Back From The Brink?
Cockpit View of Israeli Airstrikes
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The rival Hamas and Fatah factions reached a new cease-fire deal Saturday, after a week of deadly fighting, officials announced, pledging to pull fighters off the streets and exchange hostages.
Several previous truce agreements quickly collapsed in recent days, and it was not clear if this one would hold. As the agreement was reached, clashes erupted outside the home of a senior Fatah official in Gaza City, and security officials said several people were wounded. In another incident, the convoy of a Fatah-allied colonel in the Palestinian intelligence came under fire, but no one was hurt.
The internal fighting has overlapped with a series of Israeli air strikes against Hamas targets, in response to a barrage of rockets Hamas has fired at Israeli border communities in recent days.
Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Saturday that Israel will not let up in its strikes against Hamas and that militants firing rockets on Israeli border towns should be “very afraid.” However, he said the time is not right for a major ground offensive in Gaza.
The air strikes have driven Hamas fighters out of their bases, prompting accusations that Israel is helping the Fatah movement of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Peretz insisted Israel is not interfering in the internal fighting. However, he also said that “we certainly would like the moderate forces to emerge with the upper hand,” a reference to Fatah.
Shortly after Peretz spoke on Israel Radio, an Israeli aircraft fired missiles toward a rocket squad near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the army said. Hospital officials said two Palestinians were killed and four wounded in the strike. Earlier Saturday, missile strikes demolished two suspected Hamas metal workshops.
Saturday’s deaths brought to 22 the number of Palestinians killed in air strikes in the past week. Two Fatah fighters were injured in clashes with Hamas early Saturday near the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold.
By mid-afternoon, Hamas and Fatah announced they had reached a new cease-fire deal. Both sides promised to pull fighters off the streets, dismantle roadblocks and exchange hostages.
The deal was negotiated in a meeting at the Egyptian Embassy. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said he expected Saturday’s truce to stick because of Israel’s recent military strikes. “No one would accept to fight one another while the Israelis are shelling Gaza,” he said.
The weeklong Hamas-Fatah fighting has killed more than 50 Palestinians and wounded dozens. The clashes have all but destroyed a coalition deal between the two rivals.
Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the most senior Hamas politician in Gaza, have failed to calm the situation, suggesting that they have largely lost control to the gunmen and their political patrons.
Abbas has stayed in his West Bank headquarters during the fighting. Palestinian officials said he was told by security advisers not to travel to Gaza, for fear of possible danger to his life.
Some of the heaviest fighting has taken place around Abbas’ heavily fortified seaside compound in Gaza City.
During periods of lull, residents of the area ventured out onto their balconies or even into the streets, while some security men slept on sidewalks after guarding street corner positions through the night.
A local supermarket owner, Mohammed Badrasawi, said the security forces posted in the neighborhood bought most of his bottled water and the entire stock of playing cards — 150 decks — along with chess boards and dominos for the long hours of guard duty.
In Israel, three rockets hit the border area Saturday, causing damage, but no injury. A day earlier, four Israelis were hurt in rocket attacks.
Peretz, the Israeli defense minister, said Israel would keep going after Hamas targets. “We are mainly focusing on sensitive locations tied to Hamas,” he said, adding that this included places where rockets are made.
Peretz said those involved in launching rockets should be “very afraid.”
Asked whether Haniyeh and the head of Hamas’ military wing, Ahmed Jaberi, could also be targets, Peretz said he wouldn’t rule out any action that “makes it clear to everyone that we don’t intend to allow anyone to harm Israeli citizens.”
“The Palestinians need to understand that Hamas is leading them into disaster, a real disaster,” Peretz said. “It is our intention to act against Hamas.”
Peretz said the time wasn’t right for a major ground offensive in Gaza, and that the military still has enough other tools to deal with the rocket threat.
The defense minister said Israel is worried about efforts by Hamas to improve the range of the rockets. He said Palestinian militants from Gaza were receiving training abroad, including in Iran, in order to improve the reach of the rockets.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
I homeschool my sons ages 16,12,10,8, and 2. Although, homeschooling a 2 year old—amounts to ABC’s, 123’s and no don’t touch that.
May 19th, 2007 at 9:37 amAs for the rest, we study the normal subjects that all students study. In addition, though, we study the Bible and delve into politics. We were discussing Israel the other day and my 10 year old asked me why we didn’t just show all of Israel’s enemies where in the Bible it says that the land was given to them by God. How are you going to argue with God? Then later upon looking at a map he said “All that fighting over that tiny piece of land? What’s the big deal?” I started to go into what the big deal is—-but then thought—you know I like his way of thinking. If only things were always that simple…
“why we didn’t just show all of Israel’s enemies where in the Bible it says that the land was given to them by God. How are you going to argue with God? ”
If you can’t see the disturbing similarities between your and a jihadist’s way of thinking I’m afrad there is no hope for either side. I feel bad for your kids.
May 19th, 2007 at 12:52 pmOh Fatcat,
May 19th, 2007 at 5:05 pmCalm down before you choke on a hairball. The point of my post was I wish we could all look at the world through innocent eyes. Please don’t spend energy feeling sorry for my sons–they are great!!! My son who made the comment is a little boy who is being taught out of the Bible–which does say that God led the Israelites (the Jewish people) into the promised land—Israel. So far in this country—a little boy being taught the fundamentals of the Bible is a good thing. He also can’t understand the fighting—in his mind he just wants everyone to get along. What would it hurt to let the Jewish people live on that little piece of land. Again, highlighting the purpose of my post to celebrate his innocent desire to just have everyone get along.
If I were a jihadist—I would be teaching him to behead people. Your attempt at a comparison is pathetic.
fatcat
Just for shits and giggles, what would you say is the better way?
Personally, I think Heather is doing the most right thing.
May 19th, 2007 at 5:16 pm“Your attempt at a comparison is pathetic.”
You are teaching him out of an ancient book, they are teaching each otheres out of another ancient book with different characters. I didn’t mean to take a cheap shot at your kids and I really don’t feel sorry for them (I was just being a wank and baiting you) but I don’t think teaching anyone that someone’s land belongs to them according to a book is a great idea.
May 19th, 2007 at 5:42 pmIts amazing that a 10 year old has more common sense thinking that any adult liberal I’ve met. If you pick up on the thinking, violence toward Isreal is just an excuse for the violence of Islam. If Isreal was not there they would still be killing. How many times has it been proven - its not about land for peace.
Just like Infidel is an excuse - if they killed all the infidels, they’d still be killing each other. Much like liberals, I believe islamists must hate themselves. Too cowardly to change they have to focus that anger outward.
Everytime I read stuff like this I try to put myself in the situation of Isrealis. If I had rockets landing in my neighborhood kind of. Steve in Montana talked about indifference, and its scary to think how conditioned we are to accept the status quo. So then I think, OK so these rockets are landing around here and our defense minister is talking about wishing for the least of 2 evils to be county govt for the next county over where the rockets are comming from. AND….. Either way there’s a chance the rockets will continue no matter who is in charge …. and the rockets might soon have improved range.
There really is no difference between America and Isreal as far as an Islamist is concerned…. is there?
May 19th, 2007 at 5:48 pmHeather: I read your post as you discribe above. Ah, the innocence of a child. Too soon will they grow up and have reap the yield of what Mr. and Mrs. Cheese Monkey, Traitor Murtha, MSM (the cancer of America) has gleefully sewn.
May 19th, 2007 at 6:00 pmEven the alleged holy book of the jihadists says that God gave Israel to the Jews:
7:137 And We made the children of Israel, who were considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).
17:104 And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, “Dwell securely in the land of promise”:
May 19th, 2007 at 6:11 pmNo, absolutely no difference. But what libs like fatcat cannot grasp is there is a BIG difference between us and the run-of-the-mill-asshole islamo-terrorist.
Our side is rooting for a prosperous democracy wherein everybody is to be treated equally and has a chance to succeed in life. The other side’s goal is an oppressive dark-agey mulla-ocracy plagued by degrading poverty and unspeakable brutality, where everyone lives as a slave at the mercy of a dictator.
How someone can sit here in this country and say there are disturbing similarities between the thinking of the opposing sides is absurd and unbelievable. It’s moral blindness.
May 19th, 2007 at 6:16 pmFATCAT -
“I didn’t mean to take a cheap shot at your kids and I really don’t feel sorry for them ”
hey guess what, you did it, so don’t come back and try and cover the fact that you are a small and petty excuse for a human.
