It is interesting to see the concerted efforts to re-interprete the aftermath of Goldteins act. The ‘joke’ on the streets at the time was; Sure, Goldstein is to blame……he could have easily got away and done the same at another 3 or 4 mosques.

would you be in thus favor of releasing Mr. Goldstein…as a good faith building measure to the “settlers”? Of course, let me state the obvious that Mr. Goldstein is in prison via the Israelis and is far from a “national hero”…

You reall tickle my funny bone in a perverse sort of way. It’s not so “obvious” that Goldstein is in prison as he is actually dead, killed by those he tried to murder. He is memorialized as a hero in the cemetery where he is buried & his followers dance every yr. at Purim by his grave celebrating his legacy of hate. If your knowledge of this event is anything like yr overall knowledge of the entire conflict it’s piss poor pathetic.

As part of final status negotiations I’d be in favor of creating a S. African-style Truth & Reconciliation Commission before which Israels & Palestinians who’ve engaged in terror against civilians could appeal for clemency by detailing their crimes & asking for teshuva. Those who take advantage should be shown clemency. Those who don’t should not. Yigal Amir would never appeal for clemency I assure you as he is proud of what he’s done.

So your argument is that settler murder, brutality & thuggery is justified by Palestinian terror? That’s certainly a morally tenable position isn’t it??? BTW, if someone condemns an act of terror it’s a contradition in terms to say he justifies the same act. But you wouldn’t be bothered by such niceties of rhetorical argument now would you.

No, I didn’t say that and that’s a very “cute” way of avoiding the question and casting aspersion, you seem adept at that?
I, in fact questioned how you know “settlers regularly brutalize Palestinians and will “”never stop”"”… talk about a man claiming a thorwn about opinion as fact in what’s supposed to be a factual argument. Yet you call me a “racist” below for stating a fact, that this murderer and murder in the past has been lionized as it was in Fatah’s official PA newspaper.

You in the next sentence claim -

And don’t tell me that 90% of settlers reject such atrocious behavior. It’s more likely that 90% of settlers support such behavior or at least accept it tacitly w/o condemning it. It’s not enough to turn away from murder (which I’m not at all convinced the majority do). Setttlers ought to turn away from brutality, thuggery, land theft, etc. They don’t & they never will.

Yet in the next breath call me racist for stating a fact that the PA media glorifies murder and murderers… Is it not a FACT that Abbas’s Fatah media glorified this latest murderer? YES or NO?

Yet you apply a different standard to the Palestinians then you do in the same comment thread to the settlers who in your opinion as a GROUP are radicalized adn don’t do enough to condemn bullying… Above we have wanton murder justified by the PA official newspaper not to mention vast support for the murder..

Finally, answer the question, would you be in thus favor of releasing Mr. Goldstein or Pollard, as a good faith building measure to the “settlers” (let me be more precise and state the settlers from Hebron) as a “good faith” building measure to “stop bullying”?

Of course, let me state the obvious that Mr. Goldstein is in prison via the Israelis and is far from a “national hero” as this latest Palestinian murderer was treated.

Just asking a rationale questions since you are the one who is for releasing Mr. Kuntar to Hezbollah, a man who shattered the skull of a child in front of the parent and sibling just for fun.

I am reminded of a saying by the American comic, “Moms” Mabley: “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.” My fervent wish for both sides is that they notice that what they “always did” is not working, has never worked, and that it is time for a new idea.

the Palestinian population is radicalized due to a culture that justifies, glorifies and teaches murder and hate.

Jeremiah: It’s too bad you have none of the compassion of your Biblical namesake who would blush at your racism. But before I go on read my comment rules very carefully. You have violated them egregiously. No one here gets to spout the racist nonsense you have above. If you want to do that go to the JPost talkbacks or Little Green Footballs. I treat anti-Zionists who preach hatred against Israel in the same way btw. Try this crap again & you’ll be banned outright.

