Attack in Jerusalem
Michael C. Moynihan | March 6, 2008, 4:19pm
A Palestinian gunman open fired on a packed cafeteria at a Jerusalem seminary today, killing eight Israelis and wounding dozens more. It is the worst attack in Israel since April 17, 2006, when a suicide bomber killed six in Tel Aviv. Sketchy details
from the Jerusalem Post:
Witnesses said that only one terrorist had entered the building and that he managed to fire 500-600 bullets over the course of 10 minutes before he was killed.
[...]
The incident occurred when at least one terrorist entered the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in the neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe carrying weapons. The terrorist was not wearing a suicide-bomb belt as earlier reported.
The gunman entered a dining hall where about 80 people were gathered, witnesses said, and opened fire. "There are at least seven killed and 10 people wounded," said Eli Dein, director of Israel's rescue service.
A spokesman for PA President Mahmoud Abbas said he condemns the attacks, whatever that's worth: "President Mahmoud Abbas condemns the attack in Jerusalem that claimed the lives of many Israelis and he reiterated his condemnation of all attacks that target civilians, whether they are Palestinians or Israelis." CNN's Ben Wedeman, who was in Gaza when the news broke, reports that Hamas members took to the streets to celebrate the massacre. This is, unfortunately, something of a post-massacre tradition with Hamas.
The Wine Commonsewer | March 6, 2008, 11:15pm | #
I've been summoned to watch the Idol results show. And, it's wine thirty.
I'll leave you with this:
A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time. She wanted to include him in a holiday season series on Chanukkah, Christmas and the Winter Festival and Family Gathering time.
So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site.
She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very Slowly, she approached him for an interview.
"Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?
"Morris Fishbien," he replied.
"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"
"For about 60 years."
"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"
"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims."
"I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop."
"I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."
"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"
"Like I'm talking to a fucking wall.
Good night all.
The Expatriate | March 7, 2008, 11:50am | #
re: Thoreau and joe
>
Israel could let the Palestinians have casinos. That seems to work pretty well.
>Finally, a sensible solution!
Actually, that might not work out so well for the Israelis as they are a victim of finanical success and the free market.
The following comments are not intended for the first 50%, who believe the JOOS are the source of all evil. You can take your "Posse Comitatus"-ass and get the fuck out of my party! As for the other 50%, who tend to support the Palestinians due to an ignorance of history, these comments are for you.
While there is ample archeological and textual evidence that Jewish communities have continuously existed places like Jerusalem, Jericho, Nablus, et al. from 70AD onward, the development of what is now known as Israel did not start until the 1870s. During this time Jewish settlers, both Ashkenaz and Sephard, joined their co-religonists in Turkish-occupied Judea and Samaria.
What is not well known is that at this time,
Arab immigration begun, en masse, as well. These future "Palestinians" were attracted to settle due to as development by Jewish settlers raised economic conditions well above those of neigboring Arab countries. Ottoman
efendi landlords in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere sold, at inflated prices, unoccupied land to Jewish farmers. These farmers, in turn, employed both Jews and Arabs. The new Arab
cum Palestinian immigrants also found jobs in government and infrastructure construction.
Thus, far from being aboriginal, Palestinians are actually a form of Arab "carpetbaggers" who came to cash in on Jewish-led economic development. If the Israelis hadn't been so successful in developing their economy, there would be no "Palestinian question".
P.S. Extra points goes to those who can find an Arab-language source that employs the phrase "al-Falastin" that dates from before the 1950's.
Geotpf | March 7, 2008, 2:47pm | #
There's a simple solution to the Israel/Palestine problem.
Israel needs to set a firm border between Israel and not-Israel. I don't give a shit where it is, providing it's not gerrymandered like a Texas congressional district. The only caveat is that everybody living on the Israeli side of said border automatically becomes an Israeli citizen, able to vote in elections for the Israeli parliament (so it can't go much further than the 1967 borders, or there would be more Muslims than Jews in Israel and the Muslims will just vote the Jews out at the ballot box). Then Israel withdrawals completely from not-Israel and gives up ALL claims (airspace, mineral rights, everything) to not-Israel, and builds a huge honking wall on the line.
Problem solved. Sure, there will be a few extremists who won't be happy, but this is a compromise that most Palenstians, Israelis, and the world at large (even many Muslim nations would begrudingly support this) can accept, so the support for said extremists would be minimal.
One of the great things about this is that the Israelis can do this all on their own-nobody from Gaza or the West Bank has to be involved at all.
And since that's the case, America could force Israel's hand here. They could order them to follow said plan, or they withdrawal all military and non-military aid to Israel, AND, abstain from any UN vote involving Israel. Without the US's support, Israel would be overrun quickly. Terrorists and other arab governments would attack, and the UN would initiate a blockcade against the country, amoung other things.
Israel needs to accept that the United States' support is the only reason the state of Israel still exists. As such, they should obey our commands, not the other way around.
Ali | March 7, 2008, 4:00pm | #
Isaac- That's why this thing is never going to be solved if we keep looking at yesterday's events, last week's, last month's, or the last two decades'. We really ought to go all the way back to those turbulent times in the 30s-40s to understand how deep the conflict is. Doing anything less than that is unfair to the Palestinian cause. Ultimately, way before Palestinian terrorism against innocent Israelis, lands were grabbed, people were massacred (e.g., Deir Yassin), mass forced relocation of people, and properties taken away illegitimately.
Some, like J sub D (and this is one of the few areas were I disagree with him), say that you know this is now reality, live with it. I am not sure two wrongs will ever make right. Anything short of fixing the original erring means that there will be very little space for peace, sadly. For people will just keep blaming Palestinians for their violence, which will invite more violence by Israel in the name of "self-defense", to only be faced with further violence by Palestinians seeking revenge, and no peace will ever come about.
I think that the burden is really on the stronger power to make concessions. And no, I do not mean petty concessions that do not address the original problem at hand.
If A and B are in conflict and A is far more powerful than B, why would B have any incentive to trust A with his stronger powers? On the other hand, A has the power to make the right moves in the right directions. But handing out the crumbs of what was taken 60 years ago is probably not going to be received by Palestinians as nothing but an insult.
To the guy above who hints that there were no "Palestinians" or "falisteen" before the late 1970s, well, I suggest you go watch a movie. I dunno, Kingdom of Heaven could offer some education. What the hell do you mean there were no "Palestine" or "Palestinians" before 1900s?
The Voices | March 8, 2008, 10:37am | #
Ron Paul, Rick Barton, and an Israeli sergeant were all captured by terrorists in Iraq. The leader of the terrorists told them that he would grant them each one last request before they were beheaded.
Ron Paul said, "Well, I'm a Texan, so I'd like one last bowlful of hot spicy chili."
The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chili.
Paul ate it all and said, "Now I can die content."
Rick Barton said, "I would like to read a Ron Paul newsletter."
The leader said, "Why do you want to read that racist crap?"
Barton fell silent, inwardly assuming the terrorist was really a Mossad agent.
The leader turned and said, "And now, Mr. Israeli tough guy, what is your final wish?"
"Kick me in the ass," said the soldier."
"What?" asked the leader? "Will you mock us in your last hour?"
"No, I'm not kidding. I want you to kick me in the ass," insisted the Israeli.
So the leader shoved him into the open and kicked him in the ass.
The soldier went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9 mm pistol from under his flack jacket, and shot the leader dead. In the resulting confusion, he jumped to his knapsack, pulled out his carbine and sprayed the terrorists with gunfire.
In a flash, all terrorists were either dead or fleeing for their lives.
As the soldier was untying Paul and Barton, they asked him, "Why didn't you just shoot them in the beginning? Why did you ask them to kick you in the ass first?"
"What?" replied the Israeli, "And have you two fucking report that I was the aggressor?!"
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