Did he happen to show youtube videos of the Hamas fighters shooting at Israeli’s and then jumping fences to hide in innocent people’s homes? “Kurz said the conflict between the IDF and Hamas is irrelevant to the work of the grassroots groups helping civilians on both sides.” “Helping civilians” while letting Hamas shoot rockets from apartment buildings and using “civilians” as human shields?

Did he show outdoor walls plastered with posters of suicide murderers who are praised, and even paid, for their action?

Did his group talk to independent Human Rights groups in Hamas controlled areas that prove all my above points?

“Kurz said people living in Jerusalem have no idea what happens in the Palestinian occupied territories that are only a few miles away from where they live.” I suspect that when Kurz finishes his U.S. tour, he will go home immediately to inform the “people living in Jerusalem,” who have no idea what happens only a few miles away from where they live, about those who want to kill every fellow citizen, including his own family.

NOW, just for the fun of it, I’m going to google Grassroots Jerusalem and Breaking the Silence to see if they are directly, or indirectly, connected to the International Solidarity Movement! I will also add Micah Kurz to the search but I will add many different suspicions that I have. Then again, all of you can do the same and when you find something interesting not so United, not for Peace,and not for Justice, that you Break your Silence!

Using Ms. Eye’s “logic”, I guess it’s okay to assume that all Israeli citizens are hard-line LIKUD psychos, then? Fair enough.

Shills for the Israeli government would have us believe that all Israelis support the vile acts of their current regime – which is simply not the case.

Israeli government supporters are more than happy to de-humanize and misrepresent an entire people in order to justify the on-going IDF policy of collective punishment against the Palestinians, which is a grave violation of international law.

According to Israeli government policy apologists like Mae Eye and Steve Chavez, ALL PALESTINIANS ARE TERRORISTS, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. How quaint. And hateful. And just plain wrong.

Yet this is the sort of uncompromising, compassion-less (not to mention counter-productive) mentality we are up against with the “Israel is always right – no matter what” crowd. What government on earth is ALWAYS RIGHT? Talk about delusional!

People capable of critical thinking are not fooled by this kind of deception. Sorry. We appreciate hearing both sides of the argument.

Who doesn’t believe in HUMAN RIGHTS? I want them to live in peace. But when HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND PEACE GROUPS, WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTRAL JUST BY THE MERE DEFINITION OF THEIR TITLE AND ARE LIKE REFEREE’S IN A BASKETBALL GAME, CALL ONLY FOULS ON ONE SIDE, WHO ARE SIDING AND RAISING FUNDS FOR ONE SIDE, THEN I HAVE A PROBLEM.

There will be wars but we need NEUTRAL REFEREE’S to call ALL fouls. We dont’ need referee’s who wear the white shirt, or religious people who bought their collar at Wal-Mart after they paid $39.95 to be a Reverend off an internet site, who SIDE WITH ANY WARRING FACTION ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN HUMAN RIGHTS SINCE KILLING A HUMAN IS THE ULTIMATE ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS!

Speaking of the UNIFORMS OF REFEREES. As far as I know, all IDF members wear them. Do Hamas and Hezbollah fighters have uniforms so Israeli’s can tell the difference between fighters and civilians? “International Law” you ask? When all is said and done, the use of Human Shields and Suicide Bombers will be what is remembered by history since ALL ARMIES, WHO WEAR UNIFORMS, WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO DEFEND THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND PEOPLE. You must also know that hundreds of thousands of ARABS, INCLUDING PALESTINIANS LIVE IN ISRAEL. ANY TOUR FOR THEM TO SHOW HOW PEACEFUL THEY LIVE AND HOW THEY BLAME HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH FOR THE CONTINUED MISERY OF THEIR PEOPLE???

Mr. Kurz is an Israeli informing all of us, and his own people, of the wrongs he has seen. He is free to do so. Can Palestinians tell us, and more importantly, their own people the wrongs of their own people including Hamas and Hezbollah fighters AND THEIR TACTICS? Any tour for them funded by PEACE AND JUSTICE GROUPS? YOU TALK ABOUT “WOMEN AND CHILDREN” KILLED? IF ANY PALESTINIAN, INCLUDING MEN, SPOKE UP AGAINST HAMAS OR HEZBOLLAH, THEY WOULD BE SHOT ON THE SPOT AND YOUR SIDE WOULD TAKE THE PICTURE OF THE MASSACRE AND BLAME IT ON ISRAEL. IT HAPPENS COMRADE!

Liberty, not tyranny
Individualism, not statism

Many other people LEGITIMIZE suicide bombers too which is “SHOCKING FOR THIS CENTURY!” “They have to resort to those tactics because…!”

Ann, we all know that men have been the main combatants for centuries but now women are now in the IDF and other armies around the world. Do you agree that they should be used to fight in a man’s war? That’s common isn’t it so it shouldn’t be ridiculed.

But do you think women should have their vaginas mutilated due to a religion so they don’t feel pleasure or orgasm WHILE THEIR HUSBANDS HAVE PLEASURE AND EVEN RAPE THEM? Do Israeli’s do that?

Do you think they should be hung or stoned in public for being raped while the rapists are set free? Do Israeli’s do that?

Do you think women should be killed in Honor Killings even by their own family?

Do you think women should get 30 lashes for being seen with a man other than their husband?

Do you think women should be allowed an education?

Ridiculous. The article leaves out the unchanged racist, anti Semitic Hamas charter (Hamas voted into power by over 70% of civilian Arabs in Gaza in 2006) which calls for mass genocide of the Jewish people in Israel and complete destruction of all of Israel. It’s a public charter and is available to read.

Question for this lone soldier: Before 1967, before the Jewish people returned its sovereignty to Judea (or Judah from whence Jews are called Jews, as that is the location of the aboriginal Jewish homeland), why were there 1000’s of Arab terror attacks on Jews? before 1948, before the re-establishment of Israel, why were there 1000’s of Arab terror attacks on Jews? There was no “west bank” controversy. The west bank was ruled by the Arabs- so why did they commit 1000’s of terror attacks? why the wars to destroy the Jewish people and bring about a second Holocaust (Arab leadership in Palestine actually aided Hitler, galvanizing nazi support among Arabs and Moslems and forming Moslem SS brigades in southern Europe. Haj Husseini was a personal friend of Hitler , and, at Hitler’s invitation, stayed near the Nazi governemtn in Berlin during the war)? Again, there was no issue with the “west bank (Judea)”

I’ll tell you why.

Because no non-Muslim sovereignty in Israel or anywhere else deemed “Moslem” land, is allowed, according to Islam.

Not in Judea (aka “west bank”), …and not in Tel Aviv, the sea of galilee, or jerusalem either.

In the Jewish scripture it foresees a time when all peoples will worship the Creator and the bounty of Life in Jerusalem. In the Koran, Islam’s scripture, there is none of that. In fact, there is not one single mention of Jerusalem. Not Al quds or any of the 4 names of Jeruslem. Shows you how political this has become. Fortunately, in this case, you can’t rewrite the Koran.

Those who think this is an issue of a piece of land are naive. The issue is Islamic sovereignty in the area. The issue is non tolerance for Jewish sovereignty. “Peace peace peace” by day to UNM students and the U.N. and the US government, and “Jihad, death, and push the Jews into the sea” at night in many middle eastern mosques and behind closed doors.

In Hamas’ charter, its actually open to the public. Maybe this ex-soldier should check it out.

How typical.

Boy, some folks never tire of dragging that old corpse out.

What does questioning the policies of the GOVERNMENT of Israeli have to do with anti-semitism? If I disagree with my own government’s policies (which I do, a lot) does that mean I’m UN-AMERICAN? I guess that includes all the TEA PARTY morons, too, then, and most Republicans! How does that jibe with your logic?

