Very timely and couragous move. What you said is definitly true, I wish you success.
- By: AIS on August 24, 2004

jeremy in NYC, You say: "I do think encouraging a growing friendship between the countries would help both with their internal issues." My Response: Yes, but in equal conditions with equal rights. You say: "Assuming you're talking about actual the Arab citizens of Israel, which "apartheid policies" are you referring to?" My response: The policies that prevents them to be elected as president, or any other kind of official in the high levels of government. Owning property in Israel for Arabs is different that the Jews, and in many places they are officially segregated fro the Jews. You say: "Israel has issues with its treatment of its Arab citizens (and Mizrachi Jews, for that matter), but it's a long way from "apartheid." My response: Really? So how an apartheid regime looks like? You say: "Which country? Either you're talking about the Palestinian Territories, in which case you're wrong, or you're talking about Israel proper, in which case you're referring to the "right of return," which in Israel's view would obviate the two-state solution which is the supposed answer to the stalemate." My response: It is your supposed answer not everyone. How do you expect to accept your point without any debate. Many of those people living in camp for years are from the region called "Israel" now. They do not belong to Gaza or the West Bank and they should have the right to return to their homeland. You say: "You want Israel to toss them out of the West Bank and Gaza?" My response: No, First of all Israel has no right to do anything there. Those territories are "occupied lands" very much like Kuwait under Saddam. I think you keep forgetting that Israel occupied those lands in 1967 and didn't leave there till now. Second: Those people have a human right to leave their place or come back to their home. Under Israeli Nazi-like rule they are living very much like living in a concentration camp. You say: "I won't argue about the torture, although I will not that the policies have changed massively in recent years based on Israeli Supreme Court rulings." My response: Thank you very much for accepting the reality. You say: "But the people it assassinates are the ones perpetrating violence in this low-level war going on." My response: Really? Your logic is the logic every terrorist group and government uses to justify its actions. It is funny how it is justified when it is used by the US and Israel, but it is a terrorist act when it is used by any other. You say: "Not "dissidents." My response: You probably forgot about people like Mordechai Vanunu and the others. You say: "Two other points: (1) so does Iran - .... (2) so does the Palestinian Authority" My response: What this supposed to mean? They both are undemocratic governments. No doubt about it. But here we are talking about Israel... are you trying to justify one's treble action based on the rival's wrong-doings? You say: "... and has Nuclear facilities that are not under any international supervision And has never signed any treaty binding it otherwise.." My response: You probably don't know that much about what you are talking about. Unlike Israel, Iran is a member of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). IAEA has a supervision on Iranian nuclear facilities. During the last few years Iran has hidden some of its nuclear activities form IAEA, right, ... but it has been a member of IAEA. Israel does all its activities under no supervision by any International institution. You say: "Israel is a Jewish state -and yet, unlike the other states in the region, it (i) allows non-Jews full participation in the electoral process (voting, running for and holding office)." My response: At least in Iran they can vote and they have their own representative in the parliament. If that makes a democracy Iran and Israel both are democratic countries! You say: "It is governed by a set of secular law, not Jewish law (except in the domestic areas governed by the pre-existing millet system, such as marriage law, in which each religion controls its own affairs. How is this the same?" My response: It is not just about Judaism as a religion, but mostly as a race. Nazi laws were secular too, but they were completely undemocratic. The same applies to Israel. You say: "The government and the structure of the society in Israel is based on the superiority of the Jews over the others, and I think we should remember that. Bold statement. Back it up with...well, anything." My response: One should be blind not seeing it in the news during the last 50 years. Do you watch too much Fox-News? You say: "Demonization is fun, but it doesn't solve a lot." My response: I agree. Demonization is what is done to the Palestinians for years.
- By: The Other on August 23, 2004

Bravo Hussein. I'm heartened to see someone who is willing to speak out in favor of strenghtening, rather than weakening, relations between the country. Before the Islamic revolution, Israel and Iran had some great sports rivalries. The soccer matches in the 1970s were legendary! Another thing which has been lost in this. After Waks' won his first match by forfeit, his next opponent was an Algerian. The Algerian didn't boycott, he competed, and won. That's the way to make a statement. You mentioned Iranians blogging in Israel. A few months ago the BBC website featured a dialog between an Israeli from Iran and an Egyptian. You may still be able to find it in the archives. One other thing, I don't know if it is fair to attribute the decision to Miresmalili. It could be that the team's officials "persuaded" him to withdraw. Missing weight was a way of him forfeiting without having to make the political statement himself.
- By: Joshua on August 20, 2004

Brain H, I have to tell you that even in Iran with the current regime, Jews vote and have their own MP. You might argue about the legitimacy of elections in Iran, well whatever it is, it is for everybody, Jews and non-Jews.
- By: Faramin on August 19, 2004

Brian H., there is still a Jewish community of 7,000 people in Morocco, who are voting citizens. The Moroccan government has allowed Jews who have emigrated to Israel to retain Moroccan citizenship and their properies in Morocco.
- By: David on August 19, 2004

