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Subscribe to RSSIsraeli forces conducted an airstrike on a convoy the Syrian-Lebanese border Wednesday. NBC's Richard Engel joins Brian Williams with his analysis.
BEIRUT — Israel's air force launched a rare airstrike on a military site inside Syria, the Syrian government and U.S. and regional security officials said Wednesday, adding a potentially flammable new element to regional tensions already heightened by Syria's civil war.
Regional security officials said the jets targeted a site near the Lebanese border, and a Syrian army statement said it destroyed a military research center northwest of the capital Damascus. They appeared to be discussing the same incident.
The strike, which occurred overnight Tuesday, appeared to be the latest salvo in Israel's long-running effort to disrupt the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah's quest to build an arsenal capable of defending against Israel's air force and spreading destruction inside the Jewish state from just over its northern border.
The regional security officials said Israel had been planning in recent days to hit a Syrian shipment of weapons bound for Hezbollah, which is neighboring Lebanon's most powerful military force and committed to Israel's destruction. They said the shipment included sophisticated Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles whose acquisition by Hezbollah would be "game-changing" by allowing it to blunt Israel's air power.
The strike may have halted that transfer.
The Israeli military and a Hezbollah spokesman both declined to comment, and Syria denied the existence of any such shipment.
U.S. officials confirmed the strike, saying it hit a convoy of trucks, but gave no further information.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
The strike follows decades of enmity between Israel and allies Syria and Hezbollah, which consider the Jewish state their mortal enemy. The situation has been further complicated by the civil war raging in Syria between the forces of President Bashar Assad and hundreds of rebel brigades seeking his ouster.
The war has sapped Assad's power and threatens to deprive Hezbollah of a key supporter, in addition to its land corridor to Iran. The two countries provide Hezbollah with the bulk of its funding and arms.
Many in Israel worry that has Assad's regime loses power, it could strike back by transferring chemical or advanced weapons to Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah fought an inconclusive 34-day war in 2006 that left 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis dead.
While the border has been largely quiet since, the struggle has taken other forms. Hezbollah has accused Israel of assassinating a top commander, and Israel has blamed Hezbollah for attacks on Jewish sites abroad. In October, Hezbollah launched an Iranian-made reconnaissance drone over Israel, using the incident to brag about its expanding capabilities.
Israeli officials believe that despite their best efforts, Hezbollah's arsenal has markedly improved since 2006, now boasting tens of thousands of rockets and missiles and the ability to strike almost anywhere inside Israel.
Israel suspects that Damascus obtained a battery of SA-17s from Russia after an alleged Israeli airstrike in 2007 that destroyed an unfinished Syrian nuclear reactor.
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of the dangers of Syria's "deadly weapons" and warned that the country is "increasingly coming apart."
The same day, Israel moved a battery of its new "Iron Dome" rocket defense system to the northern city of Haifa, which was battered by Hezbollah rocket fire in the 2006 war. The Israeli army called that move "routine."
Syria, however, cast the strike in a different light, portraying as linked to the country's civil war, which blames on terrorists carrying out an international conspiracy to destroy the country.
A military statement read aloud on state TV Wednesday said low-flying Israeli jets crossed into Syria over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and bombed a military research center in the area of Jamraya, northwest of the capital, Damascus.
The strike destroyed the center and damaged a nearby building, killing two workers and wounding five others, it said.
The military denied the existence of any convoy bound for Lebanon, saying the center was responsible for "raising the level of resistance and self-defense" of Syria's military.
"This proves that Israel is the instigator, beneficiary and sometimes executor of the terrorist acts targeting Syria and its people," the statement said.
Despite its icy relations with Assad, Israel has remained on the sidelines of efforts to topple him, while keeping up defenses against possible attacks from the regime.
Israeli defense officials have carefully monitored Syria's chemical weapons, fearing Assad could deploy them or lose control of them to extremist fighters among the rebels.
President Barack Obama has called the use of chemical weapons a "red line" whose crossing could prompt direct U.S. intervention, though U.S. officials have said Syria's stockpiles still appear to be under government control.
The strike was Israel's first inside Syria since September 2007, when its warplanes destroyed a site in Syria that the U.N. nuclear watchdog deemed likely to be a nuclear reactor. Syria denied the claim, saying the building was a non-nuclear military site.
Syria allowed international inspectors to visit the bombed site in 2008 but it has refused to allow nuclear inspectors new access. This has heightened suspicions that Syria has something to hide, along with its decision to level the destroyed structure and build on its site.
In 2006, Israeli warplanes flew over Assad's palace in a show of force after Syrian-backed militants captured an Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip.
And in 2003, Israeli warplanes attacked a suspected militant training camp just north of the Syrian capital, in response to an Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in the city of Haifa that killed 21 Israelis.
Syria vowed to retaliate for both attacks, but never did.
In May 2011, only two months after the uprising against Assad started, hundreds of Palestinians overran the tightly controlled Syria-Israeli frontier in a move widely thought to have been facilitated by the Assad regime to divert the world's gaze from his growing troubles at home.
Related:
Analysis: Israeli attack in Syria could trigger Iran reaction
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As the saying goes... the best defense is a good offense...
Israeli direct action against Syria makes the US, NATO, the EU and the United Nations look impotent.
it's possible that Israeli intelligence saw chemical weapons being moved out of Syria into Lebanon for use by Hezbollah. That is a red line Israeli officials have repeatedly stated would trigger the use of force.
Didnt Obama say he wouldnt tolerate it either????????
Jay Carney, where are you???
Why should Hezbollah not have the right to arm themselves? They are clearly a 'well regulated militia' protecting their own national interests. Why should Israel be the only bully armed with heavy weapons? If both sides were similarly armed Israel would have to negotiate peace in a hurry.
Silence. Maybe we will hear something within the next 2 years or so.....that is if chemical weapons tracked to Syria are used in other countries FIRST. Then the Obama administration will revert to it's "Crisis Management" modus operandi.
Lots more going on than we know. Let the jews go to town on these clowns and clean things up right!
Clearly, Israel is plenty capable of defending itself. As it should.
