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Oran Cohen

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Did you get a chance to meet with him?
July 29, 2003 - 03:00 AM

Hi Alex

You sent me an e-mail saying you were sent out of Israel
upon your arrival. What happened? Who stopped you and why
were you stopped? Have you got more material about your organization and what your Goals?

with Love,
Oran Cohen,
Israel

Alex Rhoden

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Meeting with Ariel Sharon
August 11, 2003 - 03:07 AM

Comrade Dmitry, Upon arrival to Tel-Aviv, A reception commitee was waiting for me. I was escorted into a room, strip searched, interrogated and declared persona non grata (unwelcome). It seems that IDF has no interest in peace or dialogue. I fully understand their perspective; Israel has the weapons of mass destruction, full support of the United States, and is in full posession of the land they stole from the Palestinians. Ariel Sharon has a history of commiting terrorism and human rights attrocities. There is no need to make peace when you can use military weapons on civilians without fear of reprisal. It will be up to the Israeli people to read the document I have posted on my project page. Only then will they demand justice and change. Your Friend Comrade Alex

Alex Rhoden

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Re: How was the meeting with Ariel Sharon?
August 11, 2003 - 03:39 AM

Brother Oran, As you can see from my reply to Comrade Dimitry, Things went horribly wrong. I cannot afford any more airline tickets to Israel. Change will come from within, or Israel will put Palestinians in concentration camps and keep their land, like the United States did to it's Native American Indian population. We here in America are painfully aware of what attrocities we commited against the original inhabitants of our country. Please don't let the same happen in Israel. Be careful Oran, Ariel's MOSSAD is everywhere. They want to suppress the truth and kill all those who speak it.. Your friend Alex

Oran Cohen

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Let me set the record Straight!
August 11, 2003 - 04:14 AM

Let me set the record straight.

I do not and will never follow or believe in conspiracy theories. That some "Great evil power" is controlling everything.

I do NOT believe in extremism. I believe that is what got us to the screwed up place we find ourselves in today in the first place. Nothing can be achieved in that frame of mind.

You are asking too much, too soon, my friend. You are trying to tair down walls instead of building a new foundation. Your words are bitter, my friend. You sound bitter.

Heart connections- NOT accusations - Is what is needed.

Seek to understand both sides. There is NEVER one side to the story. My friend, peace is inevitable.

Palestinians and Israelis will live side by side because that is the only way both of the nations will survive. It needs time. patience, Understanding, empathy. It is THE ONLY WAY the Middle East will EVER see peace.

with Love,
Oran Cohen

Alex Rhoden

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Actually, The record is round and around it goes.
August 11, 2003 - 06:10 AM

My Dearest Oran, You are truly a gentleman. It is rare to find someone who will debate without resorting to name calling. I say the record is round because these scenarios tend to repeat themselves. A technologically and militarily superior race destroying a weaker one. You need only peer into history to see this truth. The outcome is always the same and the victor rewrites history in it's favor. As for the notion that very few individuals are NOT controlling the geopolitical game. You will find the opposite is true. The documentation is out there. A war like Iraq for example: U.S.Sec of State Rumsfeld was in Iraq in the 1980's trying to sell an oil pipeline deal to Saddam (At the same time he was gassing his own people.) Then Rumsfeld was an emmissary to Pres. Reagan.When Saddam said no to the deal and signed with Russia, The U.S. took him off the "friends" list and he was labelled "terrorist.These facts are in main stream New York Times & CNN media. I can send you copies,but the point is that you will come to realize that the world IS controlled by a very few powerful individuals. Look at Archived History and you will see that it has happened and will continue to happen. Round and round. Justice denied. Peace my brother Alex

Oran Cohen

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Learning to heal the wounds of the past.
August 13, 2003 - 08:18 AM

Hey Alex

I'll be straight forward with you. I find your words harsh and bitter. Your thoughts and feelings are against Israel. In your eyes they are the baddies and that is that. Everyone here in your eyes is a Hitler in disguise.

What is the point?

If we are to carry on pointing fingers, we will not get anywhere. I do not express my political opinion because frankly, I feel, in the grand scheme of things it means jack shit.You think I don't believe all you write about the Americans? Ofcourse I belive! And politically my friend Sharon and his merry band of hoodlums is not my target because I can't change them and to gag and throw the illegal settlers in a dark pit I cannot do..

