Israel takes out top Hamas commander after missiles launched from Gaza

[Special Ed]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/14/israel-gaza-hamas-extremists-analysis

Operation Pillar of Defence has been anticipated for many months following increasing rocket fire into Israel from Gaza, which one former Israeli military commander described as "holding hostage half the population".

But the risks of a major military operation in the changing landscape of the Middle East are enormous.

In Gaza itself, the emergence of radical militant organisations, largely beyond the control of the ruling Hamas, make the consequences of Israel's operation highly unpredictable.

Hamas itself has felt the heat from these ultra-extremist groups, whose members claim the ruling faction has abandoned military resistance against Israel for the comfort and privileges of quasi-government.

These jihadist groups have close ties with militants in the Egyptian Sinai, just across Gaza's southern border, which Israel says are driven by an ideology akin to that of al-Qaida. They are disinclined to listen to Egyptian government mediators, who have brokered a series of ceasefires following escalations of violence.

"There are more jihadist groups in Gaza who don't abide by the rules of the game," said retired Brigadier-General Michael Herzog, a former chief of staff in the Israeli ministry of defence. "The Egyptians don't have the same leverage with the jihadists as they do with Hamas."

Some analysts in Israel have warned that if Hamas were to be toppled in a sustained military operation, such groups could fill a power vacuum. Israel could conceivably find itself with an enemy even worse than Hamas, they say.

Egypt is another major cause of concern. Before its revolution in the spring of 2011, Israel could count on the support of the country's deposed president Hosni Mubarak. But his successor, Mohammed Morsi, who has long ties with the Muslim Brotherhood – Hamas's parent organisation – is likely to vehemently oppose the latest Israeli operation. It could even threaten the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

The offensive against Gaza may also ignite solidarity action from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel's border with Lebanon has been relatively quiet since the war in 2006, but Israel repeatedly says that Hezbollah has thousands of Iranian-supplied rockets aimed at the Jewish state.

There will also be international condemnation if the Israeli military operation causes widespread civilian casualties in Gaza. In Operation Cast Lead, the 22-day offensive which began in December 2008, around 1,400 people were killed in Gaza, including more than 300 children. Thousands of homes and schools were destroyed in intense bombardment.

Israeli airstrikes are now much more precisely targeted. But civilian casualties are inevitable in a major operation.

Cast Lead took place between Barack Obama's election and his inauguration, which limited US response. Since then, Obama has repeatedly said Israel has the right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Gaza, but his re-election may produce much sharper condemnation of civilian casualties than four years ago.

Israel is also going to the polls in January. Most Israeli politicians swiftly endorsed operation mindful that security is a major factor in all Israeli elections.

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Personally I have always supported Israeli attacks into Gaza as being justified due to unmanageable militias who answer to nobody. These militias seem to never cease with these launches into Israel. And could care less about their own civilian casualties when eventually Israel has to answer back.

Regardless this seems to be a dramatic escalation of recent events. In other words... Here we go again.

Video of the Hamas commander being targeted: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cd5_1352914976

Video of missiles being fired into Israel recently: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c83_1352921667

Note: those links go to the site 'Liveleak' which does contain graphic language and material.

[Spitfire_Spiky]

Crazy... you think they would of learned by now. This is just going to end badly for all parties involved and nothing will be solved by another needless war..

[Dittohead]

Nice

[aGENT]

Oh good...

[Tortorella's Rant]

Conflict in the Middle East? Unheard of!

[Tearloch7]

Let's just nuke the whole region and start over again in a couple of thousand years! .. IF there is a "God" and IF these are His precious "tribes", then surely He, in all His magnificence, will stop such "nuking" .. at last .. a sign from the heavens?

[hsedin33]

Let's just nuke the whole region and start over again in a couple of thousand years! .. IF there is a "God" and IF these are His precious "tribes", then surely He, in all His magnificence, will stop such "nuking" .. at last .. a sign from the heavens?

[Buddhas Hand]

This documentary is a powerful and moving piece of film making , that is a must see for anyone who is even remotely interested in this conflict .

[CanuckRow]

http://www.state.gov...2/11/200551.htm

We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians caused by the ensuing violence. There is no justification for the violence that Hamas and other terrorist organizations are employing against the people of Israel. We call on those responsible to stop these cowardly acts immediately. We support Israel’s right to defend itself, and we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties.

Hamas claims to have the best interests of the Palestinian people at heart, yet it continues to engage in violence that is counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. Attacking Israel on a near daily basis does nothing to help Palestinians in Gaza or to move the Palestinian people any closer to achieving self determination.

[DonLever]

10 civilans were killed, including a 11 month old baby and a 6 year old child. 45 were wounded.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/war-fears-as-israel-kills-hamas-commander-20121115-29d9n.html

The Israelis always called the terrorists baby killers, yet they do the same thing. Of course, they say they don't target innocent civilians like the terrorists do but the end result is the same thing. A dead baby is a dead baby.

Does killing a Hamas Commander really change anything? Someone will replace him anyway.

The Israelis have done nothing to address the core of the problem: The Occupation. Unless the right wing wackos in charge of Israel change policy, the endless cycles of violence will continue.

[D-Money]

MMMMmmmm...hamas

[Gretzky's Mullet]

I think it's embarrassing that neither Canada nor the USA nor any other western country has recognized the state of Palestine. Frankly, until the Israelis withdraw to 1967 borders, every death that takes place in the disputed territories is their fault and some of the blame rests in the hands of western countries who refuse to consider a neutral approach.

[theminister]

I'm just going to leave this here.

[taxi]

I think it's embarrassing that neither Canada nor the USA nor any other western country has recognized the state of Palestine. Frankly, until the Israelis withdraw to 1967 borders, every death that takes place in the disputed territories is their fault and some of the blame rests in the hands of western countries who refuse to consider a neutral approach.

[Ossi Vaananen]

Knowing Harper we'll be right behind the Americans if this thing blows up.

[Tearloch7]

So in order to prevent them from klling eachother you want the US to kill them instead? lol Besides, its not the wars the West cares about, heck, the west is causing lots of the wars there, its the Oil that lays in thier dirt that is important.

[The Wizard of AZ]

Knowing Harper we'll be right behind the Americans if this thing blows up.

[morrissex95]

10 civilans were killed, including a 11 month old baby and a 6 year old child. 45 were wounded.

[morrissex95]

I'm just going to leave this here.

[Buddhas Hand]

Israeli Settlements

on Palestinian Land

Israel currently has 170 Jewish-only settlements and 99 "outposts" built on confiscated Palestinian land.

Palestinians do not have any

settlements on Israeli land.

Number of Settlements on Others LandIsraelPalestinians070140210280

Number of Settlements on Others Land

​

Source: According to <a href="http://peacenow.org/map.php" target="_blank">Americans for Peace Now's "Facts on the Ground" Map Project, there are 170 official Israeli settlements and 99 informal outposts on Palestinian land, including 24 neighborhoods in East Jerusalem de facto annexed to Israel. APN's interactive settlement map shows the name, location, and population for each settlement and outpost on Palestinian territory, all of which are considered illegal under international law.

“Land Grab:

Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank”

Published in May 2002.

B’Tselem

, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.

Historical Background

Since 1967, each Israeli government has invested significant resources in establishing and expanding settlements in the Occupied Territories. As a result of this policy, approximately 500,000 Israeli citizens now live on the settlements on the West Bank, including those established in East Jerusalem.

The [peace] process between Israel and the Palestinians did not impede settlement activities, which continued under the Labor government of Yitzhak Rabin (1992-1996) and all subsequent governments. These governments built thousands of new housing units, claiming that this was necessary to meet the "natural growth” of the existing population. As a result, between 1993 and 2000 the number of settlers on the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) increased by almost 100 percent.

International Law

International humanitarian law prohibits [an] occupying power [from transferring] citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory (Fourth Geneva Convention, article 49). The Hague Regulations prohibit the occupying power [from undertaking] permanent changes in the occupied area, unless these are due to military needs in the narrow sense of the term, or unless they are undertaken for the benefit of the local population.

The establishment of the settlements leads to the violation of the rights of the Palestinians as enshrined in international human rights law. Among other violations, the settlements infringe on the rights to self-determination, equality, property, an adequate standard of living, and freedom of movement.

Taking Control of the Land

Israel has used a complex legal and bureaucratic mechanism to take control of more than fifty percent of the land in the West Bank. This land has been used mainly to establish settlements and create reserves of land for the future expansion of the settlements.

Israel uses the seized lands to benefit the settlements, while prohibiting the Palestinian public from using them in any way. This use is forbidden and illegal in itself. As the occupier in the Occupied Territories, Israel is not permitted to ignore the needs of an entire population and to use land intended for public needs solely to benefit the settlers.

