E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

[slugshooter]

Not sure if I mentioned it or not but about a month or so ago my cousin moved back to Israel, after he converted to Judaism and went to Hebrew University in Jerusalem for a few years he realized that that is where he wants to be, anyhoo, I sent him an e-mail after Arafat died asking him about the climate over there. I finally got a response today, he hasn't had computer access since he had gotten back there and finally got hooked up. He didn't go into too much detail but said the climate has definitely changed, some for the better, some for the worse. I'm just glad he is still safe, I used to worry about him incessantly when he was going to school over there, now it seems he's gonna be there for good, just wonder when I'm gonna get to see him again, he may be a cousin, but we were like brothers growing up together, brother I never had I guess.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

I hope he finds what he's looking for over there and stays safe in the process. I think Arafat's departure will definitely help matters if for no other reason than the fact that he was totally against a peaceful coexistence with Isreal. There was nothing the Isrealis could say or do that would ever make him call off the terror campaign. No guaranty that whoever replaces him will be any better, but at least there's a chance with Arafat gone.

[AaronS]

Re: E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

What TTID said, I hope your cousin stays safe and I think chances look better with Arafat gone.

[markyj987]

Re: E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

First of all, please wish your cousin a belated Happy Chanukah!

The people of Israel have been fighting terrorism for a long, long time as you all know. I hope that the death of Arafat will help move peace forward, but I am only cautiously optimistic.

Where there is pure HATE for any one people. there will always remain those who would do them harm. Any change--any REAL change will at least take decades.

What I'd like to see is Bush drop his now-hesitant support of Israel and FULLY support them again. After years and years of Palestinian terrorism, now everybody wants to give them a country! These people were not blowing up school buses and cafes to fight for freedom--they were doing it because they hate Jews.

I suppose if a Palestinian country is formed and can coexist peacefully alongside Israel, it will be a good thing. However, I just don't like the idea of ANY nation giving into terrorists--and I don't see the formation of a Palestinian state as anything but that.

All I know is that if Muslim fundamentalist terrorists in the United States started to kill innocent people, we certainly wouldn't reward them with their own country. (To which, like in Israel, they would have NO historic claim.)

[wtnhunt]

Re: E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

Hope matters do improve there and think with arafat gone there is a strong chance of that. Hope your cousin keeps safe.

[Steven]

Re: E-mail from my cousin in Israel.

Hmm. I've read that post 3 times and can't find anything for anyone to attack SS about.

*scratches head*

I hope your cousin is happy with his decision and I hope you, SS, can find some peace knowing the climate he's in. I know exactly awhat you mean by the cousin/brother feeling. I never had a brother, but I had a cousin who was 6 months older than me. We were raised like brothers but unfortunatley he was killed in the line of duty (Atlanta Police Dept) in July 2000.

I'm sure your cousin has thought out his decision and is at peace with it. It's one thing to move to the next town, but something else completely to move to Israel. That takes dedication.