My point in posting the link is not to argue back and forth about theology but simply to state not to take theological works literarily as these have different origins then we realize. God is not in the business of real estate and no one is chosen. As humanbeings we are all equal and the earth belongs to all of us.

Like Muslims, Jews also don't believe in Jesus's divinity. Therefore your comparisons should not be between Judeo-Christianity and Islam.

In any case, the movie is interesting.
Here is another link about the Bible moral values that I found interesting:
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/BibleQuotes.htm

Islam is based upon the Judeo-Christian religion vets. The main difference is that Muslims do not believe in Jesus's divinity or the trinity or Jesus's death upon the cross. Muslims believe Jesus was human.

dcbeltway July 8th, 2007 12:56 pm
"
A fascinating look at the Judeo-Christian tradition and where its origins really come from:
http://tinyurl.com/26bswr
"

Indeed interesting.
Monotheistic religions are probably the #1 engine behind the biggest wars and genocides in History.

Some minor corrections to the movie:
- According to the Bible the world exists 5700 & something years, and not 12,000.
- It didn't explain why Josephus Flavious reference of Jesus is a fraud.
- I think this movie should have said a few words also on Islam, which is much more dominant than Judaism.

These ugly Jewish settlements - i.e. the theft of Palestinian land - is the nucleus of global terrorism. How could U.S. be considered an "honest broker" of even try to pretend to care about the "roadmap to peace" while the theft of Palestinian land is continuouls taking place out in the open? By stealing Palestinian land, Jews are perpetuating the conflict and making it more difficult to reach any possible peace agreement and to divide into 2 separate states. However Jews are not going to win because the Palestinian Arab demographics is against them (just like Hispanics in America) and Jews will not be able to keep up with Palestinian birth rates. Furthermore, there are more Jews leaving Israel rather today than immigrating there. Many secular Jews depart from Israel mostly for Canada because they want their children to have normal lives and not to die for some fairy tales of 3000 years ago. Frankly - if Palestine is the Jewish "promised land" - whey did God put 300 million Arabs there and gave most of them oil? There are only about 15 - 20 million Jews in the world. Maybe the biblical fairy tale somehow had been told incorrectly and today we have a tragedy of errors. Israel is a quasi-nation of 5 million Jews living among 300 million Arabs. Everyone knows that Israel is sort of a 51st state of U.S. Without U.S. aid of $5 billion+ per year(the highest that any coountry get in the world - thank to AIPAC buying every U.S. senator and congresman), including the latest military technology - would Israel be even able to survive on its own as a country? Israel's existence has cost the world very dearly so far and it will continue to cost. Peace will not happens via land-theft. Since terrorism became a global movement, this problem affects everyone - not just Arabs and Jews.

Umlaut, I'm not a supporter of the illegal Settlements not do I support any war crime of international law violation that the Israeli government committed.. I have no issue with criticism against the government, as long as they are done in context. By large I agree with the article.

The issue of Israel is close to my hart. Even though it could partly be due to tribalism (I have family that lives is Israel) I see no conflict between humanity, Progressiveness, and protecting the innocent Israel civilians who committed no crime, from those who indiscriminately seek to destroy them.

When someone (such as Saila) wish to destroy one of the UN members, and expel 6 millions Jews and 1.2 millions Palestinians to European and Arab countries who do not want them, where their ancestors fled from as refugees - I see co conflict between humanity and defending Israel against these supporters of ethnic cleansing.

In the past I saw people who posted in CD calls for Nuclear holocaust that will kill all Jews and Palestinians (10.5 million people). - I see no conflict between humanity and defending Israel against these mass murderers wannabes.

CD posters justified war crimes against innocent civilans (Such as suicide bombing and rockers against civil targets) because "Jews control the world finance" - I see co conflict between humanity and defending Israel against these racists.

When a CD member offered that 1.3 million Israeli Liberals should shoot 6 million people (all the non- liberal Israelis) - I see co conflict between humanity and defending Israel against these type of "Liberalism".

And when I correct errors with regards to Israel, I'm being called AIPAC virus, or whore, or some other creative name that will diminish the content of my criticism. I'm also blamed that I (an Atheist) think that Jews are superiors to Arabs and that I only follow the Bible. Which is not true.

I wish to see the bloggers here posting information that has some connection with reality, and to the truth. And I hope that I will not be the only one who will appose posts that should only fit arian nations, KKK, and Neo-Nazi sites.

Dichterfreund - "The state of israel is nothing but a land grab in which ZioNazis and their fellow travellers get vicarious vengeance through their own villainous form of Lebensraum"

So is any other country that exists on this planet, including the USA which was build of east indian lands and on the ruins of the first nation people. Not a single country that exists today has a clean history.

By the way, by using the term ZioNazis, you imply that zionism is nazism. Do you share the same view regarding all national movements?

In America Jewish communities expand by purchasing buildings (residential or commercial) in un/desirable areas and then rent the property to Jewish members of the community. This practice often creates resentment as some Jewish communities exclude non-Jewish members of the greater local community.