Looks like another one the U.S. ought to sit out. There are no U.S. interests at stake.
They are all playing a very dangerous game.
Israel seems not to comment on its military actions when they are illegal or hit a civilian target.
"Syria television said that Israeli warplanes had actually attacked a research center in Damascus province."
Seems like the latter in this case.
Max and seven seas Really, you guys should be on the comedy circuit, They have the 'right", but Israel, has to sit back, and watch their saorn enemy reload, yeah right, you'd make a good leader.. I guess Assad killing all his "citizens", he has the right to, and Egypt erupting has all the right, and the list goes on. Syrian TV said Israel actually hit a "research center" Dude, that is comedy genius. keep up the good work
I do not believe it would be in Israel's best interests to stir the pot without some solid evidence that they had crossed a red line for them. Perhaps Israel felt they just had to do this for their own preservation.
As long as we are not dragged into another senseless war in the Middle East, I don't really care what Israel does to protect themselves. However, I realize the NATO bond we have with them will do just that if they get attacked on a large scale. If the retaliation (that I believe we all know is coming) is small, then it will probably remain between them. If not, the next stop is Jerusalem for the US Military.
TO: Max^108 who wrote:
Why would Hezbollah need "heavy weapons" when Hezbollah is friendly with all of its neighbors EXCEPT Israel.
I don't think anyone would recommend using "arms" or any kind of "weapons" to negotiate peace.
Israel has to have heavy weapons to defend itself because some of Israel's neighbors are NOT friendly with Israel and have threatened Israel.
Iran knows that any attack on Israel is an attack on the United States.
Israel absolutely has a right to defend itself and take preventative measures, just as we have the same rights and do exercise them. I highly doubt Israel would hit a research facility in Damascus unless it was researching or building WMD's including chemical weapons. Asshat is probably saying that because he doesn't want to give the rebels that actually did it a victory that would boost their morale.
What Israeli war have we ever been dragged into, we have only given support, no US soldier has ever fought in Israels wars unless they went over there and volunteered, Israel is more than capable of fighting her own wars. Israel has been attacked on a large scale by multiple countries more than once(48, 67, 73) and has won all those wars with their own troops. Not only did they win but they captured large amounts of land as the spoils of war defending themselves. The same land all the Anti Semitic, Muslim lovers on here are constantly crying about. The Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza, Israel has also exchanged The Sinai for peace with Egypt, the West Bank and Gaza in attempts to make peace with the Palestinians. The only help we supply is weapons, same as we supplied to Mubarak and are now supplying the Muslim Brotherhood with. BTW Israel is not a NATO member.
Max^108
Hezbollah is not a country, they have no national interests, they are a terrorist organization that has no homeland. They are actually occupiers in Lebanon and under the control of Iran's Revolutionary Guards being supplied by Iran and Syria. They are using the sovereign country of Lebanon to launch terrorist strikes and start guerrilla wars, much as Hamas does in Gaza.
Hezbollah or Isreal? A sane person would know they aren't equals and pick Israel every single time.
Israel can't let any chemical weapons get in the hands of Hezbollah for any reason and I'm glad that there is a country out there willing to stop those chemical weapons from getting there. Unlike the US, where we decide to have whoever doesn't like the current President decide that whatever they are doing is wrong, because they don't belong to the 'correct' political party.
I can not blame Israel for taking action to stop Hezbollah from getting their hands on heavy weapons. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that is taking advantage of the unrest in Syria to try and get their hands on weapons they should not be allowed to get. What person in their right mind thinks it is OK for a terrorist group to get their hands on sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry or possibly chemical weapons?!?! I have no doubt that if Assad falls, Hezbollah will try and get their hands on some of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. Israel has now sent a very clear message that they are not going to allow that to happen. They needed to take out this weapons convoy both to stop Hezbollah from getting the anti-aircraft weapons but also to send a clear message to them to stay away from Syria and their weapons stockpiles.
If this is strictly Israel business then any consequences should be Israel's problem right? If their neighbors decide enough is enough, it will be their problem right? WRONG... American soldiers will be forced to go over there and fight (and die) for them..... and Americans wonder why the people in the middle east hate us.
blondeness032
Name 1 battle, war, or conflict where any American soldier has fought on Israel's behalf. The IDF fights and wins its own battles, no foreign troops needed.
Hamas leader reportedly backs two-state solution
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-leader-reportedly-backs-two-state-solution/
Khaled Mashaal asks Jordan’s King Abdullah to convey the message to Obama, according to a report in Saudi Arabia’s al-Sharq
According to the report, which cited Jordanian officials, Mashaal expressed his organization’s support for a conflict-ending agreement that would grant the Palestinians an independent state based on the 1967 borders. The king is expected to convey the message to Obama in a meeting scheduled for the end of February.
Well GEE!!!! We KNOW that Obama has already thrown Israel under the bus on THAT one!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciES8cEoGZ8
Obama Urges Israel to Go Back to 1967 Borders
It's an attempt at propaganda, Jerusalem is off the table and Hamas knows it, he is just saying that to try stir the pot, Hamas is as interested in peace as Arafat was. If Israel were to say yes to Jerusalem Hamas would find another sticking point.
We wait and we watch!
The only reason we haven't intervened, the only reason that makes any sense is because we are learning about where weapons come from, the entire distribution chain, who is involved. The HARD part is picking through all the Lebanese, which is a wonderful country. But WHO are the radicals that need a good spanking? Because last time Israel just went in and indiscriminately smashed up the place, and suffered this anti-Israel backlash that lasts 10-20 years (comments below). Find out who is doing all this mayhem, who profits.
I wouldn't want to toy with US or Israel on intelligence, they are watching and learning all the time just who sides with who. Very strategic. One day they will end it, and they can do it. They can end this once and for all. But this entire charade is a profitable learning experience. Sorry Assad, your name has earned it's place on the list.
Lebanon needs to reinvent it's identity, one that fosters neighborly good intentions and self cleanses it's radicals. With Hezbollah at the helm, all we can do is watch and learn. So far, they have embraced peace, and that has benefited them greatly.
