Elect a terrorist government and suffer the results

[valve37]

10 quotes that explain the history of the Gaza conflict

  The origins

"We are a generation that settles the land, and without the steel helmet and the cannon's fire we will not be able to plant a tree and build a home."

This is from a funeral oration delivered in April 1956 by Moshe Dayan, then chief of the Israel Defense Forces. Dayan, a seminal figure in Israeli history, was honoring a settler killed in a kibbutz near the border with the Gaza Strip, then technically under Egyptian control. The thin slice of land had seen an influx of Palestinian refugees after Israel's 1948 war of independence, as Israeli forces seized and razed myriad Palestinian villages. Neighboring Arab states had fought against Israel's creation.

Dayan was sanguine not just about the strength of arms needed to win and protect a homeland for the Jewish people, but about its effects on the Palestinians displaced and dispossessed as a result. "Let us not cast the blame on the murderers today," he said in the same speech, referring to the Palestinians behind the attack on the kibbutz. "Why should we deplore their burning hatred for us? For eight years they have been sitting in the refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we have been transforming the lands and the villages, where they and their fathers dwelt, into our estate."

A decade later, Israel took control of Gaza following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

  The founding of Hamas

"Raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine."

This is a line from the 1988 Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement — the founding charter of the militant group Hamas. The Palestinian Islamist faction sprung up as an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and presented something of a challenge to the more secular nationalists who made up the Palestine Liberation Organization of the late Yasser Arafat. It emerged on the scene in Gaza during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip that began in 1987 and raged for four years until a peace conference in Madrid in 1991.

The First Intifada marked a significant shift in the Mideast: the struggle in the region was no longer between Israel and its neighbors, but Israel and the Arabs who lived under its occupation. It started with acts of civil disobedience and non-violent protests, but Israeli crackdowns and Palestinian radicalization led to a spiraling crisis. Some 120,000 Palestinians were jailed over the course of the First Intifada. At least 1,100 Palestinians died at the hands of Israeli security forces; 1,000 suspected "collaborators" were killed by fellow Palestinians.

The uprising won unprecedented international sympathy and led to the eventual signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, which underlie the now stalled peace process. But it also heralded the arrival of jihadist group Hamas in Palestinian political life.

  Israel withdraws

"By the end of 2005 there will not be a single Jew left in the Gaza Strip."

The late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon presented in the summer 2004 to a Knesset committee his plans to withdraw all Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli "disengagement" from Gaza was aimed at curbing Palestinian attacks on Israelis. The Second Intifada, which kicked off in 2000 and lasted half a decade, had seen numerous suicide bombings and terror attacks launched by Hamas and affiliated groups. Israel ceded governance of the Strip to the Palestinian Authority, but retained tight controls on the territory's borders and the movement of its crammed population. Scenes of the forced removal of nearly 10,000 Israeli citizens from settlements in Gaza struck a chord in Israeli society and divided its politics — current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quit the government then over the decision. Sharon was hailed by the international community for his "political courage." Hamas celebrated the Israeli withdrawal as proof of the legitimacy of its violent tactics.

  Hamas takeover

"This is the choice of the people. It should be respected."

In January 2006, Hamas shocked many when it swept elections for the Palestinian parliament. Then-Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia, a member of the late Arafat's Fatah party, conceded defeat after results indicated a Hamas victory. But Hamas' electoral mandate was never really accepted. Western powers and Israel insisted the organization renounce violence, which it did not. Israel clamped down on the border and detained 64 leading Hamas members. According to a 2008 expose in Vanity Fair, American officials in the Bush administration secretly discussed with members of Fatah a sort of coup to dissolve Hamas' government. In June 2007, as tensions between Fatah and Hamas reached their climax, the Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip in a show of force. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, based in the West Bank, summarily dissolved the Hamas-dominated government and the Palestinian territories experienced a de facto split between Hamas in Gaza and Abbas's Fatah in the West Bank.

  Israeli operations

"The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages. Only then will Israel be calm for 40 years."

