I think Israel's attack was its way to show the world what they would do if America stopped proping up the economy. If we take our prop out, Syria might feel that is the time to strike. With Israel being backed in a corner and with superior weapons(even WMD and Nukes{not officially}), Israel will take off its gloves and beat the **** out of Syria(unless we back Syria, then it'll get too messy{we won't though, most Christian and Jewish Americans support Israel}) . As much as you might hate to admit it, Israel is using nuclear blackmail to squeeze our balls and there isn't too much we can do. There are no good solutions to this problem.
I am pointing out that he consistently derails threads in this manner. I don't mind him hating the USA, that is fine with me. I don't even mind him posting stuff about it in appropriate threads, what I do mind is him doing it in a thread that is about Israel & the attack, and not remotely related to US history. DD
Israel launches fresh Gaza strike Israel has carried out a second helicopter attack on a car carrying Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, hours after wounding a leading militant in a similar air strike. Three Palestinians from the same family were killed and at least 30 people wounded in the latest attack near the town of Jabaliya, Palestinian officials said. Shortly before, US President George W Bush sharply criticised an Israeli attack on a car carrying Abdel-Aziz Rantissi, considered the political leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas, in Gaza City. Mr Rantissi, who was lightly wounded, said Hamas would avenge the attack and continue to fight Israel until every last "Zionist" was gone. A senior Israeli military source told the BBC that more attacks could be expected against Hamas leaders - both political and military - as long as the group continued attacking Israelis. The violence is the most serious threat yet to the fledgling US-backed peace plan, known as the roadmap, which was endorsed by Israel and the Palestinians at a peace summit in Jordan on 4 June. Escape by seconds The attack in Jabaliya came after Palestinians fired rockets at Israel from across the border in Gaza, Israeli military sources said. Palestinian sources said two men and a 16-year-old girl were killed when Israeli helicopters fired missiles at a car; the Israeli army said it was targeting the militants who fired the rockets at Israel, Reuters news agency reported. In the earlier attack, Mr Rantissi leapt out of his vehicle seconds before it was hit by several missiles fired from at least two Israeli helicopter gunships. Two Palestinians were killed and another 25 people - including Mr Rantissi's son - were injured in that attack, medical sources at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital said. 'Threat to peace' In a rare rebuke of Israel's actions, the White House said President Bush was "deeply troubled" by the effect that the missile strike against Mr Rantissi might have on possible progress in peace negotiations. VIOLENCE SINCE 4 JUNE PEACE SUMMIT 10 June: Israel launches two helicopter attacks in Gaza - at least five Palestinians killed; Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz Rantissi injured 9 June: Two Palestinian militants killed trying to infiltrate Jewish settlement in Gaza 8 June: Palestinian militants attack army base in Gaza - four soldiers, three militants killed; two militants shot dead after killing soldier in Hebron; militant killed after attacking troops in Gaza 7 June: Palestinian militant killed after firing on Israeli troops in Gaza 5 June: Two Palestinian militants killed in shoot-out with Israeli police in northern West Bank "It does not contribute to the security of Israel," a spokesman added. The Israeli Government admitted trying to kill Mr Rantissi, whom it said had "preached and directed murder, sabotage, terror and incitement for many years". The attack came two days after four Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in Gaza involving Hamas militants. The group broke off ceasefire talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, at the end of last week after he called for an end to attacks on Israelis. Abu Mazen said the strike on Mr Rantissi was a "terrorist attack in the full meaning of the word because it targeted innocent people". Outposts anger There is speculation that the attack on the Hamas leader may be designed to illustrate that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's resolve to crack down on militants has not weakened. Mr Sharon has come under fire from right-wing Israelis after ordering the removal of unauthorised outposts in the West Bank in compliance with the roadmap. The move has met massive resistance from Jewish settlers, who have pledged to thwart attempts to remove them from land claimed by the Palestinians. Associated Press reports that rabbis living in settlements denounced the move as a "crime" and a "wretched and contemptible decision", prompting speculation they were rekindling the violent political climate that preceded Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination in 1995. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/2979030.stm Published: 2003/06/10 17:34:03 GMT © BBC MMIII ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DaDa, your sig pretty offensive, unless it is a joke.