The Policy of Annexation and Local Government

The Israeli administration has applied most aspects of Israeli law to the settlers and the settlements, thus effectively annexing them to the State of Israel…This annexation has resulted in a regime of legalized separation and discrimination. This regime is based on the existence of two separate legal systems in the same territory, with the rights of individuals being determined by their nationality.

The areas of jurisdiction of the Jewish local authorities, most of which extend far beyond the built-up area, are defined as "closed military zones” in the military orders. Palestinians are forbidden to enter these areas without authorization from the Israeli military commander. Israeli citizens, Jews from throughout the world and tourists are all permitted to enter these areas without the need for special permits.

Encouragement of Migration to Settlements

The Israeli governments have implemented a consistent and systematic policy intended to encourage Jewish citizens to migrate to the West Bank…settlers and other Israeli citizens working or investing in the settlements are entitled to significant financial benefits.

The Planning System

The planning system on the West Bank, implemented by the Civil Administration, is one of the most powerful mechanisms of the Israeli occupation. As with the other bureaucratic systems, the planning system operates on two distinct tracks: one for Jews and the other for Palestinians.

This system is responsible for transforming the map of the West Bank because it is the planning system that approves the outline plans for the settlements and issues building permits for the establishment and expansion of settlements and for the construction of by-pass roads. Israel changed the composition of the planning institutions on the West Bank and transferred numerous planning powers to the Jewish local authorities, while expropriating these powers from Palestinian planning institutions.

While facilitating Jewish settlement, the planning system works vigorously to restrict the development of Palestinian communities. The main tool used to this end is to reject requests for building permits filed by Palestinians. In most cases, the requests are rejected on the grounds that the regional outline plans – approved in the 1940s during the British Mandate – prohibit construction in the relevant area of land. These plans do not reflect the development needs of the Palestinian population, and the planning system deliberately refrains from preparing revised plans. Houses built by Palestinians without building permits are demolished by the Civil Administration, even in cases when the construction took place on private land.

Conclusions

Israel has created in the Occupied Territories a regime of separation based on discrimination, applying two separate systems of law in the same area and basing the rights of individuals on their nationality. This regime is the only one of its kind in the world, and is reminiscent of distasteful regimes from the past, such as the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

Under this regime, Israel has stolen hundreds of thousands of dunam of land from the Palestinians. Israel has used this land to establish dozens of settlements in the West Bank and to populate them with hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens. Israel prohibits the Palestinians as a group from entering and using these lands, and uses the settlements to justify numerous violations of the Palestinians’ human rights, such as the right to housing, to earn a livelihood, and the right to freedom of movement. The drastic change that Israel has made in the map of the West Bank prevents any real possibility for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state as part of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The settlers, on the contrary, benefit from all the rights available to Israeli citizens living within the Green Line [israel proper], and in some cases are even granted additional rights. The great effort that Israel has invested in the settlement enterprise – in financial, legal and bureaucratic terms – has turned the settlements into civilian enclaves in an area under military rule, with the settlers being given priority status. To perpetuate this situation, which is a priori illegal, Israel has continuously breached the rights of the Palestinians.

Particularly evident is Israel’s manipulative use of legal tools in order to give the settlement enterprise an impression of legality. In so doing, Israel trampled on numerous restrictions and prohibitions established in the international conventions to which it is party, and which were intended to limit infringement of human rights and to protect populations under occupation.

Israeli and Palestinian Children Killed

September 29, 2000 - Present

126 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 1,476 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information)

Israelis and Palestinians Killed

September 29, 2000 - Present

1,096 Israelis and at least 6,568 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information)

Israelis and Palestinians Injured

September 29, 2000 - Present

10,792 Israelis and 59,575 Palestinians have been injured since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information.)

Daily U.S. Military Aid to Israel and the Palestinians

Fiscal Year 2011

During Fiscal Year 2011, the U.S. is providing Israel with at least $8.2 million per day in military aid and $0 in military aid to the Palestinians. (View Sources & More Information)

Current Number of Political Prisoners and Detainees

0 Israelis are being held prisoner by Palestinians, while 5,604 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel. (View Sources & More Information)

Demolitions of Israeli and Palestinian Homes

1967 - Present

0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 24,813 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967. (View Sources & More Information)

Israeli and Palestinian Unemployment Rates

The Israeli unemployment rate is 6.4%, while the Palestinian unemployment in the West Bank is 16.5% and 40% in Gaza. (View Sources & More Information)

Current Illegal Settlements on the Other’s Land

Israel currently has 236 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land. (View Sources & More Information)

If americans only knew , website .