I know that it sometimes doesn’t sound like this, but i am against this war as much as i am against any other war. I don’t believe that any war should be taken, and most wars are just using the citizens as cannon-meat and flesh-negotiations in unreasonable fights for power. This war, however, began in sin. It began from the depths of the Israeli-Lebanese border. It was waged due to the fact that both Israel and the Hizbullah had to do something to prove that they didn’t reconcile with their final goals: Israel with the disarmament of Hizbullah, which threatens Israel’s security of the northern border, and the Hizbullah’s wish to destroy Israel.
Unlike some business negotiations i attended, where an alternative solution which satisfies all parties was achieved without any of them jeopardising their initial position in the negotiation, of them being right, here the conflicty is too hard to dismantle. It’s not a conflict where two people want the same territory, and may be able to accept something in between, it’s irrecognition. that’s why, for the meantime, it’s hard for me to oppose this war.
However, i do oppose it, but not in the same manner as other protesters. On a completely different matter, i would like you to go to this website and watch Eran’s video of saturday’s demonstration where you can see what the common Israeli thinks of the demonstrators, unfortunately. I guess this is one of the things that makes me supportive of the demonstrators, though they are not offering any mean for peace.
This upcoming Wednesday, i shall attend a parliament committee meeting regarding the Israel-Lebanon war in cyberspace and try to explain the current position and possible solutions. I mean, i do have a bridge to the nation’s leaders and a way to make them listen. It seems that as time goes by i have more options to point out the injustice The problem, which i saw when i attended other discussions, is that mostly what comes out is an unsettled resolution.
Therefore, my assignment for the readers of this blog: no matter where are you from, you have me to use as a vessel to pass a message to the Israeli parliament. I am here to show the parliament that the internet is not to be used only for surveillance, information, espionage and propaganda. You can use me to pass a message through. If you can send me a link to a youtube video you recorded yourself with a message, i’ll do my best to show it. If you have a text, i’ll try to send the message out.
“I am here to show the parliament that the internet is not to be used only for surveillance, information, espionage and propaganda.” hmm, so when I look at my sitemeter to see where people are linking into my blog, is ‘that’ was ‘unknown country’ means?? lol , oh well. I guess since I am not advocating anyone’s death I should be ok! (in fact, the opposite)
That is a great opportunity you have coming up Jonathan , in fact, you might want to provide the committee with a list of one or two line sentences from different bloggers who have suggestions or ideas they’d like to be considered. That way, the people on the committee can look them over again after the meeting and perhaps, some words will resonate.
So I will put the word out on my blog and hopefully some of my blogger friends will respond one way or another, before wednesday.
btw..thanks for the interview with Ido. If you do see him, ask him for the translated version as I would like to post it on my blog. Sometime this week perhaps? No takers yet but did get one referral to a site you’re probably familiar with. I’ll email it to you later as I do not have it handy right now.
btw..I do not think it’s irrecognition that is the issue, although Hezbullah will always be extreme in their words advocating Israel’s demise. But I do believe that if Israel does provide the list with the locations of the landmines in Southern Lebanon and does release Lebanese as requested, that would go a long way. I do not believe that this incident was merely a provocation as a reaction. The triggering event I guess is what people dispute. Regardless, I think there is a way to get the Lebanese and Palestinians to regard the Israelis favourably, but there are some precipitating issues that would need to be addressed. Anyhow..as if people are going to agree any time soon right? What we can agree with is the thing that is common to all human beings which is safety, and economic stability. And don’t forget the issue of water.
Good luck and I will post on this tonight, as always, stay safe! Wish you did not have to be fearful for your life..
Ingrid
Jonathan, you are a man of conviction and and passion, and that will be your best allie. If I can think of something that’s particularly enlightening, I’ll pass it on; otherwise, I won’t clutter up your time with something mundane. Understand we will support your efforts either way.
Zeb
I guess that you’ll tell the Members of Knesset how blogs have become popular and widespread. Not only in the US and in Israel, but also in Lebanon. I guess that you’ll also tell them about how blogs are used in this conflict, as a means of communications between people on both sides. It gives an opputinity to hear how everyday life is on the other side. This is something that the media usually doesn’t deal with.
.
That was an intro…. So, maybe you’ll suggest them to start their own blogs? Some can write in English and some can write in Arabic. They don’t really need to blog by themselves all the time. They have assistants for that.
They would have a chance to represent Israel. The media usually talks only to the seniors. I’m sure that some of them have what to say and aren’t heard. Every politician wants attention.
They would also get good PR for being modern, up to date, and of course, patriotic.
I’m not sure that they will be open minded for this idea, but it’s worth giving it a shot.
