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Adel Hana / AP
Palestinians gather around the wreckage of a car destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Thursday.
An Israeli airstrike on a car near a crowded park in downtown Gaza City killed two suspected militants on Thursday, the second such attack this week after a period of relative calm along the Israeli-Gaza border.
Similar flare-ups have in the past escalated into a wider confrontations between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza. After Thursday's strike, Israel's military alleged the two men in the car had planned to infiltrate Israel to attack soldiers and civilians, but provided no details.
It said one of the militants had been involved in a suicide bombing in Israel five years ago that killed three Israeli civilians. It identified the other as his nephew, a member of Hamas' military wing. Reuters reported that the men were identified as Essam Al-Batsh and Sobhi Al-Batsh.
Hundreds of Palestinans crowded around the charred remains of the car, which was hit in the bright afternoon sunshine on a main urban thoroughfare.
Ball of fire
The missile set off an explosion that turned the car into a ball of fire. Onlookers arriving moments later saw the body of a man sprawled near the vehicle with much of his head missing. A dismembered leg and hand of a second person lay on the ground nearby.
Five bystanders were also wounded in the blast, said Adham Abu Salima, an official in the Gaza Health Ministry.
Ihab Ghussein, spokesman for the Gaza Interior Ministry, said the airstrike was "an unjustified crime committed in a populated area and is part of a recent escalation against the Gaza Strip."
Israel repeatedly has targeted vehicles carrying suspected militants in missile strikes, including an attack early Wednesday that killed one militant and wounded two.
Hamas and Israel carried out an Egyptian- and German-brokered prisoner swap in mid-October that stirred expectations of a possible broader accommodation, although the governing Islamist movement spurns permanent peace with the Jewish state.
Walkway controversy
In another source of friction, Jerusalem municipal officials announced they would shut down a walkway to a contested shrine at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a move liable to touch off a new round of violence between Muslims and Jews in the volatile holy city.
Any work in the area around the Old City compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary draws fierce condemnation and sometimes violence from Palestinians, many of whom suspect Israel wants to harm Muslim shrines. An official with the Muslim clerical body that runs the complex warned that protests were liable to break out this time, too.
The municipality says the wooden walkway leading to one of the hilltop site's gates — built as a temporary structure after a centuries-old ramp was damaged in a 2004 snowstorm — is a fire hazard and structurally unsound and must be replaced.
In a letter released Thursday, Jerusalem city engineer Shlomo Eshkol informed authorities of his plan to block access to the walkway to all but security forces. The shutdown could take place immediately after a one-week public comment period.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted a plan to demolish the walkway last month, fearing a Muslim backlash at a time when pre-election violence was roiling neighboring Egypt. A spokesman for Netanyahu was not available Thursday for comment on the Jerusalem municipality's latest move.
The walkway is not the only access to the contested complex, which Israel captured from Jordan along with the rest of east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. But the compound's centrality to both Islam and Judaism makes it one of the most combustible sites in the world. Clashes there in the past have ignited broader violence.
Biblical temples
Muslims believe their Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the site, which is home to the golden-capped Dome of the Rock shrine and the Al-Aqsa mosque. It is Islam's third-holiest shrine.
The compound is venerated by Jews as the site of their biblical temples. The Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, stands at the foot of the complex, and a women's prayer area is situated right near the walkway.
A Muslim clerical trust known as the Waqf runs the compound under Israel's overall security control.
Yusuf Natsheh, director of the Waqf administration, said the Waqf was not consulted about the plan to shut down the walkway, which he called a "disastrous" policy liable to touch off protests.
"This is a very sensitive issue," he said. "It is so close to the mosque, and Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims ... all over the world will be unhappy."
They think Israelis are "eradicating their historic road, they are eradicating their heritage" under the guise of security concerns, he said.
