HHMI Newsgroup Archives
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, June 19, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, June 19, 2001 / Sivan 28, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. AMIDST SHELLS AND BULLETS, SECURITY CABINETS BEGIN RE-EVALUATION
2. NUYB: OPPOSITION FROM WITHIN
1. AMIDST SHELLS AND BULLETS, SECURITY CABINETS BEGIN RE-EVALUATION
Four Arab mortar shells were fired at Katif this afternoon, and five shells
at N'vei Dekalim - both in Gush Katif, Gaza - last night; no one was
hurt. Palestinian terrorists also fired last night at Ganim (northern
Shomron), an army post near Ganei Tal (Gush Katif), and an army force on
the southern Shechem bypass road. The soldiers returned fire in the latter
two cases. Border Guard policemen arrested an eastern Jerusalem Arab today
while performing a routine check, and found him in possession of a large
knife; he admitted that he had planned to stabl soldiers and policemen.
Prime Minister Sharon is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George Bush in Washington next week, and hopes to do so while still conducting a policy of restraint. His meeting this morning with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Labor Minister Eli Yeshai, and Finance Minister Silvan Shalom (Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer is still abroad] did therefore not lead to any dramatic military decisions - although the mini-cabinet did begin a "re-assessment of the ceasefire." This, in light of what is called the ceasefire's "unilateral nature, given the continued terrorism and incitement and lack of arrest of terrorists by the PA."
The re-evaluation will continue tomorrow in what could be a fateful meeting of the larger security cabinet. Some of its members have already come out in favor of resorting once again to the policy of "selected liquidations" of terrorist leaders. Minister Eli Yeshai, who visited Hevron today, said there that there is a limit to what Israel can take, and that the time had arrived for a "re-evaluation of Israel's ceasefire policy." Minister Shalom is also apparently in favor of announcing an end to the ceasefire.
A report submitted to the government indicates that U.S. officials are not optimistic that the ceasefire will be effective enough to permit the resumption of diplomatic negotiations.
2. NUYB: OPPOSITION FROM WITHIN
The National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction decided last night,
again, not to quit the coalition, but rather to act as an opposition
faction within the government. This means that the seven MKs - four of
Yisrael Beiteinu, two of Moledet, and one of Tekumah - will not vote
automatically for government bills but will rather judge each one on its
own merits. MK Tzvi Hendel, for instance, will introduce a bill next week
that would declare the PLO an illegal terrorist organization, against the
government's stated position. The party is thus protesting the
government's continued restraint in the face of Palestinian Authority
terrorism. The National Religious Party, which was criticized when it
refused to quit the Barak and Netanyahu governments under similar
circumstances, had strong words against what the "hypocrisy" of National
Union-Yisrael Beiteinu in refusing to leave the government now.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, June 20, 2001 / Sivan 29, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SHARON, BEFORE THE MURDER: RESTRAINT WILL CONTINUE
2. U.S. SEES BOTH SIDES
3. SAVING JEWISH BABIES
1. SHARON, BEFORE THE MURDER: RESTRAINT WILL CONTINUE
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened a long meeting of his security
cabinet this morning, at the end of which it was decided that "Israel
will continue its efforts to implement the Tenet document." The
decision was made despite the government's determination that,
according to an official announcement, "the Palestinian Authority has
still not fulfilled its obligations specified in the Tenet document:
halting terrorism, arresting terrorists, stopping incitement and
preventing attacks. The PA bears full responsibility for terrorist
activities in its territory, as well as for the actions of terrorists
who originate in - and return to - its territories."
The ministers heard briefings from senior military figures at today's meeting, which extended almost two hours beyond the three originally set aside for it. At least five of the 13 ministers - Benizri, Landau, Shalom, Yeshai, and Ze'evi - expressed their position in favor of ending the restraint Israel has decreed upon herself.
2. U.S. SEES BOTH SIDES
Despite the one-sided nature of the violence in Israel, U.S. State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher is going out of his way to equate
Israel with the Palestinians. In response to a general question about
the status of the Tenet ceasefire during yesterday's briefing, he did
not mention the Palestinian violations, yet emphasized no less than
five times the expectations he has from "both sides." Excerpts from
his response:
"Over the past few days, as we know, we have seen an upsurge in violence and in shootings. We certainly regret the loss of life on both sides over the past few days, and we call on both sides to redouble their efforts to bring down the violence. We are encouraged by the efforts made by both sides... But continued success requires good faith and sustained efforts from both sides to fully implement the work plan. We think both sides need to focus on sustaining their efforts to fully implement the work plan..."
