Who Is Israel's Real Enemy?

Excellent piece on the professional integrity and standards of a respectable state-run media outlet, from my special friend captainfish over at Snappedshot.com.

By captainfish · Tuesday, January 20. 2009 17:08

Is it Hamas? Is it the PLO? Is it the United States of America? Is it Russia as some Christian Bible prophecy believers believe it to be?

Or, is it the world's media? The world's media that leans liberal? Could it really be that Israel's greatest enemy over the last few decades is the world's mainstream media?

Take a look at this link that avid SnappedShot fan, BusyWolf, tipped us off to. The link has text and a video that was shown on international outlets. Let's start off with a look at the name of the link? Does that give you any clues as to the direction the story is going to go? gaza-israel-assault-medics-violence Now let's take a look at the text introducing the video from France television 24:

The conflict between Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian group that is in
charge of the Gaza Strip, and Israel has provoked reaction worldwide.

Right there, from the very first sentence of the story, we can see the direction this story is going to go. France's 24 will start with the premise that Hamas, being basically just another Islamic group, is an official group that was duly and rightfully elected to be in charge of Gaza. And no one in the world should be challenging Hamas' authority to govern Gaza Strip. See anything wrong here?

France 24, it appears, is a state-run media outlet that is operated in partnership with France 2. As you may recall, it was France 2 that villified Israel in the made-up al-Dura affair. A Palestinian-media driven affair that tried to paint Israel as child killers, but was shown in court to be wholly faked by the Palestinian and their France 2 compatriots.

France 24, just over 2 years old now, provides Arabic, French and English programming, focusing on the French perspective, over the airwaves and on the internet across much of Europe and the mid-East. And we all know how much love France gives to Western-type democracies. Has France ever made statements in support of Israel or its actions? I know Sarkozy did during and following his campaign. I know there is also a strong pro-Israel contingent in France. But, as a whole, France's media and political machine despise Israel.

Let's analyze the France 24 text further (long post):

But the world has by and large watched the events unfold from a distance.
Israel has stopped foreign correspondents from entering the Gaza Strip,
as the conflict by air and on the ground has intensified.

Our report brings you a view from the heart of the crisis, from the streets
of Gaza, as our reporter witnesses the horrific effects of war on ordinary
people.

"from a distance"? Really? Is France 24 living in a vacuum? This war has been plastered all over the media of the world. Not one hour goes by that we don't hear how someone comes out against Israel's "massive" "offensive" "assault". They state that Israel has not allowed foreign media inside of Gaza, but then admit to sneaking one of their streakers stringers in. And, they have to throw in those buzzwords, "crisis", "horrific" and... did I read that right, "ordinary people"? How can you claim that Gazans are ordinary citizens after they chose to have a murdering terrorist organization as their leaders and representatives? An organization recognized by the world's countries AS terrorists. But for some strange reason, they seem to be the only terrorist organization that receives aid money from those same countries.

This is not a geopolitical analysis of the Hamas-Israel War. It is a look from
the inside at how, when movements, governments and ideologies do battle,
it is mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children who are affected.

The eyewitness video made by a Palestinian journalist, Radjaa Abou Dagga,
France 24's correspondent in Gaza, shows a slice of life in a war zone, how
people desperately scramble to stay alive amid artillery shells, air raids and
ground combat.

This is not a "geopolitical analysis" but they then proceed to present one side in this conflict. A side that supports a murdering terrorist organization whole-heartedly. Is this really a battle of ideologies? Is this really a battle of two conflicting and valid viewpoints? Or is this a struggle for survival and find peace on one side, and a life-long compulsion to eradicate the other side no matter the cost? Can you really get an unbiased report from a Palestinian stringer reporting against Israel? Think of this, would we have ever seen a report like this during WW2 from a German stringer on the life of Germans under the British air raids? A report from a Japanese stringer on Japan citizens during our bombardments of Japan? Why is this acceptable now? Could it be that being anti-semitic is fashionable? Or is there another driving force? A darker more sinister force pushing the world to fight against little old Israel?

Let's analyze the France 24 text further (long post):

But the world has by and large watched the events unfold from a distance. Israel
has stopped foreign correspondents from entering the Gaza Strip, as the conflict
by air and on the ground has intensified.

Our report brings you a view from the heart of the crisis, from the streets of Gaza, as our reporter witnesses the horrific effects of war on ordinary people.

Taking a look at the France 24's front page we see several telling things . Two video exclusives. One being this report titled "Embedded with Gaza medics." The other exclusive is "With the Palestinians of Rafah." Is that a double entendre? (which oddly enough is a French saying)

Ok, now to the video.

The announcer starts off by highligting the point of the France 24 show: To showcase the best reports from their own correspondents from around the world. This episode focuses upon Gaza from the inside. The announcer states that this is a conflict between "Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian group, that runs the Gaza Strip and Israel, which has provoked worldwide reaction."

So, from the very start of the video, we hear that this will be one of their best reports from one of their best reporters across the globe. And, we hear that it will focus on the life of Gazans who are under Israel's gun. An action that has provoked worldwide reaction. But, Hamas is just an Islamic group. Bias anyone?

And, when the announcer states that the world has watched these events from a distance, aren't they saying that the world is just sitting by doing nothing against Israel while Israel continues its assult on innocent Gazans? One wonders if they would have made such similar statements against the actions in Darfur or Yugoslavia?

The France 24 report then shows a global map that zooms in on the mid-East area. The world is grey with the waterbodies blue. As we zoom in to Israel-Egypt-Jordan area, we see that the area is still a grey color, but only two areas are highlighted: West Bank and the Gaza STrip. What does the West Bank have to do with this? And, why isn't Israel highlighted in this map as they are the other side of this story?

The announcer states that this is a slice of life on the streets of Gaza City at the heart of the crisis showcasing how the horrific Israel onslaught is affecting innocent Gazans, especially the children. May I note right here that the world's alternative media has shown time and time again that the treatment of Gazan's civilians, especially its children, is a direct result and the responsibility of the Hamas murdering terrorist organization and its verified crimes against humanity.

The announcer then warns its viewers that many may find images in this report are graphic and some may find them.... (with an emphasis on) disturbing. Again, pointing to the treatment of Gazans citizens as being out of bounds, egregious or beyond the norms of war. Hey!! How about a report of the disturbing effect of Hamas' rockets and mortars and homicide bombs upon Israel's children? Eh?

The video then starts right off with a supposed Israel attack and then images of dead and bloody bodies. The reporter calls them "mutilated bodies". The reporter has a distinctive British accent for some reason. At least it sounds like it to me. The reporter follows an ambulance as it races through the streets. Then for some reason he stops following it. He then makes allusions that the ambulance came under Israeli gunfire.

