# "Arafat Chips"—for the best in Jew-hating snacking pleasure! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219 "2002-05-28T18:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/81 "2002-05-30T20:45:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Oh, and 3) don’t you even **dare** , after you’ve proudly proclaimed how you would actively work to prevent other American citizens from exercising their free speech rights, to get up on a moral high horse over my expressing outrage towards some shithead who would equate my relatives with my relatives’ murderers. Someone’s going to hold up a sign telling me that my family is functionally equivalent to the people who killed them, and you want me to be calm about it? Riiiiiiiight. \*\* Wait a second. You’re perfectly comfortable with beating up someone who equates Judaism with Nazism, but you oppose my efforts to keep Nazis from speaking freely? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/82 "2002-05-30T21:01:13Z")
Would I beat up someone who posited such an equation? No, on refletion, probably not. I’ve never thrown a punch at another human being in my life. Would I _want_ to? You bet your fucking ass, I would. Would I get in their shit about it? Faster than you can say “Jack Robinson.” And yes, I oppose your efforts to keep American citizens from exercising their Constitutional rights. You want to organize counter-protests? Great. You try to use the government to deny them their rights? Not great. I don’t like the Nazis any more than you do, but Americans have rights, whether I want them to exercise them or not. I’m not in favor of countries where rights are distributed selectively based on the political correctness of one’s affiliations. Your mileage may vary. I’m waiting for that retraction, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/83 "2002-05-30T21:16:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Yep, those are the things I think of when I read about some scumbag sneaking into a house and shooting a five-year-old child in the head in her sleep. Or some worthless waste of human flesh blowing themselves up and killing an elderly grandmother and a young child, and injuring a baby. Yeah, that’s some brave defense of the weak, there. \*\* Clearly those who commit suicide bombing are doing it through thier own perverted sense of revenge. The only way to eliminate this is to understand why it is happening. \*\* > [@](#): > > If that kind of behavior is what this so-called “code of virtue” (Virtue!! Jesus Christ.) leads to, and you defend it . . . this kind of behavior is not something you strive to understand. It’s something you strive to _eliminate_. \*\* A person in the SDMB that is advocating ignorance! To quote: “this kind of behavior is not something you strive to understand. It’s something you strive to _eliminate_.” You plug your ears and hope it will stop. There are reasons to why people are doing this and it is not because they are “evil”. \*\* > [@](#): > > And I’ll sure equate Arafat with Hamas. Not only has he failed in all his years of Palestinian “leadership” to take them out of the loop (even though he could have done so), he’s actively encouraged links between his own Fatah organization and Hamas. \*\* You can seriously equate (as you say) failure “to take them out of the loop” and “encouraged links” to being Hamas. Arafat is right to encourge links between Hamas and Fatah. The best way to stop the Hamas from killing is to make them realize that violence to prepetuate your views (nomatter how valid) is wrong. You can actively support Palestine without the terrorism. Your equating Arafat and Hamas is to ignore all that Hamas has done upto ten days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/84 "2002-05-30T21:28:26Z")
OK, **phil** , here are the two quotes from which I formed my statement on your assertion. > [@](#): > > \*\*Given the treatment of Jews by every single fucking Arab nation in the world, do you think the Palestinians for a moment would allow Jews to stay and enjoy full citizenship? > > … > > Because there are no Jews in those countries anymore. For some odd reason, they must not feel very welcome or comfortable in them. Any speculation as to why that might be?\*\* _Something_ besides nasty rhetoric has to have happened in the Arab countries for Jews not to be there in large numbers now(assuming they were, for sake of argument). While the “making Hitler look like a piker” was admittedly a rhetorical flourish, it is clear that you are nevertheless insinuating that the Arabs backed up the anti-Semitism, which you and **gobear** claim they have always exhibited, with action. I want proof. Show me the drop in population figures. Show me the villages being razed. Show me the unarmed men, women, and children being slaughtered by the thousands, with the survivors herded into ever smaller areas under constant bombardment and shelling. In short, show me, in explicit detail, that all the Arab countries of the Middle East have done _exactly_ what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. **Daoloth** , where did you get that figure for the population of German Jews? Are the percentages