Neither. As someone who is not related to either side of the issue, I feel that it's really none of my business and honestly I can understand both sides (for the most part - I notice that the Palestinians tend to be more extreme, but maybe that's just what I see in the American media).

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I did not vote simply because I know for a fact that I am not nearly as informed as I should be to make any decision. Personally, I think it was asshole-ish of the British to just take control of part of Palestine for the Israelis, but I also think that the Jewish community in general deserved some sort of recompense or apology for the atrocious horrors that were commited against them while a large part of the world stood by and ignored it. Basically, I can meta about it, but I can't come to any kind of decision.

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pretty much this, but I kind of lean more towards the Palestinian side. Possibly because I did this project on the kinds of violations that the Israeli government and military commit against normal, everyday Palestinians, who are not the suicide-bombing terrorists that we hear about on the news, but who are getting their homes bulldozed without explanation or having their ambulances held up for hours at roadblocks. Though I also hope it goes without saying that of course this does not excuse the atrocities committed by Palestinian extremists. It's just. Ugh. Fucking complicated and I am no way well-informed enough to form a truly valid opinion, nor do I have any particular personal connection to either side, aside from a few Jewish friends.

Edited at 2008-10-26 03:31 am (UTC)

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I don't wanna agree or disagree, but I'd like to point out that the British didn't take control of the land for that purpose or any purpose. It'd been their since they took it from the Ottoman Empire after WWI.

And I wasn't talking about the creation of the State, really. I was more curious about how Israel and the Palestinians treat each other now.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

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Really? That's interesting, I didn't know that, and that's my point about not having an opinion. I do have my problems with some British colonization, though, especially their incredible mismanagement in India.

I tend to choose sides based on the origin of the problem instead of how it turned out, because I think that's often the more important issue. Looking at how they treat each other today...I don't know. I think members of every side have done reprehensible things.

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Human rights violations are human rights violations, period. I don't think that anyone should get a free pass on committing them, and a fair number of them have been committed by both sides.

Until Palestinians have equal representation in the Israeli government, or their own state, I tend to side with their cause, but I don't think that terrorist action is an appropriate method of advancing any agenda.

(Hint: When American conservatives are lauding your building a massive wall to control geographical access by a population, and saying we should be doing the same thing to control immigration... You're doing it wrong.)

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iawtc.

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yeah, this. i could say more, and i will if you (emily) ask me to clarify my opinions, but i want to avoid any possible head/brick wall scenario for as long as possible.

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I also awtc.

Lol @ me just ripping off everyone else's opinions.

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Politically, I'm pretty ambiguous about the subject. Both sides are in the wrong. Israelis are illegally settling in Palestinian land, breaking up Palestinian communities with border fences, and committing human rights violations against innocent civilians. In the name of what, I'm not very sure. Palestinian extremist continue to aggravate the situation by utilizing terrorist tactics. Countries like Iran, Lebanon, and the United States add to the problem of finding a diplomatic solution because none of them seem to be able to see the situation from a neutral or reasonable view.

Personally, a close friend of mine in high school was a Palestinian immigrant. Her family was forced to move because of the conflict, and she lost several family members. I think it's sometimes too easy for people not involved in the situation to see Palestinians as some sort of "enemy". That just because they're Arabs, and just because the Jewish people suffered atrocities in WWII, that it's okay for the Palestinians to be mistreated. That in some weird way they actually deserve it. I hope people try and recognize the Palestinians for their humanity, and try to understand their point of view, instead of automatically leaping to the defense of the Israeli government.

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