Israel steps up its war against the Palestinians

[Resistance]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/oct2003/isra-o28.shtml

The Sharon regime in Israel—secure in the knowledge that it has Washington’s unconditional support—has stepped up its military attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, occupied illegally since 1967. In the process, it has signalled its contempt for international conventions on human rights, the United Nations General Assembly, and indeed the formal strictures of the US-brokered “Road Map” for peace in the Middle East.

Far from dismantling the “security wall” it has erected in the West Bank, the Sharon government has vowed to press on with it. And it has announced that it will also go ahead with the expansion of the Zionist settlements.

As usual, the world’s press barely reported the incidents, much less condemned them.

The magnitude of the Israeli retaliation and the scale of the casualties were so disproportionate to the damage caused by the Palestinians’ primitive weapons that even members of Ariel Sharon’s right-wing coalition cabinet were moved to object—although not to resign from the government.

“We should not carry out mass killings in order to strike two or three terrorists,” the BBC reported Interior Minister Avraham Poraz of the Shinui Party as saying. Another Shinui Party cabinet member, Yosef Paritsky, the minister of infrastructure, urged Israel to apologise to and compensate the victims. He said, “We are not at war with the Palestinian population.”

[mike_c]

1. the IDF specializes in mass killings and collective reprisals....

Barbarians.

[rini]

2. Arafat continues a war on innocents

The Arafat regime of murder inc, secure in the knowledge that it has the fanatics unconditional support—has stepped up its military attacks on Israeli civilians; the murder of young (15 month) children appears to be a specialty.

In the process, it has signalled its contempt for international conventions on human rights, and through threat of terror attacks has frightened a good deal of the world into silence or appeasement.

Far from being pro-active in the peace process, it has forced Israel to build a "security wall." Neither has it renounced a stated goal of the elimination of Israel and its people.

As usual, the world’s press barely comments (if at all) on an admitted objective of genocide.

The magnitude of Arafat's war and the scale of the casualties were so viscious that civilized people throughout the world have condemed its brutality.
The Israelis will tell anyone "We are not at war
with the Palestinian population." On the other hand, Arafat and his minions make it quite clear with whom they are at war. Innocent women and children, teenagers, and senior citizens, the only thing needed is they be Israeli, Muslem, Christian, Jewish, is a non issue, just be a citizen of Israel.

He and his regime are barbarians.

[Resistance]

3. It doesn't excuse Israel's terrorism and ethnic cleansing

Does it.

[rini]

4. lie, lies, and more lies

fighting for your life is not murder. And I notice you did not deny one word I wrote. Catch a dose of concience?

[Resistance]

5. I don't defend Arafat

or terrorism, either from the Palestinian or Israeli side.

Why don't you stop defending Israeli terror, blatant land theft, and murders of civilians and peace activists?

[Jim Sagle]

9. Self-defense isn't terrorism.

And walling out terrorists isn't ethnic eleansing.

But hey, you knew that.

[Resistance]

11. Wrong

Terrorism isn't self-defense.

And stealing land isn't "walling out terrorists".

But hey, you obviously don't know that.

[Gimel]

14. Left-wing media claims

Ethnic cleansing is the ugly claim that makes people turn against the left. It's way over the top.

[bluesoul]

15. Left wing? This IS DU

So you're on the right? It wouldn't surprise me..

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bluesoul]

18. Hmm

Something I did not expect when I joined the DU. And I must say it surprised me to say the least...

[bluesoul]

16. Ethnic cleansing

The ugly claim is the truth. I know it hurts...

[Darranar]

6. Hmm...

The Arafat regime of murder inc, secure in the knowledge that it has the fanatics unconditional support—has stepped up its military attacks on Israeli civilians; the murder of young (15 month) children appears to be a specialty.

What in the world are you talking about? The suicide bombings (on which you have provided little evidence that Arafat has had any real connection with them) or the legitimate strikes on Israeli soldiers?

In the process, it has signalled its contempt for international conventions on human rights, and through threat of terror attacks has frightened a good deal of the world into silence or appeasement.

