AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/22/2002 07:56:00 PM
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Pressuring the Palestinians
Haggai is thinks that dismantling isolated settlements now and offering “diplomatic horizon” will put world pressure on the Palestinians, making them switch their leadership into a moderate one. I don’t agree with him but it’s an interesting idea. Here is an excerpt.
“Israel needs to change the terms of the debate. Start getting rid of the problematic settlements right away, while fighting terror everywhere it comes from for as long as it's necessary. Announce up front that a fair agreement along the lines of Camp David will be on the table, but no negotiations or letting up in the fight against terror until the Palestinians produce a leadership that dismantles every last terror group and de-nazifies the schools and media fanning the flames of suicidal hatred. No timetables, no road-maps, no confidence-building measures, none of that nonsense. Put the international pressure back where it should be anyway--squarely on the Palestinians. Force the world to face up to the truth that it so complacently refuses to see: this fight is not about settlements, occupation, colonialism, or anything else besides the survival of the Jewish state.”
Read the whole post over here.(There is an interesting discussion following this post in Haggai’s comments section. Worthwhile reading as well).
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/22/2002 07:33:00 PM
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BODY:
Sharon – more moderate than what you think
Yediot Ahronot’s senior political commentator Shimon Shiffer quotes remarks made by Sharon in a closed meeting.
“What does he (Netanyahu) want? To stay in the territories forever? What does he want – to keep this nation recruited for reserve service forever? What does he want – to control 3.5 million Palestinians? Who wants to sit inside their cities anyway?”
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/22/2002 07:18:00 PM
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BODY:
Opposition to divestment from Israel
N.Z. Bear: "When I noticed that Yale had joined the growing club of schools with a divest-from-Israel movement, I reached out to Yale Friends of Israel, asking if they were mounting any organized effort to oppose the divestment drive.
Last night they got back to me and let me know that they are indeed: they now have a website up and running with a counter petition and links to anti-divestment campus groups for other schools.
Given the attention that has been given to the divestment movement, I'd like to spread the word far and wide that there are folks opposing such nonsense." Read N.Z. Bear's post.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/22/2002 11:30:00 AM
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Ilan Pearlman - 8 years old when slaughtered
The children of grade 3 in Kiryat-Yovel school waited yesterday for their classmate, Ilan Pearlman (8). They sat and waited, hopping maybe he’ll be late, but Ilan didn’t arrive.
“We’ve got a missing child. They can’t find him since the morning” children in the class explained to an outside visitor. “His mother came to look for him. Searched, searched – and didn’t find”. The kids were asked to draw what they feel or write to Ilan. One girl wrote in big letters “Pigua (terrorist attack) in Kiryat Menahem” and draw a bus. On one sheet the bus is driving. On another sheet the bus explodes. Then she joined the 2 sheets together.
The kids drew and from time to time covertly peeked on their teacher. The teacher, Yochi Avitan, Sat silent in front of them. She took a few tranquilizer tablets but felt she’s beyond pain, beyond words. A substitute teacher entered the room, Yochi kept sitting stunned in her chair, looking at Ilan’s empty chair, in the front of the room, right next to the teacher.
At one point she went outside. Said she can’t stand in front of the little faces demanding an answer. “The kids feel everything”, she mumbled and went out to the school’s yard to smoke cigarettes. “If I would have understood that – I was able to explain to the children. They killed Ilan, they killed his grandmother. How can I explain it to them? I can’t”, she said.
From today’s Yediot Ahronot, by Haim Shibi and Guy Mey-Tal. (My translation)
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/21/2002 09:21:00 AM
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BODY:
At least 11 dead and 40 wounded in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem
I have nothing to say about it. Sorry.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/19/2002 11:29:00 PM
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BODY:
The poor little chap is scared
This British blogger, whom I’ve written about a few posts down, is trying to pull me into an exchange of views/argue with me. That’s a legitimate wish though as I already made it clear I have no intention to do so.
The Brit blogger quoted one of my recent posts and then bashed it and with referrals to me as well not just the post. If he enjoys it – good for him. Again I’m not going to respond and as you probably noticed I’m not going to link to him too. He seemed quite pissed of by that, guess he was hoping for a burst in traffic. He on the other hand linked to my blog but after half a day he sent my way about 2.5 readers.
Anyway his main claim is that he is balanced and certainly not an anti Israeli. In his post after a bit of blah blah he just couldn’t keep it inside:
“So the bottom line is that those right wing Israelis(He is referring to me. How nice of him, I haven’t been called a right winger for a while. I’m usually tagged as Leftie) are quite likely to be the reason why al - Qaeda is about to take bloody carnage to the US and the rest of Europe. Should we be resentful? We wouldn't be human if we were not resentful. Why should the rest of us have to live in fear of our lives because they are too arrogant to see any view other than their own and to consider that justice and common sense might actually bring the peace that they say they want.” (his emphasizes by the way)
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/19/2002 11:26:00 AM
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BODY:
“Alleviating their suffering”
Ha’aretz: “A senior Palestinian militant wanted by Israel said on Monday he had asked the European Union to broker his temporary exile from West Bank to the Gulf.
Majed al-Masri of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, affiliated with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, said his departure would ease hardships imposed on people living near him by IDF troops trying to track him down.
"Israeli troops have seized Nablus several times and I am on their most wanted list. They are in Nablus now searching for me," Masri said by telephone from the Balata refugee camp outside the large West Bank city.
"This has caused a lot of suffering for Palestinians and I'm doing this to alleviate their suffering."”
What a noble man this terrorist is! He wants to alleviate the suffering of his neighbors. To me it looks that the man is chicken shit of getting caught. He is feeling the IDF is on his tail and he is trying to escape and save his skin. “Alleviating their suffering” my ass! (sorry for the foul language but it seemed needed)
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/19/2002 11:11:00 AM
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BODY:
Shooting Jewish mothers for sport
Seven children became orphans yesterday after their mother Etty Galiah was murdered when a Palestinian terrorist shot at her car while she was driving back home to Kochav Hashahar.
I’m wondering whether some European truth seeking shocked journalist will write a moving article about the Palestinian hobby to shoot innocent Israelis just for fun. Some reporters foolishly claim that IDF soldier practice their shooting skills on Palestinian children. How about those reporters check this Palestinian fancy to shoot Israelis for sport. I guess it won’t happen.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/19/2002 10:59:00 AM
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BODY:
The El Al hijacking attempt
Israeli security services have determined that the 23 y/o Tawfiq Fuqara, an Israeli Arab, did mean to take over the plane in a terrorist act. To his investigators in Turkey Fuqara said that his intention was to crush the plain on one of Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers imitating September 11 attacks.
The one thing that can be said for certain is that is a damn amateur fool. He chose to fly in El al because it was the cheapest ticket he found. Every body knows that there are security guards on El Al flights, if was smarter he would have chosen an easier target. Now Fuqara is going to rot in jail for many years.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/18/2002 10:10:00 PM
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BODY:
I’m through explaining and apologizing
A few days ago a received an e-mail from a British blogger. He referred me to his blog where he quoted pro Palestinian reports and slammed Israel himself. This blogger asked the reply of two Israelis that replied, he argued with them, got a second reply and so on.
In the e-mail that blogger sent me I was asked to take a look and as he offered: “we could open up the debate”.
I read some of his relevant posts briefly. I’ve read similar anti Israeli posts before and I know the material quite well. In his blog this man writes: “I am not pro Palestinian or pro Israeli I am just a man in the street who considers that some common sense and justice is needed in the region.
He may say that but his posts are clearly anti Israeli. I have no intention in getting into a debate with him.
I can’t change people’s mind. If they believe in something, there are slim chances they would change them after reading my views. When I started this blog 7 month ago I was naive enough to think I can change something, today I know I can’t.
I write this blog because I like it, and I’m well aware that most of the people that read me agree with what I write anyway. I’m not fond of debating, if you like what I say - read me and link to my blog if you are a blogger yourself. I don’t have comments anymore (the only place I debated in) and you won’t catch me debating in other blogs.
If someone’s mind is set on pro Palestinian way of thinking, I’m sorry for that but I don’t care anymore, I won’t try to change it.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/17/2002 10:44:00 PM
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BODY:
Attempt to hijack El Al plain foiled
According to first reports El Al’s undercover security guards overcame an Israeli Arab passenger who tried to stab a stewardess and proceeded to the plane's cockpit during a flight from Israel to Istanbul Turkey tonight. No one was hurt and the Boeing 757 with 170 passengers landed safely in Istanbul.
The attacker used either a knife he got in the business class or a penknife he concealed.
Was the assaulter serious or just a wacky? I find it hard to believe that a serious man would think he can hijack an El Al flight with only a knife. This is post Septembers 11th and we are talking about Israel’s national air carrier El Al that have Shabak trained security guards on board every flight.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/17/2002 10:17:00 PM
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BODY:
Abba Eban, one of Israel’s greatest statesman, dies at age of 87
"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives". Abba Eban.
Ha’aretz: “Eban's rhetorical skills won him membership in the Hall of Fame of the International Platform Association, including him in its list of the modern era's ten greatest orators, alongside such figures as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
Abba Eban: “Nobody does Israel any service by proclaiming its 'right to exist.'
Israel's right to exist, like that of the United States, Saudi Arabia and 152 other states, is axiomatic and unreserved. Israel's legitimacy is not suspended in midair awaiting acknowledgement....
There is certainly no other state, big or small, young or old, that would consider mere recognition of its 'right to exist' a favor, or a negotiable concession". (New York Times, November 18, 1981).
Also go read Haggai (link via Imsin).
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/17/2002 09:49:00 PM
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BODY:
Following the Hebron attack
Imshin pours it out. Some excerpts:
“…So you want us to evacuate Hebron Jewish quarter do you? You think this is the right time? You think it'll give the Palestinians the right message? You think this will prove to them and to the world that this war is not about the territories, not about colonialism? I don’t think you’ve thought it out right to the end. Think about the victory celebrations; think about the feelings of pride in the hearts of Palestinians at the great military victory; think about the surge of motivation for more carnage and more attacks in the hope of more such successes.
The problem with the Palestinians is not that they are hopeless and depressed. The problem is that they're not hopeless and depressed enough to stop the carnage and make peace. They still believe they're on the right track. And as long as they continue to feel this way, they will see no reason to stop the attacks or prevent them. If they see tangible results, they really will have no reason to stop the attacks or prevent them...
…But no evacuation under fire. No wholesale pictures of Jews being yanked out of their homes, as Diane puts it, while Arab neighbors cheer and jeer, if we’re lucky, and shoot, if we’re not. Evacuation of settlements – yes. As part of a real, meaningful peace agreement, one that respects both sides’ religious beliefs, among other things.”
Read the rest over at imshin’s.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:11/17/2002 07:45:00 PM
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BODY:
Why does Israel keep alleviating restrictions from Palestinian population?
The IDF is back in all parts of Hebron after Fridays shooting attack. The city is under curfew, no one is aloud to go into Israel for work, no one can work anywhere actually, and no one can sell his or her products. No one can do anything.
The redeployment in Hebron 3 weeks ago was a big name for a small moves which merely consistent of moving 20-30 soldiers and an end for a few patrols in the city. The area where the attack took place is and was under full Israeli control, though it is more than likely that the terrorist had an easier time after the redeployment.
Why does Israel pull the IDF from Palestinian cities time after time? Why not stay there and impose a never ending curfew on the Palestinians?
The first easy answer is that the IDF cannot stay in all the Palestinian cities for a long time using only the regular (compulsory service based) army. To do so the army needs to call the reserve soldiers. Calling the reserves is not a simple thing to do. First you can’t just pop a civilian out of his life every time you want to. A lot of reserve soldiers already served this year a lot more than what the orders allow. The reserve army is very big but only a few units are capable and suitable for the task of holding presence in the Palestinian cities. So a lot of burden is put on the shoulders of a few. Another important factor to be taken into account is the cost of calling the reserves. For every day you do a reserve service the state pays your regular salary. So if a compulsory service soldier gets around 130 US$ a month such an amount of money (could be lower or much higher) is what a reserve soldier cost the state per day. That’s not the end of the story. Because even though you get paid you didn’t produce anything. When people go to the army they don’t go to work and they don’t produce anything – That’s a huge lost for the already in deep shit Israeli Economy. Plus if you are self employed, let’s say you run a shop, the money you get from the state is not enough. Imagine the damage caused to a store that been closed for thirty straight days. It’s likely to go out of business and now what good is the money he was paid for the reserve duty.
Another financial fear is that a permanent stay in the Palestinians cities will compel Israel to reactivate the long gone “Civil Administration”. A system that takes care of all the civil services in those cities: water, power, transportation, sewage, hospitals, education and so on. Such an administration will cost billions of Shekels, money which Israel doesn’t have and don’t want to spend on Palestinian welfare.
The other major reason alleviating restrictions is totally different. The assumption is that when there is no hope there will be no reason for the Palestinians to stop the terror. Only using the stick and not the carrot will no get Israel anywhere. The idea is to ease the life of the Palestinians when those are quiet and punish them when they’re not.
Another reason is to try and undermined the power of Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. This is done by reaching local unofficial agreements with strong Palestinian groups and leaders such as heads of big families (“Hamula”) in a certain area or with big merchants who employ a lot of people and so on. Those Palestinian have interest in quieting their areas for when the IDF restrictions are alleviated that benefits them. Thos local VIPs are sometimes very powerful and influential in their cities and dealing with them undermines the power of Arafat.
I hope this helps to enlighten the difficulties in staying inside the Palestinian cities all the time.
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