“lliyah, Bristol - I can understand why Israel feels insecure and threatened but don't you agree that the continued mistreatment of the Palestinians only increases the threat levels? Do you propose Israel should continue with the status quo? Do you not agree their reaction is always disproportionate? It is only in recent times that some parts of the media have become pro-Palestine. This is in part due to groups such as Amnesty International who have worked hard to expose these abuses of human rights. As far as Iraq and Afghanistan I quite agree. The Iraq war was certainly an illegal war and I think justice should be served. I would like to see Tony Blair and George Bush on trial for war crimes and I really mean it when I say that. These issues need to be addressed too.”

“I don't know where to start.

Israel has a right wing idealogy within it's governments because it's had 7 seperate wars unleashed against it in the last 60 years. Wars that even the most pro-Palestine supporter cannot justify.

Israel only reclaimed East Jerusalem and made settlements in the West Bank (mostly for strategic reasons - nobody can deny this) after the Six Day War - when all Israel's neighbours united and attempted to destory Israel. Israel only built the wall after hundreds of Israelis had died from suicide bombings. Israel only put a blockade on Gaza after thousands of rockets had been fired into Israel - also, ironically, after Israel had given back the last settlements within Gaza.

I'm not denying for one second that Palestinians have suffered injustices at the hands of Israel but Iraqis and Afghans have suffered great injustices at the hands of British troops - far more civilian deaths and for a far, far less justified cause. But the media reports (or lack of reporting) portray a different picture and it's swiftly swept under the carpet.

The media seem to dictate the level outrage by the public almost perfectly. The media is currently very pro-Palestine, they continuously document the hard done by families who've had their houses destroyed or the poor, orphaned children in Gaza. What about the poor, orphaned children in Afghanistan? do you think just because nobody in the media talks about them, they're not there?

Look at the wikileaks war logs - hundreds of civilian deaths covered up, war crimes commited by NATO troops - but the focus was entirely on the diplomatic aspect of it. Entirely. The whole Israel condemnation/boycotting thing is hypocritical beyind belief. It's almost laughable.

Only pseudo-intellectual, media influenced people are incapable of looking at the bigger picture - I guess there's a lot more of them than I thought, including within Bristol City Council.”

“Don't you see that the longer the blockade continues and the longer the Palestinians are denied their human rights, the more young muslims will be radicalised. Therefore, more attacks on Israel. Israel is becoming more and more alienated because of its foreign policy. Please people you have to look at this objectively.”

“To the few (maybe too few) people who see that there is two sides to every story, I thank you. As a Jew living in Bristol, it is a difficult time when my own council is against the homeland I was brought up to believe in.

Israel send tonnes of aid into Gaza every day. Infant mortality in Gaza is 17.7 per thousand whereas in Turkey it is 24.8. Life expectancy figures are also better in Gaza.

http://www.israpundit.com/archives/24700

Hamas terrorists fire rockets daily from Gaza into Sderot. Israel is the size of Wales. If Wales was firing rockets into England, wouldn't you need a blockade?

Hamas is running Gaza democratically elected yes, but it ultimately does not want Israel to exist. As stated in their Covenant / Charter:
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."
Another principle "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."

This is what Hamas believe. As long as they are in power, a blockade of arms amunition and building materials which could be used for building rockets, must remain. But no one sees this? 5 Flotillas were peaceful, one was not. Men had knives (that you can see in the photos). Israel do make mistakes, they were not prepared enough when going onto the ship.

It is a sad time though, when the only democratic country in the middle east can not be supported by democratic Bristol county council.”

“Thank you Gary from Wellington for your integrity in seeing two sides to the horrndous situation in the middle east. It's a rare quality not evident in much of the current debate. So I'm sure you'll want to ask, like me, why Bristol City Council has never "called upon the government" to "hold Hamas to account for its illegal actions" in firing rockets, day after day, indiscriminately at villages in southern Israel. But of course, Gary, you know why they haven't.. it's because this terrorist behaviour is somehow deemed to be less unacceptable than the mistakes made by a nation fighting for her very survival. You and I have a lot in common, Gary. But even you have made the naive mistake of thinking that Hamas terrorism "cannot be compared" to the mistakes made by Israel when trying to prevent the terror rockets from being delivered from Iran to Hamas for use against Israeli citizens. Yes, Gary, you and I are both naive. But at least we could discuss it without threatening to push each other into the sea. If I sound emotive, it's because I see a nation surrounded by its enemies baying for its total destruction, and complacent councillors sitting in comfortable Bristol supporting the aggressors by condemning only the mistakes of one side.”

“A few words in response to 'Democrat, Bristol' and his emotive and naive comments. To feel sympathy with the Palestinian people at this time does NOT equal to an attack on the Jewish people of Israel. To speak out against Israel in regards to its continuous violation of international law and human rights abuses is NOT an attack on Israel as a whole but on extreme right wing ideology within the government, military and some Israeli Think Tanks. There have been abuses on both sides. No one would try and deny that there are terrorist elements at work within Palestine and surrounding countries such as Lebanon. But, you can not compare this to the disproportionate force used by the Israeli military. Pure state terrorism! Please do not connect someone who believes in human rights with someone who is anti-Semitic, it's very offensive.”

“I agree with 'Democrat Bristol' Look at the front page of The Times today, 08 July 2010, and tell us that Islam is fair and truthful. This is what you are supporting when you only listen to half of the story. There are two sides to every story and we encourage you to open your eyes, hearts and minds to stand on the side of truth; the side that is not getting reported.”

“I'm not Jewish, but I'm sick of seeing the Jewish people treated as the punchbag of the world.
If all my neighbours were screaming murder into my letterbox, openly planning together to destroy my house and kill my family, and throwing bombs every day indiscriminately into my garden, I would want to take action to make them less effective. Nations too have a right to defend themselves against aggressive madmen surrounding their homeland. This decision by the Council betrays their shallow perception of what is really happening in the Middle East - they're presenting only one side of the argument and by doing so they are encouraging Hamas terrorism! Where was Bristol City Council when atrocities took place all over the world in the last few years? They kept silent!! Why are they so vociferous over THIS incident? I wonder, given the choice of which Middle East country they had to live in, if the City Councillors would prefer to live in Iran, run by a murdering madman who steals elections and tortures opponents.. or in Hezbollah controlled areas of Golan and Lebanon.. or in Hamas controlled Gaza where minority schools and places of worship are trashed and burned regularly.. or perhaps they might ask to be allowed to live in democratic (if flawed) Israel instead?? If the nations surrounding Israel lay down their weapons, there would soon be no war... But if Israel lay down her weapons, there would soon be no Israel! Then, the soft underbelly of UK and European nations would be next on the list. Wake UP!! All of you - just WAKE UP!!”

“This is great news it seems that more and more people are starting to take note of the brutal campaign Israel is waging against the Palestinians. Lets hope this spreads nationwide. The Israeli government is certainly starting to feel the pressure being applied from the rest of the world. It's just a shame that some people don't much care about human rights abuses.”

“Well done Bristol City Council!

In the name of humanity and social justice, I applaud your decision.

I will pay my Council Tax with great pleasure this month.”