“You are teaching him out of an ancient book, they are teaching each otheres out of another ancient book with different character”
so you cannot make a choice between right and wrong? Liberal B.S. platitudes, by the way what do you base your choice of right or wrong?
meatsack
May 19th, 2007 at 6:22 pm@ fatcat
arguing against the valdity of a book solely on the basis of when it was written is not a vaild argument. Using that logic, any “ancient” book that says that “2 + 2 = 4″ or that “the planet revolves around the sun” would be incorrect solely because it was said in an “ancient” book.
The truth is the truth, a is a, no matter what time period. To say that truth changes in time is to say that when people believed that the earth only became round when people finally found sailed around it. It’s to say that planes only fly because we believe they will, not because of the mathematic principles behind it.
Likewise, just because the Bible is “anceint” does not make it correct solely because it was written a long time ago. It is correct because it is true. I know liberals hate the very idea of truth, but it does indeed exist.
And actually, Islam’s book isn’t as ancient as our book, so I guess that means theirs is “less’ wrong than ours, acording to your reasoning. Man, I can’t wait another 500 years when all our “ancient” liberal books will be wrong.
May 19th, 2007 at 6:31 pm“To say that truth changes in time is to say that when people believed that the earth only became round when people finally found sailed around it.”
Wow, I totally effed up that sentence, lol. What I meant was:
To say that the truth changes in time is to say that the earth was flat when people believed it was flat and only became round when people believed it was round.
May 19th, 2007 at 6:34 pmJerb
May 19th, 2007 at 7:08 pmWe knew what you meant, only fatcat would have had trouble with it. What you said is appreciated by me. The logic is very good, but a liberal can’t accept logic, so a lib has to pick on the little shit.
Thanks
Just contain them in their dirt box.. Wrap on the sides occasionally until one cockroach is left.. when it stumbles out.. step on it.
May 19th, 2007 at 8:32 pmSo if I don’t believe in the bible, I’m automatically a left winger? Thats one part of US politics I’ll never get over - a right winger is inherently religious.
I made a mistake telling Heather I feel bad for her kids and I owned up in my next post. What I should have said is that I wouldn’t teach my kids anything out of a book thats says something as important as land belongs to a certain group. State and religion should always be kept seperate. Being called cockroach, meatsack, and a petty excuse for a human is harsh judgement but I guess thats what the internet is for, talking down on people that have different views than you. It feels like an angry mob is chasing me outta town!
I’m not sure if you give a shit about outside views, but many people watching the US people right now are wondering to themselves how can you win a war when your entire country is split in half?
I made a mistake posting on this site - I originally came to it because I am studying journalism (it all makes sense now!) and I am interested in documentaries. I know that the media and political views should always be kept seperate and this site (as well as every major broadcaster in the USA)fails to do so which I think will undermine a lot of Pat’s efforts when he releases his final film. By the way - left wing media disgusts me more than it does anyone else on this website. Political commentary by the creators and controllers of the media is bad fuckin news, but I still want to see YA when it comes out.
May 20th, 2007 at 1:34 amHeh, I thought he said that inane leftist drivel will be deleted. I guess he lets the occasional lefty loon through just to be picked apart by rational thinking.
In any case, Heather, I wish more parents raised their kids like you do. Some of the problems we see with kids today might become insignificant or disappear altogether.
May 20th, 2007 at 9:02 amRead the following article if you want to know more about Israel’s reluctance to give land to the evil rotten bastards who are demanding it. Fatcat, you may not be a liberal, but your attempt at drawing a moral equivalence between the Bible and the Koran is a typical leftie/socialist/anti-American/Christophobic response. Christianity is a religion of peace, and Islam isn’t, just read Spencer’s book. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2007/05/18/israels_40-year_reluctance
May 20th, 2007 at 3:12 pmFatcat, we Americans get spewed by idiotic PC bilge 24/7/365 from the MSM, we don’t take kindly to it when it chases us into one of the few oases of sanity remaining.
So just buzz off and head back to DKos or DemUnd or PuffHo or NBS or NPR or NYT or WaPo or BosGlob or LAT or al-Reuters or any other leftwing “respected journalist” rubber room out there where you can slurp up that swill…
May 20th, 2007 at 3:50 pm@ fatcat
Just wanted to point out that fatcat did not respond to any of my arguments. I guess I win!
