Essay

Never Again

A ghettoized Gaza bears striking similarities to the Warsaw ghetto.

On October 1, 1939 the German Wehrmacht’s advance reached the city of Warsaw, Poland. Over the following months, the Jewish population of Warsaw and the surrounding areas would be forced into a small section of the city dubbed the “Jüdischer wohnbezirk” or “the Jewish quarter,” the Warsaw ghetto. The situation within the ghetto was unbearable: 30 percent of the population was forced to live in 2.4 percent of the city’s area. The Nazi occupiers of the city strictly controlled the movement of goods, basic utilities and even food. Each person in the ghetto was allotted about 250 calories per day. This meant that the population would slowly starve.

Acts of rebellion within the ghetto were brutally suppressed and German retaliation was often strikingly disproportionate. In December 1939, for example, two German soldiers were killed in a local restaurant and 106 men in the ghetto were shot in reprisal. Sweeping mass arrests and random executions were also commonplace. In April 1940 the ghetto was walled off on all sides, effectively separating it from the outside world. The population was allowed limited control through an essentially powerless governing committee and a similarly ineffective Jewish police force.

Document 87 of 812
German troops set fire to housing blocks in order to suppress the Warsaw ghetto uprising by smoking members of the Jewish resistance out of hiding.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Palestinian firefighters try to extinguish flames at a medical warehouse after an Israeli air strike targeted a fuel tank nearby in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers Sunday, pounding Hamas targets, smugglers’ tunnels and a central prison.
AP Photo/Xinhua

Jews living anywhere in the greater occupied German territories were forced to wear armbands with the Star of David, which signified their position within the Nazi social strata (read subhuman). These armbands effectively determined people’s ability to travel, live and work, as well as the manner in which they would be treated by non-Jewish persons.

Leaving the Warsaw ghetto meant risking death or deportation to a concentration camp. Services such as hospitals and schools were often derelict, relying on an ever-decreasing stream of supplies allotted by the Nazis. The low supplies were often supplemented by goods smuggled in through tunnels, but such services were eventually forced to close.

The citizens of Warsaw organized a resistance movement during the Soviet advance. Their valiant attempt to fight the occupation, however, was brutally defeated and the Warsaw ghetto was razed to the ground. The ghetto’s remaining residents, those who had managed to evade deportation to concentration camps, were killed.

On September 12, 2005 the final Israeli settlement blocs in the Gaza Strip were dismantled and Israeli troops withdrew from the area after 38 years of military occupation. For Israel, the removal of troops signified an end to their occupation of Gaza. For the citizens of the Gaza Strip, however, the occupation had simply progressed into a new phase: the ghetto. The year 2005 marked the establishment of Gaza as an open-air prison for Palestinians.

Palestinian rescue workers carry a wounded prisoner past a fire, as another lies under the rubble in the central security headquarters and prison, known as the Saraya, after it was hit in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.
AP Photo/Majed Hamdan

Document 358 of 812
The bodies of Jewish resisters lie in front of the ruins of a building where they were shot by the SS during the supression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
[Photograph #26547]
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Palestinians hold white flags as a signal for Israeli troops after leaving their house near the area where Israeli soldiers and Palestinean militants exchange fire outside Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.
AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

Document 228 of 812
Members of the Jewish resistance captured by SS troops during the suppression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
[Photograph #26544]
United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum

The Israeli government controls the movement of all goods, including food, in and out of the Gaza Strip. A study done by Johns Hopkins University in 2002 showed that 17.5 percent of Gaza’s children aged 6–59 months suffer from chronic malnutrition and almost half of women and children suffer from anemia. These statistics have no doubt gone up in the wake of recent Israeli embargoes. Israel also controls basic necessities like power and plumbing. And of course it controls Gaza’s borders and airspace. The long ocean border, once an extremely viable source of income for Gazans through trade and fishing, is now strictly controlled by Israel.

For the most part, the movement of Palestinians into Israel is strictly forbidden. Until 2005 and the open revolt of Hamas in Gaza, Palestinians living in the territory were issued identification cards by the Palestinian Authority, with ID numbers given by Israel. These identification cards and their color casings determined what rights people had, where they were allowed to travel and, unofficially, how they were treated. Although they are no longer used in Hamas-controlled Gaza, these identification cards are used extensively in the West Bank, where Israeli checkpoints dot the region and prevent Palestinians from traveling freely within their territory. The situation of Palestinians in Gaza is unique: they have no official state and are thus treated as nonentities.

