This posting will no doubt start an entirely useful and sensible debate, which will really help us understand the complex issues involved.

'You're a Nazi'

'No, YOU'RE a Nazi'

'Well you're a FUCKING NAZI. And so was youre mum.'

Nuclear armed Israel is subjecting the Palestinians to a brutal and illegal military occupation in contravention of numerous UN resolutions.

There, is that simple enough for you Lentilshaper?


Solidarity with the brave Jewish refuseniks!

Boycott Israel NOW!!

What did Jose Saramago actually say and mean? He did not call the Israelis nazis and neither did he call Israel or any part of it "Auschwitz." As Jose Saramago said when clarifying his statements, all that he said was that the mindset of the Israeli policy-makers, and of many Israelis in general, and those who actualize the policies is turning such people "into rentiers of the Holocaust." As Saramago said, "to have said that Israel's action is to be condemned, that war crimes are being perpetrated - really the Israelis are used to that. It doesn't bother them. But there are certain words they can't stand. And to say 'Auschwitz' there... note well, I didn't say that Ramallah was the same as Auschwitz, that would be stupid. What I said was that the spirit of Auschwitz was present in Ramallah. We were eight writers. They all made condemning statements, Wole Soyinka, Breyten Breytenbach, Vincenzo Consolo and others. But the Israelis weren't bothered about those. It was the fact that I put my finger in the Auschwitz wound that made them jump" (quote taken from  http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0%2C12084%2C865565%2C00.html). Many Israelis and their supporters believe that they have a monopoly in suffering and that the Holocaust is somehow the worst event in history so anything that Israelis do in trying to forge a homeland is justifiable. The "Jews," afterall, need a home where they will be in charge and be safe. In trying to found a homeland, Israelis and their supporters are repeating the same oppressive and murderous acts against those who question and/or oppose Israel. Jose Saramago is not being anti-semitic, he is simply criticizing the policies of the Israelis. The Israelis are acquiring the same mindset as the Nazis it is just that the former are too full of hate, self-pity and hypocrisy to see it. In fact, Israelis use the same words in reference to Palestinians as the Nazis did when describing the Jews (ie. calling them maggots, scum, etc). I suppose the Israelis, like many people in genral, cannot stand being called out on their actions, especially when they don't see themselves as doing or having done anything wrong.