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.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158841
“Israeli Security Cabinet to Meet”
Reported: 10:45 AM - Jan/07/09
SNIPPET: “(IsraelNN.com) The Israeli Security Cabinet is meeting Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv to decide on the continuation of Operation Cast Lead. The cabinet is considering the possibility of widening the operation or staying at its current scope.
In addition, the cabinet is considering the possibility of a cease fire.”
Hat Tip: The Jawa Report
http://chrisshort.net/post/68829344/hamas-broke-the-june-2008-ceasefire-a-conversation
“Hamas Broke the June 2008 Ceasefire (A Conversation)”
SNIPPET: “I got into it first thing this morning with some pro-Hamas types on Twitter this morning. I came home and essentially picked the conversation right back up with some serious anti-Israel types. It’s really a must read for everyone trying to defend Israel and a must read for those who enjoy spreading misinformation or outright lies.”
Hat Tip: The Jawa Report
#
BLOG:
http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/01/carl-in-jerusalems-interview-with-john.html
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
“Carl in Jerusalem’s interview with John DeVore”
SNIPPET: “I know you’ve all been waiting for this :-) This is my interview with John DeVore of Sirius XM Satellite Radio on Monday night January 5 US time.”
AUDIO INTERVIEW HERE:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4ae_1231279836
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652068,00.html
Muslim group hacks into Hadera hospital website
Published: 01.07.09, 11:30 / Israel News
A Muslim group hacked into Hadera’s Hillel Yaffe Medical Center website Wednesday.
The hackers defaced the site and planted images of wounded IDF soldiers instead of the regular content. The breach has been detected and repaired; the hospital said that the website is now operating as usual. (Raanan Ben-Zur)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2160084/posts
#
January 6, 2009 | 8:26 am
“Pro-Jihadists plan synagogue protests – how to respond”
SNIPPET: “In my email this morning comes word that one group of pro-Hamas, pro-Jihadists supporters is encouraging aligned American Jews and others to go to synagogues on Friday night or Saturday morning and stage a protest.
“Jews especially should be doing these actions,” encourage the protest organizers. The plan is to enter shuls in groups of 3-4 “and – in dignified firm and unemotional voices – repeat “STOP THE KILLING.” The protesters plan to bring along a video camera to record the congregants’ responses.”
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652096,00.html
3 rockets fired; 1 slams farm in Sdot Negev
Published: 01.07.09, 11:59 / Israel News
Three Qassam rockets landed in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. On of the rockets hit an agricultural farm, damaging one of the houses on the property. A number of people have gone into shock. (Shmulik Hadad and Ilana Curiel)
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2009/s09010041.htm
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
“Children Traumatized; Palestinian Christians Afraid to Leave Homes in Gaza”
By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
SANTA ANA, CALIF. (ANS) —
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Open Doors said that about 2,500 Christians remain in Gaza.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=41566
“Hamas’s 400-Plus Rocket, Mortar Attacks Triggered Israel’s Defensive” Response, Ambassador Says
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652168,00.html
“Nasrallah says Hizbullah ready to fight Israel”
SNIPPET: “’Lebanon war was just a walk in the park compared to what we have in store for you,’ Hizbullah leader says in speech Wednesday. Nasrallah also slams Mubarak for refusing to open Rafah crossing”
Roee Nahmias
Published: 01.07.09, 13:10 / Israel News
They are barbarians to use their own children as shields. The media is complciit in this tactic by showing us the engineered tragedy and pointing blame at Israel, when it should point at Hamas.
These people do not care about their own people. They care about murder and their own personal power. I do not think they even care much basically about any god, though they manipulate religious ideas and nationalism to stir up support.
I understand.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652136,00.html
“2 Qassams hit western Negev; none injured”
Published: 01.07.09, 12:33 / Israel News
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652163,00.html
“Qassam lands in western Negev; none injured”
Published: 01.07.09, 12:56 / Israel News
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652175,00.html
“3 rockets land near Ashkelon”
Published: 01.07.09, 13:09 / Israel News
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Security/Default.aspx?id=375320
“The 15-second lifestyle - not acceptable to Israelis”
Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 1/7/2009 5:20:00 AM
ADDING to post no. 69:
Previously...
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=lebanon&ID=SP217209
Special Dispatch - No. 2172
January 2, 2009 No. 2172
“Hizbullah Secretary-General Nasrallah Urges Egyptian Officers to Rebel Against Their Regime’s Policies, Calls For Demonstrations in Arab and Muslim World to Pressure Governments”
SNIPPET: “On December 28, 2008, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, launched an unprecedented attack on the Arab regimes, particularly that of Egypt, accusing them of collaborating with Israel. Speaking on Hizbullah’s Al-Manar TV, Nasrallah called for demonstrations to be held throughout the Arab world to pressure the Arab regimes to halt the Israeli offensive, and to compel Egypt to open the Rafah crossing. He also called on the Egyptian masses to storm the Rafah crossing and open it by force, saying that anyone killed in these actions will be a martyr for Jerusalem and for Islam.
Following are excerpts from an English translation of Nasrallah’s statements, posted on the Hizbullah website.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158851
“Air Force Attacked Targets Tuesday Night”
Reported: 13:26 PM - Jan/07/09
SNIPPET: “(IsraelNN.com) The Air Force struck over 40 targets Tuesday night. It also destroyed 10 smuggling tunnels in Rafiah.”
This is today’s ISRAEL thread:
QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2160539/posts
THE BRIEF LIFE AND EXQUISITE MARTYRDOM OF A HAMAS MORTAR CREW
INTERNET-HAGANAH.com ^ | January 07, 2009 | n/a
Posted on January 7, 2009 2:53:22 PM PST by Cindy
“THE BRIEF LIFE AND EXQUISITE MARTYRDOM OF A HAMAS MORTAR CREW”
Snippet: “Via Hamas’ al-Aqsa TV station, said to be filmed in Jabaliya on 06 January 2008. At about 1’15” the crew is hit by an apparent Israeli counter-strike.”
(Excerpt) Read more at israel.internet-haganah.com ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.