That has been our best strategy, we come in peace. We make friends, we intertwine our worlds and become a united entity that the people believe in deeply for the betterment of all. Otherwise they fundementalize to a basic archaic ancient mentality, and foster a destructive suicidal hopeless spirit.
As always, put yourself above it. I'm on the side of peace and prosperity.The only thing I condemn is blowing our cover, you never want them to know that you're watching their every move. Sooner or later they will realize and they will stop, the fighting will stop and the flow of money will stop. Then what are we going to do? Kumbaya? Here, take this cell phone.
TopJimmy-3188981
Mostly right, "Israel just went in and indiscriminately smashed up the place", other than in a fire fight Israel picks it's targets as carefully as they can to minimize collateral damage, that is why the last "war" was fought to a stalemate, they left many targets untouched because human shields were being used. The anti American and anti Israeli allies are well aware that Israel is watching every move they can, but intelligence is rarely perfect. So events like this will continue to take place. Other than that you are pretty much on the money.
Sure looks like the Israelis destroyed a pretty significant weapons arsonal just before it crossed into Lebanon and into Hezbollah's bunkers!
Just look at how upset Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and even the Soviets------oops!---I meant the Russians, are with Israel for destroying all of those sophisticated weapons!!!!
F Israel
Lebanon absolutely has the right to defend it's airspace from constant IAF overflights and bombing attacks - it needs at least SA-17s to do this and preferably Russian S400s sometime in the near future
Good then Israel can escalate and end Hezbollah once and for all. Time for Israel to understand that Westerners, Jews and Christians cannot co-exist with Islam in it's current format. The best part of this is that Iran has said any attack on Syria will be treated like an attack on Iran so now they have to do something or they will lose face in the Islamist world of murder and terrorism.
Israel also has the right to exist.
I guess you don't realize that if the Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians for that matter stuck to themselves and took care of their own people instead of constantly schemed how to destroy Israel, then Israel would never have to violate any other country's air space. They were smuggling weapons to use against Israel. They had every right to go fly over Lebanon and take them out. If America did the same thing you'd probably applaud it. But since it's Israel you denounce it.
Really Skibum609? ...and you think Hezbollah guerillas will stand in nice Napoleonic musketeer ranks and not will just fade away into other countries? Iran will just rattle saber this time, "technically, it wasn't IN syria, just the border...." backpeddle, backpeddle.
Israel will whoop up on Iran if Iran tries anything. If Lebanon is willing to allow Hezbollah to operate within its borders or use its infrastructure to transport weapons that will be used against Israel, Lebanon must be willing to suffer the consequences. If a terrorist organization started launching rocket attacks on the US from Mexico, don't you think we would have the right to respond and even preempt such an attack?
Could be Netanyahu fishing in troubled waters after the elections in Israel didn't give him the overwhelming support he wanted. That's a dangerous policy to pursue. The majority of the Jews of Israel don't want a war,all their opinion polls show that. And the rest of the world,including us,as the last election here in the US overwhelmingly proved,don't want a new Mid-East war.
ddw1946-Israel also has the right to exist.
Yes they do. But not to oppress another people as part of that right. If they can only exist by oppressing others,then they call into question that right.
Blah blah blah, Israeli oppressors.....get a new song jerkoff, no one listens to that one anymore.
You're absolutely right. Israel needs a new parking lot. And I hope the fools in Lebanon give them the reason. Israel has been fighting for its existence since 1948. Guess who's never lost a war? I don't think it's going to start now.
Mila, nailed it. Right to exist , Condo building =Oppressors. Assad killing 60,000 cost of doing business Egypt of verge of another dozy, list goes on..and they worry about Israel. What have they built, ok, in the last 100 years. Still living off the Pyramids Uncle Bob, do you truly believe, Israel would even exist if they acted as if you were the leader, and called the shots. Ya right good try
Israel has no right to attack another country for aquiring arms. If that were so, the Lebanese would have a right to attack any American arms shipments to Israel. After all, Israel uses them to bomb Lebanon and just used them to attack Syria. During the attacks on Lebanon, Israel dropped millions of cluster bombs, which constitutes a war crime.
The crazy Zionists on these forums don't recognize Lebanons right to defend themselves from Israeli aggression. Israel illegally occupied Lebanon for 18 years.The Lebanese people have been living in their country a lot longer than the European Jews have been living in Israel, which is a land stolen from the native inhabitants, who happen to be Arabs.
Israel is a rogue nation, led by war mongering thieves and war criminals.
Israelis took part in the false flag attack of the US on 9/11. The 5 Dancing Israelis set the nano thermite charges in the WTCs and celebrated at Liberty Park, N.J., as the WTCs fell down into their own footprints in controlled demolitions. The owner of the moving company that employed the Israelis, fled to Israel the next day. Larry Silverstein, the WTC owner, collected billions in insurance money, because he had insured them against a terrorist attack a few months before. Wow, what a lucky break.
TO: Pokin' holes in the boat who wrote:
Absolutely correct!
Iranian Ralph -
What are the terrorist Iranian mullahs doing in Lebanon? why are you interfering in the Lebanise affairs? Why are you - and your proxy terrorist hezbolah - are fighting with Assad and killing 60,000 women and children? why Iran is helping Assad move its chemical weapons to Lebanon?
You need to get the hell out of Lebanon and stop blaming Israel for your failures. Down with the theocratic dictatorship of the Iranian pedophile regime.
farideh kashanian
Iranian Ralph......................I always thought it was Ralph Hamas, or Ralph Hezbollah, never could figure out which one though.
RalphH makes it sound like he knows things that nobody else does and gives the impression that he had a "bird's eye view" of everything as it unfolded during and after 9/11. Reality is that RalphH has perfected his propaganda to be an "art form"!
Dave I have started ignoring Ralph Hamas, he is at the very least a terrorist sympathizer more likely a member of Hamas or Hezbollah's propaganda wing. He always has manipulated quotes at the ready to post. His favorite for a while was a Moshe Dayan quote. After having it refuted countless times he has not been using it and has moved on to other quotes. I only see him posting on articles involving Israel, the wars in the Middle East, or something he can manipulate in that direction, always anti US, anti Jew, and anti Israel, he has even tried to turn the Sandy victims into a Zionist issue. Just look through his history. I wouldn't be surprised if he is on no fly lists and under the scrutiny of Homeland Security.
