Brooklyn's 'Arab Street'

Mr. Mahmoud might want to check his own hatred before posturing to others.

First off, nowhere has The Wall Street Journal ever been "anti-Muslim" and I challenge you to prove otherwise.

Second, unlike the Palestinians, the Israelis actually want peace and do not target women and children or support suicide bombers. This is much more horrible than anything Israel may or may not be doing.

Which brings me to my third point: Any message the Palestinians have is diminished by the fact that they are a violent hate mongering group who seek nothing but the end o Israel as a nation-state and the destruction of all who oppose them. They are the ones spreading hate, and you are spreading it by defending them and lying for them.

Israel has wanted peace in the past and has always been willing to negotiate. Arafat, on the other hand, is nothing but a terrorist (60% of Americans think so according to a recent poll) who turned down some sweetheart deals because he wants it all. This is where the hatred lies. I don't care if every other nation in the world decides to join Mr. Mahmoud in his hateful propaganda. I am proud that the U.S. is doing what is right.

Editor's Comment:

This is in regards to the difference of opinion over what is happening in Israel. It's hard to agree, but we can always reach out and try to understand what others are saying. I just hope that each one of us stops to think a little about all those innocent people caught in bloody conflicts: Jews, Muslims, Christians or of any other religion for that matter. They are human beings after all and they certainly deserve to live in peace. Let's all pray for peace and look at others with a fair eye.

Editor's Comment:

Stop the pro-Israeli, anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim campaign. Be fair to yourself first and to your readers. Stop this hate spreading effort. The whole world is against Israel now and the momentum is increasing. You will find yourself alone in this. The more the American people know about the situation the more they realize what horrible things Israel is doing. Israel received sympathy before because Americans did not know the truth, but the truth is getting out right now and no one can stop it.

Editor's Comment:

The "protest" on behalf of "Palestinians" was right to be called a hate rally. NY1 news brazenly lied, and said it was a "peace rally.". The brief footage they showed clearly contradicted this bogus, one world statement. In it, the Arabs shouted chants in Arabic and trashed Israel. They probably trashed America as well, but that wouldn't have given the right angle to those investigative reporters. If the INS or FBI is so concerned with domestic terrorism, that rally would have been a gold mine.

Editor's Comment:

It doesn't make one "anti-Arab" because they are denouncing terrorist acts on Israeli citizens. I am in full support of a Palestinian state and peace in the region. Its just that when you look at history since 1993, I've seen Arafat go back on his word after signing peace agreements several times. This is why there are many in the world who don't trust him. Because I don't trust Arafat, does not make mean that I am "anti-Arab." That is an easy cop-out for some of you so you don't have to understand where I'm coming from.

Editor's Comment:

When someone kills tens of civilians in a disco or cafe, it is terrorism.

When an entire population is starved in their homes, when their wounded bleed to death and women have stillborn babies at checkpoints, this is also terrorism.

In order to keep it's settlers on Palestinian land Israel has oppressed, humiliated, killed, confiscated land, uprooted olive trees and wreaked havoc for many years. Occupation is equal to terrorism, and it is equal to violence. And let's not forget Ariel Sharon's shiny human rights record. By reading The Wall Street Journal one would think he is a follower of Ghandi or Martin Luther King. The massacres of Lebanon might be conveniently forgotten by your newspaper, but the world still remembers.

Editor's Comment:

I'm sitting here in complete disbelief. The most appalling thing to me is the complete lack of sensitivity for the victims of the suicide bombings in Israel. We hear all day long from the liberally-biased news media about how Ariel Sharon should back off and Israel needs to work for peace with Palestine because Arafat is "really trying" blah, blah, blah.

Arafat is an evil man. He has proven nothing other than he's great at telling the Western world exactly what it wants to hear, then turning around and saying the exact opposite to his "constituents." How many times has he said he wanted peace, only to turn to his Arab fellows declaring the Israeli's are "infidels"? I suppose the real question is, how stupid are we? How many times are we going to let this guy get away with presenting one face to us and a completely different face to the Arab world? I am thoroughly disgusted with our inability to get this evil and incompetent man out of the way so that the real peace talks may begin.

For now, I'll continue to pray that God bring victory to the nation of Israel over the terrorism they are fighting (much in the same way I am praying for our country). Any nation who takes up our fight against evil deserves our support.

