It’s the Knesset. (The “k” is sounded, not silent.)
Genocide as such, no. But some hard-line Israeli factions do favor “ethnic cleansing,” though they don’t call it that – that is, they want to expel all Arabs from the OTs, send them all to other Arab countries. Those who want that are in the minority, AFAIK.
What Tom said, but also I was replying to Don26’s comment to the OP. As several people have said in this thread, including DSeid, a gentleman who normally is as supportive of Israel as you, this action, during a tense period while the final disposition of the OT is being debated, can only be seen as intentionally provocative and having a probable negative effect on both the Palestinian and Israeli people. I can only assume it, like the firing of rockets into Israel, is being done with the express purpose of disrupting the current peace process and supporting the Roadmap and getting angry when somebody tries to screw that up does not make me antisemitic by any but the most insane stretches of the imagination.
Wow…I’ve never seen anyone both bury their head in the sand AND put their fingers in their ears while saying loudly “I can’t hear you” at the same time. Out of curiosity, since you evidently don’t consider the writen and voiced intentions of the invaders during those wars Tom listed as ‘evidence’, what exactly WOULD convince you of the genocidal intentions of the various Arab armies that have constantly invaded Israel over the least 60 odd years?
As for the OP…meh. Are you going for a pre-emptive outrage on this one? I mean, can’t you wait to be outraged until AFTER the settlement is begun? Or do you want to get your outrage in early so you can really get worked up over evil Israel? 
BTW, for those of you saying Israel should be giving land back, not taking more (not that they would be taking this land, since they already took it)…hows that working out for them in Gaza?
-XT
Outrage is more effective when it is used preemptively. And Israel may hold the land but it has no intentions of fully annexing it and, in fact, that location is part of the area it has already agreed to eventually give up. Giving it to settlers who were already removed from Gaza both gives the appearance that it is not bargaining in good faith (and SOMEBODY has to do that first in any negotiation) and sets those settlers up for a shafting if they get bounced from this land, too.
This really makes no sense. I don’t see any good coming from it. I guess the Israelis and palestinians WANT another century of conflict.
I think one of Israels major fuckups was in not annexing all that land they aquired immediately. Its been no end of problems for them since.
Well…I agree. I think its a mistake on Israel’s part to be honest…IF they in fact go through with it.
-XT
Now now, that’s not what I said (although I do appreciate being called a gentleman). I said it is dumb and that they are being idiots. I do not believe that they are intentionally being provocative or trying to sabotage the peace process. I think that they thought that is an area that is already a military base and would be a bone to shore up support on the Right at a time when they are losing their popularity. I think that. they thought they could slide it by. Dumb, not evil.
And yes outrage is most useful when it is preemptive. Olmert and company can respond to American pressure. This outcome would be great as it would go far to re-establishing America as a somewhat honest broker. But first we need an administration willing to provide pressure when Israel really does go out of bounds. And no debate to me… this is out of bounds.
Agreed, and well said. Stupid move by Israel out of political expediency, and bound to antagonize.
And speaking of stupid moves, this “breaking news” - Islamic Jihad (which has been responsible for most of the recent rocket fire into Israel despite a month-old truce) “believes that igniting conflict with Israel will help unite Palestinians after after infighting that his killed 17 people this month.
“That’s one of the main reasons for resuming attacks” said Abu Ahmad, an Islamic Jihad spokesman” (Associated Press).
So Israel has announced plans for "pinpoint’ strikes to foil rocket attacks, some of which inevitably won’t be “pinpoint” and there will be civilian casualties.
Who’s supposed to provide pressure on Islamic Jihad to stop this crap?
Pinheads, all.
Israel is settling on the Warner Brothers lot? And I always thought that the Jews ran Hollywood.
They would have faced the same problem then as they do now: Can’t annex the land without annexing (i.e., enfranchising) the people.
Sure they could…not that I think that would be wise, but they certainly could do that if they wanted too. A better course would be to annex the land and then give the folks there the choice…become citizens or leave. I realize Israel has a problem with this solution, and most likely so would the (some) of the folks living there as well, but in the long run it would have been the better solution to what they actually did do. IMHO at least.
-XT
Putting a small number of young families on what sounds like an ex-military base sounds a bit peculiar to me.
I’m wondering whether this is some sort of misrepresentation.
It seems a bit too dumb and provocative to be true.
Meh. Close enough. 
“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity,” and all, but there has to be a point where an action is so patently wrongheaded that you say, “Nobody could be THAT stupid,” and malice starts looking like the only adequate explanation. Then I look at the war in Iraq, toss out the conspiracy theories, and reconsider. :smack:
Well, the IDF did play extras in Blazing Saddles.
Plus they have a gift shop. :dubious:
FWIW, I think it was just stupidity too. Pretty gross stupidity given the current situation with the so-called truce and all, but just stupidity.
How about hubris? Can I get any takers for hubris?
Anti-semitism is prejudice against Jews on the grounds that they are “different”. Different from both the hard-core Christian point of view and also suspected of having “divided loyalties” from a nationalistic point of view.
But Israel, from the US point of view, is not different. They’re like an appendage of the US. When the government of Israel does evil things, all Americans are to some extent responsible. Some of that evil rubs off on us–and places us at risk. This transcends the fact that Arabs have done evil things too. They’re the ones who are different. I don’t care how other people’s kids behave, I expect my kids to behave according to the better angels of their nature.
Thanks
The funny thing is, by Muslim logic, we HAVE to like Israel.
The proverb "The enemy of my enemy is my friend: is Arabic!!! The terrorists are our enemies as evidenced by the USS Cole, the Khobar Towers and 9-11… They ALSO are the enemies of Israel, for reasons that shouldn’t need stated AGAIN…