Qibya and Sharon: 50 Years Later

[Saudade]

Qibya and Sharon: 50 Years Later
Anniversary of a Massacre
By ERIC RIDENOUR

October 14, 2003 marks the fifty year anniversary of a virtually forgotten massacre. In the Jordanian village of Qibya, a total of 69 civilians were murdered in a six hour killing spree, which almost totally destroyed the town. The attackers blew up about forty houses, a school, water pumping station, police station and telephone office (1) and they sustained no casualties, as Qibya was virtually undefended.

Of the first 42 bodies recovered after the attack, 38 were women and children.(2) One man lost all 11 members of his family. Describing the scene, a UN observer stated that 'Bullet-riddled bodies near the doorways and multiple bullet hits on the doors of the demolished houses indicated that the inhabitants had been forced to remain inside until their homes were blown up over them.'(1)

Condemnation was swift. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 101, specifically condemning the attack on Qibya. On Oct 16th, the US State Department issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and urging that the persons responsible 'should be brought to account.' The National Jewish Post, in an October 30th editorial wrote that 'Qibya was in effect another Lidice and no United States person who was living at the time of this detestable Nazi wiping out of an entire village will forget the world's horror at that act.'(3)

The world has known for decades who was responsible for the killing in Qibya, yet not only has no legal action been taken against him for this, but he is rarely even criticized for it. The person I'm referring to is the current Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. In 1953, the 25 year old Sharon was the head of an Israeli special forces group called Unit 101. Its task on the night of October 14 was to take revenge for the killing of three Israelis in a settlement near Tel Aviv two days before. Sharon's orders explicitly stated 'destruction and maximum killing'.(4) Unit 101 was sent to Qibya to kill civilians.

Read more about the war criminal who leads Israel here:

http://www.counterpunch.org/ridenhour10142003.html

[Fight_n_back]

1. Its strange

when something like this is said about Arafat the reply is "That was almost 15 years ago!"

Oh well, some people use data like a drunk uses a lamppost, for support rather than illumination.

[bluesoul]

3. Question for Yang

You still think Sharon is a "Man of peace" and deserves to be PM,or to put it precisely, even being in the position to be a candidate for such a high position in Israeli society with all of his bloody history?

[Fight_n_back]

6. That question is an insult

and I won't asnwer it. You should be asahmed of yourself.

How would you react if I asked you, "Do you still think Bush is a great President?"

I wish I could say I expected more of you.

[bluesoul]

7. ??

I don't understand. Why is it an insult? Why should I feel ashamed? It's just a simple question! You could ask me the same for Arafat or any other president or prime minister and I would gladly answer your question without feeling insulted. You are more then welcome to pose me any question you wish...

As for Bush I never thought of him as a great president (far from it) so my answer would be always no.

[tinnypriv]

5. Question

Who are you talking to?

Just curious.

[dfong63]

9. i don't recall hearing that excuse for arafat, nor would i use it

... and if Arafat came to the US and asked for a $10 billion handout, i'd definitely say HELL NO.

[Fight_n_back]

15. Hmmm

are you unaware of US and EU aid to the PA? And of course the undisclosed amounts from the richest nations in the world.

[Stupdworld]

2. same ol same ol

arabs kill jews kill arabs kill jews blablabla

sharon killed these arabs
arafat killes those jews

isnt it patently obvious they are both scumbags? i say just let them all blow each other to smithereens and we will deal with whoever survives.

[Fight_n_back]

4. Unfortunately

both of them are using surrogates.

The actions of these men should not determine the claims of the people they represent. Both people's desires should be taken on their merits and practicality.

Unless you believe that the US is illegitimate because of Andrew Jackson or William McKinley.

[dfong63]

8. but not with OUR money

[Fight_n_back]

10. Then stop buying oil

since your money goes directly to terrorist orginazations.

[bluesoul]

11. Oil

Like those in Iraq?

[Fight_n_back]

12. do you

buy Iraqi oil?

[bluesoul]

13. Oil

I have no idea where the oil I use comes from. Some of it if probably from Europe some from the Middle East. But if I support terrorists because some of the oil comes from Muslim countries that are rich with oil (Iraq having the second biggest oil reserves) then I really don't know what to say to you. I hope you don't eat and buy dates. You may be supporting terrorists yourself then ;-)

[Fight_n_back]

14. What kind of dates do you think I am eating?

That is probably a thread for the lounge.

If you think you are getting oil from Europe then Im not sure I should bother discussing anything with you until your parents get home.

[bluesoul]

16. oil

Well first of all, I am from Europe, and Norway for example does export its oil. So... :eyes: