response 127 of 169:

Aug 24 19:28 UTC 2003

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response 129 of 169:

Sep 7 15:48 UTC 2003

I've been too busy the last week to post headlines, but I'm sure everyone
is aware of recent events. Terrorist groups (Hamas in particular) continued
to attack and murder innocent Israeli civilians and the Israeli army
continued to attack the Hamas leadership.

This has led to a crisis within the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister
Abbas wanted to move against the terrorist organizations, but Chairman
Arafat refused to relinquish control over the security apparatus (indeed
he attempted to appoint a new security chief). Abbas stated that he will
not be a figurehead and under threat of resignation demanded control of
these forces. Yesterday he resigned.

I wonder, do the Arabists still whine that these PA security forces don't
work to stop terrorism because Israel bombed a few empty buildings a year
ago, thus "destroying" their ability?

Isn't it strange that since his appointment as PM 4 months ago, Abbas and
Arafat have been struggling over who controls these "destroyed" forces?

Evidently Abbas (and other high ranking PA officials, both those seeking
peace and those attempting to block it) believe that these security forces
can be marshalled to control terrorism.

Yet Americans, Europeans and others who claim to be for peace use this
as an excuse?  What gives?

From today, 2 interesting headlines:

14:13   Source close to Abbas says he might serve a PM again, if
        deal is reached with Arafat on his powers, gov`t composition 

13:40   Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says Iran holds Israel
        responsible for resignation of PM Mahmoud Abbas

And so goes the propaganda within the Arab/Muslim world, perpetuating
the cycle of intransigence and rejectionism: the leadership whips up the
"street" and then claims it can't go against the wishes of the people
(as if these are democracies).

response 131 of 169:

Sep 10 02:47 UTC 2003

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/10/international/middleeast/10MIDE.html?hp=&
pagewanted=print&position=

Two Palestinian suicide bombers killed at least 13 people in separate attacks
today, striking a popular cafe in Jerusalem's most left-leaning neighborhood
and a bus stop [near a hospital] crowded with soldiers southeast of Tel Aviv.

...The attacks came on a day when the Israeli military killed three men, two
of whom were identified as Hamas terrorist leaders. A 12-year-old boy hit by
shrapnel died later, Palestinian witnesses said.

...The attacks today seemed to be intended to jar any sense of Israeli
security lingering after a unilateral cease-fire declared by the Palestinian
factions on June 29, but since abandoned. 

At both scenes, witnesses described a sickening mix of familiarity and shock.
Sgt. Nurit Betzer, 20, a medic, was on her way to the bus stop in Tsrifin when
she heard the explosion and ran to help. "I saw bodies that were torn in
half," she said. "It's hard when you know your friends are in here somewhere,
and all you can smell is the smell of blood and smoke."

Sergeant Betzer apologized for bursting into tears as she spoke. "I don't know
why I'm crying," she said. "I shouldn't even be moved by today  this is
already my sixth attack." 

She spoke about how soldiers were required to keep their boots shined, and
said: "I saw this time a soldier, and he was dying, and his shoes were neat.
I can't take it anymore."

...Today, in a shootout after Israeli troops surrounded an apartment building
in Hebron, soldiers killed the two men identified as Hamas leaders. The army
said it was investigating the death of the 12-year-old. 

- - - - -

01:47   Gazans celebrate after suicide attacks

04:21   ER chief at Shaare Zedek Medical Center killed in Jerusalem bombing   
        Dr. David Appelbaum, 50, and his 20-year-old daughter, Nava, were
        killed hours before she was due to get married.  

04:39   Police force to be beefed up with hundreds of soldiers under police
        command 

05:07   Sharon spokesman Ra`anan Gissin: PM will cut India trip short by
        half a day, return to Israel early Thursday 

response 133 of 169:

Sep 10 16:15 UTC 2003

Let's see.

Mr. aaron reads about Israelis dying in their streets and reaches a 
conclusion that the Arabs are the victims.

There something wrong with that picture, no?

response 135 of 169:

Sep 10 16:26 UTC 2003

I think a creative solution would be for Israeli parents to forcibly 
adopt all newborn Palestinian children and raise them as their own until 
the age of majority.  That would serve the purpose of insulating those 
children from the propaganda of martydom until they're old enough to 
consider it rationally.

Of course I don't expect it to happen, but it sure would be interesting 
to watch if it did.

Naturally, any Israelis who spout frothing anti-Palestinian rhetoric 
would be exempted from adopting.  No reason to induce self-hate and 
neuroses in the children in the atttempt to protect them.

                                                                        <
the
                                       obligato
                                       ry>  ;)

response 137 of 169:

Sep 11 04:07 UTC 2003

Yes, Palestinians are dying in their streets because they're shooting
at Israelis, firing rockets, or happen to be close to people who are
engaged in other murderous activities (e.g. members of Hamas).

The Israelis are dying (and targeted) just for being Israelis.

And it's the moral support of people like Scott that allows it to continue.
Even in the USA we don't prosecute police for stray bullets fired at violent
criminals.  Holding others (who live under a far greater threat) to a
higher standard than we hold ourselves is simply wrong.

response 139 of 169:

Sep 11 12:04 UTC 2003

Terrorists use terror methods to promote their agenda because it has worked
in the past.

We in the U.S. and the weat have allowed it to work, adn because of that, they
have expanded and grown, spreading their ideals across the world along with
their "soldiers".  When we pull out or seek a cease fire to negotiate, we
simply show the terrorist that their methods work.  Positive reinforcement.

The question is very possibly going to be decided this weekend in Isreal, when
they may vote to expel Arafat, and they may vote to invade the territories
and go after the Hamas directly.

response 141 of 169:

Sep 11 13:11 UTC 2003

Going after hamas directly involves putting troops on the ground with tanks
and rounding them up 1 by 1.

response 143 of 169:

Sep 11 13:42 UTC 2003

Hey!  Call the Pentagon and the Knesset and tell them it's allright now.  
General Bruce is on the job!

response 145 of 169:

Sep 11 16:45 UTC 2003

The trouble is that they've sent in troops and tanks before, and while they've
assassinated a few Hamas people they can't exactly "confront" them.  Hamas
is not established in a big building with a blinking sign saying HAMAS on the
front, they're mixed in with population.

response 147 of 169:

Sep 11 17:00 UTC 2003

Putting words in my mouth again, Leeron?  Typical.

response 149 of 169:

Sep 11 17:44 UTC 2003

-----Original Message-----
From: BreakingNews@MAIL.CNN.COM [mailto:BreakingNews@MAIL.CNN.COM]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 1:32 PM
Subject: CNN Breaking News

-- Israel's security Cabinet decides in principle to expel Yasser Arafat, but
puts off taking immediate action, Israeli TV reports.