Mixed press for Bush visit to Israel

[Taopoet]

This BBC article offers snippets of positive and negative commentary regarding President Bush's visit to Israel. Ostensibly, he's there to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel. The pro-Israel media seems to love him while the pro-Palestine media seems to despise him. It comes down to what it always comes down to: If you're in favor of the Western takeover of a sovereign nation, making its citizens automatic refugees, it's time to dance in the streets and celebrate that it's been going on fairly successfully for 60 years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7400162.stm
A couple of key quotes from the article seem to demonstrate the opinions in the region:

Jerusalem Post Wrote:Of all the US presidents over the past 60 years, it is hard to think of a better friend to Israel than George W Bush... Bush combines a personal affinity toward Israel with policies that are generally responsive to its concerns.

Palestinian Al-Quds Wrote:Since Bush and the other leaders [participating in Israel's independence celebrations] have decided to come, we propose that on this occasion they visit one of the refugee camps... We should send a message that we're staying here and will never abandon the right of return.

I'm reminded most notably of the historic happenstance of American independence, when the founders determined that this was their rightful homeland and murdered and diseased the Native Peoples who were here first, then herded the survivors into refugee camps (reservations) and effectively criminalized these First People for centuries.

I don't claim to be as knowledgeable as I probably should be about Israel, but I can't help but wonder how we could happily support the marginalization of the Palestinian people so thoroughly for so long.

It's hard to hit "Post Thread" on this one, because I'm fully aware that by making these statements and posing these questions, I'm opening myself to horribly unfounded attacks of "Anti-semite!" and I'm likely to be forcefully reminded that Jews suffered the extreme inhumane evils of the Holocaust. In advance of that, please understand that I am not anti-semitic. I do not hate Jews. However, I don't hate Palestinians, either, and I'm unsure why one bad turn calls for another.

Any thoughts on this? I'd appreciate hearing views and being corrected if I'm way off-base, and I thank the VQTE community in advance for discussing this with our usual levelheadedness and absence of vitriolic attack. Thank you.

[hidden]

I will not call you an anti-Semite but I will argue against Palestinian right to the land because Israel is not their land and they have done noting for the past 60 years to even deserve recognition from Israel.

I would not mind them to get a homeland but with the way they act I do not think they even deserve what they do get from Israel.

And did you know that even before Israel's creation the Palestinian group was out trying to "get a homeland" from surronding Arab nations. Sounds like they have always been up to the same old games.

[tsmaster]

Bush visiting Israel can't be good. 60 years independence for Israel means 60 years of hell for the palestinians.

@ Hidden - i have to disagree. You say have they done nothing to deserve recognition - why should they have to? It was their land before it was practically taken from them. And no - i am not anti-semitic.