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I beg to differ

Reader comment on item: How Trump Put Netanyahu in an Untenable Position

Submitted by Dave Girvitz (Canada), Aug 16, 2019 at 23:10

Normally, I read your opinions with great interest. This time, however, I would have to disagree. Denying the 2 congresswomen was the right decision that was made for the wrong reasons. Despite whether the issue may have been to please Trump, the reality is that these two are irredentists.

Your first reason is implausible. Their itinerary indicated that they would not meet with any Israeli interlocutors (except for members of If Not Now). They had no intention of seeing or hearing any point of view that could be construed as pro-Israeli. As a result, they would never learn anything that would lead them to soften their views.

Your second reason is a false dichotomy. Given that their agenda was to raise further grudges against Israel, the fact that they have one more is minor. The real choice was to either a) give the pair another petty grievance against Israel or b) allow them to increase hostility to Israel in front of the international media. In addition, the probability of staged or spontaneous acts of violence would need to be considered.

The third reason is weak. For too long Israel has been too accommodating to those who would seek it harm. By trying to promote legislation promoting BDS, they have crossed the line from criticism to action. By denying them entry, Israel has sent a strong message of how far would be activists will be allowed in antagonizing Israel. If they are coming to support the destruction of the state or to promote potential acts of violence, they should not be welcome.

The fourth reason is a restatement of the first. The pair had no intention of meeting with any Israelis, so any attempt to lavish them with hospitality and good will would not happen. They came with an agenda to demonize Israel and they would not even attempt to listen to other points of view.

Although I would tend to agree with the fifth reason, I support a free speech exception for hate speech. It can be argued that by supporting a single side of the conflict with an agenda that would tend to promote violence along with a sponsor that has engaged in anti-Semitic canards would qualify as hate speech.

As a result, this would be one of the few times that I strong disagree with you.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2Pipes: Tlaib offered the conditions, *not* Israel [245 words]Frumious FalafelSep 8, 2019 10:58254099
The Comment Andrew Lapin Did Not Yet Publish re Tlaib [186 words]BobbyAug 20, 2020 10:52254099
HYPOCRISY AND RACISM: Squad, Omar, Tlaib, Shakir... [119 words]MiguelJul 19, 2021 17:40254099
1How Trump Put Netanyahu in an Untenable Position [70 words]amos zotAug 25, 2019 05:38253366
2Damned if you do, damned if you don't [478 words]Concerned humanistAug 22, 2019 19:45253228
2A rare agreement with Trump [141 words]Ron ThompsonAug 19, 2019 13:06253034
4Violence [112 words]EdwardAug 18, 2019 14:02252987
3You started from a false premise [66 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
SDNAug 18, 2019 12:55252981
2BB was Right [104 words]Bill R.Aug 18, 2019 12:36252979
3Islamists in garb of lawmakers [72 words]AnilAug 18, 2019 12:21252978
Islamists in garb of lawmakers and more [107 words]PrashantAug 25, 2019 21:49252978
2It's about a war [51 words]Nan AbramsAug 18, 2019 00:40252955
1Israel's integrity not PC negotiable [102 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Cal MillerAug 17, 2019 19:49252946
2Israel would not have been able to "control the narrative" [233 words]Anon.Aug 17, 2019 18:19252939
Being Out Played [10 words]Barry BlackAug 18, 2019 15:45252939
2I Disagree on All 5 Points! [193 words]David RyanAug 17, 2019 17:23252936
2those who fail to learn from history... [554 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Charles MartelAug 17, 2019 16:21252933
2How Trump Put Netanyahu in an Untenable Position [62 words]Zionist MomAug 17, 2019 13:31252926
1Both Netanyahu and Pres. Trump are right [101 words]Alex BaldorAug 17, 2019 13:16252923
1Prime Minister Netanyahu pressured by President Trump [213 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Darlene CasellaAug 17, 2019 12:03252919
1Trump is right from his point of view [33 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
BernardZAug 17, 2019 11:42252918
Oh Brother! [43 words]Barry BlackAug 17, 2019 10:29252917
2Heads: Israel's enemies win. Tails: Israel loses [248 words]DaveAug 17, 2019 10:15252916
How Trump Put Netanyahu in an Untenable Position. Tlaib was exposed. [689 words]Anne-USAAug 17, 2019 09:23252914
2Rookies in Congress, German or English supremacy? [124 words]The Eye BallAug 17, 2019 08:54252911
1Respectfully disagree [163 words]Abu AliAug 17, 2019 08:03252908
6I stand with BB [81 words]Hon Sirajin Rollings-KamaraAug 17, 2019 03:12252901
10I beg to differ [388 words]Dave GirvitzAug 16, 2019 23:10252894
Not a matter of "a free speech exception for hate speech" [133 words]Anon.Aug 17, 2019 18:28252894
not with you on this one [92 words]bruce l bialoskyAug 18, 2019 08:25252894
7Israel was right. [65 words]Kenneth MathewsAug 16, 2019 22:45252893
Disappointed reading today's article [100 words]Palti SelaAug 17, 2019 09:15252893
1I surmise that your mistaken because Donald Trump is unlike Richard Pipes or Barack Obama [741 words]RobertSep 9, 2019 01:35252893

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