We are then treated to another al-Dura moment. The reporter focuses in on several people laying behind a large concrete block. The reporter says that one is the doctor, dressed in a white shirt and black jeans, from the ambulance they were chasing. The reporter states that he chose to stay behind to ask about other possible wounded people. We hear gunfire. The reporter says that this is crossfire between Hamas and Israel. In the background we see a small tent set up on the sidewalk. Odd. We see another ambulance down the road on the other side of this scene with people dressed in orange standing around just outside the ambulance. The camera then pans to someone a few feet (meters?) closer to the camera crouching behind a fence out in the open. The doctor then makes crazy-8 moves to get to this person who is not injured. The person that the doctor just left then makes a bee-line to the side of the street away from the doctor. The doctor then stands up and makes a marathon-like run towards the vehicle that the reporter is riding in. A vehicle that turns out to be an ambulance. The reporter then gets his interview of the doctor.

The ambulance then takes off, stating that a report of an injured person was reported to be just a few blocks away. The ambulance the doctor is riding in then drives up the road that the reporter just ran down ostensibly trying to avoid the crossfire. If there was gunfire along that road, why then drive your ambulance down that road? We then see the ambulance that was on the far seen now coming toward and passing our ambulance approaching the reporter. We also see quite a number of people standing around the scene. One of which, is the supposed doctor who got out of the ambulance before it left. So much for a dangerous place.

The reporter then interviews some "civilians" who announce that there was a "sniper" around and a dead man nearby. Take note of the number of "children" standing around where the gunfire is happening. What other point is there for these "children" to be here than to take part in the action against Israel? This interview seems to be taking place at the location of where the second ambulance was originally parked down the road. The obvious implication is that it was an Israeli sniper taking people out. The reporter asks if this place is a cemetery. It is obvious that this is not a cemetery with all of the buildings around the street. One person states that there is a cemetery and a grove that grew citrus. On the other side of the grove is where the Jews used to live. The guy then states that if you go inside (???) you will get shot by snipers. Now, the implication is complete as we also hear gunshots coming from around the corner.

The reporter says that the residents take cover behind the walls as we hear even more gunshots. But yet, we see people walking around without fear or concerns for their safety. No one is hiding. In fact, across the street we see people standing in the street. And, someone near the reporter walked in front of the so called wall of hiding just as the reporter talked of taking cover.

The reporter says that it is impossible to approach the body as he seemingly hides from gunfire behind the corner of the wall. But, he captures someone running diagonally across the road across the street from him. So much for impossible. We have yet to see the body. As we peak around the corner of our Wall of Solitude, we see that there are a number of people standing in the street just down from our intrepid reporter. Again, we see more buildings lining the street. No cemetery in sight.

What we do see are a few little pathetic trees planted in the sidewalk and barricaded by 10-foot high protective fence. Its pretty sad when you have to protect your vegetation with massive structures from your own citizens.Back to the action, as the camera zooms down the street, we see some peope hiding behind another corner down the street while others are in the street. No body is evident anywhere. The reporter then cuts to the ambulance driver who states that he wants to go get the "martyr" (the interpreter's words) but says that the army shoots at him. He then points to the gunfire stating that he can't go till the shooting stops. Hmm, that didn't stop him earlier in the story. Again, the implication is that the Israeli army shoots indiscriminantly at anything that moves, including ambulances and their doctors. I guess we are to assume that all gunfire is Israeli gunfire? Are we to assume that Hamas would never harm their own in order to blame Israel?

The reporter, still riding in the ambulance, states that the ambulance driver has to give up and abandon the body because it is not safe. "We simply can not work. It is extremely dangerous." Well, I did hear that it is a warzone full of warguns, warplanes, warbombs and warbullets. If only they were peacebullets so that he could get his job done. He is just a simple ordinary person trying to just do his job. But Israel's evil machinations are preventing him from doing his job saving his people. The reporter then emphatically states that ambulance drivers have paid a huge price in this war. Again, an allusion to Israel taking direct shots at ambulances and their workers. This Palestinian reporter wouldn't be trying to make a case for war crimes against Israel, would he?

"No time to chat. There are injured people everywhere." is what we hear as a dozens of people stand around while a single man is loaded into an ambulance. He states that the man's hand was injured, though to me, there wasn't any injury at all with VERY LITTLE blood present on the palm. The man states that all he was doing was praying at his uncle's grave. Of course, it doesn't matter that he looks like a Hamas fighter. The reporter asks if anyone else was injured and the man says, "Look, just tell them what we are going through." Of course, no questions about why he was praying at a cemetery. No questions about why he was praying at a cemetery while Israeli snipers were about. No questions about why he was out in the open at a cemetery while the Israeli army moved in supposedly killing everything that moved.

The ambulance driver then tries to disperse the large crowd that has now gathered around the camera crew and reporter. He says it is very dangerous for them should Israel land a shell near them.

We are then treated to another scene. Now back inside the ambulance we are racing down a street with people standing in the midst of. No sense that he is worried about running over his own people. And again, we see people out in the open where there is supposedly a war going on.

The ambulance stops at a scene we are told is a car in the middle of the road with two BADLY injured people onboard. There is another ambulance already on the scene. As we pan to the car, we see one of these BADLY injured people walking toward the ambulance, past the camera crew and walk in to the ambulance. He has a minor head wound and is limping a bit. He has on a bomber jacket. The reporter says that the other man's leg "has been ripped off". Meanwhile, we see no blood on or around the man. We see no damage to the car. There is no damage to the area around the car.

Back in the ambulance for the supposed ride to the hospital with the man with the injured head. He prays, "May god help us." As I have stated before, I find it interesting that these people say "god" and not allah. The person in the back of the ambulance treating this man with the head wound, says that he sees this kind of thing all the time. He then exclaims that he has to treat these people while in the ambulance. As if this is something that is out of the ordinary and should be newsworthy. Damned Israel. Making these ambulance workers treat the injured in an ambulance while on the way to the hospital. How horrible!!

At the hospital, the driver then talks about how his ambulance has been shot at pointing to bullet holes. Bullet holes that look an awful lot like they were shot from inside the ambulance. Meanwhile, we see a gaggle of cameras and even more "citizens" standing around the entrance of this hospital. The driver and the reporter then complain that the hospital is in a very dangerous location being so near to the "closing in" Israeli army making allusions that the Israeli army directly targets hospitals. We are then presented with images of Israeli tanks rumbling over the landscape as the driver talks. The driver states that the hospital is a target for Israel.

The driver states that he and his ilk are unable to assist wounded unless he has clearance from the Jerusalem head office first. But, we are then treated to an anonymous explosion. The reporter and the driver are then rushing off again this time supposedly to the location of the explosion as alluded to by the reporter. But, I thought they had to get clearance first before they could go in for wounded? Guess it is up to the driver and if they have reporters on board?

HA. At the scene of the supposed explosion, we see literally hundreds of people standing around and a number of ambulances on the scene as well. The reporter describes the scene as chaotic while we see people standing around. He states that there are "twisted bodies lining the streets everywhere." But yet, we are not shown bodies. We see what might look like two bodies, but only because people are on the ground looking at something. He cuts to a tall building and states that they are near a school run by the UNROA. (eh??) And again, we see hundreds of people standing around in the streets and no damage to the road or buildings. We then cut to the camera guy rushing to a crowd of people. We then cut to a scene in an alley with a man yelling for a car. We then cut to a scene of a dead elderly man under a blanket covered by a brown blanket. No sign of blood, damage, or debris. CUT.

