ah ok, my point was along the lines of Israeli victims are always seen...
But yes victims fast became numbers. Though you do get grusome pics of some victims circulating which I think is wrong.
@Joey since you keep mentioning Hamas - How the West Chose War in Gaza: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/18/opinion/gaza-and-israel-the-road-to-wa...
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
I would rather be branded racist, a coward or intellectually lazy than side with this scum.
When the IDF are branded as babykillers, its not a slur but a reporting of fact.
This is not the first instance of IDF terrorists deliberately killing civillians and admitting to it.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.