I can imagine that taking land that does not belong to you or your nation will create an even greater level of resentment and possibly retaliation. If the facts of the report are correct then those that have purchased, sold and built upon the land should be imprisoned. If the Israeli government does nothing then they are guilty of theft.

I see disturbing similarities with Israel's treatment of Palestinians and how apartheid was used in South Africa. I wonder how long it will be before a group of Euro/American musicians create an event to help expose Israel's violations against the Palestinian people (I am aware of the influence the Jewish community has in music and entertainment in America).

A fascinating look at the Judeo-Christian tradition and where its origins really come from:
http://tinyurl.com/26bswr

Anyone seen vets post in a lot of other topic articles or just ones about Israel?

I find it very disturbing, the amount of Jewish Liberals in regards to domestic policies jeckle and hyde in to neo-cons regarding Israel.

As Al Franken said, his family switched to Dems because of civil rights, and self-preservation, but when self preservation conflicts with progressive ideology, they drop it and use the same arguments as their counterparts. Libermann's a good example of this too.

It's very telling when you're just an ends justify the means type and change your colors in the name of tribalism over humanity.

I wonder how many mambers of the current administration and its support personnel have dual US-Israeli citizenship? How many members of Congress? Of State Government? Of Local Government? There is an intersting irony abroad in the USA whereby individuals with Green Cards, who have chosen to live, work (and pay tax !) here have no rights to vote while those with dual citizenship have the right to hold political office.

It disturbs me that people should be able to hold office when they demonstrably hold the intersts of a sovereign state alongside or equal to, or even above, those of the nation/state/township/schoolboard/individuals that they represent. They must have divided interests.

I think if this practice were eliminated then we might see a more balanced foreign policy on many fronts coming from the USA, whether dual citizenship is with Israel or any other nation.

This is old news people. Israel has been ignoring every treaty it ever signed, every UN resolution ever applied to it since its inception. According to the Oslo agreement, the same agreement Arafat was accused of failing to recognise, Israel was to once again cease expansion into what is left of Palestine. It never slowed down, rather it increased the area and number of settlements into all of Palestine. This is part of the reason Arafat walked away from a peace agreement. Clinton sadly cavedin to the Israeli lobby and once again we had a US President working as Israel's lackey. Once again if you say anything bad about the genocide Israelis commit each day in Palestine you are called an anti-Semite and the issue is never addressed. One can hardly blame Israel alone though... The US has done Israel's bidding since the country was created out of the first round of modern terror attacks in Middle East history committed by Zionist zealots against the British in Haifa when they blew up the King David Hotel. If you look at history at all, you can see some parallels in how Israel treats Palestinians and how the US government treated Native Americans. Instead of Reservations thought, Palestinians are being herded into camps or refugee centers. Genocide is genocide regardless of where the Israelis learned it, from the NAZI's or the US government.

Israel wonders why it has attacks by suicide bombers????? I can't say that I blame them. I have lost all sympathy for the country a few years ago when I heard on NPR that they were demolishing homes of suspected (you will note I said suspected not proven)terrorist's! That's really going to show them isn't it???? All that did is foment more hatred and caused more trouble in the region. Israel is getting exactly what they asked for. The only reason the US supports these criminal's is religion. In the bible God supposedly gave the Israelite's the land. They are supposedly 'God's chosen people'! Which is why we have endured all of the terrorism and etc. The bible is guiding our foreign policy folks??? And we honestly wonder why Arab's hate us?

The state of israel is nothing but a land grab in which ZioNazis and their fellow travellers get vicarious vengeance through their own villainous form of Lebensraum. The only reason Israel exists at all is to provide a species of redemption to political elites who can be attacked for being anti-Semitic if they fail to applaud the existence of this state of criminals.

ahro, whore is someone who get paid for special services. AIPAC are not paying me. I'm not even an American (AIPAC is an American organization).

Any time I bring facts with regards to Israel which are not anti- Israeli, someone will label me as AIPAC, and the content of what I say will be dismissed.

There is nothing anti-semitic in the article, which criticizes the Settlements in the west bank.

Some of the response are disturbing (Such as Saila who wish to expel 7.2 million people of their homes). I was trying to correct them.

Vet, hence the term AIPAC's whore....get a clue...

ahro, the Nazi whore, has showed up….the AIPAC card will be shown next and the debate is closed……ahro , get a clue… I AM NOT AIPAC.

Having a progressive pro - Israeli view is not AIPAC.

Vet, the AIPAC whore, has showed up....the anti-semite card will be shown next and the debate is closed......Vet, get a clue...

It is true that George Soros is a Jew, and that he is rich. However, if you had read anything about him, you might have found out that Soros actually has a lot of criticism of Bush administration, and of Israel's policy.

I don't know if he gives money to AIPAC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros

In an interview with The Washington Post on November 11, 2003,[21] Soros said that removing President George W. Bush from office was the "central focus of my life" and "a matter of life and death."

kelmer - "Jews are worth more than arabs and are held to a different standard of justice"

You are not correct. First of all, all Israeli citizens are equal by law, including the 1.2 million Palestinians that have Israeli citizenship.

