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Post by Tim Collins on Dec 27, 2008 11:19:45 GMT -7
www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/27/Israel_strikes_Gaza_in_massive_air_raid/UPI-87751230379272/Israel strikes Gaza in massive air raid Published: Dec. 27, 2008 at 11:37 AM GAZA, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- At least 195 people died Saturday when Israeli jets bombed Gaza in retaliation for Hamas-fired rockets, say Israeli and Palestinian sources. The police chief of Hamas was killed and at least 300 people were wounded, an unnamed Palestinian source told CNN. The BCC said at least 195 people were killed. The F-16 attacks, the most intense on Gaza in decades, were widespread, with videos showing fires, destroyed buildings, bodies and chaos in the streets, CNN reported. "A series of Hamas targets and infrastructure facilities" has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces, an official Israeli statement said, adding the attacks were in retaliation for an escalation of rocket shelling by Hamas against Israeli civilians. The statement said the targeting of Hamas bases and compounds would continue for "as long as necessary," the BBC reported, noting one of the targets was a police compound where a graduation ceremony for new personnel was taking place. In a television broadcast, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel was "doing what we need to do to defend our citizens."
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 28, 2008 4:29:50 GMT -7
the US response:
US urges Hamas to cease rocket attacks on Israel Associated Press Writer Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Writer – Sat Dec 27, 10:32 pm ET AP CRAWFORD, Texas
The U.S. on Saturday blamed the militant group Hamas for breaking a cease-fire and attacking Israel, which retaliated with strikes of its own during what became the single bloodiest day of fighting in years.
The White House called for the cease-fire to be restored, yet there were few indications that the violence, which has left more than 200 people dead and nearly another 400 wounded, was waning. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that the operation in Gaza would widen if necessary.
It was "completely unacceptable" for Hamas, which controls Gaza, to launch attacks on Israel after a truce lasting several months, said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
"These people are nothing but thugs, so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas that indiscriminately kill their own people," Johndroe said in Texas as President George W. Bush was spending the week before New Year's at his ranch here. "They need to stop. We have said in the past that they have a choice to make. You can't have one foot in politics and one foot in terror."
President-elect Barack Obama was receiving an intelligence briefing on Saturday from various security agencies, Johndroe said. Bush has spoken to regional leaders and the administration will remain in close contact, he said.
Obama also spoke during the day with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was keeping Bush abreast of the situation.
Brooke Anderson, Obama's national security spokeswoman, said Saturday that Obama "is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza, but there is one president at a time."
As Israel bombed Gaza, defiant Hamas leaders threatened revenge. Hamas "will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," vowed spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank, condemned Israel. Egypt summoned the Israeli ambassador to express condemnation and opened its border with Gaza to allow ambulances to drive out some of the wounded.
Asked if the United States would back a continuation of the retaliatory strikes by Israel, Johndroe said: "The U.S. doesn't want to see any more violence. I think what we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel. That's what precipitated this."
At his ranch, the president took a call from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who wanted to discuss the violence that began eight days after a six-month truce between Israel and the militants expired.
"The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza," Rice said in a statement. "The cease-fire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza."
Israeli warplanes launched counterattacks on dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes. Most of those killed were security men, but an unknown number of civilians were also among the dead.
Hamas said all of its security installations were hit, threatened to resume suicide attacks, and sent at least 70 rockets and mortar shells crashing into Israeli border communities, according to the Israeli military. One Israeli was killed and at least six people were hurt.
With so many wounded, the Palestinian death toll was likely to rise. The strikes caused widespread panic and confusion in Gaza. Some of the Israeli missiles struck in densely populated areas as children were leaving school, and women rushed into the streets frantically looking for their children.
Johndroe said the U.S. was concerned that humanitarian needs were being met in Gaza. He urged Israel to avoid striking civilians, but he refrained from commenting specifically on positions that had been hit on the ground.
"I know they are targeting security and Hamas headquarters facilities," Johndroe said. "We urge them (the Israelis) to avoid civilian casualties."
"The message from the United States is that Hamas is a terrorist organization that is firing rockets into Israel and they fired them onto their own people as well," Johndroe said, noting reports he'd seen about the death of two Palestinian girls. "Hamas has done nothing for the people of Gaza."
