Mr. Gaydamak,
I do not know his politics, I like Netanyahu, but I particularly appreciate the help he gave so that all those Israeli refugees had a place to go, and the residents of Sderot had a respite from the constant mortar attacks by Hezbollah.
He is a "mench".. but then again, He's Jewish, so some will see that he is a meddler, or worse.

Lynne, please, playing the ingenue regarding this fellow smacks of, well, being disingenous.
What kind of politics would an arms selling supporter of Netenyahu hold?
Some may see? Ho-ho, that "some" is the entire world-and you are right, he is much more frightening than a simple meddler. Reread the professor's spot on comment. This man probably sold Hezbollah the rockets that were fired on Israelis. You'll be looking long and hard to find any compassion in a merchant of death.

Hi Lynne.

I see no problem with this man publicly backing whoever he believes will make the best prime minister. He is entitled to his opinion and to express it as much as anyone else. I dont like his choice of Netanyahu who I think is too extreme right wing but it is his choice. However, if there is to be a peace deal between palestinians and israelis we need moderates on both sides who are both willing to make compromises. I doubt netanyahu would do this just as much as I doubt Hamas will ever do this.

Like you lynne, I also think it was very nice of him to give sderot residents respite from the hezbollah rocket attacks.

Scullion #2

The arms trade is one that millions of people are employed in all over the world. Do you blame them equally? Mr Gadyamek has not been CONVICTED of any crime and is entitled to his opinion and to express it publicly as we all do. That said I really do not like his choice of netanyahu.

You may not consider his actions vis-a-vis the sderot residents as compassionate but I certainly do and I suspect they did too.

#2 Scullion. You'd also be looking long and hard to find any compassion in someone like NetanYahoo.

#2 Scullion: We are not innocent - Canada has companies pretty deep into arms manufacturing which are sold all over the world. The Canada Pension Plan has billions invested in arms manufacturers. Guess who sold the CANDU nuclear reactors to India and Pakistan and didn't really have their agreement that they wouldn't make naughty bombs with them?

#2 Scullion: Other than that, I hope there's enough money in the Canada Pension Plan for me when I retire so I don't have to drink cheap wine at dinner .......or at breakfast.....

I like Netanyahu - politics is a dirty business and politicians accept support from wherever they can to gain power.

"Any politician that I will support will be the prime minister," he said.

Typically Machiavellian.

Netanyahu once again as prime Minister will reduce Israel, and much more, to ashes. A backward step that will not secure peace in that region.

Israel and the US not a lot of difference, if you have enough money you can elect a chimpansee in either country.

Binyamin Netanyahu will be as big a mistake for Israel as Sharon was. Too right wing. Too ready to go to war!

Paulr (12) Seems that in the UK you do not need even money to elect chimpansees to government!

As for the person, and personality of Gaydamak; his rhetoric and acts of "philantropy" are self-serving, and the Israeli public will see through them. His early statements in forming his political party at this time may be his undoing. Israel has seen a number of maverick parties rise to prominence and then disappear from the scene within years. Whether he garners the votes of the massive block of Russian voters in Israel, and adds on the disenfranchised and the poor is to be seen. What is sure is that at the next election, Israeli voters will be bribed by promises from political parties which will be forgotten and ignored the day after the election... sounds just like the UK....

AS to Gaydamak's choice of Netanyahu, he is entitled to his opinion. Netanyahu did a lot to revive Israel's economy and liberate it from state control and regulation, making Israel one of the fastest growing and steadiest economies. Economic growth and prosperity are great incentives for people to seek peace and stability. In so doing Netanyahu, in spite of his stiff stance on security and peace talks with the syrians and palestinians, has done more to bring Israeli public opinion to seek a two state solution for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. His Right wing views will be moderated and controlled by the power of the Quartet and the USA pushing to implement the road-map and 2 state solution. I am most concerned however about the personal ethics and values of Netanyahu and Gaydamak the men behind the politics. Both share the same big egos and lose moral values, and both have proven to be willing to cast aside morality to achieve their own self-serving goals. Neither is an altruist in service of their nation, nor a philantropist devoid of personal ambition and greed.

