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Home U.S. World Politics Justice Entertainment Tech Health Living Travel Opinion iReport (CNN) -- Every morning, Asya Abdul-Hadi wakes up in Denver and begins what has become an agonizing routine. She looks at her phone and computer, a knot in her stomach, hoping to see that all her siblings and members of her large extended family in Gaza have left a message. "It will usually be short. No one has time. They just tell me, 'OK, we're alive, we made it another day.' " The conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel is raging far from the United States. For some, it's a war on the news, another round of deadly dysfunction in the Middle East, a back-and- forth one-upmanship among politicians. But for many in the States, it's a deeply personal tragedy that fills them with anxiety about their family members in Gaza and Israel. Israel-Gaza conflict felt around the world Abdul-Hadi grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, but her education at United Nations schools allowed her the opportunity to leave the area and go to college. In her 20s, she began to see a world that, at that time, was more free. She Part of complete coverage on Tensions in the Middle East For some Americans, Gaza conflict strikes close to home By Ashley Fantz, CNN updated 4:14 PM EDT, Fri July 25, 2014 SET EDITION: U.S. INTERNATIONAL MÉXICO ARABIC TV: CNN CNNi CNN en Español HLN Sign up Log in TV & Video Money Sports << < > >> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 HIDE CAPTION A Palestinian man cries after bringing a child to the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, Gaza, on Thursday, July 24. The child was wounded in a strike on a school that was serving as a shelter for families in Gaza. It's unclear who was behind the strike. The Israeli military is "reviewing" the incident, it said, telling CNN that a rocket fired from Gaza could have been responsible. Israel's ground offensive in Gaza STORY HIGHLIGHTS The violence in Israel and Gaza hits close to home for those with relatives involved in conflict Children in the U.S. talk to their cousins in Gaza over Facebook and Twitter Palestinian-American comedian with connections to violence confronts conflict on stage Woman: I saw my Gaza home explode on TV Safari Power Saver Click to Start Flash Plug-in The U.S. government doesn't discourage those wanting to join, but some question why they would choose the IDF as opposed to the American military. Americans who fight for Israel updated 12:11 PM EDT, Thu July 24, 2014 Operation Protective Edge could buy Israel a couple of years of peace, analysts say. But is there an end to the cycle of violence? What is Israel's endgame in Gaza? updated 8:24 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014 What are the goals for Hamas, the organization that governs Gaza and is considered a terrorist organization by many Western powers? And what is it willing to settle for to end the bloodshed? What is Hamas' endgame in Gaza? updated 8:36 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014 A discovery of rockets hidden in a vacant U.N. facility is the sort of evidence that Israel cites when it accuses Hamas of using civilians and their Is Hamas using human shields in Gaza? updated 8:23 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014 SHARE THIS Print Email 155 Recommend Recommend More sharing You've selected the U.S. Edition. Would you like to make this your default edition? Yes | No Close -
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Page 1: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

Home U.S. World Politics Justice Entertainment Tech Health Living Travel Opinion iReport

(CNN) -- Every morning, Asya Abdul-Hadi wakes up in Denver andbegins what has become an agonizing routine.

She looks at her phone and computer, a knot in her stomach, hopingto see that all her siblings and members of her large extended familyin Gaza have left a message.

"It will usually be short. No one has time. They just tell me, 'OK, we'realive, we made it another day.' "

The conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israelis raging far from the United States. For some, it's a war on the news,another round of deadly dysfunction in the Middle East, a back-and-forth one-upmanship among politicians.

But for many in the States, it's a deeply personal tragedy that fillsthem with anxiety about their family members in Gaza andIsrael.

