A headline in yesterday’s New York Times (4/10/11):
Violence Rises as Israel and Hamas Trade Blows
This “blow trading” has resulted in18 deaths, all in Gaza–roughly half civilians and half militants. On the Israeli side, one boy was seriously injured. The Times account tells us:
The Israeli military said that if civilians were hit, it was because militants shot from among them.
But the deaths on Friday of 19-year-old Nidal Qudeh, who was studying to be a medical secretary, and her mother, Najah, 40, outside the southeastern city of Khan Yunis did not fit that pattern, witnesses said.
It would be difficult to imagine how to present such fighting as somehow “balanced,” but the Times manages to pull it off.
In a story in today’s Times (4/11/11), Isabel Kershner presents the timeline of the current violence, which–as is often the case–we’re told began with an attack from the Palestinian side:
The most recent escalation began when the military wing of Hamas fired a Kornet antitank missile at the school bus from a distance of about two miles. It was the first time the group used an advanced, laser-guided weapon against a civilian target.
To make things more confusing, the very next paragraph would seem to undermine that:
Hamas said the attack was meant to avenge Israel’s killing of three of the group’s militants on April 2, an act that Hamas said violated an earlier cease-fire.
That would suggest that the “escalation” did not begin with a Hamas attack, but with an Israeli attack that broke a week-long cease-fire. But, as FAIR once pointed out, “In U.S. Media, Palestinians Attack, Israel Retaliates.”
Nothing new here, folks. I do not see the equally deadly Palestinian military engaged, probably due to the fact that they ain’t got one.
I think the most interesting thing is the phrase “Hamas said”.Kind of like Hitler said….Or Stalin said…..Or Osama Bin laden said……or Kadafi said…..Or Yasser Arafat said.What is there in that phrase that says why do we believe what they said?
hmmm, or a bit like ‘The Israeli military said….’ perhaps if it was a statement from the Palestinian military it would be more realistic then? It is a nice play in propaganda to suggest Israel has a military side, when in reality they could just say ‘Israel said’ because after all they are a military state, run by ex-generals and where everyone has to serve in the army at some time.
Antony you just can not be serious.But no i guess you are.You see the Israeli military as no better than a terrorist organization that sees great success in the blowing up of school buses loaded with children.Or parades about after 911.
Every man and woman serves in the Israeli Military. Necessary not because they are a military state,but due to attacks from her much larger neighbors.I would say you do not understand the good people of Israel.My guess is you would not want to.
I must check if the Israeli charter has ever called for the destruction of the Palestinians.Or if they have ever tried to annihilate their Arab neighbors. Certainly they have the power, and have had the power to do so at any time.I always ask the question(never answered)…Since 80% of Palestinian historic lands are in Arab countries- when will they begin their terrorist attacks against them? When will those countries talk of trading land for peace?Never is the answer.Never.It is all hatred of the jews.And you are the terrorists dupes.
Only fools would put in their charter any such thing as to destroy any one else. Such charters that call for such things show their weakness and need to explicate the focus of their attacks. All you have to say is that on one can undermine the homeland and all means will be taken to protect said homeland from attack. Which is the way to allow for any action no matter how violent and cruel and uncalled for. Including breaking cease fires which the Israeli gov’t has done constantly over decades.
Nightgaunt……i remember cease fire’s the Israelis broke.I remember them killing innocent men just out enjoying a little sunshine on the beach.It was a beautiful day to be out and about with the fam.And israeli soldiers killed all the men.Kind of like ..what do you call it…a slaughter…a massacre.Hell it was a holocaust!Yeah thats what it was.Murder!16 dead innocent men.Those evil militaristic Israelis.Ok enough of the arab press stories(and FAIR lapdogs)
Actually……….The were frogmen armed to the teeth with Ak47s and explosives.Had maps of the beach settlements and carried suicide vials.The boats that dropped them offshore were tracked to Arab ports.One had a declaration found on him that explained their slaughter of the schoolchildren(another had directions to the school).Terrorist let loose upon a beach community to kill as many as they could before taking their own lives.Luckily they were interdicted as they came ashore by Israeli troops who were not the sacrificial lambs they came to slaughter.
