-Mona-

Palestinians should simply "go away," eh? Nevermind that they live there and have families going back generations.

How enlightened of you.

Thanks. I've come to feel that Israel has destroyed some of the best aspects of Jewish ethics and culture. Instead of being universalist defenders of rights for all, Zionism has turned many Jews into insular nationalists who defend the indefensible.

My education and background is American law, and I know that this field would be impoverished without some very great Jewish-American minds and the values guiding those minds. Those values, however, are irreconcilable with policies of ethnocracy, militarism and religious separatism.

So, while I can sympathize with the lure of a Zionist nation in response to several millennia of Jewish oppression, I see Zionism destroying some of the best aspects of Jewish culture and ethics. I read Max Blumenthals' book (as well as much else) and feel Zionism has cause too many Jews to become the very hatefilled people they seek to escape.

David, my second question, this one about BDS.

I'm ambivalent about that movement because I don't know who it might harm, and how much. I opposed sanctions on Iraq, oppose them on Iran, and worry that economic punishment can cause horrible suffering.

Do you think BDS could hurt people in any serious way?

If it merely shames Israel, I have no objection to BDS. My concern is restricted to serious harm, if any, that could result (including to non-Jewish Israelis).

It is very common for oppressed, colonized people to hold sympathy for terrorism and to engage in it. The ANC did it, the Irish-Catholics, & the Palestinians.

Jewish Zionists engaged in terrorism before Israel was founded and, indeed, their violence was instrumental in ushering in the state. Those terrorists killed civilians, too.

Point being, it is better to resolve an injustice than to seek to kill people who have felt pushed to terrorism.

On the contrary. Pharmaceus is quite knowledgeable and I agree with essentially all that he wrote.