Israel-Gaza conflict felt around the world

Abdul-Hadi grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, but hereducation at United Nations schools allowed her theopportunity to leave the area and go to college. In her 20s,

she began to see a world that, at that time, was more free. She

Part of complete coverage on

Tensions in the Middle East

For some Americans, Gaza conflictstrikes close to homeBy Ashley Fantz, CNNupdated 4:14 PM EDT, Fri July 25, 2014

SET EDITION: U.S. INTERNATIONAL MÉXICO ARABIC

TV: CNN CNNi CNN en Español HLN

Sign up Log in

TV & Video Money Sports

<< < > >>1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

HIDE CAPTION

A Palestinian man cries after bringinga child to the Kamal Adwan hospitalin Beit Lahiya, Gaza, on Thursday,July 24. The child was wounded in astrike on a school that was serving asa shelter for families in Gaza. It'sunclear who was behind the strike.The Israeli military is "reviewing" theincident, it said, telling CNN that arocket fired from Gaza could havebeen responsible.

Israel's ground offensive in Gaza

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The violence in Israel and Gazahits close to home for those withrelatives involved in conflict

Children in the U.S. talk to theircousins in Gaza over Facebookand Twitter

Palestinian-American comedianwith connections to violenceconfronts conflict on stage

Woman: I saw my Gaza home explode onTV

Safari Power SaverClick to Start Flash Plug-in

The U.S. government doesn'tdiscourage those wanting tojoin, but some question whythey would choose the IDF asopposed to the Americanmilitary.

Americans who fight for Israelupdated 12:11 PM EDT, Thu July 24, 2014

Operation Protective Edgecould buy Israel a couple ofyears of peace, analysts say.But is there an end to the cycleof violence?

What is Israel's endgame in Gaza?updated 8:24 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014

What are the goals for Hamas,the organization that governsGaza and is considered aterrorist organization by manyWestern powers? And what isit willing to settle for to end thebloodshed?

What is Hamas' endgame in Gaza?updated 8:36 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014

A discovery of rockets hiddenin a vacant U.N. facility is thesort of evidence that Israelcites when it accuses Hamasof using civilians and their

Is Hamas using human shields inGaza?updated 8:23 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014

SHARE THISPrint

Email

155RecommendRecommendMore sharing

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Page 2: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

explored Jordan and Egypt, excelling in English and othersubjects. The 50-year-old returned to Gaza for years towork as a journalist, then married an American and movedto the U.S. in 1997.

Now her children, ages 9, 12, 15 and 16, communicate onFacebook and Twitter from Colorado with their youngcousins in Gaza. The kids write: "Are you eating? Are you

worried more today?"

One of Abdul-Hadi's sisters-in-law in Gaza told her that a 5-year-oldniece has taken to clutching the Quran, holding it out like a shieldand praying loudly.

"I know my nieces and nephews are very afraid right now," Abdul-Hadi said. "They aren't sleeping. They aren't eating. There is nothingto eat. I think about where I am, my comfort, and then I think aboutthem."

A few times since late June when the Muslim holy month ofRamadan began, Abdul-Hadi's children have whined about feelingtired or hungry.

"I tell them, 'C'mon, remember that at the end of the day, at least weknow we are going to eat,' " she said.

It's a timeless and reliable retort from any mom: Zip it and think aboutother kids who have less than you.

But in this situation, it's heavier. And Abdul-Hadi knows she doesn'thave an explanation for the larger "whys" that her children ask.

She doesn't know what to say about the deaths of innocent people ina Gaza hospital that several artillery shells struck this week. Thosefour little boys who died while playing on a beach in Gaza City?There's nothing that makes sense about that.

Opinion: Four dead boys: this is what war looks like

Then there's the ultimate question: How did it all start? Will she saythat the current bloodshed has roots in the kidnapping of three Israeliteenagers, a crime that was followed by the abduction and killing of aPalestinian teenager? What about the video showing Israeliauthorities beating another teenager, an American visiting his familyin the region?

"For me, I wish it to stop, for the violence to stop so that my family issafe," she said. "But I also understand why people in Gaza fight.They want their dignity. I cannot blame them."

Two mothers, two sides

Another mother in California also wants thefighting to end, and she also feels like Israelis doing the right thing.