Let em.....pull back funding, and see what happens. Tell the rest of the world that we are not going to support Israel monetarily, but if they are attacked we will support them militarily. DD
Well, the truth comes out. With you being a jew who doesn't agree with the manner of Sharon, yet you still are admitting your reluctancy to go back to the 1967 borders. I guess the land is no longer 'occupied' and that they are increasing their land and kicking palestininians out of their homes just until the peace is made is a farce. I think your opinion is the opinion of most in the Israeli government. That its their 'birthright', which is garbage, because there was always someone in a place before someone else. Don't you pity the fact that the Palestinian population is the LARGEST refugee population in the world?? This is because every day more Palestinian homes are being bulldozed to make new settlements for Jews from around the world. Just because they are Jewish, they say they have a right to bulldoze people's homes. That my friend is bigotry. Its Ironic that statements such as yours, are the reasons for the Palestinian 'diaspora' all over the world. Quite sad that your people went through anguish and then turn around and commit the same horrors on others. With those statements and Israel's actions, in its arrogance, it will not choose peace over expansion and the violence will continue. And my tax dollars are the reason that Jerusalem is cleaner than it was when it was Palestinian land, don't fool yourself into thinking that Israel would crumble with its policies and military without US support. Then again, your a full liberal democrat who likes handouts for everyone else, why not for Isreal too, right??
Just like before 9/11. Full out personal attacks regarding Israel and Palestine. FD Khan that was a brutal attack on RMT "With you been a Jew..." uncalled for, in my opinion. RMT, walk away from this thread. Your posts are among the best on this bbs, but this has become too personal. Don't want you to become frustrated and threaten to leave us again. Play nice, kids. No need for this tone. Definitely not for polite company.
Okay, so Israel should send snipers in instead? That would be more occupation. How do you suggest Israel deal with the terrorists? Or, if you don't want to call them terrorists- how do you suggest Israel deal with the enemy army that is attacking Israeli civilians?
Don't you think the invasion of Israel by Jordan, Egypt, and others has something to do with the situation of the Palestinians? After all, the Palestinians were part of the state of Jordan, right? Jordan lost the occupied territory after it lost a war.
And let's not forget that Jordan will shoot any Palestinians trying to cross over into their borders. Funny how deeply concerned these countries are about the Palestinian's fight, when they themselves reject them. Let's say that Israel gave back the land to Syria and Jordan. Who hear believes that the land would be given to the Palestinians to form their own nation? I don't. I think the Palestinians would then become refugees inside those countries.
I meant nothing offensive when I stated that Rocketman Tex is jewish but is not a follower of Sharon's policy. I simply stated this to compare the different spectrum of jewish feelings towards Isreal and that even the more moderate ones still feel that the 1967 borders are not plausible. If that is the case, it makes much of the decision about peace impossible. RM Tex and I both admired Rabin's plight for freedom and are hoping for peace. We both detest Sharon and Hamas' policies, but i am pointing out that a moderate such as him still does not feel what the peace that bush is talking about is plausible.
Thanks, and thanks for the compliment. I think I will walk away from this thread. Discussing the Israeli/Palestinian issue on this BBS is like discussing the NBA with a bunch of Israelis and Palestinians.
FD, even though we disagree on this issue, I respect your opinions. This piece of your post, however, makes me think that you are an unadulterated assclown. Palestinian homes are being bulldozed to make new settlements? Riiight. Have a nice day, and keep on reading the Weekly World News to get information about the Middle East.
Well, I'm sure that Israel would then not be the target of any more terrorist strikes from militant Palestinian groups. I'm sure they'd target Syrians and Jordanians.
I spoke to soon on snipers...first you send in a unit to arrest the man for his crimes, particularly if your country is in the middle of peace nego. If he is extremely dangerous and must be immediately killed, send in an elite unit snipers etc. and take him out. After the mission is completed the unit LEAVES the area. The current strategy of Israel is barbaric and completely uneffective. Instead of showing the Palestinians they care enough about their children and civilians on the street, they blast in with a Apache missile attack enraging I believe the entire world. Bush has already come forward against this action. You seem to have little understanding of the problem Israel has created, a problem which was completely unnecessary. Now prepare to see wave after wave of suicide bombings which will kill innocent civilians in Israel. Next come the Israel tanks and on and on and on...
When you say they, are you refering to Palestinians? I'd wager so if that's the case. But I'd also wager that Israel would still be a target of more terrorist strikes, probably funded by the same people just carried out by a different group. I truly hope that Palestine becomes it's own nation. Then the hatred by Arab nations towards Israel will be focused on something else and these Idiots will be exposed.
I'm not a military guy, so don't know if sending an elite team is posible or practical or safer than missile strikes. Didn't Israel do something like that to quell the Intifada? Wasn't there a wave of suicide bombings (the Intifada) after Barak offerred MANY peace concessions?
It's funny that Saddam routinely carried out mass murders and there was no outrage towards him, but there is outrage to the occupation of Israel which will never cause nearly as many deaths of Arabs and Muslims.
