Ask an Israel-American

[momo1000]

The Memorial of the Assassination of Yitzhak (Isaac) Rabin, the 5th Prime Minister of Israel, was on November 4th, and when I asked people about it I realized no one even knew who Yitzhak Rabin was! I decided to create this thread to answer any questions about Israel, though it should be known I am heavily biased, so don't expect any unbiased answers especially about Palestine. I reserve the right to not answer or ignore a question if I cannot answer it or I feel it is inappropriate.

Some background information on me:

While I was not born in Israel, both my parents are Israeli and I speak fluent Hebrew. I have travelled to Israel at least once a year (sometimes more) and am a full Israeli citizen. I personally believe in a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine (In Israeli politics I would be a left-winger), though I do have Jewish friends who live in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Ok, I think that's it. Go nuts!

 

[Lillefix]

There was a thread here on the forum about the Haradrim and that they were becoming a serious burden for Israel. Any inkling of how much truth there is to that? It was mentioned that they didn't work, had extreme amounts of children and many were quite obnoxious. Do you know anything about this?

 

[amadeus]

Do you support U.S. aid to Israel?

 

[momo1000]

There was a thread here on the forum that the Haradrim were becoming a serious burden for Israel. Any inkling of how much truth there is to that? It was mentioned that they didn't work, had extreme amounts of children and many were quite obnoxious. Do you know anything about this?

I don't want to offend anyone, but yes, the Heradim (Ultra-Ultra Orthodox Jews) are a pain. Instead of working, they study holy books all day and have oodles and oodles of kids, who in turn, will live off government tax money and have more kids. They also are exempt from military service, though a large number of them have recently grown a National Fervor and joined the army/entered politics, which is bad news for left-wingers since they are SUPER right-wing.

Interesting story: there are certain neighborhoods in Jerusalem occupied only by Heradim. On Saturday, the Jewish day of rest, they have been known to throw rocks at ambulances passing through the neighborhoods. Not only does this sound awful, but in Jewish practice, one is allowed to not follow any commandments (except no killing, no raping, no converting) to save a life. Also, wouldn't throwing rocks count as working

Do you support U.S. aid to Israel?

Yes, 100%. Without America, Israel would not exist. On it's own, it does not have the money to buy all the defenses and weapons needed to protect itself from terrorism or invasion.

 

[Blue Emu]

Can you give us a short history of the underlying causes of friction between Israel and their neighbours? Does it really go all the way back to the Babylonian Captivity?

 

[kronic]

What's your opinion on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities?

 

[momo1000]

Can you give us a short history of the underlying causes of friction between Israel and their neighbours? Does it really go all the way back to the Babylonian Captivity?

I'll try. If you believe the Biblical Story (I believe in parts, mostly the first half of Prophets*), after the Exodus, the Israelites came to Canaan and wooped serious native butt. At the same time-ish, a tribe from across the sea (possibly Greeks) landed in what is know the Gaza Strip and founded Philistina. Israel and the Philistines became arch-enemies, with the majority of the wars in Prophets fought between the two. They are responsible for the death of King Shaul as well. Also, Israel and Edom, a country now in southern Jordan, became enemies. Edom was also supposedly a metaphor for Rome and are considered by ancient Rabbis to be Israel's biggest enemy. Of course, they don't exist now. Anyway, Israel has a civil war, the kingdom splits into Israel and Judah, Israel gets pwned, Judah gets beat up, the Judeans (Jews) get shipped to Babylon, Persia saves the day and Cyrus allows us to go back to Judah. Alexander the Great swings by for a visit and ends up letting his BFF Seleucid ruin our lives. We kick Greek butt with the help of Rome who turn on us (typical Romans) and destroy our Temple and exile us. Skip forward a couple thousand years and BOOM! Israel is back in action, 1948, and everybody around us hates us. The End.

*The first half being more a chronology then a fairytale. It includes Joshua (Invasion of Canaan), Samuel (Shaul and David) an dKings (Solomon, the Civil War, and Exile).

What's your opinion on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities?

Full support. Anything to get less nukes in madmen's hands.

 

[Takhisis]

Light question: where are the world's best kneidalaj?

There was a thread here on the forum about the Haradrim and that they were becoming a serious burden for Israel. Any inkling of how much truth there is to that? It was mentioned that they didn't work, had extreme amounts of children and many were quite obnoxious. Do you know anything about this?

I assume they'll come riding Oliphaunts and trying to destroy Minas Tirith Jerusalem.

Heavier questions:

What's your opinion on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities?

Full support. Anything to get less nukes in madmen's hands.

And the difference between them and Ehud Barak or Avigdor lieberman would be…?

Because apparently Israel attacking other people is fine but other people having the means to attack Israel is not? The only country ever to have used atomic weaponry in warfare is the US, should Israel attack them as well?

P.S. what about those nucear devices you 'don't' have?

 

[amadeus]

Do you belive it is the responsibility of the U.S. to prevent Middle Eastern countries from secretly developing and deploying nuclear weapons?

 

[momo1000]

Because apparently Israel attacking other people is fine but other people having the means to attack Israel is not? The only country ever to have used atomic weaponry in warfare is the US, should Israel attack them as well?

P.S. what about those nucear devices you 'don't' have?

As I said, I'm very biased. I don't like nukes at all, and I don't like Ahmedinijad. I know that nukes are weapons of massive destruction, and I believe they should only be used to intimidate other countries into not having war. That being said, I don't want any country that hates Israel to have the capacity to build nukes. I'm sure the Americans don't want North Korea building them either.

Do you belive it is the responsibility of the U.S. to prevent Middle Eastern countries from secretly developing and deploying nuclear weapons?

I'd like it if no one had nukes.

 

[JollyRoger]

So you understand why Iran would like nukes if Israel has them?

 

[Glassfan]

Do you belive it is the responsibility of the U.S. to prevent Middle Eastern countries from secretly developing and deploying nuclear weapons?

It's the responsibilty of all the signatories (including "Middle Eastern countries") of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. But in that the treaty has no enforcement protocal (no teeth), then preventing rogue states from acquiring nuclear weapons is a catch-as-catch-can operation. Some states take this seriously, but many don't.

 

[momo1000]

So you understand why Iran would like nukes if Israel has them?

Of course. Once again, I just plain don't like Ahmedinijad.

 

[amadeus]

When you heard the head of Iran's secret police slapped Ahmadinejad in the face for being too liberal, did you think that maybe he isn't the puppetmaster in Iran?

 

[momo1000]

Err no, I had not heard that.

 

[Dumanios]

In your opinion, who is the best Israeli Prime Minister?

When you heard the head of Iran's secret police slapped Ahmadinejad in the face for being too liberal, did you think that maybe he isn't the puppetmaster in Iran?

Did that really happen, because I must see.

 

[momo1000]

In your opinion, who is the best Israeli Prime Minister?

Possibly Yitzhak Rabin, as I am a huge supporter of the peace process.

 

[muhtesem insan]

What's your proposition for a solution on palestine?

 

[momo1000]

What's your proposition for a solution on palestine?

I say two-state solution in a perfect world, but with Hamas, I don't think it's an option. So maybe Israel in control, with more Palestinian rights?

 

[muhtesem insan]

I say two-state solution in a perfect world, but with Hamas, I don't think it's an option. So maybe Israel in control, with more Palestinian rights?

do you believe Palestinian people would accept that, would you accept Palestinian control with jew rights.