Document 4 of 812
The bodies of Jewish policemen executed by the SS during the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
[Photograph #05515]
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Bodies lie outside the Hamas police headquarters following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Dec. 27, 2008.
AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed

Hospitals and schools in Gaza are rarely, if ever, able to keep up with the demands of the population. Supplies to these institutions are controlled by Israel and during times of war are often cut off. Most recently, the Israeli embargo of Gaza struck a blow to the health care system: many essential drugs are unavailable and ambulances have been grounded due to a lack of spare parts. Israeli responses to provocation are wildly disproportionate. In the recent resumption of fighting between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli response to the murder of three civilians by Palestinian rockets was the wide-scale destruction of Gaza, which has thus far reportedly claimed the lives of 670 civilians.

Comparing any event with the actions of Nazi Germany during World War II should never be done lightly. When events lend themselves to such comparisons, however, it can almost certainly be said that something is very wrong. Though the stated goal of Israel has never been the complete destruction of the Palestinian people, the tactics and policies supported by the state of Israel paint an extremely grim picture.

Saeed David Mohammad is a first-generation American born to a Pakistani father and German mother. He is majoring in Middle Eastern Studies at New York University.

THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PHOTO ESSAY, AND THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE IMAGES ARE USED, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OR POLICY OF, NOR IMPLY APPROVAL OR ENDORSEMENT BY, THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

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Adbusters # MAY/JUNE 2009

A New Aesthetic

July
07, 2009
02:24 am
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False. Straight up lie. IDF agent posting. — Anonymous

July
05, 2009
01:34 pm
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it takes a lot to criticize the state of israel. kudos to adbusters for not buckling to the intimidation which it has no doubt suffered by making comparisons many who have studied both events, have also made. honest reporting is an excellent example of the bullying, zero-tolerance lobbying that some pro-israel groups effort. just because certain special interest groups are excellent at their lobbying and obtain results due to their financial support and ability to organize, doesn’t make them or those they support, right. citizens from around the world have witnessed the sheer brutality of the state of israel, in recent years. the fact that the state of israel has not publicly informed the world they intend on ridding all arabs from the occupied territories, is irrelevant. the state of israel’s actions speak much louder than any double-speak we are regularly subjected to from israel officials. the numerous examples of (often attempted and regularly successful) censorship of any voices which are critical of the actions of israel, abound. perhaps organizations such as honest reporting should take a closer look at the brutality of israel, rather than working so hard to debunk the identification of israel’s brutality. — Anonymous

July
04, 2009
10:42 pm
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Fuck Pissrael The Mujahideen of Hamas Al Qassam Brigades Saraya al QUds and Jihadi Islami kicked Israels asses. In 13 days IDF cocksuckers lost 98 soldiers and 350 severely wounded. The Mujaheddin of Gaza only lsot 48 men. IDF were never brave they only exist from American dick aid they recieve every year. 3.2 billion American tax dollar every year. After that you pussies lost to poorly armed Millitants with Home made rockets and retreated like bitches in 13 days. — Anonymous

July
22, 2009
01:14 pm
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and you’re proud of these kill counts? this is why i’m leaning towards israels side. — Anonymous

September
22, 2009
03:07 pm
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Nobody cares where you are leaning.

— Anonymous

September
22, 2009
03:07 pm
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Nobody cares where you are leaning.

— Anonymous

July
01, 2009
03:21 pm
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These comments are atrocious. How am I supposed to take any argument seriously when Zionists are calling Anti-Zionists "faggots" and when the KKK is being compared to the entirety of the Muslim religion? The author is not comparing Gaza to the Holocaust, but rather comparing it to a ghetto in that it is entirely closed off. He also states that violence against Gaza is greater than what Gaza perpetrates. By jumping to extreme conclusions and using obscene and offensive language, you are contributing to the climate of violence and refusing to take part in any constructive dialog. As an atheist American, I have trouble wrapping my mind around the creation of Israel. I understand the need that survivors had for a home, but its creation was in haste, and had little regard for the future, including the health and well-being of future Jews. I am still looking for a logical reason as to why Israel should exist, without relying on religious reasoning or victimization. Please point me in the right direction. Also, I must say that I am not an anti-Semite. I have learned that my confusion over Israel has been interpreted as such in the past. I have learned to keep my mouth shut, which has not contributed to my understanding of the state of Israel or Zionism. — Anonymous

July
12, 2009
08:46 pm
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It’s true everything can be avoided without including ones choice religion. Whats so unfair is that the Palestinians are helpless against the Iraels. The Israels have the power to take away everything from the Palestinians because they are helpless….they have no guns and large amounts of money being contributed to them such as the Iraelis. The Israelis are able to take advantage of the Palestinians. They can take their land that has been passed down from many generations, they can shoot them if they want to take their house etc… — Anonymous

July
07, 2009
04:51 am
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First of all the foolish Zionist red-necks posting on here are Israeli’s. Let’s just be clear about that. They are recruited and supported by the Mossad, IDF, Shin Bet etc. These are University kids in “Israel” posing as someone outside of Israel or the American Jewish Establishment desperately attempting to sound like a normal reader of Adbusters. This is standard practice for colonialist, occupying regimes especially Zionist PR firms and military think-tanks. No Zionist would ever read Adbusters so anyone with a seriously racist and preposterously under evidenced argument in favor of Israel is a plant - an agent provocateur. Anyone posting on this site in favor of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity is only here because they were directed to come here and spam the site in hopes of convincing people like you that support of Israel is “normal” and criticism of it is something you should be “affraid” of. I think you can see how inane such logic is. This frail and twisted elite have no grasp of reality from their palace of privileged built on a mountain of bones. They are perpetually terrified the truth will be revealed so they speak from mega-phones to frighten the likes of you with their booming voices. But make no mistake: the emperor has no clothes. Israel must be criticized if we are to hold to any ideals of cause and effect logic, analysis, scientific data gathering, historical fact finding, etc. The oft made claim that “Israel” is a litmus test of intellectual fortitude is accurate. You can’t be a rational human being of any intellectual consequence and seriously be in favor of Zionism and the invention of Israel. Just as you could never be taken seriously for arguing that South African Aparthied is totally acceptable and should be funded with billions of dollars of U.S tax payers hard earned money. Not after what is known. In the case of Israel if you look at the facts instead of the smoke screen manufactured by the well documented Zionist influenced Corporate Media you can’t possible come to any other conclusion than that Israel is a gigantic fraud foisted onto not only the people of Palestine but the poor Jewish Europeans who were manipulated into going there and indeed the world at large which has suffered as well from the betrayal of good conscience that is the invention of “Israel.” It’s not possible to know how to do even a junior high school level amount of research and conclude that Israel is any more acceptable than South African Apartheid. Secondly, go to the encyclopedia and look up the word Semite. Then do just a bit of sleuthing on google and discover for yourself that the word “Anti-semite” was made up by Nazis to make their distrust and resentment of Jews SEEM scientific and race-based when they knew that Jews were NOT a race and therefor could not fit into a racial profile for “elimination.” This word was preposterous, erroneous and lacking of credibility then and is only more so now ESPECIALLY as it’s currently used BY JEWS to attempt to sound scientific and cloak themselves in genetic distinction and hence afford them genetic entitlement to Palestine. Never mind that the use of this word is deliberately employed to avoid scrutiny of scrutiny-worthy behaviour by Jews who work feverishly to prop up the racist experiment of Israel, the fact is that the word is a misnomer as you will see by referencing the meaning of Semite and asking yourself Who are Semites? Who are Jews. What is a race? Ah and so it all comes undone… Take these tools with you and let the deconstruction begin. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
08:20 pm
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I can't help but notice that all the pathetic fucking zionists posting on this article are using ad-hominem attacks rather than logic and data. Really it only undermines your indefensible point, retards. — Anonymous

July
03, 2009
02:06 pm
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Well you’re just an idiot then :) — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
03:29 pm
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99.9% percent of all wars, rapes, pillaging, genocides, slaughters, terrorist attacks on civilians are all related to muslims. Nuff said. — Anonymous

July
28, 2009
11:33 am
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Someone needs to study their history! I am a Christian and I do know that Christians have at least as much blood on their hands. Just because we use our “legitimate” soldiers against “terrorists” (some of them fighting for their fair shake) doesn’t make us right. American soldiers like British, French, Spanish, and Romans in the past have directly or indirectly started a great proportion of the wars, raping, pillaging, genocide, slaughters on civilians. — Anonymous

