# How 'bout we condemn the BOTH Arabs and Israelis! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 2, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307 "2002-04-02T00:53:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/21 "2002-04-02T03:37:33Z")
Awww, **yojimboguy** , I know how frustrating this all must be. I’m thoroughly confused about all of this mess too. If it’ll help you, hon, I’ve got a virtual hug for you. 🙂 As far as the Palestininians and Israelis go, I’m the farthest thing from being an expert on religion, politics, or diplomacy, but I think these folks should just sit down and take a good look at themselves. Of course that won’t happen anytime soon with all these bombs going off and shit. Good heavens, I just fail to understand how in the hell blowing up people and things is supposed to help folks live in peace. 😕 ☹ 😕 ☹ And I think really, it’s the _last_ thing Allah or God would want for folks who look up to them. It’s just a shame, really. All this time folks are showin’ out over some damn foolishness that folks should have made a concerted effort to settle with diplomacy. If it’s land or money or whatever, then they need to transact their business and shut the hell up already! And what’s up with these suicide bombers? I don’t understand how they can possibly believe that blowing up a handful of innocent bystanders in a mall or in some other public setting is going to gain them favor with Allah. I thought for Muslims life is supposed to be the most precious thing. 😕 ☹ How can the Israelis live with themselves knowing that each time they go into the refugee camps for a retaliatory strike or whatever it is that they’re doing, they’re just feeding the flames and prolonging the hell? I declare. It seems like everybody done lost their damn minds over there, and God and Allah have said fuck it. We’re getting the hell out of here because Shaitan and Satan–I don’t know the Jewish name for the devil–have completely taken hold of these folks. The so-called Holy Land really has become that fire and brimstone place folks tend to associate with hell. Hasn’t this dawned on them folks over there yet? How many more have to die before enough is enough? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/22 "2002-04-02T04:50:39Z")
I came up a solution for this years ago (when Israel invaded Lebanon) – pave the whole mother-fucking area… Europe needs more parking. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/23 "2002-04-02T04:57:17Z")
I am in total agreement with everybody who has posted in this thread. Especially **black455**. The dude\* makes a damned good point. Or not, depending on who fills in the blanks. Nobody is even trying to win in the court of public opinion anymore. Tanks shooting up Bethlehem sounds like a terrific way to court the opinions of Christians. Ditto for suicide bombers killing innocents. :rolleyes: - - Assuming he’s a guy. The name sounds like a nice Pontiac, Buick or Olds of a certain vintage and most women aren’t into killer displacements. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Willy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sweet\_Willy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Willy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/24 "2002-04-02T05:24:40Z")
I generally try not to use profanity on the board, even in the pitt, but… FUCK THE PLO FUCK ISRAEL If these guys fuck the rest of us up, whoever God is will be pissed. I hope he takes the Holy land back for himself and exiles the rest of these fucking fruit loops there to Antartica. Maybe heaven needs that parking lot… ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/25 "2002-04-02T07:48:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimboguy \* > \*\* > black455, I think you could turn your post into an amusing “fill in the blank” puzzle in another thread. > \*\* Was that a WHOOSH or a sonic boom? I was _agreeing_ with you, chief. **dropzone** : 73 1/2 TA, and I’m the proud owner of a wang. But where I come from, “dude” is a unisex term, so no need to worry. Anyway, I’ve until recently been finding myself coming down slightly on the side of the Palestinians throughout the latest intifada. But given Arafat’s utter inability to exert any control over Hamas or Hezbollah, I don’t even know why we (or the Israelis) are even bothering to deal with him anymore. By “deal with him” I mean both negotiate _and_ flatten a few of his compounds. He’s no longer a player. Whose fault? Dunno. Given the lack of any good faith effort on the part of Israel to remedy the settlements question, and given the various Islamic extremist group’s total lack of any sort of rational thought, everything’s fucked. Gandhi, man. Gandhi. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/26 "2002-04-02T10:44:01Z")
Saturday afternoon, I was watching CNN. A commentator was interviewing a political scientist, or some such, and asked him, “When will it all end?” He hemmed and hawed while I answered, “When either the last Arab or the last Jew has vanished from the earth.” **happyheathen** , I don’t really want to see that happen, but the **threat** sounds good to me. The Palestinians are so willing to pay with their lives when it’s just one or two of them. They might change their tune if they thought it was going to be all of them. Or maybe not. I don’t even understand the mindset that would lead even one person to sacrifice their life for the sake of taking out others; how can I second-guess their entire society? Passover. People were together for a Passover dinner. A holiday. With family. Observing _the_ holiday of the year. I shouldn’t think about this too much. But I keep getting hung up on it. Yasser, why are you always smiling? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/27 "2002-04-02T11:30:09Z")