"I am sorry for children ... on whichever side,"Evie Steinberg said as she wept before acrowd at a Sunday vigil in West Hills,California.

Her 24-year-old son, Max Steinberg, waskilled over the weekend during Israeli military

activities in Gaza.

"I never thought I'd have to bury a child," she said. And while shesupports Israel's actions in the conflict, she also feels for innocent

Doctors in Gaza struggle amid horror

Max Steinberg poses on a trip to Israel in June of 2012. Hedied over the weekend during Israeli military activities inGaza.

institutions as shields in theongoing Gaza conflict.

This is a collaborative effort ofCNN and people around theworld, who are seeing theripple effect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Map: Tension felt around the world

Every morning, Asya Abdul-Hadi wakes up in Denver andbegins what has become anagonizing routine.

For some Americans, Gaza conflictstrikes close to homeupdated 4:14 PM EDT, Fri July 25, 2014

Is John Kerry coming to theIsraeli-Hamas crisis too early,too late or just at the righttime?

Can John Kerry end the bloodshed?updated 9:38 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014

How does this incursioncompare to previous ones byIsrael into Gaza, in terms ofmilitary force? Answers to thatquestion and more by CNN'sBen Wedeman.

Israel finds Hamas aren't amateurfightersupdated 10:27 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2014

Israel is confronting a problembeyond the Hamas rocketsscreeching overhead -- athreat from the tunnelsbeneath their feet.

Israeli troops' face threat underneathupdated 7:05 AM EDT, Tue July 22, 2014

In the violent bedlam that hasengulfed Gaza, not even thehospitals are immune fromattack.

Attack on hospital delivers devastationand griefupdated 8:33 AM EDT, Tue July 22, 2014

Each with its unique crisis, allfour countries are now unifiedin a heightened sense ofanxiety as years of conflictcome to a head.

Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Libya all in flamesupdated 2:07 PM EDT, Wed July 16, 2014

Part of Jerusalem is seeing itsworst flare-up in years. Here'sa look at some of the keyquestions about the fighting.

Flare-up in violence: Why now?updated 8:34 AM EDT, Wed July 9, 2014

Mother finds wounded sonupdated 1:10 PM EDT, Mon July 21, 2014

Page 3: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

Palestinians who have been hurt.

"I'm not here to be hateful to the Palestinians ... " she said.

In a Washington Post interview this week, Evie Steinberg said thather son changed after a free 10-day birthright trip to Israel in 2012,sponsored by a private foundation. He didn't want to go at first, butbefore the year was over, he had become a sharpshooter with theIsraeli military, she said. Steinberg was reportedly part of the forces'Lone Soldiers Program, which supports service members whosefamilies live outside Israel. More than 2,500 people from 60 countriesare in the program. About 740 are from the United States.

The soldier's Facebook profile picture was changed on June 30. Heapparently replaced a picture of himself smiling and snowboarding toone in which he's wearing a serious face and combat gear, andcradling his weapon.

This week, people from the U.S., Israel and elsewhere have leftmany comments such as "Thank you for protecting our homeland."Others called him a "hero."

"He did what he wanted to do," Evie Steinberg said at the vigil. "Hehas his friends, his fellow soldiers, his brothers. I know that he wouldprobably want to be laid to rest with them."

The mourners sang "Oseh Shalom," a prayer for peace.

Young men far from home

On Monday night in the Israeli city of Haifa, afuneral for another American who joined theIsraeli military attracted thousands. Manydidn't seem to personally know Sean Carmeli,a 21-year-old from Texas' South PadreIsland.

Friends posted messages on social mediaworrying that the American didn't knowenough people in Israel and few wouldattend. Word spread quickly. Carmeli had a

full military funeral, said Maya Kadosh, deputy consul general ofIsrael to the Southwest, and as many as 20,000 people showed up.

Carmeli's journey to Israel's military began with his parents' desirethat he and his sisters foster a deeper appreciation for their Jewishfaith and heritage, said Rabbi Asher Hecht, co-director of Chabad ofthe Rio Grande Valley.