Sounds like a reasonable precaution on the part of the Israelis. Especially if they got lots of good secondary explosions from vehicles in the convoy!
The brats had to stick their noses in Syrian-Lebanese affairs.
Its already a turmoil over there thousands being killed for internal unrest reasons.
Last thing Syrians, Lebanese need is attack by twisted morons looking for a distraction from their problems with Palestinians.
Sicktired Lan
If the Syrians were indeed shipping missiles for use by Hezbollah in Lebanon for use against the Israelis, then it certainly would become a Israeli affair would it not? Ever heard about an ounce of prevention?
Ed,
The world is sick & tired of Israel's "pre-emptive" unilateral aggression.
So, tell me, Sicktired Lan..
What if, oh...say..... the Russians were to ship "surface to surface" missiles to Cuba? Do you think it would be bad form for the US to react to that in a provocative manner, or........ just let it slide?
No, people who are unequivocally against the jewish state are tired of Israeli actions like this, which they only have to carry out because the arab world has nothing better to do than plot to attack Jews.
People who understand that those weapons were certainly going to be used to target civilian Jewish populations agree that Israel had every right and sense to do this.
No, moron Lan, the world is sick and tired of bulls-it lies such as you just put forth. What don't you people get about "committed to Israel's destruction"? Neither I, nor most of the rational thinking world, think that hitting people who want to destroy you, who do constantly try to destroy you, qualifies as "pre-emptive unilateral aggression". Its called surviving...God, you are so brainwashed that you don't see that?!?!
Sicktired
Nice way to dodge the question and the issue! By the way, hate Israel much?
@lanboy-Speak for yourself. I am NOT tired of the Israeli people protecting themselves. And I am part of the world.
Its different for US. We are a legitimitae country, a democratic country made up of human beings.
andy,
Than you are a freaking brat too.
Crawl back into the stinkhole you were born out of, I'm sicktired of creeps like you sullying the planet.
Am Yisroel chai!
sicktired - We are sick and tired of your hateful remarks.
TO: duuug who wrote:
There's no way in hell we would allow anything like that to "slide".
They ought to be glad that Israel took out those weapons because the United States tends to be quite a bit more "heavy handed" and may have ended up taking out the whole town.
Ah well. Tough luck for the Syrians, Hezbollah and the Palestinians, may they all rot in hell.
Smart move by Israel.
If hezbollah pretends they are more like the muslim brotherhood in eygpt our gov. will give the m1 abrams and f16's
No, but hizbillah can pretend to be in close friends with Israel, they will get many many F16s etc. But they cannot. I mean even hizbilla have standards that cannnot go as low as that.
Love it when skum like sicktired realize how irrelevant they are.
Am Yisroel chai, turdboy!
Milosh,
Just go back to 2006; Hizbillah beat the crap out of Israel, remember?
Oh Lan, stop, Yeah Hezballh, kicked the crap out of Israel. Where's your boy Nasralleh hiding. What a pussy. Come out tough guy. Hiding missiles in buildings and behind women and children is not kicking the crap. Israel, did the right thing and stopped the pounding. You are the first to cry foul when Israel defends herself , and pounds your brothers who hide in population centers. Come out and fight, and stop going to the media with sad tales of woe. Listen you have plenty to worry about in Syria, with your brothers getting killed each and everyday. Go cry over that
The Israelis were soundly whipped when they finally got the guts to fight man to man on land. Yes, they are strong when they are sitting in F16s and Hezbollah doesn't have any way to fight back against an American plane. On the ground, the IDF was no match for the Lebanese fighters, depite having the finer equipment and tanks.
That is why Israeli generals lost their commands. Israel was embarrassed. The idea that the IDF is some kind of elite fighting force is a myth. Even the IDF soldiers admitted they were outclassed. The IDF is a joke.
The only thing Israel has going for them is American planes and equipment. Hopefully, Lebanon has acquired some anti aircraft missiles. It would be great to hear about some Israeli pilots being downed in Lebanon.
"The only thing Israel has going for them is American planes and equipment"
Finally an admission. Israelis can take care of themselves and do not need, never asked, and never had a single American or foreign soldier on their soil fighting for them. That is a whole lot more that can be said about your beloved muslim countries.
idf thugs are mostly sadistic killers but have yellow belly and would turn tail should they have to fight man to man instead of firing from their F-16 or Merkava tanks.
Milosh,
Nobody has problem with that. Just live like human beings. Thats all.
I'm no fan of Israel, but for those who talk about Hezbollah won and they kicked Israeli butts, really? I really really do not wish that kind of victories even on my enemies let alone my friends. Having said that, Hezbollah declared victory because they needed to and they used my country's money to pay for their pure stupidity. They have been stealing from my country (Iran) for way too long.
Israeli generals were sacked because countries like Israels follow concepts such as accountabiloity and integrity and self-criticisim that assist that little country to become the super power that it is in the region. It is truely sad that we cannot say the same thing about other countries in the region where they always blame the Jews for their problem and every war follows with self-declared victory.
All of those haters need to live in Iran and countries in the region before they open their mouth and say hateful things. Most of them seems to be same lame argument that U.S soldiers dying for Israel, Israel is the aggressor, bla bla bla. Stop it! find a new argument.
Assad is killing 60,000 people and all of you are still hung up on this tiny country?
Is the Obama administration really that stupid?-------I sure hope not!!!!!
Not to worry! Senator Chuck Hagel probably won't get confirmed as Secretary of Defense!!!!--------Hopefully!!!!
Well ....somebody had to something. Can't just let free flow of weapons and the carnage continue. Nobody else is doing a damn thing ....
OK Iran consider the attack on the convoy as an attack on your own troops. Now, next move?
They'll send their space-monkey to kick some jewish @ss! LOL
Israel - 100 nukes, Iran - 0.
Which Iranian city would you like turned into molten slag? Go ahead...make their day.