How about we not condemn the Israelis just yet, m’kay? Please, and I really mean this… correct me if I’m wrong here. 2 years ago the Israelis offered the Palestinians a legitimate peace plan. A real offer, that was broader and gave more concessions than anyone ever expected the Israelis to give. That offer was flat out refused by Arafat. Frankly, if you refuse the oppositions best possible offer, you don’t belong at a bargining table at all, you are only there for show, not to make a deal. My opinion is that the Israelis would be (or would have been) content with the Palestinians having their own area and living together in peace. The Palestinians on the other hand, won’t be content until the Jews are gone. That offer gives the Israelis the moral high ground, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/28 "2002-04-02T14:10:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > **Was that a WHOOSH or a sonic boom? I was _agreeing_ with you, chief.** I know you were, but it was funny!😛 And it would be an amusing game, to mix and match etchnic groups, wars, etc. At least it seemed so at the time ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/29 "2002-04-02T15:10:04Z")
Amusing stories from Bobfromaccounting 🙂 [Bitter suicide bomber](http://bobfromaccounting.com/suicidebombersarticle.html) [Out of rocks ☹](http://bobfromaccounting.com/1_25-02/palestiniansrunoutofrocks.html) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/30 "2002-04-02T15:25:35Z")
The Onion said it best: [Ethniklashistan](http://www.theonion.com/onion3723/west_bank.html) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/31 "2002-04-02T16:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > \*\*That offer gives the Israelis the moral high ground, IMHO. \*\* But would Sharon accept it? He would lose the support of much of the right wing if he did. Nah, the “moral high ground” in the Mideast today is just barely above the level of the Dead Sea. The Israeli government sucks. The Palastinian government sucks. The Saudi “peace proposal” that got so much support last week was the same demands of the past 35 years less the part about the illegitimacy of the nation of Israel. As an American with some Jewish roots and as a taxpayer whose income has supported, and sometimes propped up, the government of Israel I’m sick of the whole mess. It’s getting to be time for the UN to step in. The countries involved, or just barely not involved, are too heavily armed for it to continue. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Willy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sweet\_Willy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Willy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/32 "2002-04-02T17:10:22Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s getting to be time for the UN to step in. Yup. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/33 "2002-04-02T17:23:15Z")
I don’t have much sympathy for the Palastinians… They helped launch the war that cost them the disputed areas… That and the fact that its a capitol crime to be accused of supplying information to the Isrealis. That and I know two very good people who were killed by suicide bombers… And a very nice girl who… Fuck it… If the Palastinians promoted education and economic development rather than nursing hate they probably could have had their peace decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Willy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sweet\_Willy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Willy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/34 "2002-04-02T17:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Fuck it… If the Palastinians promoted education and economic development rather than nursing hate they probably could have had their peace decades ago. Exactly how do you equate economic development with peace?:wally ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/35 "2002-04-02T20:12:08Z")
This problem could end quickly if the americans weren’t that selfish. Why dodn’t you loan Sharon and Arafat a couple of nukes. Of course a method must be devised so they can only launch it in the region. It wouldn’t be a gift you can charge them (be sure to demand the payment in advance) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/36 "2002-04-02T20:48:01Z")
And in US dollars, not THEIR currency! ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/37 "2002-04-02T22:26:51Z")
I’m with the OP; both the Palestinians and the Israelis have been acting like poo-heads, and the only proper solution is to: (1) Get Ariel Sharon and Yassar Arafat in a room together, and bang their heads repeatedly against each other until they get the point, and (2) Take away the damn thing so neither side gets to play with it. The Palestinians can all move to Antarctica and the Israelis can all move to the North Pole for all I care. (Of course, by not being 100% behind Israel, I risk being labeled by **december** and other right-wing nutballs as being “pro-Palestinian.” :rolleyes: ) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/38 "2002-04-02T22:35:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*(Of course, by not being 100% behind Israel, I risk being labeled by **december** and other right-wing nutballs as being “pro-Palestinian.” :rolleyes: ) \*\* Nearly everybody in this thread is in that same boat. ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/39 "2002-04-02T22:40:02Z")
Well I for one am not going to declare moral equivalency to the two groups. I am blaming the Palestinians. Neener Neener Neener. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307/40 "2002-04-02T23:50:54Z")
Sweet Willy, if the Palestinians all had their PhD’s in philosophy they’d be sitting around discussing deconstructionism and be unable and unwilling to fight anyone! So \ But seriously, there’d be less discontent if there was full employement in the contested areas… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-condemn-the-both-arabs-and-israelis/101307.md?page=3)