Multi-phase Hamas attack at Gaza crossing deemed 'worst since pullout'
[Jpost.com] Two IDF soldiers were moderately wounded and 11 others were lightly wounded Saturday morning at the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, when Hamas gunmen initiated a coordinated attack on the Israeli side of the crossing, which included heavy gunfire, mortar shell barrages and two car bombs.
The attack began close to 7 a.m. when two vehicles arrived at the crossing under the cover of heavy fog and one of them detonated near army forces, wounding the 13 soldiers. The second booby-trapped car was spotted by troops after the initial explosion and did not go off, the army said.
Immediately afterwards, an armored car - which may have once belonged to Fatah security forces - arrived at the scene, and its occupants began firing at the soldiers, backed by heavy mortar shell barrages.
Four gunmen, including the driver of the car bomb, were believed to have been killed in the explosion and the exchanges of fire that ensued. Forces then entered Gaza in order to search for remaining members of the cell.
'Most ambitious attack since pullout'
Meanwhile, another armored vehicle was identified approaching the Kissufim crossing, north of Kerem Shalom. An IDF tank fired at the vehicle and hit it, apparently preventing a second attack.
Hamas later released a farewell video of four attackers. Hamas also organized two protests by women and children near two other Gaza crossings
Friday, April 18, 2008
Conspirator with Palestinian terrorist organization, Sami al-Arian, on hunger strike, held in U.S. on third contempt charge. His advocates consider him a political prisoner.
The NY Times has an article on this. In brief, as explained by anti-terrorist investigator Steven Emerson, al-Arian plead guilty to raising funds for Palestine Islamic Jihad and served his sentence after which he was to be deported. However, the Justice Department has subpoenaed him, for a third time, requiring him to testify in the on-going terrorism investigation. He has refused to testify, for the third time, is being held in contempt, and is on a hunger strike. Al-Arian's supporters want the government to abide by the plea agreement and just deport him.
Read Emerson's take on this, including his criticism of the NYTimes coverage.
---------------
Is it cease fire yet? Palestinians Fire Ten Rockets at Israel Thursday. 7 missiles fired Friday.
-------------------
Jerusalem Post: Friction between US and Israel on settlements.
Caroline Glick: Why the boycott of Hamas is unsustainable
There is no substantive report, yet, as to the meeting Jimmy Carter held today with Hamas in Syria.
The NY Times has an article on this. In brief, as explained by anti-terrorist investigator Steven Emerson, al-Arian plead guilty to raising funds for Palestine Islamic Jihad and served his sentence after which he was to be deported. However, the Justice Department has subpoenaed him, for a third time, requiring him to testify in the on-going terrorism investigation. He has refused to testify, for the third time, is being held in contempt, and is on a hunger strike. Al-Arian's supporters want the government to abide by the plea agreement and just deport him.
Read Emerson's take on this, including his criticism of the NYTimes coverage.
---------------
Is it cease fire yet? Palestinians Fire Ten Rockets at Israel Thursday. 7 missiles fired Friday.
-------------------
Jerusalem Post: Friction between US and Israel on settlements.
Caroline Glick: Why the boycott of Hamas is unsustainable
There is no substantive report, yet, as to the meeting Jimmy Carter held today with Hamas in Syria.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
In two Israeli air strikes, 13 Palestinians killed in central Gaza after three Israeli soldiers die in clashes with Hamas raiders April 16, 2008, [Debka.com]
The terrorist stronghold of al Bureij was targeted after a Palestinian force spearheaded by Hamas crossed the border and clashed with Israeli troops in the Kibbutz Beeri sector early Wednesday, April 16. [Also... multiple Qassams were launched today from Gaza into the Western Negev.]
MEMRI TV: Hamas Spokesman in Gaza Ismail Radhwan: President Carter's Visit Reflects Recognition that Hamas Cannot Be Ignored Says: Hamas benefits.
Interview: Why former Mossad chief favors talks with Hamas
The terrorist stronghold of al Bureij was targeted after a Palestinian force spearheaded by Hamas crossed the border and clashed with Israeli troops in the Kibbutz Beeri sector early Wednesday, April 16. [Also... multiple Qassams were launched today from Gaza into the Western Negev.]
MEMRI TV: Hamas Spokesman in Gaza Ismail Radhwan: President Carter's Visit Reflects Recognition that Hamas Cannot Be Ignored Says: Hamas benefits.
Interview: Why former Mossad chief favors talks with Hamas
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Carter: Arafat fought for just causes
Former US president visits Ramallah gravesite of deceased Palestinian leader, embraces senior Hamas official. Israel dodging implementation of Annapolis agreements, he says. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3532211,00.html See also: Jimmy's World (WSJ)
Livni speaks at Qatar conference
Qatar has low-level trade relations with Israel, but no formal diplomatic ties [AFP]
Israel's foreign minister has become the most senior Israeli official to visit the Gulf state of Qatar, speaking at Doha's annual democracy forum.
