Elder of Ziyon Daily News |  |
- Gazan killed - by celebratory gunfire
- Iron Dome is fantastic. But it doesn't solve anything.
- Hamas war crimes poster (7)
- Wednesday links
- Text of ceasefire agreement (updated)
- Jaabari's bodyguard's kids say they want to be martyred too
- Saudi man marries schoolgirl. And her teacher. And HER principal. And their supervisor!
- Video: Hamas TV glee at possibility Israelis were killed
- Hamas claims "spies" are turning themselves in, urges Gazans to ignore warning leaflets
- Hamas war crimes poster (6) - the Tel Aviv bus bombing
- How did the baby Omar Mishrawi die?
| Gazan killed - by celebratory gunfire Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:36 PM PST  From Reuters:With gunshots, sweets and cries of victory, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip poured into the streets to celebrate a ceasefire deal on Wednesday which ended eight days of deadly fighting. They already have their first triumph. Ma'an reports that one Gazan was killed and three more wounded by gunshots - fired during this very celebration.   For Gazans, happiness really is a warm gun. (h/t Challah Hu Akbar) 
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| Iron Dome is fantastic. But it doesn't solve anything. Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:23 PM PST The star of Operation Pillar of Defense - indeed, practically the source for the very name of the operation - was undoubtedly Iron Dome. Iron Dome is purely defensive. It is remarkably effective. It is an impressive technological achievement. It probably saved scores of lives. And almost certainly it is going to bring a lot of countries to Israel's door to buy the system for their own needs. President Obama said (possibly as a carrot to convince Netanyahu to accept a cease fire) that he would seek more money to help pay for more of the anti-missile systems to help enhance Israel's protection even more. What's not to love? Here's the problem: You know how Western nations are eager to say that Israel has a right to defend itself? They have systems like Iron Dome in mind. It doesn't kill anyone, it seems to magically protect Israelis, and its name even evokes a protective shield. But when Israel actually take the offensive - bombing terrorists and their infrastructure, striking missile sites, destroying tunnels - people start to die, and that makes Israel's allies skittish. Can't those brilliant Israelis just come up with lots of Iron Dome-type solutions and stay happy? Why rock the boat? The reason is that Iron Dome might save lives, but it does not stop terror. Terrorism has two components, one tactical and one strategic. The tactical part of terrorism is attacking civilians and civilian targets. But the word "terrorism" is not named after the attacks themselves, but after the strategy: to instill terror in a large population so that they cannot live normal lives. While Iron Dome managed to stop an amazing 84% of rockets it aimed at, did it allow people under fire to live anything resembling normal lives? Were schools and businesses open as usual? Did people ignore the alarms and laugh because they know they were protected? Obviously not. Iron Dome could stop most of the rockets from killing people, but it did not stop the rockets from terrorizing people. Which means that, from Hamas' perspective, Iron Dome was unable to stop the entire strategy of terrorists: to terrorize millions of people. You don't have to take my word for it. Hamas and Islamic Jihad media are filled with photos of Israelis running to shelters. They certainly celebrate deaths, but they celebrate the terror just as much. They revel in the fact that Israeli schools are closed or that thousands move north. Their currency is fear. It is wonderful that so many lives were saved by Iron Dome, and the system is worth every penny. But that doesn't solve the real problem: that Israel has a murderous neighbor who can and does terrorize Israelis at will - and is willing to wait for centuries if needed to drive all the Jews out of the Middle East. Forcing them to cower in safe rooms at all hours of the day is a very good step towards that goal. I don't know if there were any backroom deals for the US to convince Israel to drop plans for a ground war. I am not even certain that a ground war can solve the problem without a complete re-occupation of Gaza, something that most Israelis would consider delusional. (Those that think that more Israeli concessions will magically bring peace and goodwill from the Islamists are even more deluded.) A ground war could have added a layer of deterrence that could have kept things quiet for a while - in the case of Lebanon, it has been quiet now for six years. Maybe that is the best that can be hoped for until a better long-term strategy is developed. Right now, there is little added deterrence and it will only take a year or so for Hamas' weapons arsenal to be replenished. Celebrating Iron Dome as some sort of model for Israel's security is very shortsighted. It saves lives but it doesn't reduce terror very much at all. And unless somehow the cease-fire has some teeth in it that has not been made public, the entire operation didn't reduce terror for Israelis either. 
