Gilad Shalit.

Yes, It's me the Israeli girl who obsesses about her Nationiality.  But this time Hopefully there will be no fights  =)

Did anyone here the news about this kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured right before the 2nd Lebanon war 2006 near the Gaza Strip by the Hamas (Political or Terrorist organization depending Who you are), anyways he's still in Gaza.  There were discussions on "getting" Gilad Shalit back by releasing 30 Terrorist prisoners who are themselves in Israeli Prisons, for the sake of Gilad Shalit.  I know its hard getting hold of captured soldiers especially for the trade off of numerous terrorists But Im kind of angry at the Israeli government for the case of the captured soldier, Ron Arad in 1981-1st Lebanon war, Who was sadly kind of forgotten for 22 years.  Still Imprisoned in Lebanon, I just hope Hope HOPE they will bring him back-Gilad Shalit at least.  Because last time they tried "getting Back" Ron Arad we trade about 1000 Terrorists with Lebanon and received the other stolen soldiers but never Ron Arad, He Still might be In Lebanon dead or Alive, Hopefully still alive.

What do you guys think about this situation?  Should Israel trade in 30 Terrorists for Our soldier?  Personally I think so.  But maybe its because I have an "Israeli Connection".  Anyways Post your opinions, Im interested.

I don't think Hamas are terrorists anymore than I think the Israeli government is.  Israel has done some horrible things to neighboring countries, and I tend to side with the little guy.  Israel gets monetary support and weapons from Western nations.  What does Lebanon or Palestine get?  They get blown up by Israel using American weaponry.

So do I think the “terrorist” should be freed?  Yes.  That goes for Hamas members and Gilad Shalit.  Do I think it’s going to change anything?  No.

I completely agree with Jewels.

I'm surprised that you think that after such a long amount of time that these captured soldiers are still alive.

There was a guy from my city who was captured back in 2004 I think in Iraq. Everyone kept talking about how he was alive even though there hadn't been any word from him in years. Well, about 2-3 months ago they finally found pieces of a body they were able to identify as his...

However if you use the same rationale as the US government... you shouldn't negotiate with 'terrorists'. But I think Israel is just as guilty of terrorism as Hamas is...

I dont want to start an arguement, But Ill state my opinions as well since I also wanted to hear you're opinions.  And these soldiers are alive, Maybe not Ron Arad But Gilad Shalit is surely alive and there was word from him recently about a week ago.  The letter was sent to his parents.  So There is a chance Gilad Shalit IS alive, But as for Ron Arad, We don't think so.

So I want to hear how Israel are "terrorists" when we Also receive rockets, and missiles from Arab Neighbors?  Im not saying Israelis are Pious but we aren't terrorists. And the Palestinians don't have weapons?  A Nation needs weapons for it's protection.  The Israeli government (Just in case you didn't know):

* Gives money for the Palestinians, Most not saying all but most Palestinians buy the weapons in Which Israel gets attacked with, Israel responds, What will we do just stand by and watch with no protection?

* Uses the arabic Language as It's main language as well as Hebrew.  Israeli kids are taught Arabic as their 2nd language.  I think Thats pretty respectful.  The signs are written in arabic, everything is actually (Almost) as well as Hebrew. 

* You might think that Israelis "Gate" surrounding neighbors, How do you think we feel ?  We Are also surrounded by a gate.

*  Recently hear about the attempt of cease fire between Israel and Gaza?  Didn't last long.  Lasted a week.  Today Missiles were hit in Sderot homes in Israel, By HAMAS.

Anyways I want to hear, How Is Israel considered "Terrorist"?

Won't change anything?  To get the soldiers back?  These soldiers aren't just pieces of nothing, Their humans too, Young ones, Age 19.  Of course It will change, People care at least in Israel for their soldiers (The citizens that Is) but it's not that simple achieving them back.

Sure it wont bring peace, But still Israel Is trying to get them back, Thats all the Israeli news is speaking of now.  Maybe the government in Israel is corrupt but the citizens are not selfish.

I didn't say the Israeli government is a terrorist group.  I said they are no more terrorists than Hamas is. 