similar throughout Western Europe? As for the free speech debate (yet again), governments are nothing more than structures representing class interests. I certainly don’t think having Bush or Gore or Newt Gingrich or Bernie Sanders pass laws restricting freedom of speech for extreme viewpoints is a solution, simply because none of them represent the interests of the working class. If/when an internationalist government that represents the interests of the working class (because it is composed of the working class) chooses to restrict or forbid freedom of speech for Nazis and fascists, I would unreservedly support that because fascism is the enemy of the working class. As it stands now, I participate in every counter-demo I can get to when Nazi scum show up and one of these days I hope they’ll finally get a clue. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/85 "2002-05-30T21:30:17Z")
–If shooting five-year-old girls in their sleep, and detonating bombs to kill infants (or not being particulary worried about who you might kill, including infants, which is pretty much the same), is not the very definition of “evil,” then I am most curious as to what your definition of “evil” is. –“Reasons” don’t mean shit, I’m afraid. Jeffrey Dahmer had “reasons” for what he did, too. Lots of evil people do. –Ten days ago? What, and Hamas’ hands have been spotless until then? Give me a break. –Consider this: Ariel Sharon had Yasser Arafat in a position in Ramallah where he could easily have said, “Fuck world opinion,” and unloaded a barrage of artillery on the place that would have assured Arafat’s death. But he didn’t. He withdrew and Arafat got his freedom. Same thing with the scumbags in the Church of the Nativity. Unlike the relaunch of the intifidah after Sharon visited the Temple Mount, these guys were permitted to defile a Christian holy site, then get away scot-free. The IDF could have made them nothing more than smears on the ground. But they didn’t. What’s happened since then? Several successful homicide bombings, as well as several thwarted ones, by the Palestinians. Hamas isn’t going to stop killing. They’re supported by overwhelming amounts of the Palestinian people–partly because they cause the deaths of Jews, partly because they use Saudi money to provide services. The more support the enjoy, the more they will keep killing. So you tell me who’s got the moral high ground. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/86 "2002-05-30T21:40:15Z")
efrem said: > [@](#): > > Are you going to provide proof that they are funding Terrorists, or do you just expect that fear and hate of all-things-arab will carry you through this debate? Fear? Hate of all-things-arab? Please provide cites because I’ve reread my posts and see neither in them. You said that most of the posters on this board were mistaken that profits from this snack were funding terrorism, and provided as proof an article from the Guardian stating that a spokesman from the company said it was going to “raise money for medical care”. BUT THEY WON’T SAY WHAT THOSE CHARITIES ARE. In fact, your own cite says that it will “raise money for Palestinian medical services for people injured in clashes with the Israelis”. And you assume that this means that they’re going to specifically exclude terrorists? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/87 "2002-05-30T22:01:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > \*\* > Actually, a better answer would be “Because the Jordanians didn’t kick the Palestinians off their own land, slaughtering hundreds and thousands and destroying whole villages in the process.” > \*\* Well, yeah, they sort of did. In September of 1970, the Jordanian Army got into a civil war with feyadeen of the PLA, that, over a ten day period, ended with up to 3500 dead on both sides. Then, afterwards, throughout the end of 1970 and the beginning of 1971, there were attacks by PLA guerillias that the Jordanians responded to by moving into the Palestinian refugee camps and attacking guerillias, suspected guerillias, and civilians who were in the wrong place. It ended with the expulsion of Palestinians from Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/88 "2002-05-30T22:05:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > **–If shooting five-year-old girls in their sleep, and detonating bombs to kill infants (or not being particulary worried about who you might kill, including infants, which is pretty much the same), is not the very definition of “evil,” then I am most curious as to what your definition of “evil” is.** If you want to get into a theology debate, I don’t believe there is a such thing as unexplained evil, evil doesn’t exist at all. Everything happens for a reason and blaming something on evil is like blaming it on the devil. So, argument like “that person is just evil” does not make sense to me. \*\* > [@](#): > > –“Reasons” don’t mean shit, I’m afraid. Jeffrey Dahmer had “reasons” for what he did, too. Lots of evil people do.\*\* Reason mean everything \*\* > [@](#): > > –Ten days ago? What, and Hamas’ hands have been spotless until then? Give me a break.