? 
You need to see this.
January 20th, 2009 [General, War & Peace, YouTube]
9 Comments »U.N. chief: Gaza violence ‘heartbreaking’ – CNN.com.
More than 1,300 Palestinians died and about 5,400 others were wounded during Israel's three-week offensive in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Authority's Central Bureau of Statistics. Among the dead were 159 children.
And then:
The fighting largely stopped Sunday with a cease-fire. Israel has said 13 of its citizens — including 10 soldiers — were killed during the offensive, which started December 27.
I’m the last person to say that the death of 159 children is acceptable. I think it’s horrendous that so many innocent children died during this conflict. But let’s get one thing straight: The majority of those killed in Gaza were Hamas fighters – CNN never reports this – and at least some of the children killed were killed by Hamas fighters, either by their own rockets and mortars, or by them being held up as human shields against Israeli gunfire.
I do not accept the deaths of these children as necessary or as “collateral damage.” They should not have died. But Hamas, not Israel, is largely to blame. Hamas welcomed an Israeli ground incursion. Hamas welcomed an Israeli air incursion. Hamas has said it “loves death more than Jews love life.” This spate of violence proved that notion. Hamas fighters were quoted in the news as saying they were happy to die, and that they were proud to die, and that others should be happy to die too. That’s not to say they ran in front of Israeli gunfire or anything – no, they wanted to die only if they could take as many people with them as possible. They would run into civilians’ houses to hide. They would launch rockets from the rooftops of heavily-populated apartment buildings, and from outside schools. They would walk around holding children against their will, some of them plucked right off the street. Note in this video that not only does the fighter grab a child off the street, but he runs right for a crowd of people. If he’s going to die, he’s taking people with him.
Hamas’s main base of operations is under the main Gaza hospital: If Israel doesn’t fire, they win by living, and if Israel does fire, they win by dying and having Israel become known as the country who deliberately bombed the hospital.
And finally, while Israel restrains itself (believe me, if it wasn’t exercising restraint, the death toll would be much higher), Hamas directly TARGETS Israeli civilians. If they could inflict a higher civilian death toll among Israelis, it would. If it could wipe out the entire population of Israel, it WOULD. That’s the difference between Hamas and Israel.
For the record, CNN, even the UN was saying that roughly 25% of those dead were civilians. This means 75% were not. Why is this never mentioned on CNN?
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January 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Jew lies…… Jewish Lies….Public relations….millions of $$$ for making up videos like this!!! B.S …. Israeli terrorism is very well documented by the UN. Death to the Zionists!
January 20th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Regular Armies should fight other regular armies, not civilian populations. I am from Montreal, Canada. I believe Israel tactics of shelling civilians is totally unacceptable. Hamas’s desperate tactics is no excuse for Israel’s 21st century army to kill 1000 people with impunity. Wake up Israel: you live in 21st century, not in 1940’s Germany or 1st century AD Imperial Rome. 1000 lives IS 1000 lives, 1000 fathers, mothers, children. Power should come with equal responsibility. Israel’s army should be held to higher standards. Stop hiding behind cowardly excuses: “Israel has the right to defend itself” rhetoric is no license to kill with impunity. Increasing Gaza’s misery “just because you can” (read “just before Obama comes to power”) is quite cowardly. If you’re so tough, you should take someone your own size, not innocent civilians. And please stop playing the victim role. You’ve ceased to be a victim a long time ago. I understand it’s convenient, the victim always gets good PR, but come on, how stupid do you think we are?
My friend here (see initial post) valiantly tries to make sense of all that carnage, but no matter how he tries, “human accounting” is very dehumanizing. When real, breathing, bleading people become abstractions and statistics, we all lose a little part of our humanity. Only 25% of the dead were civilians? Big deal. 100% of those killed … are now dead. Hopefully the Bush doctrine of “who is not my friend is my enemy” (and I don’t care if he dies) will dissipate into the history books, on this January 20th 2009.
As a new generation takes over in this historic day, may we change the paradigm of solving conflict. No one should kill 13 people and get away with it. Nor 1000. Unleashing Regular armies against civilians in 21st century should be an absolute No No!! And please Israel supporters: stop the pathetic excuses! Admit that you will never win international sympathy by killing 1000 people, no matter how you cook the numbers. No, we’re not against Israel, we’re just against any such mass killing. Completely useless destruction and killings, as the Hamas missiles will obviously continue, because your political leaders refuse to solve the “real” problem (which the Hamas missiles is but a symptom).
