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Obama's Trip Should Correct Anti-Israel Lies

February 21, 2013 @ 12:15 pm (Updated: 12:17 pm - 2/21/13 )

As Barack Obama prepares for his March trip to Israel - his first as president - he should help correct distortions about the Jewish state his own administration helped promote. For instance, many Americans view Israel as a dangerous nation, perpetually menaced by terrorism, and see concessions to Palestinian militants as the only path to security.

Actually, Israel is one of the safer nations on earth - with an overall murder rate much less than half that of the USA as a whole, and one ninth that of Obama's hometown of Chicago. With a population of nearly 8 million, Israel has experienced less than 200 annual murders since 2004-including terrorist incidents. In fact, the only spikes in violence came after concessions to Arab and international pressure - like the ill-fated Oslo Accords and withdrawals from Gaza and Southern Lebanon.

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  • Drool wrote...
    You Left Out One Tidbit Michael
    February 21, 2013 1:42 pm
    Israel has strict gun control.
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  • SeattleD wrote...
    From the website Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
    February 21, 2013 7:59 pm
    http://jpfo.org/filegen-a-m/israel-firearms.htm

    The Israel Dept. of the Interior makes notification to the general public the requirements necessary for the obtaining of a permit to possess a firearm:

    1. Applicant must be a permanent resident of Israel for 3 consecutive years prior to making application for a firearms permit.

    2. Applicant must be 21 years of age.

    3. The permit request must be for personal use, not to engage in the business of firearms sales.

    4. Applicant must fall into one of the following categories:

    a. Part-time reservist (volunteer) for 3 years- may own 1 handgun

    b. Such a reservist (volunteer) is a member of a gun club - may own 1 rifle

    c. Professional, licensed public transportation driver, transporting a minimum of 5 passengers - may own 1 handgun

    d. Licensed animal control officer- may own 2 hunting rifles, *not* full automatic weapons, or semi-automatic weapons with a limited capacity magazine.

    e. Full-time dealer of jewelry or large sums of cash or valuables - may own 1 handgun

    West Bank and Gaza Strip Settlers:

    1. A resident in a militarily strategic buffer zone, essential to the security of the State of Israel - may own 1 handgun

    2. A business owner in these geographic areas - may own 1 handgun

    Veterans:

    1. Veterans of the Regular Army honorably discharged with the rank of non-commissioned officer, and veterans of the Reserve Army with the rank of regimental commander- may own 1 handgun

    2. Retired law enforcement officers with the rank of sergeant - may own 1 handgun

    3. Retired prison guards with the rank of squadron commander- may own 1 handgun

    Individuals:

    Upon presenting documentation that one is about to receive a souvenir, a prize, an inheritance, or an award of appreciation from the Israel military.

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  • PaperMachete wrote...
    One Question...
    February 21, 2013 4:43 pm
    To be honest, I haven't been keeping very track of news stories about Israel. With that said, why doesn't Michael link to comments that Obama said where he is perpetuating anti-Israel sentiment? It's a charge I've heard a lot, but I've never seen the comments. (Note, I am not saying they don't exist, just that I haven't seen them, and if Michael wants to make that charge, he should back it up.)
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  • Drool wrote...
    The Obama Administration "Distortions"....
    February 21, 2013 5:28 pm
    ...Seem to have merited President Obama getting the Israeli Presidential Medal of Distinction.
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  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Hard not to agree Medved, except the Palestinian thing.
    February 21, 2013 5:54 pm
    Knowing 3000 years of history and what King David did to his neighbors on the other hand short changes your argument. Israel and the Jews have a very length history of attacking and killing and obliterating their neighbors. They are oppressing the palestinians now and when the palestinians fight back with what little they have, you call it terrorism. If Israel stayed with int he boarders that was defined for it after WW2 there would be no conflict.
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  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    How dare Israel
    February 21, 2013 6:02 pm
    Oppress those that shoot rockets over the fence
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @daveismenotyou
    February 21, 2013 6:49 pm
    You have it backwards. Israel controls the borders of the GAZA strip, the sea coast of the GAZA strip, the airspace of the GAZA strip, the Currency of the GAZA strip, ETC. The SIEGE of the GAZA strip is what causes the resistance of Palestinians. If we did that to Canada, it would be more than hand rockets they would respond with. They are also oppressing East Jerusalem (no fence) and the West bank. Israeli apartheid, colonialism and ethnic cleansing towards the Palestinians. certainly warrants BDS (boycotts, divestment and sactions) by the global community. Watch 5 BROKEN CAMERAS up for an OSCAR this Sunday on ABC for best Documentary.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Medved,If as you say,Israel is one of the safest countries on earth
    February 22, 2013 4:39 am
    Then why is it that the USA continues to borrow money from China to send to Israel?
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  • Essex wrote...
    Aid to Israel
    February 22, 2013 3:37 pm
    While the military aid that we send to Israel has restrictions that require them to spend it with American companies, you should no from listening to Medved that he supports ending *all* governmental foreign aid. Most Conservatives agree with you that we shouldn't be sending our governmental money overseas when our own country needs it, and our overspending is so bad. The only exception would be emergency aid, which I do believe in.
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  • Essex wrote...
    *know
    February 22, 2013 3:38 pm
    That's an embarrassing.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Essex
    February 23, 2013 8:04 am
    Actually alot of the aid money to Israel has been used to build up Israei defense industrys. Israel is a big supplier of military hardware and competes with American defense companies.They are 5th in the world in arm sales and arm sales increased 20% in 2012
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Messiah, that is WHY Israel is so safe.
    February 22, 2013 7:22 pm
    But we don't borrow DIRECTLY to give to Israel. All into the pot (along with SSI) and then out of the mix.

    OR, we could just print the money for Israel ???

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    ron p
    February 23, 2013 8:08 am
    What part of borrowing money from China to then give to Israel makes any sense to you?If you were a Palestinian and saw that the money given to Israel by the USA freed up funds that Israel can use to build illegal settlements then you look at that as the USA helping Israel to build settlements.Can't you see that?
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    messiah, please re-read my post.
    February 23, 2013 12:42 pm
    But first, look up the definition of facetious.

    Seriously, though. Comingling of funds hides a wonderment of sins. ..... and this trick is also used every time government cuts popular or needed programs in order to fund pet projects of whomever is in office.

    .

    BTW, you just might try to get over pidgin-holing everyone by what YOU think are their positions.

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  • Raymong wrote...
    Illeagal
    February 26, 2013 6:22 am
    Please explain how the settlements Israel are building are illegal.
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  • Raymong wrote...
    What!?
    February 25, 2013 2:05 pm
    Palestineans and Philistine, perhaps they have the same values but they are not the same people. Get yourself a bible a historical study guide then come back and visit your statement about king David, Israel and the Hebrews. However I must warn you, you will discover the truth. Definition of philistine (n) bing.com · Bing Dictionary phil·is·tine [ fílli stn ] somebody indifferent to intellectual matters: somebody who is regarded as being indifferent to artistic and intellectual achievements and values regarded as uncultured: regarded as being ignorant, uncultured, and indifferent or hostile to artistic and intellectual achievement The Palestinian people, (Arabic: الشعب الفلسطيني‎, ash-sha‘b al-Filasṭīnī) also referred to as Palestinians (Arabic: الفلسطينيون‎, al-Filasṭīniyyūn), are the modern descendants of groups who lived in Palestine over the centuries, and who today are largely culturally and linguistically Arab due to Arabization of the region
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Uh, Michael ..................
    February 22, 2013 7:24 pm
    You expect WHO????? to correct lies about Israel ???????
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