Posted on 01/06/2009 2:55:45 PM PST by Cindy
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Ttragedy_school_Jebaliya_6-Jan-2009.htm
Behind the Headlines: The tragedy at the school in Jebaliya
6 Jan 2009 An initial inquiry by forces on operating in the area of the incident indicates that a number of mortar shells were fired at IDF forces from within the Jebaliya school. In response to the incoming enemy fire, the forces returned mortar fire to the source. Preliminary Background Briefing
Today, a reported 30 Palestinians were killed in a heartrending tragedy at a school in Jebaliya. Initial investigations indicate that Hamas terrorists fired mortar bombs from the area of the school towards Israeli forces, who returned fire towards the source of the shooting. The Israeli return fire landed outside the school, yet a series of explosions followed, indicating the probable presence of munitions and explosives in the building. Intelligence indicates that among those killed were Immad Abu Iskar and Hassan Abu Iskar, two known Hamas mortar crewmen.
Innocent civilians should not have died. However, it is vitally important to understand how this horrific incident occurred and who truly bears the responsibility for it.
Hamas began the current conflict when, three weeks ago it unilaterally violated the state of calm, and launched unprovoked rocket and mortar barrages on Israeli cities. This act of aggression was a clear violation of international law, and highlights a basic fact - not a single Israeli nor a single Palestinian would have been hurt had Hamas not launched its brutal attacks.
Israel had to respond. No government would stand idly by while its citizens are subjected to rockets and mortar attacks. Self-defense is an inherent right, and responsibility of every state. It is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and remains a cornerstone of international law.
While the investigation of the incident continues, one crucial detail is already apparent: this tragedy occurred because Hamas consistently uses its own population as human shields. While betting that Israel will hesitate to strike back at areas with civilians present, Hamas covers its bet with the knowledge that should civilians be harmed, Hamas still wins since Israel will be censured by the world's media.
The best way to avoid the use of Palestinians as human shields is for the international community to begin to place the blame where it truly belongs - on the Hamas terrorists who exploit the suffering of their own people for political gain. Only the consorted international censure of Hamas will cause that terrorist organization to stop this perverted practice.
While Hamas exploits its own civilians as human shields as it deliberately targets the civilians of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) does its best to avoid harming civilians on either side. Many Israeli anti-terrorists operations have been aborted at the last minute, due to the untimely presence of civilians in the target area. Unfortunately, tragedies happen in wartime, particularly when one side violates international law by firing while hiding behind civilians.
During its operations in Gaza, the IDF is making every effort to comply with the two basic legal tests of international humanitarian law: (1) are the targets legitimate military objectives and (2) is an action likely to cause disproportionate damage to the civilian population and their property.
Israel faces a particular challenge with regards to determining the legitimacy of intended targets. The presence of civilians in an area of conflict does not stop a military objective from being a legitimate target. This is both the letter of international law and a reflection of state practice. The deliberate positioning of Hamas military targets among Palestinian civilians presents a problem with which Israel must consistently contend.
The Iranian-backed Hamas, as a matter of strategy, refuses to uphold one of most fundamental requirements of international humanitarian law - that of distinguishing between combatants/military instillations and civilians/civilian properties. It follows therefore that while Israel does all it can to avoid harming non-combatants, under international law, any collateral injury to them is the responsibility of the Hamas, which deliberately chooses to operate from civilian structures and fire behind human shields.
Thanks for keeping it up.
IF YOU ARE ISRAEL; THIS IS FOR YOU:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158822
“Alarm System Activated in Rehovot”
Reported: 03:32 AM - Jan/07/09
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(IsraelNN.com) The Home Front Command decided Tuesday to activate the rocket alarm system in Rehovot. No rockets have fallen in Rehovot during Operation Cast Lead, but the Home Front Command is taking every precaution.”
I'm guessing "MUSLIM". Do I win?
MUSLIMS for $200, Alec: "What war crimes violations do Hamas, Hezbollah, Taliban, Al Queda, Somalian, Chechnian, Jamiyah, Lashkar, MILF, and other Islamic 'resistance groups' have in common?"
Answer: Posting fighters in mosques, hospitals, and schools; storing weapons in mosques, hospitals, and schools; targeting churches, hospitals, and schools; transporting weapons in ambulances....
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651874,00.html
“Israel announces ‘humanitarian corridor’ for Gaza”
SNIPPET: “Prime Minister Olmert says areas in Strip to be opened for limited period of times to allow Palestinian population to equip itself with food, goods. National Security Cabinet to decide Wednesday whether ground operation’s goals have been achieved”
Roni Sofer
Published: 01.07.09, 02:26 / Israel News
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Following the international criticism following the Israel Defense Forces strike near a United Nations school in Jabalya, which left dozens of people killed, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday night announced the opening of a “humanitarian corridor” for the Gaza Strip.