Nearly five years ago, hundreds of Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas to disperse thousands of Muslim worshippers who hurled stones, bottles and trash in outrage over earlier Israeli repair work in the area.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Hamas and Israel carried out an Egyptian- and German-brokered prisoner swap in mid-October that stirred expectations of a possible broader accommodation, although the governing Islamist movement spurns permanent peace with the Jewish state.
This is why there will never be a Palestinian State.
Just this one comment. The article mentions that one of the "suspected militants" was involved in a suicide bombing that killed 4 Israelis. If he was involved in a suicide bombing, wouldn't he already be dead? Just thought it sounded a bit funny how it was worded.
Israel says it was two 'militants' but they are known to be world class liars.
I'll bet it was a random car with two men. Israel's entire economy depends on a constant state of war. No war, no military assistance BILLIONS.
They are land grabbing, MONSTERS! Who are completly shielded ny the media and government of the United States. It is sickening.
You lose:
The main reason that there is no Palestinian state is that Nut-tan-yahoo wants a Apartheid Palestinian State. In which Israel control their boarders, air space and water rights. Please remember the last friend South Africa (The Master Race jr) had was Israel.
Looks like tthe terrorist Israelis are at it again, murdering at will. No wonder why Israel has violated the most U.N. International laws(of course jews call it anti-semitism) but the dead women and children would call it Genocide.
Why are we supporting Israel to murder civilians for? Why should Americans have blood on their hands just because the Israelis believe that Jews are the supreme being? did we turn in Hitler death squads for Jewish death squads? Israel has become 3 times the size it was originally intended to be, hmm how do you seize more land without murdering the current owners? No wonder Palestine wants freedom and Israel wants to supress those freedoms, imagine Israel actually being held resposible for their genocide against the Palestinians? I would imagine alot of jewish bankers, jewish congressman in the U.S., and jewish organizatinbs would go ballistic if palestine ever became a state that could legally defend herself against Israeli terrorism
Thanks are due to Hogg and Pat...for proving, once again, that many so-called anti-Zionists are nothing but plain old fashioned Jew baiters...helping to show why Israel is needed.
@ Cassandra, Agreed. Just pure ignorance and hate. Israel is the Jews' country, and it seems a lot of people would rather just spout their stupid anti-Zionist filth instead of educating themselves. @ Patriot, I'm guessing were you to protect your own land, you'd be a terrorist? The palestinians are just looking for one more place to steal to fortify their muslim strongholds.
1
If I ran Israel I would notify all enemys in the gegraphical area that for every missle you shoot into our territory I will shoot 200 back at you with random destinations. If they hit your grandma's house too bad. And just to go to show you we mean business I would shoot 200 at all my enemies after the anouncement and tell them now you each owe us two.
Weren't we aghast at the hamas firing missles into Izrayel? Now were supposed to be ok with Izrayel firing missles into Gaza? Hmmmm, guess I need to polish up my double standards.
I think maybe they should become a state when they start behaving themselves and disavoe all connections with Hamas and all other terror groups; do that and I would intertain them; better start acting nice now because President Obama is on his way out and thier asses are not gonna get this liberal support and the abandonment that Israel has been getting the last 3 years.
I hope you guys do realize that youre whining and crying about the death of 2 terrorists.. so a logical conclusion would be that that makes you a what?
There is no peace because Israel wants to be a Jewish state and sanctuary for Jews in case sh*t goes bad again, as it has in the last 2000 years and Arabs REFUSE to recognize the right for Israel to exist. PERIOD. Dont agree? Prove me wrong and cite youre information!
Another genocidal crime by the Israeli terrorists.
There will NEVER be peace in that part of the world. They been fighting for so long its second nature..inborn.
Your absolutely right Dave; they are a bunch of uncivilized animals.
Why, whenever it relates to Israel, do the papers always refer to TERRORISTS as "militants"?
i know, right? only in the US. read the international news, its much more honest.
Nice shot!
Good show, Israel! Keep 'em coming.
Both sides are terrorists.
Hummmmmmmmmmm ... "Surgical" strikes are impressive .... especially to those who plan acts of terrorism ... What would you be thinking now if you were involved in planing with these people? They now know that their group has been infiltrated .. and wonder who ..
