Col. Richard Kemp Former British Troops Commander on Possible Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: “I’m Skeptical” of How Long it Can Last
“There is a very effective anti-Israel propaganda machine and there has been for some time. It’s partly from the Palestinians, partly from other Arab states and many people in the West—from Europe in particular but also the United States—see Hamas as the underdog and Israel as the bully and their natural inclination is to side with the underdog; but it’s to misunderstand the reality: Hamas is not a small group of lone freedom fighters. Hamas is a terrorist organization supported, financed and directed by Iran. Israel on the other hand is not a bully. It has shown amazing restraint—far more restraint than most other countries would show in the face of this sort of provocation.”
Pillar of Defense: Seventh Day Recap VIDEO
Rockets kill soldier, Bedouin civilian in Eshkol region
Army posthumously promotes Yosef Fartuk to corporal
Fire from Syria strikes IDF vehicle in the Golan Heights
No injuries reported, but truck sustains minor damage; army files protest with the UN
Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group launches Multiple rockets into Israel from the Sinai VIDEO (broken)
"We Are David Up Against Islamic Fundamentalist Terror": Leonie's Letter From Israel
"We are not the Goliath in this story, we are David up against Islamic fundamentalist terror supported by Iran. Support Israel and you support the democratic and humanist values of the free world.
Support our enemies and you undermine those very values and play into the hands of those who despise freedom and love."
In Rishon and Ashkelon, ‘safe rooms’ save lives in two direct rocket strikes
Rocket with 90 kilos of explosives smashes through three floors of an apartment building in Israel’s fourth-largest town — and nobody is badly hurt Video
Iran official: Gaza fighters need to be 'equipped'
Nasrallah slams Arab countries for not arming Gazans
Egypt intercepts 108 warheads from Libya to Sinai and Gaza
Egyptian security officials say trucks carrying explosive warheads and a variety of small-arms ammunition smuggled from Libya were confiscated Pickup trucks were reportedly carrying some 108 warheads for Soviet-designed Grad rockets.
While fighting rages between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah watches and waits
Analysts say domestic considerations and fallout from the Syrian civil war keep the Lebanon-based organization on the sidelines
Israel demands 15-year lull, Morsi guarantee
According to reports in Cairo, Israel put forward six key demands for ceasefire, threatened ground offensive in Gaza if no response within 48 to 72 hours
US blocks UN Security Council call for Gaza cease-fire as unbalanced against Israel
"The draft press statement failed to address the root cause of the current escalation — the continuing barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel," the spokeswoman for the U.S. Mission to the U.N., Erin Pelton, said in a statement.
Israel ‘outshouts’ Hamas TV, radio
In a little-heralded aspect of Pillar of Defense, the IDF hijacks the Gaza airwaves and sends its messages to residents
The ‘Kids’ Behind IDF’s Media
Young Israeli soldiers have pushed older commanders into adopting a more aggressive social media strategy
Melanie Phillips: Yet more (real) news
Here’s yet more information about the war between Hamas and Israel that unaccountably you may not have come across in today’s UK mainstream media. Today’s entries are all for the Hall of Shame, which is getting mighty crowded.
Beware of Beinart
"According to an insidious article he penned this week, Hamas is the victim of backwards-looking Western policy. Inverting cause and effect, Beinart asserts that Hamas is obstructionist and violent because it hasn't been fairly and properly "engaged." Poor Hamas, you see, has never been given an "incentive" to abide by a cease-fire."
Honest Reporting: Hamas Using Hospital As Cover for Rocket Launch
"Hamas officials at the hospital were asked how firing rockets from such a built-up area could be justified as it is likely to provoke Israeli action. One said Palestinians were merely defending themselves, another that it was probably the work of the Islamic Jihad militia."
IDFBlog: Senior Terrorist in Gaza Disguises Himself as Journalist
"When terrorists disguise themselves as civilians, it can only end badly for civilians. Today, a senior Hamas operative was targeted while driving a press vehicle, effectively disguising himself as a reporter. By doing so, he risked the lives of all journalists in the Gaza Strip." [poster coming up -EoZ]
CIF Watch: The Guardian’s Seumas Milne defends Palestinians’ right to kill Israelis
“So Gazans are an occupied people and have the right to resist, including by armed force (though not to target civilians), while Israel is an occupying power that has an obligation to withdraw – not a right to defend territories it controls or is colonising by dint of military power."
BBC Watch: BBC’s Kevin Connolly: Hamas missiles are “antiquated”
What Connolly ‘forgets’ to point out of course is that Hamas’ weapons are aimed exclusively at civilians.
CAMERA: Ten Things The Huffington Post Got Wrong About Gaza (Actually Thirteen, but Who’s Counting?)
HuffWatch: HuffPost enables torrent of anti-Semitic user comments in response to its incitement against Israel
Hamas moderates and Israel’s celebrities By Seth J. Frantzman
Another outcome of this round of fighting has been the need of the Israeli Left to find a reason to critique the operation.
Anti-Israel protesters frustrated, burning out
TORONTO – Anti-Israel agitators expressed frustration and hinted at burn-out at a protest across from the Israeli consulate last week.
MEMRI:
Child Preacher Ibrahim Adham Longs for Martyrdom, Fighting alongside the Palestinians VIDEO
Egyptian Hulk Hogan Wannabe Threatens: I Would Go and Fight Israel Right Now VIDEO
Landmark court decision opens way for claims against Palestinian Authority
Israeli man twice kidnapped and tortured by PA security forces wins the right to sue for damages; terror victims may follow suit
French Jews turn out en masse to show support for Israel
2,000 attend rally in Paris linking terrorism against Jews in both countries
Teens arrested after prayer books burned in French Jewish cemetery
Graffiti targeting Jews and pro-Palestinian activist appears in Paris and near Lyon
Gravestones destroyed at Polish Jewish cemetery
Jewish community head afraid some of the damage is irreparable
Poles thwart anti-Semite’s plot to blow up parliament, president and prime minister
Security agents arrest academic researcher accused of planning massive explosion in the heart of Warsaw
Israel Daily Picture: The Return of the Palace Hotel to Jerusalem
[More on that incident at EoZ here.]
From the quiet of Ethiopia to the explosions of the south
Stesyahu Alema and 90 other new immigrants head straight into the conflict zone upon arrival
"None of them would refuse an opportunity to move to Israel, he said. Many Ethiopians see Israel as a land of plenty and a way out of Africa’s desperate poverty. For many, aliyah is the realization of a lifelong dream.“Every beginning is hard, but the hardship gets canceled out because of the happiness,” Bahta said. “You realized the dream. What, they shouldn’t come? There’s nothing like that. This will change their lives.”
Also:
Have people gone mad?
Baby-killers vs. innocent baby-killers
Arab Columnists Criticize Firing Of Rockets From Gaza As Reckless Escapade Serving Iran, Not Palestinians (MEMRI)
Targeted Killings and Double Standards (JCPA, PDF file.)
And, by popular request, a classic EoZ video to tweet every time you hear someone call Gaza "the most densely populated place on Earth."