July
05, 2009
03:31 pm
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What? This is just crazy. I don’t know what to say. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
08:15 pm
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So you pull a bullshit statistic out of your ass to back your asinine argument? Why don't you try rationality instead. Most war is caused by government, not religions, and not Islam in particular. If anything, in this case, these people are fighting a guerrilla war against fascism. Next time, try a little harder prick. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
06:30 pm
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"99.9% percent of all wars, rapes, pillaging, genocides, slaughters, terrorist attacks on civilians are all related to muslims" Time for you to stop watching Fox News, I think ... Pig ignorance like that can get a lot of people killed. Religion is not central to the cause of this conflict. Slow gradualised Israeli border expansion -is- central to the cause of this conflict. And killing 1,400 people with military weapons IS indeed genocide. Don't try and tell me that it isn't. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
03:22 pm
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Israel is here to stay motherfuckers....and there is nothing you can do about it...i8t is the Jewish state, one of the most powerful, intelligent, technologically advanced nations in the world.......you can never dislodge Israel.......and Im not even Jewish..... If Iran can me a muslim state, Israel can be a Jewish state....it is, always was always will be.... Now go cash your welfare checks.... — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
08:16 pm
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The state is just an illusion, it doesn't exist. And your religion is likewise a delusion that doesn't exist. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
03:10 pm
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Losers on this board should really learn what Genocide is.....there is definitely NONE going on in Israel.......how dare you say Israel is perpetrating Gonocide...I will bring upon, and win, a libel suit agains Adlosers........its a crock of shit, and anyone writing here should be shot in the face... Israel is not systematically slaughtering fakestinians......but fakestinians systematically kill Jewish babies in their cribs, and old people in retirment homes.. So, fo all you losers who dislike Israel, you are on the losing wrong side, I probably cant change your mind, but understand, Israel is powerful, and here to stay...no one ever again in this lifetime will slaughter Jews or try to harm Israel....just come and try you pansy ass terrorist appeasing faggots... — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
08:17 pm
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You are an emotionally disturbed fascist. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
03:02 pm
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Israel was home to the Jewish people over 3000 years ago, NOT 60....our land was just re-liberated in 48, and there were always Jews in Israel. Islam did not even exist when Israel was already 2000 years old....... Jerusalem has only been the capital of one people JEWS and ISRAEL... Anyone saying different is a weak minded fool who has succumbed to arab lies since they repeat it so much. All the "palestinian" leaders are multi millionaires living in 5 star hotels in Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia, while their own people starve..Israel helps them out of humanity, but in no way has to.. Israel is disintegrating?? Only an uneducated, ignorant fool would say that...Israel is stronger then ever...economically, sovereign-wise, education, tehnology, science, engineering, and yes, militarily.....Israel is stronger then ever and is not going anywhere...never has, never will.......it will only get stronger...and the more you attack us, the larger we will get, the more powerful we get... I know it hurts to all you jealous haters out there, but these are the facts...Israel is here to stay, is the G-D given homeland to the Jews...and there is NOTHING you losers sitting at home living on welfare typing up a storm can do about it..........man, some of your rantings on here are ridiculous, you people dont even know what is truth and what is lies...someone here said young Jews are backing away from Zionism?? Are you joking loser? I am a young Jew, and not only do we back Israel 100%, but we are more active now, have more money now, and have large organized "clubs" to deal with any threats to us...and yes, we do go to temple....where you get your information is beyond me, must be from some arab/muslim somwhere and you actually believe it. — Anonymous