We are now at the hospital with people hanging out of a white passenger car with the reporter saying that "injured are arriving from all directions." If the incident at the school was so massive and with bodies everywhere, then why not show them? Why not follow those bodies to the hospital since the crew is riding in an ambulance, right? Why not talk to the martyred's family? If this is a story about the impact war has on the ordinary person, then why not talk to the man-on-the-street after this attack?

At the hospital, we are treated to people being DRAGGED out of the car with slight wounds on their legs. But the people appear unconscious, or dead. But, there appear to be no other wounds except for the minor wounds on their legs. And then another ambulance (nearly brand new) with a passenger sitting up front holding a child. The child is pulled out upside down. Not really healthy for a child. There appears to be 4 children and one adult pulled out of the ambulance.
Very little sign of blood or trauma. The only one I could make out is the lower left leg injury of the adult patient that is carried out of the ambulance.

We then see more people brought in with real injuries. One has his face nearly gone from his injury. It becomes rather chaotic there at the entrance to the hospital with ambulances trying to come in with injured, ambulances trying to leave, and hundreds of people and cameras standing around for the show.

And then to top this show off, we follow person carrying an injured person in to the hospital. As we enter the hospital's hallway, we have someone cut in front of us. It is that bomber jacket dude that was supposedly previously injured? If so, it is an amazing recovery. We then see people walking the other way carrying injured kids out of the hospital.

Inside the hospital, the reporter tells us that the staff are overwhelmed. I should say, there are hundreds of people just standing around for the show inside as well. We are now blessed with the dozens of images of injured people laying on the floor. We are told it is because there are no more beds. In the US, the injured are brought in to the Emergency Room (ER) where they are treated and then moved to another part of the hospital for further long-term treatment. If there is a large number of people coming in, like during bombings or such, there are things set up called "triages". These are areas where large number of injured are brought in, either laid out on tables or the floor, and are quickly diagnosed based on their injuries. They are then treated based on their injuries. Some have to wait long periods for care because their injury is deemed non-critical. It is the way things have been since WW1, or earlier.

Inside the hospital, the reporter tells us that the staff are overwhelmed. I should say, there are hundreds of people just standing around for the show inside as well. We are now blessed with the dozens of images of injured people laying on the floor. We are told it is because there are no more beds. In the US, the injured are brought in to the Emergency Room (ER) where they are treated and then moved to another part of the hospital for further long-term treatment. If there is a large number of people coming in, like during bombings or such, there are things set up called "triages". These are areas where large number of injured are brought in, either laid out on tables or the floor, and are quickly diagnosed based on their injuries. They are then treated based on their injuries. Some have to wait long periods for care because their injury is deemed non-critical. It is the way things have been since WW1, or earlier.

We are then treated to an open wound on the neck of one person. The attendant then quickly puts the gauze back on the wound now that the shot is over. For such a large neck wound, you think there would be more gauze and blood than what was used. I've used more gauze for a tooth-extraction.

People with head wounds are being carried by one or more people while walking all over the people laying on the floor. The people sitting with the injured on the floor are yelling at those walking on the injured. The people in the white jackets very quickly move from one person to another. Not even touching or seeming to diagnose the injured. They too seem to be part of this roaming mob of people just going around and around. We are then treated to a green-shirt person cutting in to an injured person on the floor.

Then, more and more injured are DRAGGED into the hospital. We even see bodies in various stages of undress. We even see a bright blue thong on what appears to be a dead guy. Ignoring the bright blue thong, isn't viewing dead bodies in humiliating situations against Islam? We then see normally dressed civilians appearing to direct traffic and giving orders inside the hospital triage area.

And then we have a fleeting moment of the ambulance driver shedding some tears while being forced to head out to the war zone to rescue more injured civilians. At least, that is what the reporter says.

We are then given a first-person view of this Palestinian reporter. The voice we are hearing is that of the interpreter of the video, not the journalist. So, who is this reporter making this video for? If it was for France, wouldn't he speak English or French? The reporter states with emptathy that the hospital being so full of injured is forced to close its doors. Who would think that a hospital on the front lines of the war would get so many injured?

We are then told that a few hours later the Israeli military gave ITS version of what happened at the school. Once again, the voice over interprets what is said, this time by the Israeli spokesperson. The voice over for the Israeli spokesperson is dry, mechanical with slight sarcastic undertones. When the interpretor speaks for Hamas, they are in compassionate normal voice tones.

We are told, that during Israel's 3-hour truce, we are taken back to the scene of the school attack. We are given a guided tour by a concerned citizen of the area. The man says that one of "two missiles" landed in the middle of an intersection. He then points to the supposed area where the missiles hit. All is seen in the video is an area of disturbed brick like someone pulled some bricks out of the road a few years ago. Note, the road is a red-brick road with sand underneath. If an Israeli shell, or missile struck that kind of road, there would be a MUCH bigger hole in the ground. Let alone two missiles!!

Our diligent tour guide then points to where the bodies were found around the blast area. Recall, this school was supposedly being used as a refuge for people seeking protection from the war. Would they be mealing about an open intersection about a hundred yards away from the school?

Meanwhile, where he points to where the bodies were, there is no sign of blood or debris. Would Hamas' social service arm be that fast to come in and clean the area up of blood and all form of debris?

They are then showed an area where the wounded were "gathered" after moving a very large tarp. The ever diligent tour guide then tells us of one young man who just happened to be looking out of one of the school windows at the time of the "attack" and was injured by shrapnel. "How could he have known?" we are questioned. He was the only one looking out of the dozens of windows on that side of the school? And it sure looks like many of the windows are still intact.

We are then treated to the scene we have seen so many times where a few of the people injured from the Israeli response were. The area looks like a side entrance with a few chairs, rubber garden hose, white plastic chair (dang, they sure are everywhere) and lots of debris. Except the voice over tells us that this was someone's home. Yet, the media wanted us to believe it was part of the school that was hit. Again, now we are seeing the proper signs of an area being hit by an aerial bombardment. We are seeing a lot of debris, a lot of broken items, and blood stains. We even see the ever-present loose sandal laying all by itself having lost its owner. Interesting enough, there is alot of damage to this house that looks old. We are told that 10 people died there. Wasn't that from an attack on a known Hamas leader's house?

The reporter is then taken to the house of an "alleged Hamas terrorist" leader. We are treated to cries of disproportionate response. We are told that Israel attacked the wrong people which caused the death of an innocent 13 year old boy. Amazingly enough, we are then shown a cell phone image of the dead boy!! I'm sorry, but isn't that a sacrilege in almost every religion especially Islam?