Yeah! RocketMan Tex and Mr. Clutch, no Palestinian homes are being torn down. You two are sooo correct. Those Israeli Settlements just pop up out of no where on land that no one owned right?? And you need to watch your language RM Tex, its not wise to call someone an 'assclown' Let that be your warning. This is from your lovely New York Times: By JOEL GREENBERG A L ARRUB, West Bank -- Despite calls by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for a "time out" from actions that might provoke the Palestinians, the Israeli authorities Tuesday resumed the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, razing two houses near the Al Arrub refugee camp. The unfinished structures outside the Al Arrub camp north of Hebron were bulldozed Tuesday morning after their owner was refused a building permit. About 120 unlicensed Palestinian homes have been torn down in the West Bank this year, but these are the first to be wrecked since Albright's visit last month. On her visit, she called on Israel to refrain from "what Palestinians perceive as the provocative expansion of settlements, land confiscations, home demolitions and confiscation of IDs." Even as the demolitions resumed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had released funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority since a suicide bombing in Jerusalem on July 30 that killed 16 Israelis. More than $57 million in accumulated taxes and customs duties collected by Israel from Palestinians were supposed to have been transferred to the Authority under the Israeli-Palestinian self-rule accords. The government released some funds in August and September, under American pressure, and Netanyahu said the rest was transferred Tuesday. The freeze had deprived the Authority of more than 60 percent of its revenues, leaving it short of money to pay salaries. Netanyahu had defended the step as a means to press the authority to crack down on Islamic militants, but Albright said that economic punishment could not be justified as a security measure. Netanyahu said Tuesday that the decision to release the funds was a response to moves by the Palestinian Authority against the militant movement Hamas, which has claimed responsibility for the July 30 bombing and another suicide attack in Jerusalem on Sept. 4 that killed five Israelis. "In light of the positive first steps in recent weeks on the issue of security, I have decided this morning to unfreeze the remainder of the funds that we had suspended after the attacks," Netanyahu said. "I think that this reflects our desire to create a positive atmosphere, which I expect to see backed by firm steps against terror." Israeli and Palestinian negotiating committees met Tuesday to discuss the opening of an airport in the Gaza Strip and other outstanding clauses of the self-rule accords, ahead of the planned arrival this weekend of Dennis Ross, the American special envoy to the Middle East. But on the ground near Al Arrub on Tuesday, there was fresh confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis. As his property was ringed by Israeli border policemen, Mahmud Abu Marya, 68, could only look on as a bulldozer methodically knocked down two houses under construction for his sons Khaled, 31, and Muhammad, 25, on land adjacent to his small home. The new houses were built without permits after the Israeli military government had rejected Abu Marya's application for a building license. The home for Muhammad, who is engaged to be married, was nearly complete, and Abu Marya said he had invested more than $57,000 in both structures. "Maybe tomorrow my son will become a terrorist," he said bitterly. "My children and I have been working 20 years for these homes, and now there's no money and no houses," Abu Marya lamented as the roof of a house slowly collapsed. Haitham Abu Ayyash, a neighbor, compared the scene to conditions in Efrat, a nearby Jewish settlement. "Netanyahu promised 300 new homes in Efrat, and here they don't even permit two houses," he said. Netanyahu's announcement last month of plans to build in Efrat drew sharp criticism from Albright, who urged the prime minister to freeze settlement expansion. Netanyahu replied that the new construction in settlements was a response to natural growth, similar to the growth of neighboring Arab communities. But Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups assert that Israel actually limits the growth of Arab towns and villages in West Bank areas it controls through planning restrictions and home demolitions. The intent, according to the rights groups, is to clear Palestinians from areas of settlements and the bypass roads that link them, as well as from West Bank zones that Israel controls and plans to claim in negotiations on a permanent peace settlement. Abu Marya turned to a policeman guarding the demolition site and said: "It's a shame, you coming and wrecking my house like this. The big bosses sit on their chairs and tell the little soldier to go and tear down a house. What a shame." Uneasy, the policeman kept silent. Asked by a reporter what he felt, he mumbled only: "I'm not feeling." An officer said: "There's no room for feelings here. We have orders." When the work was done, the same officer tried to show some sympathy to Abu Marya. He shook his hand, advised him not to build again without a permit and waved goodbye as the bulldozer was hauled away. "See you later," Abu Marya replied. "I should break open a bottle of cognac, and we could have a party. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Netanyahu." Missed the news?/it's in our archives/Search from 1980 to the present/The Christian Science Monitor Electronic Edition Type/Submit/Pretty Easy/The Christian Science Monitor Electronic Edition Home | Sections | Contents | Search | Forums | Help Copyright 1997 The New York Times Company