Editor's Comment:

Thank you for this article. I am sick of journalists using the word "violence" as a neutral term, as if what Israel and the Palestinians are doing are on the same moral plane. It is outrageous and it is fueling ignorant people such as the people in this protest.

I am so amazed that people don't care at all about the terrorism (notice how I didn't use the word "violence" or "war") against Jewish people. There is a rally today in Portland to remember the holocaust, where there was a pro-Palestinian protest last week. Unbelievable that people can't see the connection.

Editor's Comment:

I think Palestinians should have there own state. Whether it or not be free is up to them. But with Israel being the only Jewish state in the region (or for that matter the world) doesn't it have a right to defend itself? Doesn't Israel have a right to exist just like Palestine? People are getting killed on both sides. But all I see coming from the Arab world and Muslim community is pure hatred of Israel and Jews. Why ? Don't try and tell me it's because of what they do to Muslims and Arabs (especially the Palestinians) because you know that is not true.

I thought Islam was supposed to be a religion of peace. All I see is hypocrisy. You try to justify your lies by saying it is OK to deceive infidels (meaning Jews and Christians) yet you want the world to lend an ear and hear your weeping and wailing.

The world will never be 100% Muslim, Jewish or Christian. Nor would we want it to be. God enjoys a variety. If he didn't we'd all be oriental, white, black Or Indian, etc.

I weep for you. But when you use religion as an excuse for hatred, Palestine will never be a free state.

Modernizing your views does not mean abandoning your beliefs or your religion. Just keep in mind that the world is a lot smaller than when Muhammed was born.

I'm sick of war. I'm sick of hatred. I'm sick of the lies and hypocrisy on all sides. Aren't you?

Editor's Comment:

It is noteworthy or unworthy to note, that on the same day, Friday, April 5, similar demonstrators marched in downtown Memphis, Tenn. hoisting the same emblazoned placards. As they marched the square block with police patrolling in vehicles, the same rhetoric echoed forth. The signs repeated the same slogans which gives rise to the thought that this was one massive, premeditated and well-organized campaign.

I might note, that Memphis is home to a very unique conclave of reputable, religious, committed Jews very much involved in mainstream Memphis life. The synagogues host multitudes of faithful. Numerous people gather weekly at an ever-growing messianic (Jews who have come to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah) fellowship named, Brit Hadasha, "New Covenant."

This is a New South city that to hold host to a march such as this seemed harshly alien to the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King's marches of years gone by. The Arab marchers were not quiet but shouting loudly spewing hate towards Jews, for being Zionist, this country for our support, for President Bush's position. The solution seems to rest decidedly within the tenets of Christianity, when Jesus admonished all to: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." He saw, and He knew!

Editor's Comment:

Judging from the responses to this piece, it really makes me wonder about the rampant racism in this country. INS, indeed! People perhaps forget that this is still a free country and everyone's opinions and rights to express are held sacred. One question all these pro-Israel people have not been able to answer, including the author of the article, if Israel is the big victim in this conflict, why are the number of Palestinian civilian casualties three times that of Israel?

In fact, the total number of Palestinian children killed since the beginning of the uprising, equals about the total of all Israelis killed? These figures come from Betshalem, the Israeli human rights organization. Lets not even mention the land confiscation, home demolitions, arbitrary arrests, torture, humiliations, etc. endured by the general Palestinian population. Wasn't it former Israeli Premier, Ehud Barak who said, in a rare moment of clarity, if he had been born a Palestinian, he would probably be a "terrorist"? Indeed!

Editor's Comment:

Hello. Three graphs to the pamphleteer? Was he representative? If not why cover him at all? do you believe support Israel rallies feature literature totaling the Palestinian dead? Why the contrary expectation at the Arab rally? Separation of men and women is not a custom limited to the rally participants here in this city. Why make fun of them for doing so? A hundred or so people and you Couldn't find anyone to interview but the guy who believes Israel is listening in on all phone calls. All in all a shoddy job of the bought and paid for variety.

Editor's Comment:

Thank you.

Editor's Comment:

I can't believe this one-sided, heavily anti-Arab commentary would be associated with a paper as esteemed as The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Miniter portrays Arabs at a rally against Israeli aggression in the occupied territories as ignorant at best, criminal at worst. Laughable. This kind of editorial belongs in a right wing rag the likes Arutz Sheva, not here.

Editor's Comment:

I wish more people would focus less on side-taking and more condemning violence and bringing peace to all. Both sides are too often guilty of descending into hate.

