Synagogue becomes terrorist training center

[notfullofit]

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Israel Today Staff


Israel's largest daily newspaper on Tuesday published photographs of a synagogue in a former Jewish town in Gaza that has now been transformed into a Hamas training center.

Where Jews once worshipped God, Islamic terrorists now rehearse the murder and abduction of Israelis, reported Yediot Ahronot.

In the run-up to the 2005 forced evacuation of Gaza's Jewish population, Israel wrestled over what to do with synagogues and other public buildings in the 21 Jewish communities across the coastal territory.
Ultimately, those who argued it was not permitted to destroy places of worship won out, and the synagogues were left standing amid naive hopes that the Palestinians would refrain from desecrating them.

Less than 24 hours after the last Israeli soldier left Gaza, however, many of the synagogues were defaced and burned. But some were left standing for more devious purposes.

In the photos published Tuesday, masked and heavily armed Hamas members sporting praises to Allah on their headbands were shown executing a mock assault against the synagogue in the former Jewish town of Atzmona.
In addition to training camps, some former Jewish communities in Gaza have also been transformed into bases from which Palestinian forces launch rocket and mortar attacks on towns and villages in southern Israel.

The international community and the world media have by and large ignored the Palestinians' illegal treatment of Gaza's synagogues and their cynical use of former Jewish towns to practice and launch attacks against Israelis.

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=16621

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Can a synagogue built by thieves on stolen land actually be "misused?" Interesting concept. nt

[sabbat hunter]

2. Yes it can be misused.

it was meant as a house of worship. Instead it has been turned into a terror center. A better use would have been to turn it in to a mosque or other peaceful use.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

3. I think that a house of worship built by thieves on stolen land somehow loses a connection to God.

Forgive me for not shedding tears.

I lived in Gaza when those vile settlers were lords of the land. I know what evil they perpetrated in Gaza.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[LeftishBrit]

4. So turn it into a mosque; a school; a medical center; home for people to live in; whatever...

using any building for terrorist purposes is a misuse.

[notfullofit]

5. Respect other religions, yeah right,

when are the Israelis going to riot of the desecration of the synagogues?

Seems to me a double standard exists....all over a story by Newsweek that turned out to be untrue.

'In Kabul, more than 1000 protestors, protesting against the alleged defilement of the holy Koran in an American prison at Guantanamo Bay, rioted and hurled stones at an American military convoy on Wednesday, shouting anti-US slogans like ‘Death to America!’ and ‘Those who insult the Koran should be brought to justice’.

Around 300 students from Kabul University displayed banners saying, ‘We condemn the desecration of Koran by the US soldiers’. One demonstrator, Mohammed Shasiq, said, “Our demonstration today is mainly about the desecration of the Koran. They should arrest those responsible and punish them, so it becomes a lesson for the rest of the soldiers to respect other religions.”

Earlier, in Jalalabad, the police fired at the crowd, killing four demonstrators and injuring 71.

According to a report by the magazine Newsweek, at a detention centre in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba US detectives flushed a Koran, the Islamic holy book, down the toilet.'

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/2771.html

There were riots all over the world over this fake story.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

6. This is about occupation, not religion.

I can't believe the gall -- seriously.

I will steal your land, kill you, jail you, lock you in your homes for half your life (curfew under occupation courtesy of the lovely settlers) and then have the NERVE to complain that you don't respect the remnants of my iron fist? You don't think that's what the synagogue is for those religious settlers?

If you want Israeli religious symbols respected, try not using them to enslave people!

[notfullofit]

7. O.K.

I really don't want to go here but what the hell.......

no, on second thoughts I won't.

[Dick Dastardly]

12. Maybe if the Palestinians and their allies

had not attempted to drive the Jews into the sea from the begining, steal the land and instead made peace then we would not have a problem now, and there would be a Palestinian state. There would not have been an iron fist an occupation or any of that if they chose peace.