Am I supposed to believe that the current Israeli GOVERNMENT represents every single Jew on the planet, and if I criticize THE GOVERNMENT of Israel that means I’m anti-semitic? How stupid is that? Is this what you mean by ‘individualism, not statism?’ That seems pretty STATIST to me.

This is the kind of bizarre thinking that ignorant, hateful people spew when they have no actual arguments to back up their claims. You don’t know me, and you know nothing about me, so lay off the insults, Bub.

And try to let go of the hate.

Fact or Fiction? It’s worth researching.

More to the point, however, do Steve Chavez and Israel Alliance representatives who live here in NM presume to know more about the situation on the ground better than an Israeli who grew up in Jerusalem, served in the IDF, and currently lives and works there every day?

Let the Israel Alliance folks show photos of Hamas horrors and CPEJMEUNM will show photos of Israeli military horrors. This was just the start of more events to come. We invite the Israel Alliance to join in a panel discussion presenting all sides of the issue. Let us have a dialogue around the ros and cons of: “Should the US end military aid to Israel?”.

FYI—The Coalition for Peace and Justice in the Middle East UNM (CPJMEUNM ) is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian group whose goal is to educate UNM students, staff, and faculty about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, to raise awareness about how our tax dollars are being spent, and to advocate against continued military aid to the region.

“The Mission of the Coalition for Peace and Justice in the Middle East UNM is to educate, advocate and collaborate for peace, justice, and the human rights of all people.”

Guida Leicester
CPJMEUNM CO-CHAIR

How about a symposium on whether the US taxpayer should be aiding Arab countries?

Much to your dismay, I’m sure, the US taxpayer gives many times more aid to Arab Muslim countries than to the single Jewish country, a staunch ally, and the only democracy in the middle east.

Last year, the USA gave 11 billion to Iraq, 2 billion to Egypt, and 1.5 billion to Jordan (formerly called Palestine by the way). That is about 14 billion dollars, and I am not even including many other Arab countries who also receive aid from US taxpayers. Whereas, 2.4 billion in loans (loans are paid back, unless your Egypt in which the debt is cancelled) went to Israel. 14 versus 2.

Why should US taxpayers support this overhwelming aid to Arab countries that are racist, anti-Semitic, and sexist?

As another poster above aptly pointed out…
Do you think women should have their vaginas mutilated due to a religion so they don’t feel pleasure or orgasm WHILE THEIR HUSBANDS HAVE PLEASURE AND EVEN RAPE THEM? Do Israeli’s do that?

Do you think they should be hung or stoned in public for being raped while the rapists are set free? Do Israeli’s do that?

Do you think women should be killed in Honor Killings even by their own family?

Do you think women should get 30 lashes for being seen with a man other than their husband?

Do you think women should be allowed an education?
“The abuses are endless! Shocking for this century.” DO YOU CARE MORE ABOUT OLIVE TREES OR MORE FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS???

Where is that symposium on whether US taxpayers should support these barbaric, dark age Arab countries we give our taxpayer money to?

Just as there are three opinions for two Jews (a wide variety of cultures make up the Jewish people, including Arab Jews), so it applies to Muslims, Arabs and the rainbow of cultures that inhabit this planet. Implying that a people are all the same is extremely racist, in my opinion.

And just because I oppose military aid to Israel does not imply that I condone abuse of Arab women nor approve of providing aid to Arab countries. Please do not make such assumptions.

You ask a good question, Jake. Why don’t we bring all that aid home and provide humanitarian health care to the uninsured in our own country instead of providing ‘death machines’ to other countries? But I digress…

As far as domestic abuse and rape, which happens in all societies, including Israel’s and our own, no, I do not condone it anywhere. I’ve heard that domestic abuse has gone up in Israel since last December’s bombardment of Gaza. War takes a lasting toll on both Israelis and Palestinians.