We are told by this "alleged" Hamas terrorist leader that the person Israel tried to kill does not exist in either Hamas or among the "martyrs" that were killed. We are then treated to listening to the account of how this brave fighter was made legless by an Apache helicopter in 2004. The camera then pans around him sitting on the very nice sofa to show how his legs are gone. The Palestinian reporter then asked this "alleged" terrorist if he was injured in that attack. He states that he lost his legs. OH!! That is what is different about him. Wouldn't have noticed. He then thanks god. And that is the end of the report. Cut back to France 24 studio.

We are then treated with a personal report from the Palestinian stringer about how harrrrd it is to be a Palestinian and a "journalist" with the war in his backyard. He laments about how he hasn't been able to hold his mother in such a long time because she lives near the southern border of Gaza. Ummmm. Seems to me that would be the first thing one would do, wouldn't it? Wouldn't you try to get your mom out and away from the war? No, this intrepid reporter felt it was his duty to provide unbiased reporting from the front line about the lives of ordinary citizens affected by this war. Just not how his mother was impacted. He left her to fend for herself saying that she had to pack up and leave due to the air raid sirens and bombardments. Oh, no. She is also a diabetic. How tragic. I must feel for her plight. Too bad that her son couldn't be there for her. CUT to images of Israel warbombings and warplanes making their attacking runs.

Isn't this like Obama leaving his mother-in-law to live illegally in state housing? Or his uncle to live in a hubble in Africa on only $12 a year? I thought Islam was all about family and love?

This intrepid dedicated reporter then laments how he just has to say no to injured people who ask for his help because he has to stay focused and get the story. How brave of him. The filming must go on. He must film the dying because if he didn't, they wouldn't die and he wouldn't have a story to tell. "If you lose the message - you lose your status as a witness if you try and save them."

I think that pretty much sums up the whole point of this story. This reporter would rather see his people die than to lose the chance for a story.

I think it is clear, it is this kind of media reporting that is put out by the mainstream media that is corrupting the minds of freedom-loving people of the world.

You know, I think knowing what we know about the world's media, I think it is high time to quit calling them the MSM, or the MAINSTREAM media. As they have such a huge liberal agenda, why should they even be given the nickname of "mainstream"? I think they need a new moniker. World's Main LIBERAL Media? World's Liberal-Stream Media?

The Good News and the Bad News

The good news is that Sir Paul McCartney is scheduled to perform in Israel on September 25th 2008. The bad news is that Salem Fayyad might think that the ex-Beatle's visit to Israel is undermining the Palestinian dream of destroying the Jewish State. Left with practically nothing to do with his time, the Prime Minister of the now defunct Palestinian authority is crafting a new career as an epistle-writer. Whenever someone announces their intention to visit Israel or pursue some joint project with Israel, Mr. Fayyad can be counted on to produce a letter of protest. That is when he is not diverting international aid to fund Hamas.

More good news is that the Ships of Fools have reached Gaza. Or is it the bad news?
The bad news is that the "people of Gaza" were disappointed that the boats were carrying only useful idiots instead of the free lunch anticipated by the local populace. Or is it the good news? I can't make up my mind. But I like it! Me likes it, bwana, because the "people of Gaza" have turned their backs on the pathetic bunch of peaceniks and made them look like the complete fools that they are. I mean they braved the waves and the Israeli Navy warships, for crying out loud, only to be abandoned on the beach by the object of their affection? That's some anticlimax!
So here is an idea for future Gaza solidarity campaigns: buy them gift baskets and save face!

Hamas, on the other hand, might consider smuggling food items through the tunnels, instead of the usual traffic of ammunition, explosives and exotic animals for their squalid zoos.
This might be a good time for Ms. Lauren, nee Sarah, Booth to throw her weight about a bit and demand that the moneys showered on the Palestinians be put to better use. In addition, she might also ask permission to interview Gilad Shalit in captivity. Well, let's not get carried away...
Still, can't say I'm sorry to see the blockade runners embarrassed and thrown under the bus (or under the boat, I should say) by their ungrateful proteges. Disappointed, that's what they were, seeing the anemic solidarity show but no chow. Coooool...

Tisha B'Av

1938 years after the destruction of the temple they are still plotting against us

Dan Margalit
Tisha b'Av, August 10, 2008
Israel Today

Today we mark the destruction of the Temple 1938 years ago. We reflect on the national and moral contents of this day rather than the religious and ceremonial ones, while our Jewish sovereignty is still being challenged with delicate and complex security issues.

The desire to destroy the Jews is as old as the hills and as stubborn as a mule.
Three years ago it had the Jews forcibly expelled from Gush Katif and was going to establish normal economic and trade relations with Pleshet. Except painful unilateral concessions were rewarded with Qassam and mortar salvos at the Negev, leaving the IDF with no choice but to return fire and slam shut the gates of commerce. In any other part of the world, Palestinian terror would have been met with a severe military and economic response.
But the world does not hold Israel up to equal and uniform standards, such as are acceptable in any other violent conflict. Thus Hamas was allowed to raise its head, overtake Gaza and recruit ill-wishing, perhaps naïve, elements who are now preparing to sail from Cyprus aiming "to break the siege" on Gaza and "bring Israel down on her knees."
While the Jewish State is raking its brains trying to find a way to stop the boat from running the blockade, Russia has attacked Georgia without any signs of mercy: 2,000 casualties in just two days. The land of the czars has been and always will be imperialistic.
The Russian State has imposed a cruel and unjust war and has pounded Georgia unrelentingly, until the latter had no choice but to beg for mercy and a ceasefire. When one goes to war – whether justified or not – one must not hesitate nor bat an eyelid. Not the way Israel went to war two years ago in Lebanon and was defeated.
Former US Secretary of State George Schultz once reminisced how upon joining the marines, his commander gave him a rifle and said to him: "Hold on to this weapon only if you are going to use it when necessary. Otherwise get a broom." In plain English. It sounds pretty clear in Russian as well. But for the time being it does not sound very clear in Hebrew.
The important lesson is that Israel must stand her ground and not lose sight of the objective. Israel must demand that this hostile world apply the same criteria that are in order when Russia unjustly invades Georgia.
1938 years ago today our second Temple was put to the torch. Today, more than ever, we call upon our rulers to focus on Jewish sovereignty. Even if it means a token focus.
On this Tisha b'Av our rulers need to stop the Hamas ship from reaching our shores. Perhaps those on board, Israelis included, had better steer for the bleeding shores of Georgia.

Brotherly Love

A few instances of brotherly love along the breached border between Gaza and Egypt. They don't call it the Philadelphi route for nothing.

People help a wounded Palestinian during clashes with Egyptian forces at the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip February 4, 2008. Palestinian gunmen and Egyptian forces exchanged fire at Gaza's border with Egypt on Monday and a Palestinian civilian was killed in the fighting, medical workers said. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA)

Live ammo was fired as clashes erupted between Palestinians streaming into Egypt and Egyptian forces trying to keep some order. No France 2 crew e.g. Charles Enderlin's cameraman was available for a possible al-Dura shooting incident. Oh, I forget, no IDF troops present either. However, death and injury ensued. Oh, what the heck, BBC is as good a source as any on this one, especially as they report the use of electric batons. I wonder what they would have written if the IDF were to use electric batons - what are they anyway? Some sort of tazers?

