Posts Tagged ‘Israel at war’
Via JTA:
Like the people and governments of Israel, the pro-Israel community in the U.S. has long sought a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations between the parties that would lead to a lasting peace agreement and Israel’s acceptance by all its neighbors. The Israeli people dream of peace, and their governments have worked and sacrificed for it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his vision for peace – for two states – last June in a landmark speech at Bar-Ilan University, saying he supported the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside the Jewish State of Israel. Netanyahu declared a 10-month moratorium on all Israeli construction in the West Bank – a concession that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called “unprecedented” in advance of negotiations.
Israel also has taken significant steps to ensure that life improves for Palestinians in the West Bank, such as dismantling hundreds of West Bank roadblocks and checkpoints, which have helped produce double-digit economic growth at a time of global recession.
While the current Israeli government has proven its desire for peace, the leader of the Palestinian Authority refuses to meet or even speak on the phone with his Israeli counterpart, despite American demands that he do so. Abbas has said that his strategy is not to make concessions in negotiations but to encourage the U.S. and the international community to pressure Israel for unilateral concessions.
In recent months, the PA has intensified its efforts to delegitimize Israel in the international arena and increased the incitement against Israel. The PA media carries outrageous programs portraying Israel and Jews in the most negative ways.
As American friends of Israel we must continue to remind our leaders about how badly Israel wants peace – and how tragically the PA has only increased its demands and pulled away from the negotiating table. Don’t blame Israel for the lack of progress.
Related Articles:
- Israeli Prime Minister: Recognition of Israel as Jewish State Not a Precondition for Restarting Peace Talks
- West Doesn’t Support Palestinian Preconditions for Talks
- Abbas Rejects Calling Israel a Jewish State
- The International Community Must Condemn Attacks on Israel
- A Palestinian Choice
- Obama, Don’t Forget Jerusalem
- U.S. Helps Palestinians Build Security Force
- Can a State Be Built on a Pack of Lies?
Via JihadWatch:
An incident provoked by genocide-minded jihadists gains traction among those anxious to demonize Israel and see those jihadists as victims. “Mideast: Flotilla; Israel’s Crimes Could Lead To War, Syria,” from ANSAmed, May 31 (thanks to Insubria):(ANSAmed) – BEIRUT, MAY 31 – In its first official statement on the Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza, Syria called the operation a “barbaric” move. Quoted by Lebanese press agency Nna, President Bashar al Assad and Lebanese Premier Saad Hariri harshly condemned the “crime committed by Israel with this barbaric attack on defenceless civilians”. The joint statement quoted by Nna continues that Syria and Lebanon “invite the international community to take measures as soon as possible to end Israel’s crimes, which could lead to war in the Middle East with repercussions far beyond the regional borders”.(ANSAmed).
FOX News Video:
Related Articles:
- Video: Close-Up Footage of “Free Gaza” Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking IDF Soldiers
- The Goldstone Mission – Tainted to the Core (II)
- Video: PA TV celebration of most murderous terror attack in Israel’s history
- Hizbullah Is Readying Lebanon for War
- Gaza flotilla activist: ‘I want to be a martyr’
- Gaza flotilla participants invoked killing of Jews
- Muslim Conspiracy Theories: Saudi Royal Family Were Jews and Behind Mumbai Terror Attacks
- Jew-haters and Terrorists
From AP via Daily Alert:
Hamas released an animated film Sunday bearing a grisly message for Israel: If it doesn’t meet the Islamic militant group’s demands, an Israeli soldier it has held for nearly four years could return home in a coffin.
The short but sophisticated cartoon – which depicts Sgt. Gilad Shalit’s aging father wandering empty streets with a picture of his son – is the latest product of Hamas’ growing media machine.
The video was intended to pressure Israelis to accept demands to trade Shalit for about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The father, Noam Shalit, called the film “psychological warfare.”
Hamas=Vermin
Related Articles:
- Hamas children’s propaganda film reinforces illusion of war victory
- Israel UN Envoy Protests Hamas’ “Shalit Show”
- Palestinian child sings about victory over Israel and the US
- Update re: Palestinian girl blames Hamas after death of sister in Gaza
- New Animated Video on Hamas TV Accuses Jews of Digging Under Temple Mount
- Hamas wired the UNWRA school building for detonation
- Hamas Refuses to Free Israeli Soldier in Return for Lifting Gaza Blockade
- Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam
Via INN:
Fire fighters in northern Israel fought dozens of blazes that broke out during the day Wednesday, most of them around noontime.
A source in the Hadera Fire Services told News1 that due to the fact that numerous fires broke out in a relatively limited area, the working assumption is that they were deliberately set. “We still do not know how the fires were set and we do not have details about the arsonist or arsonists,” he said.
Fire in northern Israel, February 2009 (Israel news photo: Flash 90)Initial investigations by fire fighter squads in the numerous fire locations found a likelihood of arson. “This is man-made terror,” a fire commander said. “Fires don’t just break out on their own.”
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- Muslims prove their dual loyalty to both Hitler and Islam
- Morning updates – tanks reach former Netzarim, Gaza City cut off
- Obama Airplane Photo Op Startles New Yorkers
- On Proportionality
- Giant spider photographed eating bird in backyard
- Hizbullah Paying Palestinians to Attack Israel
- Terror attacks in Israel – 1952-1967 – Which came first, terror or occupation?
- Majority of Palestinians Killed in Operation Cast Lead: Terror Operatives
Via INSS.org:
* International law and the UN Charter recognize the inherent right of states to use force in self-defense against an armed attack. The right applies even if the attack is by irregular forces.
* Hamas has not denied that its attacks were targeted at Israeli towns; such attacks are a violation of the laws of war. The IDF correctly saw itself as being bound by the laws of war in its conduct, notwithstanding the total disregard of these rules by its opponents.
* The IDF repeatedly warned civilians of impending attacks, using leaflets and mass telephone messages. It does not appear that any other military has ever taken such steps to minimize civilian casualties, nor is there any other similar conflict on record in a built-up area where the percentage of civilian casualties in relation to combatant casualties was lower.
* Israel uses phosphorous shells in flares and smoke shells. Such shells are standard equipment in all NATO militaries as well as the Arab states’ armed forces. They are of course dangerous to handle when burning but absolutely legal. The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that there was no evidence that these shells were used in Gaza in any irregular way.
* Once armed conflict develops, international law does not require proportionality of response. A state defending itself may indeed strive to cause disproportionate damage to its enemy’s military targets and military capabilities. Let the attacking state or organization beware.
Related Articles:
- Did Israel Use “Disproportionate Force” in Gaza?
- International Law: Israel’s Blockade is Perfectly Legal
- Israel’s Gaza Action Is a Just Defense Despite Death Toll
- Human Rights Frauds: Amnesty Seeks Embargo Against Israel, Palestinians
- The Maritime Blockade of Gaza – Legal Background
- The Goldstone Mission – Tainted to the Core (II)
- Verdict: Israel Not Guilty
- Israel to teach Hamas a lesson
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland
Former Chairman, National Security Council
- While the outlines of a two-state solution are generally known, the maximum that any government of Israel will be ready to offer the Palestinians and still survive politically is much less than the minimum that any Palestinian leader can accept. The real gap between both sides is much greater than what is perceived, and that gap is growing.
- The level of trust between both sides has changed. There are fewer Israelis who believe that the real intention of the Palestinians is to have only a small Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. Furthermore, there is less trust in the Palestinians’ abilities to keep their commitments, even if they undertake the right commitments.
- In Gaza today there is, for all practical purposes, an independent state led by Hamas. It is not part of the Palestinian Authority because that is what the Palestinians decided. If there is an accountable state in Gaza, although it is an enemy state, Israel has a degree of deterrence because there is another party that has something to lose. Current Israeli policy claims that Israel’s goal is to bring about the collapse of the Hamas government in Gaza, but that is not going to happen.
- If we make Gaza double or triple its current size by adding an additional 600 sq. km. of territory from Egyptian Sinai, this could give Gaza the space it needs. Suddenly Gaza would have the space to build a new city of a million people, along with a real seaport and airport, and to create the conditions that would make economic expansion possible.
- At the same time, Israel needs 600 sq. km. in the West Bank because the 1967 line is unacceptable from a security point of view. In return, Israel could give to Egypt 600 sq. km. in the Negev in southern Israel. At the end of the day no one loses land, while multilateral swaps enable us to solve the currently intractable problem of Gaza and solve Israeli needs in the West Bank.
- Egypt can gain significant benefits from this arrangement. The new seaport and airport next to Egypt can become major economic connections between the Gulf and Europe. Furthermore, Egypt could get a land corridor to enable movement from Egypt to the rest of the Middle East without the need to cross Israel.
*Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland chaired Israel’s National Security Council from 2004 to 2006. Prior to that he served as head of the IDF’s Operations Branch and its Planning Directorate. This Jerusalem Issue Brief is based on his presentation at the Institute for Contemporary Affairs in Jerusalem on November 17, 2008.
Related Articles:
- Netanyahu Under U.S. Pressure Calls for Palestinian State
- Don’t blame Israel for the lack of progress
- Did Israel Use “Disproportionate Force” in Gaza?
- Slouching towards Armageddon
- Israel to give PA control of more cities
- Jerusalem is not occupied
- Palestinian girl blames Hamas after death of sister in Gaza
- Europe Seeks to Divide Jerusalem
Explosives Haul Missing in Gaza
Via BBC:
A large stockpile of unexploded weapons fired by the Israeli military during its recent offensive in Gaza has disappeared before UN experts were able to dispose of it safely.
UN officials said they were urgently trying to establish where the arms had gone and have called for their return.
Israel has accused Hamas of taking the stockpile, which was under Hamas guard.
Related Articles:
- U.S. Officials Confirm Israel Struck in Sudan
- Cease-fire in Gaza Strip unravels
- PA: ‘Hamas is staging Gaza blackouts’
- Hamas Smuggling New Arsenal into Gaza
- VERY ESCALATED Israel war news
- Hamas Offering Online Courses in Jihad
- Hamas Declares End to Cease-Fire
- Hamas Refuses to Free Israeli Soldier in Return for Lifting Gaza Blockade
Via WashingtonPost:
An Israeli soldier was reported killed close to the border with Gaza Tuesday in what Palestinians said was an attack by militants in breach of cease-fire declarations. Palestinians living near Kissufim crossing said they had seen a small group of gunmen moving toward the border fence. They later heard explosions and gunfire.
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- Not just another tunnel collapse
- Muslim Terrorists Launch Rocket Attack against Israel
- Hizballah thug falls to his death at rocket pad on Israeli border
- Get ready for more Pallywood photos from the Arab-loving media
- Israel to teach Hamas a lesson
- Mid-Day Updates on Gaza Operation
- Influence of Christian Interests on the Security Fence in Jerusalem
- The Future of the Two-State Solution
The LIBI Fund
The LIBI fund -- the fund for strengthening Israel’s defense -- has a new project. For that cause, LIBI has produced a video, which can be viewed here, or you may watch it below.
The LIBI fund cares for the education, medical and social needs of the IDF soldiers.
Following Israel responds to Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza, LIBI fund is urgently in need of donations to purchase needed medical supplies.
Any donation will be greatly appreciated.
Please spread the word about LIBI and help support the IDF.
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- Video: Following the fuse provides forensic proof that Hamas booby-trapped a school
- Sarah Palin & the Lying King
- Palestinians Booby Trap Zoo, Blame Israel
- Palestinian girl blames Hamas after death of sister in Gaza
- Explosives Haul Missing in Gaza
- The Depravity of the UN “Human Rights” Council
- Obama is not even his own brother’s keeper
- Obama’s Wrong Values
A physician at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital tells an Italian newspaper that the number of dead in Israeli offensive ‘stands at no more than 500 or 600, most of them youths recruited to Hamas’ ranks’. Via YnetNews:
What really is behind the numbers reported on the number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip? Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported Thursday that a doctor working in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital claimed that Hamas has intentionally inflated the number of casualties resulting from Israel’s Operation Cast Lead.
“The number of deceased stands at no more than 500 to 600. Most of them are youths between the ages of 17 to 23 who were recruited to the ranks of Hamas, who sent them to the slaughter,” according to the newspaper article.
The doctor wished to remain unidentified, out of fear for his life.
Related Articles:
- Mid-Day Updates on Gaza Operation
- Gazans Describe Using Schools to Shoot Rockets at Israel, Hamas Taking Control of International Aid
- 11:30 am News Update from Eretz Yisrael
- Genocidal-minded jihadists and their supporters purposefully provoke Israel
- Hamas Denies Readiness to Accept Israel’s Right to Exist
- On Proportionality
- Did Israel Use “Disproportionate Force” in Gaza?
- PA daily:Tzipi Livni with blood-stained knife