\*\* It was a reference to suicide bombings \*\* > [@](#): > > –Consider this: Ariel Sharon had Yasser Arafat in a position in Ramallah where he could easily have said, “Fuck world opinion,” and unloaded a barrage of artillery on the place that would have assured Arafat’s death. But he didn’t. He withdrew and Arafat got his freedom. Same thing with the scumbags in the Church of the Nativity. Unlike the relaunch of the intifidah after Sharon visited the Temple Mount, these guys were permitted to defile a Christian holy site, then get away scot-free. The IDF could have made them nothing more than smears on the ground. But they didn’t. > > What’s happened since then? Several successful homicide bombings, as well as several thwarted ones, by the Palestinians. Hamas isn’t going to stop killing. They’re supported by overwhelming amounts of the Palestinian people–partly because they cause the deaths of Jews, partly because they use Saudi money to provide services. \*\* It is funny you completely leave no the fact that the anger might be because the IDF INVADED THE WEST BANK. This reasoning of (they didn’t go far enough) from both sides will only lead to more blood. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/89 "2002-05-30T22:13:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mojo \* > \*\*efrem said: > Fear? Hate of all-things-arab? Please provide cites because I’ve reread my posts and see neither in them. You said that most of the posters on this board were mistaken that profits from this snack were funding terrorism, and provided as proof an article from the Guardian stating that a spokesman from the company said it was going to “raise money for medical care”. BUT THEY WON’T SAY WHAT THOSE CHARITIES ARE. In fact, your own cite says that it will “raise money for Palestinian medical services for people injured in clashes with the Israelis”. And you assume that this means that they’re going to specifically exclude terrorists? \*\* I will say this for the last time “If you are going to make the bold claim that this Egyptian frim is funneling money to terrorism, YOU WILL NEED SOME PROOF!” If you don’t have a shred of proof then retract your statement, you can’t reliy on fear of Arabs to prove your point. That is what you are doing, you can’t do that here! ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/90 "2002-05-30T22:28:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > \*\* > > **Daoloth** , where did you get that figure for the population of German Jews? Are the percentages similar throughout Western Europe?\*\* I got it from [www.adherents.com](http://www.adherents.com), which was citing [www.destatis.de](http://www.destatis.de), the official German government statistics site. Not sure about Jewish populations through the rest of Western Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/91 "2002-05-30T22:47:59Z")
_sigh_ We seem to cycle through these same arguments fairly frequently these days, don’t we? Well, count me as someone who takes something of a middle view on most of these issues. 1.)As regards the classical Muslim views on Jews, I think the following passage sums it up nicely: _A similar reserve is expressed in the form of the words used by the Caliph’s Wazir in confirming the appointment of the exilarch, the head of the Jewish community in Baghdad, in the year 1247: “I appoint you **za’im** over the people ( **ahl** ) of your community ( **milla** ), over the people of your superseded religion, which was superseded by the Muhammedan holy law.”_ From pg. 60 of The Political Language of Islam by Bernard Lewis ( 1988, University of Chicago Press ). Ignoring for a second Lewis’ main point about this passage ( which was illustrating the changing use of the word _za’im_ over time ), I think this is a very telling example of the rather complex position of Judaism in the pre-modern Islamic world. On the one hand Judaism _was_ generally tolerated and given a special protected status. **Gobear’s** cites ( which I’m sure are quite accurate ) not withstanding, forced conversion and massacres were the exception, not the rule. On the other hand **gobear** is quite correct when he said that this toleration should never be mistaken for an expression of _equality_. When folks say that Jews were relatively better off under Muslim, than Christian rule in this period ( politically, culturally, economically ), they are correct. But the key word is _relatively_. 2.) As regards the Palestinian view of Jews and Israel - I think I’m on record as saying I generally dislike unqualified statements. I really would prefer that posters used qualifiers like _many_ Palestinians are concerned with nothing more than the total destruction of Israel ( which is true ). This avoids the trap of saying things like… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > The truth you are ignoring is that the Palestinians do not wish to share the land. They want Israel, every square inch, and they want to kill every Jew there. The above statement, unqualified, is incorrect IMHO. A pointless nitpick? I don’t think so. Painting with such a broad brush is dehumanizing and unnecessarily polarizing IMO. I understand the unsaid qualification of _some_ posters that the phrase " the Palestinians" is a stand-in for “the Palestinian leadership” ( which even then should probably be qualified slightly ). But when it is unsaid, it tends to allow comparisons to some of the frothing racists we get driving by here from time to time. It weakens the arguments of otherwise thoughtful posters. 