Gazans celebrate at sight of coffins turned over by Hizbullah

[notfullofit]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are handing out sweets to celebrate the handover of two coffins believed to contain the bodies of Israeli soldiers.

Dozens of Palestinians, holding Palestinian and Lebanese flags, rejoiced Wednesday at the prospect that the terrorist, Samir Kuntar, would be freed. Some hoisted posters of Kuntar and handed out sweets to drivers.

One of the celebrants was a former cellmate of Kuntar's in an Israeli prison.

Jaber Weshah said, "Today is a true day of joy for all Palestinians and all freedom lovers across the world."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330987125&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[notfullofit]

1. It shows the only way to free prisoners is by kidnapping soldiers

snip...

'In the Gaza Strip, controlled by the violently anti-Israel Hamas group, people celebrated in the streets and handed out sweets in support of Hezbollah.

"Today is a great victory for the resistance movements and to Hezbollah, said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "It shows that the only successful way to free the prisoners is by kidnapping soldiers."

Demonstrators also rejoiced at the prospect that Samir Kuntar, the Lebanese militant convicted of a notorious attack in Israel in 1979, would be released.

One celebrant was a former cellmate of Kuntar's. Jaber Weshah said, "Today is a true day of joy for all Palestinians and all freedom lovers across the world."

Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister, condemned the celebrations.

"Samir Kantar is a brutal murderer of children and anybody celebrating him as a hero is trampling on basic human decency," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1002659.html

[Vegasaurus]

2. The celebrations and crowing

about kidnapping being the way to get prisoners released was to be expected.

Israel made an absolutely wrong move in agreeing to release a murdering, bloodthirsty terrorist for the bodies of soldiers.

I disagree with this move vehemently, since I knew there would be candy passing (after all, any time Israelis suffer or are murdered, far too many Palestinians rejoice), and I knew that all the militant movements would see it as a great opportunity to continue their terrorism.

Do something awful (kidnap) and get something good in return (release of bloodthirsty murderers).

Disgusting and disgraceful.

[leftynyc]

3. I agree with you

Pretty fucking disgusting. And now we'll see SOME palestinians celebrating this. The policy of releasing prisoners and getting dead bodies in return must stop or these kidnappings will continue.

[notfullofit]

6. Lebanon greets Hezbollah men, Kuntar with cheers, honor guard

snip...

'President Shimon Peres denounced the red carpet treatment, drawing a comparison between the behavior of Israelis, mourning the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers whose bodies were returned after two years as part of the swap, and what he called Lebanese "dancing and drumming."

"I watch and hear what is happening on both sides of the barricade. In Lebanon there are victory celebrations," Peres said in a special address on the return of the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

"The heads of states, heads of Hezbollah are dancing and drumming before welcoming Kuntar - the murderer who with his rifle's butt smashed the skull of Einat, of blessed memory, who was four years old, and who shot her father in cold blood. In Israel, the people are crying. Today we are all the Goldwasser and Regev families."

more...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1002659.html

[leftynyc]

8. This is truly vomit worthy

Parades for fucking murderers - I feel like I'm in another dimension.

[notfullofit]

11. I know what you mean,

the Twilight Zone comes to mind.

[notfullofit]

4. Vega,

your past comments on this type of activity have just been reaffirmed.

[azurnoir]

5. what is always ignored

or perhaps more likely simply discounted by the Pro-Israeli set is the death tol, on the Palestinian/ Lebanese side

Lebanese citizens:
1,191<14> dead
4,409 injured<14>

Israeli civilians:
44 dead<15><16>
1,489 wounded; 2,773 treated for shock and anxiety<17>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict

2 civilians killed
44 civilians injured
16+ civilians treated for shock

117 civilians killed
~1,000 injured

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Gaza_conflict

and last March in Gaza gleefully called "operaton hot winter"

Israeli
3 killed (1 civilian)
at least 8 wounded <2>

Palestinian
112 killed (58 civilians),
350 wounded.<3>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Warm_Winter

In Lebanon over 1,000 dead in Gaza 229 in 2 invasions perhaps this is why some Gazans and Lebanese celebrate?
note I took out the number of actual combatants in all numbers cited, mostly for brevity.

[LeftishBrit]

9. There are many reasons why people come to romanticize violence...

and yes, revenge and bitterness and previous harm are common reasons.

However, while one can *explain* celebrating violence and death (and one must recognize that it affects many societies at war)- one cannot *excuse* or justify it. It just leads to yet more violence and death.

[azurnoir]

10. Well said thanks n/t

[Shaktimaan]

14. on the other hand

I'd contrast their reaction to that of the general Israeli public regarding Baruch Goldstein.

During the 90's, Israel saw a drastic increase in suicide attacks and there was no love lost between most Israelis and the Palestinians. Despite this, Goldstein's act was almost universally reviled by the Israeli public.

That said, it would be easy to find a few thousand hardcore supporters who would dance in the streets and celebrate if he were alive and being released. However their numbers would be offset by the millions of wiser Israelis who would be disgusted by him and everything he stands for.

Israelis were vocal in their denouncement of Goldstein, regardless of their frustration with the Palestinians. You just don't see the same kind of celebrations surrounding "Israeli vigilante-ism" as you do in the Arab world, even regarding true monsters like Kuntar. I think there are a few reasons for this. First and foremost, Israelis tend to have a more European influenced culture, whereas Middle Eastern culture has different customs regarding warfare and revenge. Thomas Friedman wrote an interesting piece on this cultural difference, such as how the eye-for-an-eye rule prevalent in Arab culture has influenced the Arab/Israeli conflict.

I also think that Israelis pride themselves on taking "the high road" in terms of terrorism and their responses to it. In fact, their relationship with the UN, US and rest of the world depends on it. The only way that Israel can get the minimal support that it does receive depends on their maintaining some degree of ethical responsibility. If Israel acted according to the same rules as, say... Hamas, it would be extremely difficult for their most valuable defender, the US, to continue funding their military. To a great degree the US position on Israel is shaped by US Jews, who tend to be extremely liberal. If Israeli policy violated the ethical code that US Jews value (without absolutely dire need) then Israel's overseas support structure would slowly start to crumble. In short, Israel can't afford to lionize nut-jobs like Goldstein.

Not that it often takes this kind of conscious form I'm sure. Israelis of the left, (re: most Israelis) hate people like Goldstein more than they hate the Palestinians. Because Goldstein represents them. Israel built its legitimacy on an argument to the UN based (to some extent) around ethical responsibility. An argument that is constantly being challenged. Terrorists like Goldstein hurt Israel much more than they help. Same goes for Kuntar and Palestine of course, but that's academic.

[Scurrilous]

7. Palestinians celebrate Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap

<snip>

"Tens of Islamic Jihad movement supporters in the Gaza Strip Wednesday went to the streets and handed out sweets to bystanders to express their happiness over an ongoing Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap.

The celebrators gathered on a main street in the Gaza city, carrying posters of the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanese prisoner Samir Kuntar and some of the dead Palestinians whose bodies were handed over to Hezbollah."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/16/content_8557409.htm


Tens? TENS?? Moloch will not be pleased!!1!

[Sezu]

12. Did it say how many REFUSED the sweets? Aside from

this single article there is PLENTY of evidence that Moloch has found his place among a huge number of partiers in that region this day. Well pleased is more likely, yes, well pleased indeed. And why would he not be when a well fed, healthy state educated double degreed ALIVE baby killer is feted and touted for the Lebanese parliament while his victims lay in the ground?

Screw him and his supporters here and around the world.

[notfullofit]

15. message of solidarity with Sudanese President

Gaza – Ma'an – Hamas staged a demonstration in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening to celebrate Israel's release of five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Quntar.


snip...

The demonstration also carried a message of solidarity with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was charged by the International Criminal Court of war crimes this week.



more...
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=30602

[Vegasaurus]

13. The celebrations are "glorious", as in the past

http://www.infolive.tv/en/infolive.tv-17566-israelnews-thousands-celebrate-streets-gaza-upon-news-dimona-suicide-attacks-su

This is one of many documented accounts of the Palestinian celebrating their terrorizing and murder.

[notfullofit]

16. And then what happens

after the music stops?

[notfullofit]

17. A somber occasion

snip...

'The exchange is a somber occasion in Israel, where no ceremonies are planned.

In the Gaza Strip, controlled by the violently anti-Israel Hamas group, people handed out sweets to celebrate Kantar's impending release.'


more..

http://www.asharqalawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=13408


This Arab newspaper seems pretty 'fair and balanced', anyone familiar with it?