the israel/palestine issue

[JI7]

why do you think this issue gets so much more debate than other foreign issues ? so much that there is a separate section just for this. but rather than arguing about what side you are on and why, i'm wondering just why it so much attention and debate which most of the times gets very "heated" and emotional.

[ComerPerro]

1. Judiasm vs. Islam

Plus, it takes place in the holy land.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. It's the one issue where Dems and Repubs speak with one voice

Unconditional support for whatever Israel wants to do.

Discussion of the issue here is confined to the basement because there are a few people who disagree with the party on this issue, and Dem policiticans depend on AIPAC the same as Repub ones do.

Having a place for it allows those who disagree with the Sharon regime to "vent" without being too visible, or potentially offensive to contributors.

Internationally, it is the one issue that defines the US for most of the world, and the basis of a decades old foreign policy that is not in the best interests of either ordinary Americans or ordinary Israelis.

On the other hand, defense contractors think it's nifty!

[beanball]

3. The American people

have bought the lie that the Israeli's are victims of Palestinian terrorism when the truth is just the opposite,the Israelis are oppresive intruders that treat the Palestinians just as their ancestors were treated by the Nazis,in other words they are no beter than the nazis.

[dfong63]

4. ask yourself this

why do you think this issue gets so much more debate than other foreign issues ?

why do you think Israel is the number 1 recipient of US foreign aid?

could there be some connection?

[durutti]

5. A Few Reasons

1. For good or no, the U.S. provides an extremely large amount of aid (military and otherwise) to Israel. Thus, Americans have a special responsibility to scrutinize Israeli actions.

2. There's an active movement opposing the occupation, and has been for decades. There isn't really one opposing, say, oppression of women in Saudi Arabia.

3. It's a very complicated and interesting conflict.

[_Jumper_]

6. #4: Skin color

The people that most Americans consider to be victims in this conflict are predominantly white-skinned people. If the same conflict happened involving Ethiopian Jews it wouldn't get 10% the coverage.