OK. I like Sargent's approach. i really do. Here is one instance where i think there is a genuine attempt to exchange opinion.
But you need to make your case more clearly, sergeant. I actually think YOU are guilty of gross inaccuracies, twisted distortions and shameful lies. Here's why. What I got from you is the following.
You have a clear sense that Israel is really facing an existential threat and you hold an unequivocal belief that everyone is determined to annihilate israel. E.g. you stated that palestinians, before and after the formation of hamas have been singularly focused on wiping out Israel and you claimed that pro Palestinians on this thread want Israel to 'cease to exist'.
You fiercely believe that lifting the blockade on Gaza would only lead to Israel's destruction through the rearming of hamas.
You adhere to the narrative that Israel had to defend itself against a significant arab coalition threat in 67.
You believe that people have blamed the Jews for their own persecution over the last 2000 years.
You stated that if Palestinians were given the right to return, they would rapidly become the ruling majority, israel would be 'eliminated' and Jews become the 'persecuted minority'. Again.
You clearly believe that Israel is truly a democratic, tolerant society, where all faiths, races and ethnic or other minorities have equal rights, both under the law and in practice.
All these beliefs seem to justify the mass and indiscriminate murder of hundreds of women, children, elderly and men of a certain age. And for razing their property. And destroying their infrastructure. And for imposing a brutal blockade which strangles their economy and for maintaining inhumane military control over a captive population etc etc. I don't think you have disputed any of these actions as facts. But you have argued that they are necessary for the preservation of a 'safe' place for Jews.
I hope I haven't misrepresented you, though you may feel some of the wording is loaded.
Your posts have generated considerable discussion on several topics. However I feel that pro Palestinian posters respond to issues raised by pro Israeli proponents with evidence and substantiated arguments whilst the reverse is not the case, even for sargeantm. Here are some examples.
SM, you said you feel pro Palestinian posters on this thread are determined to annihilate Israel. But you finally acknowledged that no one had actually said such a thing - you qualified this as being 'not in so many words' though you 'believed' it to be the case.
You refused to respond to the suggestion that there is an alternative view (ie that expressed very forcefully by miko peled) to your own (unquestioningly following the party line) understanding of a savage all-powerful Arab coalition determined to crush Israel (both now and historically). Nor have you offered a rationale for the hamas stance to the Israeli state. i can only think of some kind of racist explanation for such a view, so would appreciate an insight into your thinking on this.
You've dismissed evidence that anti Semitism is less pervasive than anti Arab racism, on the grounds that it is based on a 'meaningless' comparison, seemingly because one set of data was about a smaller minority (Jews) in a 'more accepting' country (USA). Surely that would make the racism an even more extreme phenomenon??
You've utterly failed to counter reams of very strong evidence for widespread racism and unequal treatment of Arab Israelis and other minority groups by large numbers of israelis, including many in positions of authority.
In supporting your views, you've dismissed evidence by claiming it is simply representative of only a very small extremist minority (akin to a BNP view) or by making sweeping statements about source credibility - but without ever explaining specifically which sources are unreliable and exactly why they are not to be believed.
The reason the pro Palestinian contingent is not listening to your arguments (and this applies to londongirl, alemci et al) is because your claims are ludicrous and totally unsubstantiated. As mothers, would any of you use your children as human shields? If not, why on earth would a palestinian? The official Israeli line is so lacking in substance its incredible that anyone believes any of it. Give us some facts and logic that we engage with. No more personal, subjective opinions based on flawed reasoning. No more 'contrasts' with other - irrelevant - contexts. Please.