“I’m not sure if you give a shit about outside views, but many people watching the US people right now are wondering to themselves how can you win a war when your entire country is split in half?”
Since you refer to the US as “your country” am I correct in assuming that you are not American? That is a good question though. The libs are definately weakening average Americans resolve to fight and encouraging our enemies. The left is desperate to put the sleeping giant back to sleep. The only problem is that when we are attacked again, most Americans will realize what the Left and some wussy Republicans are doing to us. Hopefully then they will ste up and do what is necessary to insure our protection.
“I know that the media and political views should always be kept seperate”
Why? If you hold to a certain politic view, or any view for that matter, do you not hold them because you think them right? This whole notion of being “unbiased” in the media is the greatest fallacy of our time. Everyone has biases. You cannot be a human being without holding biases or having opinions on things. The question that has been forgotten by people in our modern times is that we’re supposed to search out which views are the best and most true, not pretend that all views are equal or that there is no such thing.
“By the way - left wing media disgusts me more than it does anyone else on this website”
Then there’s hope for you yet! God luck in your adventures in journalism.
@ John in PA
I thought so, but I just wanted it to be extra clear for any Libs who manage to find this site
May 20th, 2007 at 5:52 pmArguments over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin will never be resolved. Fatcat didn’t like the religious justification for the existence of a country–OK, how about it’s the only successful liberal (meaning they have freedom of speech, etc. pretty much like our Bill of Rights) democracy in the Middle East (well, Lebannon tried, but…), our only staunch ally, they made a barren desert bloom into a productive, inventive, economic powerhouse, their opponents were offered the same opportunity and made a bad decision and didn’t take it–and look where they ended up, shooting it out in Gaza, Arab Fatah against Arab Haman. Their GDP outstrips by eons any other neighboring country (perhaps there’s jelously involved). If it’s so darn easy to make a successful (democratic/free) country, how come none of the other “neighbors” have been able to do it?????? Why try to cut down the only success in the area? OH, and by the way, Heather’s book reinforces values of love thy neighbor, tolerance, peace and value life. What values does a jihadist’s book teach and/or reinforce???? Subjugate women and non-members of your religion? Kill in the name of your religion????
May 20th, 2007 at 8:36 pmLife is cheap? Maybe those parts of their book need to be de-emphasized.
fatcat
We won’t be sad if you don’t return BUT CONSIDER THIS.
If you are going to be a journalist, then you need to be OBJECTIVE. Open your mind. Learn from this site. Its not about changing your view, BUT it is about understanding both sides of a view. Clearly you are left leaning if you sterotype that all or most right wings are religious. We do not force you to believe, but we will call you on leftist shit immediately - not to judge, but to clarify. If you disagree, then why don’t you ask a QUESTION instead of making a statement that pokes at good principled in an individual.
AND Don’t be so sensitive. Grow some gator skin man. RECOGNIZE ALWAYS…. If you’re upset then there exists a truth within yourself that you are not accepting. Perhaps you don’t want to be a lib but you have been taught by libs throughout your education.
Finally, if you take a hit on someone, there is not much you can do to make like it never happened.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:47 amcorrection: GDP per capita
May 21st, 2007 at 8:32 amthanks for the replies - they’ve been informative. Its seems that as an outsider (no im not american) I have to be a more careful about what I say since I don’t really understand what its like to be in your country right now.
May 21st, 2007 at 6:35 pmDon’t really understand? Then I suggest you read until you do. Ask questions, as a journalist must,to learn what’s goin’ on. Remember that freedom to speak is not a licence to be free of criticism or an automatic pardon from an insulted party.
We are having a civil war here now. It’s not a shooting war because as Americans we value our Unity highest of our characteristics. The opposition of that Unity wants to impose their values upon the American people and we simply will not have it. We cannot let the Left win because their way leads to totalitarianism and the loss of Freedom.
The Left is doomed to failure here as they either have or will soon all over the world. We’ll keep the civil war civil as long as we can but we will prevail. It’s the American Way.
May 21st, 2007 at 7:41 pm@fatcat…
I’m going to cut you a little break on your comments. However, a word of advice… when entering an online community (especially such as this), NEVER, and I mean never “bait” someone by taking a jab at family, not to mention their children. Because if you do, then expect to be admonished and jeered, and I’m sure if Rummy were here he would write things that only Rummy could write, by all those who visit these pages on a daily basis. The people on this site are very dedicated, intelligent Americans. Also, and although we don’t “persnally” know one another, we are like family. As such, a jab at one, is a jab at all.