LOL, all of you people commenting on what the main stream media prints like you know what the hell you are talking about..Absolutely hilarious...Do you really think that we know what is actually going on over there??
If you do you are as ignorant as they want you to be..NONE OF US know what the real story or goings on are..NONE OF US...
I know people that live over there and say that this whole media campaign is to gin up support, OR IN OTHER WORDS MONEY for the government, money that they DONT NEED...
Its actually a running joke over there
Just as the staged stories and ESPECIALLY the pictures coming out of the "conflicts" in the Arab world.
Its theater for us.
We as a people need to demand that we stop feeling guilty about the holocaust and supporting the BS that is the "Israeli conflict"
Israel HAS NUKES, THEY DONT NEED OUR "PROTECTION"
Look I do not want to call you an idiot, but I also know people from that area.
Even if Israel HAS nukes they in conscious will not use them.
Their territory is small.
And YES they need financial and arms help to buffer the mid east.
Your "running joke" from the people are from the people not in the know.
THAT is why WE, AMERICA always, no matter WHO is in charge back them.
Oh just go ahead and call him an idiot, cause that's obviously what Dan is...
Viewer, all one has to do is just a small amount of research, not even knowing anyone there, and one can read for themselves that this "conflict" is born from greed..CORPORATE GREED.....
80% OF ALL PALISTINE ARE JEW/CHRISTIAN DESENDANTS
By virtue of its foreign aid, the United States funds Israel at the rate of
about $10,000,000 a day. If nothing else, Americans need to know how this money
is being used and decide whether that is the best use of the American taxpayer's
money. Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid. Secondly, as a member
state of the United Nations and a signer of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the United States must concern itself whenever human rights are
disregarded. Israel's occupation of Palestine violates many human rights
conventions.
The rights of Arab citizens of Israel are not equal to the rights of Jewish
Israeli citizens, even though Arab citizens have the right to vote, to freedom
of religion and to freedom of speech. For instance, some Jewish organizations
are given special governmental status and have authority for governmental
functions, such as developing the land and building housing projects and
settlements. The Palestinian Arab minority in Israel, which is commonly
referred to as "Israeli Arabs" and accounts for about 20% of the population of
the state of Israel (excluding the West Bank and Gaza), is excluded as
beneficiaries.
How much money does the U.S. provide to Israel and what is it used
for?
Since the money comes from different parts of the national
budget, it is hard to pinpoint a specific amount for each year. The June 2003
issue of The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs says that U.S.
support since World War II (in 2002 dollars) is well over $3500 billion
dollars. They also estimate that $40 to $50 billion goes to Israel from private
U.S. groups.
Additionally the government money is given in cash at the
beginning of the fiscal year, so Israel can invest the money and gain the
interest, a practice not followed with any other country.
The United
States does not ask the Israeli government to account for its use of the money.
Furthermore, U.S. law governs the use of U.S. arms sold to other countries, but
the U.S. has never asked Israel to conform to that law. Economic development
money has no restrictions and can be used for settlement development if Israel
so chooses
The economy of Israel is a technologically advanced market economy,[7] including rapidly developing high-tech and service sectors. As of 2011[update], Israel ranks 17th among 187 world nations on the UN's Human Development Index, which places it in the category of "Very Highly Developed".
The major industrial sectors include metal products, electronic and biomedical equipment, processed foods, chemicals, and transport equipment; the Israeli diamond industry is one of the world's centers for diamond cutting and polishing
Israel's venture-capital industry has rapidly developed from the early 1990s, and has about 70 active venture capital funds (VC), of which 14 international VCs have Israeli offices. Israel's thriving venture-capital and business-incubator industry played an important role in the booming high-tech sector.[40] In 2008, venture capital investment in Israel, rose 19 percent to $1.9 billion.[41]
Between 1991 and 2000, Israel's annual venture-capital outlays, nearly all private, rose nearly 60-fold, from $58 million to $3.3 billion; companies launched by Israeli venture funds rose from 100 to 800; and Israel's information-technology revenues rose from $1.6 billion to $12.5 billion. By 1999, Israel ranked second only to the United States in invested private-equity capital as a share of GDP. Israel led the world in the share of its growth attributable to high-tech ventures: 70 percent."[42]
Israel also has a small but fast growing hedge fund industry. Within the last five years between 2007 to 2012, the number of active hedge funds have doubled to 60 while the total asset values that the funds control have quadrupled since 2006. Israel based hedge funds have registered an increase of 162% since 2006 and currently manage a total of $2 billion (NIS 8 billion) as well as employing about 300 people.[43][44][45][46][47] The ever growing hedge fund industry in Israel is also attracting a myriad of investors from around the world, particularly from the United States
Science and technology in Israel is one of the country's most highly developed sectors. The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D) in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), is amongst the highest in the world.[49] Israel ranks fourth in the world in scientific activity, as measured by the number of scientific publications per million citizens. Israel's percentage of the total number of scientific articles published worldwide is almost 10 times higher than its percentage of the world's population
2 MINUTES OF RESEARCH TELLS ME AND ANYBODY WITH HALF A BRAIN ISRAEL DOES JUST FINE ON ITS OWN
IDIOTS LIKE YOU AND THAT CLOWN savoir laire ARE THE REASON WE STILL GIVE 10'S OF BILLIONS TO THEM, MONEY THEY DONT NEED
Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none. (View Sources & More Information)
Israel currently has 269 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land.
While many people are led to believe that US support for Israel is driven by the American establishment and U.S. national interests, the facts don’t support this theory. The reality is that for decades U.S. experts opposed Israel and its founding movement. They were simply outmaneuvered and eventually replaced.
Like many American policies, U.S. Middle East policies are driven by a special interest lobby. However, the Israel Lobby, as it is called today in the U.S.[1], consists of vastly more than what most people envision in the word “lobby.”