However, the occupation is a massive, ongoing human rights violation under which many people have been injured and killed. It is also illegal under international law.

Those who truly want a safe Israel should advocate an end to the occupation. A lasting peace is a just peace.

Editor's Comment:

Simply another example of the indoctrinated and distorted views of so many Arabs in this world. They fail to protest against the sinister evil brought about worldwide by cowardly Arab suicide bombers filled with hate and contempt who kill innocent women and children, yet they feel compelled to protest against Israel and America for it's defense against such evil. That protest was just another illustration of their own myopic foolishness and nothing more. The Arab world is a sad state of affairs indeed.

Editor's Comment:

This is typically standard fare from the pro-Palestinian/Arab crowd. They constantly complain about the U.S. blindly supporting Israel. But none of them complain about the Arab/Muslim world blindly supporting the Palestinians. At least the U.S., in all its "blindness," is asking Israel to pull back now and accepting that there are Israeli as well as Palestinian victims. I have yet to read one note anywhere from these pro-Palestinian champions condemning the Passover massacre of Israeli civilians. When it comes to a difference of opinion between a Muslim country and a non-Muslim one, the Muslim world loses all sense of objectivity even if the quarrel has nothing to do with religion. Until that changes, I, for one, will not take their protests seriously.

Editor's Comment:

I am constantly amazed at how so many readers/viewers of the media have no concept regarding the difference between hard news reports and commentary. As if the masthead announcing this site as "OpinionJournal.com" isn't a big enough tip-off. If you want hard news, check out Al-Jazera. Well, on second thought maybe not.

Editor's Comment:

Mr. Minter say's that two of the protest signs said: "Israel Occupation = Terrorism," "Occupation = Violence." Funny, but I don't hear much wailing or gnashing of teeth by Arabs or Palestinians over the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, or Albanian occupation of Kosovo, the historic homeland of the Serbs. What about the Turkish occupation of Constantinople (Istanbul), and one of the most important churches in all of Christendom the Hagia Sophia? Finally, isn't the fact that Arabs are in Palestine at all the result of a occupation? To my knowledge, nowhere is Jerusalem or the Holy Land ever mentioned in the Koran, and historically--at least up to and shortly after the Roman times--"Palestine" was occupied by the Jews. So who pushed who out first?

Editor's Comment:

I note that none of the pro-Palestinian protestor letters have rebutted or renounced any of the defamatory, slanderous and untrue statements made by the Arab protestors, or attempted to justify or apologize for the terrorism of the Palestinians, including the Passover massacre.

Editor's Comment:

We keep seeing and hearing the slogan "occupation = violence." This reminds me of when my wife served on a grand jury. She said the criminals they interviewed would admit to committing the act, but never took responsibility for it. They always laid the blame on someone else whose actions "forced" them to do violence. I fear what we see in the "Arab street" is criminal-think on a mass scale, and this is truly frightening.

Editor's Comment:

Please, Mr. Doby, don't even think of asking the INS to show up at these events. If the INS had been there every one of these people would have been issued permanent visas.

Editor's Comment:

Mr. Minter, we don't seem to see the same TV news.

This morning on Fox and MSNBC the only thing I saw was huge crowds of Jews lined up on the sides of streets with signs of Arafat, Osama bin Laden, and the like. They were shouting at the top of their lungs slogans that could be described as hate.

I am not "for the Palestinians" but I am also "not for Israel." Mainly I am thankful that the United States is lucky and fortunate enough to have this caliber administration at a time when we need it most.

I do feel that your own article was biased, the last thing in the world that we want from our respected Wall Street Journal.

Editor's Comment:

Funny how you missed, or refuse to classify as such, the Israeli/Jewish "hate rally" held on Sunday, just miles from Ground Zero. There were plenty of Jewish Defense League logos, and "all Arabs out of Israel" signs and slogans.

As a side note, I no longer consider The Wall Street Journal a remotely objective source on the Middle East. It is not even pro-American, it is pro-Israeli. And, by the way, there is a difference, something your editors have lost sight of.

Editor's Comment:

I chuckle that the media is compromised by the "Israeli blackmail." The media is compromised alright, but it is done by extreme leftists. These are the very kind of people who "love" Palestinians.