Its ridiculous to think that launching war after war, terror after terror, calling for the someones destruction over and over again and then losing repeatedly that there would be no consequenses. Its ridiculous to think that the situation should be reset over and over to allow more attempts to destroy that someone, and that someone would trust and not take action to insure its security against such repeated aggression and threats.


Talk about gall

[azurnoir]

16. Well Dick

How about explaining why after launching war after war Israel not only gave Sinai back to Egypt, gave them a functioning oil refinery too? Why did Israel sign a peace treaty with Jordan? Why is Israel "talking" to Syria?
Yet it seems you do support the continued occupation and oppression of Palestinians.

[Dick Dastardly]

20. Well, that is simple to explain as you know already

Egypt and Jordan ceased hostilities, terror and calls to destroy Israel and neotiated a peace. Israel tried and still tries to do this with the Palestinians but the Palestinaians continued with their aggression, terror and calls to destroy Israel. Why on earth would you trust someone doing that and give them more opportunity to harm you. They tried it once in Gaza and got more rockets and terror for it. Jordan and Egypt were not doing any of that. You would have to be a moron to reward someone attacking you with better opportunities to attack you.

As far as Syria goes they are talking nowhere near as they have and do with the Palestinians so I dont understand your point. In fact your whole statement makes no sense.

It seems you support continued attacks on Israel and or that those attacks should not make any difference

[azurnoir]

24. No I do not support

the incredibly old chestnut used by the "pro-Israeli" set, you support continued attacks, so black and white, either/or, your either for us or against us.

However as even Pelsar has said the political realities are alot "muddier" and IMHO negotiations and cease fire are preferable.

As for peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan any renounce of terrorism came during or as part of negotiations not prior to, as you seem to think the Palestinians should be required to do.

[Dick Dastardly]

39. It certainly seems that way

No I do not support the incredibly old chestnut used by the "pro-Israeli" set, you support continued attacks, so black and white, either/or, your either for us or against us.

You disregard the facts and realities of the terror and rockets, what occured in Gaza when Israel pulled out, critisize any attempt to stop them and think that Israel should just trust them and pull back under fire which will give them better opportunities to launch attackes on Israel.

As far as your chestnut comment goes it is pretty hypocritical considering your claims that I support oppression and such in your previous post.

As for peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan any renounce of terrorism came during or as part of negotiations not prior to, as you seem to think the Palestinians should be required to do.

Nice try, please show me where I said they renounced terror.You know very well I did not say that, so please cease with twisting what I said. I said

Egypt and Jordan ceased hostilities, terror and calls to destroy Israel and neotiated a peace. Israel tried and still tries to do this with the Palestinians but the Palestinaians continued with their aggression, terror and calls to destroy Israel. Why on earth would you trust someone doing that and give them more opportunity to harm you. They tried it once in Gaza and got more rockets and terror for it. Jordan and Egypt were not doing any of that. You would have to be a moron to reward someone attacking you with better opportunities to attack you.


I dont know whether Egypt and Jordan renounced terror or not and it does not matter because Egypt and Jordan "ceased hostilities, terror and calls to destroy Israel" which is what matters and then and they negotiated. The Palestinians have not done this.

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[notfullofit]

21. I think the Palestinian people

are the 'chosen victims' of those who wish to continue terror attacks and the destruction of Israel, otherwise what excuse would they have?

[Waya]

25. That's rubbish.....

Depending on perspective - some one's terrorist is another one's Freedom fighter. I do not condone terrorist acts, period. No matter which side perpetrates them. However, both sides need to make changes - give a little. There is no absolute right on the side of Israel and no absolute wrong on the Palestinian side. Unconditionally supporting Israel while unconditionally condemning Palestine only preserves the Status Quo. Both sides do unspeakable things to each other - both sides need to step back.

[LeftishBrit]

19. Actually, I'm not bothered just because it was formerly a synagogue...

I'm not religious myself; but even if I was religious, I consider that the important aspects of a religion are its people, following the commands of their God - not a physical symbol. I would hardly expect a synagogue to be left deserted by non-Jews out of religious respect, when it could be used for a purpose.