Carmeli's parents moved to Israel, where Sean finished high school,and when the couple returned to Texas, the young man stayedbehind, said Hecht.

Eitan Moed, an 18-year-old who moved from the U.S. to Israel, toldIsrael's Haaretz newspaper that the two played American footballtogether while they attended high school.

"He was a kid who always smiled and he just came off as a happysort of person," Moed told the newspaper.

While the Carmelis and Steinbergs mourn, some other AmericanJews try their best to check in with relatives who are in Israel.

Jeff Knishkowy, a lawyer in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has severalfamily members to worry about.

His brother and sister-in-law live in Israel, as do his three nieces and

Sean Carmeli poses with Rabbi Asher Hecht in Jerusalem in2012. His funeral was Monday night in the Israeli city ofHaifa.

A nurse, Malka Davidovicharrived at the Barzilai MedicalCenter in Ashkelon, Israel,where she was told her son,an Israeli soldier, was in theemergency room.

Four young boys diedWednesday after the Gazabeach where they were playingwas attacked by Israeli forces.

Four boys dead: What war looks likeupdated 3:14 PM EDT, Thu July 17, 2014

In the twilight hours ofSaturday, when the people ofGaza were breaking the dailyRamadan fast, fireballsilluminated the night sky.

Hardest question in Gaza: where to runupdated 3:44 PM EDT, Sun July 20, 2014

The violent cycle of retributionand retaliation only seems tobe worsening.

Are we at a tipping point?updated 8:33 AM EDT, Wed July 9, 2014

The Israel Defense Forcessent a large force into Gaza --infantry, tanks, artillery, combatengineers and intelligenceunits backed by aerial andnaval support.

Israel ground offensive in Gazaupdated 1:23 PM EDT, Thu July 24, 2014

A mob, wielding baseball bats,broken bottles and knives,swarms a Paris synagogue.Violence erupts at a pro-Israelrally in Los Angeles.

Gaza conflict echoes across the worldupdated 8:18 PM EDT, Mon July 21, 2014

They call themselves "theresistance." Are they a terroristnetwork or an electedgovernment -- or both?

Who's who in Hamasupdated 8:38 AM EDT, Tue July 15, 2014

Clashes in Jerusalem show nosign of stopping and manywonder if peace will ever cometo the region. Ben Wedemanreports.

Can peace come to Middle East?updated 7:31 PM EDT, Thu July 3, 2014

The current violence betweenthe Israeli military and Hamasis the latest in a long history offighting in the region. Here's alook at some events along theway.

History of Israeli-Gaza conflictupdated 8:21 AM EDT, Thu July 10, 2014

How Israel's 'Iron Dome' stops rocketsupdated 10:23 AM EDT, Wed July 9, 2014

Page 4: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

a nephew who are members of the Israel Defense Forces.

"I talk to my brother more regularly than I normally do," he said.

He trusts that the Israeli government knows what it's doing. Whatelse can he do from so far away?

Knishkowy constantly checks news apps on his phone for English-language outlets such as Haaretz and the The Jerusalem Post.

He tries to keep his sons, ages 10 and 12, away from most of thegraphic content of stories.

"We all want the violence to end," he said. "We all do."

A Palestinian-American trying to find thefunny

Comedian Aron Kader's father is Palestinian.His mother is Mormon. The Los Angeles-based performer likes to mention that duringhis shows. It sounds like the beginning of ajoke.

As much as he cringes at the lameness of the"Can't we all just get along?" mantra, hisjokes stand on that philosophy, he said. And

he believes it, even after the brutality wrought on members of hisextended family this summer.

One of his distant cousins is Mohammed Abu Khedair.

The 16-year-old was hit on the head with a blunt object and burnedalive, according to Palestinian General Prosecutor Mohammed al-Auwewy, citing a medical autopsy. Several Israeli Jewish suspectshave been arrested in connection with the slaying, Israeli police said.

Kader had never met the teenager, but his death hit the comedianhard.