When Israeli soldiers see terrorists moving missiles at night into position in a cease fire area from where they have been shelled repeatedly they do take them out.In that sense they do violate cease fire agreements.It is called having half a brain
I would counter your last comment and say that the Israeli’s probably also enjoy taking pot shots at the palestinians, just as a matter of course as well; but it does no good and all I can I can say Michael e is, calm down my friend. This should not be a race-hate rant between opponents. Whatever is happening in those lands, especially Gaza is not good for either race. It is a shame that due to the political influences and backing from the West that one side is termed terrorist but the other a militarist. This is a doctrine that has been passed down for years now, after all Israel is effectively the West’s first line of defence against those marauding muslims!
It is though unfortunate that a race should use such guerilla tactics, even as a last resort, when there seems no other way. It was not that long ago though that the Israellites and Palestinians were living harmoniously together until the large influx of European Israeli’s (certainly understandable) and the sudden land grab and ousting of arab families from their homes (of which they now control almost 3/4 qtrs of the land).
Lest us also not forget though that the Israeli’s at that time used bombing tactics against the British, ergo they are also terrorists ….. all of whom were initially trained by the British as well?!? there seems a pattern here that could be applied throughout the middle east…
Only thing I would add Antony is if you have ever traveled in Israel you would quickly realize the Israelis and Palestinians live together now in harmony.There are millions of Palestinians in Israel and -for the most part live in peace.Israeli children are not taught to hate from what I have seen.They are taught to be vigilant and to hope.I can not speak for Arab lands as my exposure has been far less.And of course not being Jewish or Arab I do not “feel” the conflict on a personal basis.
Young Israelis tend to take a hard line on the Palestinian conflict.
Having watched their country grow increasingly isolated for prolonging an occupation now in its forty-fourth year, one might expect the younger generation to be pressing for a resolution, but many oppose making concessions to end the conflict.
In October 2010, a poll conducted by New Wave Research asked, â┚¬Ã…“If Palestinians and Israelis reach an agreementâ┚¬Ã‚¦ and the Israeli government brings the agreement to a referendum, would you vote for or against?â┚¬Ã‚ Among voters over 55, 61 percentâ┚¬”Ânearly two out of threeâ┚¬”Âsaid they would support a deal. Among those younger than 35, it was the opposite: only one in three (37 percent) would vote in favor of an agreement.
One reason tolerance may be less widespread among young Israelis is that they rarely interact with Palestinians or Arab-Israelis. â┚¬Ã…“You don’t see Palestinians on the streets of Israel,â┚¬Ã‚ notes Yehuda Shaul, a twenty-eight year-old activist who co-directs the organization Breaking the Silence. For many young Israelis, their first sustained, daily contact with Palestinians happens during their army service….
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2011/mar/21/young-israelis-turn-right/
I have seen endless Palestinians on the “streets’. Israel is a wee little spit of land .There are millions of palestinians in greater Israel.How could you not interact with them?It is like seeing an article about NY that claims most white people in NY do not interact with any black people.What???
As far as how young Israeli’s feel I can see your point to a degree.Young Israelis are educated professionals on the whole.Not the type of population you can snowball that the sneak attacks, and invasions never happened.They can’t be talked into believing that those times they lived through where schoolbuses went up in a ball of flame possibly killing their own friends was actually THEIR faults.(They didn’t have that dose of American Liberalism that would of allowed that.)They don’t practicably see that the attitude on the Arab side has changed greatly. The truth as they see it is that the Arabs have had there nose bloodied again and again and have decided the better part of valor is to step back and wait.And that is why they are vigilant. What i see in them is a fervent hope that things will change.As a people they are amazing for their belief in a better day.It lifted them above their tormentors more than once.
Michael – Are you STILL drinking that kool aid?
Ebeth
The argument is militaristic vs Terrorist. Israel has a strong military so are they militaristic?Arab factions have strong terrorist elements ,are they terrorists?Militaries are built to attack other military elements. Terrorist organizations are built to attack civilian elements(populations). The Israeli military is under the control of the Israeli government as the terrorist factions are under the control of Arab governments aligned against Israel. Where am I missing the boat here?Since their inception have they not been attacked in a coordinated, premeditated,multi faceted plan thats goal is to drive them into the sea?Most people on these blogs believe they deserve it and should(if they really were good people)jump into the sea to save their tormentors the trouble. Are the Israelis above reproach?Have their been excesses and crimes committed by Israeli soldiers?If there has not been -it would be a first in military history.We must and should address those failures, and ask the IDF to follow accepted military procedures in accordance with human rights…. especially upon a civilian population.Of course asking the same of the terrorists woven into the Palestinian problem is a waste of breath.So we are left back at square one. Liberals screaming at the only sane people in the room….. The israelis.
Nothing to see here folks, move along please.