The last time that Israel mounted a ground operation in the Gaza Strip was at the end of 2008 with Operation Cast Lead. For two weeks Israel ran a combined ground and air campaign that was initially hailed as a success (though it was subsequently criticized for its high death toll). However, just a few years later, Israel ended up militarily intervening in Gaza again, for Operation Pillar of Defense. The comment above was made by Interior Minister Eli Yishai on Nov. 18, 2012, and he was widely criticized for its tone.

  A unity government

"Today we declare the end of the split and regaining the unity of the homeland. This black page in our history has been closed forever."

Following the ousting of the Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood government and the closing of tunnels to and from the Gaza Strip, Hamas' popularity had taken a hit. Unable to pay the salaries of state employees anymore, it agreed to a deal to join a unity government with the Palestinian Authority's Fatah in April.

At the time the news was greeted optimistically, with Palestinian Authority President and leader of the PLO Mahmoud Abbas making the above statement on Palestinian television at the start of June. But the unity government already had one huge flaw from the start: The Israeli government called off peace talks, refusing to negotiate with any government that included Hamas.

  The missing teens

"Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay."

On Monday, June 30, 2014, the bodies of three Israeli teen-agers who had disappeared while hitchhiking were discovered after an 18-day search. In the statement, quoted above, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwas unequivocal that Hamas was behind the boys' murders, which he said was committed by "human animals."

Hamas have repeatedly denied being involved in the murders of Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Shaer, and Naftali Frenkel, but Israel has refused to accept these denials. The murders, and the apparently retaliatory murder of Palestinian teen-ager Mohammad Abu Khieder, were the spark that ignited the current conflict, with hundreds of Hamas members arrested and Palestinians returning to missile strikes.

  The rockets and missiles

"Today there is no intention of relaxation and calm. Palestinian blood has been spilled. There is no place for talking about peace with the Israeli occupation. If they want to protect their entity from Hamas' missiles, they will have to put an Iron Dome on every home in Israel."

These comments, made by Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum on July 8, 2014, came after Israeli airstrikes began targeting its members and their weapon supplies in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli Defense Forces, at this point Hamas and other militant groups had just fired 150 missiles into Israel over a 24-hour time period.

The quote, a mixture of bravado and anger, is telling. Despite the apparent use of new missile technology that significantly increases their range, Palestinian missiles have largely failed to cause deaths in Israel (one Israeli man was killed by mortar fire on July 15). This is in part due to the technology they are using, but also due to the remarkable success of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system, which is said to be 90 percent effective in knocking Palestinian attacks out of the sky. Given the lopsided nature of the death tolls in these conflicts, its understandable to ask why Hamas bothers firing rockets at all. Hamas may well argue it has nothing left to lose.

  The human cost

"They are only children."

This comment, made by journalists staying at the Al Diera hotel, took place on July 16, when dozens of foreign journalists witnessed four Palestinian children being killed by an Israeli attack on the beach. The Washington Post's William Booth was among those there, noting that the boys were "scrawny fishermen's kids whom we saw every day, running around on the beach, playing in the waves."

It was a horrifying moment in the conflict, and a visceral reminder for the international community that many innocents are caught in the middle of this fight. But it wasn't an isolated incident: By this point, the Palestinian Health Ministry was saying that 39 children had already died.

  The ground war

"We are moving from Iron Dome to an iron fist."

On Thursday evening, Israel announced that it was moving from aerial strikes to a ground offensive, arguing that they needed to destroy tunnels used by Palestinian militants to infiltrate into Israel. Shortly before the announcement, Naftali Bennett, Israel economy minister, had made the above comments as a warning to Hamas.

Bennett, leader of the Zionist political party Jewish Home, is known for his hawkish views. In this case, however, his views may not be isolated. A poll conducted on Tuesday found that a majority of Israelis did not accept a proposed ceasefire, even though Netanyahu supported it, and other polls have found high support for a ground war among the Israeli public. While there are many voices of dissent, the "iron fist" appears to be popular.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/07/20/10-quotes-explain-history-gaza-conflict

[fixmusic2013]

Israelis = 13 soldiers

Palestinians = 500+ (70% innocents). Includes TODDLERS, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

I dont think it takes a genius to figure out who is the terrorist here.

[valve37]

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and a number of Western and non-Western governments. The United States, Canada, the European Union, Jordan, Egypt and Japan all classify Hamas a terrorist organization.

Study Hamas history if you are wondering why.

[fixmusic2013]

You mean governments that have been infiltrated by the zionist lobby?.

Public polls all over the world have been leaning towards the palestinians all over the years. Who did palestinians choose to represent them?. HAMAS.

Knowing a little history about them would help since Hamas as born from Israeli occupation.

Like I said, it doesnt take a genius to figure out who the terrorist here. Number of innocent civilian casualties is the proof. I dont think it can get any more clearer than that.

[valve37]

Maher tells it like it is!

HBO “Real Time” host Bill Maher left no doubt on his show Friday about who he thinks is responsible for the violence in Gaza.

“I feel terrible for a Palestinian child who dies,” Me. Maher said. “But if it’s your father, your brother, your uncle who’s firing those rockets into Israel, whose fault is it really? Do you really expect the Israelis not to retaliate?”

The comment drew applause from his audience and, surprisingly, gave Mr. Maher something he rarely has on his show: agreement with one of his conservative guests.

Jamie Weinstein, an editor of The Daily Caller, said that extremists will always be trying to harm Israel regardless of the country’s actions.

“I don’t think you can understand the conflict without reading Hamas’ charter, upon which they were founded, which clearly calls — and it’s chilling — calls for not only the destruction of Israel but the murder of Jews generally,” Mr. Weinsten said.

“They say the day will come when the trees will call out and say ‘here’s a Jew come kill him.’ This is the mentality of the people that Israel is fighting,” he continued.

Mr.Maher said he believes that Israel has been effective at defending itself in part because of its scientific expertise (iron dome anti missel system).

“Jews have, I think, 155 Nobel Prizes. Muslims have two,” he said. “That seems like kind of a big advantage for team Hebrew.”

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CBC reported today that children are being used to help dig tunnels for the Hamas terrorists from Gaza into Israel territory. Just another way Hamas uses children as human sheilds. And so expect more collateral damage.

However some are so blind thay cannot see!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-takes-out-gaza-tunnels-with-excavators-and-airstrikes-from-above...

[pierrelebel]

"Israelis = 13 soldiers....  Palestinians = 500+"

The conflict is real and to assign blame on the basis the side who lost most people is the "good guy" is not quite logical.

On that basis, Canada lost 45,000 people during WWII while the Germans lost 6 to 8,000,000

The French lost 550,000

To suggest or imply one side is the "good guy" because their losses are greater does not make sense.

Much can be said and written about the injustice suffered by the Palestinians. 

Let us not use casualties to determine who is the right side and the wrong side.

In my book, they are both wrong.

[fixmusic2013]

We are debating who the TERRORIST is in this conflict not WW2. It is not logical
to say that all conflict are the same. If we are talking about WW2 then OBVIOUSLY a
different kind of measurement would be made but I just checked the thread, it is not about WW2.


"Let us not use casualties to determine who is the right side and the wrong side."

^^^I think Human Right Organizations all across the world woud disagree with you. I think the tutsi's who were victims
of the mass rwandan genocide would have something to say about that.

13 Israeli soldiers vs 500+ palestinians(70% are supposed to be innocentS)

If people still cannot see who the terrorist here then I dont what
else to say.

[nuvistors]

While you are apologizing for the Muslim terrorists they are still firing rockets into Israel.   You would think that  the Muslims should know enough to stop poking the hornets nest when they are getting stung.

The muslim terrorists have fired hundreds of  rockets into Israel in the past few days, in an effort to kill and main as many women and children as possible.

[fixmusic2013]

Sasa Petricic(CBC journalist) slipped and said that Israel has been telling people to hide in hospitals for safety.

I flipped it on CNN, I listened to yet another person representing Israel about how hamas hides weapons in hospitals thats why they bomb them. 

[fixmusic2013]

This one Zionist on CNN said that Hamas had planned this all along. They want to give Israel a bad image so the world will see them as the guy.

LOL.

Israel who have a billions of dollars strength lobby vs Hamas who live in a place where their water supply is controlled by their enemy.