How would you react if you couldn't even sit on the crapper without fear of being killed as you sat there? ..lol
I won't comment on this. I know they are watching. Hail Betenutto
Paranoid Mary Jones, contentiousness, hyper-vigilance, oversensitivity to slights,
NO, Just not stupid.
Hey Raymond, wake up! You might want to check out the tracking programs installed on your cell phone if you think nobody is watching.
Good on you, Israel. Good on you!
Use of military hardware such as air-to-surface missiles in a crowded city next to a park filled with families is a terrorist act. The killing of the car's occupants was a secondary goal; the primary purpose of such a strike is to terrify the noncombatants.
"Use of military hardware such as air-to-surface missiles" against the terrorists is technically called "asymmetrical warfare". Think it is disproportional response to the terror? What would you suggest Israel to use, then? Suicide bombers?
Maybe they learned from our country the U.S> who is doing the same thing to kill terrorists. This is a highly effective safe thing to do.
Slitting the throat of a sleeping toddler and a sleeping baby, as well as a young pre-teen and their parents, is an act of terrorism. I did not see it condemned by the Palestinian government or by those of you on Newsvine who support Palestine.
You instead justified it.
jerry l-1335133
"...Israelis are "eradicating their historic road, they are eradicating their heritage" under the guise of security concerns..." the U.S. calls it "national security".
The U.S. is just using Israel to do it's dirty work; just as it has used other middle eastern countries in the past. Some things never change.
@Hannibal
Wassa matter ... Fava beans giving you gas?
No, it's a good idea. A great idea in fact!
Kill terrorists wherever they may be.
Until Hamas changes into a civilized entity, they deserve nothing but scorn.
Citizenstat
Your gaseous riposte is flatulently full of hot air.
......kill terrorist wherever they may be.....
Likewise Kill psychopath elements of idf that murder innocent Palestinians wherever they ay be.
Until zionist movement changes into a civilized entity, they deserve nothing but scorn.
Henrich,
Do you have any proof of this? And you can't count retalitory rocket strikes, because those are in self defense.
Herr von Dorff is never going to give any slack to Israel or Jews. He is solidly on the side of Hamas.
@bohnmann..... need proof? Here they are:
http://972mag.com/justice-eludes-palestinian-peace-activist-father-of-girl-killed-by-idf/24984/
http://travel.indie.my/2011/10/06/how-many-palestinian-children-have-been-murdered-by-the-idf-since-2001/
http://www.kawther.info/ga2/v/Military/Avimizrahi/
http://warincontext.org/2011/02/23/jewish-youth-screaming-death-to-arabs-murder-palestinian-in-jerusalem/
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88740
israel would be spared from cirticim if she behaves like civilized entity, stop current genocidal policy towards Palestinians.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/state-to-indict-idf-company-officer-for-shooting-palestinian-in-back-1.380327
The only reason Hamas are labeled as terrorists is because they oppose Israel. My opinion is that every country has a choice in who it allies with and who it opposes. Opposing your point of view isn't terrorism, but a country that used white phosphorus against civilians, is exactly that. The rocket attacks are futile attempts to resist. In reality most rockets end up shot down, fall in unpopulated areas, or fail altogether. Palestine is under a blockade, in which food is scarce, no jobs are available even to the most educated of the population, and a small percentage of available water is safe to wash with, let alone drink. Let's have a 3 state solution; Israel on its own, Palestine on its own, and Jerusalem as a city-state similar to Vatican City, with very few permanent residents, and a system sort of like Mecca, where permission is required to conduct pilgrimage. I can picture Jerusalem as a neutral country like Switzerland, with a governement consisting of representatives of each religion ; Muslim ( representative of Saudi Royal Family) , Christian (Representative of the Pope), and Jew (Representative of Israel and the Jewish population ).
Harley,
By your definition then, you would call the US Military Terrorists.
it still amazes me how they can id people from the air inside of a car, claim they are suspected militants (not even sure) then fire into a crowded area. harley is correct this is a terrorist act, and should the us do the same i would consider my country a terrorist state
Technology is amazing Dave. There's devices out now at intersections that can snap a picture of you driving through a red light, and mail you a ticket with you your picture.
Nice that you think the US is a terrorist state. Maybe you should move to a peaceful nation like Pakistan, Syria, or Egypt.
Dave,
We do the same thing, how do you think we killed Al-Awlaki and his nephew
wow there john, amazing how they can see through the roof of a car while 1000's of feet in the air... im guessing your such an outstanding citizen, getting all those red light tickets and all
so let me get this straight, you support terrorism then? but its ok if your government does it
@jerry, does it make it right? also would we do it in a crowded area? if we ever did, the world would be all over us
Dave,
We did do it and it was praised by both the left and the right in this country and the only people who condemned it was the other Muslim countries in the area, the same ones that send bombs to markets, Mosques, etc.
I think it is right to kill people who have declared war on you and have stated that you have no right to exist. I would try to kill somebody coming to kill me and my family as opposed to having somebody do it after
jerry - the key word in this article that is my main objection is suspected, they were not even sure they were militants, and then to take them out with a lot of people around is plain wrong. had they confirmed they were militants, or were going to strike, then fine, just dont do it around innocent people.
suspecting someone of something is not a valid reason to kill them
The U.S. military has deliberately used terror as a weapon of war ever since the burning of Kansas farms during the War of Secession.
The word "suspected" was placed there by liberal media. The one guy was part of Hama's Military wing. Hama's is a terrorist organization so therefore they killed a terrorist.
Israel obviously had been monitoring these terrorists for quite some time.
Israel takes care to make sure they have targeted those who need killing, unlike the dastardly terrorists who kill indiscriminately.
For Jew haters, anything Israel does to protect herself is wrong, and terrorists are OK with anything they do.
It's an age-old thing.
hey Dave,
and all of you that read between the lines, unless you were behind the orders for this strike, you will never know what actually happened or what was actually planned. if i was after someone i could attach a device to their vehicle and follow them where ever they go. and they would not know it! i know this because i have done it.
and i could then send a missle into the same vehicle when ever i want. and my eyes on the ground could tell me who is in the vehicle. how could this be, an Israeli and a Palestinian standing side by side, you would not be able to tell the difference.
and we have done it in crowded places, like homes filled with people - children and women as well as the target. it happens all the time. you just do not read all of the news.
Ron
Not reading between the lines, rather interpreting what is presented. the article never states any evidence they were terrorists, the article clearly states the attack was done in a crowded area. had there been collateral damage would your position change? or would you say, well they would need to be taken out some day?
there is clearly a lack of facts in the article to assume what exactly went on, we can all speculate as many have but without the truth as you have pointed out we will never know, we can only go on the facts presented.
had they taken action in a less crowded area, clearly the car was moving or going to move if they were in it, and if as you suspect they were identified on the ground, there is no reason the car could not of been followed to a clear area for the attack.
but the fact does remain as you have pointed out, we will never know
The two dead terrorists were killed in a well-coordinated, targeted strike.
The terrorists themselves acknowledge that these two dead were senior leaders.
You can try to spin it any way you wish.
The truth remains. Deal with it.
i have yet to see any acknowledgment that they were terrorists, i was going off the facts as they were presented. you are the one spinning it anyway you can, where is your proof they were monitoring them for a long time? where is your proof they needed killing? so what if they were leaders? what did they do that justified their loss of life? and again i ask why did they have to do it in a crowd?
the truth is still unclear, deal with that
Dave, they know they are terrorists because of a little thing called intelligence and they're own little friends give them up from time to time. Israel, unlike the terrorists you seem to support functions with a certain level of ethics, and were sure to hit the right people.
