Civilized Israel
Reader comment on item: "The Hell of Israel Is Better than the Paradise of Arafat"

Submitted by Asim Ahmed (United Kingdom), Apr 15, 2005 at 15:41

I think Daniel has the "wrong end of the stick" when it comes to the issue of Palestinians not voting in the free elections held by the PA.

"Most Arab Jerusalemites would not vote in the election due to concern that voting in them might jeopardize their status as residents of Israel. They feel that if they did then somehow they would be deported to areas run by the PA. "

However this is not the whole picture. The principle reason is that they fear what the Israelis might do to them in these so called PA areas. They feel safer and more secure in Israel where they know that the IDF would not dare use tactics that they do in the PA administered areas. Furtheremore Pipes's statement "In word and deed, then, even Palestinians acknowledge Israel as the most civilized state in the Middle East" One could argue that states who have peace and prosperity for all citizens not depending on race, coulour religion etc are more civilized then Israel. Who are these Arab countries?? Try Kuwait, Dubai, Lebanon etc. countries in which Palestinians refugees have came to and prospered.

Here in Scotland I know of not one student amongst our campus that would like to travel to Israel for fear of his life and limb.
Asim Ahmed

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