A Palestinian security man loyal to Hamas arrests a Palestinian near the closed Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip February 3, 2008. Egyptian forces began closing the border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday, stemming the flow of Palestinians across a frontier blown open 11 days ago by Hamas Islamists in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (Gaza)

So this is how it's done, at gun point. IDF, you watching?

A Palestinian woman stands among Egyptian riot police as she tries to cross into Egypt through the destroyed section of the border wall between the Gaza Strip and Egypt January 25, 2008. Egypt began closing its breached border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, using barbed wire and water cannons to keep Palestinians from crossing into Egypt in defiance of an Israeli blockade. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA)

Dogs? Do I see dogs? But only the Zionists, being worse than the Nazis, use dogs. No there must be some photoshop here. Has the UN stopped whatever they were doing to call on a Security council condemnation of the use of excessive force against the "helpless" Palestinians? Is Jimmy Carter scribbling away on a new book? At least chapter? Is Norman Finkelstein done with his Hezbullah-sponsored tomb tour in Lebanon? Could he spare for the plight of the Palestinians? Oh, silly me, I forget, Palestinians can go eff themselves if the IDF is not involved.

Egyptian forces in riot gear throw stones during clashes with Palestinians trying to cross into Egypt through the destroyed section of the border wall between Gaza and Egypt January 25, 2008. Egypt began closing its breached border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, using barbed wire and water cannons to keep Palestinians from crossing into Egypt in defiance of an Israeli blockade. REUTERS/Nasser Nuri (EGYPT)

Oh, but this is sweet. What was that Tony Blair said about the need to develop a "clever strategy" in order to solve the problem? Well, it was the Egyptians that found that clever strategy: threw the stones right back at the Palestinians. Israel should draw the conclusions.

Israel to Cut off Gaza Electricity

In an attempt to stop the Qassam salvos, Israel is limiting Gaza's power supply. Which is merciful, trust me. For far fewer, although much more damaging, rocket attacks on their cities, the British took upon themselves the task of redesigning the city plans of Dresden and Hamburg, regardless of civilians, cultural heritage, history, and other such "insignificant" factors. Were it the British at the receiving end, Gaza would have been flattened into a pancake a long long time ago. However, since we are only Israelis, and most of us Jews, our blood and suffering have always come rather cheap. I mean, hey, have we not always been considered somewhat inferior? Expendable? Why change that now, when the whole world can identify with the plight of the humiliated Palestinians whose precious humanitarian aid has just been hijacked by ... care to take a guess? No? Never mind, I'll tell you just the same, by Hamas their own governing party. Hey, boys will be boys, pirates will be pirates, and terrorists will be terrorists. After all, they can always claim they never STOLE anything, those items just fell of a truck and they were plain lucky to be there and collect them, what's the problem?

Not only that, the Palestinian propaganda machine, aka Pallywood, is working overtime, betrayed of course by these people's stupidity but spurred on by the world's willingness to lap up and swallow whatever the Arabs may choose to feed them. Remember Shawshank Redemption? "Now I'm gonna open my fly, and you're gonna swallow what I give you to swallow."
Of course, some of us do have the minimal intellectual requirements to see through a hoax, so here are a few:

Palestinian lawmakers attend a parliament session in candlelight during a power cut in Gaza January 22, 2008. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Let it be noted that the time is 1 p.m, i.e. broad daylight. The sun is shining and seeping through the drapes. Not only that, those are no burning candles. Those are electric bulbs mounted on candlesticks.

Palestinian lawmakers attend a parliament session in candlelight during a power cut in Gaza January 22, 2008. Israel agreed to allow some fuel, medicine and food into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Tuesday, at least temporarily easing a blockade that has plunged much of the territory into darkness and sparked international protests. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Oh, and is that a microphone? What is it running on? Candle smoke? Embarrassing? Not necessarily.

Yet this is the best: a Palestinian baby in an incubator, its tiny fragile life threatened by the inhumane power-cutting Zionist regime. But guess what? they did not notice that the monitor was on. What was it running on? Ooops!
Now these pictures were e-mailed to me without their original captions, so I can make no time reference or attribution. The most similar I could find on the net were those of Ibraheem Abu-Mustafa:

A Palestinian baby sleeps in the European Hospital in Gaza Strip January 20, 2008. Gaza's main power plant shut down completely on Sunday after Israel closed the borders of the Hamas-controlled territory and blocked fuel supplies, Palestinian officials said. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA)

And now for a cheap tearjerker:

A Palestinian baker makes bread using a wood-fired oven at his bakeshop in Gaza January 22, 2008. Israel agreed to allow some fuel, medicine and food into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Tuesday, at least temporarily easing a blockade that has plunged much of the territory into darkness and sparked international protests. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

So the poor Palestinians were left without electricity. Where's me hanky? Everybody knows that the Palestinians were among the first in the world to use electricity. Nay, in fact they were the ones to invent and use it. How else can one explain their advanced technology and refined civilization? But the evil Zionist Joos had to come along and cut off their supply. So they have to go back to what they were using hundreds of years ago, way way back before they invented it.

Seriously now, that's what it is, a fire wood burning oven. Oven-baked bread and pizzas are a delicacy all over the world. People travel to Italy and pay loads of money to have pizza al forno. In fact in Sicily they serve no pizza on the no forno day.

Oooops, I did it again and again

Last night's news almost had me pity the poor poor children of Gaza, forced to burn their books and notebooks to avoid freezing to death because our evil army cut fuel supplies to Gaza. We were once again treated (by Israeli TV, not some BBC, CNN or other terror supporting news agency, no sir, by our own) to heart breaking footage of Gaza in the dark, Gaza drowned by the noise of the generators (only a lucky few can avail themselves thereof), Gaza this, Gaza that and the other thing. But my pity was short lived and proven quite unnecessary, because tonight's news sounded more optimistic: Gaza is no longer bankrupt! Gaza has pulled itself out of its bitter predicament: Gaza has fuel, electricity, food, medicine, can treat its own sick, can teach its own aspiring academics. Gaza can afford to import explosives:

2 tons of explosives found amongst humanitarian aid en route to Gaza
Terror groups take advantage of Israeli permit allowing humanitarian goods into impoverished Gaza Strip, attempt to smuggle two tons of fertilizer in truck transporting aid in second such incident this week.

Three weeks ago potassium nitrate was being passed as sugar. Six and a half tons of it, allegedly provided by the European Union.

Yes, poor Gazan kids. What with the evil Yahood oppressing them and such and denying them their inalienable rights to rocket science, fireworks and suicide bombing. But look on the bright side, perhaps those kids burning books might not need their books any more, after armed thugs practically destroyed a private American school: "We don't need no education..." gains a whole new meaning in Gaza. So does "our daily bread": Allah, you're listening? Forget about our daily bread. Give us our daily explosives, you hear?"

