January 23, 2008
In an effort to end the rocket attacks upon Israeli citizens all border crossings were sealed leading into Gaza last week, cutting off the flow of vital supplies needed by those living in the besieged territory.
In spite of renewed Peace Talks, rockets have rained down on Israeli Border Towns, leading the Israeli government to temporarily seal off all of the border crossings with Gaza and eliciting warnings from the United Nations that the closure would lead to increased hardship for the “impoverished Palestinian Arabs” living in the territory.
Exacerbating the tensions, Israeli PM Olmert called the attacks emanating from Gaza “war,” leading Palestinian PM Abbas to threaten to quit the newly restarted peace talks and possibly even to resign his post.
It was said that more than 100 rockets a day have been raining down from Gaza as various armed Palestinian groups terrorize Israel's population in a widening region along the border, some as far away as Ashkelon and Ashdod. In response, Israel sealed off the border crossings, which cut off the needed supplies to citizens in Gaza.
Hamas threatened more suicide attacks if the “sanctions” continued according to Hamad al-Rukeb, Hamas Spokesman. "If the bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank does not stop, there will be similar bloodshed in ... Tel Aviv," he released in a statement.
Bowing to International outrage and condemnation, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak ordered the temporary renewal of deliveries of medicine and small amounts of fuel for an electric power station in Gaza on January 22. A U.N. welfare agency said that if the Israeli blockade did not end, food deliveries to Gaza's needy would cease.
Israel reported that since the border crossings were sealed late last week, there has been a marked reduction in the number of Kassam rockets launched from Gaza into Israel. Mr. Barak added that, “unless Israeli southern towns enjoy ‘quiet,’ Gaza will suffer from more ‘noise.’”
America's Ambassador to the U.N., Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed Israel's right of self-defense while another diplomat said that anyone who thinks Israel should be blamed for the escalation surrounding Gaza is living in a "parallel universe."
Reeling from the scarcity of goods caused by the Israeli blockades, masked Palestinian gunmen using land mines blasted down a seven-mile barrier today, allowing Tens of Thousands To Flee Gaza for Egypt.
On foot and pushing donkey carts, they poured into Egypt “carrying goats, chickens, and crates of Coca-Cola,” stocking up on goods made scarce by last weeks border closings.
One Palestinian, Abu Taha said, "We want to buy food. We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese."
Saying how border guards originally had forced the Gazans back, Egyptian President Mubarak said, “a great number of them came back because the Palestinians in Gaza are starving due to the Israeli siege.”
Mubarak added, “I told them to let them come in and eat and buy food and then return them later as long as they were not carrying weapons.”
Although no starvation has actually been reported in Gaza, it is claimed that many of the 1.5 million residents have faced critical shortages of electricity, fuel, and other supplies over months since Hamas seized control of the territory.
After Israeli officials expressed concern over weapons being brought back into Gaza from Egypt, an off-duty Hamas policeman identified only as Abdel Rahman saying how it wasn’t necessary to bring weapons back from Egypt said, “You can buy weapons in Gaza, guns and RPGs, they are easier to find than Coca-Cola.”
In a show of their desperation and need to care for their families in Gaza, by blowing up a 7 mile stretch of the border fence and so many “fleeing into Egypt” for such essentials of life, it was reported that some brought back televisions, car tires, and cigarettes, one even bringing back a motorcycle.
If, as President Mubarak says, this act was because they are starving, why did they carry food stocks, the goats and chickens, over to Egypt to trade?
Sometimes, articles meant to tug at our heartstrings and demonize Israeli efforts to defend themselves reveal a small element of truth.
Lew
UPDATE: Hamas challenges Egypt’s bid to close Gaza border
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thousands Flee Gaza After Israeli Blockade
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10 comments:
HAMAS is faking it. HAMAS, choked by a blockade of their territory and by their own design, find it increasingly difficult to hold on to power. Attempting to raise sympathy, faking a humanitarian crisis only to pressure Fatah to end the Jerusalem Jaw flapping joust.
Stopping rockets and missiles may take more than blockades, and fake events, a full-scale turf capturing blitz by Little Satan won't be a fake.
Hamas can't govern effectively because of the crippling economic sanctions, and Gazans are becoming increasingly vocal in their complaints about their rulers' failure to provide basic services.
The next time HAMAS screams out - it may not be a fake out - but a take out - all the way out.
"Only a rocket attack with many Israeli casualties would provide sufficient grounds for an offensive" said Israeli historian Michael Oren. "Once that happens, they'll move into Gaza with 20,000 to 30,000 troops," he said. If Little Satan moves in without sufficient provocation, "it will look like flagrant aggression."
Egypt opening up that gate is actually great news. How can Egypt magically close it to real innocents if the IDF starts making phone calls and dropping flyers again?
Sorry for going off topic over here but since the fake pastor is too chickenshit to post opposing views I had to post here. Anyway, you stated:
" I hope these cretins enjoy the air conditioning here for now. They sure won't have any where they will be ending up."
A couple of quick points.
1. Do you realize how childish those threats sound? Especially for some who have already tasted hell on earth most of their lives?
2. The inferred meaning, of course, is that anyone who disagrees with people like you are going to hell. That's exactly what you are saying even though you'd deny it.
3. Last, and most important, if you, Mark Harvey (who NEVER served an hour in the military btw), Boston, NJGOP, etc. are what I have to face in heaven I will GLADLY and JOYFULLY run to hell.
