withdrawal from new housing
Reader comment on item: Hezbollah's Victory, Israel's Decline

Submitted by Sir Daniel Tobin (United States), Feb 3, 2004 at 15:05

I hope the descent will stop when Israel leaves the Gaza strip(but not the West Bank) and stops building new homes and razing Palestinian lands. I visited for about 10 days in January 1996 after Arafat won an election to head the PA, and visited the various houses of worship and the Knesset with long time Catholic friends of my family the Robinsons of Quogue, LI, and attorney Vince Mangini of Plainsboro,NJ, and I think it was the last time there was peace in the area.

I am not particularly pro-palestinian, as they have so many violent factions, but I came away feeling that the Israeli Doves had a great point of accommodating some palestinians as the suffering from attacks could be overcome with prayers at the Western Wall, where rock throwing Mohammedists can't really reach because it would strain their arms! That may read like a joke, but I assure you it is not. There are always so many stories about the horrific al-aqsa martyrs'brigade, but I felt very safe with the pilgrimage of about 80 from St.Joseph's College,Patchogue, LI, and so many down-to-earth knish and souvenir vendors around.

I remember one of the archaeologists at a dig complaining that my country was to blame for the condition of his home, and that the underground tunnel site near the Western wall would be big news in my country in a couple of months, and that I should free my congress from zionism-I told him with great indignation that I could not possibly change policy single-handedly, even if I wanted to, and that I was proud of my country and my Christianity, and that I would not apologize for either one-He went back to work after one of his friends and/or co-workers said something like,"leave him alone, he is alright" and that was that.

I would recommend a ...listening tour for you Mister Pipes-I don't mean that sarcastically, but hopefully and peacefully you will moderate the ugly factions of Islam.

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