Israelis Welcome New Year, Hope For Peace

(CBS)  This story was written by CBS News correspondent Robert Berger in Jerusalem.

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Israelis around the country gathered in synagogues for Rosh Hashanah Tuesday, the beginning of the High Holy Days and the Jewish New Year 5769.

It is a time of repentance and prayer, leading up to the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

Security was tight Tuesday. Fearing terrorist attacks, Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip, barring Palestinians who live in the territories from entering the country.

Israeli newspapers reflected on the past year with disappointment.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned over corruption allegations and President Moshe Katsav stepped down over a sex scandal.

"We are divided, skeptical, disbelieving, and facing the greatest leadership crisis there has ever been here," wrote columnist Yair Lapid in Israel's biggest newspaper, Yediot Ahronot.

In a holiday interview with the same paper, Olmert said Israel would have to relinquish much of East Jerusalem and most of the West Bank for the creation of a Palestinians state. He said that Israel would also have to withdraw from the Golan Heights to achieve peace with Syria.

Nevertheless, Olmert is a lame duck who does not have the political clout to deliver on a peace deal. A Rosh Hashanah poll showed only 32 percent of Israelis expected peace this year, despite nearly 10 months of negotiations with the Palestinians.

But Leora Eldad, a Jerusalem resident, said the holidays are a time of hope. "I'm praying that we can have peace, to the extent that it's possible in these days."

Politics aside, Rosh Hashanah is a festive time and Israeli women were cooking up a storm. Some prefer American-Jewish traditions like matzo ball soup and gefilte fish, but not the native-born Israelis.

"Traditional is boring, we're in the 21st century," said high school student Alona Chen, and that means a "hip" holiday dinner: "I'm making roasted cauliflower, chicken nuggets, beef, lettuce wraps and sourdough bread."

[jlagat]

"Israelis Welcome New Year, Hope For Peace"

The title should be:

"Israelis Welcome New Year, Hope For Peace, Get Middle Finger from God"

[mitdgreenb]

Vicar -- Yes, there can be peace with hatred. It would be a wonderful thing if hate disappeared, but I don''t believe that will happen. But peace CAN: what it takes is that all sides value life over death... of all sides. If you are truly a Vicar, I recommend picking up Exodus... the part about not desiring the death of the foe.

CDFoxtrot -- I am not ignorant; I revel in being described as "disingenuous." My post stands -- your logic applies to the US, Spain''s in 1492, etc. It''s convenient to say that the rules changed after WW II, but the logic is still the same.

At the same time, CDFoxtrot, I agree that there should be a Palestinian State. I did hear an interesting Palestinian commentator the other day indicating that both Palestinian governments (Gaza and West Bank) are now illegitimate due to legalities. This is truly unfortunate.

Displeased -- Your logic is contorted. In my post, the US is occupier of Texas and California, and Spain/Mexico are in the role of the Palestinians. Thus, "we would fight them" -- your words -- indicate approval for Israel''s actions. Clearly not your intent. Perhaps you''d like to rephrase, after some clear logical thought.


Peace, security, and legitimate government is everyone''s right. Everyone. Israelis. Palestinians. Can we agree on that? If not, then you still hate others more than you love your own. And, as I said, then peace is not possible.

[cdfoxtrot3]

CBS - "Illegal occupation". Hmmm. By your logic, the United States should give up rights to Florida, Texas, California, etc. all of which were seized illegally from Spain or Mexico. Oh wait -- you live in the Midwest somewhere? I think there are some Sioux to whom your house should be given. Massachusetts? Taken by biological warfare by Lord Amherst?

People -- get over it. Until we all love our children more than we hate others'''', there will be no peace.

Posted by MITDGreenb


Either you''re being disingenuous or just plain ignorant. International law and agreements in the post-war period define post-war borders. The UN mandate that allowed Israel to be born in 1948 and Israel''s later admission to the UN as a full member, requires Israel to respect its boundaries of 1948. Nothing to do with pre-WW1 history, or ancient Rome, or anything else. If Israel wants to be a respected member of the international community, and a full respected member of the UN, it has to play by the rules it signed up for. Not pick and choose the ones that suit it.

[cdfoxtrot3]

Shoebox -- You are on a slippery slope. If the UN Resolution you cite should be obeyed, so should all the others. Like the one that says Israel has a right to exist. And the UN charter itself says that a nation has a right to self-defense. ...
Posted by MITDGreenb

The same UN resolution that allowed the state of Israel to coming into being in 1948 simultaneously required the creation of a Palestinian state. Without the formation of the Palestinian state, Israel''s formation is illegitimate.

Only the US, in the whole world, believes that Israel hasn''t gone above and beyond so-called "self defense" in its actions against Palestinians. How does destroying the homes of civilians in the Occupied Territories or conducting fully-fledged air raids on civilian areas, or the use of civilians as human shields equate to "self defense"? What does the bombing of Beirut and the wanton destruction of Beirut Airport and the dropping of millions of cluster bombs on civilian areas of Lebanon two years ago have to do with "self-defense". Israel mocks the memories of its own few victims by murdering civilians and keeping the Palestinian population in poverty over the actions of a few. If you were consistent in what you are arguing, you''d have to blame all 300m Americans for the actions of those who tortured in our name in Iraqi prisons. You''re not arguing that, are you????

[thevicar1]

Until we all love our children more than we hate others, there will be no peace ----------------------------------------------- Posted by MITDGreenb



That implies that we can have both PEACE, and HATRED at the same time...interesting concept, eh?

[thevicar1]

Israelis Welcome New Year, Hope For Peace - - -


Hmmm, they used to PRAY for Peace.
Guess they gave up Prayin for Rash Hashhanahhah, huh?

[displeased]

CBS - "Illegal occupation". Hmmm. By your logic, the United States should give up rights to Florida, Texas, California, etc. all of which were seized illegally from Spain or Mexico.
Posted by MITDGreenb

And if Spain or Mexico tried to take this land back, we would fight them. That''s what the Palestinians are doing. Can you blame them?

[mitdgreenb]

Shoebox -- You are on a slippery slope. If the UN Resolution you cite should be obeyed, so should all the others. Like the one that says Israel has a right to exist. And the UN charter itself says that a nation has a right to self-defense. Don''t pick the one Resolution you find convenient -- read and enforce them all.

Peace requires mutual respect and mutual security. If the government of one country is openly hostile... like Hamas saying that Israel has no right to exist... then that mutuality is clearly missing.

CBS - "Illegal occupation". Hmmm. By your logic, the United States should give up rights to Florida, Texas, California, etc. all of which were seized illegally from Spain or Mexico. Oh wait -- you live in the Midwest somewhere? I think there are some Sioux to whom your house should be given. Massachusetts? Taken by biological warfare by Lord Amherst?

People -- get over it. Until we all love our children more than we hate others'', there will be no peace.

[shoebox119]

If the Israelis are serious about wanting peace, the country should immediately obey U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, now over 40 years old, and end once and for all its illegal occupation of all occupied territories.

Funny how the United States always demands Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and any other country it doesn''t like to abide by U.N. resolutions passed against them, but Israel is always the exception to the rule. As long as this double standard exists, there will be no peace in the Middle East.

[cdfoxtrot3]

Israelis "hoping for peace" is like a Gitmo guard hoping for an end to prisoner torture. Israelis know what they need to do in order to bring about peace with their neighbors. Prime Minister Olmert said so in the past few days. It involves giving up the land they illegally occupy since 1967 and allowing Palestinians the peace and freedom they deserve. Israelis can bring about their own peace. It is up to them.