Comment by Ria on November 16, 2012 at 10:06pm

Re "Palistinians started all this"......

As in every vicious military offensive Israel carries out in Gaza, the dominant narrative is that it is a response to rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel. This is how it’s being reported in the US, and this is how virtually every American understands it.

And it’s a lie.

It’s true that on Saturday, prior to the expanded Israeli bombardment, the military wing of the Popular Front For the Liberation of Palestine shot an anti-tank missile at an Israeli Defense Forces vehicle near the Gaza border, wounding four Israeli soldiers. But what prompted the firing of the anti-tank missile?

First, on Monday, November 5th, Israeli forces shot and killed 23 year old Ahmad Nabhani when he “approached the border fence with Israel.” According to at least one account, Nabhani was mentally challenged.

Then, on Thursday, November 8th, the Israeli Occupation Forces – eight tanks and four bulldozers, to be exact – invaded southern Gaza, shooting and killing a 13-year old boy. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (via):

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:30 on Thursday, as a result of the indiscriminate shooting by IOF military vehicles that had moved into the ‘Abassan village, 13-year-old Ahmed Younis Khader Abu Daqqa was seriously wounded by a bullet to the abdomen. At the time he was shot, Ahmed had been playing football with his friends in front of his family’s house, located nearly 1,200 meters away from the area where the IOF were present.

So, even if honest observers brush to the side the cruel and inhumane Israeli blockade on Gaza and refuse to let it influence the equation of exactly which side started this flare up of violence, it is clear Israel started this latest clash. And in response to the response, Israel has waged a harsh, disproportionate military assault.

This would be a simple thing to understand if, for example, Western media bothered to ask the other side what happened. Palestinian news media immediately reported that the anti-tank missile Israel was supposedly responding to was admitted to by the Popular Resistance Committees, who described it as “revenge” for preceding Israeli violence on Gaza. But that basic task of honest journalism is apparently out of the question.

Comment by Ria on November 16, 2012 at 10:08pm

Every single Israeli incursion or attack on Gaza is accompanied by the same narrative: Israel fairly responded to unprovoked Palestinian rocket fire. The last major war on Gaza, Operation Cast Lead in December ’08-January ’09, also carried this narrative. Israel committed war crimes in that one-sided conflict, targeting and killing hundreds of civilians, using indiscriminate weapons, and intentionally destroying civilian infrastructure. It has become an accepted fact – even among critics of Israel – that the offensive was a response to Hamas rocket fire. The rocket fire did indeed occur immediately before the assault, but it was in response to Israel’s breaking of the six-month cease-fire, which even Israeli officials in WikiLeaks cables admitted Hamas had kept to.

Comment by Ria on November 16, 2012 at 10:41pm

The Institute for Middle East Understanding has released two useful resources on the current Israeli attack on Gaza. The first presents a timeline of events and the second outlines Israel's history of breaking ceasefires.

 

TIMELINE: ISRAEL’S LATEST ESCALATION IN GAZA

 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

Following a two-week lull in violence, Israeli soldiers invade Gaza. In the resulting exchange of gunfire with Palestinian fighters, a 12-year-old boy is killed by an Israeli bullet while he plays soccer.

Shortly afterwards, Palestinian fighters blow up a tunnel along the Gaza-Israel frontier, injuring one Israeli soldier.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10

An anti-tank missile fired by Palestinian fighters wounds four Israeli soldiers driving in a jeep along the Israel-Gaza boundary.

An Israeli artillery shell lands in a soccer field in Gaza killing two children, aged 16 and 17. Later, an Israeli tank fires a shell at a tent where mourners are gathered for a funeral, killing two more civilians, and wounding more than two dozen others.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11

One Palestinian civilian is killed and dozens more wounded in Israeli attacks. Four Israeli civilians are also injured as a result of projectiles launched from Gaza, according to the Israeli government.

During an Israeli government cabinet meeting, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz urges the government to “cut off the head of the snake… take out the leadership of Hamas in Gaza.” He also calls for a cutting off of water, food, electricity, and fuel shipments to Gaza’s 1.7 million people.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Palestinian militant factions agree to a truce if Israel ends its attacks.

 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Israel breaks two days of calm by assassinating Ahmed Jabari, the head of Hamas' military wing. According to reports, at least eight other Palestinians are killed in Israeli attacks, including at least two children. Palestinian militant groups vow to respond.

Now, isn't it evident who actually initiated the ongoing clashes?

More details at: http://mondoweiss.net/2012/11/two-new-resources-timeline-of-israeli...

