Go to CounterPunch and look it up yourself … it’s there in detail …

And Tim, the Electronic Intifada argues there should only be one state, a secular state where Jews, Christians and Muslims can live in peace. They haven’t lived in peace in Palestine since before 1897 … the idea of one state is a great dream, but an unrealistic goal that only results in two things:

continued conflict; the perpetuation of the Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps.

The ONLY solution is Two States … and by the way, the founder of the Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimeh, spent his life opposing and criticizing and assaulting the Oslo Accords and the Two State plan, and now that it is dying, he dances on it by saying, “See, I told you it wouldn’t work. Now let’s live together as equals.”

I’d rather live under Israeli occupation than under Hamas and Palestinian fanatic occupation because as far as I am concerned, they are both bad but at least under the Israelis are under international scrutiny … the Islamicists and extremist secular nuts would be far worse and would quickly turn the “One State” into an Islamic State. That’s their goal. Not a Secular Islamic STate, but a fanatic religious state that bastardizes Islam and distoerts its meaning to give them the kind of power they enjoy in such sterling democracies as Yemen and in Al-Qaedi-stan.

Ray hanania
http://www.RadioChicagoland.com

Ray

1 – She says that I support the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

She’s knows that is a lie, no matter how she weaves her hatred and ugliness.

2 – She says I am xenophobic — another lie

3 – She says I said that there is no Palestinian-Israeli collaborations, but I said there isn’t any other Palestinian Israeli “Commedy tour” — I explained that to her but obviously she didn’t care

4 – She says I pass myself off as a Muslim, another lie. In my comedy act I talk about being a Christian … specifically … when she cites my joke about GI Abdullah …

5 – She also makes it sound like I don’t criticize Israeli policy at all, which is so untrue it’s sad Watch my video and listen — it represents 30 minutes of 75 minutes of my repertoire … whether you enjoy the comedy or not is besides the point. I don’t expect people to love me, like me or anything. They can take it or leave it.

But, I do expect ousan Hammad to stop her lies, exaggerations and her pretense that somehow she is a journalist when she is not.

She may criticize me as infantile — that’s her opinion and she has a right toe xpress nay opinion she wants. But to distort facts, take things out of context, and lie about me that I support the Israeli oppression of my people is so pathetic, it deserved a response. (She can criticize me for being whatever, but I also have the right to criticize her as being journalistically unprofessional.)

Of course, I have only been in journalism 32 years. She’s being doing it, what? What a career she has ahead of her.

As I said, I wasn’t going to waste my time on her column in The Cougar but when she rewrote it for the Electronic Intifada — and added even more lies — I figured, what the hell. Intifada time!

Ray hanania
http://www.hanania.com

It’s apparent by now how many people out there try to belittle your efforts, but that’s probably because they realize that they can’t contribute anything as worthwhile to the cause. You said it best when you once noted here that peace comes when you criticize your own too and not just the other. Far too many people refuse to do that.

I think it’s good that you stand up to this criticism, especially if everything you stand for is misunderstood and undermined, so that people can comprehend what you’re really trying to do here instead of just pointing fingers and associating you with either Hamas or Zionism. Keep up the great work, that’s all I can say, this criticism means nothing.

When will you discuss how Israel helped Hamas to grow, as a rival to the secular Yasser Arafat?

See Robert Dreyfuss’ aricle at http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/01/27/end_of_the_road_map.php

I’ll quote part of it here:

It’s important to note, as detailed in my book, Devil’s Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam , that Israel has only itself to blame for the emergence of Hamas. After 1967, when Israel occupied Gaza and the West Bank, the Israeli authorities encouraged the growth of Islamism as a counter to Palestinian nationalism and the PLO. In 1967, Israel freed Ahmed Yassin, the Muslim Brotherhood leader who founded Hamas in 1978-88, and they encouraged the Islamic right and the Brotherhood to take control of mosques and student groups. In 1977-78, the Israeli government of Menachem Begin’s Likud officially licensed Yassin’s Islamic movement and gave it official Israeli blessing. Throughout the 1980s, the Muslim Brotherhood fought pitched battles against the PLO. In an interview not long before he died, Arafat said: “Hamas is a creature of Israel,” and he quoted slain Israeli Prime Minister Rabin as having told him that Israeli support for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood was a “fatal error.” Several U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials told me about Israel’s support for Yassin and the Brotherhood, and Chas Freeman, the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told me bluntly: “Israel started Hamas.”

There are many ways to neutralize hate. You have selected one of the more effective ones. Hate is stupid. But saying that doesn’t quite make the point. You say it with humor. We laugh at the stereotypes, and in our laughter, we shake the foundations of our hate.

We can only hope that you’ll continue to weather the storm so that we may all come to see some sunny days ahead.

When certain people from all sides hate you, that’s when you truly know you’re a moderate. You’re doing the right thing here. I see you denounce both Palestinian and Israeli terrorism, and I see nothing wrong with that. I’m very surprised people have a problem with this. It shocks me to see people defending one-sided terrorism and refusing to criticize their own for actions that they solely blame the “enemy” for.

And Sousan, you do realize that if you accuse Ray of “libel,” that your article fits more under that category, right?

He is refuting your arguments. He is calling you out on your misinformed criticism. Please tell us why and how this is libelous and why you have failed to produce a better argument than “you’re a liar.”

Why is Ray’s behavior infantile? The man, unlike many, stands up for what he believes.

I’m offended that you call your work journalism. I can sympathize with your views, I’m pro-Palestinian too, and obviously, so is Ray. But I certainly do not agree with your style or the manner in which you fight for Palestinian rights… resorting to outright hatred.

I wouldn’t worry too much if this article only appeared on IE. I used to love IE, it portrayed a different side of the story, our side for once. But now it’s just a refuge for trashy articles and bad journalism. I guess they’re just desperate for new material.

Sousan Hammad