Editor's Comment:

I am not sure which protest you are speaking of, but I marched on Saturday, April 6 over the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn. It was not, as you might think, mostly Muslim nor a "hate rally." Well over a thousand people peacefully marched from Borough Hall in Brooklyn to City Hall in Manhattan. It was a call against the Israeli occupation and an end to U.S. tax-funded aid to Israel. The crowd, if anything, was a complete mix of cultures and peoples. Please do not compartmentalize or criminalize those that do not support Israel and believe that peace in the Middle East begins with an Israeli withdrawal. To be against the Israeli occupation is not to be anti-Semitic, not a hateful thing, and, from the looks of the crowd on Saturday, completely in agreement with American principles of freedom and free speech.

Editor's Comment:

In an effort to figure out this mess I am reading a book, called "The Middle East, a brief History of the last 2000 years," by Bernard Lewis. Mr. Lewis thanked all of the preceding writers for their versions and their pointed biases. Having read these he has been able to take the agreed upon points by both sides and write a very extensive, very objective story that makes it clear that while there are no saints, there are also, clearly, no claims for occupation, as are being made by the Palestinians. That land, pure and simple, was not designated to anyone.

I am sure that there are people who follow the Islamic faith as originally and peaceably intended, but rampaging and acquisition and blood vengeance in the Middle East have reduced them to living in a land that has so distorted what were originally very beautiful ideas.

I was horrified to read how much of Islam of today has been shaped by violence and petty squabbling. What is passing for Islamic religion now owes much less to any sort of divine revelation than to self-serving manipulation. What's more, the huge fortunes that have been acquired by the chosen few families strongly remind me of the problems of corruption and mismanagement and terrorization of Indonesia.

All Palestinians do not hate America in this country. All Christians do not hate Palestinians and certainly all Americans do not hate all Palestinians, but it is a bit much to expect everyone to keep a cool head when these atrocious spectacles are being held and other Palestinians who are now American are not speaking up to decry the riots that are so flagrantly pro-terrorist.

Editor's Comment:

I wonder how many of the "peaceful protesters" are illegal aliens. Someone missed a great opportunity to deport these folks to whatever "democratic dictatorship" they are originally from. I'd like to see them try to protest in Syria or Saudi Arabia. Do these wackos really believe the tripe they are preaching? If so, they belong in mental institutions.

Editor's Comment:

I just wish the INS had been there.

Editor's Comment:

I observed the simultaneous pro-Arab hate rally in Times Square. Slogans and chants exactly the same. It is imperative that every sane, decent American understand and believe that there is an external as well as internal enemy. The ultimate goal of this enemy, incredible as it may seem, is world domination. To achieve a pure Islamic world. Only a truly insane person believes that if little Israel is pressured (esp. by the U.S.) to give up more land that the PLO will shake hands and go home. This is only the beginning of more demands to be backed up by terror.

The Arab world has used the "Palestinian problem" for decades as the front line against the despised Jews, the pawns on the Middle Eastern chessboard if you will. Always the easiest expendable and the first to be killed. However, their worldwide strategy is to use only the pawns as weapons, for now (until the Islamic bomb?). Willing fanatical pawns ready to die in mass murder.

The scariest thing of all is that this is a well thought out master plan that will use the tools of democracy, (free speech, free assembly, etc.) along with a terror campaign, to erode the will of Western nations, especially the U.S., into capitulation, by increments. Allowing rallies like these is an historical dilemma. Is the Constitution a suicide pact? Israeli backing down will be the clarion call to the Arab world that this strategy works. It works because we are letting it happen. History is absolutely riddled with war and bloodshed, but one need only go back half-a-century to the time when we did not allow the world to be taken over by murderous fanatics. We have fallen asleep. The Arabs know this. They are taking maximum advantage.

Sept. 11 aroused us from slumber, and we struck back much as when one is woken by a fly. Incredibly, we have gone back to sleep, not noticing the hornets' nest under our collective bed. They sense this as well. That's why we saw these hate rallies now and not on Sept.12. Even a pawn can checkmate the king.

Editor's Comment:

We see on our TV screens such protests at the uncivilized savagery of the Israeli army attack on refugee camps and cities in Palestine to be worldwide. The largest, by hundreds of thousands of demonstrators by men, women and children, are in Rome. Enough is enough.

Editor's Comment:

In "flyover" country, we know who we talk to and if they are someone who has something to say or are so in love with their own voices that they will spout anything that will cause a stir. Sounds like an awful lot of people stood around in Brooklyn loving the sound of their own voices.

Editor's Comment: