IDF troops uncover third explosives factory in Nablus raid

[oberliner]

Israel Defense Forces troops on Monday uncovered an explosives laboratory in the West Bank city of Nablus, on the second day of an arrest operation in the city. The laboratory, which contained two gas balloons, pipe bombs, explosives, computers and electrical equipment, was the third uncovered by the IDF since Saturday.

Earlier Monday, Palestinian Anan al-Tibi, 50, was killed and his son was injured day during the raid in Nablus. Al-Tibi was killed by a bullet to the neck while walking down a street with his son in the old city, breaking the army's curfew. His son was wounded in his leg from the gunfire. The two were apparently unarmed.

IDF troops sealed off the center of Nablus' old city with cement blocks and trash containers Monday, and moved from apartment to apartment in search of seven Palestinian fugitives whose names the army broadcast over local TV and radio stations.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/830791.html

[Hunky Dunky]

1. More good news!

Sounds as if more innocent lives have potentially been saved!

[breakaleg]

2. An unarmed man shot in the neck for walking down the street!? Wow.

[Scurrilous]

3. A bullet to the neck for breaking curfew?

Sounds fair to me!!1!

[breakaleg]

4. You are joking right?

[Scurrilous]

5. Could be worse.

For instance.

[breakaleg]

6. As I was reading that I was going to say, 'at least they were charged with murder bla bla bla'

but then I kept reading.

This makes me wonder what happened to Israeli settlers who murdered Palestinians. I could only find news reports of the incidents, but nothing on any charges or sentences.

[oberliner]

8. May not have been walking down the street

From AFP:

NABLUS, West Bank (AFP) - Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in Nablus on Monday as the army pressed on with its biggest crackdown on militants in the occupied West Bank city in nearly a year.

Anan al-Tibi, 41, was shot in the neck and killed and his 22-year-old son Ashraf was wounded when Israeli soldiers stormed their home in Nablus's Old City, Palestinian medical sources said.

An army spokesman told AFP that troops had opened fire on three suspicious people standing on the roof of a house where militants were believed to be hiding.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_afp/mideastconflict_070226170021

[breakaleg]

7. Another report:

-------------
Local medics said the dead Palestinian in Nablus, Anan al-Teibi, 42, had been struck by a bullet in his neck while at home in the old city. A neighbour, Nashat Hijawi, said he had been hit by a passing jeep. The army said it had fired on "suspicious figures" on a rooftop, killing one and injuring another.
-------------


http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2308387.ece

[Scurrilous]

9. We also target civilians

Aims served by Israeli arms no loftier than those served by Palestinian pipe bombs

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3370915,00.html

<snip>

"The "al-Sanabel" television station in Nablus almost aired an exclusive report this week: An elite unit of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades raided an Israel Military Industries plant in the coastal plain and uncovered sophisticated weapons labs. The arms that were confiscated include 300 air-to-surface missiles for helicopters, 20 tons of plastic explosives, one bullet-proof bulldozer, and six Merkava 4 tanks.

The report that was almost aired noted that this achieved strategic balance against the weapons labs uncovered in the raid on Nablus, where forces confiscated five pipe bombs, one LAW rocket, a large explosive device, and four bags of fertilizer used for bomb-making.

The report, as noted, was not aired. Not only because Israel Military Industries labs were not uncovered, but also because "al-Sanabel" was put out of action. The IDF detained the station manager and confiscated its broadcasting equipment. Why is the IDF assaulting journalists and media outlets? This is apparently an irrelevant question and an almost immoral one under the current climate.

Why did the IDF impose a siege on the government hospital in Nablus and prevent wounded Palestinians from being taken there? Why does the IDF take over a school and turn it into a Shin Bet interrogation center? What was the sin committed by Anan al-Tabibi, who was shot in the head by a sniper while in his own backyard? Again, illogical questions. We have a war, and in war there is no reason to be strict when it comes to respecting life of civilians.

The thing is, this is untrue. This is not a war, but rather, a unilateral invasion into a Palestinian town, and even in wars there are explicit bans on unnecessary harm to the civilian population. The IDF has not heard about it; the Palestinian population, including its assets and needs, are like thin air for the invading forces."