My 2 c.
z.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:27 am
THOU SHALL NOT KILL, PERIOD.
All followers of the three (3) great Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity
and Islam believe in the Ten (10) Commandments. In our humble opinion,
if anyone killed another innocent human being or himself, he is neither a Jew,
nor a Christian, nor a Muslim, because he disobeyed one of the most important
Commandments of Almighty God (Allah): Thou Shall Not Kill (MURDER)!
……..
Given below are some of the verses from the Holy Qur’an and Holy Bible
in support thereof, referring to the number of Surah (Chapter) first followed
by the number of Ayah (Verse), later (from an English translation of the
Holy Qur’an by Mr. Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall).
Yet ye (Children of Israel) it is who slay each other and drive out a
party of your people from their homes, supporting one another against
them by sin and transgression, and if they came to you as captives ye
would ransom them, whereas their expulsion was itself unlawful for you.
Believe ye in part of the Scripture and disbelieve ye in part thereof?
(2:85)
Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah (God Almighty),
and slay the Prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who
enjoin equity: announce them a painful doom. (3:21)
O ye who believe! eat not up your property among yourselves in
vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual
good-will: nor kill (or destroy) yourselves (commit suicide): for verily
Allah hath been to you Most Merciful. (4:29)
Never should a believer kill a believer; but (if it so happens) by mistake
(compensation is due): if one (so) kills a believer, it is ordained
that he should free a believing slave and pay compensation to the
deceased’s family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged
to a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a
believing slave (is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom ye have
a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family
and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their
means (is prescribed) a fast for two months running: by way of repentance
to Allah: for Allah hath all knowledge and all wisdom. (4:92)
If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide
therein (for ever): and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him
and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him. (4:93)
For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever
killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the
earth, it shall be as if be had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the
life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our
messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah’s
sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in
the earth. (5:32)
They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without
knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them,
inventing a lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not
guided. (6:140)
Say: “Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from”:
join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill not your
children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and for them;
come not nigh to shameful deeds whether open or secret; take not life,
which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law: thus doth
He command you that ye may learn wisdom. (6:151)
O Prophet! when believing women come to thee to take the oath of
fealty to thee that they will not associate in worship any other thing
whatever with Allah that they will not steal, that they will not commit
adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they
will not utter slander intentionally forging falsehood, and that they
will not disobey thee in any just matter then do thou receive their
fealty and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah
is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (60:12)
Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance
for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin.
(17:31)
And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right.
Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let
him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (17:33)
And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take
the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor
commit adultery and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty; (25:68)
THOU SHALL NOT MURDER (Holy Bible).
1. Exodus 20:13
“You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:12-14 (in Context) Exodus 20 (Whole Chapter)
2. Numbers 35:12
They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly.
Numbers 35:11-13 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
3. Numbers 35:16
“‘If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Numbers 35:15-17 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
4. Numbers 35:17
Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Numbers 35:16-18 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
5. Numbers 35:18
Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Numbers 35:17-19 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
6. Numbers 35:19
The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
Numbers 35:18-20 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
7. Numbers 35:21
or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Numbers 35:20-22 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
8. Numbers 35:25
The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
Numbers 35:24-26 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
9. Numbers 35:27
and the avenger of blood finds him outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder.
Numbers 35:26-28 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
10. Numbers 35:30
” ‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Numbers 35:29-31 (in Context) Numbers 35 (Whole Chapter)
January 21st, 2009 at 8:48 am
Uh, yeah. Bible says you shall not murder. It doesn’t say you shall not kill in self-defense. Israel is defending itself.
January 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
z, what is your solution?
I’ve seen everybody condemn Israel, or tell her to find another way. What is your solution? Hamas will not settle for anything less than the total and complete destruction of Israel (and in their eyes, preferably the destruction of the Jewish people), and as long as Israel exists, Hamas will continue to slaughter its citizens, and Israel will continue to defend herself.
So what is your solution for peace?