When I said it won't change anything, I was speaking of it not changing the situation there.  People will be happy.  Families will be reunited.  Things like that will change, but the on going struggles in that area won't be resolved.  Ultimately, it won’t change anything when looking at the big picture.

A few years ago Palestine and Israel were having talks about giving more land to Palestine.  The Israeli government agreed to give them land completely devoid of water.  That’s really respectful.

I remember a few years back Hamas had shot some kind of missile into Israel and it didn’t cause much damage.  Israel retaliated by killing hundred upon hundreds of civilians hours after Hamas had left the area.

It is things like that, that make me shake my head.  I don’t think Israel is the bad guy and Palestine, Lebanon, etc are the good guys.  A lot of countries, those three included, are acting like idiots.

And yes, I did just call Palestine a country.

Yes.  And I also said that "Israelis weren't Pious".  But neither are the Palestinians.

It sounds as if they are the "Poor" people and as if the Israelis aren't suffering.  Actually both sides are.  Not one more than the other.  We Always give them land

And "devoid of water"- In case you didn't know Israel in itself is devoid of water, Israelis in Israel barely have enough water.  Didn't you know that the Kineret has been devoid of water since 1990? 

*Hmm Did you hear about the Hezbollah twisting, torturing, and breaking the limbs of RonArad.  Yes believe it.  (Not saying that Israelis are 100% innocent once again).

* Did you know maybe about that "Fun" event of the intifada uprising that caused deaths in our locations as well in 1998?

We try to achieve peace what do we receive?  Missiles, We strike back.  Lesson learned? No.  We give money to the Palestinians, believe it where does it go to?  Hamas weapons and Yasser arafat the leader of Hamas PLO, Now you know where his wealth originates.

You can call the region whatever you want.  Did you know that Palestinians are those people from the regions of Egypt, syria, And Jordan.  Those ARE the Palestinians, Palestine Was a region.  Just sharing my knowledge.

A region That lacked any work in it.  Did you ever see how Israel (Yes I called Israel a country by the way) it looked before 1948?  And did you see how it looked a couple of years after 1948?  Maybe you should see their progress.  my granparents saw it when they themselves were kicked out of their "Homes" in arab countries although Jewish- Lybia, and Morroco.

"Yes I called Israel a country by the way"

Israel has been a recognized sovereign state for longer than you and I have been alive.  So what's that supposed to mean?

I know all this.  I know more about the situation than the typical Westerner.  I don't deny that Israel has had some bad stuff happen to it.  That said, I don't side with Israel on this conflict.  I can't.  I've learned about it from a different perspective than you have.  I'm sure the whole time you were growing up you've heard about it.  I learned the ins and outs of the conflict in University (many courses dealing with it).  All the sources of information we had were very Pro-Israel.  It wasn't until I started researching on my own that I came to the conclusion that Israel isn't being victimized by crazy Arabs (my words).

Israel may not have a lot of water, but it's not devoid.

Israel has taken advantage of its control of the West Bank in order to appropriate more water sources and to prevent Palestinians from developing new water sources that are under the land.  Israel has controlled water supplies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since it first occupied the areas in 1967.

Many Palestinians struggle, however, as they remain unconnected to any water infrastructure.  The real problem is at the beginning of their hot summer - they will have used up their water and they will begin to suffer," explained Beit Furik's Mayor, Atef Atif Hanani.

"We have about 12 tanks to collect water from Nablus, but during the Intifada the Israeli authorities have imposed checkpoints on the roads.

"These checkpoints started to forbid these tanks from reaching Nablus, so sometimes they have to wait for about five or six hours - and some days they were forbidden."

He added that even when the tanks were allowed through, sometimes Israeli soldiers would undo the valves and let the water back out. --BBC

Have you seen how undeveloped parts of South America are? Maybe I should go down there and claim sovereignty over their land too, because obviously they don't know how to manage it. Then, to placate the natives (who I'll kick out) I will arm myself to the teeth and throw a few dollars their way. If they complain and strike at me, I'll strike back, just 10 times harder so they will "learn their lesson". Surely that will justify me moving in to their territory - how could they complain?

