E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSIsrael is removing 7,000 land mines placed along the border by the country's military in 1968.
NEOT HAKIKAR, Israel -- The usually sleepy border between Israel and Jordan is being disturbed by the sounds of explosions. At the lowest place on earth south of the Dead Sea, Israel has started a huge project to clear 7,000 M-35 anti-personnel mines.
Neot Hakikar is an agricultural zone situated near the border with Jordan. It is receiving a facelift with the help of the "Mine Wolf" -- a specialized mine-clearing vehicle. Its spinning drum has metal teeth that turn up the ground and destroy any mines in its path.
The mines were planted by the Israeli Army in 1968 in a bid to stop Jordanian soldiers from crossing the border. Israel now wants to grow organic peppers on the land.
"Our goal is to ... release the land in order to give it back to the people," said Michael Hyman of the Israel National Mine Authority.
The sight of these mines blowing up one-by-one provides a sad reminder of a friend who took his family on a trip to the Golan Heights last year. The Golan is known for its beauty but also for the high number of mines left during the 1973 war between the Israel and Syria. My friend's 11-year-old son was playing in the snow when he stepped on a land mine. It exploded and the boy lost one of his legs.
The demining operation is the first of its kind in Israel and follows a new law passed by the country's parliament. Authorities aim to clear some 32,500 acres of land and an estimated 700,000 mines.
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Aid workers targeted amid new Pakistan crisis
- 'Boiling point': On Lebanon’s Syria Street, a mini-civil war brews
- Jubilee treat: Canadian Mounties guard UK's queen
- Africa's Rainbow Nation troubled by racist time warp
- 'Nearly empty': A rare glimpse inside Syria rebel stronghold
- Terror suspect's eye color? UK's flying cameras know
- Analysis: How Egypt's election can transform the Middle East
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
First
Land mines are man's worst invention. So many innocent children killed or injured.
Article states 7000 mines, then states 700,000. Which is it?
Gotnorice - 7,000 being cleared in this operation; 700,000 total. It's a start ...
Great job. Others can learn from this operation.
Put that Netanyahos, orthodox Jews there. They will be doing something useful for a change!
It would be interesting to know how many non-Israeli children were hurt over the years. As much as I applaud getting rid of mine fields all over the world and like this project, I can't help thinking of how this land was "acquired". These European looking people in Israel have convinced themselves that they're indigenous to the area. As Americans, we do have something in common with Israel. We took someone else's lands and continued to spread and acquire more and more. Lands that were paid for is another story. Israel is there to stay and I accept that. I just hope that Israeli youth learn to respect and embrace their neighbors rather than look for eventual expansion. The mine field project is great and congratulations to Israel as an example for other nations to follow.
Mike-
I feel no one should be kick out of their homes. Regardless of their Race, Heritage, Religion or Beliefs. Everyone needs to get along and respect all others.
Mike you forget the Palestinians are Arabs, Arabs are not from area around Jerusalem. They came to Jerusalem around 660AD, when Muslims came in an invaded and killed all who would not convert.
The Arabs are just upset the the same people they kicked out 1400 years ago have come back and reclaimed their land. Still no one should lose their homes Palestinian or Jew.
All Jews and Christians alike know, from the Bible and old testament, that the homeland of the Jews is Israel and the Land around Jerusalem.
Where is it written that people on earth aren't allowed to move around and live in areas other than where they were born? Who says the Palestinians, who aren't a separate group in the first place owns the land they occupy when its clear it was Jewish land before the Roman occupation? Who said the Indians, who emigrated from Asia across thew bering straights owned anything in America to the exclusion of others? As far as embracing and respecting their neighbors? You mean the ones ho are willing to wait 10,000 years until the area is cleansed of all non-muslims? Yeah, whatever.Abdallah why don't you be unique among your group and man up and do it yourself? Yeah, thought not.
We cannot base worldwide history and political decisions on a specific book (The Bible) which is a religious book only for those who believe in that specific religion.
