I thought we were having a reasoned argument until I read, “why are you so confident that the Palestinians think so monolithically about Israel? And why are you so confident that there is not a single Israeli that wants to eliminate all Palestinians? ” Come now, no one is saying that every single Palestinian is genocidal or that not a single Israeli is. Your usual analysis is too rigorous to set up such useless strawmen. But the fact is that the Palistinian leadership makes it crystal clear that they seek the elimination of Israel and the Israeli leadership makes is crystal clear that they do not seek the elimination of the Palestinians.

And it is unquestioned that the Palestinians have spent the last half century targeting civilians in Israel and celebrating every civilian death. Israelis have targeted only military targets, intentionally killed civilians only when they were being used to shield military targets and mourned the lost of civilian life. Yet the Powers’ and Brzezinski’s of the world greet every Palestinian civilian death with condemnation of Israel and every Israeli civilian death with a yawn. Is it really so hard for the American left to say, out loud, that those who target civilians (and use civilians as shields) are more worthy of condemnation than those who seek to avoid civilian casualties? Until they do, I submit that their morals are suspect and their suggested solutions are not to be taken seriously.

First, did you mean some Jews or all Jews. Second, this was a military target. In most circles, terrorism is defined as acts of violence directed against civilians in order to sow terror and confusion in civilian populations. You could have chosen another example, such as the raid at Deir Yassin by Begin’s Irgun and you would have been more accurate. However, in that case the raid was roundly condemned by Ben Gurion’s Haganah, the dominant Jewish liberation organization, which actually considered arresting Begin. Oh that “responsible” Palestinian authorities would ever consider doing the same. However, I challenge you to cite a case where Israel intentionally brought military action against the Palestinian civilian population.

Where your thesis breaks down is that Gaza is an independent entity and it is Gaza that is waging war against Israeli citizens, not the other way around. Also, Israel has multiple times extended the offer of peace and independence to Palestinians only to have the Palestinians spit the offer back in their face. For example, I knew right away that the Oslo Accords between Arafat and Israel were a sham (a “Hudna”) when, shortly thereafter, it was revealed that Palestinian children were still being taught that their life objective was the eradication of Israel.

The original formula still applies - if Israel lays down its weapons, it dies. If the Palestinians lay down their weapons, they get peace. I know Palestinians that understand this (ergo, I agree with you that Palestinians don’t think monolithically - unfortunately, those willing to live side-by-side with Israel are a voiceless minority - they get killed for expressing their views). How come you don’t get it?

I know very good, decent Palestinians (here in the U.S.) who want nothing but peace. I recognize their human qualities as individuals and extend them my sympathy as one human being to another. As a group, however, Palestinians pretty much stand all the way at the back of the line of the “peoples” around the world deserving of human sympathy. Their misery is their own doing - and that of their fellow Arab nations and Islamic supporters.

Now, why do you think that Powers and Brzezinski don’t hold Israel and the Palestinians to the same standard? Also, why are you so confident that the Palestinians think so monolithically about Israel? And why are you so confident that there is not a single Israeli that wants to eliminate all Palestinians? I am not an expert on this area, so I’d like to know how it is so clear-cut.

Still, my question remains, “But can we all agree that Israel and her opponents should be held to the same standards of behavior and that anyone who argues otherwise is not serious about finding an honest, moral, just peace in the Middle East?” I seriously doubt you will find a single advisor in Obama’s camp, anti-semitic or not, who holds the Palestinians to the same standard of behavior as they do Israel.

Can we agree on this?

Danny, you and EC can’t even agree on what historical events actually occurred. Whatever agreements develop on the subject of your question, will be superficial at best.