Status Quo Update - everything remains the same

And just in case you thought all things were quiet from the Gaza Strip. Ynet News:

Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for the mortar shells fired at Israel Wednesday morning. The shells exploded near the border fence in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council

No reason for the mortar shells were given so I expect it’s the old standby – because the Jews are over there. And remember the UN just released a report highly critical of Israel’s conduct of Operation Cast Lead based mostly on unsubstantiated claims and allegations from Gazans. The UN report was mostly silent on Hamas’ conduct during Operation Cast Lead and deftly avoided all the evidence which would cast Hamas in a less than a stellar light. No doubt the UN will conveniently ignore this barrage just like all the other barrages…

Twist of the Screw when the Fog of War lifts

This morning I had another post all ready to go when I decided at the last minute to skim the headlines and found this one at the Globe and Mail.

JABALYA, GAZA STRIP — Most people remember the headlines: Massacre Of Innocents As UN School Is Shelled; Israeli Strike Kills Dozens At UN School.

They heralded the tragic news of Jan. 6, when mortar shells fired by advancing Israeli forces killed 43 civilians in the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. The victims, it was reported, had taken refuge inside the Ibn Rushd Preparatory School for Boys, a facility run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
The news shocked the world and was compared to the 1996 Israeli attack on a UN compound in Qana, Lebanon, in which more than 100 people seeking refuge were killed. It was certain to hasten the end of Israel's attack on Gaza, and would undoubtedly lead the list of allegations of war crimes committed by Israel.

There was just one problem: The story, as etched in people's minds, was not quite accurate.

No doubt the ‘etching in the minds’ was caused by these kind of reports – like this one from France 24 when placed within the grasp of Jew-haters everywhere.

But the shorter story is there was no attack launched by the IDF on the Jabalya UN run school. No one inside the UN school compound was killed. Did the IDF public relations department fumble the ball when the first reports surfaced on an attack on a school where Gaza civilians had taken refuge? Absolutely, and in the fog which is war - it will always do so when it reacts to allegations rather than waiting for the smoke to clear and cooler heads to prevail. Think massacre at Jenin any one? The Israelis are in the untenable position of not only having to fight a battle in a war zone but also having to wage a PR battle simultaneously in the world’s media.

In other news, The Elder of Ziyon digs out a Palestine Press Agency report from April 2008 about tunnels being dug under a UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip. What an odd the world we live in.

First there was Pallywood, now there is Pal-ffiti

In report meant to highlight the innate racism displayed by IDF soldiers in Operation Cast Lead Ynet News is reporting this:

A painful reminder for Operation Cast Lead remained evident in Gaza in the form of blatant, racist graffiti sprayed on houses' walls by IDF soldiers. Residents of the Zeitun neighborhood who returned to their homes once the fighting in the region was over discovered that their walls had been sprayed with slogans such as "Die you all," Make war not peace," "Death to Arabs," "Arabs must die," and "One down, 999,999 to go."

The IDF is currently conducting an investigation and promises to severely reprimand the ‘offender(s)’ but this smells surprisingly suspicious to me. While I am not suggesting it is out of the realm of possibilities for IDF soldiers to write racist graffiti. Although, this does suggest some Israeli soldiers had far too much time on their hands while allegedly engaged in fighting in hostile fire zone.

What does surprise me is the writers did so in English rather than in Hebrew or Arabic – the two official languages of the state of Israel. Israel does have a rather large well-educated population with a fluency in a multitude of languages but isn’t the point of the alleged soldier’s graffiti meant to convey a message to the predominately Arab residents of the Gaza Strip who overwhelmingly speak and read only in Arabic?

But it does make for a nice photo op for the international press. Let’s call it Pal-ffiti.

Speaking Truth

The story making waving in all the Israeli papers yesterday concerns the Golani commander of the 51st Battalion, who on the eve of leading his men in battle in the Gaza Strip, orders them to kill themselves rather than be kidnapped by Hamas et al. The IDF has finished its investigation of the commander’s ‘indiscretion’ and declined to prosecute the commander. Jerusalem Post

The IDF does not plan to bring disciplinary charges against a battalion commander from the Golani Brigade who told his soldiers that they needed to do everything possible to prevent being kidnapped during the recent operation in Gaza including blowing themselves up with a grenade.

