More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
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Shavua Tov and Welcome Back.
11:00 PM Rock throwing earlier near Kedumim. 4 cars hit.
8:50 PM IT'S RAINING. THANK GOD.
8:40 PM One of the mortars shot at Israel today "misfired" and landed in Hamas controlled Gaza. No injuries or wounded in Israel (source)
8:34 PM The shooting attack was on an bus near Beit El (close than to Ofra). No injuries, there was damage caused to the armored bus.
8:08 PM Shooting attack near Ofra. No injuries.
7:25 PM Reports of 2 Grad missiles hitting Ashkelon this morning at 7AM and 9AM.
Strikes have been unacknowledged by the government.
Siren did not go off for one strike, and was very low in the other.
Shooting attack at Itamar in the the Shomron. No injuries reported.
Major accident this today between Palestinian bus and Palestinian truck. MDA called out. Injured evacuated by MDA helicopter. I (Jameel) am unsure if a medivac helicopter was used -- I know one was ordered... The accident took place at the Ariel junction around noon today.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Cease Fire Continues - Saturday Night, Jan 31, 2009
365 Acts of Kindness
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(Regular post below)
It's always nice when we have an unusual advertiser on the Muqata.
Areyvut is a non-profit Jewish organization in the US that reaches out to Jewish kids to teach them chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social action) - in meaningful and practical ways.
Areyvut has published a very nice desk calendar. Every day it gives you a new idea for a different act of kindness you can perform that day. That's 365 acts of kindness in total.It's certainly a very nice/meaningful gift and a great way of helping support the work of Areyvut (and directly getting something back in exchange - now that's win-win).
And for people who read blogs in the WebAds network, you can now get 20% off the price.
You can't beat that.
So now, go out and buy a few dozen desk calendars for your next Shul, Simcha (Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah giveaways), or school event.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Israel today, Friday Jan 30, 2009
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
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1:35 PM Israeli Chief Rabbinate Declares Next Shabbat, "Parashat BiShalach" -- a day of praise and thanksgiving over the successful IDF "Cast-Lead" operation. (PDF)
1:12 PM Turkish PM's wife says Shimon Peres lied in Davos, bursts into tears.
“Everything (Israeli President Simon) Peres said was lie,” Emine Erdogan told reporters in Davos after she burst into tears.
Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of an angry debate on the Gaza war with Peres at the Davos forum on Thursday. Erdogan said his reaction targeted the moderator of the session not Peres or the Israeli people.
Emine Erdogan organized earlier this month an Istanbul meeting entitled "Women for peace in Palestine” in which first ladies from Muslim countries condemned the Israeli offensive on Gaza and called on the international community to end the suffering of women and children there. (source)
12:01 PM JoeSettler here updating again:
The Enemy Within.
Ha'aretz is reporting that Leftists in Israel are compiling "blacklists" consisting of photos and id lists of IDF officers who participated in defending Israel. As in the past, these compiled lists will presumably be given to various Leftist (former Israeli) lawyers in European countries so they can begin filing legal suits against individual soldiers when they travel overseas.
Following in that vein, Haaretz is joining the protest against the appointment of Col. Pnina Sharvit-Baruch, head of the international law division (ILD) in the Military Advocate General's office to a post in faculty of the Law Department in Tel Aviv University - essentially because of their claim of her involvement in alleged IDF "war crimes" and that would prevent the University from "exposing" IDF actions during the war - which is also what they want TAU to do too.
11:40 AM Jameel here: Was very busy this morning meeting with the IDF for local area security matters.
In the meantime, here's a great collection:
(source)
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Ignoring the Ceasefire; Jan 29 2009
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
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Jan 30: Treppenwitz has a post up with a video of Muslims marching in London, abusing the London police (violently) who are seen running away afraid, and in general acting like we've come to expect from the Muslim population in European countries.
My response is: Jews come home to Israel.
12:22 PM Sorry Jameel, but I'm busy working right now. Hopefully nothing will happen that will require a special update (in which case I will update it).
From somewhere in the hills of Judea,
JoeSettler
11:57 PM Good night people - I'm off to bed. Tomorrow morning, blogging will be lighter than usual due to an IDF local region security meeting I need to attend to. (Maybe JoeSettler will pick up the slack?)
From somewhere in the hills of Samaria,
Jameel
11:55 PM Channel 1 TV reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Kadima) will be interrogated by Israel's police tomorrow (Friday) for the 12th time since he became Prime Minister of Israel, on suspicious of corruption, etc.
11:41 PM Turkish PM storms out of Davos' Gaza session, slams moderator, Peres, Israel, etc.
"My reaction here was towards the moderator. Such moderation will cast a shadow over peace efforts," Erdogan told reporters, adding the moderator gave each speaker around 12-15 minutes to speak but he allowed Peres to talk for 25 minutes.
Read more of the nonsense here. (or see the video of it for yourself, here)
11:25 PM Every night, Israel has the wonderful custom (and law) which allows for all electoral parties to get airtime on TV and radio. Pollsters have already proven that the effectiveness of these campaigns are limited (most of the time, it's usually people who already have made up their minds saying, "See, we really nailed that party with our commercial!")
Even parties like ultra-Orthodox Aguda/Yahadut Hatorah have TV commercials, despite that their constituency are not even supposed to own TVs!
Tonight, perhaps one of the strangest commercial's aired tonight, for one of the strangest parties. I'm embarrassed that such a commercial even exists, but I thought it prudent to show you want a thriving democracy Israel is, that such a commercial and party can even exist.
(Keep in mind, at Tel Aviv University's straw poll the other day, this party received 5 seats).
hat-tip: here, via R' Tzvi the nameless
10:56 PM Iranian Pirate Ship -- you know, the one the US was unable to confiscate the weapons aboard for "legal" reasons? The one headed to Hamas in Gaza, or Hizbollah in Lebanon?
Well, here's the update: Haaretz reports that Cyrpus successfully detained the ship tonight.
Cypriot authorities on Thursday detained an Iranian arms ship en route to Syria, a European diplomatic source said.8:45 PM When I'm not war-blogging, one of the frequent discussions on this blog is about the highly popular "Srugim" TV show, which follows the challenging lives of religious Jewish singles in the Jerusalem "Katamon swamp".
The move apparently came after Israel and the United States requested that Cyprus stop the ship. It is carrying a large amount of weaponry, including artillery rounds and rockets that Israel believes are destined for either Hezbollah or Hamas.
The vessel left the Persian Gulf a few weeks ago and reached about 60 miles from Cyprus' port city of limassol on Wednesday.
Since the ship was flying Cyprus' flag, the Cypriot authorities were the only ones authorized to confiscate its cargo.
According to the diplomat, Cypriot customs officials had contacted the Iranian boat and demanded that it sail to limassol to be checked.
The U.S. navy had earlier detained the ship in the Red Sea, but was forced to release it Tuesday when it became apparent that there was no legal basis for holding it.
More here.
Srugim's director (and personal friend) Laizy Shapiro sent me the following email today about the showing of a documentary of his, aired tomorrow on Channel 10 TV in Israel. Totally worth it, if you have the chance. (The show is only 18 minutes, so it won't kill your whole pre-Shabbat schedule :)
Dear Friends, this Friday on channel 10 at 2pm there will be a screening of my short documentary film "Saving Private Finklestein". Please pass this message among your friends in Israel. Enclosed is some information about the film.
Take care
Laizy
"Saving Private Finklestein", Documentary, 18 minutes
The bite of a small, chubby, mongrel dog led to a series of events that resulted in uncovering the story, identity and family of a British soldier killed in the First World War. Although Jewish, he had mistakenly been buried under a tombstone marked with a cross in a British war cemetery thousands of miles from England.
Who was Private Finklestein? How was he killed? And why was he buried under a cross?
The director of this film, together with his father, undertook a search for the answers to these questions – a search that lasted ten years and ranged over three continents. No stone was left unturned until they solved this seventy-year-old riddle.
Photographer: Moshe Huri
Editor: Boaz Shahak
Producer/Director: Eliezer Shapiro
8:05 PM Contrasted: Arabs and Israel.After the Disengagement from Gaza, Palestinian mobs burned, ransacked and destroyed all the Jewish holy sites which Israel left behind. The picture at left shows the Netzarim Synagogue burning after the IDF left Gaza.
During the second Intifada, Palestinian mobs destroyed Joseph's Tomb in Shechem (Nablus) -- here's a video of my return there last year so you can see for yourself the before and after photos.
Palestinians routinely deface and damage the Jewish holy articles in Hebron's Me'arat HaMachpela (Tomb of the Patriachs).
Jordanians destroyed the Mount of Olives ancient Jewish cemetery, using headstones to pave roads and for public bathrooms.
Contrast that to today: Israel bends over backwards, at it's own expense, to keep Muslim cemetery intact, in the heart of Tel Aviv.
A solution was found to a 35-year court battle over a Muslim cemetery in Jaffa Thursday. According to the plan, yet to be approved by the Israeli Land Administration (ILA), the entrepreneur who owns the land on which the cemetery is situated will receive rights to an adjacent plot, leaving the cemetery untouched.Shove that in the face of anti-Israel activists.
The entrepreneur purchased the land 35 years ago in a transaction approved by the Board of Trustees, the organization responsible for Muslim property in Jaffa.
Since then, every attempt to build on the legally purchased land has been prevented by the Muslim Council, which waged lengthy court battles against the construction. Recently, Muslim residents of the city led a public campaign against the cemetery's destruction.Now the Tel Aviv Jaffa Municipality has offered a possible solution to the stalemate, according to which the entrepreneur will receive the rights to a plot of land adjacent to the cemetery, which belongs to the ILA. Thus the cemetery will remain untouched, the entrepreneur will be able to build, and the ILA will retain its property rights. (ynetnews)
7:13 PM Pallywood Continues
ABALYA, GAZA STRIP — Most people remember the headlines: Massacre Of Innocents As UN School Is Shelled; Israeli Strike Kills Dozens At UN School.hat-tip: Aussie Dave @ IsraellyCoolThey heralded the tragic news of Jan. 6, when mortar shells fired by advancing Israeli forces killed 43 civilians in the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. The victims, it was reported, had taken refuge inside the Ibn Rushd Preparatory School for Boys, a facility run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
The news shocked the world and was compared to the 1996 Israeli attack on a UN compound in Qana, Lebanon, in which more than 100 people seeking refuge were killed. It was certain to hasten the end of Israel's attack on Gaza, and would undoubtedly lead the list of allegations of war crimes committed by Israel.
There was just one problem: The story, as etched in people's minds, was not quite accurate. (see it all here)
6:54 PM Russian Jews Demonstrate in Moscow on behalf of Israel.
As someone who used to participate in SSSJ rallies on behalf of Soviet Jewry, (even got arrested once with my shiur from Yeshiva College), and who attended Natan Sharansky's arrival in Israel, I find these pictures very significant.
Video: Source via rotter
5:54 PM Important Update: Our personal hero, the critically newlywed IDF combat soldier and officer Aharon Karov, was able to walk today. With the help of a walker, Aharon was able to start taking steps around his room. With the help of his father, he was also able to put on tefillin as well.
Wishing him a continued full and speedy recovery. Please continue your prayers and positive thoughts for Aharaon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana.
(source)
5:53 PM How to make a Hamas Hero
5:43 PM Rocket fell in an open area near Kibbutz Kfar Azza. No injuries or damage reported.
5:33 PM Color Red Alert of incoming Missile Launch at Western Negev Gaza community. Details to follow.
3:50 PM FM Tzippi Livni; I make the decisions, not the coffee. Really.Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in a meeting with students at the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, "In the decision room, I make decisions, not coffee." (Attila Somfalvi) . (ynetnews)Thanks for the clarification.
3:26 PM Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition...or do they?
The Foreign Ministry has instructed a number of Israeli officials not to visit Spain after an international arrest warrant was issued against them on suspicion of committing war crimes.2:38 PM Hamas thug Ismael Haniya announces on Al Manr TV that Israel has broken the cease fire by attacking Gazan targets. (source)
A Spanish human rights organization, believed to be representing a Palestinian group, filed a lawsuit last week against Israeli officials involved in the assassination of senior Hamas member Salah Shehade six years ago. Sixteen Palestinians were killed in the airstrike in the heart of Gaza.
Nearly all heads of the defense establishment at the time of the assassination are included in the list of defendants: Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, former IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General (Res.) Moshe Yaalon, former Shin Bet Director Avi Dichter, former Israel Air Force Commander Dan Halutz, former head of the IDF Operation Branch Major-General (Res.) Giora Eiland, and former Southern Command Chief Doron Almog. (ynetnews)
I guess if you repeat the same lie often enough, and ignore the fact that your people are shooting rockets DAILY at Israel, then enough people like Jimmy Carter will eventually believe you.
(hat-tip: IsraellyCool -- who's liveblogging as well)
2:01 PM False Alarm Sirens in Petach Tikva -- only heard in a few parts of the city. These are false alarms -- do not be alarmed! :-)
12:05 PM Some things never change (note the date at the bottom of this political cartoon -- click to see the cartoon in full screen.)
Courtesy of David Eisen.11:58 AM Channel B /Reshet Bet Radio reports 8 Gazans wounded in IAF attack on targets in Khan Younis.
11:29 AM IAF striking multiple targets in Khan Younis (Gaza).
10:13 AM Terror alert (reported earlier) now focusing on Tel Aviv, as intelligence reports of a terrorist in the city. IDF and police responding accordingly. (source)
9:58 AM Apropos the rocket launches....someone did a good job with this wake-up warning video. (10:04 AM Update; This film was made by students at the Sapir college in Sderot...a message with a warning not only to the Israeli government, but to the people in Tel Aviv...like the student body of Tel Aviv University)
9:55 AM Rocket launched minutes ago located in open field. No injures, no damage, no reason for the IDF to retaliate...
9:52 AM Ooops Department; Secret US State Department documents sold at Israel auction
More here on FOX as well.The US State Department today announced a formal investigation into how its consulate in Jerusalem sold a filing cabinet - containing hundreds of sensitive or secret documents - at a local auction.
It is reported that for more than three years no one noticed the files, listing private details of Marines and State Department staff stationed in Israel, were missing.
The documents, including a report labelled "secret" that described an encounter between a Marine and an Israeli woman at a bar in Jerusalem, were eventually returned after police threatened the recipient with prosecution.
Robert Wood, a spokesman for the State Department, said: "There is an investigation under way. I believe the components of the file cabinets have been returned. I believe they were purchased from - this was an auction that the consulate in Jerusalem held in December of 2005. We're reviewing them and investigating."
9:40 AM Rocket launches detected -- Air Raid Sirens in Western Negev communities.
9:33 AM Professor Shalom Rosenberg from the Hebrew University replied in an interview about the "proportionality" between the few killed IDF soldiers and the hundreds of Gazans:
Hamas themselves defined the [dis-] proportionality, if Hamas demands [the release] of 1000 jailed terrorists for the return of only one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, then Hamas themselves have defined that the life of an Israeli is equal to that of 1000 Gazans. If so, the rule of proportions state that to defend the life of one Israeli, we need to attack terrorists even at the risk of killing hundreds of civilians.
How can Gazans be not totally embarrassed that Hamas is demanding the release of a thousand terrorists in exchange for only 1 IDF soldier?
9:07 AM Israel's IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi saved a man's life in a sauna this past Friday. NRG reports: Trying to relax after the IDF cast-lead operation, Israel's Number 1 soldier went to the Kfar Saba country club and while in the sauna, saw an elderly man slump forward, unconcious. Ashkenazi grabbed the man from the steamy room, dragged him out, called for help, and started to administer first aid to the man. The man regained consciouness soon after.
9:00 AM Terror alert in Israel: Israel security forces receive intelligence reports of threat of terror attack; Police and IDF setting up roadblocks in major cities. (source)
8:55 AM In retaliation for yesterday's ongoing Gaza rocket attacks against Israel, last night Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered a strike on a Hamas rocket warehouse in Rafiah. No reports of Palestinian injuries. (NRG)
8:20 AM Channel 2 Israel TV reports (much to the dismay of the Israeli government, apparently) that at least 3 rockets were launched this morning at Israel, with one hitting the city center of Sderot.
Looks like we're going to need a new government to deal with the rocket problems from Gaza, since the current one lacks resolve, determination, and backbone.
Israeli elections coming soon...
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, Jan 28th Ceasefire Over Israel
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
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10;58 PM I'm off to bed. Maybe additional Muqata staffbloggers will post later.
Regards from the hilltops,
Jameel
10:47 PM Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni: I will not sit in a black and orange government led by Netanyahu. (Good riddance) [said minutes ago on Channel 2 TV, while continuing to say she is going to be the next Prime Minister of Israel]
10:30 PM Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni keeps repeating in a mantra-like state to Nissim Mishal on Channel 2 TV, "I will be the next Prime Minister of Israel". She has repeated this over 20 times in the past 5 minutes, despite the polls which clearly show Kadima's weekly downfall in the polls.
10:26 PM Tel Aviv University (not representative of Israel) pre-election poll today:
Meretz (radical left wing): 27
Kadima: 25
Likud: 20
Labor: 19
Yisrael Beiteynu: 12
Note: The Meretz party list doesn't even have 27 people on their list.
Additional Note: If the voting had to take place during a "Color Red" rocket attack, Meretz would probably have received lower numbers...
10:23 PM Channel 2, Mishal Cham Show releases latest pre-election polls. (breaking news) -- seats in the Knesset (out of of 120)
Likud 34
Kadima 22
Yisrael Beiteinu 16
Labor 13
Shas 10
Right Wing: 70 seats
Left Wing: 50 seats
9:50 PM Hamas kinpin Khaled Mashal rejects ceasefire, says Israel's demands that they will only open the Gaza border crossings for non-Humanitarian aid after IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is released -- unreasonable.
9:33 PM IDF Homefront positively identifies rocket launch at Western Negev communities. No injuries or damage. (source)
8:35 PM El-Arabiya reports that IDF tanks and armored bulldozers are still in the Gaza strip as a result of yesterday's terror attack against IDF forces.
8:27 PM Too good not to post.
While I haven't seen Mad Magazine in years, it was always a favorite growing up (no, I never had a subscription, but had to borrow copies from my "cooler" friends).
Time Magazine in 1952, described "Mad" as 'a short lived, satirical pulp'.
"Mad" reprints this quote every time they print one hundred issues.
OK, sorry about the brief interlude from Israel...getting back on it.
(credit and sources)
8:20 PM Channel 2 Israel TV reports that Israel's Mossad spy agency foiled a large scale Hizbollah attack on a Jewish target in a European country.
5:17 PM Channel 10 TV (Tzvi Yechezkeli) shows video footage of Qassam rocket launched earlier today at Western Negev community from Gaza. (via rotter) [obviously yet another false alarm]
4:15 PM IDF Radio (Galei Tzhal) announced that a Color Red alert took place minutes ago in the Western Negev. No rocket launches detected.
3:46 PM The IDF Hannibal Protocol.
The following article appeared on the NRG website this past Monday in Hebrew. I translated it into English because of it's importance.From the eyewitness accounts of IDF combat soldiers who took part in the Cast-Lead operation in Gaza, it seems that in order to prevent the kidnapping of an IDF soldier, an order was given during a gun battle to shoot artillery shells at a house which contained terrorists, because of the serious possibility that within that house or next to it, was the body of an IDF soldier.
Jameel adds: Since the Jibril deal, no kidnapped IDF soldier has ever been released alive, excluding of course, kidnapped drug dealing scum, Elchanan Tannenbaum.
This difficult testimony, whose implications were the elimination of any chance of successfully rescuing the soldier alive, was expressed by soldiers that participated in that bloody battle in one of the most crowded neighborhoods in Gaza.
One fact is for certain; One IDF soldier was killed in that battle.
The solider and his friends went to search out a house in Gaza, during the ground invasion phase of Cast Lead. “The troops which were searching homes entered a house and encountered the enemy from short range,” the unit commander stated emotionally, “the soldier was hit during the first shots fired. During the exchange of gunfire, we took care of [eliminated] the terrorist [that shot at us], and an additional terrorist with him…”
Soldiers at the scene gave additional, new details about what happened, and the prevention of [Hamas] taking the body of the soldier. “The event started with searching the house, to make sure it was not booby-trapped, at the entrance to the house, the troops encountered a terrorist who opened fire from close range. The IDF soldier was wounded from the fire, because he was at the head of the formation. During the shooting, the unit commander saw something flashing on the floor, assumed it to be an explosive device, and he shouted at everyone to immediately exit the building.
While exiting the building, the wounded soldier was left inside, because the officers’ assessment was that the solider was already dead as this stage, and the troops exited the house. 3 artillery shells were then fired at the house, a different IDF unit entered the building, found another terrorist still alive, and they killed in a quick gun battle.
Since the 1980’s the IDF activates the “Hanibal protocol” whose design is to prevent the enemy from kidnapping soldiers. From the second the protocol is activated, IDF soldiers must prevent the kidnapping of IDF soldiers, or stop the kidnapping if in progress. The protocol gained publicity during the Jibril Deal in May 1985, between the State of Israel and the Head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmed Jibril, during which 1,150 Palestinian terrorists were exchanged for 3 captured IDF soldiers, Chezi Shai, Nisim Salem, and Yosef Gruf that were captured in Lebanon.
According to the protocol directive, soldiers must open fire on the kidnapper’s vehicle that has the kidnapped IDF soldier in it, in order to foil the kidnapping. This protocol has been the source of many heated discussions within Israel’s security community, with the primary question of the morality of the protocol. Security officials have said that the kidnapping of soldiers is strategic, not tactical, and carries a very heavy price tag for Israel pay.
IDF General (res.) Giora Island that chaired the investigation committee into the kidnapping of [IDF soldier] Gilad Shalit found many flaws in the execution of the “Hannibal” protocol [when Shalit was kidnapped]. According to his report, too much time pass between the time Shalit’s tank was hit, until the protocol was activated, giving the kidnappers ample time to flee with Shalit.
The IDF spokesman comments: The IDF soldier was killed by terrorist fire against the troops. As in all difficult events, the IDF will investigate and arrive at conclusions.
2:18 PM UNRWA (which gets 75% of its budget from the United States) proudly declares; Increase in Gazans eligible for aid.
Why not do your part for the US economy, and ask President Obama to stop funding UNRWA which provides benefits for terrorists and criminals. (see below)The United Nations Relief and Works Agency announced it has increased food aid to residents of the Gaza Strip and is also aiding Palestinian Authority workers who are not receiving their salaries.
UNRWA head in the Strip John Ging said some 900,000 Gazans are now eligible for direct aid from the agency, as opposed to 750,000 from before Operation Cast Lead. (AFP)
1:07 PM Report from ynetnews in English (followup from early this morning):
UNRWA pays terrorists
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees employs and provides benefits for terrorists and criminals, asserts a former legal adviser to UNRWA who left the organization in 2007. James Lindsay, now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, served as an attorney with the US Justice Department for two decades before leaving to work for UNRWA in 2000.12:45 PM IDF: Reason for terror attack against IDF yesterday was to stop Humanitarian Aid from entering Gaza...which would result in the delegitimization of Israel.
Walla reports: IDF Commander Moshe Levy, responsible for the Erez Border crossing into Gaza "Despite that since the conclusion of the cast-lead operation, hundreds of trucks with Humanitarian Aid have entered Gaza, the terror organizations are attacking to derail Israel's efforts of providing aid and rebuilding support to Gazan civilians.
11:16 AM Nissim Keinan (Channel B radio) reports that a mortar was launched earlier at the Western Negev, and it landed in an open field. No injuries or damage reported.
11:10 AM About 30 minutes ago, the "Color Red" rocket warning system went off in Western Negev communities. No reports of rocket launches or landings.
7:59 AM USA: We did all we could by stopping the Iranian weapons boat headed to Gaza...but we had to let it free...with the weapons.
"Determination" like this doesn't bode well.[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike] Mullen confirmed that a Cypriot-flagged ship intercepted in the Red Sea last week was carrying Iranian arms and that U.S. authorities suspect that the shipment was ultimately bound for the Gaza Strip, where Hamas and Israel are observing a shaky truce after three weeks of fighting.
"The United States did as much as we could do legally," Mullen said, adding that he would like more authority to act in such cases. "We were not authorized to seize the weapons or do anything like that."
The Navy searched the ship with permission of the captain and found small munitions, military officials said.
The vessel was allowed to continue its voyage after the search, and Mullen said the ship was expected in port in Syria this week. (AP)
7:42 AM IDF Spox says this past evening, IAF warplanes bombed tunnels in the Philidephi corridor between Gaza and Egypt.
7:30 AM NRG reports that captured Hamas terrorists from Gaza admit they sold Humanitarian Aid and food that the IDF allowed into Gaza during the Cast Lead organization.
12:46 AM More Photos from Gaza.
12:41 AM Rotter quotes an Arabic news source that Israel has advised Egypt of intelligence reports indicating that there are shipping containers of weapons earmarked for Hamas, already in the Sinai Desert, awaiting immediate transport into Gaza.
The James Lindsay report that Jameel mentioned earlier is available via free download at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Money quote from his conclusion (page 65):
At the same time, UNRWA has gradually adopted a distinctive political viewpoint that favors the Palestinian and Arab narrative of events in the Middle East. In particular, it seems to favor the strain of Palestinian political thought espoused by those who are intent on a “return” to the land that is now Israel. UNRWA’s adoption of any political viewpoint is undesirable, but the one it has chosen to emphasize is especially regrettable. In addition to clashing with the objectives of the United States, this view has detracted from UNRWA’s humanitarian assistance, encouraged Palestinians who favor refighting long-lost wars, discouraged those who favor moving toward peace, and contributed to the scourge of conflicts that have been visited upon Palestinian refugees for decades. To a considerable extent, UNRWA’s donors—particularly the United States, its main source of funding for many years—share responsibility for the agency’s gradual adoption of such views. The United States could have put a stop to UNRWA’s politicization, but chose not to. As with most mistakes, the longer this one remains uncorrected, the more difficult they are to remedy.12:02 AM Cat Stevens records song to aid Gaza terrorist-funding organization.
The musician formerly known as Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) released a charity song on Monday to help the children of Gaza.
This jives interestingly with a report issued only an hour ago from James Lindsay, previous senior legal counsel to UNRWA for 7 seven years. In the report, Lindsay accuses UNRWA of employing terrorists, having become a political, non-neutral organization, and funding "unworthy" school books that encourage racism.The United Nations said the London-born Yusuf Islam recorded a rendition of the George Harrison song "The Day the World Gets Round," along with the German bassist and former Beatles collaborator Klaus Voorman.
All proceeds from the song will be donated to the UN agency in charge of Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and to the nonprofit group Save the Children to be directed to aiding Gaza residents. (ynetnews)
The article about UNRWA is on ynet in Hebrew, and I'll provide the link in English (from any website) in the morning when it becomes available.
Now it all makes sense. Before Yusuf Islam was Cat Steves...maybe he really did used used to be Steven Katz.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
The IDF Hannibal Protocol
From the eyewitness accounts of IDF combat soldiers who took part in the Cast-Lead operation in Gaza, it seems that in order to prevent the kidnapping of an IDF soldier, an order was given during a gun battle to shoot artillery shells at a house which contained terrorists, because of the serious possibility that within that house or next to it, was the body of an IDF soldier.
This difficult testimony, whose implications were the elimination of any chance of successfully rescuing the soldier alive, was expressed by soldiers that participated in that bloody battle in one of the most crowded neighborhoods in Gaza.
One fact is for certain; One IDF soldier was killed in that battle.
The solider and his friends went to search out a house in Gaza, during the ground invasion phase of Cast Lead. “The troops which were searching homes entered a house and encountered the enemy from short range,” the unit commander stated emotionally, “the soldier was hit during the first shots fired. During the exchange of gunfire, we took care of [eliminated] the terrorist [that shot at us], and an additional terrorist with him…”
Soldiers at the scene gave additional, new details about what happened, and the prevention of [Hamas] taking the body of the soldier. “The event started with searching the house, to make sure it was not booby-trapped, at the entrance to the house, the troops encountered a terrorist who opened fire from close range. The IDF soldier was wounded from the fire, because he was at the head of the formation. During the shooting, the unit commander saw something flashing on the floor, assumed it to be an explosive device, and he shouted at everyone to immediately exit the building.
While exiting the building, the wounded soldier was left inside, because the officers’ assessment was that the solider was already dead as this stage, and the troops exited the house. 3 artillery shells were then fired at the house, a different IDF unit entered the building, found another terrorist still alive, and they killed in a quick gun battle.
Since the 1980’s the IDF activates the “Hanibal protocol” whose design is to prevent the enemy from kidnapping soldiers. From the second the protocol is activated, IDF soldiers must prevent the kidnapping of IDF soldiers, or stop the kidnapping if in progress. The protocol gained publicity during the Jibril Deal in May 1985, between the State of Israel and the Head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmed Jibril, during which 1,150 Palestinian terrorists were exchanged for 3 captured IDF soldiers, Chezi Shai, Nisim Salem, and Yosef Gruf that were captured in Lebanon.
According to the protocol directive, soldiers must open fire on the kidnapper’s vehicle that has the kidnapped IDF soldier in it, in order to foil the kidnapping. This protocol has been the source of many heated discussions within Israel’s security community, with the primary question of the morality of the protocol. Security officials have said that the kidnapping of soldiers is strategic, not tactical, and carries a very heavy pricetag for Israel pay.
IDF General (res.) Giora Island that chaired the investigation committee into the kidnapping of [IDF soldier] Gilad Shalit found many flaws in the execution of the “Hannibal” protocol [when Shalit was kidnapped]. According to his report, too much time pass between the time Shalit’s tank was hit, until the protocol was activated, giving the kidnappers ample time to flee with Shalit.
The IDF spokesman comments: The IDF soldier was killed by terrorist fire against the troops. As in all difficult events, the IDF will investigate and arrive at conclusions.Jameel adds: Since the Jibril deal, no kidnapped IDF soldier has ever been released alive, excluding of course, kidnapped drug dealing scum, Elchanan Tannenbaum.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
IDF Operation "Cast Lead" Index
The Official IDF Cast Lead OperationMuqata Coverage Index
Day 1 Saturday, December 27, 2008 and here
Day 2 Sunday, December 28, 2008
Day 3 Monday, December 29, 2008
Day 4 Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Day 5 Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Day 6 Thursday, January 01, 2009
Day 7 Friday, January 02, 2009
Day 8 Saturday, January 03, 2009
Day 9 Sunday, January 04, 2009
Day 10 Monday, January 05, 2009
Day 11 Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Day 12 Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Day 13 Thursday, January 08, 2009
Day 14 Friday, January 09, 2009
Day 15 Saturday, January 10, 2009
Day 16 Sunday, January 11, 2009
Day 17 Monday, January 12, 2009
Day 18 Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Day 19 Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 20 Thursday, January 15, 2009
Day 21 Friday, January 16, 2009
Day 22 Saturday, January 17, 2009
Day 23 Sunday, January 18, 2009
Day 24 Monday, January 19, 2009 and here
Day 25 Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Day 26 Wednesday, January 21, 2009 and here
IDF Hannibal Protocol
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Tuesday, The CeaseFire Continues
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R
11:27 PM Now that Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has announced that the IDF response to today's Hamas terror attack, "is going to come", I'm going to sleep.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "The IDF's response today was an operational one," Olmert said. "This is not a response to an incident in which an IDF soldier was killed and three injured. The Israeli response to this incident will come." (ynetnews)G'night all.
Jameel @ The Muqata
11:07 PM PA President and Published Holocaust-Denier Mahmoud Abbas announces that he plans on telling US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell that Israel's Gaza offensive proved it was not intent on peacemaking.
"We will do all we can to prove Israel committed crimes that would make your skin crawl," Abbas said, referring to the Geneva Conventions. "We want the world to give us justice for once." (YNET)And this is who Mitchell and President Obama want to strengthen?
There are no plans for the US negotiators to meet with any Hamas leaders. Rather their emphasis will be on the immediate relief of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and strengthening the position of the Palestinian Authorities Chairman Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen]. (sourced today,"George Mitchell: US Envoy Champions Abbas")
10:39 PM Polish Website compares IDF actions in Gaza to that of Nazis (along with "Palestinian Holocaust" banner for donations). Wow. Poland, can you believe it? Of all countries on the planet?
10:08 AM Taking bets on the name of the next IDF operation against Gaza. I think it could be called "Blooming Almond" (Shaked Pore'ach), in honor of the upcoming Tu Bishvat holiday.
Additional Bets: Tomorrow, there is a very good chance of continuing rocket fire at Israel. If Hamas gets lucky and hits something, then the IDF will respond seriously. Otherwise, it will be more of the same, "False Alarms" and zero response.
10:00 PM Additional reports of gunfire at IDF troops this evening at the Kissufim area. No injuries to IDF troops.
9:53 PM IDF Homefront command receives reports that rocket attacks may commence at any time from Gaza.
8:22 PM Death before Capture: JPost reports:
The IDF does not plan to bring disciplinary charges against a battalion commander from the Golani Brigade who told his soldiers that they needed to do everything possible to prevent being kidnapped during the recent operation in Gaza including blowing themselves up with a grenade.Jameel adds: I don't understand why any charges would be brought against the Golani commander. This has been the standing order for a few years now.
In a tape recording of a briefing the commander of Battalion 51 gave his soldiers before entering Gaza during Operation Cast Lead the senior officer was heard saying: "Hamas's strategic weapon is to kidnap a soldier and I don't have to tell you but no soldier from Battalion 51 gets kidnapped at any price and under any situation even if it means that he has to blow up his grenade together with those who are trying to kidnap him."
8:08 PM Palestinians claim that their Qassam Brigade commander killed on his motorcycle today by an IAF airstrike, was targeted by an IAF aerial unmanned drone.
note; JoeSettler wrote the comment below...I have no idea what I'm planning for tomorrow! (Joe, maybe give me a hint?)
7:55 PM Why is Hamas attacking? (Why didn't they actually stop attacking during the "ceasefire"?) What do they have to gain from this? What happens next?
These questions and more will be answered in a special post by Jameel planned for tomorrow. Stay tuned.
7:37 PM IDF soldier killed in action today at Kissuim -- name not to be released at his family's request. As has been the case over the past few years, fallen Israeli Bedouin IDF soldier's names are not publicized at the request of their families due to the "dual loyalty" issues that many Bedouins face today. The fear is not from Israel, but from other Bedouin who are less than happy that Bedouin have chosen to fight in the IDF against other Arabs.
7:30 PM Egypt to World: Don't send troops to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza.
Egypt warned European countries on Tuesday to think carefully before sending ships to patrol Gaza's coastal waters to prevent arms smuggling, saying such a move could have significant consequences on ties with Arab states. The warning by Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit came after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Britain, France and Germany had offered to send warships to monitor and prevent arms smuggling to Gaza and to help consolidate a shaky ceasefire.7:27 PM IDF General (res) Giora Island states that Humanitarian Aid to Gaza should be only be allowed if the Red Cross can visit kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. There's no reason to open the gates of Gaza while Gilad Shalit is held prisoner. (NFC)
6:53 PM U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that Israel had a right to defend itself and that Palestinian rocket attacks on the Jewish territory could not go unanswered.
Now, if only George Mitchell felt the same way, Israel could sleep at night."We support Israel's right to self-defense. The (Palestinian) rocket barrages which are getting closer and closer to populated areas (in Israel) cannot go unanswered," Clinton said in her first news conference at the State Department.
"It is regrettable that the Hamas leadership apparently believes that it is in their interest to provoke the right of self-defense instead of building a better future for the people of Gaza," she added.
6:50 PM BBC Arabic World Service reports of very heavy IDF tank shelling in Dir Al Balach region in Gaza.
6:37 PM Reports that IDF tank columns are now operating in the Gaza strip in multiple locations.
6:31 PM Photo of the Hamas Harley motorcycle, targeted by IAF rockets in retaliation for this morning's attack on IDF soldiers.
6:19 PM Environmental Unease over Tungsten - not as inert as previously thought. However, I don't think Hamas shares our concern.
6:16 PM Due to an area-wide power outage at the Muqata, we were unable to view the 6 PM Israeli election ads on Channel 10 Israel TV.
6:04 PM Defense Officials believe that attack on IDF forces today at Kissufim was not carried out by the Hamas terrorists, but by Islamic Jihad terrorists.
What a lovely mosaic of terror we have in Gaza.
5:20 PM The New Gaza Beach Diet: Tuesday, 27 Jan, 09: UK Woman in Gaza hunger strike pledge
A peace campaigner on hunger strike over the situation in Gaza vowed today to continue her protest indefinitely as she delivered a petition to Downing Street.5:18 PM SKY News reports: Iran will have enough enriched uranium to make a single nuclear weapon later this year, the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) predicts.
Maria Gallastegui, 50, is campaigning for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to speak out against Israel's blockade of the stricken region.
The full-time peace campaigner, who lives in a tent in Parliament Square, has been on hunger strike for 16 days and says she will go on indefinitely.
5:15 PM Reports that Gazan terrorist Qassam Brigade Commander Hami Hussein was critically wounded by earlier IAF air strike.
5:10 PM Walla reported as well; Islamic Jihad in Gaza announces that "the 7 day cease fire is over, and we will continue resistance if even one centimeter of Palestine is occupied"
5:04 PM Walla reports that IDF tanks are headed to Dir Al Balach in Central Gaza.
4:41 PM Reports of IAF attacks on Gaza, IDF tank columns enter Gaza strip.
4:40 PM Photo of IDF "Sufa" armored jeep which was targeted this morning by Hamas.An IDF tracker was killed, an officer seriously wounded, and 2 soldiers lightly wounded, when shrapnel blew through the armored protection of the IDF jeep. (source)
4:26 PM IDF: Disproportionate Response Needed.
As the IDF continues it's investigation into the attack this morning which left an IDF tracker dead, an officer seriously wounded, and 2 other soldiers lightly wounded, senior IDF officials say that a disproportionate response against Hamas is needed. (ynet)
4:16 PM Released for publication: All communities in Southern Israel within a 40 kilometer radius of Gaza have had their Air Raid sirens reconnected to the IDF rocket launch detection system. (source)
4:09 PM Hamas Slams France...for sending small warship to help monitor against Hamas arms smuggling. YNET:
"We expected France, whose motto is 'liberty, equality, fraternity' to send hospital ships to treat the children burned by banned weapons or to set up a humanitarian bridge...rather than deploy a navy ship to reinforce the blockade," Haniyeh said in a statement.4:00 PM Initial reports of IAF hitting Hamas targets in Khan Jounis, Gaza, including Hamas casualties. (rotter)The Germinal frigate has been deployed to international waters off Gaza to battle arms smuggling to the territory.
3:47 PM The Muqata blog received an official request from a representative of the Israeli government to post the following video on behalf of LIBI -- the fund to help IDF soldiers.
There isn't an IDF soldier around who does not appreciate the small perks that LIBI provides -- be it at the field going into Gaza (towels, hats, gloves, thermal underwear, and food), or even the care package that every IDF single IDF soldier receives upon induction into the IDF before Basic Training. (I still have my LIBI knapsack somewhere).
Anyway - here's the video...
3:40 PM Report on Rotter as follows:
This morning, an IDF tracker was killed and 3 soldiers were wounded.
Two mortars were launched at the Western Negev (no injuries or damage)
No rockets were fired at Ashkelon today, but the IDF is operating closeby (which would explain the sound of rocket/mortar fire).
3:32 PM The wounded newlywed IDF soldier is currently in surgery to remove additional shrapnel from his head. His name is Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana.
3:29 PM IDF Homefront command officially denies any rockets being shot at Israel today.
I assume they would have said the exact same thing about the attack on IDF soldiers by Kissufim, but unfortunately, you can't easily cover up a dead solider and 3 wounded.
3:13 PM In what is swiftly becoming a sad joke, Hamas shot another rocket at Ashkelon around 3 PM, landing in the Southern Industrial District. Israel's recurring denials of such rocket attacks over the past week will only be to Israel's detriment, as George Mitchel planned arrival in the Middle East approaches.
Israel's failure to harshly retaliate for any of the rocket attacks (which have been hushed up), and the attack on IDF soldiers today in the Kissufim area which left one dead and 3 wounded, is first and foremost the failure of Israel's government. Ehud Olmert, Tzippi Livni, and Ehud Barak do not deserve to see the light of day -- their collective failure of non-response to continuing Hamas terror reduces the expensive deterrence purchased at the painful expense of the lives and blood of IDF soldiers during the Cast-Lead initiative.
Israel needs to strike back today and strike hard today. The cease-fire deniers will blame Israel regardless, so we must bolster our deterrence, and hit Hamas painfully.
Any other message will prove that terror pays and Israel does not deserve sovereignty as an Independent State.
The War Banner is back up -- let's hope Israel has enough sense to do the same.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
More action in the South
While it hasn't been totally quiet on the Southern front since the cease-fire went into effect earlier today things were stepped up. An IDF patrol passing by the border fence with Gaza, near the Kisufim junction was attacked. Initially with an IED and then with RPG and small arms fire. Israeli forces responded with machine gun and tank fire. Unfortunately one soldier was killed and three wounded in the attack. Meanwhile the family has requested that his name not be released. Tzipi Livni has called for a response. Barak: This is a serious incident and we will respond. He also said that we should be ready for more terror attacks.
UPDATE: 1 killed, 2 seriously injured in attack.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday Open Thread.
With so many things still going on, I'll just leave an open thread, and post the way I did during the war...(so feel free to visit a few times during the day).
2:27 PM Everyone's reporting it, so here it is as well. Hamas terrorists tried to kidnap emergency rescue ambulances in Gaza during the recent Cast-Lead operation. Honestly, I don't know why people are surprised by this news -- a terror organization that uses children and civilians as human shields, shoots rockets from heavily populated areas, schools and mosques, and uses hospitals to hide in, how can anyone be surprised at Hamas trying to kidnap ambulances?
Don't get carried away that its only Hamas that tries this. Over the past 10 years, Fatah terrorists have routinely used Palestinian Red Crescent and UN ambualnces to trasport weapons, suicide bomb belts and terrorists through the West Bank.
1:47 PM Yet another "False Alarm" as Channel B radio announced that the Color Red rocket alert system was activated in Sderot about an hour ago (12:45 PM). At 1 PM, Ashkelon residents reported an Air Raid siren as well, along with a "boom".
The Cease Fire of the "False Alarm" Continues....
11:42 AM While Channel B radio announced before (11:18 AM) that the Air Raid siren in Ashkelon was a false alarm, there are reports that a mortar was fired at Ashkelon from Gaza, landing in Ashkelon's Southern Industrial Zone.
11:26 AM Despite the overwhelming professionalism of the cast-lead IDF operation, the following story is reassuring in that the soldier who "messed up" was not at the front...
NRG reports that the Main Gate (Shin Gimmel) of the IDF HomeFront command base near Ramle was locked as usual this past Friday, yet the soldier responsible for guarding the gate put the key to the gate...on the collar of a cat.11:18 AM Air Raid Sirens sound in Ashkelon...IDF Homefront command: "It was a false alarm" (Reshet Bet, Channel B radio)
When many soldiers in trucks, buses and cars tried to leave to get home for Shabbat and the weekend, the gaurd searched for the cat, but could not find it. Getting slightly panicked, the gaurd frantically searched everywhere as mre and more angry soldiers showed up, wanting to get home already.
Finally, a truck driver broke the lock open and everyone went home. The solider was charged with negligence, but due to his previous good behaviour over the course of the war, he was only fined 100 NIS, the cost of replacing the lock.
The cat has still not been found.
10:15 AM Photos from the war.
Credit to Reuters via rotter.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Video: IDF Commander on investigation of death of Gaza doctor's daughters
Israel TV Channel 2, Roni Daniel interviews IDF Golani Battalion Commander Peled about the deaths of Gaza Doctor's AbuElAish's daughters.
The video is close-captioned into English, so you can see a running translation.
You need to click the CC button on the youtube video in order to see it in English.
If your browser isnt letting you see the "CC" option, click on the link here to see the video, and then youtube should let you use the "CC" option. (I hate browser issues)
I assume its only a matter of days before the whole story is released.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Hamas Rearming
We held off publishing this story until it appeared in the mainstream media, as it is too important to have just relied on rumor and innuendo.
To begin with, some background: 10% of the Gazan smuggling tunnels are known to be still active and working. Or more accurately, 10% of the outsourced Gaza smuggling tunnels are up and running. There are even more if we count the ones that Hamas built and run themselves - not using the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) model.
This is important to know, because smuggling tunnels are rather useless without something to smuggle.
And Hamas and Iran are already working on that, taking advantage of the election-inspired cease fire.
During the Gaza war, a cargo ship from Iran kept appearing and disappearing as it tried to bring advanced and long-range weaponry to Hamas. It may have succeeded in getting parts of its cargo to ground.
Last week, an Iranian cargo ship was intercepted. It is not clear if this is the same cargo ship as the one during the war. This particular ship was intercepted by the US Navy and it was found to have been smuggling advanced weapons.
The ship was redirected away from any possible landing spots and ports for smuggling, but it seems they got to keep their military cargo, for lack of a legal mechanism to confiscate it!
Rumor has it that the US intercepted the ship as the Israelis planned a military strike on the ship, and the US wanted to avoid that.
Furthermore, it appears that the Iranians have divided their weapon shipments among multiple cargo ships to help ensure at least parts of it manage to sneak through to Gaza ahead of the next round of attacks on Israel.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Friday, January 23, 2009
Bravery Under Fire
I heard this interview live when it took place about 3 weeks ago during the first few days of the IDF Cast Lead operation into Gaza. Captain David Shapira recounted his unforgettable story, when he ran to the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva last year, in response the gunfire he heard.
While the following interview is in Hebrew, it's subtitled into English. Normally, David refuses interviews about the subject, but in light of the war, he thought it would be important to help inspire the troops.
On a personal level, I'm simply in awe.
Four minutes of your time, that will leave you inspired.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama takes second oath l'humra
by Lurker
[Cross-posted at DovBear]
As most of you probably already know, President Barack Obama did not recite the Presidential oath of office 100% accurately at his inauguration this past Tuesday. This was because Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who administered the oath, spoke the words out of order: Instead of saying "I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States", he said "I will execute the Office of President of the United States faithfully". Obama hesitated, apparently aware that Roberts was saying the words incorrectly, and giving Roberts a chance to correct himself. Roberts, however, stumbled on his words and then repeated the incorrect formulation -- at which point Obama simply repeated Roberts' version.
In the comments on a post by DovBear yesterday about the flubbed oath, I raised the question of whether Obama might have to take the oath a second time. After all, the exact wording of the oath is specified in the Constitution, and Obama (due to Roberts' mess-up) said those words out of sequence. DovBear saw it as doubtful that Obama should have to redo it: "I don't see why we need to stand on ceremony. This isn't religion." But as Tzipporah pointed out, one can reasonably argue that it is: "Political pageantry IS America's secular religion, with the Constitution standing as the holy text." I would tend to concur.
Well apparently, the President's White House counsel sees it this way as well. Yesterday, he paskened that min hastam, Obama was yotzei b'di'avad with the first oath -- but nevertheless, so that there should be no hashash ("out of an abundance of caution"), he still had Obama take the oath a second time l'humra, in order to be yotzei l'khol hadei'ot.
Obama retakes oath of office after Roberts' mistake(The article linked above contains an audio recording of the second oath, which was taken on Wednesday at 7:35 pm EST in the White House Map Room.)
...
The do-over was aimed at dispelling any confusion that might arise from Tuesday's take -- in which "faithfully" was said out of sequence -- and erase any question that Obama is legally the president.
...
"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately yesterday," White House counsel Greg Craig said Wednesday in a written statement.
"But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time," the statement read.
Greg Craig's psak was presumably influenced by the rulings issued by many major poskim over the last two days, that Obama should have to do the oath over again: Constitutional scholar Jack Beermann of Boston University went so far as to say that there is a real hashash that Obama wouldn't actually have the halakha of "President" until he recites the oath using the proper nusah. He acknowledged that one could have a hava amina not to repeat the oath because doing so might cause embarrassment to the Chief Justice -- but concluded that the importance of the mitzva of the oath overrides the kavod of the Chief Justice.
Charles Cooper, former head of the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, paskened unequivocally that Obama is hayav to retake the oath, and without delay. And Jonathan Turley, professor of Constitutional law at George Washington University, said that although Obama is not actually hayav to retake the oath, he should do so anyway to eliminate the safek.
A few interesting notes about Obama's second oath:
- Roberts once again phrased "so help me God" as a question.
- The use of a Bible -- which is only a minhag and not specified as part of the hiyuv in the Constitution -- was dispensed with.
- Another concern I raised in the comments, that a second oath might constitute a problem of a brakha l'vatala, apparently did not figure in Mr. Craig's psak.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Don't know who to vote for?
JoeSettler here (these are my results)
Don't know who to vote for?
This online wizard will help...
http://israel.kieskompas.nl/language/en
Spot on in my case (Ichud Haleumi).
What I found most interesting is where I agreed and disagreed with the various party platform positions.
I bet Jameel got Ichud Leumi too, but he would never admit it. Or he would admit, but would still vote Likud, as I vote by ideology, and he votes to try to beat the system - now that will be an interesting post (coming soon).
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Oh. My. God.
by Lurker
"Obama was elected by the United States, but as a matter of fact, he was chosen by the whole of humankind."
-- Sir Shimon Peres, Israeli Crazy Old Man, Knight of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (who say "ni"), and President of Israel, declaring The Obama Dogma while in an ecstatic state of epiphany [source].
The high priests of the Church of Rabin may denounce this as mortal heresy, but I say that it's possible -- just possible -- that The Obama may be a higher deity than even Rabin...
While still in his ecstatic state, Sir Shimon decreed that Obama's agenda (soon to be revealed to the faithful) is Biblically mandated. Accordingly, Sir Shimon prophesied its triumph, and swore Israel's fealty to Obama and his agenda in the name of the entire Jewish people:
"They say Obama will be a good President to Israel, and I say Israel will be a good country for the President, because his goals are our goals, his hopes are our hopes, his source is our source. All of us are coming from the same depth of Biblical convictions, with a permanent respect for the Ten Commandments. I want on behalf of the people of Israel, actually of all of the Jewish people, to tell the President, 'God bless you.' Your success will be our success. Your hope will become a reality."
Read the rest here.
It was quite thoughtful of the Knesset to have elected Sir Shimon as the President of Israel. One imagines that if he didn't have the Presidency to occupy himself, he would probably be spending his time as one of the wizened old street prophets roaming the Ben Yehudah pedestrian mall...
For more on the Biblical significance of Obama, see here. (hattip: Jameel).
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
CeaseFire Edition? Jan 21 2009
4:33 PM Israeli Leftists -- The Cancer Within. (Who is Mazal Mizrachi?)
The hatred of the Left in Israel is simply limitless. In their desire to destroy Israel, they have gone so far as to actively petition the World Court in the Hague -- that Israeli politicians and IDF officers be tried for War Crimes against humanity, for their part in the Gaza "Cast Lead" counter offensive.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF is taking steps to "cloak the participating" of IDF officers so that they won't be easily targeted.
So Israeli Leftists created a website (wanted.org.il) appealing to Israelis to inform the World Court if any of these people leave Israel (so they can be arrested and prosecuted)The IDF has decided not to release the names and pictures of battalion and brigade commanders who participated in Operation Cast Lead, Army Radio reported Wednesday morning.
The decision was made in anticipation that international war crimes lawsuits would be filed against IDF officers, who could face prosecution when traveling overseas.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered the IDF to set up a team of intelligence and legal experts to collect evidence related to operations in the Gaza Strip, that could be used to defend military commanders against future lawsuits. (JPost)
Pictured here is a "warrant" for IDF Commander in Chief, General Gabi Ashkenazi.
Translation:WANTED
For Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes.
Gabi Ashkenazi
One 27th of December 2008, the suspect ordered the Israeli army to attack crowded, civilian areas in the Gaza Strip. For 3 weeks, 1,500 ton bombs were dropped from the air on residential homes, along with tens of thousands of artillery and tanks shells. For 3 weeks the Israeli army destroyed residential homes, schools, hospitals, water and electrical infrastructure, causing the deaths of at least 1,200 people (hundreds of them, children), and over 5,300 wounded. Hundreds of thousands are now refugees with no homes.The attack, ordered by the suspect was preceeded by a siege against 1.5 million people, a siege which the suspect took part in, including withholding food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity for 18 months.
According to International Law, it is forbidden to shoot and bomb residential areas, execution without trial, collective punishment, destruction of hospitals, schools and homes. These prohibitions, many of which were legislated as a result of the Nazi's behavior in World War Two. These prohibitions were agreed to and signed within the Fourth Geneva Convention by the entire world.
In December 2008, a complain was loged with the World Court in the Hague against this suspect and others, for allegedly carrying out War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity during the Siege in Gaza.
For the formal complaint, see here.
Description of the suspect: Male, about 55 years of age, skin complexion white, and dark hair. Average height, armed and considered dangerous.
Whoever knows when the suspect leaves Israel, he should immediately contact:
The Prosecutor
POBox 19519
2500 Hague
Netherlands
Fax +31 70 515 8 555
otp.informationdesk@icc-cpi.int
Confidentiality Gauranteed.
Who are these proud patriots of Israel, those who hold such a high moral ground, that they are actively trying to destroy Israel's army?
It's not hard to find out. According to the standard "whois" lookup database, the "wanted.org.il" website listed above is registered to the following:
domain: wanted.org.ilAnyone know how to easily file a Police Complaint?
descr: Mazal Mizrachi
descr: 18 Hananel
descr: Tel Aviv
descr: 66076
descr: Israel
phone: +972 3 5187979
e-mail: mazalmizrachi AT gmail.com
admin-c: LD-MM21280-IL
tech-c: LD-MM21280-IL
zone-c: LD-MM21280-IL
nserver: ns1.mybest-host.com
nserver: ns2.mybest-host.com
validity: 16-03-2010
status: Transfer Locked
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20080316 (Assigned)
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20081231 (Changed)
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20090106 (Changed)
1:57 PM Excellent article: Our Neighbor and Why We Have to Kill Him
Our neighbor lives in the house in which our grandfather used to live. He claims he bought the first part of the house from a Turki, and later the second part from a British bank, but that doesn’t make the sale any less illegal: my family lived in that house for hundreds of years and we don’t accept the documents of sale. Now he’s living there. He is the son of monkeys and pigs.1:46 PM Good News: Critically Wounded IDF Soldier Aharon Karov, Recovering...
Read the rest here.
Aharon Karov, the 22-year-old soldier from Karnei Shomron who went to war in Gaza a day after his wedding and was critically wounded, is recuperating nicely and due to go for rehabilitation in a week.Read more at the JPost.Karov, the parachutist son of the rabbi of the local yeshiva, suffered multiple wounds a week ago when he entered a house booby trapped by Hamas.
Prof. Pierre Singer, head of intensive care at the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, said that the young bridegroom had undergone a series of operations, spending 14 hours in surgical theaters for treatment of his acute wounds. Neurosurgery was followed by an operation on his left eye to remove shrapnel, as well as operations on his mouth and jaw, and ear-nose-and-throat surgery - all in one day.
"We were very pessimistic when he came in," Singer said.
Although his head was protected by his helmet, shrapnel went through his face and his skull. He also suffered wounds to his arms and legs, but his chest and abdomen were protected and suffered no harm.
Singer suggested to the IDF chief medical officer, who visited Karov, that he consider equipping soldiers on the battlefield with clear visors such as those covering the faces of hockey players. This could prevent many facial and head injuries, the Beilinson specialist said.