Tzipi Livini said at the conference on Monday that Arabs need not wait for Israel to reach an agreement with the Palestinians before normalising diplomatic ties. She said that both Arabs and Israelis were "members of the same camp", facing threats from groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. She also said she hoped "other Arab states will follow the example of Qatar" in maintaining ties with Israel.
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem said talks with Livni would focus on ways of calming the situation in the Gaza Strip. "This, of course, will be our main preoccupation and the main issue we will discuss with Livni," he said. "But I don't want to put this in the context of a mediation," he said, when asked if Livni's presence meant that Qatar was trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas.
While in Doha, Livni also held a meeting with Yusef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, her Omani counterpart, to give him "an update on the negotiations with the Palestinians", according to an aide. The Israeli foreign ministry said that Livni's meeting with Oman's top diplomat was their first public encounter. Contacts between the Gulf and Israel do happen, but are uncommon at such a high level and in such a public forum. On the other hand, Doha has good diplomatic relations with Tehran. http://mwcnews.net/content/view/21706/0/
Morris: It was always Jihad.
In his new book, 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War, historian Benny Morris insists that the religious dimension of Arab opposition to Jewish sovereignty, the rejection of Israel as an "infidel" and "alien" presence, was overwhelming from the earliest days of the struggle for statehood. Many, if not most, in the Arab world, he writes, viewed the war against Israel's establishment as a holy war.
Former US president visits Ramallah gravesite of deceased Palestinian leader, embraces senior Hamas official. Israel dodging implementation of Annapolis agreements, he says. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3532211,00.html See also: Jimmy's World (WSJ)
Livni speaks at Qatar conference
Qatar has low-level trade relations with Israel, but no formal diplomatic ties [AFP]
Israel's foreign minister has become the most senior Israeli official to visit the Gulf state of Qatar, speaking at Doha's annual democracy forum.
Tzipi Livini said at the conference on Monday that Arabs need not wait for Israel to reach an agreement with the Palestinians before normalising diplomatic ties. She said that both Arabs and Israelis were "members of the same camp", facing threats from groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. She also said she hoped "other Arab states will follow the example of Qatar" in maintaining ties with Israel.
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem said talks with Livni would focus on ways of calming the situation in the Gaza Strip. "This, of course, will be our main preoccupation and the main issue we will discuss with Livni," he said. "But I don't want to put this in the context of a mediation," he said, when asked if Livni's presence meant that Qatar was trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas.
While in Doha, Livni also held a meeting with Yusef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, her Omani counterpart, to give him "an update on the negotiations with the Palestinians", according to an aide. The Israeli foreign ministry said that Livni's meeting with Oman's top diplomat was their first public encounter. Contacts between the Gulf and Israel do happen, but are uncommon at such a high level and in such a public forum. On the other hand, Doha has good diplomatic relations with Tehran. http://mwcnews.net/content/view/21706/0/
Morris: It was always Jihad.
In his new book, 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War, historian Benny Morris insists that the religious dimension of Arab opposition to Jewish sovereignty, the rejection of Israel as an "infidel" and "alien" presence, was overwhelming from the earliest days of the struggle for statehood. Many, if not most, in the Arab world, he writes, viewed the war against Israel's establishment as a holy war.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Livni in Qatar: Gaza an obstacle to Palestinian state [ynetnews.com by Roni Sofer]
Foreign affairs minister confronts 'apartheid' claim made by Israeli Arab MK at Doha Forum: 'The fact that you are the Knesset deputy speaker is proof we are a democracy.'
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip not Israel's problem, she says, but rather an impediment to Palestinian efforts to secure nation
"The greatest conflict today is between the moderates and the extremists. This is the challenge faced by the entire region. Gaza is not Israel's problem, Gaza is an obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state," said Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday in her address before the 'Doha Forum' in Qatar.
"We must abandon the outdated perception that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root-cause of extremism and understand that our ability to resolve the conflict depends on the ability of extremists to prevent us from doing so."
But the keynote speech was not without incident.
Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List – Ta'al), who also attended the conference, asked Livni during the subsequent Q&A session how she could talk of democracy when referring to a Jewish nation. "Israel is an apartheid state," he charged.
Livni fielded the question from the podium and answered Tibi: "The very fact that you are an Israeli Knesset member, that you are the deputy speaker of the Knesset as a matter of fact, who represents 20% of Israel's population, that you are here and that you can say anything you please – that is the proof that Israel is a democratic nation."
Livni with Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani (Photo: AP)
Prior to leaving for Qatar, Livni's aides said that the foreign affairs minister would raise the matter of Israel's kidnapped soldiers at the forum, which annually draws the participation of the world's senior Arab leaders.