The offensive has sparked angry protests throughout the Arab world. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Vatican, the U.N. secretary-general and special Mideast envoy Tony Blair called for an immediate restoration of calm. The Arab League scheduled an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the situation.
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Post by Tim Collins on Dec 28, 2008 9:16:24 GMT -7
Is it just me or is this just another example of the insanity in the middle east.
Quote: "Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank, condemned Israel. Egypt summoned the Israeli ambassador to express condemnation and opened its border with Gaza to allow ambulances to drive out some of the wounded."
If Egypt is such a freind of the Palestiniian cause why is their border closed anyway?
If Egypt is a friend of peace - why condemn Israel and stay silent on the rcoket and morter attacks. The technology the Hamas group uses is not precision stuff, it cannot help but hit anyone in the area, this stuff is not targeted
Quote: "Asked if the United States would back a continuation of the retaliatory strikes by Israel, Johndroe said: "The U.S. doesn't want to see any more violence. I think what we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel. That's what precipitated this.""
Isn't this kind of obvious? Quit throwing random bombs at Israel, or Israel will smack you back.
I'm really sick of this "Palestinian" cause. Their friends, Jordan, Egypt and Syria have kept them in camps since 1948, Israel on the other hand has allowed Arabs to live freely in its borders with full citizenship and even seats in the Kinesset. Who is suppressing whom?
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 30, 2008 5:57:04 GMT -7
gotta wonder though, with the elections coming up in Israel, how much of this is pointed more at projecting images of strength
or, maybe I'm just too cynical
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Post by Tim Collins on Dec 30, 2008 6:08:13 GMT -7
I'm sure it is politics on both sides. Hamas is just politically inept. Why start throwing bombs/rockets at election time when you want a moderate elected in Israel. No Hamas knows Israeli Politics, a hard line srael guarantees new recruits and their own survival. Without an aggressive Israel Hamas will wither and die politically at home. They are acting in thier own political interest as always
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 30, 2008 6:22:15 GMT -7
and so are we
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Post by Tim Collins on Dec 30, 2008 7:10:07 GMT -7
If you look at the middle east logically - we should not be supporting Israel.
Who controls the oil? Who is in the majority population wise?
Why do we support Israel?
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 30, 2008 12:32:09 GMT -7
because they *invest* rather substantially in our democracy
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Post by Tim Collins on Dec 30, 2008 15:10:51 GMT -7
Could it be because Israel and the United States share (to one degree or another) some common values, like Freedom, Democracy and self-reliance?
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 30, 2008 18:30:08 GMT -7
yes
in addition to political connections/alliances that come from lots of money, which, incidentally I'm not objecting to outright
I just wish this would end, honestly
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Post by webrunner on Dec 30, 2008 20:52:42 GMT -7
Could it be because Israel and the United States share (to one degree or another) some common values, like Freedom, Democracy and self-reliance? Yes, all those and perhaps even some religious reasons.
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Post by webrunner on Dec 30, 2008 20:57:20 GMT -7
Here's the million dollar question; will an Obama administration continue the same level of support for Israel as the Bush administration? Remember Obama's tepid response when Russia invaded Georgia?
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 31, 2008 6:26:57 GMT -7
I don't see that he has a whole lot of choice
Look at the history. We helped them build this nation, it's on us to help them keep it around and we have never once deviated from this; this can only be achieved at minimum, by maintaining the current level of support
my guess is that if things ever do stabilize here a little, the "support" will see an increase, nominal though it may be as we get back on our feet
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rosa
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Post by rosa on Dec 31, 2008 6:35:27 GMT -7
Here's a tidbit for you Web...as you know, Michigan has a HUGE population with cultural roots from the middle east, growing as we speak
And it's not just Michigan...Illinios, New York, well, you get the idea. This "community"...both sides as a matter of fact, is quite influential, both sides speak out and bring their political weight to bear on this conflict.
This is out of The Detroit Free Press:
Metro Detroit leaders urge Arab-Israeli peace BY BILL LAITNER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • December 31, 2008
Arab and Jewish leaders across metro Detroit have watched with anger, apprehension and frustration as the Israeli military has conducted air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks into southern Israel.
While Israel faced growing international pressure Tuesday to declare a 48-hour halt to its air campaign, which it rejected early Wednesday, about 1,000 people gathered in Dearborn to protest the Israeli attacks that have killed 374 Palestinians.
Local Jewish leaders defended the air strikes as a justified response to months of rocket attacks, and one accused Hamas of a "double war crime" for placing rocket launchers in civilian neighborhoods where the air strikes were aimed.
Also on Tuesday, a handful of local religious leaders from several faiths began circulating drafts of a statement urging both sides to peacefully return to an understanding of their historic common roots.
"We urge the Children of Abraham to stop killing each other," the statement said.
By Tuesday night, the statement was zipping through cyberspace as the original signers began seeking at least 70 prominent signers in metro Detroit, said Victor Ghalib Begg, chair of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, based in Warren.
"This is not a political statement," Begg said. "This is a statement by faith leaders reflecting values from all our faiths, which call for peace, justice and neighborly love, so people can live together everywhere like we do here in the United States.
"In Detroit, where we have a large Jewish population and large Muslim population and, of course, a large Christian population, it makes even more sense for us to come out and speak" for peace, he said.
By Tuesday evening, the half-dozen original signers had approved the statement as the Rev. Daniel Appleyard said he was putting the finishing touches on the document in his computer in Dearborn, where he is rector of Christ Episcopal Church.
"We're just beginning to distribute this," he said, before clicking the send icon with his computer mouse and sharing the 550-word statement nationwide. He said he hoped other community and faith groups across North America see the statement and become inspired to recruit more signers or write their own.
Gail Katz of West Bloomfield, who heads or is on the board of several interfaith organizations in metro Detroit, said that although she is Jewish, she can't condone Israel's latest attacks.
The attacks have been termed by Israel's own Defense Minister Ehud Barak as "all-out war with Hamas" -- the governing Palestinian group in Gaza that the United States considers a terrorist organization. Israel has said it had to take action against years of rocket attacks aimed by Hamas at its citizens, citing more than 60 rockets and mortar rounds on Christmas Eve alone.
"I feel for Israel," Katz said. "I can't stand it that they are getting shelled with rockets" fired from Gaza. "But people need to understand the other side's story or this will never end. It will just go on and on and on."
Other original signers were Bob Brutell, professor of religious studies at the University of Detroit Mercy; Brenda Rosenberg of Reuniting the Children of Abraham in Birmingham; Sheri Schiff of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Race Relations and Diversity Task Force, and Roger Strelow with the Christian Science Church in Birmingham.
Yet at least one leader who was asked to sign the peace statement, Kari Alterman, director of the American Jewish Committee's metro Detroit chapter in Bloomfield Hills, declined.
"I actually read through this. I had this feeling -- 'I really wish I could do this.' But it's not recognizing the complexities and nuances of the situation. Hamas calls openly for Israel's destruction in their charter," Alterman said.
With others, there was no thought of compromise.
In downtown Dearborn, Palestinian flags snapped in the wind beside signs that said "Free Gaza" in what was termed a human chain in an e-mail from Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News in Dearborn.
One protester was Rima Hassan, 27, a teacher from Dearborn Heights.
"It's a fight for justice. Everyone has a right to live in a safe environment," said Hassan, who like many in the crowd, was not Palestinian but still opposed Israel's attacks on Gaza.
At the University of Michigan-Flint campus, about 50 people gathered Tuesday also to protest the Israeli attacks, the Flint Journal reported.
The U.S. Census for 2000 counted fewer than 5,000 Michiganders who claim Palestinian ancestry. About 87,000 Jews live in Michigan, according to the 2008 U.S. Statistical Abstract.
Jewish organizations said they had no demonstrations planned. But just hours before the Dearborn rally came a statement from the Bloomfield Hills-based Jewish Community Relations Council that said, "We stand in solidarity with Israel" in its attacks on the Palestinians' Hamas government.
Contact BILL LAITNER at 248-351-329. Staff writer Zlati Meyer and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Post by webrunner on Dec 31, 2008 8:17:35 GMT -7
Hamas does not want peace, it wants Isreal's complete destruction. You cannot compromise with someone who wants your destruction. Why is it only Isreal's actions that are being condemned?
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