UN AGENCY CONDEMNS ISRAELI TANK FIRE ON PALESTINIAN SCHOOL

[IA_Seth]

I don't understand how we can continue to back either side in this while the violence continues. If this were Europe we would have had this on the table a LONG time ago.

Where is the action when you need it?

............

UN AGENCY CONDEMNS ISRAELI TANK FIRE ON PALESTINIAN SCHOOL IN GAZA
STRIP
New York, Jun 2 2004 10:00AM
Calling it a "violation of the sanctity" of schools, the main United
Nations relief agency helping Palestinian refugees today condemned "in
the strongest possible terms" Israeli tank fire that hit a school in
Rafah in the Gaza Strip, wounding two 10-year-old boys.

"This is the second time in a little over a year that a child in a UN
classroom has been struck by Israeli fire," UN Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) Commissioner-General Peter Hansen said.

"Such indifference to the sanctity of schools and the UN flags flying
above them violates all humanitarian norms and is absolutely deplorable.
Israel's military must take steps to investigate this incident and, if
necessary, bring to justice those responsible," he added. UNRWA said it
would protest to the Israeli authorities "in the strongest possible
terms."

The incident was the latest in a month of violence which has left more
than two dozen Palestinians and 17 Israelis dead and some 3,500
Palestinians homeless because their houses were destroyed or rendered
uninhabitable.

Several tanks shots struck UNRWA's Al-Umariye Elementary Boys' School
on the main road into the Tel Es-Sultan of Rafah, one of them hitting
the window frame of a second-floor classroom. A bullet, or shrapnel from
the window, entered the room where it struck two boys. One was lightly
injured in the head. The second was struck in the neck and rushed to
hospital for emergency surgery. His condition is still serious, but is
now improving.

In March last year a 12-year old pupil was hit in the head and blinded
by a bullet fired from an Israeli observation post on the outskirts of
nearby Khan Younis.

[Lithos]

1. Link please?

Lithos
FA/NS Moderator
Democratic Underground

[Scurrilous]

2. Link:

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040602/2004060215.html



UNRWA calls for taking Israeli soldiers to court

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/02/content_1504706.htm

<snip>

"The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) called on Wednesday to sue Israeli soldiers who shotand wounded two schoolchildren in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

Israeli soldiers shot and wounded two 10-year-old Palestinian children as they were sitting in their classroom in the al-Omareya elementary school on Tuesday.

The school, located in the Tal al Sultan neighborhood, is one ofthose run by the UNRWA in the town.
UNRWA chief Peter Hansen called for an immediate investigation to the attack on the school and take those responsible to court.

One of the injured children was shot in the neck and he was in serious conditions, said Palestinian medics in Rafah, adding that the other was moderately injured."

[Lithos]

7. Thanks

n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[bemildred]

4. Oh shit, all right, I condemn this! nt

[newyorican]

5. LOL

Knew I'd get you, you unrecalcitrant LGFer! </sarcasm>

[IA_Seth]

8. "outrage"

Yeah, this enormous response was kind of what I was expecting. Too many people have been brainwashed into thinking the Israelis are justified in their actions.

Violence will beget violence. And they wonder why the cycle doesn't end.

I tell you one thing....If I were being oppressed and my children shot at at a UN-sponsored school, I would guarantee you I would have a tough time staying peaceful.

That said, I do not totally agree with some of the actions of the Palestinians either (before someone gets their panties in a bunch). It is just that Israel is supposed to be the "only democracy in the Middle East", and a "like-minded" ally.

[newyorican]

6. Prediction: An "investigation" will be launched...

Israeli investigators must be awfully busy, as investigations are always be launched and rarely completed. Sounds like a growth industry...

[geek tragedy]

9. I'd express outrage, but . . .

frankly I'm out of outrage when it comes to Israel/Palestine. Each side commits gross crimes against humanity with regularity and then throws itself a pity party when called on it. Nothing is surprising or shocking anymore when it comes to this conflict.

Besides, what's going on in the Sudan is literally a thousand times more horrible than what's going on in Israel/Palestine, but nobody seems to give a fig about the 350,000 - 1 MILLION (!!!!!) people that are going to die there because of that evil fricking regime.

And, of course, the Sudan just got elected to the United Nations commission on HUMAN RIGHTS, so I really don't care what the UN has to say about anything.

[Gimel]

10. well said

thanks.

:hi: