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Reader comment on item: Abba Eban Speaks on Israel's 10th Anniversary
in response to reader comment: matter of opinion

Submitted by james burke (Canada), May 19, 2008 at 11:32

Madame,

Mr. Eban's dream of a Jewish homeland is one I agree on, but he was ignorant of the depth of the hate found in Islam that could not be resolved through parleys and negotations.

All Israeli leaders are guilty of this, no matter the party. No Israeli leader has ever articulated who or what the enemy is. Instead, the word 'arab' has always been used.

I base my opinion of Ebban on his nonsensical " opportunity to miss an opportunity" quote. Unlike Churchill ( whose disdain for anything muslim is well chronicled ), Mr., Eban - brilliant phrase maker, yes - was naively foolish and a liberal idealist in the modern sense of the word when it came to the thoughts in the dark corners of the minds of Israel's enemies.

As for a "surprising debate" between Dr Pipes and Mr Eban, If he were still alive, I think that this would never happen. He would give Dr. Pipes the "brush off" rather than discuss hudnas, fitnas, taqiyyas, etc.. in order not to damage the chances of kadima or labour in the next election nor hurt his friendship with the well coiffed and debonair cravatier shimon peres. The Dorian Gray of Israeli politics.

In 1978, in Israel, a holocaust survivor, living in Toronto who is now deceased, told me to read the Koran to find what he called " a recipe of hatred against all the non muslim world". I did not listen to him. I did not listen to Dr. Pipes until 9/12.

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