Perhaps, Mr. Silverstein would be for releasing Mr. Kuntar for a “cease fire” with Hezbollah

As for your second comment (6:01 PM) I have no idea what most of it means & couldn’t follow it at all. As for the question above yes, I’d be in favor of releasing Kuntar in return for a verifiable, sustainable resolution of the conflict with Lebanon. So would many Israeli commentators who I have quoted here on precisely this subject.

he just cited a poll that a vast majority support the brutal murder committed by a Palestinian who was then glorified by Hamas and Fatah in each’s news media… so again we are left with the hypocrisy of listening to him then half justify the reason for this attack while still ‘condemning it’

So your argument is that settler murder, brutality & thuggery is justified by Palestinian terror? That’s certainly a morally tenable position isn’t it??? BTW, if someone condemns an act of terror it’s a contradition in terms to say he justifies the same act. But you wouldn’t be bothered by such niceties of rhetorical argument now would you.

Now listen to me carefully. You’ve just published three comments in this thread. You are done here. If you wish to comment on other threads you may. But I’ve heard all I can stomach fr. you here. Publish in the thread again (which you of course will do since people like you always do) & you’ll be taking an enforced vacation. Remember, I’m the baale bus & what I say goes here. Don’t like the rules don’t come to play.

There are the thugs who beat up Palestinians whenever they get a chance.

Is that a proven fact or is Mr. Silverstein just privy to a higher power on that one?

And don’t tell me that 90% of settlers reject such atrocious behavior. It’s more likely that 90% of settlers support such behavior or at least accept it tacitly w/o condemning it. It’s not enough to turn away from murder (which I’m not at all convinced the majority do). Setttlers ought to turn away from brutality, thuggery, land theft, etc. They don’t & they never will.

Amazing, considering he just cited a poll that a vast majority support the brutal murder committed by a Palestinian who was then glorified by Hamas and Fatah in each’s news media… so again we are left with the hypocrisy of listening to him then half justify the reason for this attack while still ‘condemning it’… but yet showing us more intelligent understanding minds how it is in fact really Israel’s fault why the Palestinians support and cheer this attack as a culture….

“They don’t and they never will” again more privy info from his crystal magic ball.

you are stating, the Palestinian NEVER hated the Jews here, there CURRENT hatred is only derived from a PRE-EXISTING Jewish hatred of Palestinians.

Bar Kochba: My intent was to refer only to the CURRENT cycle of violence beginning with the Gaza attack, the Merkaz HaRav shooting & the Jabel Mukaber pogrom. I am not talking about the entire history of Jewish-Arab relations. Whose hate came first historically? I don’t know & I don’t care. It’s something for ideologues or historians of the period to fight about.

in the wake of Barak’s offer to give almost all (but NOT ALL) of what the Palestinians are asking for

Read Clayton Swisher or even Aaron David Miller’s new book about Camp David & then try to pass off as truth the error that Barak offered the Palestinians everything they were asking for. It’s simply historically false & propaganda foisted on the world by Barak to pass the blame to Arafat. You can believe Barak. I choose to believe American Jews who were there & know better.

we should “understand” they [sic] point of view that ANY atrocity is legitimate for purposes of revenge

Not what I said. Not what I believe. Say it again & I’ll call you a smearmongering liar.

even someone who sprays children with bullets…is a great hero in the eyes of the Palestinians

Not just Baruch Goldstein, but there are endless Israeli killers who have attacked Palestinians. But not just the killers. There are the bullies who prevent Palestinians from farming their land. There are the thugs who beat up Palestinians whenever they get a chance. And don’t tell me that 90% of settlers reject such atrocious behavior. It’s more likely that 90% of settlers support such behavior or at least accept it tacitly w/o condemning it. It’s not enough to turn away from murder (which I’m not at all convinced the majority do). Setttlers ought to turn away from brutality, thuggery, land theft, etc. They don’t & they never will.

80+% of Palestinians think spraying kids with bullets is a “noble, heroic act”

Whether or not you are willing to admit this you know that if the tables were turned and Palestinians Arabs were Israeli Jews and Israelis were Palestinians; if Israel was a small, weak non-state with no army to defend itself; if the Arab Palestine was a strong state seeking to dominate the Jews with its military power & occupying its land–you know that the Jews would respond almost precisely as the current Palestinians are responding. That doesn’t make either side right in justifying their use of terror against the “enemy.” Terror is wrong on both sides. But unlike you I see terror and blame on both sides.

NOT a good sign.

Am not optimistic about the peace process.