I hear Hamas is condemned the attack. I say Hamas did it. Why? I suspect the American owner wouldn't let them shoot mortars (please watch video) at Israel from the premises, fearing IAF retaliation. "Oh, yeah?" said Hamas, "you think WE can't retaliate?"

Saturday night and Sunday morning

Thirty-six-year old computer technician Oshri Oz died Sunday, May 27, 2007. His car was hit by a Qassam rocket while he was driving to work. His two-year-old daughter is now an orphan and his pregnant wife a widow.
Saturday, May 26, 2007, two Israelis, Border Police officer Issam Abu-Rish (obviously not a Jew) and a security guard (as I gathered from the TV coverage of the incident) not Jewish either (and here I have to commend once again these heroes for their valor and to acknowledge them once again as our blood brothers). Although shot in the back (please once again notice how brave the terrorists are), Issam turned around and shot his assailants.
Now for the two terrorists: 23-year-old Arabs from Jabel Mukaber, both carrying Israeli ID's (Israeli citizens). Both were shouting Allahu Akbar (Allahu Fuckbar for me). A Hizbullah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades cell claimed responsibility for the attack. Except that this terrorist group is also affiliated with the PLO (Abu-Mazen). Shouldn't the little Holocaust denier be condemning the attack? No, because it suits his purpose - the annihilation of the Jewish State.

The criteria for granting Israeli citizenship should be revised asap. Perhaps Israel should aslo consider stripping some hostile Arabs of theirs. No need to nurture serpents around our necks.

Enemy of the Israeli Arabs

Ben-Dror Yemini,
Ma'ariv, April 13, 2007

Scrutiny of the Azmi affair shows that more is concealed than revealed, partly because activists among Israeli Arabs are exercising their right to remain silent: they are agonizing. They have provided significant information on Azmi. If we thought that the Arab sector is homogeneous, well, we were wrong: there are currents and under-currents, and a many members of the Arab community have just had enough. They understand that Bishara's actions have cast a dark shadow upon them and have sent the level of animosity between Arabs and Jews sky-rocketing. Riad Ali published a very explicit commentary on the damage caused by Bishara's going astray.
...
Bishara has become a persona non grata. Senior members of the Arab community claim that he was ordered out of Jordan. They don't need a focus of dissension over there either, a crossbreed between Nasser's pan-Arabism and the Assad-Nasrallah axis. Bishara left Jordan a short time after he met with the Jordanian foreign minister, who probably instructed him to leave the Hashemite Kingdom. A saboteur over here is a saboteur over there as well. If and when the entire puzzle is revealed, sabotage might well look like an euphemism.

Love-sponsored terror
The terrorist driving around a few nights ago in a car loaded with explosives is another product of a love story between a man residing on the other side of the Green line and a woman from this side of the line, in Taibe. In legal terms, this falls under the definition of "family reunification". As a consequence of this reunification based solely on love, the terrorist was issued a valid Israeli ID.
Thus, the issue of "family reunification" has become a thorn in our side. Because of one terrorist, oh, and another one, and perhaps tens of potential terrorists, taking advantage of the "family reunification" option, are we allowed to make tens of thousands of others suffer? The Citizenship Act forbids family reunification and granting of citizenship on such basis, except for special cases. The Supreme Court ruled to abolish this act, but Justice Edmond Levi allowed the government an additional hearing. Who knows what will happen then. The judge panel seems to be leaning far left.
We are probably going to be treated with beautiful front page pictures of loving couples from the two sides of the Green Line, and the caption will reveal how the cruel Jewish State stands in the way of love and abuses its citizens' romantic aspirations. Tears will flow, no doubt.Except the truth is slightly different. No country tolerates family reunification with individuals from hostile areas. No country grants citizenship to people whose only aim is to destroy their adoptive country. No country except Israel, whose democracy is bordering on anarchy. This procedure is not only "made in Israel", it is also ratified by the Supreme Court.

On April 10, 2007, Ma'ariv (Amir Rapaport) reported that 19 members of a Hamas terror cell in Qalqilyah (West Bank) were arrested, one holding an Israeli ID, who were planning to carry out a terrorist attack during Passover, despite the ceasefire agreement. Qalqilyah has a long track of producing terrorists, such as the one who carried out the Tel-Aviv Dolphinarium disco massacre on June 1, 2001. During the past three years, thanks to extensive arrests and the barrier fence (yes, wall in several locations) managed to curb the wave of terrorist attacks originating from this town that lies so close to the Green Line. However, during the last months Israeli security received relevant information and began to suspect that Hamas is operating in Qalqilyah and planning terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. In March a car loaded with explosives exploded in Qalqilyah - a "work accident", according to the Shin Bet. 19 Hamas-affiliated terrorists have been arrested recently in the town, one of whom became an Israeli citizen after he married a resident of Taibe. Thanks to his Israeli ID he was free to enter Israel. The car that exploded belonged to him, and had Israeli license plates.

Bleez come back, Israil!

Fatah and Hamas are shooting it out in Gaza and the toll is terrible (nearly 50 this week), more than Israel inflicts over, say, several months. The MSM is still grossly biased, so Novosty proudly informs us that the Russian foreign ministry condemns the Israeli air strikes in Gaza. The Russian foreign ministry is foreign, or perhaps alienated enough to barely mention the daily Qassam rocket salvos launched from Gaza into Israel, wounding several people and causing heavy destruction in Sderot during the past few days (24 Qassams launched on Tuesday May 15, 2007 critically injuring mother critically and son moderately; 16 rockets landed on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, seriously injuring a 70-year-old woman plus 18 others. On Tuesday, May 17, 2007, 24 rockets hit Israel and wounded 30 people. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Palestinian terrorists have fired more than 1,300 rockets into Israel.)

Why even today, when the Russians kindly issued their condemnation a Qassam landed in a school and destroyed a classroom where several students were taking matriculation exams. Luckily the warning siren went off and the children managed to reach the safety room.

As I am posting, Qassams hit a synagogue in Sderot. No word of condemnation or at least concern for the innocent Palestinian civilians caught in the Fatah-Hamas crossfire or executed by each of the belligerent factions. My guess is that the Russian either couldn't care less , or are delighted that there are fewer Muslims in the world, given their "silk glove" war waged against Muslim terror in Chechnya.

However, the Palios are at it in earnest: these are victims of the civil war raging in Gaza. I am posting these photos as evidence of internal Gazan violence. I hope the dishonest Gazan reporters will not republish them as victims of Israeli attacks.

A wounded Palestinian boy is rushed to a hospital following factional clashes at Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip. An alleged plot by Hamas militants to assassinate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was revealed on Thursday as deadly factional fighting resumed in Gaza and Israeli air strikes targeted the violence-wracked territory.(AFP/Said Khatib)

A wounded Palestinian man is wheeled on a stretcher after being injured by a mortar shell during clashes between rival Fatah and Hamas fighters as he arrives at hospital in Gaza City, Thursday, May 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Local residents fearing lethal reprisals talked on condition of anonymity to the Israeli press: "Hamas gunmen stop passing cars, commandeer them and shoot the drivers and passengers in the legs, even in the knees. As a consequence people are afraid to venture out of their homes. Hamas and Fatah gunmen attack each other's high ranking officials' residences or offices. People are dying in the streets like flies. Hamasniks believe that killing Fatah men is "halal" and will earn them a place in paradise. The dog Abu-Mazen is unable to take proper measures to stop the fighting. People are praying for "Israil" to reoccupy Gaza. The Palestinians do not have the right to live. "
I swear I heard these words several times on Israeli media. But I wouldn't count on IDF retaking Gaza. We just want to stop the rockets.
Then Khalil Hia, a Hamas official spoke to the press and condemned Fatah violence: "Gunmen chased people out of their homes and shot them in cold blood. A girl was forced to remove her hijab (now that may call for an honor killing) and was then shot BETWEEN THE LEGS (more honor killings required). Although she was bleeding she was released after several hours. Men were forced to strip and were then locked in basements."

Both factions are hiding in mosques and shooting at each other from (and therefore also into) their holy places. The media is still concentrating on the Hamas military command building destroyed by the IAF. And rightly so, that is where the aid money is going in lieu of buying food and medicine for the populace. Oh, dear! I can't blame the local journalists: they too have become victims of the civil war, a few are reported dead. They are afraid to go out and cover what is going on in the streets of Gaza (funny how they were always there heroically documenting Israeli aggression). It appears that journalists have been taking sides in the conflict, after all they are locals and allegiance is still very tribal in Gaza. Meaning that they can be liquidated by the rival factions.
So some had to spend the night in the TV building, while others were taking cover in adjoining buildings.

I must confess it was quite thrilling to see the Al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza ducking under the table when something exploded close to the studio in the middle of her live report. I remember Katyushas landing dangerously close to Israeli and foreign journalists during the second Lebanon war, one nearly killed Israeli channel 1 reporter. No harm done when terrorist sympathizers get a taste of the same medicine.

Now let's take a look at the humble abode (à la Saddam Hussein or Ceausecu) of pro-Fatah security chief Rashid Abu Shbak in Gaza City where a Hamas raid killed five people. So this is how top brass lives in poverty-stricken Gaza. Once again, this is where the aid money goes. (Abu-Mazen himself lives in a 1.5 million dollar mansion. Haniyeh skimmed some 2 USD million or more from the 20 million in cash he received from Saudi Arabia).
This is where Mohammad al-Dalo (Hamas) used to live with his family before his encounter with Fatah death squads.
This is the entrance to another house in Gaza.

Before this round of violence we only saw the squalid neighborhoods of Gaza, because that served the busy anti-Israeli propaganda machine. Now the rotten corruption of the ruling clans is exposed.

Hall of Shame

In exchange for Gilad Shalit, snatched at the tender age of 19, and whose whereabouts are still a mystery (actually we cannot even be sure that he is still alive) Hamas would like to see the release of such seasoned murderers and terrorists (several hundreds of them, actually), responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians and troops in non-combat situations. Why Israel is keeping such ruthless criminals alive is beyond my comprehension - imagine that they were dead, would Hamas still be motivated to kidnap troops in order to pressure Israel into disproportionate "prisoner exchanges"? Just a thought...

Marwan Barghouti - General Secretary of Tanzim (and here) Fatah (PLO) division, financed Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade terror cell and sent them on terror attacks against Israeli targets. Captured by IDF during Operation Defensive Shield (Homat Magen), he was sentenced by an Israeli Court to five life sentences. Some may hail him as a hero, but he was hiding in Ramallah disguised as an old woman. Moreover, while being interviewed live on Palestinian TV, he was gloating with glee at the news that a suicide bomber had managed to blow himself up among Israeli civilians. No peace maker here!


Ahmad Saadat - Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, ordered the assassination of Israeli Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. He was captured by the IDF during the Jericho Prison raid in 2006.










Ibrahim Hamed - commander of the West Bank Hamas military wing, masterminded such massacres as the Sbarro pizzeria, the Hebrew University cafeteria and the Cafe Moment suicide bombings.








Fuad Shubaki (Fouad al-Shoubaki) - senior financier to Arafat, funded the acquisition of Karin A. No innocent banker here...









Muhammad Duhan - a veteran of the Gaza Hamas military wing. On December 12, 1992, he killed IDF reservist Yuval Toutangi.










Yahia Sinwar - senior member of the Hamas military wing, credited with the founding the Qassam brigades. Arrested in 1988, he was sentenced to 450 years detention.










Hassan Salameh - responsible for some of the deadliest suicide attacks during February-March 1996. He recruited and dispatched the suicide bombers in the two Jerusalem bus 18 massacres and the Ashkelon hitch-hike post (where the bomber was dressed in IDF uniform). He himself was acting on behalf of Muhammad Deff (courtesy of http://www.isill.blogspot.com/), in retaliation for IDF targeting (well, yes, assassinating) Yahia Ayyash.

The Green Army

by Amit Cohen
Ma'ariv (Saturday supplement),
March 16, 2007


The shooting begins as soon as darkness falls on Gaza. Long rounds of automatic fire followed by silence. One after the other. Every night, until the wee hours. Even on the rare days of truce between Hamas and Fatah, or throughout the ceasefire with Israel. The incessant shooting means that Hamas is training new recruits. When the big confrontation arrives, the Al-Aqsa brigades - a.k.a. "the Hamas military wing"- hope to confront the enemy with a well trained and ready army - as well trained and ready can be.

"We have the right to upgrade our capabilities, it a religious mission as well as a national duty", says Abu-Oubeida, Hamas military wing spokesman. "We have the right to send our instructors abroad to train and specialize, as well as to upgrade our weapons arsenal. We are not going to disclose any details on our operations and intentions here, because this is classified military information. This is where we draw the red line."
During the past year, Hamas confronted IDF forces within the framework of two campaigns - "Summer Rains" and "Autumn Clouds". Hamas and the other (terrorist) organizations did not manage to exact the bitter blood toll they had intended. IDF's technological superiority, but mainly military skills, proved overwhelming. That is why Hamas decided to revise its military tactics vis-a-vis the IDF and draw the necessary conclusions. Thus, Hamas military chiefs have decided to reorganize the divisions geographically. Also this year, Hamas has established its operational force - the police forces subordinated to the Ministry of the Interior, acting as an additional militia of the organization: 6,000 gunmen, assigned to regional headquarters.

Hamas draws inspiration from the Second Lebanon War and from Hezbollah's achievements. "We have learned our lesson from previous confrontations with the IDF, but also from what we have seen in Lebanon", admits Abu-Oubeida, "yet there is a great difference between South Lebanon and Gaza. Combat itself is different because of the topography, camouflage techniques, combat zone size, etc. Gaza is a tiny strip of flatland. The enemy has the upper hand because of its superior technology when everything is out in the open for all to see. Moreover, Lebanon is a sovereign state, whereas we are under siege. We hope to equal Lebanon's achievements one day."
(I like that. You realize, of course, that if you want Gaza redesigned to look like Southern Lebanon or the Shiite strongholds in Beirut, IAF and IDF combined can oblige you in just one night, I figure).
Should a conflict break out, Hamas, unlike Hezbollah, plans to drag the IDF forces deep inside refugee camps and crowded urban areas, where they can stop them in their tracks. In previous confrontations, Hamas gunmen tried to approach IDF troops and engage them in close combat. However, they didn't quite succeed in inflicting serious damage from close range, so they switched to sniper and mortar fire combined with roadside bombs and anti-tank missiles.

