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I’m going to need to create a new category in this blog called Stupid People. The problem is that it would hold more than half of my submissions.

What has me so annoyed THIS time?

The Palestinians, of course.

Thanks to Israel, Palestinians are better educated than any other group of Arabs anywhere. They have more engineers, more doctors, more teachers, more everything. When Israel took over the West Bank from the Jordanians, Israel imposed a school system unprecedented in the Arab world.

Israel, of course, was hoping that an ‘enlightened’ populace would do the smart thing and try to find a way to peace. And, it was working.

I’m going to need to create a new category in this blog called Stupid People. The problem is that it would hold more than half of my submissions.

What has me so annoyed THIS time?

The Palestinians, of course.

Thanks to Israel, Palestinians are better educated than any other group of Arabs anywhere. They have more engineers, more doctors, more teachers, more everything. When Israel took over the West Bank from the Jordanians, Israel imposed a school system unprecedented in the Arab world.

Israel, of course, was hoping that an ‘enlightened’ populace would do the smart thing and try to find a way to peace. And, it was working.

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It may shock you to hear this, but I have always been a supporter of the rights of Israeli Arabs.

Now, calm down. I have my reasons.

The first of them is the Jewish people. When you oppress someone, you do damage to yourself – in fact, MORE damage than you do to the oppressed. Second, the Jews have been an example to the rest of the world, and should continue to be a good example. And third, treating Israeli Arabs with respect shows Arab states that they have nothing to fear from Israel.

It may shock you to hear this, but I have always been a supporter of the rights of Israeli Arabs.

Now, calm down. I have my reasons.

The first of them is the Jewish people. When you oppress someone, you do damage to yourself – in fact, MORE damage than you do to the oppressed. Second, the Jews have been an example to the rest of the world, and should continue to be a good example. And third, treating Israeli Arabs with respect shows Arab states that they have nothing to fear from Israel.

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I love the hysteria that often surrounds ‘peace initiatives’. It’s usually characterized by talking heads claiming that this is ‘the last chance for peace’. They jump on ANY positive sign as a source for optimism.

In Sunday’s Jerusalem Post, Barry Rubin, offered up his favorite example from Newsweek: 

‘The Supreme Leader [of Iran, Sayyid Ali Khamenei] was deeply suspicious of the American government,’ says a Khameini aide whose position does not allow him to be named. ‘But [he] was repulsed by these terrorist acts [of September 11] and was truly sad about the loss of the civilian lives in America. For two weeks, worshipers at Friday prayers even stopped chanting ‘Death to America.’

I love the hysteria that often surrounds ‘peace initiatives’. It’s usually characterized by talking heads claiming that this is ‘the last chance for peace’. They jump on ANY positive sign as a source for optimism.

In Sunday’s Jerusalem Post, Barry Rubin, offered up his favorite example from Newsweek: 

‘The Supreme Leader [of Iran, Sayyid Ali Khamenei] was deeply suspicious of the American government,’ says a Khameini aide whose position does not allow him to be named. ‘But [he] was repulsed by these terrorist acts [of September 11] and was truly sad about the loss of the civilian lives in America. For two weeks, worshipers at Friday prayers even stopped chanting ‘Death to America.’

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to strangle a journalist.

Now, put it down. I can’t type this thing one handed.

The ones that I can’t stand are the sanctimonious journalists who know NOTHING about Israel and yet seem to think that they can shake their finger and tell us how bad we are.

However, living in Israel has helped me understand something very important. Without a strong, critical media, we cannot remain free. Unfortunately, that means having to put up with the ‘holier-than-thou’ journalists who relish the opportunity to defame Israel.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to strangle a journalist.

Now, put it down. I can’t type this thing one handed.

The ones that I can’t stand are the sanctimonious journalists who know NOTHING about Israel and yet seem to think that they can shake their finger and tell us how bad we are.

However, living in Israel has helped me understand something very important. Without a strong, critical media, we cannot remain free. Unfortunately, that means having to put up with the ‘holier-than-thou’ journalists who relish the opportunity to defame Israel.

Read Full Post »

Here is an interesting list of countries:

• Iraq
• Russia
• Columbia
• Philippines
• Iran

They represent the five most lethal countries for journalists according to INSI (International News Safety Institute).

Why should you care? Well, it’s like this. Journalists are killed for lots of reasons, by lots of different people, and the biggest threats are criminals, wars, and governments.

We understand war and crime, which means that it is ‘understandable’ when you see Iraq, Columbia and the Philippines on the list. That leaves Russia and Iran.

Here is an interesting list of countries:

• Iraq
• Russia
• Columbia
• Philippines
• Iran

They represent the five most lethal countries for journalists according to INSI (International News Safety Institute).

Why should you care? Well, it’s like this. Journalists are killed for lots of reasons, by lots of different people, and the biggest threats are criminals, wars, and governments.

We understand war and crime, which means that it is ‘understandable’ when you see Iraq, Columbia and the Philippines on the list. That leaves Russia and Iran.

Read Full Post »