BUT I believe in working with young Israelis and young Palestinians to change the mind set and perception and hate that is conditioned into both of the sides is the only worthwhile work. To focus on the percentage of the population that DOES want peace on both sides and to feed it and make sure it grows and flourishes.

You write that Israelis used to make suicide bombings. Yes. Does that mean that I should see me god-daughter die on her way to school? Is she to blame for this? Is she holding Palestinians hostage? Is it just? And is it just that Palestinians are living in crap conditions and my Palestinian friends tell me how they live their lives and I have not got the power to change that? That 1000's are suffering?

I am a PEACE activist.

My role is very simple. To Unite! To throw blame out the window (to forget what Adam did to eve). To stop looking at the differences and focusing on the hatred and to create some common ground. So my children will not be afraid of a Palestinian. This is my wish and my hope and that we can live next to each other in peace. And that a Palestinian is an Israeli and an Israeli a Palestinian. This is what I hope.

When you attack someone, their natural survival skills is Defense. It is what our human body is setup to do. Calling your project StealingLand is an accusation!! I am not saying it is or isn't true but it is a fact, a focus of SEPARATION.

Radical fundamentalism is not going to bring peace or balance. The hate is so deep. The scars are still bleeding. My Palestinian brothers are hurting. I have cried with a Palestinian over his hurt and He has cried with me over mine! Do you know the healing powers of that simple experience?

And you ask me a question like "So close in fact that Israel assisted the White Government with arms and logistics to fight the movement that Mandela helped create. Did you know this? "

Who gives a shit? You want to focus on that? So more Palestinians will hate Israelis? So that the hatred is perpetuated?

Israel is far from clean and pure. But you focus on the SHIT. I don't get it, my friend...

I really hope from the bottom of my heart you hear my words and look at your approach. Mandela knew of the interrogation and beatings and murders that were committed by the white government. He did not focus on that! It was not relevant for the future. He had to sew some sort of seed for the future and it could only be sewn in peace. He talked to those on the white government that would listen and did not bother pointing fingers. Also his "Truth and Reconciliation committee" after the ANC took over was, by his own words, not a place to accuse and blame because what was cannot be changed but must become a place of learning to forgive one another. Learning to heal the wounds of the past.

We must Unite otherwise we will destroy each other. we cannot let Hatred win! Unity is the ONLY way! Instead of writing about the Mossad did this and the government did that. Instead of putting your energy in the past, throw your eyes onto the future! Throw your eyes onto what works! It's so much more productive to craete the future reality you and I desire and yearn for.

Take care my friend,
Sincerely,
Oran

Alex Rhoden

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Truth and Reconcilliation
August 14, 2003 - 09:30 AM

Brother Oran, The profanity in your writing only shows your anger and frustration. Your words did move me. There is some truth in them.However you did not take into account the fact that Mandella could never have made the changes in South Africa alone. It took dynamic activism from inside and outside the country.White South Africa's government refused to stop it's attrocities until Boycots,Protests,Accusations and constant guerrilla war forced that government to step down. Sublime angelic thoughts are nice but for real change,action is needed. When countries such as Israel (or South Africa) defy or ignore United Nations resolutions, continue to expand settlements in illegally occupied lands and build new "security walls "that separate Palestinians from their farmland, water and livelihood. Voices that cry out for justice must speak louder. The civil rights issues that America dealt with in the 1960's were resolved not so much by Martin Luther King's peaceful protests and song singing,but by the riots and violence that followed his assassination by racists. People stopped going into our cities to spend money. Only then did our government take action. Change never comes easily, Rise up brother Oran. Form a group and take to the streets. Start boycotting products produced by Israel. When the cash flow stops, people will listen and take notice! Only then will real change take place.Justice is possible. Lets you and I move on to more constructive topics. Lets create a plan that forces both sides to come to the table. I enjoy your dialogue my brother. We are unbeatable as a team. Love peace and Ideas for change. Alex

Mikael

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Re: How was the meeting with Ariel Sharon?
August 22, 2003 - 10:06 AM

Curious that your project is so one-sided. Essentially all you have on the site is a document blaming Israel and the Zionists for everything, and that's really about it... I don't think that what you're doing falls under the realm of "dialogue", rather, it is more like "assigning blame."

Unfortunately for you, there are already lots of people out there who are ready to do some blame assigning, so your project is in no way unique. Would you consider, perhaps, trying to attain a more balanced point of view by considering the other side of the story, which you seem to have neglected?