In a tape recording of a briefing the commander of Battalion 51 gave his soldiers before entering Gaza during Operation Cast Lead the senior officer was heard saying: "Hamas's strategic weapon is to kidnap a soldier and I don't have to tell you but no soldier from Battalion 51 gets kidnapped at any price and under any situation even if it means that he has to blow up his grenade together with those who are trying to kidnap him."

Kol HaKavod to the unnamed commander and why isn’t this man Prime Minister of Israel? Any man who can speak plainly to prevent a disaster which ruins or weakens the morale of the nation or the army should be.

signs of the times

If you have not tossed (or recycled) your ‘End the Gaza Holocaust’ or ‘Death to the Juice’, or ‘End the Zionists Occupation of Gaza’ signs - you might get another chance to use them. The Jerusalem Post:

An IDF non-commissioned officer was killed on Tuesday morning in a massive bomb attack by Gaza operatives along Israel's border with the Strip. Another officer was seriously wounded and two soldiers were lightly hurt in the incident near the Kissufim crossing, the army said.

Following the attack, the IDF fired at several targets inside Gaza and IAF helicopters were spotted hovering over the Strip. Palestinians reported that IDF tank shells hit residential buildings, but no casualties were reported. Defense Minister Ehud Barak called the attack "severe" and promised an Israeli response. Barak, who was touring the Ze'elim base in the South, would not say what the nature or extent of the response to the attack would be.

And just in case you think this is strictly a one-off there is this little blurb of information tucked at the end of the article:

Last Tuesday, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on IDF soldiers in two separate incidents near the Gaza border, and eight mortar shells were also fired at southern Israel. No one was wounded and no damage was reported in the attacks.

Can I suggest all those protestors who carried signs saying ‘Free Gaza” or ‘Free Palestine’ add the line – ‘cause Hamas won’t’

Thinking outside the box

This Reuters account of a mannequin found on the beach of the Gaza Strip has an intriguing implication for all those who think the IDF has lost any of innovative edge.

GAZA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A mannequin discovered by Palestinians on a Gaza beach may have been used by Israeli forces as a decoy to draw fire from gunmen, an Israeli military expert said.

The head-and-torso figure, dressed in an army shirt and rigged with electric wires, was described by some Palestinians as a "robot" that had helped Israeli commandos storm ashore and kill 10 Hamas guerrillas during Israel's 22-day Gaza offensive.

But Itay Gil, who trains various Israeli commando units, said the rubber dummy could have been used to dupe Palestinian snipers into opening fire so they could be identified and killed. "These dolls do exist in the Israeli Defence Forces, for the purposes of shooting drills and to simulate enemy emplacements," Gil said. "It could be that this dummy was a decoy mounted on an Israeli boat or vehicle, to draw the first volley and deny the enemy the element of surprise," he said. "Anything's possible."

An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on the tactics used during the offensive, which was launched on Dec. 27 to counter Palestinian cross-border rocket salvoes.

My son suggested I not refer to it as a ‘robotic’ doll but a Joshua-type Action Figure.

Calling the tune

According to this Reuters report picked up by Ynet News, we learn two things about the Gaza Strip. There is discontent and grumblings against the path Hamas had pursued, and so, the need for a very public display of force.

Hamas members have taken to the streets to act as traffic cops while Hamas security forces roam the roads in acts designed to show Hamas remains very much in administrative control of the Gaza Strip despite the ravages of a 22 day assault by the IDF which left most government buildings and infrastructure in ruins.

No doubt there will be calls in the coming weeks for more international aid to ‘rebuild’ the Gaza Strip, and the appeals will display and exploit to the nth degree all manner of wretchedness, however; how will Gazans ever learn to build a functional civil society when they never learn to pay the piper for themselves?

