Quote:
Originally Posted by Nage Waza
One last point, you say that the religion divides the two sides? How in any way is the Jewish religion a part of the problem? Islam around the world seems to involved in many issues, so why don't you just say what you mean, or are you trying to throw Jews under the bus? Islamic extremism is the issue, not Judaism. That is unless you can explain what you meant.
|
I have no desire to wade waist-deep into this debate, but it should be pointed out that religious extremism and fanaticism exists, and is problematic, on both sides and in every religion.
Neither Islam nor Judaism, per se, are the problem. But if you think that Israel is a moderate country, populated by moderates, you're kidding yourself. There has been a steady flow of moderate and liberal Israelis
out of Israel for the past 20 years, and an influx (and domestic growth) of extremist Israelis. Who do you think these folks are who are building settlements, and fighting not only international law and Palestinians in the process, but Israeli army forces trying to remove them? Some of these settlers are about as Israeli as the average Calgarian - they are extremists of various nationalities who see settlement as a religious imperative, and actually chose to move themselves (and their families) into a known warzone.
Religious extremism is rampant in much of the Middle East, and Israel is no exception. The fact that it is a democracy, and the fact that it is a Jewish state, don't change that one iota.