Statistics aside, there is no justification for oppression of any peoples. Why do folks here justify violence against the ‘other’? Instead of demonizing Arabs to justify cruel acts, why not try to get to know them, talk with them, engage with them? Who knows, you might actually find out what kind giving folks ‘they’ are. Geez, you might find you actually like ‘them.’

Enough of the hate already! Bottom line, as far as I am concerned, it’s a human rights issue—on BOTH sides.

A quote to leave you with: “They is US”—Pogo (Walt Kelly)

‘Mitakuye Oasin—we are all related’ (Lakota),

Guida

This is a common recruiting tool that fools the gullible and the naive. I’ve seen it since the 80’s here at UNM and if you trace the slogan “PEACE AND JUSTICE” you’ll eventually find that it is right out of the COMMUNIST PARTY USA! LOOK IT UP YOURSELF. GO TO UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE OR UNITEDFORPEACE.ORG.. You will not find anywhere on their site that they are run by the COMMUNIST PARTY USA. But if you google “CPUSA AND UFPJ” you will find that UNITED is run by COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERS Leslie Cagan and Judith LeBlanc BOTH HATERS OF ISRAEL. If you want futher proof, GO TO THEIR NEWSPAPER, PWW.ORG, or you can find it at the Frontier as someone leaves free copies or you can buy one from the homeless man selling it in front of Satellite coffee. YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY REFERENCE TO “COMMUNIST PARTY USA.”

Google Judith LeBlanc Hezbollah Hamas Lebanon AND YOU WILL FIND THAT SHE BLAMES ALL ACTIONS ON ISRAEL. WHAT KIND OF A CROOKED REFEREE IS THAT??? SHE ALSO LEGITIMIZES THEIR ACTIONS! LOOK IT UP SINCE IT IS HER OWN WORDS NOT MINE. I AM JUST EXPOSING LIARS AND DECIEVERS WHICH IF YOU’RE REALLY FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, YOU WOULD QUESTION YOUR LEADER ABOUT THE HYPOCRISY OF AIDING WAR AND SEEKING PEACE!

UNM has been used by many FRONT groups who in their very name sounds good. Many of you students join that group since you are also for peace. But look closely at their leaders and in this case, look to see if they side with Hamas and Hezbollah. If they are, DON’T JOIN SINCE YOU WERE JOINING A “PEACE” GROUP. If though you want to join a group that supports HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH OR ISRAEL, GO AHEAD. You are just joining one of the teams whose goal it is to win the game. BUT IF YOU JOIN THE REFEREES, YOU MUST CALL FOULS ON ALL SIDES. IF YOU JOIN THE REFEREES AND YOU SEE OTHERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY SIDING WITH AND FUNDING ONE OF THE TEAMS, THEN YOU NEED TO DROP YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT! THEN YOU NEED TO INFORM OTHERS NOT TO JOIN SUCH A GROUP!

IN FINAL CONCLUSION, STOP JOINING THESE “DO GOOD” GROUPS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SO GOOD IN THE END. THEY ONLY PROLONG WARS! THEY ARE LIKE CHEERLEADERS THAT WANT THE TEAM TO FIGHT AND WIN! BUT DO THEY SPILL THEIR OWN BLOOD FOR THE CAUSE THEY CHEER ABOUT? NO! THEY CHEER ON OTHERS SO THEY CAN SPILL THEIR BLOOD AND TO CAUSE DEATH AND MISERY OF FAMILY! IF THEY WERE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE CAUSE, WHY DON’T THEY SPILL THEIR BLOOD AND PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE ON THE BATTLEFIELD! THEY WON’T DO THAT! CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THEY DID GO TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF HAMAS AND CHEERED THEM ON TO “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT” AND ONE OF THE HAMAS FIGHTERS SAID, “HERE’S A GUN, YOU FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.” They’ll say, “NO, I’M HERE TO ON A FACT-FINDING MISSION.”