"I didn't know I'd be as affected as I was. I started to read the newsabout how he was a joker. I mean, the children have absolutelynothing to do with it. It's about terrible leaders."

At a recent family reunion in the U.S., everyone debated whetherthey wanted to turn on the news.

"Should we or not? Will it just make us more upset?" he said. "As aperson, as a human, it's just difficult every day to pull away from it,but it's also hard not to confront."

Another of the comedian's cousins, Tariq AbuKhdeir, made global headlines the first weekin July when he was seen on videotape beingpummeled by Israeli police in Jerusalem. The15-year-old, who was born in the U.S. andlives in Tampa, Florida, was in the West Bankvisiting relatives.

Speaking to CNN's Christiane Amanpour,Tariq said that he now has an idea of what hisrelatives face.

"What they go through, like the people that are dying in Gaza -- it'sreally sad ... having to go through all that pain," he said.

What happened to him is "just a taste of what they go through," he

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said. "You have people dying all over there. It's sad."

Kader said he doesn't talk about Mohammed's death on stage. It'sjust too intense.

"I'm allowed to be an optimist as a comedian, I want to be able toexpress myself," he said. "I don't think my job is to go out there andtell a Palestinian story.

"But to deal with it (on stage), I also have to be cynical, I have to usegallows humor," he said.

Sometimes it can feel maddening to the comedian that the violencetoday doesn't feel much different from violence that's happenedbetween Israel and Gaza for years.

"I've recycled old jokes even. It seems like there has to be bloodevery few years, like that is the way it is and it won't change," hesaid. "It's all dehumanizing. We want everyone on both sides to seethe other as less than human. But I don't know who, on either side,would say they don't want it to end."

Americans who fight for Israel

CNN's Holly Yan, Polo Sandoval, Janet DiGiacomo, Martin Savidge and Amanda Wattscontributed to this report.

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jikeksi • 2 days ago

On one hand we have American-Palestinians who are visiting their families andcelebrating Ramadan.

On other hand we have Israeli Americans (I reversed it on purpose) going to Israel to

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Page 6: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

• Reply •

fight for IDF like those 2 Americans that got killed,Rite Aid grandson got wounded inbattle and Bloomberg flying to Tel Aviv.

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• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago jikeksi

I am from a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, and my sister made Aliyah and foughtin the IDF. She served in the combat unit Karkal, which controls the border withEgypt, and completed her service last December. My sister was one of themost popular soldiers in her unit, and everybody liked her because she was anAmerican and a lone soldier. Israelis value American lives as much as theirown. My sister loves the US, but she also wouldn't have anything differently, ifshe had to do it again. Israel holds the same interests as the US, and I amproud that so many Americans fight for Israel. Anybody who is ashamed ofAmericans making a difference around the world doesn't deserve this planet.

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• Reply •

adam101 • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

she should've fought against the Taliban for the victims of 9/11. Imaginenow, some of us is going to fight with the German army, another withthe French and even another with the Indian army and the Pakistaniarmy and so on.

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• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago adam101

She wasn't old enough to enlist until a few years ago, and thewars in Afghanistan and Iraq were already dying down. Also, sheserved in combat in the IDF, she couldn't have done that for theUS. She is considering being a liaison between the IDF andAmerican military, but she wouldn't do anything different if shehad to do it again.

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• Reply •

adam101 • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

I am sure she would. I can tell from the percentages in the U.Sarmy. even Muslims they have bigger percentage. you are verygood propaganda machine

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• Reply •

Barasheit • 2 days ago adam101

Actually, there are 4500 active Jewish members in the USmilitary and 3400 Muslims. Stop the Taqiyya.

11

• Reply •

SnakePlissken • 2 days ago Barasheit

And 4,000,000 Christians. 5

• Reply •

Ryan • 15 minutes ago SnakePlissken

In Flanders fields the poppies grow ......

Between the CROSSES,Row on row.