And before you ask for proof, Arabs are very proud when 2 of their own terrorist dbags get "martyred" and are quick to point out that they died in jihad, so no, its not just Israels word that this info is based on, they love to confirm that they were in fact fighting for "the cause"
Al, and iraq had weapons of mass destruction... i dont support terrorists, and if you read above i also said i would not support my own country if it had done what israel did. this article also fails to mention the 5 people, innocent people injured from the strike.
israel now claims they were going to infiltrate israel, well then get them closer to the boarder when they will have to breach the wall, it would of been a lot easier and safer. israel lately seems to want to kill all of gaza, at least the us will try to arrest them first, not just shoot at them from 1000's of feet in the air
..........For Jew haters, anything Israel does to protect herself is wrong, and terrorists are OK with anything they do.......
Likewise for jew lovers, any freedom fighters do to resist occupation and fight repression is wrong, and any atrocities committed by israel is ok.
it's an age-old thing.
Why is it when Gazan terrorists shoot rockets at Israeli civilians it's not news worthy but when Israel hits terrrorists it's on the front page of just about every newspaper and newscast?
Gee Paul, where do you get your information? I have read and heard many stories about each and every time a bottle rocket is fired into Israel, usually landing in an empty field. Here, we have Israel firing a missile and killing 2 SUSPECTED militants. I think you have a case of selective amnesia.
When a dog bites a man it is not news, but when a man bites a dog it is.
Progressive media hates Israel because it represents Western democratic values. The Left aspires to to dictatorship so Hamas is more to their liking than Israel. You never see the Left criticizing Russia or China, but they are SO critical of the US and Israel. Another reason for Hamas support: an enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Plus they praise Obama for doing the same things as we are not putting boots on the ground and not putting U.S. soldiers at risk
Paul, I know! I know!!!!!
Because it's ISRAEL!!!!!!!
Simple. Because Gazan missles very very rarely hit their intended targets. The Israeli soldiers are the terrorists here, not the Palestinians.
It's not for want of trying.
Hamas are cowards. They hide behind the skirts of their women and shoot at Jews.
Until the decent people of Gaza rid themselves of the terrorists of Hamas, Al Aqsa martyr's brigades and Issidin al-Qassam there will not be peace.
If these terrorists are not stopped by Hamas, expect Cast Lead II. And expect the fist of Israel to pound hard.
And you thought that your son, daughter or husband or wife was coming back from Iraq. Israel is setting the stage so that it can use American Troops to Extend its Borders. Their next step is to use U.S. Troops to Occupy Palestine, Egypt and Syria. I hope my children and grandchildren go to Canada like some did during the windown in Vietnam. Why die for some other countrys Terrorist Attacks on its neighbors.
Can you name anytime U.S. soldiers have gone to fight for Israel because it did not happen in 48, 56, 67, or 73 and Israel did quite well in those wars?
Hmmm.Something to think about J.J.J
Maybe they should've waited until the car had gotten off the main thoroughfare.
Technically, this is called "secondary explosion" and is a proof that the vehicle was transporting explosives at the moment it was hit.
That alone justifies Israeli action because the terrorists were caught in the process of committing yet another act of terror. Why else would they have explosives in the car?
Why else would they have explosives in the car?
Alternative green energy? :-)
They actually missed their target. They were aiming for the front seat, not the rear.
Good job Israel. The world is a better place without these two killers. Finally, the US is doing this type of warfare in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen and other Stans.
Once again MSNBC uses inflammatory, dishonest rhetoric to slander Israel. The 2 men in the car were not "militants." They were terrorist masterminds who have killed and wounded many innocent civilians. Arab/ Moslem terrorists target civilians every day, yet MSNBC barely yawns. According to MSNBC's ideology it's OK for Arab/ Moslems to murder Jews, but Jews are not permitted to strike back at the psychopathic killers. MSNBC is not an objective news agency, but a spewer of anti-Semitic propaganda.
Two un-armed civilians were murdered by idf thugs and framed for being terrorists to cover the crime.