Toronto 4 Israel Rally

So I cajoled my oldest son to go to the Toronto 4 Israel rally held a few minutes away from our home in the downtown. At one point, the rally organizers announced there was approximately 1,000 people in attendance...which I thought a little on the large size for the crowd I was walking around but who am I to argue?

These two young students greeted us upon entering - although I didn't snap their picture until we left. Initially, the young women were hesitant to allow me to take their pictures for my blog. They quizzed me on the 'kind of blog' I have. I admit my answers were a trifle vague - along the lines of mid-east politics, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinians. I did own up to having a short piece suggesting the truce was incredibly short-sighted by the Israeli political leadership. They warned me they would check it out to see if I was 'lying' or miss-using their pictures....my son remarked that the rally had the 'hottest babes' he had ever seen at a rally. Usually, I have dragged him out to 'counter-protest' at the Anti-Israel rallies which might explain the lack of 'hot babes'.


While the Toronto Student demographic was large, there was a fair sprinkling of us older supporters.
I took this picture of a man who proclaimed Free Cubans supported the Israeli people 100%. Nice sentiment and can I get a "Viva Cuba liberté!"

Across the street from the square, the usual self-haters showed up with to flaunt their banners. Since these 'Jews' are in solidarity with Gaza - how come they don't pack up and share Gaza's fate?

In other news, the count is now 19 rockets have been fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip since the 'ceasefire' took effect.

From the jaws of victory Israel concedes defeat

Israel announces a unilateral ceasefire without any of its alleged military objectives been fully met but Olmert declares victory. Oh, yeah Gilad Shilat is still a prisoner of the Hamas run Gaza Strip.

I am barely awake and will post more on why this is another strategic defeat for Israel and one entirely of its own making. In the meantime, the Jerusalem Post reports 10 more missiles have been launched against Israeli civilians after the unilateral ceasefire has been implemented by the Israeli government. Some victory.

Am Yisrael Chai

Abridging the Sultan Knish on Why We Choose Us

When rockets fall on Israeli towns, the press doesn't run over to describe the carnage in loving detail or splatter photographs of gore across the evening news. The International Red Cross makes no condemnations, the UN has nothing to say, and the usual suspects who cry out against war crimes when we defend ourselves-- are silent as stones.

That is why we choose us. Because no one else will. The lesson we have learned is that if we do not care for our children, no one else will. If we do not protect them, no one else will lift a hand to do it for us.

The grandfathers and fathers of the "People of Gaza" twice invaded us together with the armies of several Arab nations to wipe us off the face of the earth. They failed. Today their children are trying to help Iran finish the job they started. The world once again chooses them. The world wails over their suffering. The world demands that we let our children die, so that theirs may live to kills us. We refuse. We choose us.

(…)

We choose to live. We choose not to put our hopes in illusion or let a billion screeching voices dissuade us from doing our duty toward our own kith and kin. We chose to build a nation out of dust and rebuild generations lost in fields of ash and dirt. We built towns and cities out of swamps, we raised crops, we raised children, we built a future. And we will protect that future whatever else others may say. This is our land we will fight for it because it is our land, the land of our fathers and the land of our children. As our ancestors chose to lift the sword and the bow, rather than to bow before the Greek idol, we choose the rifle and the knife, rather than to bend our knees to the totems of liberalism. We will fight and we will prevail, because we choose to do it, unambigiously and unapologetically. We choose our future. We choose us.

Read it in full here.

A Message to Canadian conservatives

Ease up on the Jew baiting. I can think of far more productive things for Jews to do than hang out at a ‘counterprotest’ with you against Hamas on any given Sabbath.

While only a small number of you have been counter-protesting, Canadian Jews have been kniting hats for the IDF, buying Israeli bonds or products, and giving generously of their time and money to Jewish and Israeli causes as well as davening for soldiers of the IDF.

Frankly, if you are going to try to out Jew the Jews, I suggest you start by learning the concept of Lashon Hara and Hotzaat Diba. All that being said, this Sunday’s rally is not a counter protest but a show of support for the State of Israel, homeland of the Jews.



More info here.