Comment by suzie on November 16, 2012 at 11:44pm

it is to me Ria .. but i wanted to know the truth ~ i have seen the light and all i learn now is how grave it is to the entire world if the we don't stop our support to Israel and if we are going to actually help anyone it should be the innocent  Palestinian people, the genocide must stop or it is a curse upon us all.  Israel had no right to steal there land especially the Jaffa Oranges :( 

Benjamin Freedman helped me understand..

http://12160.info/video/ex-jew-and-influential-person-exposed-zioni...

Comment by Ria on November 17, 2012 at 2:20am

Suzie, I do understand and appreciate how you feel about the ongoing state of affairs in this middle  eastern  conflict and I completely agree with what you've said. Not just in case of Palestine but, wherever people are subjected to such an ordeal, it just reflects mankind's deterioration as a species. This deterioration did not happen overnight but, it has been happening since centuries and the silence of those who have been aware has only acted as a catalyst in bringing mankind at a stage where a piece of land is worth more than the lives of tens of 1000s of people; where we wage wars to attain peace and where deception is used to earn trust. 

Martin-Niemöller very rightly said:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Comment by suzie on November 17, 2012 at 3:03am

Jesus said ~ 

"He will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant [they seemed], you failed to do for me.'

King James 2000 Bible (©2003) 

Comment by suzie on November 17, 2012 at 3:10am

The question is and has been my entire life ~"who are they?" 

Comment by Nota Khan on November 18, 2012 at 9:33am

Facrt: Hamas has been hammering Israel with over two hundred missiles in the past couple of months.

LOL!!! Seriously? Have you seen those missles and the damage they do? Vs. Israeli missilies???

Hamas rocket

Israeli rocket

If Israel is "hammered" by these, I don't know what they'll feel like if a real missile hit 'em.... :)

BTW: You conveniently failed to mention the number of rockets, missiles, shells, bullets Israel has rained down on Gaza in just these past four days.... ;-)

• Dissecting IDF propaganda: The numbers behind the rocket attacks

• Israel's Lies that Deceive the World: Hamas' Rockets are a Hoax

• Israel admits HAMAS is not actually firing the rockets

Facrt. Israeli countermeasures have been made with every effort to avoid civilian casualties.

Facrt: Hamas has deliberately placed missile launch sights immediately adjacent to schools, hospitals, and mosques.

Interesting that the second point DESTROYS the first with the admission that Israel is targeting "schools, hospitals, and mosques" to get to Hamas. Of course this too is a lie as it needs FAKERYto try and sell it...BTW: even if one looks just at the current op's first four days, the best figures in favor of Israel come out as:

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in the course of the offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for the fourth consecutive day has increased to 37, including 17 civilians. The civilian deaths include 6 children and 2 women. Additionally, 394 Palestinians, including 381 civilians, have been wounded – this number includes 107 children and 64 women.

(Which 20 "non-civilians" they got is certainly a mystery but let's accept it. But to get those they admittedly killed 17 civilians. But what puts that "20 non-civilians" into SERIOUS doubt is when you see the ratio of those injured: 13 non-civilians vs. 381 civilians. SOME effort "to avoid civilian casualties". Seems they are targeting civilians and the rest are the collateral damage)

(continued)

 

Comment by Nota Khan on November 18, 2012 at 9:33am

(continue)

Facrt: Israel is the ONLY country in that entire region that has a true representative democracy and has many times acquiesed to treaty terms with Palestinians only to have missiles launched at them again.

LOL!!!

• The new Israeli apartheid: Poll reveals widespread Jewish support f...

• 
  Israel is an apartheid state (no poll required)

• Haaretz: Apartheid without shame or guilt

• Racist birth control? Claims Israel culling Ethiopian Jews

• Israel: promised land for Jews … as long as they’re not black?
  
• Israel turns up the heat on African migrants

 

Facrt: The MSM swallows all the BS that has been spoon fed to them and then passes on said "news" as factual when in reality it could not be any further from the facts.

True but I think you intentionally err on which side is spoon feeding the MSM.... ;-)

• Wolf Blitzer: From AIPAC Lobbyist to CNN's Chief News Anchor

• UK Chief Rabbi Sacks caught off guard peddling Israeli propaganda o...

• BBC apologises after Chief Rabbi blames Iran for Gaza conflict - Te...

Comment by Jim Braun on November 18, 2012 at 10:48am

I can remember back in the 50's exactly that,still going on today. Why,Palistinians and HAMAS. Always they are the first with the bombs and rockets. Can't remember hearing about Isreal,just for the hell of it, launching rockets that go anyplace. Nota,you got it right.

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