The Other: While you are entitled to your opinion, (i) I do think encouraging a growing friendship between the countries would help both with their internal issues and (ii) it's this kind of one-sided hyperbole (on both sides, mind you) that has kept the situation there static in its horrible condition. don't forget that Israel is ruled a racist regime, practicing apartheid policies against the Arab citizens. Assuming you're talking about actual the Arab citizens of Israel, which "apartheid policies" are you referrring to? This allegation is thrown around a lot without much precision. Israel has issues with its treatment of its Arab citizens (and Mizrachi Jews, for that matter), but it's a long way from "apartheid." He has kept millions of them outside the country for years, Which country? Either you're talking about the Palestinian Territories, in whch case you're wrong, or you're talking about Israel proper, in which case you're referring to the "right of return," which in Israel's viewwould obviate the two-state solution which is the supposed answer to the stalemate. and has put many others in a huge jail called the West Bank and Gaza. Here I'm confused. You want Israel to toss them out of the West Bank and Gaza? It systematically tortures and assassinates its dissidents and opponents, I won't argue about the torture, although I will not that the policies have changed massively in recent years based on Israeli Supreme Court rulings.But the people it assasinates are the ones perpatrating violence in this low-level war going on. Not "dissidents." Two other points: (1) so does Iran - so watch that moral high ground there; and (2) so does the Palestinian Authority - should Iran disengage from them too? and has Nuclear facilities that are not under any international supervision. And has never signed any treaty binding it otherwise. Israel is not a democracy as you claim. Remember, it is one of the three countries in the region that refers to its "official" religion on its flag. It is a Jewish Republic very much like an Islamic Republic (the name "Israel" itself excludes the other ethnicities and religions of the country from the power.) Israel is a Jewish state -and yet, unlike the other states in the region, it (i) allows non-Jews full participation in the electoral process (voting, running for and holding office). It is governed by a set of secular law, not Jewish law (except in the domestic areas governed by the pre-existing millet system, such as marriage law, in which each religion controls its own affairs. How is this the same? The government and the structure of the society in Israel is based on the superiority of the Jews over the others, and I think we should remember that. Bold statement. Back it up with...well, anything. I can find you Israelis at the political extremes who believe this, but that's true for, well, any country. SHow me where the entire government is based on "superiority of the Jews." I have nothing against Jews here, I just think we should be fair when we make political decisions. We shouldn't let the stupidity of Islamic Republic regime's policies blind us to the things that are happening in the Middle East. And I guess I'm saying you shouldn't let revulsion at very real policies of the Israeli government blind you to the actual realities of Israel. Demonization is fun, but it doesn't solve a lot.
- By: jeremy in NYC on August 19, 2004

There are certainly reasons to criticise Israeli policy, but let's ask a question here: If the Palestinian refugees unilaterally declared peace, refrained from murder of civilians and ceased military operations against the occupying power, what would happen? If they had done that in 1967, what would their present condition be?
- By: ChrisPer on August 19, 2004

OK, Other, you asked for it. At its founding, Israel tried the co-existence and accomodation route. It was rejected, and to this day the Palestinians' position is that Israel must be abolished and exterminated. Yet Arabs can be and are voting citizens. Name one Arab state where Jews have the same rights. Israel has more achievements and intellectual resources than every Arab and Persian nation in the world combined. Jealousy fuels their rage against such a superior culture.
- By: Brian H on August 19, 2004

The Iranian people should not allow clerics to rule their life or their country. Mossadeq was dumped because, back then, a country was still expected to adhere to contracts. Re-negotiate if you feel the contracts were unfair, but don't just confiscate foreign investment without compensation. I have no desire to have my grand children kill your grand children, and I can assure you that if you stop threatening us we will deal with you as adults, not as the pertulant children who have been wasting your blood for a quarter century. If you keep threatening, then do not expect our restraint to last past the first or second assault.
- By: Walter E. Wallis on August 18, 2004

By what you call patriotism, you are distancing yourself from your humanity. No matter how much we rightfully dislike the regime of Tehran, we have morally no right to agree with Israel, especially because of what it is doing to millions of Palestinians. Let's not mix up our hatred towards our government with our duty to continue speaking up against the Israeli oppressors. Unfortunately, you are downgrading yourself so much that even Jeff Jarvis starts cheering for you. You know why? He cheers for anybody who helps draw a good and clean picture of the dirty policies of Israel. Let's continue hating our government in Tehran, but not reduce to the level to cheer for Israel.
- By: Let's disapprove both oppressors on August 18, 2004

Thought you might be interested in this: http://www.persianmirror.com/community/articles/2004olympics.cfm Iranian Athletes in Athens
- By: sara on August 18, 2004

I think you are right about the Olympic game, but I don't think your idea of friendship between two countries is a good idea. Beside whatever Islamic republic says about Israel, don't forget that Israel is ruled a racist regime, practicing apartheid policies against the Arab citizens. He has kept millions of them outside the country for years, and has put many others in a huge jail called the West Bank and Gaza. It systematically tortures and assassinates its dissidents and opponents, and has Nuclear facilities that are not under any international supervision. Israel is not a democracy as you claim. Remember, it is one of the three countries in the region that refers to its "official" religion on its flag. It is a Jewish Republic very much like an Islamic Republic (the name "Israel" itself excludes the other ethnicities and religions of the country from the power.) The government and the structure of the society in Israel is based on the superiority of the Jews over the others, and I think we should remember that. I have nothing against Jews here, I just think we should be fair when we make political decisions. We shouldn't let the stupidity of Islamic Republic regime's policies blind us to the things that are happening in the Middle East.
- By: The Other on August 18, 2004