• Reply •

laila • 2 days ago Barasheit

Is it suppose to be popularity contest? 2

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago adam101

You are sure she would what? Do something different? Nope sheloves Israel, is attending college in Herzliya, and does not planon moving back to the states. She is happier than I have ever

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Page 7: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

• Reply •

on moving back to the states. She is happier than I have everseen her, and she knows she made all the right choices.

5

• Reply •

laila • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

May god forgive her sins so she live her eternal life in peace fortaking part in killing defenseless civilians.

5

• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago laila

The great thing about Judaism is that we don't focus on the lifebeyond, or even believe in one, we focus on the life we know wewill have, so we focus on making this the best world we can.Also, I don't think she feels the way you do about her.

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• Reply •

Gene Lemour • an hour ago laila

Laila, Hezballah, Iran and endless Arab countries feed the hamasfighting machine. Quatar gives them money. I would say that thedeck is stacked against Israel in that regard.

1

• Reply •

tantan • 34 minutes ago laila

Tsk Tsk one sided opinionated pro Hamas

• Reply •

Mrp302 • 2 days ago

see more

Jonathan Werner

Human Shield lie = Israeli's bombed hospital (where was Hamas)

Human shield lie = Israeli's bombed beech killing 4 people (where wasHamas)

Human shield lie = Israel giving less than a minute to bomb a building(where was Hamas)

Tunnels = Tunnels were used for trade, since Israel wont allow anythingto go to Gaza (every point is covered)

Tunnels = Israeli's destroying all the possible safe place for Palestinians

People = All the check points were closed by Israel. People have noway to go

Israel = We pay 378 per person (our tax payer dollars) going forslaughtering Palestinians.

all the Hospitals were run out medical supply - even this was cut down

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• Reply •

Gene Lemour • an hour ago Mrp302

The most laughable one: "Tunnels were used for trade"..YEAH,TO TRADE GUNS FROM ONE HAMAS MILITIA TO THEOTHER!!!

2

• Reply •

tantan • 39 minutes ago Mrp302

if you are so pro Hamas what are doing here, you should die withthem so you could be one of those shield protecting rockets sothat you could be in heaven with your so called virgins!!!

ventolin63 • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

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Page 8: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

• Reply •

ventolin63 • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

You got it wrong man. Israeli don't deserve their country with this typeof behaviour. It was awarded to them as compensation for those 6million jews that died atrocious deaths in concentration camps, and itwas fair, but with every child and women they kill, they betray those 6million that suffered so their offspring would have a place to call theirs.

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• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago ventolin63

When every nation around you, tries to kill you, you are allowedto fight back, or are Jews not allowed to fight back. Also, Iwouldn't say Israel was awarded to us, that would be like sayingwe sacrificed those 6 million, and is an insult to their memory.

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• Reply •

Clivster • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

Some people seem to have a real problem with Jews havingtheir own land. They don't realize how twisted and racist thatnotion is.

This idea that this land was "stolen", is an untrue slogan, as wellas the notion of "giving" Jews land. The other nations of theworld own all the land of the planet? And Jews having a slice ofthat land, the size of New Jersey, is some sort of "privilege", or a"gift" for being good Jews?

This is a racist notion, and I ask myself, when someone says"stolen land", (on land that was in fact mostly bought withmoney), where do they actually want all the Jews of Israel to goto? This is a call for genocide disguised as a "peace" slogan.

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• Reply •

QB • 2 days ago Clivster

Have a land but don't commit genocide. It's that simple, but notfor you.

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• Reply •

ventolin63 • 2 days ago Clivster

I don't want Jews to go anywhere...but inside those 1967 linesso that all this bloodshed can finally end once for all. Is tgat somuch to ask?

2

• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago ventolin63

Except the Golan, which was owned by Syria, Israel is in the1967 borders, but the West Bank harbors terrorists, so Israelmust maintain a presence. Also, the West Bank was owned byJordan, and Gaza by Egypt, so.... The Palestinians have no claimto anything.

