"This latest murder is entirely consistent with this typical Israeli disregard for international legality and other states' sovereignty. And the way the international community in the past has treated Israel's negligence of international law and other people's rights has indirectly encouraged such behavior. Israel has been allowed to act as a country above the law...Not holding Israel accountable for its actions, as has been the case for far too long now, is directly responsible for Israel's lurch to extremism and hooliganism."

"...the Dubai assassination (along with a previous, little noticed assassination of a Hamas senior operative in Beirut) moves the struggle against Hamas abroad. Hamas has vowed to take revenge. Until now, it has not operated against Israel outside of Israel/Palestine. That could now conceivably change, to Israel's detriment...Further, the assassination contributes--given that it is nearly universally attributed to Israel--not only to Israel's image as a global anti-terrorist superstar, but also unfortunately to its growing reputation of lawlessness and disregard for international norms."

"America, which provides a great deal of financial, military and political support for Israel, needs to be aware of this debate in Israel and in Jewish circles, and to understand the ramifications of uncritical support for the policies and actions of Israel toward the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors. To stifle and censor the discussion of these important issues does no favors for the United States, Canada or for Israel or the Jewish people."

"A solution must be found to this conflict, there is no doubt. Whether this solution entails the endorsement of a bi-national state (even if only to pressure Israel) or a two-state solution along the 1967 borders, one thing is certain. Illegal and illegitimate Jewish settlers cannot and must not be allowed to remain in Palestine."

"Muslim Rohingya refugees should not be treated with hostile attitude in all the countries where they refuge. Rather they should be treated by maintaining humanity and international refugee Law. The Malaysia government is seriously considering now to provide work permit to refugees until they are not settled in third countries. In fact, it is a good news for the refugees in Malaysia. The other countries where refugees are sheltering also should follow the decision of Malaysia government."

"...here comes the overriding philosophy that Israel espouses and which the west in particular so surprisingly accepts time and again. Because it is a nation founded on guilt and on the belief that most of the world is "against them" Israel's so-called security considerations justify any and all abominations, first and foremost murder. This is the logic that Israel used in the killing of over 1,400 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the rationale for the assassination of Abu Jihad, Sheikh Yassin and Abdul Aziz Rantisi. This is why the Goldstone Report was trampled on by Israel and its allies and this is why Israel's occupation of Palestine has endured for over 40 years along with all the violations this entails for the occupied people."

"When Herzl originated the Zionist idea, he did not intend to found the “State of the Jews” in Palestine, but in Argentina. Even when writing his book, he devoted to the country only a few lines, under the headline “Palestine or Argentina?” However, the movement he created compelled him to divert his endeavors to the Land of Israel, and so the state came into being here."

Kathy Flann’s collection of eleven short stories in “Smoky Ordinary,” was a delight for me to read. For example, in her compelling tale, “The Dispossession of Billy Montgomery,” you will find plenty to hold your interest, while having a huge laugh at the same time. Ms. Flann’s fiction stories are centered around “Smoky Ordinary,” a community located in rural Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C. I highly recommend her book.