Sunday, November 26, 2006

Rachel Corrie died for her sins!

Rachel Corrie died a victim of stupidity
Old News
Rachel Corrie Remembered

For those of you who aren't news junkies: a couple of weeks ago, an American protestor was run over by a bulldozer in Palestine. Very sad, although no more sad than countless other deaths in the Middle East. Still and all, she's been made a martyr by some, a symbol of peace-protest stupidity by others. Me? I think she was an idealistic young girl who, in the heat of passion, accidentally killed herself by jumping onto the blade of a gigantic bulldozer driven by a guy who couldn't see her.

John Sutherland, a writer for The Guardian, says that webloggers have brutalized her. Oddly enough, he points to The Shark Blog, whose messages are not particularly nasty on this subject. He also fails to mention Bigwig's extensive report, which was widely linked to by many bloggers, and is very intellectually honest. He also seems to concentrate on some random comments left on some weblogs, not saying at all where he found them. Very interesting omission, that.

There are two pictures of Rachel Corrie I'll always remember. Both are from Bigwig's report: the one of her crumpled, bloodied body, and the one taken before her death, her face twisted in hatred and rage toward Israel (the one that Sutherland claims "looked, to some expert eyes, doctored," although he doesn't bother to say whose eyes those are.)

Monday, September 04, 2006

From Naomi Regan

Eleven summers ago I arrived in Israel with a husband and
six children. We couldn't imagine what the future held but,
in truth, hadn't given it a lot of thought. We came, simply,
because the brand of Zionism in which we believed said that
if we have a homeland, we should live in it. At the time of
my personal aliyah, I felt adamant that, even if I was
dreadfully unhappy here, I would not leave. My personal
mantra was "Unhappiness has nothing to do with doing the
right thing."

After a month in ulpan and receiving an Israeli driver's
license, I laughingly said at a community Shabbos luncheon
that I finally "felt Israeli." An attractive, middle-aged
woman sat across from me and said - - not unkindly - - "You
aren't Israeli until you attend your first soldier's
funeral."

I was stunned and felt chastened but knew that there was
truth in what she said -- that the shared experience of
burying an anonymous young man who made life here more
livable and safe was something that transcends verb
conjugations and lane changing.

That conversation came back to haunt me on Tisha B'Av as I
stood with thousands of other Israelis beneath a scorching
sun at the military cemetery at Har Herzl. The beautiful
surroundings belie the weighty reason for its existence.
Boys, beautiful boys, sleep forever beneath the trees.
Amidst the eerie silence of our march toward the most
freshly dug grave was the occasional murmur: "It's such an
honor to be buried here."

I didn't know the young man who was being honored but had an
inexplicable compulsion to join the mourners from the moment
I heard of his killing. The description of his Philadelphia
upbringing sounded akin to my own life. There was talk of
his community. His education. His love for the land of
Israel and his supportive family. How could I not share
their pain?

The parents and two sisters of this chayal boded (lone
soldier) were the only blood relatives present, but that
didn't matter to the thousands of other attendees. We wanted
Mr. and Mrs. Levine to know that we love Michael. We cherish
his memory. We are grateful for his sacrifice and will never
forget his spirit and, in turn, his love for us. We cannot
give him back. But we can "pay it forward" and not let his
sacrifice be for naught.

Here, we talk of routine and living a normal life, but how
can anything feel normal? There are weddings and new babies
who need inoculations. Even if a missile lands near Beit
Shean, I'm still expected to pay my telephone bill.
Yesterday, after a day of consulting, laundry, and writing,
I took the children to the park for a picnic supper. War or
no war, we have to eat, and we have to breathe, and we have
to talk about school and when to take the dog to the
groomer, no?

Three weeks ago I wrote an article for an Israeli newspaper
supplement dealing with fine dining and home entertaining.
It was a fluff piece. Light-hearted and truly superfluous in
the context of day-to-day existence. I wrote about
decorating one's patio with seasonal flowers, fresh fruits,
and tissue paper lanterns. I researched al fresco menus and
suggested simple napkin rings fashioned with colored twine
and dried roses. And although the train station in Haifa had
already been bombed, and the citizens of Nahariya were
dodging katusha rockets, my editor and I agreed that "life
goes on," and we can't live in a state of pessimism.

Within a week, it was clear that running this article would
be an obscenity. It wasn't published, because even folks in
the "safer" parts of the country would take offense. Yes,
life does "go on," and even war doesn't prevent a Shabbos
table from looking beautiful. But to celebrate the "good
life" while our every tomorrow is up for grabs, seems, at
the time of this writing, an exercise in madness.