In her speech on Monday Livni slammed the ongoing captivity of the three Israeli soldiers, saying that they were being held without cause and that their captors had yet to provide any proof of life or permit the Red Cross to visit them.
"I seek now to use this opportunity to call for their release. This is a matter of human rights, not politics," she said.
Defending Annapolis
Livni further said in her speech that democracies must retain the right to defend themselves. "That is true for Lebanon as it is true for the Palestinian Authority, where the democratic process was disturbed. In both cases the result is instability."
The minister noted that her participation as a representative of the Israeli government is intended to strengthen Jerusalem's ties to the Arab world. "Our hands are outstretched to our friends in the region. The path to peaceful relations, like the path to democracy, begins with dialogue, with a mutual recognition of each other and with the free exchange of ideas."
Livni said that democratic elections should be encouraged throughout the Middle East, but stressed that the prerequisite to this must be "a decision between terror or politics, but not political terror."
The minister defended the peace process agreed on in Annapolis and based on the US-led Road Map: "Talks are continuing with pragmatic elements within the Palestinian Authority, those who recognize Israel's right to exist and who seek to realize their national rights through peaceful means and not terror tactics. With partners like these the two-state solution can be realized and peace can be achieved."
Foreign affairs minister confronts 'apartheid' claim made by Israeli Arab MK at Doha Forum: 'The fact that you are the Knesset deputy speaker is proof we are a democracy.'
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip not Israel's problem, she says, but rather an impediment to Palestinian efforts to secure nation
"The greatest conflict today is between the moderates and the extremists. This is the challenge faced by the entire region. Gaza is not Israel's problem, Gaza is an obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state," said Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday in her address before the 'Doha Forum' in Qatar.
"We must abandon the outdated perception that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root-cause of extremism and understand that our ability to resolve the conflict depends on the ability of extremists to prevent us from doing so."
But the keynote speech was not without incident.
Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List – Ta'al), who also attended the conference, asked Livni during the subsequent Q&A session how she could talk of democracy when referring to a Jewish nation. "Israel is an apartheid state," he charged.
Livni fielded the question from the podium and answered Tibi: "The very fact that you are an Israeli Knesset member, that you are the deputy speaker of the Knesset as a matter of fact, who represents 20% of Israel's population, that you are here and that you can say anything you please – that is the proof that Israel is a democratic nation."
Livni with Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani (Photo: AP)
Prior to leaving for Qatar, Livni's aides said that the foreign affairs minister would raise the matter of Israel's kidnapped soldiers at the forum, which annually draws the participation of the world's senior Arab leaders.
In her speech on Monday Livni slammed the ongoing captivity of the three Israeli soldiers, saying that they were being held without cause and that their captors had yet to provide any proof of life or permit the Red Cross to visit them.
"I seek now to use this opportunity to call for their release. This is a matter of human rights, not politics," she said.
Defending Annapolis
Livni further said in her speech that democracies must retain the right to defend themselves. "That is true for Lebanon as it is true for the Palestinian Authority, where the democratic process was disturbed. In both cases the result is instability."
The minister noted that her participation as a representative of the Israeli government is intended to strengthen Jerusalem's ties to the Arab world. "Our hands are outstretched to our friends in the region. The path to peaceful relations, like the path to democracy, begins with dialogue, with a mutual recognition of each other and with the free exchange of ideas."
Livni said that democratic elections should be encouraged throughout the Middle East, but stressed that the prerequisite to this must be "a decision between terror or politics, but not political terror."
The minister defended the peace process agreed on in Annapolis and based on the US-led Road Map: "Talks are continuing with pragmatic elements within the Palestinian Authority, those who recognize Israel's right to exist and who seek to realize their national rights through peaceful means and not terror tactics. With partners like these the two-state solution can be realized and peace can be achieved."
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Questions of definition (aggregated from fresnozionism.org)
Sometimes it’s hard to talk to someone when you each have different understandings of the words you must use. For example, here are some questions about definitions of terms, put to an Israeli and an Arab:
Q: What is “the occupation”?
Israeli: The legal military occupation of the West Bank, which began in 1967 as the result of a defensive war, and which would end if the Arabs would agree to make peace.
Arab: The illegal Zionist entity in land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean, which began in 1948.
Q: What is a “two-state solution”?
I: The Jewish state of Israel living peacefully alongside an Arab Palestinian state.
A: An Arab Palestinian state next to a “bi-national” state with an Arab majority.
Q: What are “equal rights” for Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel?
I: No discrimination in matters of resource allocation, housing, education, health care, employment, etc.
A: The replacement of the Jewish state with a “state of its citizens”, replacement of the flag and national anthem, a veto power on all governmental decisions by the Arab minority, repeal of the Law of Return for Jews, passage of a Law of Return for Palestinian refugees.
Q: What is “firing rockets from Gaza into Israel”?
I: Terrorism, murder.
A: Legitimate resistance to occupation.
Q: Who was “Yasser Arafat”?
I: A terrorist, a murderer, a man who started at least three wars, who caused the deaths of thousands in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, etc., a liar and thief who stole billions in funds intended to improve the lot of Palestinians, the man who prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state.
A: The father of the Palestinian nation.
Media Coverage
AP picture: A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling-shot to hurl a stone. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Mideast-Conflict-Israel-Ramallah-West-Bank-village/ss/events/wl/080601mideast/im:/080411/481/42100ed778e34fa3bb731d2d90897dbb/
(hat tip/ Israellycool.com) Take a look at the size of the "stone"
------------
From Friday sermon http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/1739.htm [MEMRI]
Following are excerpts from an address by Hamas MP and cleric Yunis Al-Astal, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008.
"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesized by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam – this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe."
You know who "the brothers of apes and pigs" are, don't you?
Sometimes it’s hard to talk to someone when you each have different understandings of the words you must use. For example, here are some questions about definitions of terms, put to an Israeli and an Arab:
Q: What is “the occupation”?
Israeli: The legal military occupation of the West Bank, which began in 1967 as the result of a defensive war, and which would end if the Arabs would agree to make peace.
Arab: The illegal Zionist entity in land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean, which began in 1948.
Q: What is a “two-state solution”?
I: The Jewish state of Israel living peacefully alongside an Arab Palestinian state.
A: An Arab Palestinian state next to a “bi-national” state with an Arab majority.
Q: What are “equal rights” for Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel?
I: No discrimination in matters of resource allocation, housing, education, health care, employment, etc.
A: The replacement of the Jewish state with a “state of its citizens”, replacement of the flag and national anthem, a veto power on all governmental decisions by the Arab minority, repeal of the Law of Return for Jews, passage of a Law of Return for Palestinian refugees.
Q: What is “firing rockets from Gaza into Israel”?
I: Terrorism, murder.
A: Legitimate resistance to occupation.
Q: Who was “Yasser Arafat”?
I: A terrorist, a murderer, a man who started at least three wars, who caused the deaths of thousands in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, etc., a liar and thief who stole billions in funds intended to improve the lot of Palestinians, the man who prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state.
A: The father of the Palestinian nation.
Media Coverage
AP picture: A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling-shot to hurl a stone. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Mideast-Conflict-Israel-Ramallah-West-Bank-village/ss/events/wl/080601mideast/im:/080411/481/42100ed778e34fa3bb731d2d90897dbb/
(hat tip/ Israellycool.com) Take a look at the size of the "stone"
------------
From Friday sermon http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/1739.htm [MEMRI]
Following are excerpts from an address by Hamas MP and cleric Yunis Al-Astal, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008.
"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesized by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam – this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe."
You know who "the brothers of apes and pigs" are, don't you?
Friday, April 11, 2008
CAMERA: What "disputed territory" means
http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=54&x_article=1479
"Despite being willing to compromise, and certainly until a compromise is reached, Israel still feels it has a valid claim to the West Bank. Only when both sides reach an agreement, and the agreement is carried out, will a (currently undetermined) portion of the West Bank become officially "Palestinian."
The idea that previous peace proposals justify labeling the West Bank "Palestinian" is flawed..."
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2008/04/lessons-from-1936-olympics.html
Why don't others 'get it?' Aspects of self-interest, says Elder of Zion
Would you let your kids play in traffic? http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Mideast-Conflict/ss/events/wl/080601mideast/im:/080410/photos_wl_afp/10e5c73e2b0e3a15880503030c3c8e58/
http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=54&x_article=1479
"Despite being willing to compromise, and certainly until a compromise is reached, Israel still feels it has a valid claim to the West Bank. Only when both sides reach an agreement, and the agreement is carried out, will a (currently undetermined) portion of the West Bank become officially "Palestinian."
The idea that previous peace proposals justify labeling the West Bank "Palestinian" is flawed..."
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2008/04/lessons-from-1936-olympics.html
Why don't others 'get it?' Aspects of self-interest, says Elder of Zion
"Today, much of the lukewarm reaction by Europe towards Iranian genocidal speech (”only against Zionists, not Jews”), obvious nuclear ambitions (”for peaceful nuclear power”) and long-range ballistic missile development (”for an Iranian space program”) is powered by the same desire to overlook clear lies for short-term self-interest. [Fear of becoming a target for terrorists and potential loss of economic trade.]
Would you let your kids play in traffic? http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Mideast-Conflict/ss/events/wl/080601mideast/im:/080410/photos_wl_afp/10e5c73e2b0e3a15880503030c3c8e58/
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