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• Reply •

QB • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

Then give it back to Jordan. 2

• Reply •

Gene Lemour • an hour ago QB

OK, where do I sign? 1

Clivster • 2 days ago ventolin63

The land within the border of 1967 was actually offered by Israelin many agreements, including the eastern part of Jerusalem.

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Page 9: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

• Reply •

in many agreements, including the eastern part of Jerusalem.That is not the reason the peace process failed.

And as long as the Hamas' stated agenda is the annihilation ofIsrael, you can't honestly say this about borders of 67'.

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• Reply •

ventolin63 • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

i certainly not meant it as an offense: it was the least thing theUN could have done after the carnage of WW2. But why nottarget only Hamas? Why do you have to kill pretty muchanybody else in the process? And why women and children?Israel was a master in targeting specific individuals, why the helldid you abandon that tactic? It worked well for so long, why turnto killing kids playing football on the beach...what strategicpurpose that thing serves besides turning everybody's opinionagainst you? Weren't things difficult enough, why complicatethem even more?

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• Reply •

Jonathan Werner • 2 days ago ventolin63

1. I know you meant no offense2. Israel is only targeting Hamas, but urban areas complicate it3. Individuals are different from an army4. Those kids were told to go to that beach, although I do lamentthe death of a child. It was unfortunate, but people don't admitthat there were clearly militants less than a block away.5. The media being against Israel, will not deter her from doingwhat is right.

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• Reply •

QB • 2 days ago Jonathan Werner

Lie, If media was against Israel and actually showed what itdoes, the war would have ended very soon.

4

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Anyanwu Emily • a day ago ventolin63

Israel issue warnings to the Palestinians to leave but hamasleader who is in exile with his family told them not to leave. whois to blame?... if Israel want to kill Palestinians as most of youassume, will they give them warning.....no but because some ofthem are brainwashed by their leaders they choose to stay backknowing fully well that hamas will use them as shield they stillremain. have you seen where any enemy will warn his enemythat he should leave because he coming to kill him .no. the bloodof those innocent women and children are upon hamas and theirleaders. when hamas wanted to make peace with Palestiniangovernment, Israel warn Palestinians not to do it because thosehamas cannot be peaceful but they refused only a few weeksafter, they kidnapped 3 innocent children and murder them incold blood and while the search for those children were goingon, hamas started rocketing Israel, tell me who wouldn't retaliateif it is him. you killed their children upon that you startedbombing them.......what nation will take that my dear.

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Barasheit • 2 days ago ventolin63

Cry me a river that the Ottoman empire is dead. The borders ofIraq, Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Trans-Jordan, ect, ectwere all awarded to Arabs who did not want to give Israel herland back as it had been for thousands of years. You foughtagainst them. The US, Britain, france, ect, did not put troops on

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Page 10: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

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against them. The US, Britain, france, ect, did not put troops onthe ground. Jews did it themselves.

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laila • 2 days ago Barasheit

It was not awarded to them, they lived there it was their home.Besides no one says Jews should live, but they should respect1967 borders.

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Anyanwu Emily • a day ago

see more

ventolin63

I wonder why you are blaming Israel. let me ask you a question,if you are an Israeli living and working there and you have yourchildren and family members there and everyday those childrenwill be afraid because of rockets that flies from Palestine, whatwill you do? and this is everyday not once in a month of twotwice but every blessed day. you people talk about Israel takenPalestinian land.. what land?...tell me. because Israel is smallcountry a very tiny one for that matter. why is it that Palestiniansare after the land of Israel when their leaders both present andpast have failed to develop the one they are occupying?. Israelprovides everything for them yet they hate Israel so much withcruel hatred. why. ordinary electricity and water Israel providesfor them and give their people jobs which some of them testified.hamas know that when they stock their rockets in schools andhospitals and houses and fire from there that Israel will definitelyrespond and that will cause casualties yet they keep on usesthose places. why can't we reason before we talk. Palestinianswant more lands yet they have not developed the one they are

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ventolin63 • a day ago Anyanwu Emily

You are right on several points (I even gave you a vote). If I werean Israeli I would join IDF's Medical Corps without question (Ihave a big problem woth taking someone's life, whomever thatperson might be, as most doctors do). What I don't like are thenumbers: close to 80 percent of the dead are not connected withHamas...what's that about? I can accept a 20 percent collateraldammage (even that seems huge) but close to 80? It makes sothat Israel's objective is in killing the maximum ammount ofpeople instead of focusing on Hamas! That is my problem withIsrael, and nothing more.