What if we were to ban Kiwis

For stupidity. Ynet News:

An Israeli citizen residing in Kaikoura, New Zealand has informed Ynet Friday that a local pub, the Strawberry Tree, placed a sign outside its door reading, "Israelis not welcome before shelling (in Gaza) stops".

Two other Israeli tourists encountered a similar restriction at a café located in another part of the country. Kaikoura, located on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, is a tourist hub known for its dolphin shows. "The pub's owner has extreme views; in the past he worked as a photojournalist in Gaza, and inside the pub a sign reading 'Free Palestine" has been hanging for some time now," the Israeli citizen, who wished to remain nameless, told Ynet.

"It is alarming the (conflict in Gaza) has resonated to this region and in such a one-sided way." The Israeli continued to say that "the owner expressed his aversion to the supposed racism on Israel's part – but he himself is acting in a racist manner when he screens his patrons according to their nationality."

Toronto for Israel Rally

What would I do without Shiloh Musings to inform me as to what is going on in my own backyard?



Bundle up and bring cognac.

Children of Hamas or the Harvest of Bitter Fruit

The Toronto Star hosts a report on the ‘nightmarish’ situation in Gaza Strip hospitals and while I have no doubt medical personnel are operating in their worst case scenario this bit caught my eye.

The Lancet cited the Ministry of Health in Gaza as saying that as of Monday, 292 children and 75 women had been killed in the offensive, with 1,497 children and 626 women wounded.

According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the death toll is somewhat lower: As of today, it said, 225 children and 70 women had been killed. However, the ministry defines children as 18 and under, the Palestinian Center 17 and under.
Israeli defence officials acknowledge the military has loosened its rules of engagement during the current round of fighting to prevent the killing or capture of soldiers.

But military officials note that Hamas fighters have worn civilian clothing while fighting Israeli troops, using schools, mosques and crowded residential areas for cover, making it hard to keep ordinary residents out of harm's way.Reacting to the Lancet articles, Israeli Cabinet Minister Isaac Herzog said his country has worked hard to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza throughout the fighting, and Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor sharply criticized one of the doctors quoted in the Lancet for "spreading vicious lies."

Paul Garwood, a Geneva-based spokesman for the World Health Organization, said the Gaza Health Ministry's figures had not been independently verified, but they seemed reasonable based on their staff's observations in Gaza. In a statement last week, WHO declared that health services in Gaza were "on the point of collapse." UNICEF called the situation "tragic" and "unacceptable."

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the Israeli army has failed to evacuate the wounded. "The violence launched on Gaza is taking an unjustifiable toll on civilian populations," the Lancet said in an editorial. "These actions contravene the fourth Geneva convention," it said, referring to the international agreement that civilians are to be protected in times of war.

Why? Well, let’s roll with this video aptly titled Children of Hamas.



There are those who suggest the Israeli Operation Cast Lead will only create more enemies and hardened the attitudes of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip/ I would counter that Hamas and Fatah have indoctrinated and incited, so well for so long, unencumbered by an vestige or pretense of humanity, that anything the Israeli state would do or did not do, is absolutely irrelevant in the face of this ideological pathology. There is only one counter - which is to allow those who preach and toil incitement, blood and hatred; to feel the full measure of sowing what they reap, and make no mistake, it is a harvest of the most bitter fruit a human heart can taste.

Meanwhile, as the calls for more worldwide pro-Hamas/Gaza Strip rallies are being staged, and I do mean staged, Ha'aretz reports on the lack of protests in Ramallah.

h/t - Shiloh Musings

Hamas’ white phosphorus rain into Israel

Well, well, not only are Hamas fighters donning IDF uniforms and utilizing civilian human shields, (contrary to umpteen articles of the Geneva Convention) Hamas is now firing white phosphorus mortar shells into civilian centres in Israel reports Ynet News:

One of the mortar shells fired from northern Gaza at the Eshkol Regional Council Tuesday contained white phosphorus. The council's security chief, Nikki Levy, said that "the potential danger of using such a rocket is enormous. It is far more dangerous than other Qassam rockets and mortal shells. This is an escalation in the type of explosives the Palestinians use on civilians."

Of course, Israel has been denounced as using white phosphorus missiles by all the usual suspects despite denials from the IDF Chief of Staff, and contrary to certain pro-Hamas fractions would have you believe - there are legitimate legal military uses for white phosphorus munitions but Hamas’ use of white phosphorus mortars does not even come close to being a considered legit in the broadest interpretation of the word.

I await the Hamas denunciations and charges of war crimes and I wait, and I wait, and I wait….

Katyusha launched over Israeli skies - again

The Jerusalem Post is reporting, once again, rockets have been fired into Israel from Lebanon.

At least three Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon landed near Kiryat Shmona on Wednesday morning, the second rocket attack from Lebanon in less than a week. While security forces continued to search for the impact sites of the rockets, there were no immediate reports of anyone wounded or damage to property. The army launched a counter strike, firing artillery shells at the assumed location of the Katyusha launchers.

Lebanese officials also confirmed that several rockets were fired, with at least one falling short inside Lebanon. They said that the source of the rockets was likely the village of Kfar Hamam. Israeli helicopter gunships flew reconnaissance missions along the heavily protected border as Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers sent out patrols, the Lebanese officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The IDF Northern Command announced it was holding ongoing security assessments in light of the situation. "We view the Lebanese government and military as responsible to prevent such attacks," an army statement said. Following the strike, the Home Front Command ordered all residents of the north to stay close to bomb shelters in case there was a repeat attack. Students in Kiryat Shmona were moved underground into bomb shelters to finish out the rest of their school day.

No doubt there will be denials issued all around from all the usual suspects in Lebanon but Hezbollah is in control of southern Lebanon. So given this is the second attack from Lebanon in less than a week I think its time to replay my favourite Nashrallah song because it’s just so darn catchy.

Canada sole voice of dissent at the UN human rights council

The Toronto Star is reporting this:

OTTAWA–Canada stood alone before a United Nations human rights council yesterday, the only one among 47 nations to oppose a motion condemning the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

And then the Toronto Star starts the spin:

The vote before the Geneva-based body shows the Stephen Harper government has abandoned a more even-handed approach to the Middle East in favour of unalloyed support of Israel, according to some long-time observers.

No doubt the Jewhaters in Canada will be having a fit and will come out in full force against Stephen Harper's government but I can live with the implications of not standing on the same side of those alleged big promoters of human rights. Of course, both Russia and China vote against humanitarian intervention in places like the Dafur...go figure.

What a news scoop

...for the Toronto Star's Harpoon Siddiqui

Jewish dissenters speak out over Gaza

Siddiqui, not being a member in any kind of standing within the Jewish community so I suspect difference of opinions are newsworthy only for him. Obviously, he never grew up hearing that old joke – two Jews, three opinions.

I am back in Toronto, and while the mother in me is finally at peace knowing all my sons are now sleeping safely under one roof – even if it is in Canada’s premier city of Jew-haters, I can’t help wishing there was a little more Alberta and a lot less Toronto.

the value palestinians place on their children's lives

Those brave 'militants' (or is the correct term 'freedom fighters') in action.
Did anyone else notice the 'ambulance' in the background? Now you know why so many children have been killed but can I get anyone to agree this is not only child abuse but a war crime in action? Of course, I fully expect no international tribunal or body will ever call any Palestinian, anywhere, to ever account.

h/t: Israel Matzav

Dhimmi Carter

This should be a term limit on how long an ex-Presidents of the United States should be allowed to openly pimp for terrorists in the public eye. The Washington Post opinion piece:

And this fragile truce was partially broken on Nov. 4, when Israel launched an attack in Gaza to destroy a defensive tunnel being dug by Hamas inside the wall that encloses Gaza.

A defensive tunnel which just happens to lead into an opening into Israel...and the World Trade Centre towers are for sale. I will say it again - there is no human right to build tunnels into Israel. Carter is not just a major embarrassment to the United States but to human beings everywhere. As much as I dislike Bill Clinton, he does manage to conduct himself without being an absolute and complete tool.