Letters to the Editor, October 7, 2003

I respect all articles in the web site of Al-Jajeerah. But for an aged man like me, the letters of the first page, that is, the news title list are a little small to read.

If possible, I also hope the letters be written without red list. Black letters are better to read.

Editor: With regard to the letter size, you can change the size by changing the screen resolution. In windows, go to the control panel, display, appearance, then screen resolution and choose the size you want. But I'll consider changing the red color on the front page. Anyway, I need some input from readers concerning these issues.

Dancing for Universal Peace

By Genevieve Cora Fraser

I danced with you this evening

In the whirling of the dervish

In the bending in the break

Away and face another

I bowed and spoke

Your name

Within

I sang with you this evening

With a prayerful chanting sound

Raised my voice

In peace and friendship

Raised my voice

In loving

Song

You were here with me this evening

In the middle of the dance

Spirits guide our spirits to us

Breathing peace

Breathing light

Breathing joy

In the night

President Bush's humiliating defense of Israel's unmitigated and completely illegal attacks against Syria, constitute a serious escalation in American's worldwide lawlessness.

It is time that the world takes all necessary measures to stop America's aggression against other states and its unlawful ways.

Even if America cannot be stopped--which even as an American I doubt its the case--it is better to have tried then to have sat back and watch America destroy international society for its own selfish ends. The longer the wait the more innocent lives we allow to be spent by an out of control and lawless American administration.

Regards,

Dr. Curtis Doebbler

International human rights lawyer

Washington, D.C. USA

Haifa suicide attack calls for Israel to reflect on best course

A suicide bomber, a Palestinian woman, whose brother was killed by Israelis, has blown herself in a Haifa restaurant on Saturday afternoon, by detonating explosives that killed 19 Israelis (including three Israeli Arabs) and injured 50 others including children.

That revenge action goes to prove three points that Israel will have to now publicly acknowledge and address with proper response.

First, the circle of violence cannot be disconnected as long as victims on both sides have personal reasons to take revenge, so graphically symbolised by Israel’s own tit for tat revenge attacks with gunship and rocket fire. Palestinian citizens do not have highly sophisticated aerial task force to take revenge; but their suicide bombing on innocent Israelis are no less lethal and tragic. Moral: revenge killings should stop from both sides. Israel cannot appropriate its right to revenge while denying that to its victims. Both sides have full rights to their self-defense and security.

Second, since the latest attack took place in the Israel’s own security controlled area of its own city and it had failed to prevent it with all its famous world renowned security expertise, it cannot expect Palestinian Authority to be more efficient to such high security standards to be able to prevent suicide bombing. No democratic government can indulge in targeted and extra-judicial killings that Israel expects its ‘chosen’ Palestinian Authority prime minister to carry out.

Third, the Haifa bombing proves that Israel’s billion-dollar apartheid wall, expropriating further Palestinian farms and villages, can never guarantee full security against personal suicide bombing even in Israel proper. The billion-dollar Berlin wall will never ensure safety and security of its citizens. The building of the Maginot line will end with the same fate as the French folly and will only further alienate and enrage of Palestinian neighborhoods, besides inviting world condemnation.

Ghulam Muhammed

It would be a good thing if people with influence in matters concerning the media, would make some effort in publicizing to the Russian people, that every sincere Muslim reveres and respects the teachings of the much blessed Jesus. I bet 95% of the Russian population have no idea, just as 95% of western people have neither.
Perhaps among all the various Christian denominations and sects, the Russian Christians are fortunate in possessing a much more 'organic' attitude to their religion, especially when compared to the more cerebral western versions of Christianity. In these troubled and delicate times, especially with the rising geo-political tensions in the Muslim territories of Old Russia, I am sure it might go a long way to easing tensions in the region if the Russian people were better informed. It would be a terrible tragedy for this culturally and historically profound region of our planet if it were to suffer the same depradations visited upon so many areas of the globe as a result of the tensions of the cold war. Historical inevitability predicts that Russia, China and the USA are poised to rip the region apart, with all the human suffering that is bound to be unleashed. It is inevitable that smaller nations will fall, one way or the other, under this, or that, greater power. Regrettable as this might be, it behoves such nations to choose wisely which power that might be.
War cannot be stopped. Idealists like British Prime Minister Blair, who used ,in his younger days,to go on peace marches, is now a killer. The causes of war, ignorance and injustice, greed and shallowness, can be countered by what is common to all great religions,; the perfection of individual human life. The insanity that governs Israel must be due in large measure to the abandonment of most of the commandments of Moses, such as not killing or seizing thy neighbours' property.
Such the choices facing the central Asian republics; to abide by the teachings of the Prophet in their dealings with these three great powers, and under which they are most likely to keep whole their honour. It may seem a strange choice, but I know which one my moneys' on.

Many thanks for including the information from the Hal Turner Show and the address of his website in New York. Extremely shocking photos of what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinian people. The Israelis, along with their supporters, wonder why there are suicide bombers!

This coming Thursday we are screening John Pilgers' very good video, "The Issue is Still Palestine". The great paper by Dr. Naim Atteek of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Centre in Jerusalem - "SUICIDE BOMBERS; What is Theologically and Morally Wrong with Suicide Bombers?: A Palestinian Christian Perspective", is a very good backgrounder. He stresses the same points as Hal Turner, for example what choice do Palestinians have to counter the injustice inflicted upon them. The Palestinians do not choose to be suicide bombers for the hell of it, or for fun, or because they are 'terrorists' as the Israelis and their supporters portray them. The Palestinians, as others, want to live in peace, which has been long denied them.

I will certainly pass on the information of Hal Turner's website, and particularly that part with the photos, gruesome though they are. Somehow people outside of this terrible tragedy have to see for themselves what the Palestinian people have been living with for decades, and there seems to no end in sight of the suffering.....unless of course Israel and the US come their senses. How long do they think they will be trying to fool the world with their lies and money! Many thanks again.

Editor: Thank you for your observation. That was a news article from Arab News and other news agencies. You went too far in your analysis.