Jeroen asked
<<Suppose your brother kills a Palestinian. The Palestinian Authority sends
a group of soldiers to your house, they give you one hour to remove your
possessions, then blow up your house in retaliation for the death of the
Palestinian killed by your brother. Do you think that would be fair?>>
I answered & explained:
<<"You think that there is symmetry between Israeli soldier and Palestinian
terrorist. I don't see such symmetry. <SHRUG> How do I feel? I feel that
Palestinians are trying to throw me into the sea and
I feel justified to return Arafat back to Tunis."
Let's re-phrase (sp) it: "I feel that Palestinians are trying to throw me
into the sea and I feel justified to return Arafat back to Tunis." -
meaning - I *would not* think it would be fair.>>
Jeroen skipped my words
<<"You think that there is symmetry between Israeli soldier and Palestinian
terrorist. I don't see such
symmetry." - is my reason.>>
and wrote
<<You are holding a double standard here. You do not feel it would be fair
if the Palestinian Authority would destroy your home in retaliation, but you
seem to think it is quite alright for the Israeli government to do exactly
the same thing to Palestinians.>>
No I don't. "double standard" implies we are talking two different reactions
to the same thing. I write it again, trying to make it similar: Soldier is
not equal terrorist, policeman is not equal terrorist. Do you understand my
point *now*?
Jeroen wrote
<<This is not about who does the killing, this is about punishing innocent
people for the crimes of their relatives. How can you justify that when it
happens to someone else, but not when it happens to you?>>
I answer:
Family that is proud of one of it's members being shahid can be hardly
called innocent.
I wrote
<<My question is as relevant as yours and is also according a facts. Jewish
settlements in Shomron, Jehudea, Gaza? *Most* of them on the lands that
Palestinians sold. So how about answering *my* question now? Especially the
part about capital city?>>
Jeroen answered:
<<The fact that individual Palestinians sold their land to Israeli's does
not mean Israel can send in her troops to occupy the entire territory.>>
Ilana
Not individuals. Families, villages. Middle people usually involved.
Palestinian Authority pronounced them traitors and they are very often
killed.
Jeroen:
<< I do not even know if those Palestinians sold their land voluntarily, or
were forced to sell it.>>
Ilana: I can't prove that I don't have a sister. I am not even going to try.
You say they were forced? *You* prove it.
Jeroen
<<As for our capital: nobody disputes it, no country (except The
Netherlands, of course) claims it as their capital. If Amsterdam *were* in
the same situation as Jerusalem, we would probably manage to negotiate a
treaty that would be acceptable for all parties.>>
Ilana:
OK so patriotism does not figure here. And how about negotiating with
somebody about *your* library? Is this more personal?
Ilana from Israel