July
05, 2009
01:07 am
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Here is somthing for you to read: The Jewish kingdoms were only one of many periods in ancient Palestine “The extended kingdoms of David and Solomon, on which the Zionists base their territorial demands, endured for only about 73 years…Then it fell apart…[Even] if we allow independence to the entire life of the ancient Jewish kingdoms, from David’s conquest of Canaan in 1000 B.C. to the wiping out of Judah in 586 B.C., we arrive at [only] a 414 year Jewish rule.” Illene Beatty, “Arab and Jew in the Land of Canaan.” Also: Shattering a ‘national mythology’ By Ofri Ilani “..And how did millions of Jews appear around the Mediterranean Sea? “The people did not spread, but the Jewish religion spread. Judaism was a converting religion. Contrary to popular opinion, in early Judaism there was a great thirst to convert others…” And as Gurion said: “I don’t understand your optimism.,” Ben-Gurion declared. “Why should the Arabs make peace? If I was an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have taken their country. Sure, God promised it to us, but what does that matter to them? Our God is not theirs. We come from Israel, it’s true, but two thousand years ago, and what is that to them? There has been anti-Semitism the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They only see one thing: we have come here and stolen their country. Why should they accept that? They may perhaps forget in one or two generations’ time, but for the moment there is no chance. So it’s simple: we have to stay strong and maintain a powerful army. Our whole policy is there. Otherwise the Arabs will wipes us out”. “But how can you sleep with that prospect in mind,” I broke in, “and be Prime Minister of Israel too?” Who says I sleep? he answered simply. (The Jewish Paradox by Nahum Goldman, p. 99) “Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because geography books no longer exist. Not only do the books not exist, the Arab villages are not there either. Nahlal arose in the place of Mahlul; Kibbutz Gvat in the place of Jibta; Kibbutz Sarid in the place of Huneifis; and Kefar Yehushua in the place of Tal al-Shuman. There is not a single place built in this country that did not have a former Arab population.” — David Ben Gurion, quoted in The Jewish Paradox, by Nahum Goldmann, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1978, p. 99. “Let us not ignore the truth among ourselves … politically we are the aggressors and they defend themselves… The country is theirs, because they inhabit it, whereas we want to come here and settle down, and in their view we want to take away from them their country.” — David Ben Gurion, quoted on pp 91-2 of Chomsky’s Fateful Triangle, which appears in Simha Flapan’s “Zionism and the Palestinians pp 141-2 citing a 1938 speech. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
02:59 pm
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The Arian nation is the only chosen race/tribe of god. Why do you guys keep taking my ideas and passing them off as your own. Jews have as much right to live in my Germany as Palestinians have living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It's nice to agree with your oppressor isn't it? — Hilter

June
30, 2009
10:54 am
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Anyone who would compare the defensive Israeli measures against baby murdering muslim/arabs in Gaza, to the holocaust, is simply either a KKK member, or severely mentally disabled..... No other way about it.... — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
02:24 pm
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"defensive Israeli measures" Hahah I used that statement to justify my war. Glad I could teach the Jews something other than how to starve. I still think my mustache looks better than your sideburn locks. Thank you for continuing my legacy! — Hilter

July
08, 2009
01:55 am
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IDF agent provocateur. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
03:16 pm
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Oh really, are you that stupid to think Hitler used the defensinve measures argument to slaughter 6 million Jews, and cause the death of over 50 million people? Man, the people on this crap site are seriously mentally retarded...no wonder they side witht eh murderous arabs/muslims, they are so weak minded they get brainwashed into0 thinking they are right....hahah.....fucking losers..you are just mad because ISrael is here to stay, and there is absolutely nothing you can ever do about it........the fakestinians are more then welcome to go home to Jordan...or if they can live in peace, they can stay...thats right we are in charge.. And why are people saying that all these pro Israel comments must be coming from Israel or the IDF?? You people are so stupid...I am a 30 year old rich mother-fuckin Jew who lives in Miami Beach......you fucking losers..let the hate flow through you....while we eat, drink, party, enjoy life and all our accomplishments and nobel prizes...you collect your welfare checks and pay for 1 more month of internet so you can spew your ridiculous hate on insignificant sites like this one.......PATHETIC — Anonymous

July
11, 2009
12:23 pm
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Uh duh? Wow the zionists are so incapable of seeing past propaganda that they don’t even think Hitler used it! Amazing. — Anonymous

June
30, 2009
06:37 am
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Your article with the comparison between the Wrsaw Ghetto and Gaza is simply OBSCENE. It is a well known fact that people like you which have no idea of what were the Nazis and their regime do compare Israel with the Nazi and the Palestinians with the Jews of the Shoah. It should be clear to everyone who has a little knowledge of history and a sense of critic that thit comparison is false, untrue , and its only goal is to demonize Israel. It is also usual that the anti Israeli media and people accuse Israel of the crimes they did commit. It is always the ISRAELI (or the JEWS ) which are the responsibles of their problems .This is a typical childish behavior and those people should better become adult . — Anonymous

June
29, 2009
05:31 am
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It's hilarious to see all these zionist freaks coming out of the word-work to post on this site saying things like "I'm canceling my subscription to Adbusters. Boo-hoo-hoo. Yer bad people and you don't do what we tell you! I used to read Adbusters but not any more." That's rich! Zionists don't read Adbusters and never have. These silly Pro-Israel zealots send out their little spam e-mails to their little cabal of right-wing zionist nut-jobs trying to drum up the minions to blog and post and stifle dissent and they think anyone in Canada or the U.S actually listens to them. Poor guys. It's sad really. These twisted little guys sweating away at their computers, fuming over the fact that their emperor has no clothes. The curtain has been drawn. The gig is up. — Lawrence Spielman

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