The U.S ,Europe and almost all countries that are themselves not terrorists use preemptive attacks or attacks when the terrorists are in the muddle of their deadly deeds.This is common sense.No country will wait for themselves to be attacked if they can avoid it.When the international criminals of hamas,hezbollah and Iran make peace with Israel and stop trying to destroy them..then these attcks will obviously not be necessary.Meanwhile Israel has an obligation to their citizens to protect them. Obviously.....
always fighting.. they need to go an all out war. then let things rebuild from there.. there are no solutions but wanted political and religious gains on both sides.. how do you divide up one place into two ? it's so small !!! there are no fear but fear itself.. like being feared communism in vietnam , commie took over vietnam but it is stable again .. see? sometimes things will work out itself.. just let the fighting begin cause man dont back down until he sees the coffin..
I need two orders of crispy-fried terrorist on the fly! I guess revenge is a dish best served hot.
You don't really think Israel would just release a thousand of these hooligans in exchange for one Israeli soldier and just let them go about their business like nothing ever happened? The world should know by now that if anyone puts an innocent Jew in harms way, Israel's wrath will follow them forever until they get revenge and get it ten fold.
These two people who were killed, got what was coming to them. Good job by the military in their precision.
Maybe it was the precision, more so than the target, that was the object lesson.
It sure impressed me.... of course, I'm just a dumb hick Native American. (But it made me realize there's not much point in trying to hide in a crowd when you've messed with Jews.)
Don't you love how when The IDF use a single missle and hits its target ( Bad guys) it is Horrible and when the Palestianian shoot off several missles aimed at nothing more than peoples homes that Justified?
A couple of days ago they got one out of three. Today it is two for two. The Israelis are improving.
Hey dogg, why do you lick your own nut$? Because you can. I bet the people at your mosque don't know you do this. Of course you probably wear a burqa so know one sees you do it. Does your mother know? STFU already.
Isreal is A Shining Beacon of Apartheid state in the world!
Oh, good grief! As if Palestine would open their arms and accept Jews into their midst as fellow citizens even if Israel threw open the borders and welcomed them in!
These stupid comments are no longer humorous, they are just pathetic. Sure, it's only Jews who will not tolerate any other group of people in their country/state. The Arabs welcome all comers, all religions!
Right??? Right????
Alany, if you go to Jerusalem you will see that it is about the least apartheid city in the world, with Jews and Arabs working side by side, although it is hard to tell them apart. The Israelis certainly can't be racist, since they and the Arabs shared the same Semitic race.
alany is just one more uninformed msm reading brainwashed liberal .Dumber than dog@!$%# they are .muslims are an even bigger pain in the ass. I don't see Jews threatening to kill anyone who doesn't follow their cult .
hdogg64 banned for anti-semitism.
casandra, martin bart, millerdoug, steve b, the known israel apologists, are come out in force as usual to defend the crime perpetrated by idf thug.
The Israelis took out their target with zero civilian casualties.
Yet another misleading MSNBC headline. This one suggested that the Israelis fired the missile into the crowded park in order to kill as many Palestinians as possible. In fact, they killed only the terrorists.
And no psychological damage was done to the children in the park because, as Palestinians, they already think about murder and mayhem all the time anyhow, right? What they killed is the chance of anyone who witnessed the assault believing they can be peaceful neighbors.
Harley, that's right. The children simply saw the reality version of the show that shows the same thing with Moustafa "Mickey" Mouse.
Harley, you are completely missing the point, which was...that that misleading headline suggested that the Israelis had fired at the crowd. The children's possible psychological damage had nothing to do with it.
Basically liberals like harleyelf are dumb blondes , you can't talk logic with them .
The greatest threat to the region is Israel, not Iran. The greatest
threat to peace in the world is Israel, not Iran,or one else!
Writing slogans, burning, and killing Palestinians,Bombing it shows
the nature of these criminal Jews occupiers, also show the nature racist of the Israeli
government that allowed carrys these crimes against Palastinians and civilians.