RE: What are we responsible for? (was RE: Attack)

[Baardwijk, J. van DTO/SLBD/BGM/SVM/SGM]

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: John D. Giorgis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Verzonden: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 3:14 AM
> Aan: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Onderwerp: Re: What are we responsible for? (was RE: Attack)

> >Allow me to make a contribution to that list:
> >
> >- Mess around in a region where you are not wanted.
> 
> This is very interesting.
> 
> I've done some checking around, and since the Bush Administration
> started, the following have called for increased American involvement
> in the Middle East:
> Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan, the EU
> 
> Wow, we sound really unwanted.

Israel is good friends with the US (and the only friend the US have in the
Middle East), so it makes sense that Israel asks for increased US
involvement. The European Union is not situated in the Middle East
(otherwise it would be called the Middle Eastern Union).

That leaves you with two countries and one Territory. How many countries
were there in the Middle East, again?


> >- Support a country that keeps other nations' soil occupied.
> 
> Actually, Palestine is not a nation, any more than the Cheyenne, Sioux
> and Iroquois are a "nation."

The West Bank and Gaza were not Israeli soil; if they were, they would be
called "Israeli Territories", not "Occupied Territories". Note that I did
not say that Israel keeps *Palestinian* soil occupied.


> This, however, exposes the inherent contradictory nature of your logic.
> If Palestine is a country, then Palestine is a country at war with
> Israel, and Israel is acting in self-defence.

AFAIK, Palestine is not (yet) a sovereign country.


> If Palestine is not a country, and part of Israel, then Israel is not
> keeping another nation's soil occupied.
> 
> It can only be one or the other.

As pointed out above, it is neither. The Occupied Territories are neither
Israeli nor Palestinian soil, but (IIRC) Jordanian and Syrian.

There is, therefore, nothing contradictory about the nature of my logic.


Jeroen

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