3.) As regards the comparisons of Arafat to Hamas and Hitler - Not helpful. Understandable in part, but not helpful. Arafat is a terrorist leader. There is an unequivocal historical fact. Reformed? Perhaps in action, perhaps not, though I doubt it in attitude. However he is not Hamas. He is a secular leader, not an Islamist. He still negotiates rather than just tosses bombs ( it may be he does both, the jury is still out on what he does and doesn’t control ). He is more of a pragmatist than a fanatic ( though I’m sure there are elements of both in his character ). Now it is possible that he is now an irrelevance as well and not worth negotiating with. I am undecided on that point. He’s certainly a vacillating and unreliable, if tyrannical, leader. But his faction is _still_ one of the more moderate ones and shouldn’t ( can’t ) be ignored in toto. _Someone_ has to be negotiated with. Unless you are of the belief that the time for negotiation is over with and I am not of this opinion myself. Hamas is probably not worth negotiating with - Arafat may still be. Therein lies the difference and it is not an insignificant one. 4.) As regards to these stupid-ass potato-chip thingies - I have no particular opinion except that I think they are in bad taste. And given the presumed lack of good enforcement of consumer-protection laws in that region, I wouldn’t doubt that is just a money-making scheme and not a dime is going to “charities” ( whether it be blankets or guns ). But none of us really know. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/92 "2002-05-30T22:51:32Z")
> [@](#): > > As regards to these stupid-ass potato-chip thingies - I have no particular opinion except that I think they are in bad taste. Or just taste bad? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/93 "2002-05-30T22:51:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Something besides nasty rhetoric has to have happened in the Arab countries for Jews not to be there in large numbers now(assuming they were, for sake of argument). While the “making Hitler look like a piker” was admittedly a rhetorical flourish, _it is clear that you are nevertheless insinuating_ that the Arabs backed up the anti-Semitism, which you and gobear claim they have always exhibited, with action. I want proof. Clear? I have insinuated no such thing, and I’m afraid that repeatedly asserting that I did, then demanding that I prove something that I didn’t even say, simply makes you look foolish. I said, “Given the treatment of Jews . . .” and “They obviously don’t feel comfortable living there.” Do you suppose [this](http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/arab/arab_news_041002.gif), [this](http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/arab/sharon_nazi.gif), and [this](http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/arab/sharon_swastika.jpg) might be reflective of the attitudes towards Jews in Arab states? Do you think seeing statements in the state-run newspapers such as: > [@](#): > > Life stopped in ‘Israel’ yesterday for two minutes [the Holocaust day’s siren], while the warning sirens whistled all over the occupied territories of Palestine, in memory of the 6 millions Jews, about whom ‘Israel’ lies saying that they were killed in the Nazi crematoriums during the World War II. > > - Al-Riyadh, Saudi government daily, April 10, 2002 . . . might make Jews feel somewhat uncomfortable in Arab states? (Of course, the cognitive dissonance taking place when the Arabs simultaneously compare Sharon to Hitler, then deny that the Holocaust took place, is staggering.) efrem: > [@](#): > > It is funny you completely leave no the fact that the anger might be because the IDF INVADED THE WEST BANK. And you completely “leave no” [sic] that the IDF invaded the West Bank because _that’s where the people who were murdering Israeli citizens on Passover_ were coming from. Stop them at the source, and you stop them completely. What the hell were they supposed to do? You notice that during the time the IDF was there, the homicide bombings **stopped**. The IDF withdraws, and they start right back up again. Funny, that. Must be that peaceful good faith that you and Olent keep referring to. Let’s make this real simple, Jeff: 1. Do you believe that, if the Palestinians were to be given complete autonomous control over the West Bank or the Gaza Strip tomorrow, with no strings attached, that they would not use them as a launching pad for further attacks on Israel? 2. Do you believe that if the Palestinians were to be given complete autonomous control over the West Bank or the Gaza Strip tomorrow, that they would allow any Jews to live there, or to enjoy any rights? 3. Do you believe that the Palestinians have any plans whatsoever to attempt the eradication of Israel and Jews in the Middle East? 4. Do you have any condemnation for the Palestinian homicide bombers? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/94 "2002-05-30T22:56:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DSeid \* > \*\*Or just taste bad? \*\* Couldn’t be any worse then these “California Cool Dill” potato chips Lay’s is pushing locally :D. Hmm…Perhaps we should start judging societies by the quality of their snackfoods ;). - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/95 "2002-05-30T23:26:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > Couldn’t be any worse then these “California Cool Dill” potato chips Lay’s is pushing locally :D. \ I haven’t even _dared_ to try those things yet. How bad are they? \ ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/96 "2002-05-31T00:28:14Z")
**rjung** : They’re pretty foul IMO :). But then I’m not a big fan of dill in most foods outside of pickles to begin with. Let alone electro-chemical tasting dill ;). If you are a dill fanatic, give 'em a shot. Otherwise I’d say stay away. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/97 "2002-05-31T00:44:44Z")
Sorry, \*\*Tamerlane, but I don’t think my statements require qualification. The number of Palestinians who are willing to enter a dialogue toward negotiating a lasting peace is negligible compared to the number who wish to slaughter every Jew in Israel. Why do you think Arafat tried to import 50 tons of weapon from Iran into Palestine? Why do you think Palestinians overwhelmingly support suicide bombings against Israelis? > [@](#): > > According to a poll conducted among Palestinian adults from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including East Jerusalem at the end of May by Dr. Nabil Kukali and the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), "a substantial majority (76.1%) support suicidal attacks like that of Netanya [in May], whereas 12.5% oppose, and 11.4% express no opinion ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/98 "2002-05-31T01:17:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by efrem \* > \*\* > > People see those Kids as heros, if a country invaded the USA and Americans were protesting this way you would concider them heros too. You can say that doing this is stupid, but > > 1. Kids (all over the world) rarely think about their future. They get mad, they do rash things. > > 2. This fits exactly with Arab culture. From ancient times to today Arabian culture (even the religion of Islam) has followed the Muruwwah. The Muruwwah or “Arab code of virtue” is consists of: Bravery, patience, loyalty, hospitality, generosity to the poor, protection of the weak, defiance toward the strong, and persistence in revenge. This is the kind of justice that prevailed in the desert. > > It is a code for them kind of like in Japan with their culture of warriors. Few understand life and culture in this part of the world, which I fear contributes to all the confusions \*\* So teaching your children to throw rocks at those “evil Jews” with the tanks and the automatic weapons is heroic? In what universe? Doesn’t using children as combatants violate Human Rights accords? I don’t have the time to look it up right now, but I’m betting it does. Or sending your teenagers/young adults strapped with bombs into pizza joints, shopping centers, or religous celibrations? How is that heroic? Even if you call them “freedom fighters”, homicide bombers seem pretty chicken-shit to me. Hey, let’s blow up a disco, or shoot at 5 year olds sleeping in their beds. Heroic stuff, there. Sending your children/young people to do your dirty work is just plain evil, and a cowardly evil at that. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/99 "2002-05-31T01:48:34Z")
**gobear** : I disagree. I can throw out dueling poll numbers from 2001, that while backing your high number supporting suicide bombing as a tactic ( very depressing ), show that the number supporting the complete reclamation of Israeli lands is hovering around 40%. And at that the poll numbers for 1999 showed only about 1/4 of Palestinians backed suicide bombings, which says to me that this is not a hard-conditioned attitude, but rather the product of the current tensions and can be ameliorated. [http://www.jmcc.org/polls/2001/no41.htm](http://www.jmcc.org/polls/2001/no41.htm) Again, I’m not saying the Palestinian territories are a hotbed of peace and human tolerance, but I think your absolute statement is absolutely wrong. Even if we went by your 75% number, I would say the same thing. But then, as I recall, we have fundamentally different views of basic human nature. _shrug_ I would never attempt to censor you and I respect your opinions, but I do disagree with your stance on this one. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219/100 "2002-05-31T02:40:59Z")
**gobear** : Here’s your actual poll data, with plenty of ammo to support us both, I think: [http://www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2001/p3a.html](http://www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2001/p3a.html) - Tamerlane [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-chips-for-the-best-in-jew-hating-snacking-pleasure/111219.md?page=6)