My friend, Raymond, lives in South Africa but that didn't
stop his two oldest sons from making aliyah as soon as they
were able. They went to university here and did their army
service. Happily. Proudly. Their dad also was in the IDF and
talks about army service with absolute reverence. Thus, it
was only a matter of time before the boys got called up for
reserve duty.

When I spoke with his eldest son, Tomer, I was particularly
struck by his sense of relief.

"I finished my exams, so that's out of the way," he said.
"Now I can't think of anything better to do than take part
in this operation."

"But Tomer," I asked, "are you going right into Lebanon? How
does this work?"

"No, we are starting our training. It's been a while since
we've been to war, and a lot of us are rusty. But don't
worry, Andrea!" he laughed. "We miluim'niks (reservists) are
the best there is. We're older. More mature. We don't try to
be heroes . . . ."

Of course, I invited him for Shabbos, and, of course, he
said, "No." After all, it would be the last Shabbos home for
a while and he wants to be with friends. He told me,
"Everyone else has already been called up. There's hardly
anyone left.

"I'm ready."

My fervent wish on this Sabbath Eve, as I press "send" and
submit this to my editors is that, at the hour of
publication, this article should no longer be "timely." That
the war will have passed and all of my deliberate wording
and attention to detail shall have been in vain. That, like
the aforementioned "Good Life" piece that describes elegant
home dining, this piece shall be deemed "unusable," because
the war is over, and we've moved on.

Amen

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Israel Forum Watch

Israel Forum Watch: "Killing: A “Golden Opportunity”
While the battles rage on in Lebanon, Israel has a golden opportunity to rid itself of the Palestinian terrorists in Gaza and the West Bank. In fact, Israel seems to be doing just that, with nearly 200 terrorists dead in the past few weeks since the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit. That’s a huge accomplishment, especially considering that it is being done without much fanfare……. Israel should seize the day and lift all restraints on eliminating the rank and file of the Palestinian terror machine. It’s not every day that Israel gets such an opportunity."

What could be wrong with this? But Michael of Australia, owner of the antisemitic Israeli forum watch blog, is very upset that Israeli forces are ridding the world of Arab terrorists. Go figure.

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls Second Palestinian state "Hell On Earth"

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

#1 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons
Extra-Judicial Killing for Family Honor

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Woman Killed in Nusairat Refugee Camp Allegedly for the
Protection Family Honor

On Tuesday noon, 22 August 2006, a woman was killed in the
central Gaza Strip allegedly to protect family honor.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2006, Faiza 'Eid
Abu Sawawin, 35, from al-Hasaina area in the west of
Nusairat refugee camp, was brought dead to the al-Aqsa
Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She was hit by several live bullets throughout the body.
According to sources of the Attorney-General office in the
central Gaza Strip, the victim's brother, who is a member of
the Palestinian Preventive Security Service and lives in the
southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, shot her dead allegedly
to protect his family honor.

It is worth noting that killings committed allegedly to
protect family honor have escalated in the past two months.
According to PCHR's documentation, on 9 August 200,
the Palestinian police found the bodies of two
girls in al-Sawarha area, west of Nusairat refugee camp in
the central Gaza Strip.

The two victims' brother shot them dead allegedly to protect
his family honor. On 30 June 2006, the Palestinian police
took out the body of an 18-year-old girl from a cemetery in
Rafah.

PCHR strongly condemns such crimes, and stresses that:

1) Such crimes constitute an attack on the rule of
law;
2) They are a form of extra-judicial killing, and
constitute a flagrant violation of human rights, especially
the right to life and the right not to be subject to cruel
and inhumane treatment; and
3) The Palestinian National Authority is required to
take necessary steps to confront this phenomenon through pursuing the
perpetrators of these killings, and bringing them to justice.

#2 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons Use of
Weapons in Personal and Family Disputes

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Person Killed and 6 Others Wounded in Family Disputes in
the Gaza Strip

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2006, a dispute
erupted between the families of Madhi and Abu Nusaira in
Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip concerning the
ownership of a tract of land. The dispute developed and
firearms were used. As a result, 'Abdul Hakim Mohammed Abu Madhi, 35,
was killed by a live bullet to the head. Two other persons were also
wounded:

1. Jihad Mohammed Abu Madhi, 30, wounded to the head;
and
2. 'Emad Jouda al-'Adini, 30, a neighbor who attempted
to stop clashes between the two families, wounded by a
live bullet to the head.

