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From: sweillam@uw-june (Hisham Sweillam)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Middle East, Oil and the costs of Militarism
Message-ID: <39@uw-june>
Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 17:05:30 EST
Article-I.D.: uw-june.39
Posted: Wed Nov  6 17:05:30 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 21:44:33 EST
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Mr. Steinber writes: <4156@topaz.Rutgers>

>No, Israel is not perfect, but neither is the United States.  What matters
>is that on issues like personal and political freedom Israel is
>in the same general league as the United States, and no other country
>in the region is even close.  If you believe the US should support
>the existence and spread of these freedoms, either for reasons of
>morality or of self-interest, then of course the US should support Israel.

According to Israeli statistics, the number of arabs in Israel including
(the west bank and Gaza) are 45-50% of the population in Israel.
In a free, democratic,etc.. society a group with such percentage should have
enough power , at least for protecting its own members houses.
The fact is Arabs in the west bank and elsewhere are being evacuated
from their homes to make room for new settlements.
Probably, they have a freedom of speech, but for sure that's where their
freedom ends.
Other arabic countries are no better than any other third world country
(e.g., central and south america).
I agree that the Israeli society has more freedom than other middle-eastern
countries. But it's the same freedom that white people in South africa
enjoy. Arabs are not even considered citizens  (may be not even humans by
some).
The US is supporting Israel because it protects its strategic interest in the
middle east. the same way it was supporting the Chah in Iran, Somoza
in Nicaragua,etc... The US gov. has been objecting to the Israeli
policy of expanding settlements in the west bank. 
							hisham...