Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: The profitable occupation, and why it is never discussed [View all]I agree that Israel has a bad international reputation. I used to think it must be somewhat justified before I really started looking into it. I have come to the conclusion that the larger world is what's gone to hell in a hand basket on this issue - the anti-Israel whining here being a minor example of that. I personally find that Israel is one of the few bright spots that gives some hope for human civilization. I've never seen any other Western power be so kind and gentle to enemies that continually try - over and over again - everything they possibly can do to destroy Israel and kill its citizens. I would certainly be for impeaching any president of my country who did not try to respond to an armed attack like rockets fired on the US in a way that did not guarantee that the perpetrators would not ever be able to attack us or anyone else again.
As far as Israel's domestic issues, that doesn't concern me so much except as a passing interest. They are a true democracy that gives all its citizens equal rights by law. That means if the citizens don't like what's happening they all equally have the means to change it. For me, that's what counts and makes them worthy of my respect. I'd say they are doing a very decent job under extremely difficult conditions. Imagine what the ME would be like today if the Palestinians had followed a similar path of accommodation in 1947 and accepted the Partition Plan and tried to make the best of it as the Jews did.