I hope you do revisit Pat’s site, you could learn much from these fine PATRIOTIC AMERICANS! Although the grass ain’t always greener…… we love our lush lawn…..
May 21st, 2007 at 10:04 pmOh… and as my drill sergeants in basic asked during bayonet training……. “What makes the grass grow?” The answer….”BLOOD, BLOOD, BLOOD”…..
May 21st, 2007 at 10:47 pmFatcat wrote: “So if I don’t believe in the bible, I’m automatically a left winger?”
Yes Sir, that automatically puts you LEFT of all us God fearing folk.
Fatcat wrote: “State and religion should always be kept seperate.”
State & religion are inseparable… our country was founded on Judeo Christian values with freedom to choose your religious following.
Fatcat wrote: “Being called cockroach, meatsack, and a petty excuse for a human is harsh judgement but I guess thats what the internet is for, talking down on people that have different views than you.”
You said the 10 year old had the same mindset as the terrorists. Now that was mean spirited if you ask me & that’s what got you all those names.
Fatcat said: “I’m not sure if you give a shit about outside views, but many people watching the US people right now are wondering to themselves how can you win a war when your entire country is split in half?”
We are more UNITED than you think, definately more than the Main Stream Media gives us credit. SURRENDER IS NOT AN OPTION FOR THOSE ON THE RIGHT!
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:55 amfatcat,
i hope you are still reading this site. In my experience at a very liberal theological seminary, some liberals have a general belief in a God for sure, but they ahve grown to question the authority of human beings within religious bodies particularly there own religious bodies. they have incorporated liberal politics with theology to creat religion devoid of spiritual writings and sometimes spirituality in itself. what they are left with is social action which for most of us, can be done outside of “church” as much as inside. I left that seminary because I could sense that God’s will was never being considered in their decisions and it is hard to know his will if you reject the Bible and reject spirituality. This is why conservative christians believe conservatives are the only truly religious because while we are critical of our churches and bible, we also have hope that such entities are guided by God in some way at least.
If you wish to be a journalist though, get used to criticism. Our country is very weary of the media, they have been caught lying too often or not investigating sources. While the web has media sources this is hardly one. Pat is not a journalist by profession, he is in asense, one of us, out their documenting the war in an unbiased fashion, allowing soldiers to speak in their own words. This site has become a place for conservatives and war supporters to come together and see the positives of this war.
War is hell and liberals have made it worst. Your criticism and comparisons of muslims to us show a blatant misunderstanding about islam and the nature of revelation between the 2 religions. while a christian can be a fundementalist, there is no justification for christians , in the bible or tradition, to treat other religions as second class citizens and killing or subjugating them. There is plenty of evidence to warrant such things in Islam and history backs this up.
Bottom line: Islam believes in the supremecy of its religion and God and wills that its religion be the ONLY one on earth (Surah 8:39) Christianity only claims to spread the faith to the ends of the earth and to wipe the dust from our feet when we are rejected. “to ceasar is what is ceasars and to God what is Gods” you are right to say religious bodies and governments in pluralist societies should remain separate, but islam claims them to be one. they are not going against that creed and they are working toward that goal as we speak.
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 amfatcat,
You really are a pussy! You showed up clawing but ended up with you tail between you legs.
You “want” to be a journalist? What you want is some milk and a nice warm lap where you can sit and be stroked.
You have caved in far to easily to ever amount to anything, let alone an objective journalist.
If you want to address your weakness I suggest you start with physical conditioning; your mind may follow. Or maybe a short rope and a tall tree.
I know everyone else already hit you with the scalding water and you are probably blocks and blocks away by now licking you wound in a diry ally but you are the one who came in clawing then quickly subjegated yourself.
I hope you catch a posion mouse.
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:58 amWell said TJ
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:42 amFATCAT -
“have to be a more careful about what I say ” quote from above.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:00 amSaying that proves you are lost in a fog of political correctness crap. I do not want you to be careful with words, say what you believe and if you engage in a debate, engage.
You better straighten your back if you wish to succeed in the real world.
Oh and by the way, I still think you are full of shit,