#11 TSW. I agree with every word.

Incidentally, wasn't it NetanYahoo and his missus that were in trouble for abusing and beating up their maids?

It's funny how the Israelis complain about terrorists, yet still celebrate the activities of terrorists like Irgun and the Stern Gang; not to mention the ongoing terrorist activities of Shin Bet and Mossad.

Netanyahu is an odious toad and it comes as no surprise that he would attract the support of an obvious crook like Gaydamak.
Netanyahu showed his true colours last year when he expressed his solidarity with the murderous gangsters of the Irgun and Stern Gang.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/a...
If Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister, perhaps the Israelis will erect some more monuments to these terrorists.

The Palestinians elected Hamas, so I wouldn't be at all surprised that Israel would elect a hardliner. Typical Middle East politics.

Of course a criminal would back a criminal to lead a criminal state...same as in American politics.

Putin as been far too kind to the oligarchs in Russia...I hope Americans enjoy the cost in blood and treasure that they have incurred for supporting racist rabble-rousers and the "money interests" of New York, as General Clark dubbed them...and, as Queen George confirmed, "money trumps peace"...

11.... that Scottish Woman... You and I both know that Peace with the Palestinian people is not a desired objective of any Zio Goverment.. far less an right wing goverment lead by a terrorist like Netayahu.

#14..I really believe that to be in politics you have to have a big ego just to survive elections!!!..and run in the 1st place.

#2..I'm just a wee bit too mature to "play the ingenue".
I really do not see that much wrong with Netanyahu at this time. I think Israel needs a hardliner as long as Hamas is in the picture and in gov't. The Hamas Charter calls for the destruction of Israel. They refuse to recognize that Israel has a right to exist..so a so-called moderate would not be beneficial to Israel.
Netanyahu knows that if someone says they are out to destroy you, or kill you, then you had better believe them. Ohmed was a mistake. Leaving the Gaza was a good move, but the West Bank is a different story. Most of those settlements should go, but they cannot affor to leave themselves vulnerable and wide open to terrorists.

#20 Not so, some people think a change is called for, and needed.
Peace comes with both sides working towards it. Never helps when one side is doing all the conceding.

24 Lynne: Why do you keep posting the comment that Hammas refuse to recognise Israeli right to exist when you have been pointed to the truth many times? Again:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1803008,...

http://www.counterpunch.org/tilley05112006.html

It would surely help if Israel actually defined their borders, no? But they wont. Wonder why not?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0202/p09s02-coop.html

"Let us not ignore the truth among ourselves ... politically we are the aggressors and they defend themselves... The country is theirs, because they inhabit it, whereas we want to come here and settle down, and in their view we want to take away from them their country."
-- David Ben Gurion

"Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among the Arabs of the territories."
-- Benyamin Netanyahu

Nice folk.

Ricardo #20

"You and I both know that Peace with the Palestinian people is not a desired objective of any Zio Goverment.. far less an right wing goverment lead by a terrorist like Netayahu."

That very same argument can be made of the extremist terrorist group Hamas. They dont want peace either as then they would have no excuses for not delivering better living conditions for the palestinian people. Corruption would come under scrutiny. A few of many reasons they dont want peace.

Lynne #24

You know that when push comes to shove (ie terrorism) I am pro-israeli but I have to disagree with you about netanyahu being a good choice for Israel. Just now what is needed, if there is to be any hope for peace, is for the moderates on both sides to prevail. Netanyahu would be a disaster and any man that celebrates a terrorist bombing of a hotel is not acceptable as a leader in my opinion.

Guga #26

"The Israelis refuse to recognise that the
Palestinians have the right to exist, so why should they agree that the Israelis have?"

Plain lies. You know fully well that Israel has committed to the Road Map which involves a two-state solution. However, Hamas has explicitly ruled this out saying they will never recognise Israel.

Finnking #27

I am no fan of netanyahu as I stated above but I could very easily find you some very abhorrent quotes from Hamas, fatah, Islamic jihad members. The issue isnt past quotes. Its the future and whether there is any future possibility of peace.

