We're not celebrating Israel's anniversary

[TrueLight]

Israel is obviously a country now, what created in 1948? but i think what needs to happen is that Israel has to stop kicking Palestinian people out of their home and putting their own people with nice houses. They should stop the checkpoints that run all around the west bank and gaza. and they should seriously stop treating the palestinians like second class citizens when they were obviously there in the first place and give them equal rights. So Israel can exist but the government should integrate all the land together so that Jews and Arabs and live together peacefully. Now i think this won't happen for many political and other reasons... but eh...what can you do...

[brendan]

Gah, semantics!

Well I don't know about that, there is an important difference between seeking the destruction of "Australia" and seeking the destruction of a political body, e.g. the Commonwealth of Australia.

[bubble sunglasses]

 "Israel is a nation :S

Bubble, I think you're super-confused about stuff to do with Israel..."

 "nation" does not equal "state", (wiki them). The birth of the Jewish nation is celebrated on Rosh Hashannah.
   
  I don't know that enough about Israel atm to have my own strong opinions on different questions, but I am confident in arguing the letter was not anti-zionist.
   

[enwiabe]

But it is a nation state. Regardless, the context of the situation provided their equivalence.

If you are going to admit that you do not have sufficient knowledge to argue, then why argue it all?

I have just given you a LOT of context in terms of where that letter's argument sat. I advise you to read it and then read other sources re: Israel's legitimacy in order for you to make an informed opinion on the matter.

[bubble sunglasses]

 I can argue about this point; I was saying I don't know enough atm to give informed opinions about the present climate, 2005, etc.

  You, still haven't answered about why some people's refusal to whoop, sing, toast each other, etc, on the anniversary makes them anti-zionist.

[enwiabe]

"Celebrate" does not mean whoop, sing, toast etc. In this context celebrate means the positive acknowledgement of the country's independence day.

Now, if you refuse to acknowledge that, then you are clearly against the country's existence (in its current format or otherwise), are you not?

[bubble sunglasses]

  Have you read the letter? It is clear it wants Israel's continued existence.

  You might argue that they are being excessively politically correct not to be celebrating,  but that would be another matter.

[enwiabe]

And that is where you have been deceived.

At no point in that letter is it communicated that they believe Israel should exist, all they say is:

"We will celebrate when Arab and Jew live as equals in a peaceful Middle East."

And that was the end sentence to a letter saying that Israel was founded on terrorist action and its birthday should not be celebrated...

Methinks they would prefer Israel dismantled and Jews+Arabs living together in a Palestinian state.

[bubble sunglasses]

 I still highly doubt even very liberal Jews would want the destruction of Israel. Maybe they support a cession of some of Israel's territory, but perhaps you're right to reserve judgement on the meaning of that sentence.