Thank you p0nda.

I think this illustrates my feelings on the Arab/Israeli conflict.

The woman being tickled is Israel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDDt81tvk4M

I'm not going to pretend I am very learned when it comes to Palestine-Israeli conflict (certainly not as much as some people here) and that BOTH sides are not using terrorist means to achieve their goals, but... I live in a country which was non-existent for 123 years in 17th-19th century just because "international forces" decided we could not manage on our own and should be "helped" by being divided among them and wiped off the face of Europe. And we surely fought back, and were regarded as "terrorists" by the occupants. That's why I cannot help but sympatize a little with the Palestinians (though I do not support blowing up innocent civilians) who also had "international authorities" decide for them to create a whole country in the middle of their territory.

So I want to hear how Israel are "terrorists"

You and I have had this conversation via MSN before. I see no need to go into again. My opinions haven't changed. I agree with Jewels and p0nda... They've echoed the same things I've already said to you.

Anyways I didn't say that you should have pity on Israel.  It's your opinion, I can't change that.  I agree that some Palestinians are suffering, But this is what happens when {They}  set up Organizations in order to eliminate us.  HA WE ARENT THE ONES THAT SUFFER?  Are you kidding?  I really can't understrand this, I don't think you understand that the Israelis suffer as well.  I've lived in Israel, All my family lives in Israel (You've heard this plaenty) I Know many Individuals in which their homes are destroyed from Missiles from gaza, We are also suffering.

"Internationial Forces"?  Did you ever heard of the 1st 2nd and 3rd Aliyah and their effects?  Im sorry to say but Israel such as Jerusalem looked like garbage before 1967, (The time in which we received Jerusalem).  I guess us International forces were so evil trying to get land.  If you haven't noticed Jews until 1948 never had an Official land, Dont you think we had to suffer as well in order to achieve Israel?  We were also kickedd out from Arab countries as a result of our religion!  My grandfather even claimed that people would throw his Kippah/Yamaka, Laugh at him, there were even certain places in Morcco where he couldnt go as a child until age 17 when they were the refugees into Israel, THEY were kicked out!  And we didn't "Just Decide" to create a country,  Many Jews were living there as well, Not trying to arouse pity but the Jews HAD to do something after the holocaust, And in 1948 we let the Majority of Arabs remain, Most fled.

HA!  And we are the so-called Evil ones?  We ourselves can't enter never enter Gaza, Syria,Jordan, lebanon, Iran, Chevron, Most parts of Egypt....  But you surely could, You aren't Jewish or Israeli, Are you.

And that Video I have no clue what you are trying to prove, But that brought NO Lesson Into my eyes, If that was the point.

Forgot to add:  Did you know that Israelis can't go into their holy places as well as a result of being tortured or killed?  Yep. 

We can't see the tomb of many of our forefather and foremothers (In the Jewish Religion this is important).  Such as the Mount of olives where Rachel. is buried (Nope can't enter there we seriously can't)  Where Moses was buried (Or thought to), Yitzchak, Yaakov, These things are also important to us and we can't enter either, Isn't this stripping us of "Our rights" as well.  What do you think....That Israel holds ultimate control, Because we don't.

We Tried holding a cease fire, Lasted a week, Missiles were shot destroyed about 10 homes, Happens each time.  I dont even think we responded.

How about Americans?  Why doesn't anyone scream at them for "TAKING" away land from Indians?  And Look how much the Americans took, Israelis only dream of holding that much land.  We are the size of Rhode Island.  we are 1/50th of US.  Iam going crazy from these opinions, Yet Can't change opinions of those who are set on it.  But I still believe and know that Israelis are also suffering, Always were I know this from experience.

For someone who claimed to be here not looking for an argument, you sure seem to be doing alot of arguing.

Yep.  it was my feeling in the beggning.  Can't help it.  Im not just going to stand by not voicing my opinion.  And If it leads to arguement, Let it. I want to share my feeling on this too.

Yet sorry to attack. But those are my opinions.  I guess I'll put an end to this.