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| Posted: 21 Nov 2012 01:40 PM PST Seventh in a series:  From the IDF blog: When terrorists disguise themselves as civilians, it can only end badly for civilians. Today, a senior Hamas operative was targeted while driving a press vehicle, effectively disguising himself as a reporter. By doing so, he risked the lives of all journalists in the Gaza Strip. 
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| Posted: 21 Nov 2012 12:20 PM PST From Ian: Col. Richard Kemp Former British Troops Commander on Possible Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: "I'm Skeptical" of How Long it Can Last "There is a very effective anti-Israel propaganda machine and there has been for some time. It's partly from the Palestinians, partly from other Arab states and many people in the West—from Europe in particular but also the United States—see Hamas as the underdog and Israel as the bully and their natural inclination is to side with the underdog; but it's to misunderstand the reality: Hamas is not a small group of lone freedom fighters. Hamas is a terrorist organization supported, financed and directed by Iran. Israel on the other hand is not a bully. It has shown amazing restraint—far more restraint than most other countries would show in the face of this sort of provocation." Pillar of Defense: Seventh Day Recap VIDEO Rockets kill soldier, Bedouin civilian in Eshkol region Army posthumously promotes Yosef Fartuk to corporal Fire from Syria strikes IDF vehicle in the Golan Heights No injuries reported, but truck sustains minor damage; army files protest with the UN Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group launches Multiple rockets into Israel from the Sinai VIDEO (broken) "We Are David Up Against Islamic Fundamentalist Terror": Leonie's Letter From Israel "We are not the Goliath in this story, we are David up against Islamic fundamentalist terror supported by Iran. Support Israel and you support the democratic and humanist values of the free world. In Rishon and Ashkelon, 'safe rooms' save lives in two direct rocket strikes Rocket with 90 kilos of explosives smashes through three floors of an apartment building in Israel's fourth-largest town — and nobody is badly hurt Video Iran official: Gaza fighters need to be 'equipped' Nasrallah slams Arab countries for not arming Gazans Egypt intercepts 108 warheads from Libya to Sinai and Gaza Egyptian security officials say trucks carrying explosive warheads and a variety of small-arms ammunition smuggled from Libya were confiscated Pickup trucks were reportedly carrying some 108 warheads for Soviet-designed Grad rockets. While fighting rages between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah watches and waits Analysts say domestic considerations and fallout from the Syrian civil war keep the Lebanon-based organization on the sidelines Israel demands 15-year lull, Morsi guarantee According to reports in Cairo, Israel put forward six key demands for ceasefire, threatened ground offensive in Gaza if no response within 48 to 72 hours US blocks UN Security Council call for Gaza cease-fire as unbalanced against Israel "The draft press statement failed to address the root cause of the current escalation — the continuing barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel," the spokeswoman for the U.S. Mission to the U.N., Erin Pelton, said in a statement. Israel 'outshouts' Hamas TV, radio In a little-heralded aspect of Pillar of Defense, the IDF hijacks the Gaza airwaves and sends its messages to residents The 'Kids' Behind IDF's Media Young Israeli soldiers have pushed older commanders into adopting a more aggressive social media strategy Melanie Phillips: Yet more (real) news Here's yet more information about the war between Hamas and Israel that unaccountably you may not have come across in today's UK mainstream media. Today's entries are all for the Hall of Shame, which is getting mighty crowded. Beware of Beinart "According to an insidious article he penned this week, Hamas is the victim of backwards-looking Western policy. Inverting cause and effect, Beinart asserts that Hamas is obstructionist and violent because it hasn't been fairly and properly "engaged." Poor Hamas, you see, has never been given an "incentive" to abide by a cease-fire." Honest Reporting: Hamas Using Hospital As Cover for Rocket Launch "Hamas officials at the hospital were asked how firing rockets from such a built-up area could be justified as it is likely to provoke Israeli action. One said Palestinians were merely defending themselves, another that it was probably the work of the Islamic Jihad militia." IDFBlog: Senior Terrorist in Gaza Disguises Himself as Journalist "When terrorists disguise themselves as civilians, it can only end badly for civilians. Today, a senior Hamas operative was targeted while driving a press vehicle, effectively disguising himself as a reporter. By doing so, he risked the lives of all journalists in the Gaza