As for the Palestinians who are living in the West Bank and Gaza - These territories are not part of Israel, the Israeli law is not valid there. The Palestinians who live there does not have Israeli citizenship.

kelmer - "hence its ok for jews to wipe out arab children but not the reverse"

Again not true.
Palestinians terrorist groups such as the Hamas, the Islamic jihad, and the Al Aqtza mirth brigade (An affiliation of Fatah) are targeting civilian targets such as school bus, weddings, restaurants, discos, shopping malls etc.
The IDF is targeting only active members of organizations who seek to kill Israelis, missile factories etc, while trying to minimize civilian targets (Which unfortunately still happens, and in large number). A big moral difference.

The reason why you see a higher number of Palestinians casualties, is because the IDF is better equipped, and not because the Palestinian terrorist groups have higher moral values or higher respect for innocent lives.

fedupwithpolitics, Ha, you think calling the same congressional members that are bought into office withe AIPAC money are going to listen to you? In capitalist societies, nothing speaks louder than money, and AIPAC gives the 'RATs 60% of their money. Unless you and your frieds are a bunch of Soros, you will not make a dent on those massively funded single issue lobbyists. There will be no change unless the revolution starts at home.

Saila, "Actually none of the land in Palestine belongs to Israelis. They all should go back to Europe or other places where they came from."

Good advice, ethnic cleansing is the answer.

By the way, where did your ancestors come from, and why don't you go there?

Real estate is dirt cheap on the West Bank.

You're my favorite Friedman.!.!

Much better than Thom and his brother and the rest of the "world is flat" Friedmanomics croud.

Careful peacewarrior , the AIPAC members attack at night !! this forum is infested with that virus.

No amount of land is enough for the israelis. They will not rest till they capture the rest of the friggin middle-east and then some. We need to completely withdraw our support of israel and stop funding them and arming them like attack dogs.

Israel is a terrorist state

If they lineup with AIPAC I line up with their opposition

This is insanity and our apathy is criminal

Write to your Democratic senators and congress people because they are the reason Israel is getting away with this--and with our tax dollars!

It was Sharon's policy to establish "facts on the ground," as he called it, the idea being that if there were enough settlements, especially large ones, it would be impossible in any peace settlement to ask that Israel recognize entire large towns as belonging to the Palestinians. And It's working. Back in 2001 when I began following this crisis closely there were about 250,000 illegal Israeli settlers living on territory that was to be part of Palestine. Now we're up to 450,000.

And in one of Sharon's last visits to Bush, when they were still discussing the now dead Road Map, Bush and as I recall Colin Powell too both recognized that it would be impossible in any final settlement to set the 1967 green line as the border between Israel and the future Palestine.

The Israelis continue their advance on the Palestinian territory in a three pronged continuous land grab: the settlements; making life impossible for the Palestinians with endless administrative obstacles, check-points, or just imprisoning a bus full of Palestinians when the mood strikes them. And then there's the supposed security wall but nobody yet has explained why if this is wall is to protect Israelis from terrorists, there are huge loops in it that just happen to encircle a prize piece of land or precious wells so they stay on the Israeli side. Obviously. Israel couldn't just pack all the Palestinians into freight cars or trucks to transfer them to some other country, it would look too much like the Holocaust. So instead there is the relentless massive abusive occupation that the brave Palestinians seem somehow to endure without budging!

100 unauthorized settlement outposts? Does that mean they're in violation of Israeli law? If Israel cannot exercise control over its own settlers, how are Palestinians supposed to exercise control over the terrorists?

Jews are worth more than arabs and are held to a different standard of justice(hence its ok for jews to wipe out arab children but not the reverse). Its ok for jews to drop bombs and kill a bunch of arabs and then go home to bed but not ok for arabs to strap a bomb to themselves and kill a lesser bunch of jews--and then go home to a coffin.

Its both ethnic and religious. Judaism is considered higher to Christians than the upstart Islam.
It is seldom said publically but that's the belief at work here.
All the treaties and agreements mean nothing since this is all that matters.

Actually none of the land in Palestine belongs to Israelis. They all should go back to Europe or other places where they came from. You just don't kill a people and run them out and make a brand new country.

The article fails to mention that ALL of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank exist in 'flagrant violation' of international law. There are several UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on the matter and they state unambiguously that the settlements represent a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.

For example, UNSC Resolution 465 of 1980 states that the Council:

"Determines that all measures taken by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, or any part thereof, have no legal validity and that Israel's policy and practices of settling parts of its population and new immigrants in those territories constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and also constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

Great point WmC!

After suffering thousands of years of persecution, one would think that the Jewish people would be more willing to do anything possible to settle their differences with the Palestinians. Surely they can relate to the Palestinian experience. Instead, they have turned to doing what was once done to them. Putting people in camps and starving them to death, while claiming it is all done for self-defense. Plus, they take peoples land, for their own self-interests. Free Palestine and End the Occupation.

The settlements in the West Bank have to go for there to be peace, especially the illegal settlemnts.

Pools for Israeli jews and no water for the Palestinians in the territories. Thanks to the apartheid state our Congress here supports.