[valve37]

.................................................................................. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULbfVgaMfdE

[fixmusic2013]

I hope evan solomon doesnt get canned. He asked an israeli spokesman some serious question and had an intelligent palestinian on his program.

Death count so far

Palestinian side = 800+. Mostly civilians and 140 are children/toddlers.

Israeli side = 30+.  2 civilians.

4 UN ran structures have been destroyed since. No militant or weapons found inside, only civilians. 16 civilians with mostly women and children inside from the UN building yesterday.

5 palestinians killed in the West Bank while protesting.

Israel now rejects ceasefire deal from US.

[valve37]

Solomon, he should get canned. He's so far left he can't stand up straight. But then so is the CBC.

[fixmusic2013]

Israel first denied it was them who bombed the UN facility. The UN gave them notification that it is being used as a hiding place by civilians. They still bombed the courtyard. Video of the bombing was just released.

Now they are saying it was an "errant" missile and there were no casualties. UN on the ground said there were 16 civilians dead and more wounded. NO MILITANTS OR ROCKETS FOUND(they claim they are only bombing buildings with rockets and militants).

1000+ killed. Mostly civilians.

Israel = Terrorist.

[fixmusic2013]

Poll: 86.5% of Israelis oppose cease-fire

from jpost

Yet in the western media they are keep saying that they are the ones that want ceasefire blaming hamas for not wanting and breaking ceasefire.

[nuvistors]

The ceasefire ended when the  Pali Muslims decided to fire some more rockets into Israel,

[disisus]

---

@nuvistors wrote:

While you are apologizing for the Muslim terrorists they are still firing rockets into Israel. 

---

Yes, Hamas has fired approx. 2100 rockets into Israel. Israel has fired approx. 4600 into Gaza. I believe there is a bit of a difference on the targeting ability of these rockets.

I believe Israel has the right to defend itself but I also feel that their reaction is over-kill. It's this over-kill that mainly kills civilians that I don't like. 1300 in Gaza versus 3 Israeli. I'm not counting the actual soldiers or Hamas terrorists. A third of the civilians in Gaza were children.

No matter what side you take or how you feel about it, the civilian deaths ( especially the children ) is not acceptable. It's like shooting fish in a pond. Where are they to go? They go to a UN shelter and they get fired on. Israel uses the "Hamas hides weapons in schools and Hospitals, etc." as their defense for killing the civilians inside. It was "their choice" to fire on it knowing civilians were inside. Hamas didn't put a gun to their head and tell them to kill them. They made that choice.

If they cared about the civilians they wouldn't fire on places like that. They'd use ground forces to go in instead and route out those weapons if they're there.

Both parties in this war are committing war crimes. One is firing rockets indiscriminately and the other is firing on caged people.

[disisus]

Harper added that if a terrorist organization were attacking Canadians, there would be a similar response from Canada.

So what would be the response from Canada be if we had been driven off some of our land, blocked from exporting for last 8 years, told who we had to vote for, had a security perimeter around us that prevented us from leaving without permission, and had food, medical and building supplies limited by an entity that had a policy of keeping us skinny ( on the verge of starving ) and broke ( on the verge of economic collapse )?. Which is the Israeli official policy towards the Palestinians.

What would Canada's economy look like now if that had happened to us for voting for Harper?

How would Canadians respond if we were treated the same way Israel treats the Palestinians? Would we resort to rocket attacks? Or whatever weapons are at our disposal? Or would we just lie down and play dead and let them take our livelihood and the land we live on without a fight?

How would we respond if we were told that despite all the hardships that had been placed on us, we were the terrorists for fighting back with weapons and opposing the land grab and blockade and not acknowledging the rights of the people doing this to us?

And what are the rights of the people doing it? The right to steal in peace? Like a "get out of jail free" card.

[valve37]

Now Leslie you know as well as anyone here Hamas has never stopped lobbing rockets into Israel or suicide bombing buses in Israel. They've done that continually over the years when not even in a formal war/conflict with Israel. Bcause as the Hamas leader has said their ideaology is to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Unfortunately as in any war the population suffers the most through colateral damage. In this case it is a huge challenge for Israel as Hamas uses the population as human shields.

[disisus]

Who created Hamas? And for what purpose?