You cannot "force" that upon humanity. I don't care what a book says about old stories - true or not, or how to live life. Every country has its laws and customs, which are to be followed as of today's situation.
If I go to a foreign country, tourist or immigrant, I have to follow their customs. Why else would I go to live there or visit that land?
There are many people on this earth who do not believe in any gods, nor in the Bible, or are of a totally different religion than the ones described in the Bible or monotheistic religions. Why is the whole world "forced" to listen and follow a stupid book?
OK, zionists (Jews or not) have conquered the land there, given to them or not - doesn't matter. It's a fact. Many other countries have been conquered in the past as well. That's how you create a state, and it can be changed in the future again. It's so normal - it's human nature that conflicts, wars will happen again and again. It happend in the past (too) many times, and won't stop.
So, we have an Israeli State! OK! Doesn't matter how they got it. It's there. Will it stay there forever? - who knows? It's the same question for any other country? Nobody can exactly tell the future. Maybe even Europe will change in time. We have witnessed that former Yugoslavia broke apart. Anything is possible.
I think the problem here is rather a self inflicted issue. The Israelis, or more exactly mentioned the Jews are overly exagerating by making the case for their own suffering, as no one else would have ever suffered, especially not the way they did. That's big BS. There was suffering allover the world at all times. So, if you bring yourself into the spot light, and then even have the chutzpah to say that you are "clean" and never did anything bad, be sure that the world will criticize you or get angry on you, because that's simply BS. There's no perfect people on this planet and will never be.
Maybe the Jewish religion should change that statement of "G-d's chosen people" to rather a "we are all normal people, and we make mistakes as well" statement. Then generations and generations of Jews won't expect the impossible from themselves, nor will they project some issues they created themselves on others, etc.
BE NORMAL people! Nobody is chosen, that's big BS, and a stupid lie. Get a strong character by great achievments based you your own honest work and capabilities, and that will make you a great people. Earn that greatness, don't expect it to be there just because you call yourself "chosen".
eric ny is a staunchy israel apologist and troll, his argument about jews were originally occupied areas around Jerusalem lacks creditability.
Henrich
and you are a staunch Islamic troll and supporter of the Palestinians.
What is needed is a peace proposal that gives both sides their own state and independence, a plan that divides the land so that each group can live without fear of attack. A plan that says each side must recognize the other side's right to exist .....Oh wait a minute...the Israelis have offered that several times and the Palestinians rejected it...oooops, never mind. It won't work. Good night.
Eric - NY: In that case, Muslims will not have many places left!
Jews would have more support if Jews like Netanyahos and some others don't act like mad people.
Some have been acting like agents Saudi Arabia and other ME Sunni nations. They have only short range goals.
In inveting, Iraqi wars and now the Iranian sactions (most idiotic thing to do when economic situation is too bad), Israel has a major background role.
Clintons, Liebermanns dances indicate the directions and roles played by Jewish lobbies.
May God bless Israel.
See British Flail Tanks of WW2. Similar mine clearing device. Used on D-Day. Us arrogant Americans decided not to protect our troops this way. After all, what useful items could the British possibly invent for an invasion force? Some say that lack of Flail Tanks was part of the reason we took so long going up the beaches.
"We" Americans.
Heavy duty chain flails mounted ahead of heavy duty bulldozer blades would probably be the best approach, if electronic detection was not possible. Personally, I would try either aerial or ground vehicle mounted ground penetrating radar first, and just blow these mines in place once they are detected. Another option is to fly a supersonic formation of fighter bombers over the area at low altitude, and let the resulting sonic booms trigger these land mines. - RC
I have a suggestion to isrealis to speed up th eprocess of clearing mines:
nate and other dikheads in the cabinet hold hands and walk the field...
LOL along with Assad, Yasser Arafat (if he was still alive) and the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Well better late than never as the old saying goes, hmmmm I wonder if this means Israel will make the use of land mines illegal by the IDF?
This way they OCCUPIED Palestine in full now JORDAN next!! Syria failed Israhellis and Lebanon with iron fist.....lolllz
So Israel is clearing Israeli mines on Palestinian land so Israeli farmers can steal it, how nice of them.
Correction, Isreal is clearing mines of Isarelly land, where they once had to plant mines to keep Jordan from stealing it.
Growing 'organic peppers' in soil contaminated with explosives residue is totally bogus when it comes to international rules on what is organic food. These residues are very persistent and often contain mercury from the ignition mechanisms or blasting caps fulminates.
Talk about Pavlov's dog! There are so many people here who start foaming at the mouth when they see any headline including the "I word" (Israel.).
cass,
I am guessing "I" word is for "irresistable"... or "irritant".
What do you think?
Calling Israel the "I word" is a way of saying that some people use it as an obscenity...the same way that other people talk about the "f word." It is American slang.
never liked land mines though they are a necessary evil in some cases . the russian ones in afghanistan still lay in wait to amputate .
Hope Iran builds that bomb quick!!
I have never been a fan of iranians, and I am against iranians to have nukes, but, hearing what isrealis bitchin about UN not making iran obey the rules blah blah..and all those threats to attack iran, I am actually beginning to favor that iran does have a nuke or two.
Look at N korea, those dingos do not have any friends... But last time I checked, S Korea and japan are fine and do not freak with N kore for obvious reasons...
Same as india; Since Pakis have the nukes , they understand each other much better now...
Actually, South Korea and Japan are very much freacking out about North Korea having nukes, as does India about Pakistan.
You just don't here about them as much as you do about Isarel, because spitting at Israel is the cool thing now days.
Eli.
N koreans or pakistanis are NOT massacring other people, they are not operating concentrations camps, they are not building settlements in OTHER PEOPLE's land.
Thats why you do not hear about it that much.
They don't need them (N. Korea andpakistan) They have prisons where people just disappear. How long do you think a doctor that help off bin laden will last? 33 years?.
Also, it is a shame that the article didn't mention how many land mines Jordan has planted over the years.
land mines are nasty beasties. So cheap too. It would be nice if the UN took the lead in to that end instead of wimpy NGO's and thier offshoots.
Considering that Jordan only joined teh 6 day war out of misplaced loyalty and then got the S*** beaten out of them, Israel is probably correct that they do not need minefields there.
By the way, Israel was one of the few nations to support South Africa while it was under apartheid.
isreal will support anything and anybody for a price.. Since they do not have any friends, they befirend any nation who will accept them.
Last I heard, isreal and nigeria will form a two-nation coalition; "Crooks R us".
I hate to break this to you once again, Abdallah, but a poll taken right here on MSNBC showed that a majority of Americans support Israel.
Israel can always make friends with those who suffered from muslim terrorists, which now days inclused almost everyone.
Count me in, Cassandra. ☺
A biased MSN poll? That's as reliable as the"religious poll" Fox posted where it lasted 12 hours and 95% of Americans were catholic.
Cass (And Eli)
The polls are misleading.
Here are some facts:
1% of US population run the country; legislative, justice etc etc.
10% really knows what is going on..
89% either cannot comprehend what is going on and why, OR, they do not give jackmanure..
So, you ask question to a N Carolina baptist; All that person ever heard was (Due to jew media control) muslim terorist killing everybody else, and, isreal is a country like Bahamas, or Disneyland..
But its changing now.. people are waking up and asking questions.
One of them is "Whay are we supporting isreal?" The media (jews) keep telling them "because we must"
people are questioning how the jew lobby works and why 0.5% of popluation making decisions for the rest of us.. jews will be asked to demonstrate their loyalty; Which one comes first, US or isreal..
How in the world can they call produce grown in ground permeated with the chemicals left over from exploding land mines...organic? Wow...the propaganda never stops does it?
What chemicals?
Gunpowder does not leave any chemicals.
In Russia we used to grow all sorts of things in the fields where hundreds of bombs had landed.
Back to the topic - Does anyone here think that it is a bad idea for Israel to destroy land mines? Kudos to them for making the area safer for everyone.