Thanks for listening and for letting me know what you thought, it’s appreciated.

GS

No need for apologies. I appreciate your comments & feedback.

All the best.

This is a horrid situation, neither side is right! But I do think that it’s too easy to say that the Muslims are just out to kill the Jews, because there are Jewish people who would be happy to do the same. I think that the west are a little kinder to to Jewish people because of the ties to christianity?

I am also an Australian atheist, who is trying to be neutral and looking for information on each side I just look at the simple human nature thing of the stolen lands with the addition of the opposing religious beliefs and maybe I am just being too kind to the Palestinians. I know GS said that they aren’t oppressed, so maybe I am missing something but I am glad that you replied Eddie!

Cheers Alden

This is undoubtedly a religious war.
However it is not Jews against Muslims or vice versa.

It is Islamic extremists against anyone who is not.

Look at ISIS (Daash) in Iraq and Syria.
They are killing the ‘heretics’ within their own people.
Jews – as a whole – are on high the agenda.
As are Christians and anyone else.

In my experience living in Israel, they do not fight in the name of their religion.

They fight to save their houses, their children, their mothers and fathers and each other……They fight for their right to exist.

That is what I meant when I suggested it is not considered a religious war here. They are not planning military missions based on scripture.

-There is no celebrating ‘God is Great’ when a Muslim death occurs.
-There is genuine sadness for those that are caught in the middle that don’t share the same sentiment as their governors.
-There is no lambasting of Islam as a whole.

It is a war where religion commands the actions of one, but not the other.

I hope I have clarified my remarks.

As you know I am an Australian atheist with no agenda, influence or bias.

My comments are based on what I see, hear and experience during my extensive travels throughout the Middle East in the past 10 years.

I am writing a new blog where I hope to expand on this further.
But first, it’s time for a beer.

Best to Alden and the mighty GSPELL.

Ed

@eddieBOHLS
http://eddiebohls.blogspot.co.il/

Personally, I thought it was an unbiased opinion piece and I’d be so interested to here from someone on the “other side” of the conflict. Although as you say, they’ve probably got a bit on their plate at the minute to come on a podcast but here’s hoping.

Keep doing what you do man, it’s all very good!

Ok you asked if it was recognised as a religious conflict in Tel Aviv and he said definitely not but beforehand he was saying that the surrounding nations were all islamists who wouldn’t stop until the Jews were out of their lands.

I screwed up having a pop at you GS, I should just tweet Eddie instead. You did a good thing bringing somebody on to bring out more talking points, I have been accused of being an anti Semite because I don’t see the Palestinians as bad people and that I think that Israeli government and the western world is letting down the Israeli citizens.

I think that the way things have been for the past sixty years for the Palestinians isn’t anything less than oppression. Again I don think either side is right!

Mate I screwed up, I missed a part of your opening statement and I thank you for everything you do.

Cheers Alden

Thanks again for your comments. I’ll just address a few, or perhaps ask some questions.

I am not sure how he can claim that the issues causing innocent people to die as anything other then religious, he stated that it wasn’t.

Did he? Without listening again I can’t be sure what part you’re referring to. I recollect asking him whether people there (meaning the natives) consider this a religious conflict, rather than asking him whether he considers it as much. Regardless, there is a lot of debate on this, and good points on either side. I’ve no problem myself with affirming this as a religious conflict, as I think it is. But I don’t ask my guests on to tell me what I think:-)

My talking about the land was in regards to his comments all the good things that Israel are/have been doing to solve the problems, but how the Palestinians keep attacking them. But the Palestinians are still losing land and their freedoms that’s all, I was just trying to make a point in a simpler way.

And you may absolutely have a point, but it doesn’t invalidate his observations about Israel, and the attitudes of the Israeli people as ‘bs’.

I hope that something happens to solve the tension so that more innocent lives are not lost, but I cannot see that happening.

Completely agree.

Thanks again,

GS

I hope that something happens to solve the tension so that more innocent lives are not lost, but I cannot see that happening.

Cheers Alden

The podcast explained from the outset in no uncertain terms that you were to hear a particular perspective of first-hand experience, from a particular person, in a particular place, in a particular situation. You seem to be labelling this as ‘bs’ simply because they refused to speak from the perspective of an oppressed Palestinian (they are not by the way). I fear you’ve misunderstood the purpose of this episode, and must have completely ignored its explicitly stated aims laid out in the introduction. You seem to be critical of my guest simply for sharing his experience, instead of a) sharing someone else’s or b) sharing your viewpoint.

I just don’t think that the Australian you interviewed would be terribly happy if I decided to move I to his house and live off his stuff!

Where did he imply he would? I don’t even recall an opinion being offered on the land issue during the podcast. This one point really summarises how its almost impossible for some people to speak (or even listen) about this issue objectively, without wanting to push their views.

If you want to address any actual points mentioned in the podcast, feel free.

EDIT: Apologies if this seems overly forthright. It can be frustrating putting so much time and energy in to creating something, including safeguards (4 min spoken intro) to ensure it won’t be misunderstood, then having it misunderstood anyway:-) I do appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment regardless, and wish no ill-feeling.