THIS IS COMMON FOR FAKE PEACE AND JUSTICE GROUPS! THEY CHEER ON OTHERS TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE LEADERS OF THESE FRONT GROUPS!!! NEED FURTHER EVIDENCE? GO TO THE LOCAL PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, CONVIENENTLY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM UNM AND SEE HOW MANY WARS AND WARRING FACTIONS THEY SUPPORT!!! PEACE AND JUSTICE?

GET ON WITH YOUR DEGREE AND MAKE YOURSELF, AND YOUR FAMILY PROUD. DO NOT BE RECRUITED BY THESE HATERS OF REAL PEACE AND JUSTICE!!!

For Steve:
Your ranting doesn’t warrant a reasoned response. Chill, dude.

You obvioulsy have a biased Israel-bashing agenda.

From the time you take to dig up conspiracy theories on Israel, to never failing to throw Israel under the bus, to minimizing the depraved laws in most Arab countries against women, minorities,and non Muslims, its clear you have an agenda of bias.

You say you want justice in this world. But when you, Guida, mask over the thousands of Arab “honor” beheadings and murders, clitoris removal and public lashings of daughters, wives, and sisters, that take place in virually every single Arab country… how can you be taken that seriously?

When you ignore the plight of 1,000,000 Jews from Arab lands who were ethnically cleansed from their countries of birth by racist Arab governments, how do we see you as egalitarian on this issue?

When you ignore the public charters of Palestinian governments that call for a second holocaust of Jews and the destruction of Israel, I can only think it is you who have a biased dislike for Israel and the Jewish people whose 4,000 year old ancestral homeland it is.

When Islam allows for non Islamic sovereignty, when it allows for Jewish sovereignty, then the world will move into a more tolerant time. This is what it boils down to, and is why there were 10’s of 1000’s of Arab terror attacks on Jews predating the re-establishment of Israel,… pre-dating any “west bank (Judea)” controversy.

Its not about the west bank (Judea) Guida, …its about Tel Aviv, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, and Jerusalem too. Its all of Israel, and thats why there was Arab hate well before Israel regained the west bank. Before there was any so called “occupied territory”. Why was there Arab anti-semitism in 1966, 1936, 1906, if the controversy is just about the “west bank”? Because its not just about the west bank. Its about any non Islamic sovereignty in the Muslim world.

The monumentally scaled injustices in Arab countries and among palestinians against Arab and non Arab people, seem to fit the universal desire for justice. Yet you whitewash and minimize these things. Why is that? So please spare us the hyperbole and Kumbaya talk that you obvioulsy are not sincere about.

…

On a final note, any 2 state solution lies with Jordan, a country that comprises 78% of the land of the original Palestine mandate. A country whose population is already 80% Palestinian. A country whose leadership are non native British implants from Mecca post world war I. The land is “Palestine”, the people are a majority Palestinian. Let it revert back to being called “Palestine”. That would fit the best 2 state solution that exists.

Some excerpts from the above articles:
Israel’s foreign ministry is reported to be establishing a special undercover team of paid workers whose job it will be to surf the internet 24 hours a day spreading positive news about Israel. … The team will fall under the authority of a large department already dealing with what Israelis term “hasbara”. “Our people will not say: ‘Hello, I am from the hasbara department of the Israeli foreign ministry and I want to tell you the following.’ Nor will they necessarily identify themselves as Israelis,” he said. “They will speak as net-surfers and as citizens, and will write responses that will look personal but will be based on a prepared list of messages that the foreign ministry developed.”

Steve, while you’re in the GOOGLEing mood, GOOGLE Tristan Anderson, Rachel Corrie and Brian Avery. Additionally, anti-zionism does NOT = anti-semitism. Nationalism in its most extreme has brought great suffering to all of humanity, and if unchecked is a dangerous entity in our world.