See above. And even if I agreed with you (which i don't) taht Arafat actively supports suicide bombings, how would that threaten the world? It only threatens Israel.

Far from being pro-active in the peace process, it has forced Israel to build a "security wall." Neither has it renounced a stated goal of the elimination of Israel and its people.

I didn't hear about Arafat holding a gun to Sharon's head, telling him to build a security wall. Can you provide a link to this story, please?

Seriously, that is like saying that Israel has forced the Palestinians to launch terrorist attacks against innocent civilians.

The PA has called for a two-state solution. They endorsed the roadmap and Arafat said he "liked" the geneva accords. Therefore, they have renounced, sincerely or not, that goal (unless you are speaking of Hamas/Islamic Jihad, which do not have much of a connection to the PA for religious and other reasons.)

The magnitude of Arafat's war and the scale of the casualties were so viscious that civilized people throughout the world have condemed its brutality.
The Israelis will tell anyone "We are not at war
with the Palestinian population." On the other hand, Arafat and his minions make it quite clear with whom they are at war. Innocent women and children, teenagers, and senior citizens, the only thing needed is they be Israeli, Muslem, Christian, Jewish, is a non issue, just be a citizen of Israel.

More rhetoric blaming everything on Arafat. Talk is talk, regardless of who says it. When Israel removes the settlements, maybe I'll believe theirs a little more.

What "minions" of Arafat are you speaking of here?

He and his regime are barbarians.

No, they aren't. They're brutal, yes, but not barbarians.

[Jim Sagle]

7. It must really suck to be a Trotskyite.

[Resistance]

10. No

It sucks to be a Palestinian, having your land stolen from you, having missiles dropped on crowds of civilians of your people, having your apartments bulldozed, having peace activists who are there to help you get murdered by a ruthless Occupation Army, and having to continue to live in impoverished, miserable refugee camps all because some racist, religious pyschopaths want to steal the rest of your land.

That really sucks.

[Herschel]

8. It seems there is no end

to questionable sources.

[Forkboy]

12. I know

it's highly annoying.

[Aidoneus]

13. so terribly sorry..

We should all clear sources by the Internet Haganah before daring to post them here. How rude of us..

Resistance, take note:-- http://haganah.org.il/haganah/index.php -- if you want to avoid these problems in the future, just channel things through them first and ask permission before .

(ps--this drippingly sarcastic remark would have worked a lot better if that site was actually up and running.. perhaps the fanatic thoughtpolice have been taken down, a taste of their own medicine perhaps?)

Now with the brilliant sarcasm out of the way (humble, too..), nice piece Resistance. I missed that one the last time I checked WSWS.

[Muddleoftheroad]

19. Another great news source

WSWS. LOL.

[Resistance]

20. Yeah

you're so much more informed than the rest of us, to praise the lies of U.S. News and Zuckerman, rather than even touching the pathetic Leftist analysis and reporting of WSWS.

Gotcha loud and clear, muddle.

[Muddleoftheroad]

21. WSWS

Is a radical socialist site. Since I am neither radical nor socialist, I question a lot of what they do. Go figure.

[bluesoul]

22. Well

What is interesting though is that you seem to rely and trust more rightwing sources then left wing. IF WSWS is radical socialist, then Cox&Forkum, Fox, WSJ, JPost, Mark Steyn, are radical extreme right wing ... And from all those there have been quotes and posts here, not as mockery but taken seriously as referential. Go figure...

[Muddleoftheroad]

24. Don't rely on those much either

I only checked Cox&Forkum when it was posted here. I never watch Fox, I only read WSJ when I stumble across it. I'm not even registered for JPost, so I only read it when it crops up here. And I don't even know Mark Steyn.

So, if you wish to be accurate, some of the sources I use include the Washington Post, NY Times, CNN, BBC and lots of stuff that crops up at DU on both sides.

[Resistance]

23. The truth is a radical thing

you might give it a chance some time, instead of constantly fighting it.

[Muddleoftheroad]

25. Truth

Funny, truth, isn't that what the Soviet mouthpiece Pravda allegedly meant?