The IDF doctor "told me the IDF will consider it, and viewed my suggestion positively," Singer said.
On Monday, Karov regained consciousness and was weaned from his respirator, although he continued to receive some sedation to alleviate pain.
"He knows what is happening to him, has gradually begun to recognize his relatives and environment and is able to move all four limbs," Singer said. "We hope to put him in a chair today. His vision is also expected to be normal."
As far as Singer can tell, Karov has suffered no permanent damage to his brain and will be cognitively normal. However, he will need plastic surgery to repair his nose and will have permanent scars.
But his new wife Zvia, who has been at the Petah Tikva hospital round the clock along with dozens of relatives and friends, is overjoyed to see his progress.
"We were amazed by the speedy improvement in his condition," said Singer. "The excellent care on the air ambulance and very aggressive operations and intensive care in the hospital made the difference."
He should be discharged four weeks after rehabilitation, which will likely take place at Sheba Medical Center, Singer hoped.
11:31 AM Despite the Israeli police forcefully insisting that no mortars were fired at Israel yesterday and that all the air raid sirens which occasionally sounded in Southern Israel were all "false alarms", we reported that there were mortar strikes in Israel.
This morning, Jan 21, at 9 AM, IDF "Galei Tzahal" Radio nonchalantly announced that "yesterday, there were 2 shooting attacks on IDF positions...and mortars hit the Western Negev".
Could someone repeat that? "mortars hit the Western Negev"
What ever happened to Israel's promise that "We'll hit them hard again if they shoot even one rocket at us?"
Reports that at least 10 were shot at us, yet where is the IDF's response?
Seems our politicians really did want to stop the war out of political considerations, rather than regards for security.
Additionally, Israeli papers are media report, "Every single IDF soldier is now out of Gaza".
They seem to have forgotten one, IDF Private Gilad Shalit.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
It's Tuesday, Jan 20th.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
11:59 PM President Bush, on his last day in office, does not pardon Jonathan Pollard.
11:53 PM 4 more mortars hit the Eshkol region down south a half hour ago. No injuries or damage. Unilateral Cease Fire holding strong. (Do we change the banner back or not?)
8:29 PM Some of you may recall that I said that some of the rocket strikes were a bit ironic. Now that there is a lull (tahidya) it's probably OK to tell you all. At least 3 of the rockets hit Yitzchak Rabin Street - but in 3 different cities.
In other news, 9 mortars and rockets hit Israel today, and the IAF attacked the Kassam rocket sources.
It was finally acknowledged that IDF troops were shot at today at the Kissufim junction in 2 separate incidents.
It is unlikely that Israel will respond in force to these attacks before elections.
5:30 PM Channel 10 Israel TV reports (Alon Ben David). Despite the 2 shooting incidents today against IDF troops by Hamas, (and at least one confirmed mortar launch) Israel will not retaliate until after the Israeli elections.
4:33 PM MDA recalls all emergency forces, (dozens of ambulances), as the report of an overturned hazmat truck (and over 50 wounded) appears to be the result of a "prank call."
4:20 PM Breaking News: Mass Casualty Event!
Magen David Adom declares Mass Casualty Event -- Hazardous Material Truck overturns on Jerusalem-Maaleh Adumim highway. 
4:05 PM I hear President Obama's new armored limo is shoe-proof as well. "Barack Obama will ride in an all-new Cadillac Presidential Limousine after his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States today.
He will use the vehicle, nicknamed the Beast, on the 1.7-mile journey from the Capitol along the parade route to the White House. It reportedly has armour eight inches thick, tear-gas cannons and Kevlar-reinforced tyres that resist attack. For security reasons, most of the details remain confidential." (source)
3:49 PM Haaretz reports that apparently, Hamas Grad rockets were fired from a Media building in Gaza. (Can you imagine if the IDF tried retaliating at a building full of reporters? Did the reporters care? They LAUGH about it!
See this video! (make sure to turn on "CC" for Close Captioned subtitles in English.
LGF reports it as well now...
3:26 PM Haaretz left-wing Reporter, Nadav Shragi asks forgiveness from Gush Katif Jews, demands that politicians, the media, the High Court, IDF, Police and Shin Bet should apologize as well.
You, too, who paid almost no attention to the hundreds of thousands who tried to stop the evil, who paid no attention to those who internalized the lessons of Oslo and warned that we should not give them land and guns again. You who paid no attention to those who warned of the Hamastan state, foresaw exactly the trajectories of the rockets, and understood that this was something we gave away for free, a further disintegration of our power of deterrence and an adrenaline shot for terror.Of course, arrogant people like Yair Lapid refuse to apologize, and will never admit they could possibly be wrong about the Disengagement (he writes about it today)
Now rise and ask for forgiveness from those who paid the highest price, with their bodies, souls and property for your close-mindedness, arrogance and wickedness. Ask for forgiveness from the Gush Katif expellees, the noble souls who did not steal land from anyone, who made the empty dunes bloom as ambassadors of the State of Israel and who turned into the south's security buffer and absorbed over 6,000 Qassams and mortar shells with their bodies and belongings in the last years of Gush Katif. (read it all at Haaretz)
3:23 PM Palestinian "Victory" Celebrations held in Gaza.
...and they only need 2 Billion dollars to rebuild. Sounds victorious.
2:41 PM Ynetnews Update: Bush leaves note for Obama in Oval Office
Continuing a White House ritual, President George W. Bush is leaving a note in the Oval Office for President-elect Barack Obama, wishing him well as he takes the reins of the executive branch. Bush wrote the note on Monday and left it in the top drawer of his desk. The White House is not providing the intimate details of the message the two-term Republican left for the incoming Democrat.
Reminds me of the joke:
A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes. "Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he said.2:35 PM Reports of more mortars landing in Israel's Western Negev. No injuries...no air raid sirens went off...no confirmation from IDF...
Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wits's end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor."
The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press -- and Wall Street -- responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.
About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Reorganize." This he did, and the company quickly rebounded.
After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope.
The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."
2:00 PM Hamas broadcasts "Gaza Victory" animation film.
Warning: not for children, though that's who Hamas made it for.
1:34 PM IDF Spox backtracks; Palestinians opened fire on IDF forces twice today in the Kissudim area. No injuries to IDF forces. No comment if IDF returned fire. (source)
12:59 PM IDF spokesman announces that no bullets were found in the the reported attack minutes ago at Kissufim, so they are discounting the report.
Concern is growing that serious attempts are being made to downplay (or censor) today's mortar launchings, alleged attacks, etc.
12:50 PM Hamas gunfire erupts at IDF troops near the Kissufim Israeli border checkpoint in Central Gaza. No injures reported among IDF troops. Unsure if IDF forces returned fire.
(JoeSettler, we may need to get that warbanner ready again...)
12:47 PM Gaza Humanitarian groups Hamas and Fatah fight it out who gets control of the international Humanitarian aid pouring into Gaza. Armed and peace-loving Hamas humanitarian workers fired shots at trucks coming into Gaza from Israel's Kerem Shalom border checkpoint, took control of the trucks, and removed all the aid into Hamas warehouses. As a result, UNWRA has requested not to allow more Humanitarian aid into Gaza. (NRG)
Where is the world's outrage at UNWRA preventing Humantarian Aid into Gaza?
12:40 PM I would say that at least 66% of Israelis agree with the Wall Street Journal's assessment of the Gaza war: Israel Scored a Tactical Victory, but it missed a chance to finish off Hamas.
12:27 PM [JoeSettler is wondering if he should restore the Muqata War Masthead]
12:18 PM IDF radio reports that earlier today a mortar shell was shot from Gaza at Israel and landed in Israel, yet did not explode.
I have a funny feeling that Israel will unfortunately, not respond.
12:15 PM Gaza reports that 2 Palestinian children were killed this morning by playing with an unexploded IDF object. IDF responds that it was not IDF munitions, but part of the explosives used by Hamas to boobytrap Palestinian civilian homes.
11:55 AM Actually, I stand corrected -- Air Raid sirens went off about an hour ago. There's a discussion going on whether a mortar shell was launched at Israel or not. Will update soon.
11:49 AM It's Tuesday, Jan 20th. and no rockets have been fired at Israel for over 36 hours.
However, IDF troops are on high alert around the Gaza strip, and the feeling is that even 1 rocket fired at Israel will result in a serious reprisal.
The person seriously wounded last night from Palestinian gunfire near the Kochav HaShachar village is in serious condition.
Today is Barack Obama's Presidential inauguration. Good Luck America. We hope that the Obama administration doesn't start turning thumbscrews on Israel to negotiate with Palestinian terror organizations like Hamas and Fatah.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, January 19, 2009
Day 24 of the War, Monday, January 19, 2009
Day 1 of the Election Campaign
Daily sticky post, updated sporadically throughout the day.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
9:44 PM Muqata political analysis: As Hamas is rounding up and torturing Fatah loyalists in Gaza, Fatah needs to prove that they are just as anti-Israel as Hamas, and will begin perpetrating a wave of terror in response. This explains the Fatah announcement earlier as well as this latest surge in West Bank attacks since the cease fire.
9:32 PM UPDATE ON ATTACK: Drive by was near Kochav Hashachar against Jewish motorist from other settlement. IAF medivac taking him to Ein Kerem hospital. Driver unconscious and in serious condition.
9:29 PM Terrorist NOT in the Yishuv. It was a drive-by shooting.
9:07 PM Terrorism Attack right now in Kochav Hashachar.
9:06 PM Other reports coming in of Hamas members rounding up Fatah members and torturing them. Fatah claims 100 of their men have been killed or tortured so far by Hamas.
Will Israel be blamed for another Sabra and Shatilla?
8:32 PM Fatah (you know, the "moderate" Palestinians under the rule of now former PA President Mahmoud Abbas) claims that they participated in the war against Israel in Gaza alongside Hamas, shooting 102 Rockets, 35 mortars, their snipers hitting 3 soldiers, exploding 5 IEDs, and one of their top commanders took one for the team when he got caught firing a rocket. Well, good for them.
5:24 PM Hundreds of complaint emails, letters and faxes flood Channel 10 TV in Israel, as angry Israelis ask why during wartime, Channel 10 decided to give airtime to Hamas apologist Dr. Ayash, whose 3 daughters were killed in Gaza. As Channel 1 TV reported last night, it appears the munitions that killed his daughters were Gazan rockets, and not IDF in origin. (NRG)
4:14 PM Thanks Obama: Prof. Ingrid Mattson, who heads a Muslim organization which federal prosecutors in the United States say has ties to a Hamas fund, has been invited to take part in a prayer service which will be held in Washington as part of US President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, and at his presence. (ynet)
2:49 PM More Political Cartoons from around the world, supporting Israel:
2:28 PM NY Times on Israel's "Disproportionate Response" -- even using our ubiquitous Hebrew term, "Baal Habayit Hishtageya" (explanation follows)The Israeli theory of what it tried to do here is summed up in a Hebrew phrase heard across Israel and throughout the military in the past weeks: “baal habayit hishtageya,” or “the boss has lost it.” It evokes the image of a madman who cannot be controlled.
“This phrase means that if our civilians are attacked by you, we are not going to respond in proportion but will use all means we have to cause you such damage that you will think twice in the future,” said Giora Eiland, a former national security adviser.
It is a calculated rage. The phrase comes from business and refers to a decision by a shop owner to cut prices so drastically that he appears crazy to the consumer even though he knows he has actually made a shrewd business decision.
The Palestinians in Gaza got the message on the first day when Israeli warplanes struck numerous targets simultaneously in the middle of a Saturday morning. Some 200 were killed instantly, shocking Hamas and indeed all of Gaza, especially because Israel’s antirocket attacks in previous years had been more measured.
When Hamas’s prime minister, Ismail Haniya, appeared on Hamas television from his hiding spot last Monday, he picked up on the Israeli archetype, referring in Arabic to the battle under way as “el harb el majnouna,” the mad or crazy war.
For most, of course, feeling abused like this has created deep rage at Israel.
“If you want to make peace with the Palestinians, they are tired of bombs, drones and planes,” said Mohammad Abu Muhaisin, a 35-year-old resident of the southern city of Rafah who is affiliated with Fatah, the rival to Hamas that rules in the West Bank and was ejected from Gaza in June 2007. “But a guy whose child has just been killed doesn’t want peace. He wants war.”
There are, however, limited indications that the people of Gaza felt such pain from this war that they will seek to rein in Hamas.
Halima Dardouna, 37, from the northern city of Jabaliya, whose house was destroyed by an Israeli shell, said both Fatah and Hamas were to blame because of their rivalry, “and we are the victims.”
She added, “I will never vote for Hamas. They are not able to protect the people, and if they are going to bring this on us, why should they be in power? If I thought they could liberate Jerusalem, I would be patient. But instead they bring this.”
And that, was one of the primary reasons for the war.
Disproportional Response Works.
2:14 PM Hamas "announces" the following (I wonder who they are trying to impress?) Hamas Spokesman (smokesman?) claims they killed 74 IDF soliders, captured 2 IDF soldiers alive, downed 3 IAF helicopters and one IAF drone (source)
They should continue smoking whatever it is they're on.
12:41 PM A Personal message from Jameel @ The Muqata
Dear Readers,
Over 16 hours have passed since the last Gazan rocket hit Israel, and we're hoping that the residents of Southern (and South-Central) Israel can start returning their lives to some level of normalcy. IDF Radio reports that almost all IDF reserve forces have left Gaza, and the plan is for all IDF soldiers to be out, in time for US President-elect Obama's inaugural ceremony.
The past 3 weeks have been very difficult for Israel, it's citizens and the IDF. Under the myopic moral microscope of much of the world, the IDF ground operation was portrayed as unjust, unprovoked, and unfairly disproportionate. How dare Israel not have has many casualties as Gaza? Why aren't you sacrificing your troops' lives at the expense of the Gaza population? Hamas terrorist apologists conveniently ignored the past 8 years of ongoing rocket attacks against Israel's civilian population, the kidnapping of IDF solider Gilad Shalit from sovereign Israel, and Israel's total Disengagement from the Gaza strip, rendering the "Occupation" excuse in the wind.
Though normally dealing in the "mundane" issues of life in Israel, families raising kids in the day to day craziness of Israel, and the quagmire of Israeli politics, The Muqata Blog donned its camouflage banner and tried to present an accurate picture as possible of the war from Israel.
As we did 2 and a half years ago during the Second Lebanon War, The Muqata, out of a call to duty to fight Israel's war for the hearts and minds of public opinion, we invested tremendous efforts, resources, and time to present the war with the best in Web2.0 technology using photos, videos, and up to the minute postings -- while providing as often as possible, hyperlinked sources of our information.
A huge thank you is order to Litvshe, JoeSettler, and unnamed individuals who kept the Muqata blog running around the clock. An even bigger thank you goes out to our wives and families for putting up with our efforts, and long nights. Very special mention also goes to Aussie Dave from IsraellyCool who co-liveblogged the war along with us -- he thinks the war will flare up again...and we'll be monitoring the situation and restart live blogging if needed.
Now that the war seems to be over, we'll take down the camouflage banner and put it away, next to my dog tags, army boots and uniform which were next to my bed for the past 3 weeks (my unit was very close to being called up during the first few days of the war).
We thank you, our readership for your letters of support and encouragement (and paypal cash donations :-)
We thank you for supporting the blog's ad sponsors, many of whom are are on Israel's home-front lines every day, like United Hatzalah (of which I am an active EMT medic) that responds 24/7 to medical emergencies around Israel, Warm the Needy which helps provide heat for impoverished Israeli families, and to Nefesh B'Nefesh -- the one-stop-shop for aliya (moving to Israel) planning, implementation, and absorption into Israeli society.
We also thank those who linked to our blog, those who pushed the blog on Little Green Footballs, Gateway Pundit, GlobalVoices, The Volokh Conspiracy, Ace of Spades, Commentary Magazine and other important media sites, those that passed our web address on to their family and friends, and those who sent us news stories and photos from their neck of the woods for publication.
Wrapping this up, we'll still be posting every day, probably more sporadic (so you don't have to keep sitting at your keyboard pressing "Refresh" every 10 minutes), so a visit once or twice a day should be more than enough to keep you updated on what's going on here around Israel.
Wishing a full recovery for our brave IDF soldiers who were wounded in the war, and the homefront civilians wounded physically and psychologically traumatized by ongoing Hamas rocket strikes.
We extend our condolences to the families of the IDF soldiers who bravely fought on behalf of Israel's survival...and to the families of Israel's homefront civilians killed by Hamas terror.
To our readership - thank you for the opportunity to help get the word out; you are all emissaries of Israel in our battle for survival.
Please continue to keep in touch, visit our blog, and more importantly, support Israel.
God Bless.
Sincerely,
Jameel
muqata @ gmail . com
PS: In the coming days, I hope to have roundup available of the war and the previous one, so you can easily review it day by day with an easily accessable index.
7:30AM Welcome back. Just a quick recap if you want to catch up.
There is a unilateral cease fire in which the Israeli government has the IDF
Government wants IDF withdrawn ahead of Obama's inauguration as a "gesture".
Terrorists in the Shomron attacked various Jewish communities. Jameel was actively involved in the settlement defense (and that's all we can say right now).
IDF now reporting that it appears that the home of the Gazan doctor not only housed terrorists that were shooting at the IDF, but the shrapnel removed from his niece indicates that it was a Palestinian explosive device (bomb or rocket - they're both loaded with that kind of shrapnel) that killed his niece and possibly his daughters.
Hamas is now the legal authority that heads up the Palestinian Authority in both Gaza and the West Bank.
A bomb against a Florence (Italy) Synagogue failed to explode the other day.
Now you are caught up.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Day 23 of the War, Sunday, January 18, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
11:43 PM Hi people, Jameel here. Sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss what is currently going on in my area. In other areas of the Shomron this evening, terrorists opened fire on the settlement of Alei Zahav. No injuries. I'm done blogging this evening -- join us tomorrow for another fun filled day of case fire.
10:04 PM JoeSettler here. Jameel had to run as there is an active terror alert in his area. He will post about it (if allowed) when he gets back.
9:56 PM Sorry people - gotta go. Terror alert in my area.
9:40 PM Breaking News. The CAT head scan of the niece of Gazan doctor, Dr Ayash whose 3 daughters were killed in his building reveals conclusively that the shrapnel in her head is NOT from IDF muntions...rather like those from Hamas-used rockets. (Channel 1 TV minutes ago)
7:08 PM Though I reported it last week, the big news today in Israel is the announcement that tremendous natural gas reserves (more than 3 trillion cubic feet) were found within Israeli territorial waters, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Haifa. Reports have started that there is enough natural gas to grant Israel energy and economic independence for generations to come. (more here and here).
Hoping, hoping, this isn't an overestimation (we could use some good news, right?)
6:04 PM Battle Weary IDF soldiers returning from Gaza.
5:44 PM Hamas issues ultimatum to Israel: Withdraw IDF troops within a week and open the border crossings, or we'll start firing rockets at you again.
5:17 PM Mortar slams into DoubleTapper's position in Southern Israel (he's called me 3 times yelling at me that I should post it, because his ears are still ringing. No Damage, No Injuries)
3:54 PM Political Cartoon Roundup (source)
2:48 PM Israel public opinion is against the "cease-fire". In a Israel TV Channel 2 poll conducted today, 64% of Israelis are against the cease-fire, 27% in favor, and 8% undecided. (source)
2:26 PM Grad rocket hits house in Ashdod. 1 wounded from shrapnel. (ynet) Sirens did not sound before rocket hit.
2:21 PM Reports that Hamas is initiating its own cease-fire for a period of a week, to allow IDF forces to retreat out of Gaza.
2:08 PM Israeli press reports that a Jew was stabbed in the Golders Green neighborhood in North West London, by a knife wielding Moslem who was yelling, "Free Gaza, Free Gaza". The teenager was hospitalized in serious condition. (source). Note; I still haven't found a source for this in the UK news...
1:59 PM YNET reports that 2 additional rockets fell in the Western Negev region. That makes 12 rockets shot at Israel so far, since Israel's unilateral cease-fire.
1:55 PM IAF gets high marks -- Hamas hotbed, radical Islamic University in Gaza heavily damaged. Photo gallery here.
1:49 PM 103FM Israeli Radio reports that IDF soldiers left messages in Hebrew in Gaza City on the walls of buildings: "Gilad, We were here. [looking for you]"
1:41 PM Reports that IDF tanks returned fire in the direction of the rocket launches at Israel earlier today.
12:59 PM No reports of injuries or damage in rocket attack on Ashkelon minutes ago. (You can ignore the Air Raid sirens, there's a ceasefire...)
12:56 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon.
12:46 PM Mortar rockets fired from Gaza at IDF Erez checkpoint. (Channel B Israeli Radio)
12:23 PM During the rocket attack on Kiryat Melachi about 40 minutes ago, a rocekt was also launched and landed in the Kiryat Gat area.
12:19 PM Ashdod Port: Customs seized shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, found to be full of weapons, and warfare related electronics.
12:11PM Some 100 tunnels were destroyed just ahead of the cease fire. Imagine how many more we could be destroying if there was no cease fire.
12:05 PM Forensic and field reports indicates that Palestinian who died last week after throwing rocks at cars in the Shomron (which resulted in a Settler being mistakenly arrested for murder - but then released after no bullet wounds were found on the victim) actually killed himself.
One of the rocks he threw at a speeding car bounced back and hit him on the head. Now that's poetic.
12:02 PM Rockets in Kiryat Melachi. Again it fell in a some poor chicken coop.
9:39 AM Security forces confirm that Hezbollah launched rockets on Israel's North last week via Palestinian proxies.
8:54 AM Walla reports from Palestinian sources that IDF tank columns can be seen leaving parts of Gaza.
8:39 AM So this is a unilateral ceasefire. Gunfire from Gaza at IDF positions, IDF tank responds with a shell and automatic gunfire (Channel 10, minutes ago). Our IDF troops are now sitting ducks in Gaza, and can only respond to attacks.
8:36 AM Rainbow over Ashkelon this morning.
7:52 AM Reshet Bet reporting that Helicopters are attacking sites in Gaza. Residents of Sderot report they hear the heavy fire.
7:28 AM From Ha'aretz Flashes last night: 2:52 Muslim chosen to speak at Obama inaugural prayer allegedly tied to Hamas (AP)
7:22 AM We're back. Quiet night in Israel.
2:19 AM Almost made it to bed, Israel breaks ceasefire as IAF hits rocket launcher about to launch from Northern Gaza. That didn't last very long at all. (Scoop from Rotter)
2:13 AM Sorry Jameel, but JoeSettler is going to sleep too. I'm exhausted. But tomorrow I may write a new post on JoeSettler that may be half coherent.
2:08 AM Jameel going to bed. JoeSettler might be staying up a bit more. Will continue at a normal hour.
1:46 AM We're all just waiting for 2:01 AM to see what Hamas does.
1:35 AM Israel ceasefire will cause huge relief, says Britain
LONDON - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Saturday that Israel's ceasefire in the Gaza conflict would cause "huge relief".
"There will be huge relief at the announcement by Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert of the end of Israeli military operations in Gaza," Miliband said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.
1:24 AM IAF rockets hitting Islamic university in Beit Hanoun area of Nothern Gaza, where many tunnels are believed to be located that go towards Israel.
1:21 AM Reports of precision IAF targetting on many targets throughout Gaza. Did Israel lull Hamas into a false sense of security, with the objective of wiping out high quality Hamas targets before 2 AM? Details to follow.
1:18 AM IDF attempting to get in "last licks" before 2 AM unilateral ceasefire goes into affect. IAF jets and helicopters hitting targets in Han Jounis and around the Gaza strip.
1:00 AM Despite the upcoming unilateral IDF ceasefire, IDF forces are advising Palestinians in Gaza NOT to return to their homes, specifically in Northern Gaza, due to possible flareups in fighting which would needlessly endanger innocent Gazan civilians. (source)
12:46 AM Newly released IDF Spox photos from IDF operating in Gaza. (source)
12:28 AM Globalized Intifada -- its not only against Israel anymore. See this link at ZombieTime about Pro-Hamas rage around the globe. The DovBear blog has a link to virulently antisemitic cartoons from Arab press around the globe. I wonder how Neturay Karta feels about such cartoons.
12:24 AM According to this evening's cabinet decision, the IDF will remain in Gaza till the rocket attacks on Israel cease. According to Hamas, as long as the IDF is in Gaza, they will continue their rocket attacks against Israel (and they have been continuing their attacks all night)
No commentary needed.
12:06 AM Grad rocket lands in Ashdod minutes ago -- stuck deep in the road.
12:01 AM It's a new day, Israel has announced a unilateral cease fire, and Hamas in launching multiple rockets against the South. Nothing new.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Day 22 of the War, Saturday, January 17, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
Go to Day 23 for the latest.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
11:58 PM 22 Israelis in shell shock from GRAD rocket that explodes near their bus in Ashdod.
11:53 PM Due to the success of Israel's unilateral ceasefire, there will be no school in Be'er Sheva tomorrow. IDF intelligence reports to expect an increase in rocket attacks in the coming hours due to the ceasefire.
11:50 PM More on the unilateral nonsense:
11:48 PM Only 2 hours more till Israel unilaterally stops defending Southern Israeli communities."If the Israeli military continues its existence in the Gaza Strip, that is a wide door for the resistance against the occupation forces," Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamada told al-Jazeera television.
In his statement, PM Olmert said that for the time being the IDF would not be withdrawing from Gaza.
"These understandings do not guarantee a cessation of Hamas' rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. If they stop, we too shall stop. If not, IDF soldiers will hit back," he said.
Turning his [back on]
attention toIDF captive Gilad Shalit, Olmert said: "The Israeli government is working in many ways to bring Gilad Shalit home and, during the days of the operation, we did many things that brought us closer to this goal, upon which I will not elaborate.""Gilad is at the top of our list of priorities," the PM said. (ynetnews)
11:42 PM 8 Rockets have fallen since the cease fire was announced.
11:38 PM Sirens in Be'er Sheva
11:27 PM Rockets launched. Fell in open areas. No injuries.
11:06 PM As rockets fell on Israel and Gilad Shalit remains in captivity, Olmert declared that the Gaza operation achieved its goal and Hamas knows how strong we are. (You can't make this stuff up!)
11:04 PM Israel will stop defending itself starting at 2:00AM
10:55 PM Cabinet votes for Unilateral Cease Fire. Gilad Shalit still held captive.
10:45 PM UN head calls for timetable of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
10:43 PM Power out in parts of Ashdod from rocket strike.
10:41 PM Reserve soldiers received emergency call up during Shabbat.
10:40 PM Rockets slamming into Southern Israel. Ashdod and Ashkelon hit. Israel talking about a Unilateral Cease Fire!
7:46 PM Dr. El Ayash asks on Israel Channel 2, "Why didn't the soldiers fire only on the upper room of his house?" (which by default is where he is admitting the shooting was coming from).
7:09 PM Correction and update: 9, not 4 soldiers injured over Shabbat. 4 Paratroopers hurt by friendly fire from another paratrooper unit. 5 Givati soldiers hurt by anti-tank missile.
7:06 PM IDF Update: Hamas Snipers were shooting from the home of Dr. El Ayash at IDF forces.
6:31 PM Defense Ministry reporting IDF forces came under fire from the home/medical office building of Gazan (Israeli trained) Doctor El Ayash (who also worked at Seroka hospital in Be'er Sheva). IDF forces returned fire on the terrorist source and among the killed were Dr. Ayash 3 daughters.
6:29 PM 4 paratroopers injured this morning. During exchange of fire. Details of event still unclear.
6:04 PM During Sabbath morning prayers a synagogue in the South (Netivot) was directly by Palestinian a rocket. Miraculously no one was injured as the rocket hit during the break.
6:01 PM Shavuah Tov (Good Week). Updates will commence soon.
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Friday, January 16, 2009
Day 21 of the War, Friday, January 16, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
4:02 PM Shabbat Shalom -- a Restful, Peaceful and Quiet Shabbat weekend to all.
Signing off till Saturday night.
--Jameel
3:51 PM 3 rockets landed in Ashkelon minutes ago, no injured or damage.
3:49 PM Video from GRAD attack in Ashdod today (over 20 people in shell shock)
3:03 PM At around 4 pm Israel time we will be signing off for the Jewish Sabbath and will recommence blogging after the Sabbath's departure on Saturday night. We pray for the safety and welfare of our soldiers in the field (and civilians in the home front) and wish our soldiers success in their missions over the weekend. May we see kidnapped IDF soldier come home soon safe and sound, along with the defeat of Hamas.
2:59 PM 2 rockets on Ashdod - lots of damage, one civilian wounded. 2 rocket at Kiryat Gat - 2 civilians wounded. Sirens in Be'er Sheva - no rockets landed in the area.
1:19 PM 3 rockets launched at Israel's Western Negev earlier today. They landed in open fields. No injuires.
11:35 AM The photos posted below from the IDF spox are from yesterday, not today (and they even appear in yesterday's post) Sorry.
11:34 AM Reuter's Photo: (on the left) Hamas shooting a rocket at Israeli civilian targets, (on the right) IDF shooting at Hamas terrorist location.
11:18 AM NRG interviewed 2 of the 250 captured Hamas terrorists. They expressed total shock at Israel's reaction to Hamas' breaking the "ceasefire" over 7 weeks ago. "We never imagined Israel would react like this...we thought at worse a few bombs from the air, a small incursion, and that's it....what's gotten into Israel?"
They think its totally normal behavior to shoot rockets at civilians and for us not to react. Hopefully, they've learned a serious lesson.
11:15 AM For those of you in Southern Israel who are still having problems with your car alarm remote controls (IDF counteroffensive interference in Gaza), a simple solution is to disconnect your car battery for a minute to allow the alarm to reset.
10:54 AM Fresh IDF Spox photos from the front.
8:05 AM There will be a protest today opposite the Kirya (military HQ) to demand that Gilad Shalit be released (or freed) before any ceasefire may be implemented.
7:58 AM Here's something out of the blue (and to be praised)... More than 20 prominent British Muslim leaders have signed a letter denouncing the rise in anti-Semitic attacks resulting from Operation Cast Lead and calling on Muslims to help prevent attacks on Jews in the UK.
Read more on the JP.
7:53 AM IAF attacked 40 targets overnight.
2:42 AM For medical students or professionals in particular: The Lancet (one of the most prominent medical journals) printed a "Medical Students' Letter of Solidarity With Gaza", and a group of students in Einstein have written a response which they wish to get published as well, and need as many signatures as possible (before motzei Shabbos, so it can go in this week):
Dear Fellow Medical Students,
A petition entitled "Medical Students' Letter of Solidarity with Gaza" has recently been circulated among medical students and was published in the Lancet. In light of the complexity of the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and the recognition that the civilian population of both nations are suffering, please consider the following letter, also to be published in the Lancet, which declares solidarity with all those who suffer in this conflict, and presents a more balanced picture of the situation, as a more appropriate representation of the medical community's commitment to the alleviation of human suffering.
Please join us in signing the letter and disseminating it to your medical peers: http://tinyurl.com/8ue8cw
In other medical related news:
Nefesh B'Nefesh has restarted their special Aliyah packages for doctors. This package includes special grants and assistance specifically designed for doctors who want to make Aliyah, so if you are a doctor reading this blog and are at all interested in Israel you should check it out (and sign the petition mentioned above).
1:41 AM It's a new day. As we reported yesterday, there is talk of a cease fire to begin within 72 hours for a period of two weeks.
Can you imagine anything so ridiculous?
Has Hamas been defeated? Have they stopped shooting? Have they released Gilad Shalit? Will they be prevented from rebuilding their military? Will they be disarmed? Are they still actually going to remain in power? Have they surrendered? Is Israel accepting a State of Hamastan? You know the answer to all those questions.
And all this just in time for Israeli politicians to get in nearly a month of campaigning ahead of elections.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Day 20 of the War, Thursday, January 15, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
12:05 AM Good night people -- I'm off to bed. 20 straight days of live blogging is enough to make anyone exhausted.
Thanks again (as always) to Litvshe, JoeSettler, the rest of the Muqata Exhausted Crew (and our families for putting up with us).
Wishing everyone a quiet and safe evening.
Regards from Israel,
Jameel
11:55 PM Senior Hamas terrorist Salach Abu Sharach, also killed today when IAF targeted (and killed) Hamas Minister of the Interior.
Looks like we got the last smile...
(source)
11:51 PM Maybe you should take the safety announcements about life vests on airplanes a little more seriously. They saved a lot of lives today in NYC. Everyone on the plane (150 people) rescued.
11:47 PM The public has been asked to say a prayer for the 7 year old boy hurt in a Grad rocket attack on Be'er Sheva earlier today, now in critical condition; Ar'el ben Angela.
11:40 PM Good News from Israel! Natural Gas found off of Haifa coast -- new drilling analysis finds that initial estimates of 109 billion cubic meters...were low, and it appears there is much more. The market value of 109 Billions cubic meters of natural gas is approximately 15 Billion dollars. (source, "Calcalist" Financial Website in Hebrew)
11:28 PM Italy Demonstrates for Israel (from a Senior Italian Goverment Minister, Fiamma Nirenstein)
Dear friends,
We didn’t expect what you see now in the picture. This is the square of the Italian Parliament in Rome, Piazza Montecitorio: you can see the Palace on top of the square, and in front a lot of Israeli flags.That was yesterday night from 6,30 to 9,30 pm. What you cannot see here, is the extraordinary number and variety of members of the Parliament, about 100 from all political sides, that took the stage during our marathon: for about three hours we have been speaking about the role of Israel, its right to self defense, its moral height, its fight in name of all of us, of our civilization and values, against the wild hate of the Islamic jihad represented by hamas. It seems to me that for the first time in the too long history of the arab Israeli conflict, apart from a minority of crazy leftists and fascists that took the street on anti-Semitic slogans, we have obtained a huge consensus about one critical point: this is not an episode of a local conflict, there is nothing in it that reminds the land for peace theme that has characterized the Palestinian issue. This is an episode of the attack agains the western world, and Iran has a lot to do with it.
The change of attitude is great: the dictatorial religious nature of Hamas and the democratic, civilized nature of Israel are seen face to face for what they are al least by the European elite at large, dead and wounded notwithstanding, and there rises an identification with Israel against a regime that uses human shields and promises slaughters of jews in its chart.
hat-tip: B. Rubin.
11:22 PM Breaking News: YNET reports that Palestinians claim a 2 week cease fire has been reached -- to take effect within the next 72 hours. During the cease fire, talks will continue about the issues of border crossings and weapons smuggling tunnels. (Only in Hebrew so far)
11:15 PM IDF Spox photos of IDF Paratrooper Units operating in Gaza. (via Omedia)
11:14 PM Channel B Israel Radio reports that the IDF just shot an additional rocket shell at a hospital in Gaza.
11:05 PM Survivors have gotten safely off the plane -- (Survivor speaking: We took off from La Guardia Airport in NY going to Charlotte, USAir flight 1549....we heard a loud bang, the plane shook, smoke filled the cabin, plane started turning as if they were turning back....captain announces "brace for impact"...and then we hit the water. The plane stayed afloat and some of us got into a raft. Survivor claims everyone got off the plane safely.
10:59 PM Developing Story: In NYC, an A320 aircraft lands in the Hudson River. The fuselage in sticking out of the 40 degree water, and its unknown if the 135 people aboard are able to get out (or survived). Helicopters have dropped live preserves to the crash site in the water in the hope that survivors can use them. (I'm watching this live on CNN)
10:57 PM Due to massive IDF jamming in Gaza (cellphones, SA-7 anti-aircraft counter measures, etc.) simple remotes for car alarms have stopped working in the Israeli communities around Gaza. For those who understand Hebrew, here's a TV report from Channel 2 about the issue...
10:54 PM Updates coming shortly. 7 Year old boy seriously hurt in Rocket attack in Be'er Sheva, is now unfortunately in critical condition.
9:16 PM IAF jets successfully take out Grad rocket launcher which shot the rocket at Be'er Sheva today.
8:49 PM MUQATA EXCLUSIVE: IDF soldiers concerned about acne epidemic. Soldiers report that Israel and its supporters around the world have sent the soldiers so much chocolate that in some locations there is more chocolate bars than ammunition. Furthermore, supermarkets around Israel are offering half price on items being delivered to IDF troops.
DoubleTapper reports that some people must have gotten their donations mixed up because his troops received several size 3 (toddler) girl's dresses. Regardless Israel and its supporters generosity is extremely appreciated.
We are waiting for the pictures of DoubleTapper in his new outfit.
8:47 PM 7 year old boy (not girl as previously reported) in very serious condition after shrapnel hit his head from Grad rocket attack in Be'er Sheva. Boy's mother shielded him with her own body as rocket hit. The boy is going into emergency neurosurgery right now at Seroka hospital.
8:46 PM IAF pilots killed Hamas Interior Minister Siad Siyam and his brother, Ayad, in an air strike on the latter's Gaza City home Thursday afternoon.
7:46 PM Channel 10 reports that the IDF is operating in the middle of Gaza City.
7:15 PM Officer and 2 soldiers lightly injured in Gaza
6:55 PM Oldie, but a goodie. Whats the best possible use of a Hamas Terrorist? To use him a human shield, to protect yourself from a Hamas grenade. See the video and transcript here.
Note, this video is about a year and a half old, but as Aussie Dave says, [this is an IDF example of] "Bravery and Brains"
6:36 PM Israeli Meta-Forum website Rotter.net Graphics Group asked its members to design Pro-Israel bumper stickers. (All rights reserved to rotter.net and sticker artists)
The stunning results are here:
Cast Lead - We will never lose hopeby "Shahar A"
Cast Lead - Let the IDF be victorious over the Qassam
IDF -- In all our hearts
Cast Lead - IDF will beat the enemy through intelligence, not strengthBy "BomBast"
Painting Hamas in REDby "PlayB0y"
Cast Lead - To be a Free people in our landby "long"
Cast Lead - end of the stress
by "John Doe"
With G-d's help we will win - Operation Cast Lead(remove the apostrophe, and it reads, "In Gaza, we will win"
By "Eljazira"
Cast Lead - With G-d's help we will winby "X-SLash"
Cast Lead - Because it is ours.By "SilverArt"
Because it's time to change the headlines(Jewish star is made up of words:"Rocket Strikes, Qassms, Wounded, etc)
Cast Lead - Because there are things worth fighting for.
By "WestCast"
Cast Lead - Time to put an end to it [the rocket strikes on Israel]by "ThugLife"
Cast Lead - I came, I saw, I wonBy "Admin2000"
"In a letter issued Monday, the rabbis wrote, "We, dozens of male and female rabbis who are members of the Rabbis for Human Rights organization, would like to express our shock over the bloodshed on both sides, and grieve the death of hundreds of people – half of them civilians – and the injury of thousands in the Gaza Strip and in Israel. " (ynet)Other calls from "Rabbis for Human Rights" include the immediate cessation of Israeli archeologists from excavating ancient Jewish sites around the Old City of Jerusalem, and its leaders have been detained by the police for attacking Israel's archeologists.
6:01 PM Hamas Minister of Interior Saeed Siad, the 3rd highest ranking member of Hamas...eliminated by IDF. (Channel 10 TV)
5:56 PM Gazan Palestinian who fled Gaza to Israel and converted to Judaism: "Gazans voted for Hamas, and they should live with the consequences. I was there and I know -- they do not want peace."
I don't have time to translate the article from Hebrew -- but the link is to the article and interview is here.
5:36 PM Roundup of wounded in Be'er Sheva GRAD rocket strike earlier:
2 serious, 2 moderate, 2 light -- and one of the seriously wounded is a 7 year old girl, currently undergoing emergency surgery at Soroka hospital in Be'er Sheva.
Reminder: Hamas is targeting civilians with these rocket attacks. The IDF is targetting Hamas terrorists, and there may be collateral damage since Hamas are shooting from civilian locations. There's no moral comparison.
5:15 PM Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologizes for the damage to UNRWA compound in Gaza by IDF shelling, yet justifies the IDF shelling at Hamas terrorists shooting from the UNRWA compound.
5:14 PM (catching up on some news) In the 4:45 rocket launching at Beer Sheva, 2 rockets landed. At one location there are 2 wounded seriously, 1 light, and at the second location there are 3 lightly-moderately wounded.
5:11 PM Thanks to all those who noted that the picture below from Turkey is not a recent photo, but is an example of antisemitism in Turkey from 3 years ago (source)
5:09 PM Grad rocket lands in Beer Sheva
4:45 PM Sirens sounding in Be'er Sheva, Netivot and Ashdod at this moment. Rocket lands in open area in Sha'ar HaNegev region.
4:26 PM Army refuses to apologize for strike on UNWRA HQ and Al-Quds hospital.
4:18 PM I'm not an expert on the provenance of this clip, but it is supposedly footage of Hamas terrorist firing from UN compound in Gaza.
4:02 PM Major bombing raid going on at this moment.
3:59 PM It has been pointed out that the UNWRA compound is in the middle of Gaza city, the army is reporting that the Givati unit was about a kilometer away when it came under fire. Additionally, there were armed Hamas terrorists in the building where the Reuter's office is located and Isreal returned fire when it's forces were attacked.
3:52 PM Arab sources reporting that IDF forces have surrounded the house of Hamas commander Muhammed A-Zahar.
3:49 PM UPDATE Givati units, in action in middle of Gaza City, were under fire from the UNRWA compound by RPG, Mortar and small arms fire and called in an artillery strike on the source of the attack. More news as it breaks. (Source Channel 10 News from Army Sources)
3:35 PM Not only the men are going out to combat. Major Dana Mishali-Binishu is in the Armored Corps. Out with her support unit. What makes it interesting is, she's 5 months pregnant. Her husband is a fighter pilot and has also been called up. Her only request? A bigger set of overalls. She says "If you're going to take on a job, you better be prepared to finish it. There are no excuses, I'm tired, it hurts, it's that time of the month, you just do it" (source in Hebrew Ynet)
3:19 PM IDF sending in 6 Israeli Firetrucks to help Gazan firefighters extinguish blaze at UNRWA compound in Gaza. Blaze a result of IDF shelling. (Unsure why UN compound was shelled)
3:09 PM Why Blogs Matter: Yesterday (Wednesday) The Jerusalem Post featured a story "German Police Take Down Israeli Flags"
People following the Muqata blog got the same story from a first hand account 4 days earlier, at 1:17 AM on Sunday morning with an exclusive photo and first hand account from the students mentioned above.During an anti-Israeli demonstration organized by the radical Islamic group, Milli Görüs, which attracted 10,000 protesters last Saturday in Duisburg, two police officers stormed the apartment of a 25-year-old student and his 26-year-old girlfriend and seized Israeli flags hanging on the balcony and inside a window.
We may not be as classy as the Jerusalem Post, but we report the the news as quickly as possible (and we didn't even get a hat-tip from the JPost, like we give everyone else...)
[hat-tip; DF, who mailed us the JPost link]
3:08 PM Reports that IAF aircraft pounding Gaza City
12:17 PM Palestinians Report of 3 IDF tank divisions approaching Gaza city.
12:12 PM Italian reporter, one of the first members of the foreign press allowed into Gaza claims that there is no real humanitarian crisis in the strip and, surprisingly enough, reports in the Arab media are greatly exaggerated. This is in line with G.S.S. Yuval Diskin's statement for a couple weeks ago. (source in Hebrew)
11:48 AM Swedish blogger fired for expressing support for Israel.
11:44 AM Photo from Israel's friends in Turkey.
11:27 AM Pics from the front.
10:16 AM Video of Breslevers reaching Gaza to encourage the soldiers.
10:11 AM In a few hours Jameel will be posting a story about a fireman down south.
10:08 AM Due to exhaustion we'll be blogging slightly lighter today - but still posting (unless something major happens and then we'll be back in full force regardless of how tired we all are). Jameel will be back later and tell you more. We appreciate your understanding. We tried to hold it off until Shabbat.
9:33 Rockets hit in the south. Fell in open area.
9:32 AM Sirens in Kiryat Melachi
9:28 AM (Joe Settler) I was just watching a video of the Gaza tunnel systems. Hamas are idiots. These guys could outsource their tunneling skills and turn Hamastan into one of the richest states in the world. Imagine what they could demand for digging and building a Subway system under Jerusalem - considered an almost impossible task technically and logistically. I have no doubt they could do it, and in far less time that the light rail is taking. And don't get me started on a Tel Aviv subway.
7:05 AM 11 soldiers lightly injured during operations last night. At least 10 terrorists killed and over 50 sites (tunnels, weapons depots, and launch sites) hit in and near Gaza City.
12:46 AM Hamas has (supposedly) turned down the Egyptian cease fire offer. That was quick.
12:01 AM It's a new day! Lot's of talk/rumors of a cease fire. IDF trying to do as much as they can now before it goes into play. Let's see what this day brings. Hamas is asking for conditional ceasefire (with ridiculous conditions of course).
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 19 of the War, Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 19 of the Gaza War, Wednesday, January 14, 2009 -- Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
7:55 PM Channel 2 TV: IDF spox denies again all rumors that Gilad Shalit has been found/returned home/hospitalized/etc.
7:54 PM Hamas also demanding that IDF withdraw all tanks before start of ceasefire. Israel will probably agree (Channel 10 TV)
7:47 PM Good G-d. Channel 10 is reporting about the upcoming "ceasefire agreement". Channel 10 claims that Israel will open border crossings to Gaza. Hamas will not return Gilad Shalit, Hamas will only cease shooting rockets at Israel for a year.
For this we went to war?
7:37 PM Updated List of wounded IDF soldiers and civilians, here
7:32 PM Senior Hamas member, Rafat Nasif: Hamas will not agree to harm their tunnel operation which connects Gaza to Egypt. We reject any attempt to stop our resistance, and any commitment [to a casefire] would harm it. As long as the occupation continues, our resistance will continue" (ynet)
This doesn't really make sense in light of reports that Hamas is willing to accept the Egyptian brokered cease fire.
7:25 PM Released for publication by IDF censor: In addition to the 5 IDF soldiers wounded this morning by an anti-tank rocket (one seriously), 9 other IDF soldiers were wounded this afternoon; 1 moderately, the rest, light.
6:57 PM News is rather quiet. IDF soldiers are edgy. Cease fire looming?
6:30 PM The test of Israel's political leadership is this -- did they demand that IDF soldier Gilad Shalit be released from Hamas captivity as part of the cease fire agreement being reached with Hamas?
YNET: Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza based on Egypt's proposal, Arab sources told Ynet Wednesday. The conditions for the truce have not been published at this time.
Senior Hamas official Ayman Taha is expected to hold a press conference at 7:30 pm (GMT) in which it will present the understandings reached during the Cairo talks.
6:24 PM IDF CRUSHING HAMAS. Channel B Israel Radio reports that Hamas is asking for a cease fire.
6:03 PM Phosphorus Mortar rocket fired at Israel from Gaza. No injuries (Channel 10, Israel TV)
5:42 PM Number of Gazans killed in IDF ground op reaches 1004.
Israel:
13 killed (10 IDF soldiers, 3 civilians)
172 wounded (38 still hospitalized)
250 psychological trauma (shell shock)
734 Qassam, Katyusha and GRAD rockets hit Israel from Gaza
192 cars damaged as "total loss"
1000 homes damaged
8 Educational Buildings damaged
Gaza:
1004 Palestinians killed (at least 400 positively identified by IDF as Hamas terrorists)
4550 wounded (200 in serious condition)
4800 homes damaged
13 mosques destroyed
24 hospitals partially damaged
192 smuggling tunnels destroyed
1300 targets hit
70 captured Hamas terrorists
(source)
5:10 PM Rumors abound on the Israeli internet that Gilad Shalt was located this afternoon. Senior IDF officials say that unfortunately, that is not the case, and he wishes it were. (source)
5:07 PM IDF Spox Pics from Operation Cast Lead.
4:55 PM Released for Publication: IDF solider seriously wounded today by Hamas anti-tank rocket fired at IDF troops position today. 1 wounded moderately, 5 lightly. (source)
4:50 PM Israel's Eretz Nehederet Satire show lampoons the BBC's "balanced" war coverage.
4:34 PM Its not only in Gaza that Palestinians dig tunnels...Mom in Israel reports that a tunnel was just discovered in Petach Tikva behind the open air "shuk" for illegal Palestinian workers to sleep in. 47 mattresses were found in the underground tunnel...(read it all here)
4:21 PM Iranian "Peace" ship update:
An Iranian aid ship tried to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for the second time Wednesday. Israel Defense Forces sources confirmed that Navy ships contacted the boat's crew and ordered them to turn back.Iranian media reported Tuesday that the IDF prevented the ship from approaching the Strip – a report which was later denied by the Israeli army.
4:15 PM Yawn: Silly Psychological Warfare from Hamas. SMS messages sent to Israelis today.
3:56 PM IDF to Gilad [Shalit]: WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU!
Photo Courtesy of Rafi G: The Life In Israel blogger:
"My friends brother in law took this picture. It is from a Reserves Battalion connected to the Engineering Corps. This is a giant-armored tractor called a "D9". Their job is to go in and clear the path for the incoming troops.3:48 PM Released for publication by IDF Spox: 6 IDF soldiers lightly wounded in Gaza battle with Hamas terrorists. (Channel 2, Nir Dvori)
Before this battalion went in yesterday to Gaza to do their work, the soldiers sprayed graffiti across the whole giant front of the bulldozer shovel expressing their strong desire to bring Gilad Shalit home.
Channel 10 reports : IDF Tank operating in Gaza locates cache of 20 rockets.
3:28 PM The "Shayetet 13" Ultra Elite IDF Unit is operating in Gaza now according to Channel 10 Israel TV.
Jameel adds: They aren't sent for just any mission -- Only extremely special operations. Read the above link for a description of what their specialties are.
3:26 PM Photo of GRAD rocket launched at Yavneh area today (no injuries)
3:17 PM How dare Israel defend herself? UK Guardian Reports...
3:11 PM OK, I give up. Over 25 people have sent me this video clip to go on the blog. While it's an excellent video, its also about 12 minutes long (much too long for a blogger's attention span).Israel faces the prospect of intervention by international courts amid growing calls that its actions in Gaza are a violation of world humanitarian and criminal law.
The UN general assembly, which is meeting this week to discuss the issue, will consider requesting an advisory opinion from the international court of justice, the Guardian has learned.
(hat-tip: The Purple Parrot)
So, if you have a few minutes -- here's something worthwhile to watch about "Who is the Hamas?"
3:05 PM IDF Soldier Praying Near Gaza
Photo courtesy of Michal Harris and StandTogether.Standing Together is a non-profit organization that started by sending pizzas to soldiers guarding the checkpoints. Seeing the smile on the soldier's faces helped the volunteers of Standing Together realize the importance of keeping our soldiers happy. Standing Together then began to cater to the different needs of soldiers, sending drinks, food, clothes, undergarments, and more to our soldiers in the field. Every Independence Day Standing Together arranges barbecues for over 1,500 soldiers who are on duty instead of celebrating with their families.
See their website, here
2:58 PM Fox News Reports on Grad Missiles that hit Ashkelon and Hamas smuggling tunnels
Advertisement Break for Siach
Now back to our regular programming schedule.
2:24 PM New tape from Osama Bin Ladin -- Calls for Jihad over IDF Gaza Operation (Reuters)
Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden called for jihad (holy struggle) over the Israeli offensive in Gaza in a new audio tape that appeared on Islamist websites on Wednesday. The Saudi-born militant said the global financial crisis had exposed the waning U.S. influence in world affairs and would in turn weaken its ally Israel.2:19 PM More Photos from today...
"Our brothers in Palestine, you have suffered a lot.... the Muslims sympathise with you in what they see and hear. We, the mujahideen, sympathise with you also..." bin Laden said in the tape entitled 'A Call for Jihad to Stop the Aggression against Gaza'. "We are with you and we will not let you down. Our fate is tied to yours in fighting the Crusader-Zionist coalition, in fighting until victory or martyrdom."
AFP Photo: Lebanese citizen holding part of a 122mm Katyusha rocket
launched at Israel this morning, but fell in the Al-Mari villiage in Lebanon.
2:09 PM Bnei Akiva Youth Movement Signs all over Israel:
2:03 PM Rockets landed in Ashkelon (from 1:45 PM). No Reports of Injuries
1:56 PM The Palestinian Stone Thrower who was allegedly shot by a Jewish motorist yesterday when his car came under attack did not die from gunshot. The Abu Kabir State pathology Institute released its findings that the Palestinian died from head trauma, probably resulting from running away from the gunfire (which was claimed to be aimed in the air), tripping, and hitting his head on a rock on the ground. As a result, the Israel Police has released the Jewish motorist. (HNN)
1:44 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon and Sderot.
1:38 PM Updated: A7 now claiming the explosion heard in the Beit Shemesh area had nothing to do with the Air Raid Sirens. Apparently the Sirens "malfunctioned" due to human error, resulting in sirens in Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and Beit Shemesh.
1:21 PM 6 Rockets were fired in total at Israel at 12:55 PM. No reports of Injuries.
Arutz Sheva reports that an "explosion" was heard right after the Air Raid siren went off in Beit Shemesh.
1:11 PM Reports of rockets landing (during Air Raid Sirens 10 minutes ago) in Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Ofakim, Ashdod and Yavneh region.
1:06 PM As dozens of people call me and email -- Sirens were heard all over the locations below. Actual rocket strikes hit the Ashdod and Yavneh area...emergency units responding.
1:02 PM Announcement: The Air Raid Sirens heard in Jerusalem, Beitar, and Beit Shemes are ONLY a test!!! (or someone messed up big time) No Rocket Launches at Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh or Beitar.
1:01 PM Dozens of reports of Air Raid Sirens in Jerusalem...
12:58 PM Reports of Air Raid Sirens in parts of Jerusalem, Beitar, Beit Shemesh!
12:57 PM Rocket landings reported in Ashdod area, Yavneh area...emergency units responding.
12:55 PM Massive rocket launch at Israel: Air Raid Sirens in Ashdod, Yavneh, Ashkelon, Sderot, Ofakim, Be'er Sheva.
12:51 PM IDF soldiers kill another Hamas suicide bomber terrorist trying to attack them in Gaza. No injuries to IDF forces. 7 Rockets launched at Western Negev communties, no injuries, no damage. (source)
11:59 AM Rocket lands in open field. No Injuries, No Damage.
11:42 AM "Color Red" Rocket warning in Sderot.
11:40 AM NRG/Maariv Reports from Al-Jazeera; IDF fired 17 artillery shells at source of Katyusha rockets in South Lebanon. Beirut TV analysts believe that neither side wants to escalate the situation up North.
11:27 AM Updates from Lebanon:
10:23am Al-Jazeera: 17 artillery shells have landed in various parts of southern Lebanon.11:16 AM IDF (special Paratrooper unit) kills suicide bomber in North Gaza!
10:15am Al-Arabiya: Israel lodges a complaint with the U.N. over the rocket attack from Lebanon.
10:14am Al-Jazeera: Israeli artillery intermittently shelling Arqoub region in south Lebanon.
9:55am Al-Arabiya: Israel fired four rockets into the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam.
9:20am Future News TV: Israeli helicopters fly low over Haibariyeh
9:57 AM 2 more armed terrorists killed in Rafiach.
9:54 AM IDF pounding launch area in South Lebanon.
8:53 AM IDF Radio reports that 3 (not 2) Katyushas landed in the Upper Gallil.
8:46 AM IDF Radio reporting that no injuries or damage reported...smoke rising from rocket hits in Upper Gallil apparently open areas.
8:43 AM 2 Katyusha rockets struck North of Kiryat Shmona minutes ago, along with a few mortars. (Channel 10 TV, Channel 2 TV)
8:39 AM Air Raid Sirens in Kiryat Shmona (Northern Israel) and 2 explosions heard. Unknown source of explosions -- IDF Radio
8:25 AM UN: Cash shortage in Gaza...no money for the poor...yet Hamas has plenty of money to pay its terrorists. (UN Press Conference)
He [John Ging, Director of Gaza Operations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)] said that, while assistance was getting through some of the crossings from Israel, with 90 trucks passing today, another major challenge was the lack of cash being allowed in the blockaded Strip. That shortage had meant that UNRWA's 94,000 special hardship cases -- "the poorest of the poor" -– had not received any aid since 18 November. At the same time, Mr. Ging said his own staff had been paid only half of their December salaries and nothing since then. He had to "take it on the chin" when he found out today that Hamas had paid its staff, while he had not been able to pay his.
And here as well: (More questions on UNRWA from Inner City Press)
UNITED NATIONS, January 13 -- The UN cannot get cash into Gaza, despite protests from its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and therefore cannot pay its staff members. Meanwhile, the UN's John Ging told the Press from Gaza on Tuesday, Hamas is meeting its payroll in the Gaza Strip. Ging called this embarrassing, but has declined to answer Inner City Press' question about any steps being taken by the UN to get cash into the Strip.8:25 AM 3 IDF soldiers wounded last night in continuing Gaza fighting. IDF Radio reports that a few Hamas terrorists were killed.
Inner City Press asked about reports that UNRWA is paying taxes to Israel, despite what are called its privileges and immunities. Yes, Ms. AbuZayd said, we pay, to use the port and taxes, to make claims, hoping to be paid back. Video here, from Minute 49:31. Afterwards, Inner City Press asked Ms. AbuZayd if she or Ban have pushed this tax issue. No, she said.
For the past days, Ging has provided video-link briefings and responded to questions. Inner City Press asked him to respond to claims by Israeli diplomats and newspapers, that his agency UNRWA has been "taken over by Hamas," and that Hamas has looted aid trucks at the Karem Shalom crossing. Ging has denounced these as distractions, emphasizing that he has been provided with no proof. Why is only one trucking company being used? How does UNRWA decide from whom, and at what prices, to buy non-emergency goods in Gaza? These questions have not been answered.
8:02 AM With less than a month to elections and not much time left to campaign, Barak and Livni have begun calls for a unilateral ("humanitarian") cease fire (which will only be observed by Israel). Olmert says no.
7:35 AM Reports that Hamas have adopted a Hezbollah technique and are shooting Kassams by remote control from the safety of their bunkers (under the hospital?)
7:32 AM 5 soldiers transferred to hospital with light injuries overnight. Since the beginning of the war some 30 soldiers are still being treated in the hospital.
12:52 AM Gaza Beachfront Hotel loses coveted 5 star rating after IAF airstrike. Before the airstrike...
And after the airstrike...
I'd give them a 3 star rating now -- Whaddaya think?
(credit)
12:41 AM Firebomb thrown at Israeli vehicle on Emmanuel-Yakir Road in Shomron/West Bank. No injuries. Damage to vehicle.
12:36 AM Israel re-routing civilian flights far away from Gaza. (source)
TEL AVIV — Israel has revised the flight paths of civilian aircraft to avoid missile strikes from the Gaza Strip. Officials said the Israel Air Force has ordered the distancing, having determined that the Hamas regime has acquired anti-aircraft missiles that could knock out low-flying passenger and other aircraft.12:27 AM It's a new day!Officials said the air force has determined that Hamas has acquired up to 150 SA-7 and other surface-to-air missiles. They said the SA-7s would not endanger fixed-wing aircraft deployed by the air force.
The air force has already revised combat helicopter missions over the Gaza Strip to prevent SA-7 strikes. Officials said such U.S.-origin helicopters as the Apache and Cobra attack helicopters have been ordered to fly higher to avoid being struck by SAMs.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Day 18 of the War, Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Day 18 of the Gaza War, Tuesday, January 13, 2009 -- Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Please say a prayer for the safety of our soldiers.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
12:15 AM Don't forget to see Hamas Kingpin Ismael Haniyeh's Blog Movie. 'night.12:01 AM I'm off to bed. Good night people - thanks again to JoeSettler, Litvshe, and the Muqata crew for keeping the blog going. Believe me, I know it's difficult. See you all in the AM.
Regards from Israel, and Good Night.
--Jameel
11:59 PM For those of you wishing an easier text format for this blog, for use in "Blackberrys", etc., try using our RSS feed: http://muqata.blogspot.com/
11:54 PM Red Cross: Israel's use of white phosphorus not illegal (JPost)
The International Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but has no evidence to suggest it is being used improperly or illegally.11:41 PM From a high of 76 Gazan rockets fired at Israel...today only 19 were fired from Gaza. Like it or not, the IDF ground offensive is taking it's toll on the Gaza rocketeers.
The comments came after a human rights organization accused the Jewish state of using the incendiary agent, which ignites when it strikes the skin and burns straight through or until it is cut off from oxygen. It can cause horrific injuries.
The International Committee of the Red Cross urged Israel to exercise "extreme caution" in using the incendiary agent, which is used to illuminate targets at night or create a smoke screen for day attacks, said Peter Herby, the head of the organization's mines-arms unit.
"In some of the strikes in Gaza it's pretty clear that phosphorus was used," Herby told The Associated Press. "But it's not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it's being used in any other way."
11:37 PM Last photos for today:
11:10 PM (Reuters) U.S. says remarks on Olmert-Bush call "inaccurate" (What? Olmert not telling the truth?)
10:48 PM "Yesh Gvul" [there is a border] radical left wing Israeli group places ads on leftist Haaretz newspaper website -- calling for "IDF soldiers, officers and IAF pilots to refuse to be part of warcrimes."WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday denied that a telephone call from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to President George W. Bush forced Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to abstain in a U.N. vote on the Gaza war.
"Some of what we've seen is not accurate," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
"There are inaccuracies," he said about Olmert's remarks Monday night in a speech broadcast on Israeli television and widely reported in the media.
Olmert said he had demanded to talk to Bush with only 10 minutes to spare before a U.N. Security Council vote on a resolution opposed by Israel calling for an immediate ceasefire.
"He gave an order to the secretary of state and she did not vote in favor of it -- a resolution she cooked up, phrased, organized and maneuvered for. She was left pretty shamed and abstained on a resolution she arranged," Olmert said. [read the rest here]
It continues (its a flash ad) "Participating in War Crimes is illegal under Israeli Law"
How they can get away with actively calling on soldiers during wartime to refuse orders is beyond me.10:35 PM Jewish motorist from Beitar Elite in the Gush Etzion area, on the Hussan bypass road was targeted by rocks and firebombs. He fired in the air and was not injured. His car was damaged. IDF investigating.
10:29 PM As expected, the Israeli police have arrested the Jewish motorist who was targeted by rocks and shot in self-defense. The motorist is from the Israeli settlement of Emmanuel.
10:29 PM The column width of the "news" column on this blog is now almost as wide as it was before...
10:18 PM More on the rock attack in the Shomron -- IDF sources say the rock thrower is not some innocent bystander, but has a long history of rock throwing, disturbances to motorists, and has previously been arrested. The IDF also states that their working analysis is that the Jewish motorist was in a life threatening situation which is why he shot. Israel's police are investigating. (ynet)
10:13 PM Despite reports from Iranian Radio (as reported below at 6:49 PM), IDF Navy says "we did not intercept Iranian boat". The pirate ship's disappearance is still a mystery.
9:58 PM More photos...
9:39 PM Pro-Hamas hackers target Israeli facebook groups, hack into "Gilad Shalit" group and deface it.
9:29 PM It was only a matter of minutes...Haaretz reports the incident below as follows:
"21:12 Settler shoots, seriously wounds Palestinian in West Bank (Haaretz)". No mention in the slightest of the settler being targeted by rocks...just an unprovoked shooting.
He who has mercy on terrorists will end up being cruel to the Jews.
9:01 PM Update: Palestinian was not shot by IDF forces. But by Jewish civilian who was under heavy attack by rocks. One Palestinian rock thrower was killed and 2 more were apprehended by IDF and the police. Civilian is currently being questioned by IDF and police.
8:48 PM Finally I can report it. The terrorist throwing rocks at cars near Maaleh Shomron was shot by the IDF and lightly wounded (that was at 8:13 PM).
8:12 PM Rock throwing on Highway 55 near Maaleh Shomron. Damage to car, no injuries. Pipe bomb thrown at car near Efrat.
7:40 PM Only 1 comment about the new blog format? Either everyone likes it, everyone hates it, or its not important compared to the content...
7:35 PM IDF uncovers another Hamas tunnel, going from Gaza to Israel (West to East), which was going to be used for a terror attack against Israel -- found in the Nachal Oz area. (Ohr Heller, Channel 10 Israel TV)
7:19 PM As promised, IDF Spox video of Anti Aircraft Cannon and additional munitions found in a (gasp) Gazan Mosque!
7:17 PM Watching IDF's operation in Gaza from Israel
7:12 PM IDF Spox photos from today, Day 18 of the Cast-Lead operation in Gaza.
6:55 PM IDF locates Anti Aircraft Gun, munitions in Gaza mosque. How shocking. Will provide IDF spox video footage soon.
6:49 PM Finally - what happened to the Iranian ship?Iran's state radio was quoted by Reuters, reporting on Tuesday:
"An Iranian ship that was carrying foodstuff and medicine was stopped by the Zionist regime's navy 20 miles off the coast of Gaza," the Iranian radio station reported, adding that the ship had left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas 13 days earlier.
On Monday, a group of protesters, doctors and lawmakers from the Free Gaza movement abandoned a bid to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and returned to Cyprus after their boat experienced engine trouble, a spokeswoman for the movement said. (JPost)
6:10 PM IDF Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi reports of Hamas terrorists dressed in IDF uniforms that tried to unsuccessfully infiltrate IDF positions in Gaza (Haaretz)
6:01 PM Walla news reports: Senior IDF Officer: "Because of Israel's politicians, we may lose another war." Harsh criticism against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for taking too much time in deciing further moves for IDF.
According to Walla, IDF generals are furious with Israel's politicians and say that without a clear cut victory over Hamas by allowing the IDF to continue with the 3rd phase of the war, "we end up on the losing side of the war".
5:42 PM Iron Dome Missile Defense System
For those of you who just can't wait for the Muqata to refresh, here's something else you can do while waiting. The Iron Dome web-based flash animation shows you how you can target Gazan rockets, making Israel safer from harm. (All in English, complete with information about rocket attacks on Israel)
Click here or on the image below to see what Israel has to deal with...
5:34 PM Channel 10, Israel TV, Alon Ben David reports that critically wounded IDF soldier has been improved to "serious" following emergency surgery.
Please continue to say prayers for Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana, married only 2 weeks ago -- he left Gaza for less than 24 hours to get married before returning to the frontlines.
More on the soldier, here (Jpost)
5:27 PM Terrorist who tried snatching IDF soldier's weapon at Tarkumiya checkpoint -- dies. (He was shot in self defense by IDF soldiers) [ynet]
5:23 PM Nir Dvori (Channel 10 TV Israel) reports that an IDF tank drive over a serious landmine. 3 IDF soldiers lightly wounded.
4:23 PM Walla Reports that a rocket hit next to an educational complex in Ashkelon before...no injuries, but lots of damage. Total of 13 rockets hit Israel today (as of 4:23 PM)
4:21 PM JoeSettler here. We're back. We hope you like the new look.
3:38 PM Blog going offline for 20 minutes -- will resume at 4:00 PM for site upgrade. Be right back.
3:26 PM Critically wounded soldier fights for his life.IDF Combat Officer, Aharon Karov (pictured right), at his wedding, hours after leaving the Gazan front, and returned back to fight the day after his wedding -- was critically wounded last night in Northern Gaza by a Hamas explosive.
Please include him in your prayers - Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana
Story about him in Hebrew, here.
3:22 PM Reports of wounded IDF soldiers in recent gun battle with Hamas terrorists. The IDF soldiers have been taken for medical treatment in Israel's hospitals.
3:03 PM No injuries reported in rocket attack. One fell in Ashkelon...no injuries.
2:54 PM 2 rockets land in Western Negev, 2 in Sderot area. No status updates yet
2:51 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon.
2:48 PM Terrorist tries grabbing IDF soldier's weapon at Tarkumiya Checkpoint (near Hebron). IDF soldiers shoot terrorist in leg, and capture him. (source)
2:37 PM In the news: Hamas is losing the psychological warfare battle, as "Hamas Censors" are imposing on Palestinian Websites that they must not reveal names or amounts of Hamas wounded and killed fighting IDF forces. (Walla)
2:35 PM Thankfully, the past hour and half were relatively quiet (in terms of rocket attacks on Israel).
1:24 PM Daily Double Dose from DoubleTapper (give the guy a break, visit his blog...its the absolute least you can do for a drafted IDF reserve combat officer with a blog...who doesn't want his site traffic to disappear while he's defending Israel)
An Army travels on its stomach...the appetizing IDF meal on the left explains why he looks so thrilled on the right.
1:11 PM IDF Chief of Staff, General Gabi Ashkenazi announced to the Knessent's Defense and Foreign affairs Committee, that Hamas is forcing Gazan schoolchildren to attend classes in booby-trapped classrooms and schools. He also denied reports that the army was using phosphorous bombs in the Strip, and said that "the IDF only uses weapons authorized by international law."
From YNETNEWS:
During the meeting, Ashkenazi expressed his gratitude for the support the IDF is getting.
"I would like to send my condolences to the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery and thank all of you and all the people of Israel for the support we are getting.
"This is a genuinely impressive display of unity, which truly contributes to the soldiers, their determination, and their faith in the rightness of this path."
12:59 PM The Mishnah (Oral Law) States: In a war that is a mitzva (Bibilical commandment, such as a defensive war, like the current one), even a Groom leaves his room, and a Bride leaves her Chuppa [wedding canopy]. (source Mishna Sotah, Chapter 8, Mishna 7 in Hebrew)
This was the first thing that came to mind, regarding the report from below at 12:48 seriously wounded IDF combat officer Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana, was married only 2 weeks ago. He left his troops from the Gaza front a few hours before his wedding, got married, and the following morning was back at the front with his troops
12:55 PM False Alarm in Ashkelon - no rockets launched
12:54 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon
12:48 PM IDF Radio reports that seriously wounded IDF combat officer Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana, was married only 2 weeks ago. He left his troops from the Gaza front a few hours before his wedding, got married, and the following morning was back at the front with his troops. (more in a second, air raid sirens in Ashkelon)
11:44 AM Hamas reps in Cairo announce they will only consider a cease fire with Israel, after Israel removes all IDF troops from Gaza Strip. (NRG)
11:36 AM Air Raid Siren in Ashkelon (now) - apparently a false alarm.
11:14 AM Personal Request from Jameel: Please add to your prayers, a full recovery for the IDF soldier, Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana, who was very seriously wounded last night in Gaza.
11:07 AM Gaza source, 10 Hamas dead and wounded in Khan Younis. Hamas, cease fire will only be considered if Israel withdraws.
10:38 AM IDF finds two booby-trapped tunnels in Gaza and kills 30 armed terrorists.
10:37 AM Chief of Staff: We have accomplished great deal of our goals, but we haven't completed them all.
10:35 AM Total of 8 soldiers wounded overnight in Gaza fighting.
8:41 AM (UPDATED) Gunfire from Jordanian watchtower at IDF/Border police patrol at the Rabin Crossing in the Arava. IDF returns fire. No injuries reported. IDF investigating. (source)
8:37 AM IDF censor removes blackout; IDF tanks on their way to Gaza city -- entering Gaza City suburbs.
8:25 AM "Rocket Launch" warnings to Sederot...
8:24 AM See this large collection of photos and videos from a bizarre Pro-Hamas rally in San Francisco. This protester (below) was led away from by Police as the crowd cheered his removal -- despite his obvious Pro-Palestinian sentiment. Just goes to show you what a bunch of pro-Terror wackos these San Francisco lunatics are, including the uber-liberal Jews of California.
It's always amazed me that bend-over-backwards liberalism eventually morphs into outright anti-Antisemitism and support for terror.
I would put more of the pictures up, but as BOTH said to me, this demonstration will just leave you scratching your head. See them all at the Zombie site.
(hat-tip: BOTH)
8:15 AM JNF / Rabbinic Solidarity Mission leaving to Israel (hat-tip, Steg)
New York) January 12, 2009 — As the world watches the People of Israel endure the hardships and anxiety of war, 19 Orthodox Rabbis from all over North America along with several lay leaders will lift off to study Torah with their brethren in the Yeshivah of Sderot adjacent to the Gaza Strip. Ten more American Rabbinic colleagues and 20 Israeli Tzohar Rabbis will join the group on the ground in Israel. Together, in addition to Sderot, they will be visiting Ashkelon, Be’er Sheva in Israel’s Negev region, and Jerusalem. They will visit wounded solders, bring clothing and supplies to school children, comfort grieving families and meet with Israeli political representatives. (more at Steg's)8:10 AM Reuters: US Arms shipment to Israel cancelled due to Gaza war.
As I reported the other day, the US was planning sending 325 containers of ammunition to Israel. That shipment has now been "put on hold" or canceled. I don't know why they canceled it -- its not like this ammunition was headed to the Palestinians or Fatah (and then taken over by Hamas, as was the case last year)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military plan to ship munitions from a Greek port to a U.S. stockpile in Israel has been canceled due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command issued a tender on December 31 for a ship to deliver 325 standard 20-foot containers of ammunition on two separate journeys from the Greek port of Astakos to the Israeli port of Ashdod in mid-to-late January.
Air Force Lt. Col. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said the Greek port had been considered as a possible location from which to transfer ammunition from a larger ship coming from the United States.
But the request to shippers had now been canceled due to safety concerns at the final destination related to the conflict in Gaza, Ryder said. Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip seeks to halt rocket fire by Hamas militants aimed at southern Israel. (Reuters)
7:54 AM Hamas has yet again abused the Humanitarian aid effort by trying to use trucks that Israel allows in with food and medicine for the Gazan residents, to smuggle in night vision and communications equipment. One entire truck of equipment was confiscated.
6:00 AM 5 Dead terrorists reported in heavy fighting in neighborhoods last night. 4 soldiers injured moderately to lightly.
(Map of fighting from Rotter)
2:57 AM Heavy fighting is within a neighborhood. Possibly Zeitun.
2:52 AM Heavy fighting continuing. No new details.
2:49 AM Breslevers sneak into Gaza earlier (or are they the special forces unit?) (Rotter)
2:45 AM A lot of tanks reported on the move.
2:42 AM Fighter jets overhead of the areas of fighting. Something serious going on.
