Israel Bombards Gaza As It Searches For Soldier
Source: Associated Press
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel is striking dozens of sites in Gaza as it continues a massive search for an officer it fears was captured by Hamas militants.
Palestinians officials say at least 35 Palestinians have been killed in the early morning bombardment in and around the city of Rafah on Saturday. The area's main hospital was evacuated because of the strikes.
The Israeli military believes 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin was grabbed in a Hamas ambush about an hour after an internationally brokered cease-fire took effect Friday. Hamas' military wing says it is not aware of any such capture.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Israel-bombards-Gaza-as-it-searches-for-soldier-5664046.php
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billhicks76
(5,082 posts)Doesn't Hamas always claim responsibility proudly for what it does? Is someone else the kidnapper who prefers a war?
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)
Divernan
(15,480 posts)Book Review by Wendy Campbell:
"By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky, ex-Mossad agent
6/3/04
Victor Ostrovsky, author of "By Way of Deception", was a high-ranking member of the Mossad, Israel's ultra-secret intelligence department similar to the CIA, for several years before his sudden departure due to finding himself the fall guy for an embarrassing oversight by his superiors. He left Israel disillusioned, even disgusted, to return to his country of birth, Canada, and then courageously penned the extraordinary account of his experience while working for the Mossad. Ostrovsky's revelations about the duplicitous, often criminal activities of the Mossad, is an exceptionally interesting read, especially for anyone who has become suspicious of the United States' unconditional support of Zionist apartheid state of Israel.
In 1990, the government of Israel tried in vain to prevent this book from being published, as it includes surprisingly detailed accounts of the Mossad’s nefarious deeds, such as the many "false flag" operations (committing crimes and then making it look like others were responsible, such as Palestinian militants, for Israel's political advantage), extensive espionage inside the United States, extra-judicial assassinations around the world, just to name a few.
Although "By Way of Deception" was originally published in 1990, Ostrovsky's stunning revelations paint a very dark picture about the mindset of Israel's ruling establishment and its persistent tendency to view all the rest of the world's nations as potential adversaries. Indeed, the Mossad's motto is "By way of deception, thou shalt do war."
Some Direct Quotes and Revelations From the Book
Here are some revealing and important out-takes from the must-read book "By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky and Claire Hoy:
It is, as Ostrovsky points out, problematic that "the Mossad does not seem to care how devastating it could be to the status of the Jewish people in the diaspora if it were known. The answer you get if you ask is: "So what's the worst that could happen to those Jews? They'd all come to Israel? Great." This is yet another example of how the Zionist agenda actually knowingly helps to create a climate for what is termed as "anti-Semitism", to try to legitimize the existence of an exclusive Jewish state, even at the expense of others, such as the Palestinians, whose land has been largely expropriated.
As many of us realize, the primary question for Israel and Zionists seems to be, as Ostrovsky notes in this book: "Is it good for the Jews? Forget about policies, or anything else. That was the only thing that counted, and depending on one's answer, people were called anti-Semites, whether deservedly or not."
Zionists Claim: "Unconditional Surrender is the Only Option for Peace"
With regards to dealing with the Palestinians, he noted that "Violent clashes and ultimately unconditional surrender were the only ways the Mossad could conceive of achieving peace". Obviously Ariel Sharon and most Israeli leaders feel this way too, no matter what they say for public consumption. Actions speak louder than words.
Ostrovsky recounts various instances where the Mossad sought to prevent any peace initiative between the Palestinians and the Israeli government, by giving false information to the CIA about Palestinians preparing for a major war against the Israelis, when during those times this was indeed false information. I surmise, for instance, that the 2003 remote bomb-killing of the three American envoys to Gaza was the work of the Mossad, since only Israel benefited from it, and no Palestinian group claimed responsibility for it, which they usually do (unlike the Mossad).
http://www.marwenmedia.com/articles_images/BookReview.html
Socialistlemur
(770 posts)If a soldier falls in the hands of a guerrilla force during a military operation, wearing an uniform, the soldier is considered captured and not kidnapped. This means the individual should receive the proper treatment under the Geneva convention. On the other hand both sides should also respect the convention, and neither side does. The conflict is characterized by serious war crimes carried out as a standard operational practice, by both the Israeli as well as the Palestinian side. Since this current phase was triggered by Israel, I'd say its time to consider a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's behaviour.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Really? I struggle with the logic on this one. "We need to get our man back, BOMB HIS CAPTORS HARDER!" I'm starting to wonder if israel really does believe that it's weapons are incapable of harming whoever Israel considers an innocent person? Or maybe it's just that his corpse would suit the IDF as well as his rescue would, and bombs are just that much easier.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 2, 2014, 06:29 AM - Edit history (1)
It is one of the puzzling oddities of recent World history that the modern State of Israel, in the course of fighting its endless wars with Muslim neighbors, has become more and more like the very power which caused the Jewish people their greatest suffering and loss. The defenders of Israel, once seen as heroic underdogs, have become militarily powerful, morally indifferent butchers of the innocent and helpless. It is not an exaggeration to say that Israel today looks to much of the World like the closest thing there is to what fascist-ruled Germany once was.
shaayecanaan
(6,068 posts)
hack89
(39,171 posts)shaayecanaan
(6,068 posts)when they dug the Cu Chi tunnels. It was also probably worth it for Hezbollah when they dug their tunnels in readiness for the July War in 2006. In fact, without their tunnels, it is likely that the North Vietnamese would have lost the war.
There is no better way to negate the advantage of air superiority than to engage in tunnel warfare. You can sit there in comfort while the enemy drops as many bombs as they like. You can't hit them, but neither can they hit you. They can try to kill civilians to put pressure on you, but they lose a lot of moral legitimacy by doing so. Eventually they have to send in soldiers to clear the tunnels, which is bloody and expensive.
In Cast Lead, Israel killed nearly 1500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and Hamas killed 6 Israeli soldiers.
This time, the Israelis have killed about the same number of Palestinians, mainly civilians, but Hamas has killed over ten times as many soldiers. About 400 Israeli soldiers have been wounded, with 200 of those wounds being moderate to serious (amputations and such).
Hamas has lost about 400 of its own number. That is still a remarkable result when you consider that they have no body armour, vestigial equipment, no air support, and limited artillery and communications support. Like the war with Hezbollah, the significant casualties are a loss for Israeli deterrence as well as confirmation of the mediocrity, by and large, of Israel's ground forces.
Hamas has also improved its moral legitimacy. In their last tunnel attack, they avoided a nearby kibbutz and instead killed five IDF soldiers before slipping back into Gaza (through a tunnel which Israel claimed it had already closed). About 95% of the deaths caused by Hamas have been soldiers, whereas 75% of people dead at Israel's hands are civilians. This can only go on for so long before people start to question who the terrorists really are.
Think of the Israeli mother who looks at her 20 year old son with his legs blown off. I would say that eventually, she would start to wonder whether it was all worth it. When enough mothers wonder whether its all worth it, you have something like the four mothers' movement, which led to the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon.
The July War, in which Hezbollah went the distance with Israel, led to the strengthening of Hezbollah and the collapse of the Israeli government. Something similar will happen this time around. Hamas will emerge from this war stronger. They have already renewed their support from the Iranians due to the substantial numbers of Israeli soldiers that they have managed to kill. It is almost certain that they will get concessions from the Egyptians, such as the reopening of the Rafah crossing.
When you consider that before the way, they were nearly broke and on the verge of calling in Fatah to rule in the Gaza strip, this is quite a turnaround.
Considerable damage has been done to Israel's relationship with the United States. Israeli leaders have gone feral, levelling serious personal attacks against Obama and Kerry that threaten to make a wedge issue of the Israeli relationship in American politics. There is now substantial international support for most of what Hamas is asking for a ceasefire.
It is likely that Netanyahu, like Olmert before him, will lose his job in large part due to this war, probably to Bennett. The Israelis will eventually have to agree to a ceasefire that leaves Hamas intact. Within one to two years Hamas will redig the tunnels that were closed and will replenish their arsenal so that it is stronger than before. Like the 2006 war, it will be difficult to avoid the conclusion that this was not a defeat.
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Blame even though Israel continued onward toward Rahfa during the cease fire. Hamas says they her acted to this advancement. But our media will never give the full story. If IDF had not been in Gaza no soldier could have captured there. It is a war zone. But it appears that the international rules of war only apply to Israel's enemies and not to Israel. When will the leaders of the Israeli government be tried for war crimes? Never. Just like the war criminals heading the Egyptian government.
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)Fool me once(the three teens), shame on you. I won't be fooled again.
How many times can Israelis call "wolf" and the MSM still doesn't question them.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Where do you get that from?
Divernan
(15,480 posts)Claim that Hamas killed 3 teens is turning out to be the WMD of Gaza onslaught
Claim that Hamas killed 3 teens is turning out to be the WMD of Gaza onslaught
Adam Horowitz and Phil Weiss on July 26, 2014 146
Micky Rosenfeld
Micky Rosenfeld
Truth is famously the first casualty of war, and the Israeli war on Gaza is no exception. Yesterday Jon Donnison of the BBC pulled the rug out from under the Israeli government’s pretext for the Gaza onslaught with a series of tweets about a conversation he’d had with Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld about the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens in the West Bank in June.
The boys were not killed by Hamas, Rosenfeld told Donnison, as he reported on Twitter:
This version of events is so important, because what the Weapons of Mass Destruction were to the Iraq war — a dubious pretext — the three teens are to the Gaza onslaught. Let’s review.
The three teens were abducted on June 12. That same day Israeli authorities received a desperate phone call from one of the boys that contained gunfire at its conclusion. The supposition that the boys were dead was advanced when Israeli authorities found the car in which the abduction had taken place, with evidence they’d been shot.
The information about the gunshots on that desperate last phone call was widely known in the media, but as we reported, the Israeli government issued a gag order against these facts being published. And over the last two-and-a-half weeks of June, the Israelis launched extensive raids across the West Bank, locking down Hebron, supposedly to find the boys. But the major focus of the raids was rooting out Hamas affiliates and arresting them. In fact, the purpose of the raids seemed to be to break up the recent unity government between Hamas and Fatah, which Israel has vigorously opposed.
The boys’ bodies were found on June 30, in a shallow grave in the West Bank; and again the deaths were exploited to punish Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said then, “Hamas is responsible… Hamas will pay.”
By June 16, Hamas increased rocket fire into Israel in response to the crackdown in the West Bank. Israel ramped up its attacks on Gaza conducting 6 airstrikes that wounded two.
MFM008
(19,803 posts)they might kill their own guy with the continued bombardment?
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)If he did the recent history of his country (and the whole Middle East) would be a very different story.
hack89
(39,171 posts)
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)It's in Wikipedia.
During an abduction, the major mission is to rescue our soldiers from the abductors even at the price of harming or wounding our soldiers. Light-arms fire is to be used in order to bring the abductors to the ground or to stop them. If the vehicle or the abductors do not stop, single-shot (sniper) fire should be aimed at them, deliberately, in order to hit the abductors, even if this means hitting our soldiers. In any event, everything will be done to stop the vehicle and not allow it to escape.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Then they wouldn't have to go through the whole "hostage" drama and possibly have to free Palestinian prisoners.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)Hamas’s armed wing on Saturday said it had lost contact with the cell which carried out an attack on IDF troops in Rafah Friday — killing two soldiers and apparently kidnapping the third, 2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin — and said it believed its operatives had been killed by Israeli air force strikes and that Goldin, if with them, was dead as well.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-says-mia-soldier-probably-dead/#ixzz39GCH4tWK