My response was to the question of whether a building can be misused if it had been stolen or built on stolen property - and my response was yes, it can. I think it's misuse of *any* building to turn it into a terrorist training camp.

[leftynyc]

30. Did you consider it "stolen land"

when it was occupied by Egypt?

[Vegasaurus]

31. No, in fact those occupations

(the ones by Jordan and Egypt) "don't count".

According the Israel haters here, no death, destruction, imprisonments, throwing off land, or putting in refugee camps, by the occupiers of Jordan or Egypt, towards their Palestinian brothers, matters.

It is only evil Israel that they discuss.

Oh, the "occupation" of 60 years by Israel.

That one is particularly rich.

[leftynyc]

32. Just trying to find some consistency

here is about as fruitful as banging my head against the wall. 60-year occupation?!!! That's downright funny in it's ignorance of history.

[Vegasaurus]

37. Oh, no, those people really believe that Israel is occupying ALL

of Palestinian land.

They sound like they are right out of the Hamas charter.

And then they say, oops, I really meant 40 years.

But 60 years of occupation is in all the anti-Israel rhetoric, and not just from the Palestinians and other Arabs, but from supposedly like-minded progressives.

[leftynyc]

38. Then they really don't know history

Because before the Israeli's it was the British. And there ain't nothing like-minded about those progressives. I take comfort that the American government (both dems and pubs)and indeed, most Americans are strong supporters of Israel. Perhaps those who think differently will look at these parades for murderers and understand why that is.

[LeftishBrit]

36. Or for that matter Britain, or before that Turkey?

[Phx_Dem]

33. How did the Umayyads get the land for al Aksa?

They stole it.

[Scurrilous]

34. I think this might qualify as misuse:

Police attacked in Kfar Darom (08.18.05)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3129462,00.html

Security forces have cleared settlers on roof of Kfar Darom synagogue, but activists pour caustic soda on soldiers, who began to scream and remove uniforms; Southern Command Head Dan Harel: ‘This is disgrace’; Police chief says 'Restraint is now over'; Neve Dekalim synagogue also raided, all Gaza synagogues now evacuated

<snip>

"As security forces burst through onto the roof of the Kfar Darom synagogue, protesters poured paint, oil, and a burning substance later identified as caustic soda on troops.

Police and soldiers screamed in pain as they were hit with the caustic soda, and removed their uniforms. Protesters said the substance was just "engine oil."

"This is a total disgrace," IDF Southern Commander Dan Harel said.

One of the policemen was heard shouting, “My back is burning, my back is burning.”

Police chief Moshe Karadi said following the disturbance that “restraint by police is now over, anyone who takes part in acid throwing will be arrested.”

Karadi said the police would change its behavior towards the protesters, 50 of whom have already been arrested after coming down from the synagogue roof."



Imagine...using a place of worship to launch attacks against Israelis.

Moloch!!1!

[notfullofit]

35. I guess that makes it all O.K. then.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[rockymountaindem]

8. Meh. I'm sure it was de-commissioned long before the Hamas folks got in there

It's a little ironic, I suppose, but nothing more.

[pelsar]

9. dont blame hamas...

seriously they're simply taking advantage of their limited resources...i.e. they've got this building, they need some training ground and they made it useful. Mosques, synagogues, churches are get different uses once the owners change hands.

its quite the norm

i mean would any one really expect the Palestinians to "respect" an jewish building after the settlers left? (they've made other uses of other ex settler buildings for the hamas university)

[notfullofit]

10. And yet

there would be one helluva hue and cry if we did not respect their holy 'stuff'.

[pelsar]

11. yes and no.....

i think the outcry from the muslims about the koran etc was nothing more than 'scripted"..mainly because they knew they could get away with it. Shortly after the koran episode in the States the Palestinian prisoners tried that in israel...they claimed they found a koran in the toilet.

the reaction from the Corrections Officer was....so what?....maybe it fell there, maybe it was put there....we really dont care----end of episode.

there is nice restaurant in ein hod that was once a mosque.....no big deal, nor should it be. There is a list (ask PM) that lists all the old mosques in israel and how they are used today. I'm sure if israel shows some 'weakness" in terms of sensitivity, then that list will become useful......