Oliver F: I agree. As you know I try and push the "same rules apply" argument. Let's be honest, if the report is correct; a gun running billionaire (that the French want! You know? The folk that blew up a Greenpeace ship think this guy's dangerous!) backing a militant politician in an exceedingly tense area of the world. It wont bring peace, will it.

Alos, look into the HAMAS statements on Israel's 'right' to exist. It's a complex but interesting subject. See my links above.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Finnking #29

Yes we agre that netanyahu would be a disaster. As for the links about the recognition issue I found them interesting but two sites could hardly be described as impartial and one was just an opinion. Recent comments by Haniyeh, one of the leaders of Hamas, in which he stated that Hamas would never recognise the state of Israel make a mockery of the links you posted.

The christian science monitor opinion was interesting but I wholeheartedly disagree with it.

Oliver F: Re links given: Yes, I agree but they do serve to show that there is some ambiguity. The CS one makes an interesting point regarding the validity of very question: why should a political party (by nature, transient) be required to recognise a state?

It seems quiet on the fora tonight.....

Finnking #31

Yes I concede there is ambiguity. I think this is a deliberate strategy on the part of Hamas.

I agree that CS point is interesting but one has to remember Hamas is more than just a political party. It is also a terrorist organisation that is involved in a lot of the palestinian terrorism. Additionally, as their charter explicitly calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, that is why it is such an important issue.

Thatscottishwoman #32

I am sorry to see that you feel unwell. I hope you feel better real soon.

#28 Oliver F "That very same argument can be made of the extremist terrorist group Hamas. They dont want peace either as then they would have no excuses for not delivering better living conditions for the palestinian people. Corruption would come under scrutiny. A few of many reasons they dont want peace."
Wrong: Hamas, an organisation originally sponsored by Israel to oppose the popularity of Arafat, won the election recently for the very reasons you deny. They have set up community help groups and assisted with the poorest, their grass roots honesty and commitment to the Palestinian cause has been the making of them in contradistinction to the fat-cat corupt members of Fatah who have been encouraged to profit from the misery of their own.

Lynne @ 24 said "..I'm just a wee bit too mature to "play the ingenue"."

Not too mature to wish a nuclear bomb attack on England though, Lynne, right?

#28 Oliver F:
While you are quite entitled to buy into the George Dubya laundry lists of terrorist groups and give them your own taxonomy of virulence it really is just pushing it uphill with a sharp stick; in reality Hamas are the only organisation of "freedom fighters" who understand that there can be no peace until we all work to realise a single state solution. A two state Israel/Palestine will gurrantee perpetual war and suffering.

Have you all seen the newest video A World without America at www.18doughtystreet.com ? It's very good.

Penquinboy I drink to that... ... It is what will eventually happen.

#23 thatscottishwoman--Thankyou for the link a few articles ago...

39 browne 34: Great stuff!

Finnking...#27

Because it is true.

#45..Somewhat critical? Yeah right!!

#47, thanks for link, I've been looking for some cold facts about the diamond black market in Africa... another piece in the puzzle.

Rabin was the only recent PM of Israel who genuinely wanted peace & was prepared to go back to the borders drawn up in 67, look what happened to him.

Another interesting debate...

By the way; in May 2005 Lord Avebury is known to have asked Her Majesty's Government why Mr Gaidamak was extended the privilege of "indefinite leave to remain in UK"....

44. thatscottishwoman

Several books have been written on the subject, most of the famous inventions by Scots were after they received their US citizenship. They were very well educated back in Scotland but needed the ambition, freedom, and competition they found in America. They only saw complacency back in their home country. I have the best of both worlds, I have Scots blood and work ethic of America that allows me to have the resources to travel to Scotland on a regular basis to research my ancestry.

56 HOG: The Bike? A HD? Since 1998? Is it still working? ;-)

Scots' Famous Inventions: You say 'most'. Which ones?

HOG

Really your post is a tad harsh. From the Enlightenment period to Dolly, the peoples of that area of the world we call Scotland have been highly industrious. Scotland has been, in still remains, quite a hot-house of innovation. THere is freedom in abundance and as for ambition, well, there's a lot of that too. I.E. I remember working at Burroughs in Kirkton Campus. THe Scottish tax payer gave them a factory free of charge. 800 jobs. We were designing, manufacturing and selling the initial models of cheque sorting machines. You know what? Before the units were put in boxes, we put Made in USA stickers on them. And there were (are?) many US companies seeking out 'Scottish' innovation, skill, ability and ambition. How did they respond? Once the machines' documentation was finalised, they closed the factory! 800 jobs, gone. It was the 2nd time that Unisys did this in Scotland.

57. Finnking

I've been a Member of H.O.G. since 98. I've owned KZ's and a BMW bike in the past but unless you have been on a Harley Ultra for across more than one state there is no going back.

Nothing beats the comfort, sound, or the looks. It's the most saught after bike in the world, I guess because you don't like them?

Penquin boy #38

"..in reality Hamas are the only organisation of "freedom fighters" who understand that there can be no peace until we all work to realise a single state solution."

Bullc*ap. Hamas, like hezbollah and jemaah islamiya, Islamic Jihad, ETA, IRA, UVF etc are all terrorist groups. Hamas carries out suicide bombings against unarmed civilians. If you see that as "freedom fighting" and admire Hamas I hope your government keeps an eye on you.

#60 Oliver F:
As I said you can buy into the mainstream BS, but just because I try to look deeper into the subject doesn't make me a threat to anyone except extreme paranoids who won't accept other viewpoints. It isn't about admiration for freedom fighters or terrorists about context, something you obviously have difficulty with.

60..Ollie... Isnt that how the Zionist Entity was created...by a terrorist war against the Brits and the local inhabitants by Zionist terrorist....

Todays Terrorist.. Tomorrows Establishment...

Its happened the world over many times..

and I for look forward to the day when Hamas.. PLO Hizballah..etc.. become synonymous for peace and Progress.

#60. Oliver F, UK - A little selective in your choice of Terrorist groups aren't we? How about the Stern Gang, Irgun and the Jewish Defense League (a group that revels in the Hebron massacre commited by one of its members)? What is you opinion of these fanatics?

Riccardo...How was the atheist entity created? I have always wanted to know. What makes a person an atheist?

#66. Lynne, USA - Came across this group on the net:
http://www.jtf.org/
Please tell me this is merely a lunatic fringe group.

James...I have never heard of them, but the zionists against Israel are a lunatic fringe, that are very few in number and not welcome in many synagogues.
But then, you know that already.

#65 James Donald:
I find it interesting that Oliver F's laundry list doesn't include the Tamil Tigers considering his (Oliver's) definition of a terrorist is those who use suicide bombing as a means to kill civillians, and it was the T T that invented that particular act of "terror". What I am unsure about in his post #60 was which is the most important part of "carries out suicide bombings against unarmed civilians", is it suicide bombings or unarmed civilians. I mean like is it alright to kill unarmed civilians if you don't use a suicide bomber, you know the way the Israelis, British and Americans with their armies do!

#69. Penquinboy, Auckland NZ - To be fair, Oliver F does condemn the Tamil Tigers here:
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=284332007 at #99 thus:
"I dont idolise Israel. I defend her right to defend herself against terrorists who have been trying to destroy it since its inception. I do on occasion condemn israel too when I feel it warrants it. This view of mine isnt just based on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. I am equally appaled by groups such as ETA and the IRA/UVF and the Tamil Tigers".
Still no condemnation that I can recall of Jewish terrorist and/or extremist groups and I cannot recall any "condemnation" of Israel from this poster. It matters little to the dead civilian whether they are killed by an F-16, suicide bomb, mortar bomb or 5.56mm round.

66...Common Sense

#70 Jamess Donald:
Thanks for that, leading a rather busy life (I'm in tourism and it's the high season here) I don't get the time to read every article and subsequent posts I just get to comment on issues I think I know a little about from time to time. I have been a stutent of Middle East politics for over 40 years and have come to my own conclusions, one of which was clear in my first post on this subject earlier. It won't matter one jot who becomes Prime Minister of Israel. Until Global Zionism is listed on that dumb laundry list of terrorist organisations along with the C.I.A., Mosad, etc. nothing is going to change.