2:37 AM Loud explosions being heard throughout Gaza. Heavy fighting in Khan Younis, south of Jebaliyah and Beit Lehiye. Heavy artillery fire.
2:31 AM Women in Green showed up in Nitzan earlier today to lighten up their
2:18 AM Watch the war live! All the TV channels covering the war in one spot: http://www.communa.agrisupportonline.com/tv.htm
2:12 AM A lot of shooting heard in North Gaza. No additional details yet.
2:02 AM 2 Israelis hurt in Kiryat Arba (Hebron) shooting attack earlier were soldiers in a lookout tower. They were lightly hurt by shrapnel from the bullets. Third soldier hurt when he fell from the tower and broke his shoulder.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, January 12, 2009
Day 17 of the War, Monday, January 12, 2009
Day 17 of the Gaza War, Monday, January 12, 2009 -- Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Please say a prayer for the safety of our soldiers.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
12:04 AM (Tuesday) Reports from Kiryat Arba of a terror attack -- gunfire into Kiryat Arba from Hebron's Gabal Je'ar results in two lightly wounded Israelis.11:59 PM Photos from IDF Spox of Reservists going into Gaza.
11:54 PM IAF jets continue striking targets in Gaza.
11:48 PM OK people -- time for me to get some sleep.
Last night's Magen David Adom ambulance shift kept me up all night, which put a serious dent in my productiveness today (but I did get a chance to drive an ambulance into Ben Gurion airport, drive past and around airplanes, so close I could touch them...which was rather fun).
Wishing you all a good night from the Muqata Crew. Thanks again for your letters of encouragement, contructive comments and feedback, and for those who gave gave donations to the Muqata blog.
See you in the morning.
Regards,
Jameel & The Muqata Crew.
muqata @ gmail . com
11:43 PM Embedded TV Crew in Gaza from Israel Channel 2 TV (Amir Bar Shalom) has the night vision video of a gun battle with Hamas terrorists, tonight in Gaza. It's in Hebrew, but the video speaks for itself.
11:29 PM Palestinians report heavy gunfire from Israeli Navy gunboats at Hamas targets along the Gaza coastline.
11:28 PM Apparently, the IDF soldiers wounded today were from "friendly fire". IDF investigating.
11:00 PM Released for publication by IDF censor: 1 IDF soldier seriously wounded in Gaza this evening, 3 lightly wounded.
10:46 PM Palestinian sources report very heavy IDF artillery shelling in Northern Gaza, accompanied by heavy IAF helicopter gunship support fire.
10:24 PM While I cannot personally attest to the veracity of this story, it has been flying around the Hebrew blog forums. After seeing it at Rafi G's "Life in Israel" blog, I've decided to post a translation from the Hebrew version on one of the forums.
It may already be an urban [combat] legend, but there are no atheists in foxholes. (Update - similar story found here as well)
An IDF soldier that entered Gaza along with his troop, passed by a house in Gaza. Next to the house he saw an old woman who warned him, "Don't enter this house, it's booby-trapped." The soldier ignored her, and continued towards the house, when to his suprise, he noticed the house was indeed booby-trapped.
The soldiers continued on into Gaza, and he saw the same old woman at another home, and she warned him once again, "Don't enter this house, it's booby-trapped." The soldier asked the woman, "You were at the other house, what are you doing here?"
The elderly woman replied, "I am Rachel the matriach, and I'm here to protect you."
The solider called his Rabbi who told him that the previous day, his community was immersed in prayer, and beseeching Rachel to watch over the soldiers.
| יד כֹּה אָמַר ה, קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע נְהִי בְּכִי תַמְרוּרִים--רָחֵל, מְבַכָּה עַל-בָּנֶיהָ; מֵאֲנָה לְהִנָּחֵם עַל-בָּנֶיהָ, כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ | Jerimiyah 31: 14 Thus saith the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not. {S} |
| טו כֹּה אָמַר ה, מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי, וְעֵינַיִךְ, מִדִּמְעָה: כִּי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם-ה, וְשָׁבוּ מֵאֶרֶץ אוֹיֵב | 15 Thus saith the LORD: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. |
| טז וְיֵשׁ-תִּקְוָה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ, נְאֻם-ה; וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים, לִגְבוּלָם | 16 And there is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return to their own border. {S} |
10:20 PM 1,500 brave the Cleveland cold to demonstrate their support for Israel
10:14 PM Surprise Visit to Gaza Home -- an IAF's fighter jet's spent fuel tank landed in this Gazan home. It would look great in the living room next to the fireplace.
10:11 PM Aid boat headed from Cyprus to Gaza turns back due to engine trouble (Reuters) (hat-tip: Alegria...note, this is not the Iranian Pirate ship...which has fallen off of the radar)
10:04 PM Hamas rocket launched at Israel, crashes into Hamas controlled area in Gaza. No injuries to Israelis.
9:52 PM Palestinians report that another 5 Hamas terrorists were killed by IDF troops this evening in the Gaza City neighborhood of "Zeitoun", bringing the current total of Hamas terrorists killed today, to 25.
9:39 PM Day 17 of IDF Operation Cast-Lead -- in Photos. (from AP and Reuters)
This picture is very cool -- its the reflection of a solider in the forward lens of a MeproLight rapid target acquisition sight, mounted on an M4 rifle
(I have the same one on my personal rifle -- Jameel)
9:22 PM Excellent post about "Why Children Die in Gaza?" including every video you'll ever need to win a "war of facts" with pro-Hamas losers. (hat-tip: Abbi)
9:05 PM Both Channel 1 and Channel 2 Israel TV report that an Israeli flag is now flying over the ruins of the Jewish Netzarim settlement.
Reminder: Jubilant Palestinians destroying the Netzarim Synagogue after IDF forces withdrew from Gaza and Israel removed all Jews from the Gaza strip 3 years ago.
9:04 PM Ongoing battles between IDF forces and Hamas -- IDF tank unit attacks Hamas terror cell on location of destroyed Netzarim settlement.
9:02 PM Channel 2 Israel TV (Danny Kushmarov) reports that a "broken" Ismaeel Haniyeh is requesting a "cease fire".
8:33 PM Reports from Gaza that the IDF is warning reporters and all to evacuate the "News Tower" in Gaza...
8:29 PM Attempted smuggling of consumer electronics within the "Humanitarian Aid" going into Gaza at the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. IDF confiscated the equipment and opened an investigation. (ynet)
8:22 PM Arab parties disqualified from running in Israeli elections due to failure to recognize Israel.
Arab Party Balad's chairman Jamal Zahalka said during the heated debate to MK David Tal from Kadima: "You drink Palestinian blood. You are a racist."
MK Ahmed Tibi added: "Every vote for Kadima is a bullet in the chest of a Palestinian child."
(read it all here at ynet)
8:20 PM Significant numbers of IDF reserve forces entering Gaza (Hebrew, ynet)
8:18 PM Hamas kingpin Ismaeel Haniyeh on Al-Jazeera: "Victory is Near!"
8:08 PM As a result of the war, Israel's Ministry of Education announced that students taking winter-time "bagrut" (matriculation) exams would be entitled to the following advantages:
1. An additional bonus of 10 points
2. Longer time to take the exams
3. The school term average (magen)would count for 60% of a student's grade and the matriculation exam 40%, instead of 50-50.
7:44 PM Who is subsidizing the Hamas birthrate in Gaza?
Thanks to all those who sent a link to this article.The reason for Gaza's endless youth bulge is that a large majority of its population does not have to provide for its offspring. Most babies are fed, clothed, vaccinated and educated by UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Unlike the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, which deals with the rest of the world's refugees and aims to settle them in their respective host countries, UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian problem by classifying as refugees not only those who originally fled their homes, but all of their descendants as well.
UNRWA is benevolently funded by the U.S. (31%) and the European Union (nearly 50%) -- only 7% of the funds come from Muslim sources. Thanks to the West's largesse, nearly the entire population of Gaza lives in a kind of lowly but regularly paid dependence. One result of this unlimited welfare is an endless population boom. Between 1950 and 2008, Gaza's population has grown from 240,000 to 1.5 million. The West basically created a new Near Eastern people in Gaza that at current trends will reach three million in 2040. Within that period, Gazans may alter the justifications and directions of their aggression but are unlikely to stop the aggression itself. See the rest here on the Wall Street Journal.
7:40 PM Ismael Haniyeh -- Hamas leader from Gaza to make a special announcement from his bunker in Gaza in the coming minutes.
7:39 PM One IDF soldier was lightly wounded today in Gaza.
7:31 PM As of 7:30 PM, 18 rockets were shot at Israel today -- cities hit include Kiryat Gat, Ashkelon, and Be'er Sheva.
7:19 PM Over the past hour, 3 rockets landed in the Western Negev. No injuries or damage reported.
5:37 PM "Psychological Warfare Hamas Video". If this is the best they can come up with, they should really send their video crews back for retraining. Israel's leftists are scarier than this video.
5:29 PM Palestinians throw firebomb at Jewish motorist east of Tapuach Junction (Shomron/West Bank). No injuries.
5:27 PM Rockets landed in open areas outside Be'er Sheva. No injuries, no damage.
5:17 PM Rockets landing NOW in Be'er Sheva area. Air Raid sirens going off the past minute.
4:56 PM IDF tank goes up in flames in Gaza due to electrical problem. No injuries to IDF soldiers. (Though I'm sure the empty hotdog plastic wrapper marauders in Gaza will try to claim credit)
4:49 PM See Humanitarian Aid delivered to Gaza via Israel's "Kerem Shalom" checkpoint in "real-time" on the live IDF webcam feed. While the live feed will operate 24x7, you won't always see trucks going in. For now, the current "Humanitarian Aid" cease-fire times for deliveres are 10 AM to 1 PM Israel time (GMT+2)... (of course, that doesn't stop Humanitarian Aid Hamas (HAH) from continuing to shoot rockets at Israel) [hat-tip: AF]
4:45 PM Hamas once again rejects Egypt's updated cease-fire proposal, insisting on necessary modifications to the proposal. Reports that the Hamas reps will be returning to Damascus.
4:43 PM Just before the Disengagement, we were promised how safe Israel would become. This video was shown Israel Channel 10 yesterday...subtitled into English. (hat-tip MB)
4:24 PM Another false Air Raid Siren alarm in Be'er Sheva
4:17 PM Reports of rocket landings in Sderot. Teams investigating
4:15 PM DoubleTapper at the front.
As I mentioned yesterday, my good buddy DoubleTapper was called in yesterday for emergency reserve IDF duty. He just sent me a photo...
4:10 PM "Peace" vandalism in Jerusalem.
Anat from Jerusalem called the police this morning after finding her car in Jerusalem with paint sprayed on it. Besides paint on the car, her pro-YESHA bumper sticker was painted over, and the words, "Peace Yes. Occupation No" were sprayed on her car. Jerusalem police report that dozens of other cars were vandalized in the same manner. (source)
4:09 PM Rockets land in open fields. No injuries or damage.
4:07 PM Rockets on their way to Western Negev.
Sirens in Beer Sheva at 3:57 PM -- false alarms, no rockets launched.
1:54 PM New advertiser alert: Celebrate Pesach in Israel (maybe even meet Jameel).
1:38 PM Before and After pictures of Grad rocket hit on a house in Ashkelon...(more pics here as well)
Before Hamas Rocket:
After Hamas Rocket:
1:25 PM Jameel back in the saddle (and yes, I'm exhausted, will explain soon). In the meantime you decide:
While Hamas triumphantly announced yesterday that they had successfully captured empty plastic hotdogs wrappers left over by IDF forces,
The IDF shows off some of what they found:
I'm sure this disproportionate display of captured bounty will soon be added to the growing list of "war crimes" by Israel. (I was accused last week of "stealing" the "Muqata" name from Palestinians as well...the Hague is getting ready)
12:18 PM Grad missile hit Ashkelon around 15 minutes ago. Direct hit on building. All residents were in bomb shelter. No injuries. Yes damage.
Unilateral ceasefire still in place.
11:50 AM Rocket launched at Ofakim. Ceasefire holding on Israeli side as usual.
11:41 AM Cease Fire? Hamas rocket hits Ashkelon. I wish I could publicize where it hit. The true definition of irony.
9:49 AM Rocket/Mortar attack on Kissufim.
9:39 AM MUQATA SCOOP: As first mentioned on this blog at the start of the war, it is now acknowledged that Hamas terrorists are hiding in bunkers built under the Shifa hospital and are connected by tunnels to the rest of Gaza. The Shifa hospital was seriously refurbished and upgraded by Israel for the Gazan residents when Israel still controlled that part of Eretz Yisrael. Many of the terrorists are hiding under Building 2 of Shifa hospital.
Israel built these "bunkers" under the hospital originally as a basement and strong foundation for Building 2 of the hospital (which Israel built). It was meant for the laundry machines and other services.
9:38 AM Earlier this week, IDF uncovered an entire school (next to the Gaza zoo) which was booby trapped.
9:36 AM Between 10:00 AM and 1PM the IDF will take a break in attacking to allow Humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hamas fully expected to take advantage of this lull to reposition for better aimed attacked against Israel.
9:33 AM At 7:30 AM a rocket hit the empty courtyard of a Chabbad school in Be'er Sheva. School was canceled today because of the war, otherwise the courtyard would have been full.
9:28 AM Grad missile hits near Kiryat Gat today. Officially it is the first time a rocket has been acknowledged to have hit near this town.
9:26 AM Sorry, slight blip in ten reporting after we all crashed from exhaustion from this 24/7 reporting these past 2 weeks (even with the Shabbat break) as well as our other duties (as Jameel mentioned last night).
Updates will commence soon.
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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Day 16 of the War, Sunday, January 11, 2009
Day 16 of the Gaza War, Sunday, January 11, 2009 -- Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Please say a prayer for the safety of our soldiers.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
9:48 PM Feedback Request: What do you think of a daily roundup in audio format? Drop us an email (muqata @ gmail . com) or leave a comment. OK, I really have to leave now. bye.
--Jameel
9:47 PM UN Forces in South Lebanon prevent terror attack against them (Italian troops). Reported by Future TV, source.
9:39 PM Fine, a few more posts before I run.
Over 10,000 demonstrate in NYC on behalf of Israel.
(photo, courtesy of HonestlyFrum)
9:29 PM Notice, Duty Calls.
Due to the overwhelming stress on Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah volunteers that are responding to emergency calls 24/7 for the past 16 days in Southern Israel...I've been called in to do a volunteer ambulance night shift tonight in Central Israel to replace other drivers who are down South.
Therefore, I wont be updating through tomorrow morning. Hopefully either JoeSettler, Litvshe, or someone from the Muqata crew will be able to handle the Muqata night shift.
Wishing you all a good evening (and hoping I get some sleep).
See you tomorrow,
Jameel
8:29 PM IDF starting to send reserve units into combat roles in Gaza, not only standing army units.
8:27 PM Ehud Ya'ari (Channel 2 news): Hamas in Gaza ready for unconditional ceasefire. Clear break between leadership in Gaza and Damascus.
8:25 PM Sirens in Ashkelon and Ofakim. Rocket falls in Ashkelon. No report of injuries.
6:43 PM IDF warnings - terror alert of possible kidnapping attempts against Israeli civilians in the Shomron region of the West Bank.
6:40 PM The air raid sirens from 6:14 PM were the warning for a rocket that landed in a Western Negev community. No injuires.
6:36 PM Channel 10, Israel TV (Alon Ben David) reports that apparently, Hamas has started using the SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles against IAF helicopters. (We reported last week on Thursday, 10:10 PM that IAF planes had picked up the radio signatures of SA-7...and now their use has started)
6:34 PM A Reporter on FOX refuses to accept Palestinian propaganda and outright lies. Watch this short, but excellent video clip.
6:24 This morning, a Grad rocket fell outside the Chabad House in Be'er Sheva. All this damage -- no injuries. (credit: Chabad on Line)
6:23 PM No reports of any rockets falling in Gaza surrounding communities. (Perhaps it was a false alarm? Still checking)6:14 PM Air Raid sirens in all Gaza surrounding communities. Details to follow.
I promised I'd give him a link on the blog, since his traffic will go down...now that he wont be able to blog for a while (being down south). Go help a drafted reserve IDF officer blogger, and take a peek at his blog.
Thanks,
Jameel.
5:38 PM Additional IAF air strikes on going at this time at the Philidephi corridor against Hamas smuggling tunnels.
5:34 PM Additional photos from Pro-Israel rally today in London (photo credit: David Shaw)
5:18 PM IDF Censor releases for publication; About an hour ago, Gunfire from Syria directed at Israelis at workers in the area of the village of Alonei HaBashan on the Golan Heights. Israel has raised a formal complaint with the UN. No injuries reported.
5:10 PM Channel 10, Israel TV: Increase in gun battles over the last hour in Gaza between IDF forces and Hamas.
4:53 PM Photos from Pro-Israel rally at Trafalgar Square in London. (photo credit: Skaj)
3:49 PM Rockets on their way to Ashdod, Ashkelon.
3:46 PM IDF Officer explains the situation to Arabs...in Arabic (with English subtitles)
hat-tip Jewish Odysseus blog, which also located a video on youtube which corroborates the email received earlier today from Sebastian...and you see the Israeli flag being removed, and the pro-Hamas crowd cheering.
3:45 PM Rockets on their way to Western Negev Kibbutzim.
3:44 PM Good News from Israel -- we've been blessed with a downpour of rain in Jerusalem the past few hours, despite the weather forecast to the opposite.
3:38 PM Video of IDF paratrooper officer with BBC (hat-tip; thunderpig, yes that is his blog's name :)
3:13 PM 2 rockets land in empty areas around S'derot.
2:50 PM Reports coming in that Israeli Air Force is currently hitting targets in Rafiach, S. Gaza.
12:44 PM US Government sending 325 containers of weapons and ammunition to Israel.
The U.S. military has sought to hire a merchant ship to deliver ammunition to Israel this month, tender documents show, but the Pentagon said the shipment was not linked to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.Here's the US government website entry that tracks the cargo ship.
A Pentagon spokesman said the ammunition was for a U.S. stockpile in Israel. The U.S. military pre-positions stockpiles in some countries in case it needs supplies at short notice.
In the tender documents, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) said the ship was to carry 325 standard 20-foot containers of what is listed as "ammunition" on two separate journeys from the Greek port of Astakos to the Israeli port of Ashdod in mid-to-late January. (Ha'aretz)
hat-tip: scoop @ rotter.
12:20 PM Reports of heavy artillery fire pounding Northern Gaza.
12:19 PM Rocket fired on Ashkelon about 15 minutes ago falls in open area. No injuries.
11:21 AM Some more combat pictures... (h/t Rotter)