Ingrid,
I’ve passed the word to Ido, we’ll see if he can translate it and send it to you, as i don’t think Maariv is translated to english. as for your words:
I don’t think that israel was the only one who mined lebanon, and i’m quite sure that even if israel gives a list of mines it won’t be helpful. As for the prisoners, we are holding a very small number of prisoners, all held here for crimes comitted in israel; since we let most of them go when the trade was made with Elhanan Tennenbaum.
Yohay, I don’t really think that parliament members will start having their own blogs as they are too busy with other matters. however, they might consider getting some of the info from blogs or maybe having a technology and new media consultant like Dov Hanin has (Guy west) or maybe having a seminar to their parlamentary assistants as to how to deal with new media.
Getting info from blogs would be the first thing they should do.
I still think that having an assistant send out a message once a week is possible for a very busy MK.
.
Did you get any interesting messages to your bottle?
.
BTW, which parliament committee is it?
I’m working on getting messages, but the blogoshpere is not that quick.
The committee is the “Science & Technology” committee.
Jonathan,
Tell them that the whole world wants a state of Israel living in peace, side by side, with her neighbours, but that this will never happen unless Israel address the basic wrong that is the occupation of Palestine.
The situation in Lebanon is merely an off-shoot of that much larger problem. The whole world, with the exception of the US condemns the occupation, so you are kidding yourself if you think this is merely a problem you face with the Arab world. The occupation of Palestine is wrong and immoral. It must be ended. It seems everyone can see this except some residents of Israel and the US.
Olmert is wrong to attempt to avoid negotiation with Hamas. For years you negotiated – or at other times didn’t – with Arafat, the monkey. Now you have the chance to talk to the organ grinder, Hamas.
Olmert recently said something along the lines of Israel will negotiate with a reasonable Palestinian government willing to make compromise. They are already settling for 22% of historic Palestine, there are no more compromises for them to make. All Olmert is saying is that he wants to negotiate with someone who will give him what he wants.
That may fool the US but it doesn’t fool Europe and the rest of the world.
It’s time for Israel to seriously negotiate, not to get what you want, but to find what is needed to achieve peace and end a sixty year war.
We might not like Hamas, but the Palestinian people have chosen THEM as their representatives. You should hear what they have to say.
Or do you go on like this for a further sixty years?
What’s going on in Israel and Lebanon is terrible, but a simple prisoner swap would bring that to an end. However, the hatred that fuels these disputes breaking out is to be found in the occupation itself.
I honestly think you are wasting your time if you seek only to end the Lebanon dispute.
You say you fear dying, so do the Palestinians, and they live with that fear on a more daily basis than any of us do.
You don’t know how much i agree with you.
I was asking, however, whether you have a solution.
Jonathan,
The solution, the only solution, lies in resolution 242. Israel must negotiate with Hamas and the solution will look as 242 demands. Israel need not even give up the settlements, simply give the Palestinians an equal amount of Israeli land.
And the right to return issue is not serious, they would move on that if Israel would be reasonable regarding the settlements, I think.
Just my tuppence worth buddy.
But I really think no matter how long this goes on, 242 is the only solution that the EU, Russia and China would accept. And Olmert and Bush have promised to consult the international community. And the EU have promised NOT to recognise any solution that is arrived at unilaterally. So 242 is really all there is.
Jonathan, my message to the parliamentarians would be that bloggers would like (to see) dialogue. I do not think that ‘we’ (bloggers) can contribute to any solutions to the conflict at hand, but that in the long run, a continuous open line between lebanese, israelis and bloggers from gaza with the online support (support for seeking a sustainable solution for all) of outside bloggers would be a good start. The current conflict is taking up everyone’s emotions and putting it aside is difficult, however, the big picture is that everyone in the region wants to live safely with security and economic prospects for all! The water resources will only go so far and finding literally, sustainable living solutions will endear everyone to the commitment of peaceful (working) relations.
(naturally, a few things need to be acknowledged in the long run, like the 242 resolution, but to get people to dialogue, they need to accept the most basic common grounds first..but I am hopeful!)
Good luck, I posted on this on my site (which for some reason seemed to show up blank this morning, hopefully it’ll be rectified soon) last night and emailed some people real quick to ask for their participation. Stay the course inspite of the misgivings of others, ultimately, whatever someone does, they need to do it for themselves, knowing that what they do is the right thing. Thank you for doing this,
Ingrid
Good luck tomorrow!
I’m waiting for your post afterwards…
Kel,
Maybe i didn’t make myself clear, i’m talking about the net, not in general; though i somewhat agree with most of what you say, especially 242.
Sorry Jonathan,
I misunderstood. Good luck. And I will await your report with interest.