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.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I am not sure what an "honorable solution" to this problem is, but it scares the daylights out of me to consider that the same Islamic terrorists working the streets, courtyards, and shopping areas in Israel today could someday work the streets of America.

If the western and Arab world permits this chaos to continue there may be no stopping future attacks throughout the world. It must be stopped before it spreads. Period.

[My Identity]

Remember that it was the Arab countries, especially SA and Jordan, that expelled all the Palestinians years ago

I know, and cleansing (see post 215 above) the area of Palestinians will be no easy task. I imagine all Arab dictatorships will scream their lungs out (nice visual), but what other solution is there?

Just curious...

[r9etb]

Are we going to be gripped by the same inability to do anything more than blow up empty buildings when these muslim bombers start pulling this crap in the U.S.?

As we've demonstrated in Afghanistan, we have a great deal more freedom of action than do the Israelis. Failure on our part would be embarrassing, and potentially a motivation for additional attacks on us, but our country would never be in fatal danger.

I think the empty building attacks were intended as a message, the the effect that "next time we might make sure you're inside." That message has not been effective, because the PA has calculated -- correctly, so far, that Israel won't ever go so far as to kill the PA leadership. They probably also think -- again correctly so far -- that Western public opinion (which is a serious national security concern for Israel) will prevent them from escalating.

FWIW, I think that while they've been correct so far, they're probably wrong in the long term. They're still thinking in terms of Clinton and Clintonesque gestures. As a result, I think they've seriously misread George Bush, the U.S., and our willingness to prosecute the war on terrorism.

ken5050 is probably correct in his assessment of the relationship between Sharon and Bush, and also on the reasons why Israel is holding back at our request.

[besieged]

Remember that it was the Arab countries, especially SA and Jordan, that expelled all the Palestinians years ago..they were afraid of having them inc country to foment trouble.......100 million Arabs couldn't assimilate 600,000 or so Palestinians..

And how right they were!!! They KNEW what these animals were capable of from the beginning, since knowing themselves, they knew the Palestinian soul as well.

So.. it is now very clear that these 600,000 palestinian martyrs were incapable of living in peace even with the Arab "brothers". How in the world does anyone expect these same animals to "peacefully" coexist with their "Jewish cousins"????? I am disgusted.

[Alouette]

My son and his wife and babies are in Israel celebrating Passover with his wife's family. They called this morning to wish us "Happy Passover" but did not mention if they were going to a resort or having the seder at home. They went to a resort two years ago. Please pray for my son and his family.

[r9etb]

and the Shin Bet security service and is receiving constant updates on the situation.

The decision on Israel's response to the attack is likely in the next few hours.

Not all-out war. Decapitation. Cheaper, and more likely to work.

[P8riot]

ken5050 is probably correct in his assessment of the relationship between Sharon and Bush, and also on the reasons why Israel is holding back at our request.

Maybe so, but I've got to believe that Sharon's patience is wearing thin. If it were me, I'd have started really kicking some @$$ weeks or months ago, and maybe we wouldn't be talking about innocent civilians getting killed in order to support a whim.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A Palestinian Fatah activist carries a rocket launcher in front of a poster of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Nablus March 26, 2002. Israel said Arafat had not met its terms for attending an Arab summit, ignoring U.S. pressure to let him go to Beirut to add weight to a Middle East peace initiative. Although Prime Minister Ariel Sharon left the door open to a last-minute reprieve that would lift a three-month-old travel ban. Photo by Abed Omar Qusini/Reuters

[Catspaw]

My son and his wife and babies are in Israel celebrating Passover with his wife's family. They called this morning to wish us "Happy Passover" but did not mention if they were going to a resort or having the seder at home. They went to a resort two years ago. Please pray for my son and his family.

Oh, Allouette, you know we're praying hard for them and their safety...just let us know as soon as you hear from them, okay?

[ken5050]

I have no graphic design skills whatsoever, but does anyhone have an idea how to create a map, to scale, of Jerusalem, and the ajoining Arab towns, overlaid over a map of Manhattan.....it would give people a sense of what the Israelis go through every day.....

[Oldeconomybuyer]

That sounds like a job for "Registered"...

[kayak]

I will pray for their safety .... and also for you, that you hear something soon.

[RnMomof7]

I will be praying for your family and will post a prayer request on the new Religious forum..

[ken5050]

Benjamin Natenyanu has laid out a clear vision of what needs to be done, and what will happen very soon.....

[r9etb]

Maybe so, but I've got to believe that Sharon's patience is wearing thin. If it were me, I'd have started really kicking some @$$ weeks or months ago, and maybe we wouldn't be talking about innocent civilians getting killed in order to support a whim.

Think of Sharon's situation in these terms: What would make you decide to put your wife, kids, house, dog, and everything else you have, at risk of complete destruction? What level of provocation is sufficient?

Sharon and his people have to make exactly that choice; and not just for themselves, but for everybody else in Israel as well. Starting an all-out war (which is the real meaning of "kicking some @$$"), puts the whole country literally on the line.

They're not there yet. In fact, I think they'll probably never have to go that far.

[My Identity]

If the western and Arab world permits this chaos to continue there may be no stopping future attacks

Well, the Arab leadership won't stop it. Indeed they not only foster it, they require it, both as a strategm for deflecting attention from themselves and as a dictum of jihad.

Europe won't stop it. Their immersion in Social Democracy (nee socialism nee marxism) prevents them from viewing the world logically. Indeed, one could argue that their self-interest (self protection and advancement above all others) is for Israel and the US to fall or bear the brunt of these attacks.

Which leaves the U.S. and Israel...

[r9etb]

Benjamin Natenyanu has laid out a clear vision of what needs to be done, and what will happen very soon.....

Link, please?

[Mom_Grandmother]

I agree mitchbert, "World Opinion Be Damned." Israel needs help.

Joel,Ch.3--Gods judgement upon the enemies of Israel. 1-For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2-I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

4- Yea, and have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompence me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

God calls upon the Gentiles to prepare for war:

9-Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw; let them come up;

16-The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

I would never presume to ever understand much of what is written, but I think I know a call for help when I see one. I think times are going to be hard for all of us soon, there will be choices to be made, I pray we make the right ones.

[ken5050]

In several appearances on TV last week, he talked clearly about isolating the Arab towns from Israel, disarming the PLO police, and confiscating all weapons in the Srab territories.....there are probably several articles around here..he mentioned that when he was PM, there were hardly any incidents of terror..

[r9etb]

Which leaves the U.S. and Israel...

As usual. Though I think we can probably expect Britain to kick in some.

Interesting dynamic there: Britain's support of American military ventures suggests they're following their historical approach of allying Britain with the most plausible opponent to the predominant European powers (in this case, the EU).