Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

every country becomes more nationalistic in times of economic hardship ..... the jews in england have been a prime target for prejudice or even expulsion since the middle ages or earlier, and there is still most assuredly an element of latent anti-semitism, whether real or "unintended"; the catholics have also had their (un!)fair share, and now it is the turn of the asians, blacks, irish gypsies, croatians etc etc - take your pick!



to answer the other point ..... of course israel is a democratic country, though i'm fairly sure that those of palestinian birth/parentage are disenfranchised, though that might effectively be by their own choice

to an outsider, this nonsense where there seem to be 78 parties with 1 seat each is a total disaster, leading to some appalling radicals often holding the balance of power ..... i'm surprised that there hasn't been a device instituted whereby if "your" candidate does not secure say 5% of the initial vote, then he is automatically eliminated .... somehow, i don't think the status quo would allow that variation to be introduced!

I think these days you would find more anti Islamic sentiment. Certainly in London, Jewish communities are part of the fabric. I am part Irish and I can remember anti Irish sentiment when I was young. There used to be 'No Coloured or Irish' signs outside properties to rent. I sent an email to a close Jewish friend this morning that I have known for about 40 years. He is quite a strict follower of the religious rules. This is his reply a few minutes ago.

"I can't say I've ever experienced personal
anti-semitism. Except being taunted by someone
with a bacon sandwich.

(Sounds like a Monty Python sketch - how
to defend yourself against a man attacking you
with a banana)"

Cynic
Your point regarding the number of parties and the proportional voting is quite relevant at the moment when we are about to consider AV. It will almost certainly allow BNP etc to gain Parliamentary seats. That can't be a good thing.

People do not like weak government. Italy has had an average of one government a year since the war due to its constitution and voting system. The results is that very few laws get passed. Burlusconi's election changed that and now they have a strong government. He is clearly corrupt and a bit crazy. It just show what the public will put up with to get a strong government that can pass legislation.

if the AV referendum is a straight yes/no then i think i shall feel obliged to vote "no" even though the present system is singularly unfair insofar as it doesn't remotely allow a gov't that represents at least the majority of the populace

I think you are right about London Haystack but London is just part of the UK. Jews living in London and those who have never experienced anti-semitism are the lucky ones. It's not very nice and surprised you are suggesting it is and has not been an issue in the UK.

isaacs - i often feel that the jews, like the muslims, perceive prejudice where there is none, or certainly no intended malice ..... for example, would you regard it as anti-semtic or take exception to someone (a goy!) at your golf club, putting on a ham jewish accent and putting his arms round your shoulders, exclaiming, "my favourite yid!"?

i can't speak for muslims, but they certainly often appear to be far more thin-skinned that an educated and/or cosmopolitan person should be .... on the other hand, i certainly tease my jordanian/palestinian "uncle" when i meet up with him in abu dhabi

I haven't noticed that muslims are thinned skinned at all any more than Jews are. I think the difference is that these would be people that I know well or you know well. Any comments either way are taken in a humourous way. Jewish people are more intergrated into UK society, although Turnkish muslims are fairly well integrated. There are different degrees of being a muslim. Most Turkish muslims that I know do not follow the religious rules very much.

The Arab mulsims are far more religious in the UK. Pakistan muslims are aslo quite religious. The extent to which muslims are sensitive seems to vary in proportion to their adherence to their religion and how well integrated they are. Orthodox Jews that I know and I do not know many are a different kettle of fish. It is very difficult to maintain a friendship with an orthodox Jew as they rarely socialise outside their group. They don't eat out in restaurants or visit non orthodox people. It is somewhat like the closed muslim groups that exist in the midlands and further north only more so.

Cynic - yes I would take exception to that although I accept that there are a lot worse things that could be said or done. I would also take exception to someone putting his arms around somebody who is overweight and saying "my favourite fatso" or to somebody who is gay saying "my favourite poofter" or two somebody who is Japanese and saying "my favourite slit eyed friend." Nobody on the receiving end feels good about getting that kind of comment and if no malice is intended then what is intended? It is hardly a sign of friendship.

One example I remember from university is sitting in the college bar shortly after getting a job offer from a big American bank talking with some friend about it and somebody on the next table who hadn't not got beyond first round interviews said "I bet he only got it because he is a fucking yid." That comment in itself is perhaps harmless enough and no damage done but it says something about how that person thinks and in the years after I wonder how he behaved himself at work with respect to Jewish people when he was in a position of power.

More than just words....

The cemetery desecration is the 115th since 1990 and highlights a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Britain over the past five years. There were 532 anti-Semitic incidents last year, the highest since records began 20 years ago.

That item was in 2005. I don't know what the climate was then.

It is hardly a sign of friendship ..... as it happens it is and is the customary greeting from the guy in question who is a very dear friend of mine ..... what amused me no end was that an indian member, with whom i am also very friendly, took great exception and was staggered at my hilarity!

I think remarks depend on the intent with which they are said.

I had a Jewish friend who liked bacon sandwiches and had believed him to be quite orthodox and he certainly seemed to celebrate various festivals.

Also like Jewish humour, which is of self deprecating, similar in some ways to Celtic humour.

But Hays I know now why we don't get.

My family swam back.

An opinion poll conducted by an Israeli public opinion institute has revealed that the Israeli youth is now more racist and right-wing than in previous years and is far less committed to democracy.

According to the results of the survey carried out by the Dahaf Institute, the importance of democracy fell from second place in 1998 (26%) to third place in 2010 (14.3%). First place was usurped in 2010 by the idea of "Jewishness" as a national goal, scoring 26% after having been in third place in 1998 with a ratio of 18.1%.

The poll revealed that 46% of Jewish settler youths who responded said they would prefer that basic political rights be withdrawn from Arabs such as the right to be elected to the Knesset. Similarly, 25% of respondents said they felt hatred toward Arabs, while 12% said that they felt fear toward them. It also revealed that 60% of Jewish youths said they would prefer "strong leadership" to "strong authority".

an opinion poll carried out among the muslim community in bradford found that 9o% would not vote BNP ..... of the remaining 10%, 5% thought BNP was one of the indian political parties and they were from bangla, ads the other 5% did not speak any english

cynic,
That cannot be right as 83%, not 5%, don't speak more than a dozen words of English, those being "social" and "security" and "gimme my rights", "he good boy not bomber" and "police brutality".

don't be a naughty boy! ...... in fact, the asian community has added hugely to uk both economically and in cultural diversity and richness - as have the chinese and the immigrant jews in comparatively recent times

Facebook sued for $1 billion over Intifada page
http://en.news.maktoob.com/20090000666716/Facebook_sued_for_1_billion_over_Intifada_page/Article.htm

2008 Petra Conference - Jordan (Shimon Peres, and Amr Moussa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=378KsbFJ6M4

2008 Petra Conference - Jordan (Shimon Peres, and Amr Moussa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=378KsbFJ6M4

The United States of Israel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAwVrsa5AuM