E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Reuters
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he delivers a statement to the foreign media in Tel Aviv on Nov. 15.
The long-running cross-border conflict escalated on Nov. 14, when Israel killed the military chief of Hamas, the Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Israel also launched strikes inside Gaza in response to Hamas firing rockets on its territory, particularly in the south, and Hamas stepped up its rocket attacks, which included firing on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Here is a list of key players in this conflict:
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces are Israel's military force, responsible for the airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is targeting Hamas’ rocket launch sites and other weapons storage facilities. An Israeli airstrike on Nov. 14 killed Ahmed Jabari, the most senior commander of Hamas' military wing, the Ezzidine Al-Qassam Brigades.
On Nov. 16, the IDF said more than 16,000 reservists had been mobilized. On Nov. 16, Israel's cabinet authorized the mobilization of up to 75,000 reserve troops for the Gaza campaign.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is an Israeli leader and the current prime minister of Israel. He is favored to win re-election in January. On Nov. 15, Netanyahu indicated plans for a "significant widening" of military strikes in Gaza.
Abir Sultan / EPA file
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak looks on during the opening of the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem, Israel, on Oct. 15.
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is Israel's minister of defense. Following Gaza's strikes aimed at Tel Aviv, Barak said on Nov. 15: "This escalation will exact a price that the other side will have to pay." On Nov. 16, Israeli officials said Barak will seek cabinet approval for funds that could provide Israel with three new Iron Dome rocket interceptors.
Hamas
Hamas is the Islamist political party and militant group that has been governing the Gaza Strip separately from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority since 2007. It emerged as the Palestinian wing of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, and its stated goal is to "liberate" Palestinian territories from the Israeli occupation. Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Hamas' military commander, Ahmed Jabari, was killed Nov. 14 in an Israeli airstrike.
Hamas Office via Reuters, file
Ahmed Jabari, top commander of Hamas' military.
Ahmed Jabari
Ahmed Jabari was a Hamas military leader. He was killed in a surgical airstrike on Nov. 14 as part of a larger Israeli offensive in Gaza. Jabari was the most senior commander of Hamas' military wing, the Ezzidine Al-Qassam Brigades. Jabari had survived numerous assassination attempts in the past and had served close to a decade in an Israeli jail, according to NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin. He was widely considered the second most important figure within Hamas' overall structure after Khaled Mishaal, the head of the organization’s political bureau. Jabari was instrumental in negotiations about the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Mohyeldin said. Jabari was rarely seen in public and even more seldom filmed, but he was seen accompanying Shalit to the border crossing with Egypt ahead of his handover.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters, file
Egypt's Prime Minister Hisham Kandil talks during an interview with Reuters in Cairo on Sept. 9.
Hesham Kandil
Hesham Kandil is the prime minister of Egypt. Politically independent, he was appointed by President Mohamed Morsi on July 24 to Egypt's new Islamist government. On Nov. 16, Kandil visited the Gaza Strip to show support for Palestinians in the cross-border conflict with Israel.
Mohamed Morsi
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi assumed office on June 30. A member of Hamas' parent movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi said on Nov. 16: "I say with all confidence Egypt will not leave Gaza on its own." The Islamist politician was elected this year after 2011 protests ousted military leader Hosni Mubarak.
Egyptian Presidency via Reuters
Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi at the presidential palace in Cairo on Nov. 14.
Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamic movement founded in Egypt. The Brotherhood won the Egyptian elections this summer. One of its members, Mohamed Morsi, became Egypt's first president after the 2011 revolution, which was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and led to the ouster of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak. Hamas, the Islamist political party and militant group that has been governing the Gaza Strip, is a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Amir Cohen / Reuters
Two sides exchange deadly airstrikes, rocket attacks.
Leave a Comment:
That is half the trouble with this conflict..these "key players" are not your average Palestinian and Israeli citizen who have a had a gutfull of this conflict. Ask the average person on the street who have lost their relatives on both sides if they wish this mess to continue. It is not in the interests of these "key players" to stop this conflict, they are earning to much out of it. Both politically and financially. Ask the people whose children went outside to play and never came back, the mum and dads who go shopping and don't come home on both sides. These so called "leaders" would not have a clue what is going on in the average persons daily lives and the struggles they face. They are to busy swaning around and socializing up at the the top making a name for themselves on the "world scene". Peace in that region??? not in my life time, if that is the best they have to offer....
Too many people in Israel are aware of what it feels like when the sirens wail. Schools are closed for days. Shelters are activated and people hide from indiscriminate rocket fire.
No other nation on the planet tolerates this.
.
Steven B - You are right, no other nation on the planet tolerates this. It is time for Israel to destroy the Gaza Strip once and for all. The Israelis need to tell the world once and for all that this has to end now and then go in and completely destroy Hamas and anyone who tries to support them. I for one am tired of the U.S. and the U.N. constantly calling for cease fires and more talks. The U.S. should make sure that Israel has the weapons to complete the job. Also the U.S. should make it plain to Egypt that if they want our money they will damn well do as we tell them.
A/noon Steve..Israel is not unique, it has happened to many countries before, now and in the future. Every country faces adversity be it man made or from nature. We face, bush fires, floods and cyclones every year here as does any nation on this earth. I was in Israel sitting on the beach at Tel Aviv and I watched the helicopters flying to up to Lebanon, war was on up there at the time. Had a sub machine in my back on a crowded bus and I was hoping the soldier had the safety on. On the backs of Hotel doors what to do if rockets start landing and where to go for safety. This was totally foreign to me and I thought how can people live like this? As I said it is the average citizen in any country they are the one's that suffer at the hands of the "key players" and "leaders". Don't see to many kids of Politicians fighting on the front line do you? Better still why don't the "key players" line up on the front line, now that I would like to see. I assume you do watch International news over there...no other nation??? Try Afghanistan, Indian and Pakistan border, Syria, Libya, countries in Africa they are all stoushing and in the same boat as Israel and her people.
Iran pulling Hamas's strings to get the pressure off of themselves and Assad. First have your puppet Hamas shoot some rockets at Israel. They have to make it look good by hitting near Tel Aviv. Get the Israelis to react strongly. The Palestinians should take a bunch of causalities and make a big show for the western press. Their leaders will collect a bunch of cash from Iran and a bunch of new weapons. They know to put cash in Swiss bank accounts. (Use Arafat's banker for the discount) Time it when Egypt to cuts back oil and gas shipments to Jordan and foment the unrest there hopefully it will spill over toward Israel.
Steven B - YOu are correct, try to imagine how long the USA would tolerate missles being fired into any of our states by a disgruntled neighbor? It would not be tolerated for 64 minutes, let alone 64 years.
sfcret- I'm afraid you may be right that it is time to destroy the Gaza Strip. William T Sherman knew that to end the American Civil War, it was necessary to implement "Total Warfare". Gaza must be eleminated once and for ever. 64 years of attacks would never be tolerated by any nation.
Egypt has a choice here, be on the side of Hamas, or be on the side of the US.
What is wrong with hamas not wanting their territories run as a prison camp? what is right & acceptable about assassinating political leaders of neighboring countries under any circumstances? I'm a republican voter & warhawk about muslim extremists & want them dead yesterday, but it has to be that innocent palestinians having nothing to do with the mess need to be killed and suffer the consequences? I'm ex US Army & if I was there today I would fight & die to protect these poor people who receive terror, harrassment, & abuse daily from soldiers of the IDF checkpoints who pick on the helpless for fun.
But there are meetings & dialog & policy changes soon coming, where the Israelis need to back off the daily torment & harrassment of the territories of their Muslim fellow citizens, and use the billions my USA gives to them to keep their Muslim neighbors happy so as to avoid the legitimate discontent that causes these uprisings, you cannot treat your neighbors like sh*t & expect to live in peace side by side with them, does not the wisdom of King Solomon in Proverbs command this to you unwise Israelis? And does it also seem obvious that those who receive joy & pleasure by dealing out misery to his neighbor make you "EVIL"? Think what is of God, do what God commanded, be the lamp, shine the light of truth, thanks for reading, Mark in OKC.
you have to realize that there would BE no suicide bombers in Palestine if not for the daily terrorizing and fear mongering and unrighteous abuse of the citizens of the palestinian territories by the members of the Israeli defense forces who have all these checkpoints those people have to get through every day just to get to work & just to get sick children to a clinic, the soldiers at the checkpoints harrass & beat up children's fathers & mothers before their kids, delay them for no reason for hours, making them late for work, the bombers dont use checkpoints, watch this video called "CHECKPOINT", just go to You Tube and key in "CHECKPOINT", they show it all, there's nothing cool or right about making your neighbors frustrated & harrassed daily to a point where they desire more than anything to kill you, is this not so? But suppose Israel followed the wisdom of Solomon and used the billions from my USA to be loving & kind to these palestinians who only want their little territories to not be run as a prison camp? Wgat could their relations then be?
many say as long as paraniod Welfare state of Israel killing helpless Palestinians
and STEALING Palestinians land.. Israel will never ever live in peace..you know
its time for the world to see israel as RUTHLESS,BLOOD THIRSTY KILLER
All I know is Hamas has been firing rockets on civilians in Israel for years, and it's time someone put a stop to it.
Someone sent me this video from Youtube of the Israeli IRON DOME intercepting about a dozen Hamas rockets over an Israeli town.
THIS IS SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
h t t p : / / www . youtube . com / watch?v=9VlJRU-tXbo
.
.
This is just what some person in Israel caught on their camera while they were waiting near a bus stop.
But you can clearly see about a dozen interceptors fired at incoming missiles and you can hear the explosions. It's crazy! You can hear that the girl who was standing next to the guy was freaking out.
Just imagine what would've happened to that young man and that girl in the video (and many other people in that town/neighborhood) if all those rockets would have landed near them, instead of being intercepted by that anti-missile system.
The only reason there are not more casualties on the Israeli side, is that all the people in Israel know they have to seek shelter if they hear a siren. Or in the case of these young people in this video, they were lucky to be protected by Iron Dome.
...but some conflicts (Northern Ireland) come to a terminus without the kind of Dresden-like destruction you're suggesting here. I'm not sure what the solution to the conflict in the Middle East is, but I doubt the same strategy can be applied to every war.
And what makes you think the average person would be more adept at solving this problem than elected leaders with impressive educations and years of political experience? Just look at these boards. It's full of racists, conspiracy theorists, dim bulbs, and other cranks.
On the other hand you have Morsi (Ph.D. Engineering), Netanyahu (former Israeli Special Forces/graduate of Harvard and MIT), Barak (Stanford), Obama (Columbia), Kaled Marshal (Physics degree)...
...say what you will about these people, they're way more qualified to handle this than the average person.
...but you go ahead and trust the fate of the world to "JD in SD" or "BoSoxFan84" if you want to.
The WWII end Japan with 2 nuclear bombs. Every war has to end.
Duqu...
I seen the video and it was amazing also seen 5 more by "binging" Iron dome. I cannot for the life of me figure out how israel has been so tolerrant of these DAILY attacks. I cannot understand how they have let this go on for so long. The night time attacks are so numerous that it almost appears as the 4th of july fireworks over here.
I suppose if as (Jeffcalahansr & Mark robinson) put it "
They just let the rockets land where they may and explode all over the place in israael then hamas woud just stop and say "we are sorry". And stopped all the evil checkpoints that Israel uses to stop suicide bombers from coming into their country and blowing up shopping centers then all those suicide bomber would just voluntarily stop and peace would reign! <SARCASM> (in extreme).
Cause everyone knows that the suicide bombs were caused by the checkpoints , not the other way around. No the suicide bombings came first then the checkpoints then less suicide bombings. I try and let everyone speak their mind without insulting them but YOU TWO ARE BLIND IDIOTS!!!!
To hear you two speak is like saying if the evil U.S. government would just take down that evi fence we wouldnt have so many unhappy illegal aliens trying to sneak into the US cause then they could just come in freely! Like I said you are both IDIOTIC MORONS WITH NO CLUE!!!!!
@onlyyoucanchangethelaws - you are dead on with your time-line on what came first, suicide bombers vs. checkpoints, and I share your view on the "two blind idiots". Obviously they need a history lesson. And Mark needs to check his "drama meter" about dying to defend..... what a soap opra statement, it makes him sound like a hamas radical. That is what Hamas is, a radical organization that got voted in by these "innocent" Palastinians living in Gaza. Israel has EVERY RIGHT to defend itself and this whole mess will blow up and provide Iran with a distraction.
@onlyyoucanchangethelaw - you are dead-on with your observation about the timeline on checkpoints vs. suicide attacks. Amazing that Israel has not stopped this long ago. The longer they wait - the harder it will become with the Muslim Brotherhood expanding during the Arab Spring movement. I been, up to a point - following Mark Robinson posts and he sounds like a raving lunatic with his rants. He would greatly benefit from history facts.
Five decades from now, a very limited few will be able to identify the "players" listed in this article. Just like five decades in the past. It seems as if there is a national election in the US, or something like Hurricane Sandy to get all of the news headlines... not a peep out of the Israel/Palestinian conflict in the news. Get a lull in the news and there's gunfire again in Gaza. Same old crap, weeping over the dead, only this time it's all about Facebook and Twitter accounts. It's not about peace in the region, anymore than donating to The Red Cross is going to get needed services and materials to Sandy's victims in a timely fashion.
The people of Gaza have embraced Hamas, a terrorist organization, because they have no hope for a peaceful solution. Hamas, in turn, attacks Israeli civilians because its fighters are not adequately trained, and it does not have weapons sophisticated enough to get at military targets. The leadership of Hamas know they will lose a military battle to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). But they are trying to win the battle for the Arab street after the Arab Spring.
Israel has a right to exist. Hamas refuses to recognize that fact. When Hamas attacks Israel, sending rockets to its cities, Israel has every right to defend itself. So far, Israel has conducted surgical strikes, hitting only military targets. Unfortunately, nearby civilians may be killed or injured. But Hamas brought it on by attacking Israel. And the people of Gaza brought it on by electing Hamas as their government, because the people of Gaza are hopeless.
You have a couple good points in your post, but pls spare me with the "People of Gaza are hopeless" drama. What about the Israeli children growing up that know the reality of suicide bombers at every instance of their lives? Like I said - spare me your drama. Hamas is not a simple force defending the poor but a militant group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, who do not recognize Israels right to exist. Your simplification of Hamas is a delusion.
NBC covers this as it´s some type of football.Tit for tat .It´s hardly this.Since 1948 when the Arabs rejected their own state through partition,the "game plan" has been to destroy Israel which was recognized as a new modern nation to reflect its historical connection of 3000 years in the region.The Arabs were offered their own state ,but they set out for a one state solution..destroy Israel ads I suppose murder all its citizens.These are crimes against the peace and crimes against humianity in the sense of international law.Are we going to delegitmize Iran, Iraq,Kuwait,Saudia Arabia, Lebanon and other new nations that were approved by the international community.Pakistan was also created wit the British exit form the Indian sub continent the same year as Israel was recognized .Maybe they should be disaproved and go back to India.There are many new states since 1948 with the break up of the USSR and Yugoslavia.Let´s get rid of them too.The Arab and Muslim world are playing with fire.Why don´t they look at the real genocides such as China with Tibet..or the Muslims trying to eliminate Christians in Sub Sahara Africa? They are playing with fire .And if a wider war breaks out.and with new Islamic finatic regimes such as in Egypt,Turkey a foothold in Lebanon and of course the chief sponsor of terroism Iran.,it wil be they who are to blame. .When push comes to shove a large part of Europe ,the U.S and many non Muslim countries will support Israel... if not with arms .at least with a silent approval.This won´t be WW3 because neither China ,Rusia, India or other big powers will join in to save Iran,Gaza,Lebanon or any of the other countries lined up against Israel.The Muslim and Arab world better think carefully before they speak or act.They can cause a lot of damage but it will be more their own funeral they provoke.If forced to, the U.S ,NATO will and many other powerful countries will join in on the side of Israel..Perhaps not so much for their affinity with Israel .but for their own survival and interests.The new leaders of Egypt,Turkey and other places better think twice before they back the terrorist group of hamas.If not all hell can break out,,but much more od the s--t will fall on them.We can only hope they get the message from the overwhelming force lined up against them!
@ bart - great post and analysis of the situation.
Everyone knows how this will end. Only question is how much restraint will the Israelis show. Maybe it is time for a little Palestinian rear to be kicked again. How many Palestinian youth must die to satisfy older terrorist quest for power.
Ray-Everyone knows how this will end. Only question is how much restraint will the Israelis show. Maybe it is time for a little Palestinian rear to be kicked again. How many Palestinian youth must die to satisfy older terrorist quest for power.
Yes,everyone in the world (outside the US and Israel) knows that the end will be a Palestine free of Israel. The only question is how many people have to die before that happens.
Yep. Mankind has come along way these past 10,000 years. Tackling hatred, bigotry, murder, Wars, Peace and people imposing their will upon everyone they possibly can......NOT! It is pure stupidity and with out thought. It's like two people on an Island with no other place to go or live and cannot live with one another without so much hatred that they both perish. People do not get it. There's only one Earth We All have. All you need to do is live your life and NOT Trod on others. How simple is that. But Nooooo. You let personnel agendas, Religious beliefs, racism and so much hatred lead you into Wars that everyone loses. There are NO excuses. You have to, you need to, you must sit down at a table and make Peace. You can not have people in your own government (Hamas) that no matter what, will ever ever ever or ever want any Peace unless everyone is dead that lives or resides in Israel. Not going to happen. People, Humans need to Think! Yep 10,000 years and Man has not changed one damn bit and it is despicable.
One thing that I do know for sure , and that is, terrorism comes in many forms, and is not concentrated in just one area!!
Bottom line, someone is going to benefit tremendously by the inevitable outcome, if war does indeed breakout in Gaza!! In my opinion, as I've watched the developments in the Middle East over the years, the leadership on both sides are responsible for the blood-letting!! "Peace" in the area can only occur under certain conditions, and that's the barrier - Those with power on both sides, refuse to compromise!!
There is no "equivalency" here between Israel and Gaza. They are very, very different cultures. Every day, Muslims demonstrate their love of killing and chaos. Israelis demonstrate restraint and civilization. Muslims are a danger to peace and stability in the world; Israelis are not!
Saying that, is like arguing that 9 year old children should be able to drive on our highways because 18 year olds may. There is no equivalency there.
Anyone over the age of twelve recognizes that one is not the same as ten. Tell you what: I'll bet you $1,000 that the next suicide bomber who kills and maims innocent civilians will be Muslim, not Israeli. Take my bet? ... Didn't think so. ... So much for "equivalency."
kannin -
I agree with you but muslims have to die in a holy war to be awarded 74 virgins in paradise. There is no other guarantee to paradise and all that tang unless you die killing infidels. suicide is the best way to make sure you get to spend eternity with 74 virgins, 20 comfort boys and a 24/7 erection to enjoy all of that action. Seems like killing yourself is a small price to pay for all of that tail.
I am NOT trying to be funny here- This is what muslims actually believe!!! How do you deal with such stupidity? The only real answer is to elminate the murderous cult of Islam, short of that, extreme stupidity at dangerous levels will remain.
Larue (that'll be 72 virgins, and an unspecified number of servile "youth like scattered pearls").
You are correct about Muslim belief and their supposed entry into Islamic paradise. Unlike Christianity and its emphasis on faith in Christ, Islam has no plan of salvation. and the only way for Muslims to enter their brothel in the sky is by shedding blood. Even Muhammad wasn't sure of his eternal destiny. A few days before he died, Muhammad (Allah's only apostle) ranted the lament "Where will I be tomorrow, where will I be tomorrow."
If a suicide bomber kills only himself he will be damned. But if he kills himself and bus load of innocent kaffir schoolchildren he will enter paradise. Islam is a psychosis, pure and simple.
Free guns for all.
Bullets, $10.00 each.
But you'll have to register the bullets first!
barking dogs do not bite....... dogs=israel, master=USA...... hail hitler...... hitler will come back to finish his job.... israelis pee their pants by just hearing hitlers name....
Princesid..An invitation has been sent to you to appear at the new reconvened Nurumberg trial for nazi war criminals .The only problem for you is that Interpol will arrive at your house before you get the message.You will be escorted to Nuremberg and I supposed hung.That´s what they did to the other nazis some decades ago.Or they might just give you a gun and a photo of adolph and you can shoot yourself in the head as the fuhrer did..In any case you´re a dead duck!.In Germany they have no patience now for nazis.Sometimes they put htem on trial.sometimes.they just throw them in the nearest river.They know VERY well what that pervert Hitler did to their country.I didn´t see a space for denouncing writers on Newsvine as I usually do.But sooner or later Newsivine will arrest and execute you.You´ll be banned for life and sent to the lowest level of Newsvine Hell. Cheerio Mr, Prince Nazi. Have a nice trip to Germany or Newsvine hell.And remember it will be milleniums before you are reincarnated as a human.You blew it so badly on this one!!
PRINCEsid, you are one sad and deluded individual who has no clue!
It always amazes me when so many talk about so much they have no idea about. Why were Jews killed in WW one by Russia? Why were they killed in WW two by Germany? Cause and effect. The Jews have been killers and war mongers since Moses left the mountain. Read Carl Marx and his objective view of the Jewish issues from 1850. Same old story by the same old people. As long as colonial powers run the world, they will need war and disaster to make profits and obtain greater power.
Hamas started this by launching rockets into Israel, Hamas is financed by Iran, today the IAEA announced that Iran had doubled it's number of operating centrifuges and would have enough nuclear material for a bomb in half the previously estimated time. Iran is trying to distract Israel from attacking it by having Hamas stir the pot and occupy their attention.
FROG52 I just read in interesting article titled" Peace in the Middle East begins by talking with Iran"
The author compared the Middle East to a giant bowl of spagetti, with every issue in this region
intertwined which all made sense to me. Anyway, I believe there is a UN Meeting the week after
Thanksgiving which would be a good place to discuss the views of others. And perfect timing!
Please sanction PRINCEsid for his hateful, inappropriate remarks above.
I always like to keep idiot posts up for everyone to see so they know a complete hateful bigoted person some of these folks are. The World has always been full of hatred and bigotry. You even see it on these comments that some make. If you can not even try to make this World a better place to live in what good are you? Sanctioning him will not change him because he DOES NOT CARE. You are what you are.
Rich,Princesid has already been executed by the Newsvine police.He is now in Newsvine Hell reincarnated as a toad!!He won´t be heard from for millions of year until he climbs the evolutionary ladder and becomes a frog or rhinoceros!!
Key players in Gaza- Hamas military wing Izz al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades +Hamas old guard and new guard who relocated to Gaxa from Syria- PFLP and their military wing Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades (some from Syria via Dubai,where they have established themselves too). Islamic Jihad (AQ affliliate with Egyptian one), Hamas itself is a Gazan Muslim Brotherhood org. In Egypt- Morsy's party affiliate of Muslim Brotherhood- Salafist Nour Party- Jama'al al-Islamiya- AQ branch-Ayman al-Zawahiri's old org. AQIM providing weapons from Libya through Egypt through Rafah Crossing to Gaza. Big Players- Turkey/PM Erdogan+ Qatar FM&PM Al-Thuni+ Iran (PM Saheli with entourage will also visit Gaza- suppliers of Farj rockets- UAV prototype that Hamas is building-IAF attacked the site. Saudi King Abdullah the only reasonable one so far in urging wisdom (against MB/Iran).Arab League (AL)- conflicts since Jordan is in play for MB takeover. Egypt/Sinai- opening salvo 4 days ago with 4 Katyusha rockets from Sinai- Egyptian security forces confirmed -rockets fired from Rafah. Today again new rockets fired from Sinai- Eg. security people also intercepted 35 missiles beinbg smuggled from Libya over Egyptian border- how do you think Hamas/Gaza has such a huge arsenal depots of missiles/rockets/mortars/launchpads and no one sees them in Egypt? Hizbollah/Lebanon -a real player. Isn't it real outrageous that Israeli g'ment has been paying for Gazans' electricity?
Keep up the VERY good work.Mimi!!
MSNBC would never tell the truth about what you wrote, the only thing they write is how Israel is the problem and how Israel hurts civilians. The truth is the count of civilians is most likely inflamed like normal I would be willing to bet that only 1 or 2 civilians have actually been taken out and the bodies just keep getting moved around, just like they did when Israel attacked Lebanon. The news showed the same girl like ten times and then same guy kept moving her around, that and all the fake deaths that the people got up and walked away after the western news agencies left.
I do not like it when one person gets taken out but it sure would be nice if the truth was being told!!!
weapons should be taken away from those who wage war when they feel like it....also.. take those immigrants outta here we have too many!!!!!.....they have kazillioned since a few years have passed ...overflowing our country ...go back!!!...the US is overpopulating, you are smothering us!!!
What is wrong with hamas not wanting their territories run as a prison camp? what is right & acceptable about assassinating political leaders of neighboring countries under any circumstances? I'm a republican voter & warhawk about muslim extremists & want them dead yesterday, but it has to be that innocent palestinians having nothing to do with the mess need to be killed and suffer the consequences? I'm ex US Army & if I was there today I would fight & die to protect these poor people who receive terror, harrassment, & abuse daily from soldiers of the IDF checkpoints who pick on the helpless for fun.
But there are meetings & dialog & policy changes soon coming, where the Israelis need to back off the daily torment & harrassment of the territories of their Muslim fellow citizens, and use the billions my USA gives to them to keep their Muslim neighbors happy so as to avoid the legitimate discontent that causes these uprisings, you cannot treat your neighbors like sh*t & expect to live in peace side by side with them, does not the wisdom of King Solomon in Proverbs command this to you unwise Israelis? And does it also seem obvious that those who receive joy & pleasure by dealing out misery to his neighbor make you "EVIL"? Think what is of God, do what God commanded, be the lamp, shine the light of truth, thanks for reading, Mark in OKC.
Mark we heard you the first time and that was enough. Think things will pay more attention to you if you duplicate your posts? Don't bet on it!
yes, reposted my earlier comments, yes, the only dialog it generates is criticism from you because I try, yes, guess we both waste our time even trying, looks like, don't it? But I would have better results, as you can see, if I posted all one-sided for Israel and bashed the muslim people of gaza, and go look at all the evidence here in this forum, thanks for lecture about proper decorum in forums though, any productive dialog anyone?comments?
Mark, I was simply stating and opinion. Please accept my apologies if I offended. The fact is that I do not happen to be a big fan of Israel myself, but I refuse, like some others posting here to lay all the blame squarely at the foot of Israel alone. The fact is that there is more than enough blame and blood on everybody's hands to go around on both sides. It is a seemingly endless cycle of hatred and violence where innocents on both sides suffer plenty. Both sides have to step back from the brink and act like reasonable people for a change. The big problems are with the leaders on both sides, not with the people themselves. Have a good evening.
You have no clue what you are talking about. Israel does more to support the Palestinian people than most muslim nations do. They send food, water, fuel, medical supplies etc daily into palestine which is more than Hamas does. If you were ever in the military you were definately never in the Middle East, I was and I know exactly how the mudslimes treat the non mudslimes, especially the jews and that is not good. The Israeli people do more to try and keep the peace in one day than the mudslimes do in a year.
Garrie, to whom are you responding?
Garrie, I am an American citizen born and raised married to a MUSLIM. Your bias and ignorance is truly sad.
Your belief that Israel's "support" of the Palestinian people is laughable, if not down right pathetic. Why does Israel send food, water, medical supplies to Palestine sporadically? Shouldn't the people in Gaza be able to cross their borders to get to take care of themselves instead of waiting for handouts. End the blockade!!! They've been held hostage for years. I don't know about you, but living under "house arrest" like the Gazans is no way to live. Just ask the Jews that survived the Warsaw ghettos.
larue - there are more "SIDES" on the ground & operating in GAZA than hamas & the US, as you put it. There are the ZIONISTS on the Israeli side & also the ordinary normal Jewish Israeli citizen. About 80 years ago before the ZIONISTS came into power the Muslims & Israelis used to babysit each other's children. Now, on the Muslim side of the fence, in Gaza, you have several sides also. Something like 90 percent of the Muslim population of Gaza has the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Hezbollah & other organizations. These are about 10 percent of the Muslim population in Gaza, and where all the attacks and woe & misery & homicide bombings come from. The remaining 90 percent Muslim population of Gaza and other Muslim territories are sweet and loving ordinary Muslim people. Larue, then there are two MAFIA type organizations as another two "SIDES" who both make very big money illegaly operating to siphon off the billions my USA gives to Israel, something like 7 or 8 "SIDES" to be on in Gaza and Israel today, and the ones who suffer & pay the most in misery and neglect are the sweet & harmless ordinary Muslim of Gaza. Educate yourself, Larue. Go to you tube and watch a movie called "CHECKPOINT", start there, look at the EVIL which is done by both ISRAEL & the Muslim organizations which provoke Israel's hatred, see the wrong which both sides commit to engender hate, then make a decision whether our billions in aid to Israel really accomplish anything good for you, me, or them. Thanks for reading, Mark in OKC, republican, war hawk, and ex soldier.
Mark, you're a very confused person. I haven't seen "Checkpoint" perhaps that is the source of your malinformation.
I subscribe to Pat Condell's "revised" assessment of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Below are two of his videos in which he explains his position with a touch of hyperbole. WARNING: if you are a rabid jew hater, or a palestinian terrorism supporter, you won't like them. If you do like them, you can find many other videos on various subjects by Pat Condell on his YouTube channel. Pat Condell is a stand-up comedian by trade, and is an outspoken atheist, pacifist, liberal. Hopefully, the links will post. If not, you can find them under their titles on Pat Condell's YouTube homepage. Enjoy:
The Great Palestinian Lie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1N1zhUm84w&list=UUWOkEnBl5TO4SCLfSlosjgg&index=15&feature=plcp
Useful Idiots for Palestine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeGYAfh9A1k&list=UUWOkEnBl5TO4SCLfSlosjgg&index=13&feature=plcp
Loud liberal, thanks, briefly checked out what u suggested, and it does look like interpretation which is biased for the Israeli party line. However, if you would be as kind as me to watch about 10 minutes of "Checkpoint- every day life in Israel", its on you tube, just key in the title I gave, you will be fascinated by how raw and direct that documentary movie is. It shows only raw video with absolutely no bias for nor against the Jews nor those in the palestinian territories, there is no commentary which praises nor condemns what those people and the Israeli soldiers have to endure every single day, for it does not need any as the video of the real & actual events speaks so well for itself.
There are evils committed by both sides, Libby, you can't call me a "confused" person if you are just going to be "Rah Rah, Go Jews, hooray for our side", can you?? I would be a confused person, as you suggested, if I entered into dialog all for one side without a fair examination of the hatred & evil commited by both sides, have you viewed any of the dozens and dozens of videos on you tube which are showing the real evidence about this occupation of the legitimate Palestinian territories? And also, you will be hearing very much in the news in coming days about this OCCUPATION OF THE PALESTINIANS from the Arab League meeting as well as from United Nations assemblies, its the entire issue & highly relevant, thank you, Mark in OKC.
Mark is another moron, You tube is not real news. Anyone can make a good lie and put it on you tube!!!! I get so tired of people like you who have never left this country and think they know what is going on in the Middle East!! What is going on in the middle East is 90% of the mudslimes want to destroy all non mudslimes!!!!!!!!!!! They believe that the only wat to get God to come back is to either convert everyone to mudslime or kill anyone who does not convert and that is what is wrong in the Middle East and will soon be going on more and more in other countries. The hardcore mudslimes like the Iranian leadership plan on using a weapon to cause the final war and they believe this will bring back the 12th imam and they are hoping to do it soon, and they want to kill all of the people in Israel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAPS!! Show me maps. I can't remember exactly where all these places are located.
Every human being has a natural right to exist. That is not the same thing as every government having a right to exist.
It's that time again for Israel to kick their butt,flatten and destroy everything in it's path,then leave and let the muslim mutts pay for rebuilding with their bullet money.Then after they get rebuilt and are attacking again,Israel will just kick butt again at that time.LOL how stupid can a race of mutts be ?? Duh!!Don't they know they are attacking Gods people, wonder if any of their masters ever read a Bible?
I don't get it. Israel KILLS the Hamas leader and then they cry in their beer about missiles coming in to get them ? According to Wikipedia and other reads, Hamas is not even considered a terrorist organization. I think Israel secures some old UN resolution and somehow insures we hare in America get our crude oil from the middle east. DID YOU KNOW THE U.S. GIVES ISRAEL OVER 3 BILLION A YEAR IN HAND-OUTS !
I say leave the people of Palestine alone...they just wanna have some land, some peace, and eat. THEY HAVE KIDS, TO, YA KNOW ? We're all human here !
Laqmont Hamas is definately considered a terrorist organization by the USA, the EU and Israel, They have shot over 500 rockets and several missiles into Israel over the past month and that is why Israel took out the leader of Hamas. If you are going to post maybe you should find out what is really going on first. As far as the land issue the land of Gaza was given to them by Israel, the peace would come if Hamas quit firing rockets and missiles and as far as food goes Israel sends them a whole lot of food daily.
Hamas is the one who incited this action. Your hate for Israel is ignorant and blind. You need to be over there with the brotherhood if you feel so much hate.
Here's the really tragic part: You look at those guys' pictures, and you can't tell if they are Jews or Arabs, since they all look alike...except, of course, for Netanyahu, who looks like a Viking. The Jews and Arabs are both Semites, making this a war of brothers...and as we Americans can tell them, based on our own Civil War, that's the worst kind.
To me it is obvious that Ha mas incited this current conflict and it won't let it end until they get what political propaganda value they want out of the engagement. Limited events such as this are preplanned and staged for media exposure and propaganda value. No one that I know has ever been under attack and desired to be in that position. I've only been under mortar attack twice in my life but I assure you that it was quiet enough. This event has been staged to draw attention to Gaza and to consolidate Muslims in the Middle Eastern countries. Those initiating this conflict place no value on human life. In fact the dead become of more valuable as cannon fodder. Taking collateral damage in this case is desirable and is the main reason for the attack in the first place; thus their reason for firing rockets from populated areas and near public buildings such as schools and hospitals. Taking civilian casualties is meant to enrage the nations in the immediate area. The Muslim Brother Hood shows its true colors. As does Egypt’s new President. They are a murderous lot. Anyone with half a mind can see where this is going to end up.
The Israelis are "occupying" Gaza. There was a treaty established decades ago that separated the two countries, but Israelis choose to ignore it. Israel instigates trouble in the middle east, then expects the U.S. to defend them when the trouble comes back on them. Both sides are using their "religion" to try to justify their ongoing quest for power. I'm not defending the Muslims, their philosophy is totally insane. But Israel acts like a nasty little boy who stands out in the front yard and throws rocks at the neighbor kids, and when one of them chooses to defend himself, the nasty little boy yells for his big brother, the U.S., to come out and defend him.
I took the advice of "Loud Liberal" and checked out one video. He managed to condense 2000 years of lies and bigotry into five minutes of TRUTH. I wish I could be eloquent. Thanx for the info.
It appears on the surface to be the continuing on-going war that Israel has had to face since they were recognized as a nation on May 15, 1948. Israel only wants to be left alone, while the "Palestinians" among many other nations in the region, such as Iran, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc, etc have wanted to kill every Jew not only in Israel, but in the world. There are more Jews in New York City, than there are in Israel. God made a series of covenants with the Jews or more precisely to the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob that He would never abandon the descendants of the ancient Hebrew people. Morever, in the Old Testament, God declared that the Jews were "the apple of My eye." Since there is no one greater than Himself, God swore an oath to the Jews that only if you could number the stars in the sky or number the grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth, would He abandon Israel. If one views the map of the land that the Creator of the universe gave to the Jews forever, one can readily see that the tiny nation of present day Israel, represents a very small portion of the land grant that God promised to Israel forever. After WWII, the League of Nations tasked England with the job of giving the nation of Israel much of the land that had been promised them by God many centuries before. Yet, because of anti-Semitism among the ranks of many of England's military officers, this was not done. Instead, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem petitioned for land for the Arab "Palestinians" and England gave him control of Jerusalem as well as much more land that by international law, the Arabs were never entitled to.This is especially interesting since the Grand Mufti had fled Jerusalem at the outbreak of WWII, met with Hitler, and actually formed a brigade of Arabs that fought against the Allies. The Grand Mufti shared a common passion with Hitler- he hated the Jews. The Grand Mufti's brother-in-law also managed to get a large land grant that was set aside for the Jewish people. The League of Nations had set aside much of present day Jordan as a homeland for the "Palestinians." Instead, the few Arabs that had settled in the land, sold the land that was suppossed to be Jewish land to the Jews at inflated prices. The rocks, sand, and swamps that the Arabs couldn't do much with, flourished under the hands and hard work of the Jewish people, to whom the land rightly belonged to as a result of a League of Nations decree and by the promise of God. Prior to WWII the sun never set on the British Empire. After horribly mis-managing the land mandate and violating God's promise to return Israel to her homeland, England lost all of her colonies and today is only a shell of her former glory. The ancient enmity between the Arabs and the Jews can be traced back to God's promise to Abraham and to his impatience with God. God had promised Abraham a son in his old age. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, tired of waiting on God's plan and Sarah offered Abraham her much younger handmaiden, Hagar to have sex with Abraham, much like men today, liked that idea. He did indeed have a child by Hagar. His name is Ismael. Later, God miraculously enabled Sarah to conceive and bear Issac, the child of the Promise.God had promised to bless all of Abraham's children and He did indeed fulfill His word and bless Ishmael and his descendants. Fast forward to the 6th century A.D. and a man named Mohammed. According to the Koran, Mohammed had a vision in which he thought he was possessed by a demon. ( Mohammed's words not mine) Mohammed shared his vision with his favorite wife, who assured him that he wasn't possessed by a demon, but had been blessed by Allah. In Medina, at that time, people worshipped five different deities. One of them was the moon goddess, Allah. At first, Mohammed comtemplated committing suicide by jumping off a high rock. ( his words, not mine } Instead, he decided that he had been chosen by Allah to preach a new religion that today is known as Islam. One of the tenets of Islam is that deception in warfare is acceptable, in fact Mohammed consulted Allah, who told him that it was Ok to practice lying for up to ten years by making a false peace treaty, if this act of deception gave Islam a military advantage. Allah also assured Mohammed that it was acceptable to wage war, take booty, and make sex slaves of any captured female prisoners. This new religion attracted an increasingly huge following of men and since the women were not entitled to an opinion, they followed this new faith too. Now, Mohammed was familar with both Judaism and Christianity and he liked some tenets of each religion, plus he saw it as a way to attract additional converts, Mohammed decided that he liked Abraham, but decided that it was Ishmael that Abraham almost sacrificed to God, instead of Issac. Mohammed liked some of the other Old Testament figures, but he changed what they said and who they were in God's plan. Mohammed liked Jesus, but decided that God didn't have a son and that Jesus will return at the same time as the Mahdi, but Jesus will come back to correct all Christians and Jews about how we got it all wrong. Mohammed allegedly didn't die, but ascended to Allah from the site of the Dome of the Rock. After Mohammed died, he didn't leave a male heir, so the religion split along the line of proper succession and we have the Shia and Sunni conflict alive today. I have read English translations of the Koran and the Hadiths ( the writings of the Muslim religious figures after Mohammed ) and if anyone doubts anything I have said about Islam, please feel free to read them for yourself ) I am a Christian, who has been saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, I will disagree with Islam or any other religion, but I respect the right of people to choose their own religion or no religion at all. I DO NOT hate any follower of Islam or any religion, even if it is nihilism. In fact, I am commanded by the Lord Jesus Himself to love all people and I do my best to live up to His standard. The reason I have spent so much time trying to lay the predicate for my reasoning in regards to the conflict in Israel is that it is essentially a struggle between three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. First of all- I love and support the nation of Israel with all my heart. The Messiah, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords is Jesus Christ and He was born as a Jew. Secondly, God has promised the entire land of Israel to the Jews forever. In fact, after the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ will rule from His throne in Jerusalem. The Jews, most of whom did not recognize Him as their long promised Messiah, paid a terrible price for their error. No people-no nation has ever suffered as much as the Jews. However, God does have a Son, whose name is Jesus and He died once and for all time for the sins of all men and women. Moreover, Jesus arose from the dead and is alive forever more.The Land of Israel was promised to the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob FOREVER. No other nation or group of people have any claim whatsoever to even a grain of sand in that precious land. In fact, God identified Himself so strongly with Israel that He referred to Israel as "My land" and Jerusalem as "My eternal capitol." No American, no European, no Asian, and no Arab has any rightful claim to Israel as God gave the title to Israel about 4,000 years ago. Furthermore, God attached a blessing and a curse to the Jewish people. God promised Abraham that "I will bless those that bless you and curse those who curse you." The great blessing that America has enjoyed for over 200 years was based on two reasons: We were one nation founded under God and {2} America has generally been a blessing to the Jewish people. However, there is absolutely no mention of America in End Time prophecy. The last election sealed America's fate. No matter your political affiliation, Obama failed to even visit Israel in his 1st term. His contempt for Netanyahu and Israel is very obvious. " I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curses you" has come home to America.Our beloved nation is on life support and God's hand is on the plug. I believe with all my heart that we are only a few years away from the beginnings of the Biblical prophecies known as eschatological prophecy. There is one battle mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 which has yet to be fulfilled and is separate from Armageddon. Inceasingly, Israel is being surrounded by nations that hate the Jews and plan to destroy them. Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinians, Russia, and many other nations will descend on Israel intent on wiping God's nation from the face of the Earth. No nation will come to Israel's aid. Israel herself will quake at the vast host of enemies arrayed against her. However, God will miraculously rescue Beloved Israel. The opening salvo begins with the greatest earthquake ever seen on Earth. It will rocket off the Richter scale as every nation on the planet will feel it. The coalition of invaders will be totally destroyed by massive chunks of hail, fire,disease, and the worst case of 'friendly fire" in history. You have a choice to believe or not believe. Soon untold massive numbers of people will disappear from the planet all at the same time. It won't happen because we're good people or that we deserve it- it will happen simply because we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour, in spite of our sin, in spite of our unworthiness. It is only that we have the child-like faith to accept Jesus as our Saviour.The one thing that will never happen is that Israel will never be conquered, divided, or given to anyone else.Please choose wisely now for no one knows hen we will die. Eternity is only a heartbeat away. Please choose Jesus as I can promise you that you won't be disapointed as He is the only way to have eternal life. No more pain, no more suffering, no more evil, no more death, no more fear. Best of all, salvation is absolutely free and all you have to do is ask.