According to the announcement, areas in the Strip would be opened for limited periods of time to allow the Palestinian population to equip itself and receive aid.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158819
“Hamas Terrorists Found Dead in School Strike”
Reported: 00:33 AM - Jan/07/09
SNIPPET: “The dead Hamas operatives were Imad Abu Askhar and Hassan Abu Askhar. The IDF said, “We face a very delicate situation where the Hamas is using the citizens of Gaza as a protective vest.””
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-06/why-does-the-times-love-hamas
#
http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/967
“Why Does The New York Times Love Hamas?”
by Steven Emerson
The Daily Beast
January 6, 2009
SNIPPET: “The paper of record refuses to call them terrorists, extols the groups’ humanitarian efforts, and whitewashes its behavior during the now-broken ceasefire.”
BLOG:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/01/ground_war_heats_up.php
“Ground war heats up in Gaza”
By BILL ROGGIO
January 5, 2009 8:25 PM
SNIPPET: “The question remains whether the Israeli government has the political will to see the operation through. In order to ensure Hamas can no long fire rockets in Israel, the IDF will need to maintain a presence in Gaza. The reoccupation of Gaza has no political support within Israel. And destroying Hamas’ military capacity will take months or longer. International pressure is already mounting in Israel to halt operations and accept a ceasefire.”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651830,00.html
“NY rally cries out against Hamas”
SNIPPET: “Demonstration in support of IDF gathers before Israeli Consulate in Manhattan, calling for end to terror through defeat of Hamas”
Relly Cohen
Published: 01.07.09, 02:57 / Israel News
SNIPPET: “NEW YORK – Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday on the front lawn of the Israeli Consulate in New York in order to show their support for Israel and the IDF in its fight against Hamas in Gaza.”
If you’d like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
High Volume.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158833
“Report: Jewish Children Attacked in Yemen”
Reported: 08:08 AM - Jan/07/09
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(IsraelNN.com) Jewish children in the Raida district in Yemen were assaulted this week by Muslim youth angered by Israel’s “Cast Lead” operation in Gaza. The attacks were reported in Jewish media in the United States.
The children were pelted with stones by Muslim children. One Jewish child was seriously wounded in the assault.”
“Schools caught up in Palestinian conflict”
TUESDAY, 06 JANUARY 2009 17:18 KEVIN
“Barbed-wire fences and security guards are a regular part of many Jewish childrens’ school day”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A number of school administrators have come forth in recent days to confirm that they recommend Jewish children should not enrol at their schools.
According to school administrators, law enforcement officials and social workers, the on-going conflict in Gaza has led to heightened tensions between Jews and Arabs - particularly Palestinians - here in Denmark.
And although few headmasters of schools have faced the situation, most of those at schools with a high percentage of children of Arab descent say they try to prevent Jewish parents from enrolling their children there.
On Monday, headmaster Olav Nielsen of Humlehave School in Odense publicly admitted he would refuse Jewish parents’ wish to place their child at his school.
The comments were made following an incident last week in which two Israeli citizen’s were shot and wounded at a city shopping centre. Police believe the incident was a reaction to the Gaza conflict.
Other headmasters have now come forth to support Nielsen’s position, adding that they are putting the child’s safety first.
At Caroline Skole in Copenhagen’s Østerbro district, video cameras watch over the playground and entrances of the school, which is surrounded by a 2.5 metre-high barbed-wire fence.”
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024273.php
(AP)
January 6, 2009
“Muslims attacking Jews all over Europe”
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651946,00.html
Rocket hits western Negev; none injured
Published: 01.07.09, 08:46 / Israel News
Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza landed in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council limits; No injuries or damage were reported. (Shmulik Hadad)
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651969,00.html
3 rockets hit western Negev
Published: 01.07.09, 09:09 / Israel News
A Grad rocket fired from northern Gaza landed in Beer Tuvia Regional Council limits.
A second rocket landed near Ashdod and a third in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council limits. No injuries or damage were reported. (Shmulik Hadad)
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129273
Published: 01/07/09, 8:20 AM / Last Update: 01/07/09, 9:20 AM
“Hamas Executes Gaza Residents for Helping Israel”
by Hana Levi Julian
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167287960&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Jan 7, 2009 9:10 | Updated Jan 7, 2009 9:41
“Ashdod man hurt as 8 rockets hit Israel”
By JPOST.COM STAFF
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Around 40 rockets were fired at southern Israel on Tuesday, causing damage to structures. Six people people suffered from shock, but there were no other casualties.”
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652010,00.html
2 rockets hit Ashkelon; several suffer shock
Published: 01.07.09, 10:09 / Israel News
A Grad rocket fired from northern Gaza landed in Ashkelon; several people suffered shock.
A second rocket landed in the city’s outskirts, causing no damage. (Shmulik Hadad)
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652018,00.html
Mortar hits Sdot Negev; sparks brush fire
Published: 01.07.09, 10:20 / Israel News
A Mortar shell fired from northern Gaza landed in Sdot Negev Regional Council limits, causing a local fire.
Firefighters have been called to the scene. (Shmulik Hadad)
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