"If war breaks out in Gaza, it will not be dictated by topography, as was the case in Lebanon", predict Israeli military sources. "It will be dictated by the demographics of one of the most densely populated areas on earth." Hamas is getting ready to operate from within crowded refugee camps, using narrow alleys combined with tunnels and bunkers. They know full well that Israel will avoid sending in troops that might inflict civilian casualties and losses. Therefore even videotaped images and stills will serve as useful ammunition for Hamas. (Palliwood and Hezbollywood, right?)
In anticipation of a possible conflict, Hamas has prepared a "defense system" around cities, by digging bunkers and tunnels as close as possible to the populated neighborhoods. In order to allow gunmen free movement around the strip, a cob web of tunnels is connecting between different houses and buildings. Hamas leaders hope that their gunmen will be able to open fire at Israeli troops, retreat quickly inside the houses and relocate via the tunnels. This is their solution for dealing with the IAF attack helicopters and drones, and in so doing they hope to keep their own movement above ground to a minimum.

In addition, arms caches have been scattered in underground bunkers for protection against aerial attacks. Israeli security forces are by now aware that Hamas has dug a number of tunnels towards Israel, which could be either booby trapped or used to smuggle terrorists into Israel.

Remembering the Hamas Chief-of-Staff
The turning point for Hamas was Israel's implementation of the Gaza disengagement program. As soon as Hamas realized that Israel was going to pull out of Gaza, the leaders decided to grant official status to the Al-Aqsa brigades and transform them from an underground terror organization into a military corps. To this end, Hamas established the "Shaheed Saleh Shahade Military Academy", in memory of the Hamas Chief-of-Staff successfully targeted by Israel in 2002. The academy is headed by Abu-Ibrahim, a senior member of the military wing.
The carefully code-named training camps are scattered all over the Gaza strip, mostly on the ruins of evacuated Israeli settlements. Bissan 1 and Bissan 2, e.g., are located in the Gush Katiff area, not far from Khan-Younes. Other camps are occupying the remains of Netzarim and Rafiah-Yam. Hamas recruits are being trained in infantry and anti-tank warfare, rocket launching, as well as in gathering and analyzing intelligence. The graduates are issued I.D. cards, with personal numbers, ranks and recruitment dates.

According to Israeli estimates, the current Hamas instructors are tens, perhaps hundreds of foreign-trained activists (terrorists) that returned to Gaza to spread their knowledge. The recruits undergo intensive training for several months, perhaps longer. Palestinian sources concur. "We have knowledge of 500 Hamas activists currently operating in Gaza; they received military training in Syria and Iran", admits a senior Palestinian officer: "This training is actually being directed against us, because they drill raiding and securing all sorts of buildings. Do you really think they are going to overtake IDF compounds in the Negev? Their targets are the strongholds of the Palestinian National Security forces or other organizations. Hamas activists plant explosive devices and booby trap tunnels, but they don't always target the IDF. Some of their tunnels lead to our headquarters or buildings."

(Really? Then you have adopted the Israeli flag? Or are you just lying through your teeth?, Mr. senior Palestinian officer speaking on condition of anonymity, because I take it, you are not authorized to speak to the press? Or you didn't think we'd know our own flag?)

Besides their central role in improving Hamas military skills, the foreign-trained instructors are instrumental in upgrading the organization's weapons arsenal. "The spreading of this kind of knowledge is extremely dangerous, more dangerous than the huge amount of arms currently smuggled into Gaza, it is critical", says a high-ranking Israeli officer. The danger is amplified by the knowledge that Iran is behind the increasing strength of Hamas.
The upgrade is already visible. Up until three-four years ago Hamas used old solar water heaters to improvise large explosive devices, but now they have reached a different level. Take the "Shawaz" for instance - a projectile with highly-piercing properties based on Iranian know how. Four of these devices have been used against IDF troops during recent operations in Gaza. They are manufactured locally, according to precise measurements and specifications. Hamas is sparing no time and effort in developing and improving Qassam rockets and claim to be transforming them in their weapon of choice, in lieu of the suicide bombings. The Second
Lebanon War only helped to emphasize the importance of this kind of warfare. "The last rocket we launched had a 12 km range", boasts Abu-Oubeida, "but the Al-Aqsa manufacturers promised to improve that."

Not only the range is improved, but also the extent of damage they can cause. A regular Qassam warhead can carry five-seven kg of explosives. During the past few months Hamas "engineers" have focused on enlarging the Qassam payload to at least 20 kg. At the same time, the "life-span" of the rockets has been extended, due to the superior quality of the explosives being used. What it means is that Hamas will have the option of storing the long range rockets for longer periods of time, and practically intensify the barrages.

30 tons of explosives

In 2006 Hamas proved that its rocket launching abilities are better than those of all the other terrorist organizations combined. An average of some 50 rockets a month had been launched into Israel, until Hamas joined in - such as during IDF operations in the strip - and the number of launches increased significantly: during "Summer Rains" we counted 191 rockets, and during "Autumn Clouds" - 157.
During the past year Hamas has stepped-up its efforts to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Gaza, working both on quantity and quality. "We know that they seek to purchase sophisticated RPG's, much like the Hezbollah, and are also looking for Laus", says the Palestinian officer. "The Bedouins are smuggling missiles from the Red Sea into the Sinai, and from there it's a short way to Gaza, via the Rafiah tunnels." According to Israeli intelligence, about 30 tons of explosives have made their way into Gaza during the past year alone - a six fold increase compared to 2005.

Based on lessons learnt from the Second Lebanon War, Hamas is improving its anti-tank capabilities: they bought advanced rockets, such as Konkurs and 122 mm Grads, that have a 20 km range. Still, they do not even come close to the quantities amassed by the Hezbollah. Despite all these threatening figures, Abu-Oubeida is trying to keep things in perspective: "It would be wrong to assume that both sides are preparing for war. This would imply two armies, and that is a misconception. We do not have one army yet. We are in a state of alert, perhaps more so than in the past, but our means are limited. In the past we managed to delay the enemy, to slow them down, but we are aware of the fact that we cannot stop them altogether. We will not stand with our hands behind our backs though. Resistance is the choice of the Palestinian people".
To conclude, Abu-Oubeida warns Israel not to invade Gaza to free Gilead Shalit. "I am convinced that there is no connection between Gilead Shalit and other issues. We make no connection between the case of the captive serviceman and other matters, such as an Israeli invasion or the unity government. These are totally different matters".

(more pictures and confusion here and here)