Explosion strikes hotel in Israeli resort down; paramedics report dozens of casualties

Associated Press ^ | 3-27-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

09:40 PST JERUSALEM (AP) -- An explosion went off Wednesday evening in a hotel in the Israeli coastal resort of Netanya, and paramedics said there were dozens of casualties.

The blast came at a time when Israelis were marking the start of the weeklong Passover holiday. Many hotels cater Passover Seders -- the ritual meal that ushers in the holiday.

[Prodigal Daughter]

Thank you for the flag. Sad news.

[nocommies]

thanks! ;o)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

...sounds like a good time to nuke Beirut.

Gasp! Geraldo is in Beirut!

[r9etb]

Actually, they do represent an existential threat. What's the point of Israel the country if the people can't move around like normal human beings?

Occasional suicide bombers don't come close to representing an existential threat. Casualties even in the hundreds do not represent a significant percentage of the population, Israel will not disappear because people are afraid/unable to move freely. In dry statistical terms, these are merely quality of life issues. And before you even start: I think the bombings are horrible atrocities -- I just don't think they're existential threats.

An existential threat is one that can literally wipe Israel off the map -- something that perhaps we Americans cannot fully grasp. All-out wars represent such a threat, because to Israel, losing means losing everything.

And a decision to start an all-out war means that Israel has decided to risk it all. The threshold for such an decision has to be very high.

As an example, think of home and family. There is a point at which we would choose to do something, even if our failure meant the literal destruction of wife, kids, house, and ourselves. Unless we're nuts, we wouldn't take such risks over every little thing, or even every large thing. Probably, we'd only do it in a life-or-death situation.

That's the kind of choice Sharon and pals are faced with. I'd hate to be them.

[Steve0113]

true, but tomahawks make the skies infinitely safer for our folks flying the fighter jets

They certainly would, but I think the cupboard is bare.

I didn't mean that fighters should go in to sanitize; that's a job for bombers. They can home in on AA sites.

[proud to be breathing]

Your full of inanities today. The bulk of NATO pilots where our boys. So by your estimation, they or anyone servicing their planes or firing cruise missiles off a Navy vessel is not a Christian? One would assume then that this lack of Christian faith extends up the chain of command, as they certainly don't bomb or launch missiles independent of direct orders.

[monkeyshine]

It wouldn't surprise me if the whereabouts of at least 80% of the PA and militia leadership was known at all times

Tirawi is Arafat's right hand man. He is even closer to Arafat than the high profile Bargouti. Tirawi is holed up in the same office as Arafat...

The world is never going to look kindly on Sharon. He might as well be the man to clean up this mess any way he can.

[jerrymdss]

Now is there any doubt in anyones mind that Arafat is a scum terrorist and that it is he that ordered and is responsible for this barbaric act?

[clintonh8r]

Is this what our president means by "unhelpful"?

[BCrago66]

Good one.

[A. Pole]

Your full of inanities today. The bulk of NATO pilots where our boys. So by your estimation, they or anyone servicing their planes or firing cruise missiles off a Navy vessel is not a Christian? One would assume then that this lack of Christian faith extends up the chain of command, as they certainly don't bomb or launch missiles independent of direct orders.

I assume that those who gave the orders were anti-Christian and those who obeyed them were ignorant.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

ALL

Fox just said there may be a second bomber in the area and they are looking for him.

BigMack

[mitchbert]

From Haaretz's web site:

"Both the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, and Hamas have claimed responsibility for the attack."

Falling over each other to take pride in killing innocent Jewish civilians. Such peaceful people. Flatten their towns, level their mosques, hunt down their hate-inciting mullahs, and kill anyone that tries to get in the way. World opinion be dam**ed. Most of the world doesn't care when Jews are killed anyway, it's time to stop worrying about whether they approve.

[finnman69]

Predictions on how Israel responds to this one? I think it's clear if Arafat had left for the Arab meeting of jew-bashing he would nto be allowed back. Maybe we are getting to the point where complete occupations and forced deportation of Palestinians out of the West Bank and Gaza becomes an option.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The Nobel Peace Prize 1994

Yasser Arafat	Shimon Peres	Yitzhak Rabin
Palestine	Israel	Israel
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO and President of the Palestinian National Authority	Foreign Minister of Israel	Prime Minister of Israel
1929 -	1923 -	1922 - 1995

[kinghorse]

"Maybe the PA is learning from al Queda; attack their economy and the sword will fall from their hand."

Not likely, more like the sword be sanctioned as a reasonable response. Never has economic hardship brought wars to a conclusion. More often hardship meanders into war.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Predictions on how Israel responds to this one?

I caught some CNN video of the blast while at lunch. This looks like a devasting attack. My prediction - all out war, to hell with the "peace talks". They ain't helping...

[BCrago66]

I'd send all the Palistinians to Suadi Ababia. Let the Suads deal with the sick monsters they created.

[proud to be breathing]

You certainly have a very low opinion of the moral character of U.S pilots and seamen in that case.