Yup, Israel is as Bad as Palestine about Terrorism

[Guest MikeSC]

NABLUS, West Bank - A Palestinian teenager approached a crowded West Bank checkpoint wearing a suicide bomb vest Wednesday in what Israel said was a failed attempt to kill soldiers there.

 

In a tense scene captured in exclusive Associated Press Television News footage, soldiers jumped behind concrete barricades and sent a yellow robot to hand scissors to the 16-year-old boy so he could cut off the vest. They then ordered him to strip to his underwear.

 

Experts later detonated the bomb, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.

 

The teenager's family in Nablus identified him as Hussam Abdo, and his brother, Hosni, said "he has the intelligence of a 12-year-old."

 

Although neighbors identified Abdo as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine militant group, his family said he did not belong to any militant group, but went to demonstrations held by all of them.

 

The incident was the latest in a series of what Israel says are foiled militant attacks involving young Palestinians.

 

"No matter how many times Israel learns of the use of children for suicide bombings, it is shocking on each occasion," said Dore Gold, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites). "Israelis do not understand how Palestinians are willing to sacrifice their own children in order to kill ours."

 

Since the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin on Monday, the country has been on high alert, fearing retaliation.

 

Soldiers at the Hawara checkpoint outside Nablus said they got intelligence that there was an imminent attack planned there, shut down the crossing and began searching people.

 

Abdo, wearing an oversized red jersey, approached them in a suspicious way, said Lt. Tamir Milrad, an officer at the checkpoint.

 

"We saw that he had something under his shirt," he said. The soldiers dove behind concrete barricades, pointed their guns at him and told him to stop.

 

They ordered him to take off his jersey, revealing a bulky gray bomb vest underneath.

 

"He told us he didn't want to die. He didn't want to blow up," he said.

 

The soldiers then sent the robot to hand scissors to the boy so he could cut off the vest.

 

He cut off part of it and struggled with the rest. "I don't how to get this off," he said.

 

After he dropped the vest, soldiers ordered him to take off his undershirt and jeans, to ensure he had no other weapons on him.

 

The military said Abdo had been sent to kill soldiers at the crowded checkpoint.

 

"In addition to the fact that he would have harmed my soldiers, he would have harmed also the Palestinians waiting at the checkpoint and there were 200-300 innocent Palestinians there," according to the commander of the checkpoint, identified only as Lt. Col. Guy.

 

Several teenagers have carried out suicide bombings in the past 3 1/2 years of violence and there has been recent concern that militant groups were turning to young attackers to try to frustrate Israeli security checks.

 

On March 16, Israeli troops stopped an 11-year-old boy allegedly trying to smuggle explosives through the Hawara checkpoint. Israel said militants had given the boy the explosives without his knowledge. Palestinians and the boy disputed this, claiming the bag he was carrying — swiftly blown up by army sappers — contained auto parts.

 

Last month, Israeli police arrested three boys, aged 12, 13 and 15, who said they were on their way to carry out a shooting attack in the Israeli city of Afula.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid...er_11&printer=1

 

Yup, I can see how ISRAEL is the problem, seeing as how they don't send kids out, against their will apparently, to blow people up.

-=Mike

[Swift Terror 0]

Complaining about Israel's policies is one thing, calling them terrorists is insane. I don't see any shrines to murder in Israel, as there is a shrine in Palestine to the Sbarro pizza bombing, where young adults were killed. In fact, there is a recreation of the pizza parlor, complete with fake bloody limbs to prasie the incident.

[Guest MikeSC]

Complaining about Israel's policies is one thing, calling them terrorists is insane. I don't see any shrines to murder in Israel, as there is a shrine in Palestine to the Sbarro pizza bombing, where young adults were killed. In fact, there is a recreation of the pizza parlor, complete with fake bloody limbs to prasie the incident.

Really?

 

DANG!

 

That's just sick.

-=Mike

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I don't remember anyone saying Israelis are terrorists.

[Swift Terror 0]

Exactly who do you consider "anyone"?

 

Plenty of groups and leaders have called Israeli actions against Palestine terrorism.

 

An Example: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher

 

Also, Iran has taken the position that the killing of Yassin is terrorism.

[Guest Anglesault]

That robot idea is nifty

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

Complaining about Israel's policies is one thing, calling them terrorists is insane. I don't see any shrines to murder in Israel, as there is a shrine in Palestine to the Sbarro pizza bombing, where young adults were killed. In fact, there is a recreation of the pizza parlor, complete with fake bloody limbs to prasie the incident.

Words can't express how disturbing that truly is...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Exactly who do you consider "anyone"?

"anyone" includes myself and the other American lefties that it seemed the sarcastic tone was aimed at.

 

However, it could be aimed at any of the fringe people we've seen here from time to time, from h4u to "I just Googled this oh wait SWERVE~!" Kamui.

[Guest hunger4unger]

Hey, i've never called Israeli's terrorists. Palestinians aren't terrorists either - there are terrorist groups within Palestine but the people are not terrorists.

 

This story about the kid sounds like a set up by the Israeli's. He's mentally "slow" and reporters weren't allowed to question him. How convenient that it was all caught on film and that the camera cuts away as he's removing his "bomb belt".

[Vern Gagne 0]

Yes. Because groups like Hamas would never ever take advantage of somone to do their murderous dirty work.

[spiny norman 0]

As far as I'm concerned the extremists of either side are as bad as the other. The attacks from the Israelis that have killed innocent Palestinians are just as bad as those from the Palestinians on the Israelis. Yes, there's a Palestinian suicide bomber, but to ignore the fact that there has been mass deaths of innocent Palestinians by Israelis is bloody obstinate. It's a cycle of violence: a Palestinian attacks Israelis, an Israeli attacks a Palestinian and so on. Don't be so close-minded as to act as if one's attacks are as justified as the others. Unfortunately it will go on repeatedly until all Israelis/Palestinians are killed or have escaped. Not all Palestinians are terrorist extremists who wish to kill all Israelis. And not all Israelis are really nice people who are just hard done by. The situation is not that black and white.

[Vyce 0]

This story about the kid sounds like a set up by the Israeli's.

*bangs head against wall repeatedly*

 

I completely give up on you.

 

There is no hope for you. None. Abandon all hope, ye who read his posts.

[Guest hunger4unger]

You need to open your mind a little Vyce! Question everything!

[EricMM 0]

Funny, you question Israelis a lot more than you question Palestinian terrorists.

[Guest MikeSC]

You need to open your mind a little Vyce! Question everything!

Fine.

 

I seriously question how anti-Semitic you are.

-=Mike

[Guest hunger4unger]

I am not anti-semitic. I dont like seeing Israelis killed any more than I like seeing Palestinians killed.

[Guest MikeSC]

I am not anti-semitic. I dont like seeing Israelis killed any more than I like seeing Palestinians killed.

Yet, you give Israel the most scathing of your criticisms.

 

Odd.

-=Mike

[Guest hunger4unger]

That is because from my view, Israel keep grabbing land from Palestine and are the ones at fault. (Which does NOT suggest that Palestinians have the right to use violence)

[Guest MikeSC]

That is because from my view, Israel keep grabbing land from Palestine and are the ones at fault. (Which does NOT suggest that Palestinians have the right to use violence)

Read the last post (currently) in the "Hamas" thread, if you have any desire to learn the truth about that.

 

If not, then have a blast holding on to your misconceptions.

-=Mike

[C Dubya 04 0]

There was some follow up on this story on the Today show this morning. Apparantly this was a very troubled teen who believed that he really would be blessed by having the 72 virgins waiting for him in the afterlife. He also was said to have been having problems fitting in at school or something like that. Kind of sounds like the same excuses people use for American kids that do fucked up shit. Well, except for the virgins thing.

[Vyce 0]

You need to open your mind a little Vyce! Question everything!

How ironic you say this, when on the subject of Israel you appear to be completely blissfully ignorant and cheerful in your acceptance of falsehoods and erroneous facts.

[Styles 0]

Looks like it's time for some http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/myths/index.html Israel Myths and Facts of the Day!

MYTH

 

“The demolition of Palestinian homes is an example of the barbaric policies of Israeli oppression.”

 

FACT

 

Israel does not arbitrarily decide to demolish the homes of Palestinians. The army usually decides to take this drastic measure only after extreme provocation, and to insure the security of soldiers and civilians. In the case of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip, in particular, they have been used as bomb factories, to provide cover for snipers, and to conceal tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt. By demolishing homes, the objective is also to demonstrate that terrorists bring destruction not only to their victims, but to their own families and communities. The hope is that before engaging in terrorism, a Palestinian might think twice about the consequences. The IDF has, in fact, found the demolition of homes to be an effective deterrent, and that the policy has led fathers to turn in their sons before the youths participate in terrorist attacks that would lead to the destruction of the family's home.44b

 

Homes are also sometimes demolished when they are built illegally, without government approval or the proper permits. This practice is not applied only to Palestinians; however, Jewish homes have also been torn down when they were built illegally. Efforts by Jewish settlers, for example, to create new outposts or illegally expand existing settlements often result in the new structures being demolished.45

 

MYTH

 

“Palestinians are living under the oppressive control of Israeli military authorities.”

 

FACT

 

Israel engaged in negotiations with the Palestinians at Oslo and afterward because Israelis desperately crave peace and because they do not want to control the lives of Palestinians. After withdrawing from most of the Gaza Strip and more than 40 percent of the West Bank, approximately 98 percent of the Palestinian population came under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. Most of their affairs are now controlled by Yasser Arafat's regime, and if Israel has its way, negotiations will lead to the Palestinian Authority assuming full control over the lives of all the Palestinians living in what will eventually be a Palestinian state.

 

In the meantime, Israelis still intrude on Palestinian lives. Because the Palestinians' leaders have chosen the path of violence rather than negotiations, Israel still controls part of the disputed territories, and must use checkpoints, occasional curfews and other security measures to protect Israel's civilian population from terrorists. These steps certainly cause hardship and frustration, but they will not be necessary if the Palestinian Authority stops the terror.

 

MYTH

 

“Palestinians have no need for propaganda because the truth about Israeli behavior makes clear their barbarity.”

 

FACT

 

Palestinian and other Arab leaders routinely use their media outlets to spread outrageous libels against Israel and the Jews to inflame their populations. Palestinians have become masters of the technique perfected by Adolf Hitler known as the “big lie.” As Hitler explained in Mein Kampf:

 

The size of a lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of a nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell big ones.

 

One example of the Palestinian big lie came on March 11, 1997, when the Palestinian representative to the UN Human Rights Commission claimed the Israeli government had injected 300 Palestinian children with the HIV virus.77

 

More recently, Palestinians claimed in 2002 that Israel was dropping poisoned candies from helicopters in front of schools to poison children. That lie was updated in 2003 with the fabrication that Israel is making “bombs and mines designed as toys” and dropping them into the Palestinian territories from airplanes so children will play with them and be blown up.78

 

The Palestinians also regularly try to inflame the Muslim world by falsely claiming the Jews are going to blow up the Temple Mount or the al-Aksa Mosque. For example, on September 29, 2000, the Voice of Palestine, the PA's official radio station sent out calls "to all Palestinians to come and defend the al-Aksa mosque." This was the day after Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount, and the subsequent riots marked the unofficial beginning of the latest uprising.

 

More recently, the Palestinian Authority TV “Message to the World” broadcast announced: “The Zionist criminals are planning to destroy the al-Aqsa mosque on the ground that they they are searching for the Holy Temple, which they falsely claim is under the mosque.”79

 

One of the most outrageous lies circulated throughout the Middle East was that 4,000 Israelis did not report to work on September 11, or "called in sick" that morning because they knew an attack was coming. Israel and the Mossad are also said to be responsible for the atrocities. Of course, this was also a lie, but it is the type of conspiracy theory that is widely believed by Arabs who maintain the forgery, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, is factual.

 

MYTH

 

"Israel has long sought to deny residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip their political rights."

 

FACT

 

While defending its existence against hostile Arab forces, Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Facing a violent insurrection, Israel has been forced to restrict some activities of Palestinians. Israel cannot concede to Palestinians all the rights Americans take for granted in a nation that is not at war, while Arab states maintain a state of belligerency with Israel, and Palestinians engage in terrorism against Israelis.

 

Given the constraints of Israel's security requirements, efforts were made from the outset to allow Palestinians the greatest possible freedom. After the Six-Day War, the traditional pro-Jordanian leadership continued to hold many civil service positions and was paid by Jordan. Municipal elections were held in 1972 and 1976. For the first time, women and non-landowners were allowed to vote.

 

The 1976 election brought Arab mayors to power who represented various PLO factions. Muhammad Milhem of Halhoul, Fahd Kawasmeh of Hebron, and Bassam Shaka of Nablus were affiliated with Fatah. Karim Khalaf of Ramallah represented the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Ibrahim Tawil of El-Bireh was associated with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.4

 

In 1978, these mayors and other radicals formed the National Guidance Committee, which vigorously opposed any accommodation with Israel, attempted to stir up broad allegiance to the PLO on the West Bank and incited rejection of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. In 1981, Israel expelled Milhem and Kawasmeh. They were allowed to return to appeal the expulsion order, but it was upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court.

 

Two weeks after his expulsion, Milhem said: "There is no room for the existence of the Zionists under a situation of true peace. They are only capable of existing in a situation of tension and war...and that goes for all the parties...[they are] neither doves nor hawks, only pigs."5

 

Kawasmeh was appointed to the PLO Executive Committee in 1984. Later that year, he was assassinated by Palestinian radicals in Amman.

 

As part of the Camp David negotiations, Israel proposed an autonomy plan to grant the Palestinians greater control over their affairs. The Palestinians rejected autonomy as an option, however, holding out hope for the creation of a Palestinian state.

 

For the rest of the decade, Israel, nevertheless, attempted to shift increasing responsibilities from the military to civilian administrators and to Palestinians. Efforts to give Palestinians greater responsibility for their affairs were undermined by the intifada. During the uprising, Palestinian Arabs who wished to cooperate with Israel came under attack and were silenced either through intimidation or murder. Israeli government officials sought to maintain a dialogue with many Palestinians, but those whose identities were discovered became targets.

 

In secret negotiations in Oslo, Norway, in 1993, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed to a plan that would give the latter limited self-government. Subsequent negotiations have resulted in Israeli withdrawal from nearly half the West Bank and most of the Gaza Strip, and increasing Palestinian control over their own affairs. The Palestinian Authority now governs virtually all civil affairs for approximately 98 percent of the Palestinians in the territories. The expectation is that a final political settlement will result in the creation of a Palestinian state in most of the areas once controlled by Israel.

 

Hey, here's a Bonus one!

MYTH

 

“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is a force for moderation in the territories. It advocates Muslim-Jewish harmony and reconciliation.”

 

FACT

 

Hamas is opposed to Israel's existence in any form. Its platform states that "there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad (holy war)." The group warns that any Muslim who leaves "the circle of struggle with Zionism" is guilty of "high treason." Hamas' platform calls for the creation of an Islamic republic in Palestine that would replace Israel. Muslims should "raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine," it says.30

 

I think that's enough for today. Want to save some for other ignorant threads that try to put Israel and the Palestinians on a moral equivalency...

[Justice 0]

You need to open your mind a little Vyce! Question everything!

Okay, he's either Frank Zappa Mask or he's a troll. This pretty much confirms it for me.

[Swift Terror 0]

"anyone" includes myself and the other American lefties that it seemed the sarcastic tone was aimed at.

 

 

Wrong again