Israel's anti-war voices struggle to make an impact: BBC

[Bhaisahab]

<SNIP>

According to recent opinion polls, as many as 90% of Israeli citizens approve of the offensive against Hezbollah and want it to continue.

"The situation with Hezbollah and Iran created a siege mentality among the Israeli people," said veteran Israeli pollster, Rafi Smith.

"Whenever Israel is attacked, people are always more patriotic and support the government, which is why so many people support this war."

Voices of dissent are scarce, but despite overwhelming public approval for the campaign, there is still a small number of Israelis who have come out against the conflict.

In Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Saturday night, some 2,000 protesters, both Jews and Arabs, held a demonstration against the war, and - unusually in Israel - the country's alliance with the United States.

<SNIP>

In the northern port city of Haifa, which has suffered dozens of missile strikes, around 50 demonstrators held a road-side protest on the corner of Lebanon Gate street, under the watchful eye of the border police.



Continued at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5208718.stm
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EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

[Selatius]

1. They must feel so alone in an ocean of violence begetting violence

"On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right."

Martin Luther King, Jr., attributed

[Bhaisahab]

3. I agree.

It takes a hell lot of guts to be the first person to speak up. Fuck it if it sounds romantic or typically bleedinghearty, these folks in Israel are heroes.

[Binka]

4. It Doesn't Sound Romantic It Sounds Brave & Noble

They are heroes.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. bushie was in the high 90s -- until people began to see through him

This 10% in Israel will grow. The people there have been duped by con artists -- they have been lied to.

But when the weight of world opinion breaks through their cult like fever -- they will throw the bastards out. Anyway this is my hope -- because I do believe that Israelis like people everywhere are basically good people.

Or perhaps I am just completely delusional -- and everyone is really evil??

[cali]

5. Nah, people aren't basically really evil but

neither are they basically good; they're basically persuadeable.

[DELUSIONAL]

6. Thank god for the ignore button

I have no idea what the response is -- but probably nasty.

I have made heavy use of the ignore button in the last few days -- I highly recommend this great DU feature.

[tanyev]

8. It's not nasty at all.

Maybe you should read it before you post comments about it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. May their numbers increase eom