Finally, your project description itself speaks of its one-sidedness. "Since Israel refuses to give back stolen Palestinian Land." Proposing that a solution to the problem is that Israelis and Palestinians marry is ludicrous in the short term; intermarriage is a very long-term process, and will in no way solve the very real problems that exist currently. I think you need to re-examine the priorities of your project, as well as the information you're using to make your claims.

mikael PROFILE

Mikael

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Re: How was the meeting with Ariel Sharon?
August 23, 2003 - 02:46 AM

Thanks Oran, I'm glad you agree with my viewpoint. I think that fair and balanced discussion is the only way to solve the problem. Let me know about your efforts, and hopefully we'll hear from the founder of this project!

mikael PROFILE

Oran Cohen

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Hallelooya Brother Machiavelli!!
August 23, 2003 - 06:53 AM

Here! Here! Finally someone who "get's it!".

I am currently living in the middle east and I am the UN Youth focal person for MDGs in Middle East. I am also working on a private project to BREAK and CRACK the hatred that is currently being perpetuated by both sides. I honour you for your Vision, Mikael! I will definitely keep in touch with you, my friend. This is the attitude that is needed in order to change anything. Take care Mikael!

With Love,
Oran Cohen

Alex Rhoden

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The Truth about the Middle East is shameful for you as well.
August 24, 2003 - 06:32 AM

Mikael, My posted project documents were gathered using the U.S.A. Freedom of Information Act. They are verifiable facts. These truths reflect shamefully on Israel. We must face them if we are to make peace. Israel took Palestinian land by force, and continues to use Weapons of mass destruction against a civilian population.
Israel continues to ignore United Nations resolutions which condemn their attrocities. Israel continues to build it's new apartheid wall, which in fact takes even more Palestinian farmland and deprives Palestinians of their livelihoods. Israel recently passed a racist apartheid law (condemned by the U.N.) which prohibits Palestinians who marry citizens of Israel from living in Israel. Israel is morally and ethically on the wrong side of history. Stop living in denial and the healing process can begin.
Yes, I assign blame !!! Yes, the truth hurts...
If we are to have lasting peace, We must address these issues. Brothers and Sisters, lets stop living a lie and petition the Israeli government to do the right thing for once. If we boycott Israeli products, we can apply real pressure on Israel. Just like we did with South Africa's Apartheid government.... Love and Peace,
Your friend Alex

Mikael

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Re: How was the meeting with Ariel Sharon?
August 24, 2003 - 12:01 PM

What about the actions of Palestinian extremist groups?

mikael PROFILE

Oran Cohen

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Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
August 24, 2003 - 12:15 PM

What about the Ozone layer and the child soldiers in Liberia?

Adam and Eve blamed each other and through the blaming started to believe in the Illusion that they are separate. Blaming is a an action that by it's very nature separates.

I don't feel a need to blame. I do not see it as "Me and them". I see it as one people. I cannot see it any other way. What you focus on you perpetuate and create. The blaming will get us nowhere!

Take care friends,
Oran

Alex Rhoden

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Lasting peace requires reparations for justice to prevail.
August 26, 2003 - 10:09 AM

The documents posted on this project were gathered using the U.S.A. Freedom of Information Act. They are verifiable facts. These truths reflect shamefully on Israel. We must face them if we are to make peace. Israel took Palestinian land by force, and continues to use Weapons of mass destruction against a civilian population.
Israel continues to ignore United Nations resolutions which condemn their attrocities. Israel continues to build it's new apartheid wall, which in fact takes even more Palestinian farmland and deprives Palestinians of their livelihoods. Israel recently passed a racist apartheid law (condemned by the U.N.) which prohibits Palestinians who marry citizens of Israel from living in Israel. Israel is morally and ethically on the wrong side of history. Stop living in denial and the healing process can begin.
Yes, I assign blame !!! Yes, the truth hurts...
If we are to have lasting peace, We must address these issues. Brothers and Sisters, lets stop living a lie and petition the Israeli government to do the right thing for once. If we boycott Israeli products, we can apply real pressure on Israel. Just like we did with South Africa's Apartheid government
Extremists are responding to extremists in the Middle East. Kindness begets kindness. If we as a Jewish people do not want to be remembered as predatory land grabbers,we must make amends to the Palestinians... Love and Peace my Brothers and Sisters....Alex