[notfullofit]

13. I guess it is just

the irony of a once holy place being turned into a place where death tactics are taught.

[pelsar]

14. btw just for "fun"

one of the synagogues left was in the shape of the "star of david"... i dont think any israeli nor Palestinian believed that that building had any other "fate" then 100% destruction...

The whole "leave the synagogues because they are holy" was really no more than a PR trap set by israel. There was no way the Palestenians were going to "respect the buildings and leave them for some kind of memorial....we got some nice footage as they went up in flames set by the "mobs"

[Dick Dastardly]

15. Except that the truth is

it was Israeli Mossad that destroyed the buildings and filmed the footage to frame the Palestinians. cmon you know that!!! If I remember it was featured on Electronic Intifada so it is fact.:sarcasm:

[notfullofit]

17. OMG! nt

[Violet_Crumble]

18. I reckon they should have turned it into a brothel and taught some sex tactics!

Pelsar's pretty much voiced my opinion on it already. Holy or ironic, my arse. It used to be a synagogue used by religious extremists, and now it's a building being used by religious extremists. There was nothing 'holy' about what would have been preached in that building when it was a synagogue, and anyone who thinks that the Palestinians should have turned it into some sort of memorial or not destroyed others are living in complete fantasy wankaland. If you want someone to blame, then read this, because there was some cynical washing of hands involved...

From Ha'aretz

'The cabinet decision of 6 June 2004 to raze the synagogues was designed to prevent any possibility of vandalism. The Chief Rabbinate even instructed the government on how to strip the buildings of their sanctity... Everything was expected, and even the High Court gave its approval. But, at the last minute, the decision-makers abandoned reason... Most of the members of the cabinet were afraid to be seen by the public as having gone against the rabbis. They preferred to blame the Palestinians for the destruction of the synagogues rather than carry some of the blame themselves.'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4240664.stm



So what next? Are some of you going to start a campaign against church conversions in places like the UK and here? Many couples who buy them are unmarried and the irony of unmarried sex going on a a 'once holy place' must surely frizzle the brains of those who get so obsessed over deserted synagogues in Gaza!

[notfullofit]

23. I seriously doubt they

would be able to get away with that kind of attitude in Europe with all their political correctness and all.

'the reaction from the Corrections Officer was....so what?....maybe it fell there, maybe it was put there....we really dont care----end of episode.'

[LeftishBrit]

26. Europe? Depends on the circumstances and where..

You're tarring a big continent with a broad brush. Don't read the tabloids too much - they'll tell you about every overly-PC episode, but remarkably little about neo-Nazis beating up immigrants.

And this is a little off-topic: but don't you think that the American attitude to any disrespect to the flag is just as over-the-top and 'PC' as other groups' preoccupation with disrespect for religious symbols? To an outsider, there is quite a bit of similarity.

[Violet_Crumble]

28. The flag thing....

To me the whole American flag fetish thing comes across as almost religious in its fervour....

[Violet_Crumble]

22. That Israel Today site is a laugh a minute. Thanks for posting it!

They're a bunch of Christian Zionist religious weirdos. From About Us: 'Today is a Jerusalem-based news agency providing a biblical and objective perspective on local news.' and it gets even better when you get to the articles. One of my faves in the Politics section: 'Who Founded Israel, God or the United Nations?' Bwah ha ha!

[LeftishBrit]

27. Israel Today is a religious-right rag and not at all reliable..

but they claim here they're quoting from Yediot Aharonot, which is much more mainstream. For some reason, I couldn't get into their site so I don't know how accurate the report is.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. I know, but their articles were nearly as funny as The Onion...

I'm not sure but I think Yediot Aharonot might be published only in Hebrew....