The Israel Lobby is just the tip of an older and far larger iceberg known as “political Zionism,” an international movement that began in the late 1800s with the goal of creating a Jewish state somewhere in the world. In 1897 this movement, led by a European journalist named Theodore Herzl[3], coalesced in the First Zionist World Congress, held in Basle, Switzerland, which established the World Zionist Organization, representing approximately 120 groups the first year; 900 the next.[4]
While Zionists considered such places as Argentina, Uganda, and Texas,[5] they eventually settled on Palestine for the location of their proposed Jewish State, even though Palestine was already inhabited by a population that was 95 percent Muslims and Christians, who owned 99 percent of the land.[6] As numerous Zionist diary entries, letters, and other documents show, Zionists planned to push out these non-Jews – financially, if possible; violently if necessary.
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/history.html
OH AND THIS
Look I do not want to call you an idiot, but I also know people from that area.
Even if Israel HAS nukes they in conscious will not use them.
LOL, they will if they have to
If you believe otherwise, you then are as I said before, are the idiot
Anyone who does any research knows that most of that money is conditional on Israel buying military equipment from the US. So it benefits Lockheed, Grummond and Boeing more than it benefits the average Israeli or the Israeli tech sector.
The root of this conflict is not business, but as stated, a lack of recognition of the Jewish state. Why do you think the arab league attacked Israel after they declared independence, and why do you think they keep attacking?
Israel is Americas most reliable ally, and our only true middle eastern ally. It's also the only country in the ME that has true freedom of speech, religion, press, sexual orientation, and free political institutions. If you posted comments like this in Iran, you'd be tortured. But in ISrael, you'd be participating in a democratic society.
As for why Jewish orgs get different treatment than Israeli arabs, it's because it's a Jewish state!!! But there are arabs in the Israeli government and over a million arabs legally allowed to own land in Israel, when 8000 Jews weren't allowed to live in Gaza. Can you imagine the palestinians, Egyptians or Syrians allowing a Jew in their government? Jews are not even allowed to own land in many arab countries.
The only reason Israel's population grew after 48 is because of all the Jewish refugees who were forced out of arab countries. Sounds like a double standard to me. But of course you'd know that given how much research you've truly done on the matter.
Dan,
First I thought you were just slightly misinformed. You even say "NONE OF US know what the real story or goings on are" (#10). I assume that includes yourself no?
But then you proceed to post a novel long rant acting like you know everything.
I made it about halfway through your second post, when I realized you are just plain ignorant.
For example, you say:
"By virtue of its foreign aid, the United States funds Israel at the rate of
about $10,000,000 a day" (#10.3)
That's ludicrous! Where did you get that "fact" from? It's actually funny because 2 paragraphs later you state:
"The June 2003 issue of The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs says that U.S. support since World War II (in 2002 dollars) is well over $3500 billion"
So let's do some quick math. $3500,0000,0000/50 years/365DPY = $191,780 per day.
Dan, please tell me, where did the remaining $9,808,220 come from? Or are we supposed to assume that you only know about 2% of what you are talking about?
Not to mention your "sources" are WAY outdated...
ZDUB, WELL IF IM WRONG WHERE IS YOUR REBUTTAL AND THE INFO THAT GOES WITH IT??
Yeah, thats what I thought..ZIP ZERO, NOTTA
NEXT that info isnt mine, its from a couple different sources, at least one I posted the link
SO, WHAT NOW?
POKIN, you are pokin something, but it aint a boat
As for why Jewish orgs get different treatment than Israeli arabs, it's because it's a Jewish state!!!
I THOUGHT THAT ISRAEL IS A DEMOCRACY???
So why isnt everyone treated the same?
as far as Jews not "allowed" to live in Gaza, ther was an agreement in 1967 for a border and Israel violated it and to this day still does.....
why is there soooooo many declarations by the UN of mistreatment and violations of human rights?????
zdub, heres some simple math for a simpleton like you
3500 billion 50 years is 18,250 days divide that into 3500 billion and the days number is 191,780,821.918
YOU WERE SAYING?
In 1967 Israel was attacked by 5 neighboring states and UN was at peace with that, thus the agreement is no longer worth the paper it's written on.
Israel was forced to take ground in a defensive war, and then gave most of it back (the only state to ever return land they won in a war).
None of that makes a case for Hamas, who made Gaza into a Judenfree zone.
In Israel, however, even though it's a Jewish state, everyone is indeed treated equally. Israeli Arabs have all the same rights as the Jews, even a little more rights when it comes to military service.
Eli - In 1967 Israel attacked Arab states. Stop your lies.The proof comes from your former big mouthed Generals and leaders. Zionist lies are so easy to disprove. Thanks to the internet, the American public is discovering that the Zionists are serial liars, who create their own history, always favorable to Israel. Read below:
"The thesis that the danger of genocide was hanging over us in June
1967 and that Israel was fighting for its physical existence is only bluff,
which was born and developed after the war."
Israeli General Matityahu Peled, Ha'aretz, 19 March 1972.
“The former Commander of the Air
Force, General Ezer Weitzman, regarded as a hawk, stated that there was ‘no
threat of destruction’ but that the attack on Egypt, Jordan and Syria was
nevertheless justified so that Israel could ‘exist according the scale, spirit,
and quality she now embodies.’...Menahem Begin had the following remarks to
make: ‘In June 1967, we again had a choice. The Egyptian Army concentrations in
the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We
must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him.’“ Noam Chomsky,
“The Fateful Triangle.”
“I do not think Nasser wanted war.
The two divisions he sent to The Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch
an offensive war. He knew it and we knew it.” Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s Chief
of Staff in 1967, in Le Monde, 2/28/68
Moshe Dayan posthumously speaks out on the Golan Heights
“Moshe Dayan, the celebrated
commander who, as Defense Minister in 1967, gave the order to conquer the
Golan...[said] many of the firefights with the Syrians were deliberately
provoked by Israel, and the kibbutz residents who pressed the Government to
take the Golan Heights did so less for security than for the farmland...[Dayan
stated] ‘They didn’t even try to hide their greed for the land...We would send
a tractor to plow some area where it wasn’t possible to do anything, in the
demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot.
If they didn’t shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance further, until in
the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot.
And then we would use artillery and
later the air force also, and that’s how it was...The Syrians, on the fourth
day of the war, were not a threat to us.’” The New York Times, May 11, 1997
Doesn't sound like anyone has proof of anything. Just more provocation from Israel. Too much money in the arms business. Has to keep things stirred up.
GOOD DEAL!!
At least Israel is watching what is gong on there.
It is an act of WAR. War crimes in Lebanon were not enough ? Terrorizing Middle East is not going to accomplish peace. It is not hard to figure out who is the biggest terrorist in the Middle East . I will give you a clue, it is not Lebanon.
And yet the Jews continue to build "settlements" there.
Joe, you should apply that theory of yours against the U.S. for the War in Iraq as a starter.
You don't know squat about war or war crimes.
Or how war is won, or how spoils of war are gained and lost.
Learn.
They buid on land won in wars they did not start.
Yeah, just what we need; a clue from the clueless.
That would be Iran, moron. You have no clue whatsoever what would happen to the balance of power in the entire middle East if they had nuclear weapons and threatened to use them. It would start a mid-east arms race that would make ours against Russia look like kids with water pistols.
steve, oh steve, I think you are the clueless
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/history.html
TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING
OR ARE YOU JUST ANOTHER IDIOT TEABAGGER THAT HAS TO BE TOLD WHAT TO THINK?
Funny Dan, but you calling me anything just doesn't bother me.
Viewer_Ready
They build on land won in wars they did not start.
You know, there was this guy from the Soviet Union that did that back in the 1940's, and we seemed to have a bit of a problem with that then.
Viewer Readty — Israel started the 1967 war, by attacking Egypt and destroying its air force while it was still on the ground.
Here is a preemptive post to counter any arguments you may have entertained to claim Egypt was a threat to Israel. It was not and the Israeli leadership knew it.
“The former Commander of the Air
Force, General Ezer Weitzman, regarded as a hawk, stated that there was ‘no
threat of destruction’ but that the attack on Egypt, Jordan and Syria was
nevertheless justified so that Israel could ‘exist according the scale, spirit,
and quality she now embodies.’...Menahem Begin had the following remarks to
make: ‘In June 1967, we again had a choice. The Egyptian Army concentrations in
the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We
must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him.’“ Noam Chomsky,
“The Fateful Triangle.”
Was
the 1967 war defensive? — continued
“I do not think Nasser wanted war.
The two divisions he sent to The Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch
an offensive war. He knew it and we knew it.” Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s Chief
of Staff in 1967, in Le Monde, 2/28/68
Moshe
Dayan posthumously speaks out on the Golan Heights
“Moshe Dayan, the celebrated
commander who, as Defense Minister in 1967, gave the order to conquer the
Golan...[said] many of the firefights with the Syrians were deliberately
provoked by Israel, and the kibbutz residents who pressed the Government to
take the Golan Heights did so less for security than for the farmland...[Dayan
stated] ‘They didn’t even try to hide their greed for the land...We would send
a tractor to plow some area where it wasn’t possible to do anything, in the
demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot.
If they didn’t shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance further, until in
the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot.
And then we would use artillery and
later the air force also, and that’s how it was...The Syrians, on the fourth
day of the war, were not a threat to us.’” The New York Times, May 11, 1997
Ralph, the 1967 war is a given.
It was preemptive.
And justified.
Tell me more.
If you need more historical data on that for your reseach, let me know.
I can help.
And, if they did not want a war.
Why send divisions there?
Great news. It appears Israel is not going to let the terrorists acquire more arms to harass their citizens.
Hey Joe, think about this. There are 6 million Jews in the middle east and about a half billion arabs. Do you really think that with all the arab terrorism exported throughout the region and Africa, that Israel is the biggest problem? The math doesn't add up. Hezballah, Hamas, Al Queada, Islamic Jihad, and the list goes on. Now name me one Jewish terrorist group.
Jewish terrorist groups -
IDF, IAF Israeli Navy and the Mossad.
Former Israeli terror groups- Stern Gang, the Irgun and a few others.
The IAF drops bombs from planes. It is way more effective than strapping one on and you get to go home when you have finished killing Arabs.
"Former Israeli terror groups- Stern Gang, the Irgun and a few others."
Former?????? Read #15 for the CURRENT muslim terrorists and add Muslim Brotherhood to the list and take it to ahmadinejad (I assume he is back from his flight into space?)
Farideh
The fact that Ralph could not come up with anything realistic in post #15.1 other than the things he did proves he was out thought and out classed by both you and Pokin' holes. Because of his extreme and rabid hatred of Israel and Jewish people, he is incapable of accepting the notion that an extremist Muslim with a explosive laden vest who walks into a crowded mall and detonates it in a crowd full of innocent women and children, could even remotely be considered a terrorist act!
Well folks, the end of the world is closer than any of us thinks. I'm glad I won't be here to c it burn.
Plus, anyway that MUSLIM ( I know everybody says he's not. But, I'm having a hard time beleiving that.) we have n the WH. He dosen't have to stand up and support Isreal. Like his predecessors have done b4 him. And, he has NEVER been to Isreal either. Didn't want to meet the Isreali PM when he came to the WH. Like his predecessors b4 him.
I'm just saying....
First off you make everything else you post irrelevant when you won't acknowledge that the man is a practicing Christian. You are probably part of the same group that reacted poorly at the thing said by his pastor before he was elected the first time.
Second, why does a president HAVE to visit a country like Israel? What does it prove that he shows up there? I don't really see the point. Additionally they have elected, more recently, politicians who specifically lobby against BHO when he was running for reelection. How about this: if Israel wants our money, like every year they ask, then they can come over here to ask for it. They don't need us to fly to them to cut them the check.
Well, let's put it this way...you're as full of cr@p as a constipated bear. And we certainly won't miss you when you shuffle off this mortal coil. Then again, I hear hell is full of people like you...rednecks and lawyers.
James, you are a clueless idiot teabagger
t a time of financial crisis in the United States in which thousands of Americans have lost their jobs and homes, an Israeli news service reports that President Obama has just signed a presidential memo eliminating a tariff on Israel that protected American dairy farmers and that raised money for the American economy.1
In addition, according to the Israeli report, US trade authorities have ordered the return of $17,000 to an Israeli export agent for a levy paid for butter produced by an Israeli company.