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Gene Lemour • 41 minutes ago ventolin63

80 percent of the dead are not connected with Hamas???Doesn't matter to me, because I can see hatred in their facesand know that when Israel pulled out of Gaza several years ago,that the animals burned and destroyed everything that theIsraelis had built. The majority voted to have hamas as theirleader and once you live by the sword, you also die by thesword.

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ventolin63 • 11 minutes ago Gene Lemour

are you about to tell me that those guys REALLY voted forHamas? Come on man, it was like in the communist countries,they got the majority by making the dead vote multiple times!Then, why should the sword fall on their heads?

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Page 11: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

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tantan • 37 minutes ago ventolin63

why dont you go back and study history and bible an dbeilluminated for once!!!

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ventolin63 • 15 minutes ago tantan

I read the Bible and all those prophets starting with Osea andending with Malacchi say the same thing: your ancestorsrenegged on their faith to God and God punished them bymaking you loose Israel. Of course that part is like NEVERteached in Bible School but you can check it for yourself. This iswhy there are more Arabs in that country than you guys, 'causeyour God GAVE it to THEM apparently. I never knew this andwhat's even stranger is that one of my jewish friends's brotherstudied in a Yeshivah and he made me curious about it!Otherwise I woudl had never discovered it for sure. Sincerelyman, don't take my word for it, pick up a Bible and read pastDaniel the last 11 prophets until Malacchi and you can find it foryourself!

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Ryan • 17 minutes ago Jonathan Werner

TRAITOR

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Mian Wattu • a day ago Jonathan Werner

Jonathan Pollard was also fighting for America

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Gene Lemour • 39 minutes ago Mian Wattu

..and received an unfair sentence, while other scum are free andworking for the russians and islamists.

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Scott • 2 days ago jikeksi

You've done a good job of pointing out the heroism of those Israeli Americans,I'm just not very sure why it took you a paragraph to get to it.

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ventolin63 • 2 days ago Scott

that is heroism? So they're American citizens and they opt out of Irak ofAfgan wars...but they become instant heroes when they go and killwomen and children in the name of zi0ñažism?How's that heroic anyway? 70% of the casualties are civilians.

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Gene Lemour • 37 minutes ago ventolin63

They are heroes to any society that respects the freedoms ofman and women versus those of the islamists that they arefighting.

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adam101 • 2 days ago Scott

We used to call the Taliban's American hero's when they fought againstthe Russians, NOW we call them terrorists.

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• Reply •

Gene Lemour • 34 minutes ago adam101

True!

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Page 12: For some Americans, Gaza war hits close to home - CNN.com

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Mrp302 • 2 days ago Scott

Wednesday’s deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed during the16-day Israeli assault on Gaza to 655, including scores of children. More than 4,000 people have been injured.

The number of Israelis who have died has climbed to 35 — three civilians and 32 soldiers. One other soldier remains missing but is presumed dead, according to the Israeli army..

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brother_abigail • 2 days ago Mrp302

1 israeli dead is too many, 655 palestinians dead is not enough 4

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QB • 2 days ago brother_abigail

Thats the bottom line and explains Israeli strategy. 4

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bb • 2 days ago brother_abigail

Really?? I am not Jewish, but I am sure that that beautiful faithtradition, would not call for such a thing. Remind yourself thatthe majority of those deceased 655 people are CIVILIANS, manyof which are CHILDREN. 1 Israeli OR 1 Palestinian dead, is TOOMANY. Jeesh.

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