3. SAVING JEWISH BABIES
Efrat - The International Organization for Saving Jewish Babies - has
just completed what it says is the largest and most comprehensive
campaign ever conducted in Israel about abortions. It has distributed
an unprecedented 350,000 video films explaining the many reasons not
to carry out an abortion. The films were distributed in high schools,
near army bases, at shopping centers, and at bus stations. Top
Israeli gynecologists, including Prof. Yosef Shenkar of Hadassah Ein
Karem Hospital and Prof. Ben-Tzion Rafael of Beilinson Hospital,
appear in the film. Efrat (www.efrat.org.il/) notes that some two
million legal and illegal abortions have been carried out in Israel
since 1948. "Since the establishment of the State of Israel," says
Efrat Chairman Dr. Eli Schussheim, "there has never been as great a
plague denying life to so many children as this plague of abortions.
We hope that many babies will be saved as a result of our efforts in
producing this film."
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Thursday, June 21, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. YESHA RESIDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS
2. EFFIE EITAM: BREAK UP THE P.A. NOW
3. AVNERY SPURS PALESTINIANS ON
4. P.A. CONTINUES INCITEMENT, ESPECIALLY AGAINST YESHA
1. YESHA RESIDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS
Yesha residents are beginning to act as if they have had enough of the
non-stop shooting attacks against them. Some of them blocked the
Kalkilyeh-Shechem road to Arab traffic this morning near Karnei
Shomron, and others set up several similar roadblocks all along the
Jerusalem-Hevron highway... Jews of Gush Etzion (south of Jerusalem)
protested in Mevaseret Zion (just west of the capital) last night,
outside the home of Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer...
Outside the Prime Minister's Office, people from Ateret and N'vei Tzuf continue to run their "tent city" encampment. Protestors say the police used force in removing some 20 children from the site; the police deny this. The World Mizrachi Delegation to the World Zionist Congress came to the site this afternoon to show their solidarity with the residents of Judea and Samaria.
Women in Green leader Nadia Matar told Arutz-7 today:
"I sense [among the residents of Judea and Samaria] much anger, much
more willingness to go out and do something. For instance, just last night
Gush Etzion Council head Sha'ul Goldstein had an idea last night to
organize a rally in Jerusalem, and within an hour and a half he had
three busloads! This is unheard of!... We refuse to continue to be
sitting ducks just to cleanse Ariel Sharon's name on the BBC... I
also have complaints against the Yesha Council. They must organize
people to DO things, such as establishing new outposts in reaction to
all attacks, even those that do not end with casualties. Doing
something constructive like this would, for one thing, deter people
from thinking about taking violent vengeance against Arabs - something
which I am against, both morally and practically... What will scare
the Arabs is if they know that every time Arafat gives the green light
for an attack against Jews, he is also giving the OK for another new
Jewish neighborhood in Yesha."
2. EFFIE EITAM: BREAK UP THE P.A. NOW
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Effie Eitam, who retired from the army about five
months ago and has since given many speeches around the country, spoke
with Arutz-7 today about the current warfare and what, in his opinion,
should be done.
"We must realize that it's not just a question of isolated shootings and the like, but a real war between us and a gang of terrorists that we ourselves armed. It is clear to me that every passing day in which we do not dismantle the PA, just makes it harder to do so in the future; this action is simply unavoidable as something that a state must do for its citizens. If Ariel Sharon thought that he required a few extra days or weeks so that the continued attacks against us would unite the nation and solidify world opinion on our side, he received his answer in the form of England's Prime Minister Tony Blair refusal to interrupt his weekend by meeting him at the airport [next week].
"[In any event,] this time period has passed, and it is now time to set out on what is, in the most elementary sense, a justified military mission of self-defense. Its first aspect is, first of all, to make sure that absolutely no private Arab transportation is allowed on the roads. In addition, the top brass of the military and diplomatic leadership of the PA must be made to disappear, either physically or functionally. All the weapons must be taken from within the Palestinian Authority, even at the cost of warfare against the pockets of resistance that will exist. The PA's territorial contiguity must then be broken up, and we will have to hold separate negotiations with each separate area as to how it will run its own municipal affairs. It must be clear that there will no longer be one foreign sovereign entity west of the Jordan.
"I retired from the army when my calling Arafat a liar and a murderer aroused such a ruckus [in the public and within the army] that I realized that I could no longer remain in such an army... There has been a deterioration of our military deterrent power, beginning with our retreat from Lebanon last year. It continued with allowing shooting on our capital, evacuating Joseph's Tomb, and a lack of ability to deal with the continued violence of the past few months. As long as the wreckage of Oslo continues to exist, we'll never be able to set forth on a new way, and this would be a tragedy for both sides."
3. AVNERY SPURS PALESTINIANS ON
Left-wing writer Uri Avnery calls for the Palestinians to continue
their war against Israel. In an article in the official Palestinian
Authority newspaper Al Hayat al-Jadida, Avnery wrote, "The
Palestinians have attained a great victory in the battle over the
settlements. The conclusion is that you should not stop the intifada,
but if you must [stop], then do so only for tactical reasons."
4. P.A. CONTINUES INCITEMENT, ESPECIALLY AGAINST YESHA
The Palestinian Authority media continue to incite hatred against
Yesha residents. They accused "settlers" of killing an Arab who in
fact had been killed in a car accident two weeks ago, and most
recently claimed that Jews had kidnapped an Arab boy - when in fact
the Yesha residents were performing a kindness by taking the sick boy
to a nearby infirmary. One senior PA figure, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, said
today, "They [Jews of Yesha] are not innocent civilians, therefore we
will not arrest whoever harms them."
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, June 22, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, June 22, 2001 / Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. U.S. PRESSURING ISRAEL, DESPITE PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE
2. EU SUPPORTS ISRAELI LEFT
1. U.S. PRESSURING ISRAEL, DESPITE PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will depart for the United States on
Sunday, where he will meet with American President George Bush.
Despite the continued Palestinian violence, Bush is expected to
pressure Sharon to continue his policy of restraint. In addition,
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will visit the Middle East
next week, is expected to press for the implementation of the Mitchell
Report - including negotiations with the PA and a settlement freeze -
even before a ceasefire is achieved. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres
told a representative of the European Union with whom he met today
that the Palestinian Authority has not yet taken steps to arrest
bomb-carrying terrorists, as required by last week's Tenet ceasefire
agreement.
Arabs in Hevron hurled ten Molotov cocktails at an Israeli army force today; no one was hurt... A roadside bomb was activated during the night against an IDF patrol on the Netzarim-Karni highway in Gaza. No one was hurt... Yesterday saw a long battle between Palestinian grenade-throwers and IDF soldiers; grenades were also hurled last night at Israeli soldiers near Rafiach and N'vei Dekalim.
2. EU SUPPORTS ISRAELI LEFT
The European Union has given financial support to several left-wing
organizations in Israel. Maariv's Yoav Yitzchak revealed today that
the EU's Support Committee approved 400,000 Euros (today equal to
about $342,000) to a committee headed by MK Roman Bronfman for
"preventing left-leaning new Russian immigrants from swinging to the
right." Another 250,000 Euros were designated for the Four Mothers
movement, which was pushing at the time for a withdrawal from Lebanon;
after the Israeli retreat, the movement disbanded before the money
could reach it. Hundreds of thousands of Euros are scheduled to soon
reach Peace Now, the Committee Against Razing [Illegal] Homes, and the
far-left group Ir Shalem.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, June 24, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, June 24, 2001 / Tammuz 3, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. A WEEK OF AMERICAN PRESSURE BEGINS
2. SHARON CALLS FOR UNITY - AND MONETARY HELP
1. A WEEK OF AMERICAN PRESSURE BEGINS
Prime Minister Sharon has some strong words against Yasser Arafat
today in interviews to be published in tomorrow's Newsweek. Some
excerpts include: "It won't take long for Israel to start taking
measures... The U.S. should include Fatah on its list of terrorist
organizations... Arafat is an obstacle to peace. The situation has
worsened, and Israel will not accept it." Asked if he thinks he'll be
able to sign an agreement with Arafat, Prime Minister Sharon said he
does not think that Israel can reach an agreement with a terrorist
organization.
Behind the tough talk, however, lurk strong American pressures on Sharon - during his visit this week to the U.S. and Secretary of State Powell's upcoming trip to the Middle East - to continue his restraint and begin counting the "cooling-off period" towards implementation of the Mitchell Report. American mediator William Burns alluded to this when he said he told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that the U.S. is committed to making progress in the implementation of the Mitchell Report and to renewing negotiations as soon as possible. Speaking with reporters in Cairo today, Burns said that additional measures must be taken to ease the lives of Palestinians.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon departed this afternoon for the United States. He will stop in London on the way for a quick visit with his British counterpart Tony Blair. Sharon and his entourage will remain in the U.S. until the end of the week, and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will fill his place.
2. SHARON CALLS FOR UNITY - AND MONETARY HELP
The Ministerial Committee for Coordination with the Jewish Agency for
Israel, headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Agency Chairman
Sallai Meridor, convened this morning and heard Sharon's unity call to
world Jewry: "We have a shared fate," he said, "and I see unity,
cooperation and solidarity as vital for our future." He also made a
plea for financial help, in light of the large defense expenditures
now facing Israel, as well as for visits to Israel by world Jewry.
The assembled Jewish community leaders said they would begin a global
Jewish solidarity campaign with Israel that will include visits to
Israel, the dissemination of information, and fundraising, "so as to
enable every Jewish home around the world to actively express
solidarity and share the burden with Israelis."
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, June 25, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, June 25, 2001 / Tammuz 4, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. AMERICAN PRESSURE BUILDING AS SHARON ARRIVES IN NEW YORK
2. DEFENSE MINISTER WANTS TO REMOVE OUTPOSTS
3. THE WAR AND THE ECONOMY
4. ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS: NO MORAL CONTEST
1. AMERICAN PRESSURE BUILDING AS SHARON ARRIVES IN NEW YORK
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived today in New York, where he will
meet with American Jewish leaders. Tomorrow, however, comes the tough
part of his trip when he meets in Washington with U.S. President Bush,
Secretary of State Powell, and National Security Advisor Rice.
Israeli reporters in Washington report that the Americans will
pressure for a quickened timetable for the implementation of the
Mitchell Report recommendations. In response, Sharon told reporters
on his plane that he will not agree to a shorter ceasefire period, and
will insist that there be a ceasefire of 100% before continuing to the
next stage of any diplomatic agreements.
2. DEFENSE MINISTER WANTS TO REMOVE OUTPOSTS
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer had bad news for many Yesha
residents today. He said that he has issued orders to dismantle 15
outposts that have been established over the past few weeks. Most of
the outposts were built in response to terrorist attacks at or near
the sites, representing a deterrent presence. Ben-Eliezer said in the
Knesset today, "These points represent a security danger. I will not
remove them by force, but rather with dialogue; but if that doesn't
work, then it will be by force, because I can't look at these families
in the eye when I know that they are alone there with just one
caravan."
Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef responded to the announcement with astonishment:
"Most of the 15 outposts are manned by IDF soldiers. I can't understand how he expects to protect Jews in Yesha by removing these outposts. Why doesn't he just announce outright that he is simply abandoning the security of the civilians of the State of Israel? I live in Ofrah; I simply cannot comprehend how it will increase my security if tonight, when I return home, the Tal Binyamin outpost [named for Binyamin and Talya Kahane, who were murdered there six months ago] will no longer be there, south of Ofrah... I call upon Prime Minister Sharon to return home right away - there is nothing new that President Bush can tell him, since everyone knows who the bad guys in the Middle East are - and give the order to defeat the Palestinian Authority. The entire nation is waiting for this, and even the Palestinians are waiting for it..."
Other responses:
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres: "I am happy that the Defense Minister
has made this decision, because the government made a decision, and we
must adhere to the law. Believe me, if we don't keep our commitment
regarding settlements, we will have no chance of enlisting
international support, and on this we will fall."
MK Benny Elon: "It's easy to prove you are a lawful state on the back of those poor people who get shot at all the time and build outposts in order to protect themselves. If we're really a lawful state, then let's see the government stop the constant terrorism."
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party)'s response: "It is strange that precisely when terrorists are murdering Jews in Yesha, the Defense Minister finds the time to allocate soldiers and resources to fight the Yesha residents."
In a related item, Foreign Minister Peres said that a settlement freeze already essentially exists, even though it is required only in the third "stage" of the Mitchell-Tenet process, following a ceasefire and a cooling-off period.
3. THE WAR AND THE ECONOMY
How is Israel's economy faring during this mini-war? A recent report
by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) finds that it's doing
quite well, thanks. Among some of the data: There are around 4,000
high-tech companies in Israel, the highest concentration outside
California. The Israeli shekel was one of the strongest currencies in
the world last year, appreciating 2.87% compared to the dollar, and
almost 11% compared to the Euro. Exports rose in 2000 by 24.4%, while
foreign currency reserves reached an all-time high of $22.93 billion.
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) was the 6th-best performing market,
according to Merrill Lynch's year-end report, and Israel's zero
inflation rate was the lowest level since 1951. Ratings companies
such as Salomon Smith Barney and Moody's have, as recently as last
month, reaffirmed Israel's credit rating. Exports for the fourth
quarter of 2000 were $7.7 billion, up by 16.3% compared to the same
period the year before.
What has been affected, asks the MOIT report? Only agriculture and construction, industries that rely on Arab employment, have experienced a slowdown; Palestinians comprise only 1% of the Israeli industrial workforce. The Bank of Israel estimates that the disturbances have resulted in a once-off cost to the economy of approximately 1% of GDP, still leaving a healthy 5.9% GDP figure for 2000 - a per capita growth rate of 3.4%. The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce estimates the total cost to Israel at $2 billion: $1 billion in tourism, $750 million in construction, and $250 million in exports to the Palestinian Authority. During the first nine months of 2000, tourism arrivals increased by 25%, but during the remaining three months, it dropped 54% compared to the same period in 1999.
The International Monetary Fund Report of May 2001 concludes, "The exchange rate, inflation, and market-based inflation expectations have exhibited remarkable stability. This is no doubt a reflection of the authorities' success in establishing credibility, on both the fiscal and monetary policy fronts, for which they should be highly commended. [There is] optimism that the Israeli economy will emerge from the current downturn with financial stability intact, and poised for a resumption of rapid, sustainable output growth. The Israeli economy is mature, stable and strong. Barring an unlikely serious deterioration of the situation, the effects on the economy will be relatively mild and should not affect fundamentals."
4. ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS: NO MORAL CONTEST
"There will be no peace in the Middle East unless freedom rather than
despotism becomes the Palestinians' guiding philosophy." So writes
Edwin Locke, Ph.D., Professor of Leadership and Motivation at the
University of Maryland, and a member of the board of advisors of the
Ayn Rand Institute, in an article last week. Excerpts:
"The actions of the two sides [Israel and the Palestinians] are morally opposite. Spontaneous civilian assaults aside, the Palestinians are the initiators of the violence - an indiscriminate violence in which they do not care whom they kill, whether soldier or child. Israel, in contrast, is acting in self-defense, in retaliation for such terrorism. And its response is aimed at those responsible for the violence and at the facilities from which they operate...
"The Palestinians are not seeking to gain their freedom - they are unequivocal enemies of freedom. They, along with the rest of the Arab world, reject the whole concept of rights. Virtually every Arab country is a monarchy, theocracy or military dictatorship. Freedom of speech, property rights, free elections, and the separation of church and state are almost non-existent. Speaking out against the rulers or against the Moslem religion leads to imprisonment or death. All attempts to start competing political parties are ruthlessly crushed.
"Israel is the sole country in that entire region that recognizes individual rights. It is the only Mideast country in which people are free to voice their opinions. The non-violent, non-PLO-supporting Arab who lives in Israel enjoys far greater freedom than he would in an Arab nation. It is an utter perversion for the collectivized, tribalist Palestinians to claim that they are acting in defense of rights, when their aim is to obliterate rights - the rights of Israelis as well as of Arabs.
"The fundamental goal of the Palestinians is destruction. They WANT their terrorist attacks to lead to retaliation, so that more of their people will become terrorists, so that more killing takes place, and so on, in an endless cycle of violence, resulting in death to as many people as possible. For example, the response of a father to the suicide-bombing act of his 23-year-old son, which killed three Israelis and injured 93 in downtown Netanyah last March, was: "I call upon all Palestinian youth to follow in his footsteps."
"...The Palestinians... are guilty of what Ayn Rand called hatred of the good for being the good." They hate the Israelis not because of their vices, but because of their virtues - their ability to better their lives by embracing reason, science, technology and individual rights... The only way this conflict can be resolved, short of all-out war, is for a radical change in philosophy on the part of the Palestinians. They need to choose individual rights and a free society as their core political principle. If they don't, they will tragically get their death wish, and will bring about only further destruction. Until and unless that change occurs, our Mideast analysts should not ignore the morally antithetical premises governing the two sides of this conflict."
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