At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 21 August 2006, Nader
Manar Sa'id Wadi, 26, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, was
evacuated to Nasser Hospital. He was wounded by shrapnel
from a live bullet to the neck, when a gunman fired at him
in a family dispute, in which firearms were used.

At approximately 19:30 on Sunday, 20 August 2006, a quarrel
among brothers from the al-'Assar family in Nusiarat refugee
camp escalated, and firearms were used. As a result, Fadi
Sabri al-'Assar, 26, was wounded by a live bullet to the
right foot; and 'Abdul Hamid Jamal al-Bayoumi, 25, a
neighbor, was wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the continuation of internal
violence, including the use of weapons in personal and
family disputes, which is further aggravating the state of
security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR
calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented
by the Attorney-General, to investigate such crimes and
bring the perpetrators to justice.


Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza
Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza,
Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

Hezbollah admits it screwed up!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1859754,00.html

Hizbullah leader: we regret the two kidnappings that led to war with Israel

Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem

Monday August 28, 2006

The Guardian

Hizbullah last night admitted it would not have captured the two
Israeli soldiers last month had it known a war would follow.

The leader of the militia said that talks were going on to return the
two in exchange for Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli
government refused to confirm this, although officials have said
privately that a prisoner exchange was probably the only way forward.

Hizbullah crossed into north Israel early on July 12 and captured Ehud
Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Eight other Israeli soldiers were killed,
and within hours Israel and Hizbullah were plunged into their most
serious conflict. By the time of the ceasefire 34 days later, more than
1,100 people were dead in Lebanon and 157 in Israel, mostly soldiers.

"We did not think, even one percent, that the capture would lead to a
war at this time and of this magnitude," Hassan Nasrallah, the cleric
who leads Hizbullah, told Lebanon's New TV channel. "You ask me, if I
had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war,
would I do it? I say no, absolutely not."

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Ben Heine finds his work parodied

: "Saturday, August 26, 2006
Hassan Nasrallah revisited, by Emory

(Weird interpretation of one of my cartoons by Emory.
See my original work below)

Here is the coloured text Emory added below the revisited cartoon :

'Jah 'hadi' Mon come to start the tribulation,
Shahira style equality eed,
Kill away all Jew Israeli, And set his terror free.
Bomb, bomb, bomb!
EXODUS, movement of Jahadi people!'
Source : Emory

This is, I must say, an extremely 'weird' interpretation, but it's worth analysing it. Emory has drawn Hassan Nasrallah like Bob Marley. I think a reason of this interpretation is the 'green, yellow, red' (Iranian flag) colours on Hassan Nasrallah's glasses, which are a constant reminder of where reggae music and virtually all other genres of music originated. These colours are the symbol of Bob Marley Exodus movement. Red stands for the blood of the people that was shed. Gold/yellow is for the gold that was stolen from them. Green is for the land of Africa. (Sometimes, black represents the people of Africa.) Another reason is the fanatic ideology of both men (they could die for what they believe in), even if they fought/fight for noble causes.
(ed.'s note: Marley's cause may have been noble, but no objective person of earth considers Nasrallah's Islamic Fascist dreams as noble)

UNIFIL aids Hezbollah terror.

Is UNIFIL a supporter of Arab islamic fascism?


What did you do in the war, UNIFIL?
You broadcast Israeli troop movements.

by Lori Lowenthal Marcus
09/04/2006, Volume 011, Issue 47
The Weekly Standard

DURING THE RECENT month-long war between
Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping"
forces made a startling contribution: They openly published
daily real-time intelligence, of obvious usefulness to
Hezbollah, on the location, equipment, and force structure
of Israeli troops in Lebanon.

UNIFIL--the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon, a nearly 2,000-man blue-helmet contingent that has
been present on the Lebanon-Israel border since 1978--is
officially neutral.
Yet, throughout the recent war, it posted on its website for
all to see precise information about the movements of
Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and the nature of their
weaponry and materiel, even specifying the placement of IDF
safety structures within hours of their construction. New
information was sometimes only 30 minutes old when it was
posted, and never more than 24 hours old.

Meanwhile, UNIFIL posted not a single item of
specific intelligence regarding Hezbollah forces. Statements
on the order of Hezbollah "fired rockets in large numbers
from various locations" and Hezbollah's rockets "were fired
in significantly larger numbers from various locations" are
as precise as its coverage of the other side ever got.