I know God, in His infinite mercy, knows my heart and what I am really saying and what is MORE blasphemous to religionists like you is that He probably agrees with me on this one.
Barbara, I don't know why you decided to grace me with your presence, but you did.
If you have a bone to pick with my good friend Cyber Pastor, that's between you and him. If you want a problem between you and I, then your post makes more sense.
That being said, let's take a peek at your dribble.
Yes, I did say "I hope these cretins enjoy the air conditioning here for now. They sure won't have any where they will be ending up."
You brayed in reply, "Do you realize how childish those threats sound? Especially for some who have already tasted hell on earth most of their lives?"
My dear, that is not a threat, it is a statement applied towards cretins who have bastardized a religion to justify their hate of people and America and who don't have the decency to honor other people in their time of grief.
If those iniquitous pieces of human filth have lived in a hell, it is one of their own making.
What you fail to ascertain is that many of us have lived in a personal hell brought on by the doings of others. What the scum of the Westboro Mob does is take advantage of other peoples moments of grief to push them into more of a hell than they already feel losing a loved one.
The inferred meaning, of course, is that anyone who disagrees with people like you are going to hell. That's exactly what you are saying even though you'd deny it.
Don't pretend to know or understand anything about me, you haven't a clue, least of all how I think or what I mean. Assigning your perverted thoughts to my words may play well on the Perry Mason TV Show, but are meaningless with me.
For your information, whether you wish to believe it or not, I do not insinuate people who disagree with me will spend eternity in hell, just those riff raff scumbags who would cause more pain and grief to the families of my fallen brothers and sisters in a moment of very personal sorrow and grief.
Perhaps you need to pay greater heed to John 15:13
Last, and most important, if you, Mark Harvey (who NEVER served an hour in the military btw), Boston, NJGOP, etc. are what I have to face in heaven I will GLADLY and JOYFULLY run to hell.
Again, you show your complete ignorance and irrelevancy. Perhaps you neglected to see that I am a Veteran of the United States Army, having served in Viet Nam. You also seem to have missed that I do not preach religion here and in fact, don't down Islam here either.
As for "GLADLY and JOYFULLY running to hell," if you are a member of that group of hatemongers who imitate a religion, I'm sure you will become more knowledgeable of Hell, if it is a real place, than I.
I know God, in His infinite mercy, knows my heart and what I am really saying and what is MORE blasphemous to religionists like you is that He probably agrees with me on this one.
I doubt you "know God." You may have your own debased view, but that doesn't give you intimate knowledge of God.
I hate to tell you, but "God doesn't hate Fags." He loves them too and wishes they come to Him as well. Judgment was granted to His Son, not a small group of black-hearted bigots from Kansas.
If He agrees with your vitiated interpretations, perhaps it isn't He you are listening too. The Westboro scum should read something from the Bible besides the handful of misrepresented out of context scriptures drummed into their heads by Fred Phelps to instill hatred of others.
If you find my words harsh, too bad. You brought this trash here.
Apparently, Roberta has been thoroughly trounced by her betters and she needs to return to Socialist Canada where IT belongs.
IT has a long history of offering "ZERO" substantiation for any drivel IT drivels on with.
IT has admitted to being a communist so ANY thing IT says can be discounted as crap.
Quite pathetic IT has truly become.
Run along little one.
Great piece, Lew, and a fantastic pointing out of how the media tried to slant this into an anti-Israel piece, yet again.
Dissecting Barbara's comments again from another point of view (that of the agnostic "lapsed Baptist"):
"1. Do you realize how childish those threats sound? Especially for some who have already tasted hell on earth most of their lives?" I would dare say that CP knows his Bible a bit more thoroughly than most of the rest of us as it is his business to know it. It is my experience that when one such as he makes such a statement it isn't baseless, but based upon analysis and contemplation, and the determination of the ends by viewing the means.
"2. The inferred meaning, of course, is that anyone who disagrees with people like you are going to hell. That's exactly what you are saying even though you'd deny it." That is your opinion, and you are welcome to it, although you have given no basis to support your hypothesis. You are not in the man's head, you can not read his mind, you can only infer from what is said what you wish to read into it.
"3. Last, and most important, if you, Mark Harvey (who NEVER served an hour in the military btw), Boston, NJGOP, etc. are what I have to face in heaven I will GLADLY and JOYFULLY run to hell." I'm sure Hell will welcome you with wide open gates if you so choose to go there.
"I know God, in His infinite mercy, knows my heart and what I am really saying and what is MORE blasphemous to religionists like you is that He probably agrees with me on this one." Define and give examples of the blasphemy that you have observed? No generalities, be specific.
I asked the question why arent' the Egytians welcoming those that are fleeing if there is real harm, at my place today.
Good piece!
And I should have read the comments earlier, as Roberta seems to be making the rounds insulting me in the comment section of other people's blogs.
Funny thing is that the most recent comments from "raoul" were allowed to stay posted at my site.
Go figure, and thanks for your kind comments Lew!
CP
If you are a Zio-neo-con you need to know only one thing: Israelis good. Palestinians bad.
Roberta's desperation has quickly reached the pathetic. I will merely point out that you can-once again- read her comment word by word and not find anything close to a specific point or allegation that can be challenged on point.........only her normal green, projectile vomit.
This woman is no doubt possesed by satan, himself.
iago, your ignorance is astounding.
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