January 21st, 2009 at 8:52 am
July – and people wonder why we will never have peace? It’s thanks to people like you. We want peace for all – you want death to Jews.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:00 am
zaza, the first paragraph of your comment could just as easily apply to Hamas, who ALWAYS play the victim, even though they themselves are responsible for much death and destruction among both Israelis and Palestinians. They have the backing of the Arab nations, which are much, much larger than Israel – the only reason they don’t have the weapons to destroy Israel is that Israel blocks the entrance of those weapons. I’d hardly call hundreds of missiles “desperate attempts.” These are not men throwing stones. These are men launching missiles with the hopes of killing as many CIVILIANS as possible. Hamas does not target only soldiers. Hamas doesn’t even target soldiers, period. It targets civilians. It targets schools. It targets homes. It targets CIVILIANS. And Hamas is not some underground guerrilla group. It’s a political party, a governing power with its own militia and plenty of seats in the Palestinian parliament. People seem to think it’s a band of teenagers or something. Why should Israel not view Hamas as a true threat? It won the election by a majority of the Palestinian people, and calls for Israel’s total and complete destruction. If Israel let it, it would obtain the weapons necessary to bring that about. The US doesn’t want Iran and South Korea to get nuclear weapons – so why should Israel want Hamas to get them? Lord knows Iran would give it to them, if they had it yet.
January 21st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
The Israelis are using 155 mm shells. When used, these shells could wipe out three football fields. If Israelis weren’t targeting civilians, you’d think they would go for something a little more subtle. It’s no secret that Israelis want to wipe Palestinians off the planet, some of the leaders are very open with it. I find it hilarious that when the media criticizes the Israelis they are so good at using their famous “you are anti-Semitic” line, which is pretty stupid since the Arab people are also Semitic. I think finally the world is starting to see Israel for what it really is, you wanna hear the truth, watch Occupation 101. I did, it changed the way I thought about everything.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Kristie, if that were true about the shells, then there would be no more Palestinians in Gaza – it’s a very small area, and very densely populated. And if it was true that Israel wanted the Palestinians gone, they would be gone. Israel wouldn’t be sending notices to people so they could clear the area before a strike. It wouldn’t be halting fire for 3 hours so that humanitarian aid could come through – even as Hamas is launching rockets DURING that temporary cease fire. And it sure as hell wouldn’t have pulled out of Gaza this week.
It’s true that some Israelis are racist and would like to see the Palestinians disappear. But Israel is not a two-party system. Its leaders span a wide breath of political ideologies, and those far fringe beliefs are not the ones that rule at the end of the day. Some American leaders (including judges and Senators) have said they would like to see homosexual acts receive the death penalty and that they would happily enforce that if it were the law. Is that reflective of American policy as well?
The truth is that killing Palestinians is not something Israelis enjoy doing. I have known many IDF soldiers and they are not a murderous bunch. They hate this violence. To believe otherwise you would have to believe the entire nation are a bunch of murderers, seeing as how Israel mandates military service for all citizens. They do not enjoy killing – but they do enjoy living, and when faced with a life or death situation, they will shoot. As Golda Meir said, “We can forgive you for killing our sons. But we will never forgive you for making us kill yours.” This is not something Israel wants to do. It’s something Israel has to do. If Hamas and the other extremists laid down their weapons right now, there would be no more violence. If Israel laid down its weapons right now, there would be no more Israel.
The word “anti-Semitism” was coined by Jew-haters in Germany specifically to refer to Jews. If there had been Arabs around at the time, they would have found another word to refer to Jews. It was a word meant solely for Jews – Hitler didn’t have a problem with Arabs, as he demonstrated by meeting with them on countless occasions to work on the “Jewish Problem.” Believe me, the Arab leaders definitely had their hand in the Holocaust.
Yeah, I’m sure it did change the way you think. Anti-Israel propaganda is really good at that. Unfortunately that’s what it is: propaganda. It’s true that the Palestinians live in horrendous circumstances. But Israel is not to blame for that. The Arab nations are to blame for that. They built the refugee camps, and they kept these people hostage in them. Israel is the one who sends them humanitarian aid. Israel is the one who gives them medical aid. Israel is the one who provides their electricity. Israel does not have to do that. But nobody else is.