The move comes at a time when American dairy farmers have been facing what industry representatives call a “crisis.” According to the National Milk Producers Federation website, “U.S. dairy producers have been facing unprecedented losses over the past year due to low milk prices and high input costs. The dire economic straits have forced many dairy farmers to exit the industry, oftentimes having to sell their herds or farms.”2
According to the news report by Israeli wire service Ynet, the Obama memo, which was signed several days ago, removed the import subcharge on dairy products from Israel.
The report noted that such levies are important for protecting local production against competing imports, “which put the local production at risk.” The levy is required from most countries that export dairy products to the U.S.
According to Ynet, Israeli agricultural attaché Yaakov Poleg was able to convince the US that “the trade agreement between Israel and the US prohibits placing taxes on exports from Israel.”
However, this tax was required under previous American administrations
Quite a few of Barack Obama's "friends from the past" have popped up recently. It's doubtful whether he even knows their names, but in the Chicago Jewish community many people really are long-time friends of the president-elect. Some of the older people in the community say that they "raised him," while others half-jokingly call Obama "the first Jewish president."
They raised contributions for him, provided him with contacts, and also enjoyed hosting him and believed in his glorious future in politics. During most of the campaign, when rumors were spreading among American Jews that Obama was a closet Muslim who was more supportive of the Palestinians and was interested in granting the president of Iran legitimacy, his support among American Jews did not even come close to that enjoyed by Bill Clinton. But at the moment of truth, according to the exit polls, it turns out that 78 percent of Jews voted for Obama.
A fool is born every minute.
And most are liberals.
Dan is one of these trained Anti-Israel people where they take these classes as to how to fight Israel and shatter Israel's image in the public eye. These people always resort to things such as fake claims, shady sources, or outdated arguments, and many many times they also use fake pictures and videos or claims to establish their argument. Alot of them have these hand books that they just copy and paste crap from it just to be able to formulate an argument. They always make the same crappy argument:
U.S is paying for Israeli crimes
U.s is dying for Israel
Israel is the aggressor in the region
Israel is violating human rights on hhourly basis
Israel is committing genocide
bla bla bla bla
You know what, one look at the region and the neighboring country, if anything it is the same people who are screaming such thing who are committing them. Look at egypt, look at bahrain, look at syria, look at lebanon and Israel will look like a saint compared to any of these people. Israel have to fight these guys on hour basis.
Seriously though, please ignore people like that because they are hateful people who are motivated by Hate. I used to be one of them and I used to work like one of them. Then I came to senses.
Farideh,
I think your new name should be more like " Ahmedork Rezajian"
Those who have to constantly use hateful sarcasm and insults against other folks posting to attempt to back up their position prove only one thing. They have no position!
Israel is not the culprit or aggressor here.
She is surrounded by ass holes and the liberal media make her look bad constantly.
If someone was always attacking you, what TFWYD?
Funny.. Arabs think there is a parasite over ther in the ME..
That is shown by how many Arabs fight tooth-and-claw to get an Israeli citizenship.
The Arabs do not give jack about Israeli citizenship; They are after all tyhe money US gives to Israeli citizens aka freeloaders.
If there is one right the Israelis have earned, it is the right to NOT CARE what other people (or peoples) say or think about them. They have more important things to worry about.
If Israel lays down their arms, there will be no Israel. If the Muslims lay down their arms, there would be peace. It's really very simple. Leave your prejudices and stereotypes behind and face the facts.
The whole world agrees that loose weapons in Syria getting into terrorist hands is a problem. Little Israel does something about it and it gets condemned. It's the height of hypocrisy, especially when the world knows that those weapons were being transferred for use against Israel and no other purpose. Good for you Israel. Shame on the world and those who condemn you for no intelligent reason.
We will now hear Hezbollah whining about the air strike, which will say the truck only held 'baby formula', which is their code for 'anything explosive we can use against Israel'.
Those trying to compare this to the Cuban missile crisis ought to find out what really happened back in the 1960s. It's not what made the newspapers at the time. Krushchev had shipped missiles to Cuba in retaliation for a similar threat the US had leveled against the Soviet Union. He and Kennedy wisely agreed to call the whole thing off, and part of the deal was that Krushchev allowed Kennedy to claim victory when the two of them had made equivalent concessions to reduce the threat of nuclear war.
There is the potential for a "widening" of the Syrian Civil War into a regional conflict. Hopefully, calmer heads will prevail and Iran stays out of this. But if Iran has ever been a "calm head" I can't recall when. If the Iranians choose to, they can fabricate a pretext for coming into the Syrian conflict. I suspect they will stay out until they are far enough along with their nuclear program, but wouldn't it be just like some body to lure some body else into a premature fight to justify whacking them big time.
Hypothetically...Country "A" believes that Country "B" is developing a "Death Ray" and so far can't seem to convince the rest of the world just how dangerous it would be if Country "B" gets a "Death Ray" (by-the-way, Country "A" has a "Death Ray" of it's own). Country "A" knows that Country "B" is hot-headed and can be goaded into making rash moves given the proper stimulus. So.....Country "A" bombs a truck convoy loaded with weapons supplied by Country "B" to a neighbor, the convoy may have even included members from Country "B" Special Forces along for the ride to supply technical assistance with whatever was in the trucks (Who knows?). Country "A" has a distinct military and technological advantage over Country "B" and suspects it must strike before Country "B" gains anything like "Death Ray" parity. It feels morally justified not only out of self-preservation, but also because ridding the region of Country "B" "Death Ray" capability will continue a status quo that at least keeps the region in relative peace (that's a very relative peace).
So...call me cynical, but it's not that difficult to make a solid case for Country "A" poking Country "B" in the eye to provoke a response which would give Country "A" the pretext for kicking the crap out of Country "B". It's not like it hasn't been done before.
Israel must defend itself in a very dangerous area of the world- sooner or later, they will strike big time and the whole region will erupt. Just a matter of time and we will be right in the thick of it, despite our best efforts to prevent the violence.
A 20-year-old study about men, sex, and housework is getting above the fold coverage, but this, not so much. Really starting to look like CNN over here.