This war was fought on cable television and the
Internet, and a lot of official information was available in
real time. But the specific military intelligence UNIFIL
posted could not be had from any non-U.N. source. The
Israeli press--always eager to push the envelope--did not
publish the details of troop movements and logistics.
Neither the European press nor the rest of the world media,
though hardly bastions of concern for the safety of Israeli
troops, provided the IDF intelligence details that UNIFIL
did. A search of Israeli government websites failed to turn
up the details published to the world each day by the U.N.

Inquiries made of various Israeli military and
government representatives and analysts yielded near
unanimous agreement that at least some of UNIFIL's postings,
in the words of one retired senior military analyst, "could
have exposed Israeli soldiers to grave danger." These
analysts, including a current high ranking military
official, noted that the same intelligence would not have
been provided by the U.N. about Israel's enemies. Sure
enough, a review of every single UNIFIL web posting during
the war shows that, while UNIFIL was daily revealing the
towns where Israeli soldiers were located, the positions
from which they were firing, and when and how they had
entered Lebanese territory, it never described Hezbollah
movements or locations with any specificity whatsoever.

Compare the vague "various locations" language
with this UNIFIL posting from July 25:

"Yesterday and during last night, the IDF
moved significant reinforcements, including a number of
tanks, armored personnel carriers, bulldozers and infantry,
to the area of Marun Al Ras inside Lebanese territory. The
IDF advanced from that area north toward Bint Jubayl, and
south towards Yarun.

Or with the posting on July 24, in which UNIFIL
revealed that the IDF stationed between Marun Al Ras and
Bint Jubayl were "significantly reinforced during the night
and this morning with a number of tanks and armored
personnel carriers."

This partiality is inconsistent not only with
UNIFIL's mission but also with its own stated policies. In a
telling incident just a few years back, UNIFIL vigorously
insisted on its "neutrality"--at Israel's expense.

On October 7, 2000, three IDF soldiers were
kidnapped by Hezbollah just yards from a UNIFIL shelter and
dragged across the border into Lebanon, where they
disappeared. The U.N. was thought to have videotaped the
incident or its immediate aftermath. Rather than help Israel
rescue its kidnapped soldiers by providing this evidence,
however, the U.N. obstructed the Israeli investigation.

For months the Israeli government pleaded with
the U.N. to turn over any videotape that might shed light on
the location and condition of its missing men. And for nine
months the U.N. stonewalled, insisting first that no such
tape existed, then that just one tape existed, and
eventually conceding that there were two more tapes. During
those nine months, clips from the videotapes were shown on
Syrian and Lebanese television.

Explaining their eventual about-face, U.N.
officials said the decision had been made by the on-site
commanders that it was not their responsibility to provide
the material to Israel; indeed, that to do so would violate
the peacekeeping mandate, which required "full impartiality
and objectivity." The U.N. report on the incident was
adamant that its force had "to ensure that military and
other sensitive information remains in their domain and is
not passed to parties to a conflict."

Stymied in its efforts to recover the men while
they were still alive, Israel ultimately agreed to an
exchange in January 2004: It released 429 Arab prisoners and
detainees, among them convicted terrorists, and the bodies
of 60 Lebanese decedents and members of Hezbollah, in
exchange for the bodies of the three soldiers. Blame for the
deaths of those three Israelis can be laid, at least in
part, at the feet of the U.N., which went to the wall
defending its inviolable pledge never to share military
intelligence about one party with another.

UNIFIL has just done what it then vowed it could
never do. Once again, it has acted to shield one side in the
conflict and to harm the other. Why is this permitted? For
that matter, how did the U.N. obtain such detailed and
timely military intelligence in the first place, before
broadcasting it for Israel's enemies to see?

Lori Lowenthal Marcus is president of the
Zionist Organization of America, Greater Philadelphia
District.

C Copyright 2006, News Corporation, Weekly Standard,
All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

peacepalestine

Mary Rizzo, in a fit of honesty, tries to get out the story that the Palestinian leadership is forcing prison conditions on the youth of Gaza.

Next, she'll call for the removal of Hamas as a political group!
peacepalestine: "The aim of the association is the intervention and organisation of social-cultural activities among the youth and student population, which is forced to live in the harsh prison conditions of the Gaza Strip. "

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Axis of Israel

This blog was created to reveal the antisemitic writings of the Rebel Media Group and the IsraelForumWatch.