Strip." [poster coming up -EoZ] CIF Watch: The Guardian's Seumas Milne defends Palestinians' right to kill Israelis "So Gazans are an occupied people and have the right to resist, including by armed force (though not to target civilians), while Israel is an occupying power that has an obligation to withdraw – not a right to defend territories it controls or is colonising by dint of military power." BBC Watch: BBC's Kevin Connolly: Hamas missiles are "antiquated" What Connolly 'forgets' to point out of course is that Hamas' weapons are aimed exclusively at civilians. CAMERA: Ten Things The Huffington Post Got Wrong About Gaza (Actually Thirteen, but Who's Counting?) HuffWatch: HuffPost enables torrent of anti-Semitic user comments in response to its incitement against Israel Hamas moderates and Israel's celebrities By Seth J. Frantzman Another outcome of this round of fighting has been the need of the Israeli Left to find a reason to critique the operation. Anti-Israel protesters frustrated, burning out TORONTO – Anti-Israel agitators expressed frustration and hinted at burn-out at a protest across from the Israeli consulate last week. MEMRI: Child Preacher Ibrahim Adham Longs for Martyrdom, Fighting alongside the Palestinians VIDEO Egyptian Hulk Hogan Wannabe Threatens: I Would Go and Fight Israel Right Now VIDEO Landmark court decision opens way for claims against Palestinian Authority Israeli man twice kidnapped and tortured by PA security forces wins the right to sue for damages; terror victims may follow suit French Jews turn out en masse to show support for Israel 2,000 attend rally in Paris linking terrorism against Jews in both countries Teens arrested after prayer books burned in French Jewish cemetery Graffiti targeting Jews and pro-Palestinian activist appears in Paris and near Lyon Gravestones destroyed at Polish Jewish cemetery Jewish community head afraid some of the damage is irreparable Poles thwart anti-Semite's plot to blow up parliament, president and prime minister Security agents arrest academic researcher accused of planning massive explosion in the heart of Warsaw Israel Daily Picture: The Return of the Palace Hotel to Jerusalem  [More on that incident at EoZ here.] From the quiet of Ethiopia to the explosions of the south Stesyahu Alema and 90 other new immigrants head straight into the conflict zone upon arrival "None of them would refuse an opportunity to move to Israel, he said. Many Ethiopians see Israel as a land of plenty and a way out of Africa's desperate poverty. For many, aliyah is the realization of a lifelong dream."Every beginning is hard, but the hardship gets canceled out because of the happiness," Bahta said. "You realized the dream. What, they shouldn't come? There's nothing like that. This will change their lives." Also: Have people gone mad? Baby-killers vs. innocent baby-killers Arab Columnists Criticize Firing Of Rockets From Gaza As Reckless Escapade Serving Iran, Not Palestinians (MEMRI) Targeted Killings and Double Standards (JCPA, PDF file.) And, by popular request, a classic EoZ video to tweet every time you hear someone call Gaza "the most densely populated place on Earth." 
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| Text of ceasefire agreement (updated) Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:04 AM PST Challah Hu Akbar grabbed the text of the cease-fire agreement that is supposed to be going into effect right about now: Understanding Regarding Ceasefire in Gaza StripFairly generic as far as I can see. One immediate issue, though, is that it sounds like it is requiring Israel to no longer enforce the buffer zone - the 300-to-1000 meters that Israel requires to remain clear so that there won't be any attempted explosives along the fence or other attempts to infiltrate Israel. I can see that being a problem, and possibly it will be interpreted differently by each side. Not that I am optimistic that this will last the night anyway - there are enough nutty jihadist groups that will be happy to lob a few rockets to prove their manhood. UPDATE: So far, 23 minutes after the "cease-fire" was to go into effect, there have been rockets towards Hof Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Shaar HaNegav and Eshkol. It appears that this is the world's definition of a cease fire - only Israel can break one. 
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| Jaabari's bodyguard's kids say they want to be martyred too Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:00 AM PST From MEMRI: Following are excerpts from a TV report featuring the family of Hamas member Muhammad Al-Homs, who was killed alongside Ahmad Jaabari. The report aired on Al-Aqsa TV November 16, 2012. Brother of Muhammad Al-Homs : Allah be praised, all the young Muslims in Gaza love martyrdom, just as our enemies, the infidel Jewish dogs, love life. We continue on the same path and pray to meet him in Paradise.I'm most proud of my "infidel Jewish dog" status when I see the alternative shown here. 
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| Saudi man marries schoolgirl. And her teacher. And HER principal. And their supervisor! Posted: 21 Nov 2012 09:00 AM PST Time to go off-topic... From Al Arabiya: Imagine a schoolgirl attending class, knowing that both her teacher and principal share the same husband. Awkward much? 
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| Video: Hamas TV glee at possibility Israelis were killed Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:30 AM PST Hamas TV broadcast its delight at the news that civilians in Israel were targeted. (From IDF YouTube channel) 
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| Hamas claims "spies" are turning themselves in, urges Gazans to ignore warning leaflets Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:00 AM PST Palestine Today reports that the Hamas interior minister announced that some Gazans have turned themselves in for being spies for Israel. The minister, Islam Shahwan, said that they are being kept safe in exchange for their cooperation. Six suspected spies were executed and their bodies mutilated yesterday by this same, thoughtful Hamas government. Islamic Jihad reported on a vigilante lynching of a "collaborator" in Gaza City on Friday as well. Shahwan also warned Gazans about Israeli intelligence using emails and phone calls to turn them into spies. He said that some will impersonate government officials. Furthermore, Shahwan warned Gazans to ignore any Israeli leaflets that are dropped, warning them that bombs will be dropped in their area. He urged them to stay home instead. The 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions requires that, if possible, civilians must be warned: Effective advance warning shall be given of attacks which may affect the civilian population, unless circumstances do not permit. But Hamas is telling citizens to ignore warnings meant to save their lives. Is there any further proof needed that Hamas wants to see Gazan civilians killed? Hamas knows that every dead baby - on both sides - is a victory. It is a shame that the media hasn't yet caught onto that simple fact. 
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| Hamas war crimes poster (6) - the Tel Aviv bus bombing Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:33 AM PST | ||||
| How did the baby Omar Mishrawi die? Posted: 21 Nov 2012 02:00 AM PST One of the most iconic - and tragic - photos from the current fighting in Gaza is surely this one, showing BBC Arabic journalist Jihad Mishrawi mourning his dead son:  PCHR described the incident this way: [At 16:15] an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a house belonging to Ali Nemer al-Masharawi in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Two members of the family (a woman and a toddler) were killed: Hiba Aadel Fadel al-Masharawi, 19, and Omar Jihad al-Masharawi, 11 months. Electronic Intifada reported this as a "missile strike" but described it this way: According to neighbors and witnesses, a mass of fire hit the roof of the Masharawi family home in a densely packed area in southern Gaza City. The Washington Post looked deeper into the story: An Israeli round hit Misharawi's four-room home in Gaza Wednesday, killing his son, according to BBC Middle East bureau chief Paul Danahar, who arrived in Gaza earlier Thursday. Misharawi's sister-in-law was also killed, and his brother wounded. Misharawi told Danahar that, when the round landed, there was no fighting in his residential neighborhood.   In the first picture, doesn't the hole in the ceiling look a lot like what Qassam rocket damage looks like when they hit homes in Israel? I am far from a munitions expert, but these photos look nothing like the damage to Gaza buildings from purposeful Israeli airstrikes that we've seen over the past week. I received an email from someone with serious military experience. Here is the analysis: First of all, Israel isn't using incendiary weapons, and won't, so any "mass of fire" that hits anyone is going to be a secondary effect from the original high-explosive effect, and will involve something like a propane container, chemical container, etc. Israeli bombs and air-to-surface missiles don't produce masses of fire hitting people's roofs.
This isn't definitive, of course, and there are other things to consider, like whether Hamas rockets were flying at the time. [Which they most definitely were on the first day of the operation - EoZ].  I want to stress that I am not nearly as certain about this as I was about Mahmoud Sadallah. But to my mind, this appears far more consistent with a Hamas rocket that then ignited something highly flammable inside the house. Most Gaza homes rely on propane heaters and gasoline-powered generators, and they have to keep the fuel somewhere - in fact, unless I'm mistaken, there appears to be a damaged fuel can on the top shelf of the first photo from inside the house above.A lot has happened since then and it seems doubtful that anyone is going to revisit this on the ground, but someone should at least ask Paul Danahar from the BBC whether he even considered that this could have been the work of an errant Gaza rocket. And if not - why does he rule it out? 
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