Five wounded, two seriously, as Gaza rockets slam into Be'er Sheva

[oberliner]

Two rockets fired by Gaza militants on Thursday hit Be'er Sheva, wounding five people, including a 7-year-old boy who was seriously hurt. One of the rockets scored a direct hit on a car.

A spokesman for the Magen David Adom emergency services said two people were seriously hurt and two were moderately wounded in the attack.

The Israel Defense Forces earlier Thursday shot down a Qassam rocket launched into Israel by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Shortly before 8 A.M., an Israel Air Force jet fired on a rocket launching squad and intercepted a rocket, causing it to explode.

Eyewitnesses in the Kfar Aza area in the western Negev reported seeing the mid-air collision.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1055759.html

[John Q. Citizen]

1. So the Israeli government was wrong to think they could stop the rockets by killing civilians?

Half the population of Gaza is under 14 years of age.

I'm sick of my tax monies being used to sponsor state terrorism.

We invaded Iraq and claimed self defense. i don't believe it.

Israel invades Gaza and claims self defense. I don't believe it.

[oberliner]

2. Why would Hamas continue to launch rockets?

How do they feel that this action could possibly benefit the people of Gaza?

Especially the 50 percent of them who are under 14 years of age.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. They are trying to defend their kids.

[oberliner]

45. Shooting rockets randomly at Israeli cities defends their kids?

I don't see the connection.

[John Q. Citizen]

46. It's simple. The Israelis targeted the UN to protect their kids. now do you get the connection?

[oberliner]

47. Not really

I don't see how any of this is making any kids safer on either side of the conflict.

[EFerrari]

12. I keep wondering the opposite -- why would they stop when they have nothing

left to lose. What would they look forward to except an early death by assasination?

The welfare of others is an ethical goal of a pretty high order. It's difficult for most people to think in those terms if their most basic needs are not only not met and when they have little hope of being met.

[oberliner]

44. Have they tried another approach?

Had Hamas decided to abandon violence and recognize Israel after their success in the legislative elections, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today.

[EFerrari]

52. That's not accurate, oberliner, and I suspect you know that.

On the contrary, it was Israel and the United States that refused to recognize Hamas.

[oberliner]

56. Palestinian PM: Hamas will never recognize Israel

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday the Islamist militant group Hamas would never recognize Israel.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL1567279920070115

BBC: Hamas rejects Israeli recognition

Palestinian militant group Hamas will not recognise Israel, its political leader Khaled Meshaal has insisted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7359661.stm

At rally, Hamas vows never to recognize Israel

More than 200,000 Palestinians rallied Saturday in Gaza City to mark the Hamas movement's 20th anniversary, where deposed Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said that whoever declares he will never recognize Israel earns "the people's love." The crowd chanted: "We will never recognize Israel."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/934798.html

[EFerrari]

57. And in practice, after the election, Hamas started seeking a longterm truce with Israel.

Please.

[oberliner]

58. Truce yes, recognition no

Just saying it could have gone a long way.

[EFerrari]

59. I don't know how many honest actors there are on either side

but on both sides, they seem to me hemmed in by their rhetoric.

[oberliner]

60. Can't argue with that

At some point, however, you'd think the leadership on both sides would recognize that new approaches are the only way forward.

[subsuelo]

62. Assuming that moving 'forward' is a goal (for either side)

I don't think that's the case.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Seems they were. But it hardly justifies Hamas tactics.

'We invaded Iraq and claimed self defense. i don't believe it.'

Me neither

'Israel invades Gaza and claims self defense. I don't believe it.'

Me neither (at least as regards effective and appropriate self defense).

And the one you omitted:

Hamas launches rockets and claims self defense. I don't believe it.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pelsar]

6. your confused...

i'm the mouthpiece for the israeli death machine...brit is a modified progressive who tries to keep to a single standard in judging societies.....and their actions (progressives i've noticed tend toward a flexible double standard when judging actions)

[azurnoir]

7. Should someone offer you a Pepsi then? n/t

[shaayecanaan]

55. I'm the cool guy around here...all the chicks dig me

I like macrame and I also make my own soap.

Seriously, who gives a shit? None of us use our real names anyway. I didnt even know Leftishbrit was a girl. I wouldnt know any of you from a sod in a bog.

brit is a modified progressive who tries to keep to a single standard in judging societies

Really? So would Spain be entitled to launch air strikes on the Pyrenees in response to the latest spate of bombing attacks from Basque separatists?

Or is bombing only appropriate for A-Rabs?

[LeftishBrit]

64. OK.. but

'Really? So would Spain be entitled to launch air strikes on the Pyrenees in response to the latest spate of bombing attacks from Basque separatists?

Or is bombing only appropriate for A-Rabs?'

I don't think it's appropriate for anyone.

Criticizing Hamas doesn't mean approving of the bombing! Even though some people on the board seem to assume it does.


There's an analogy nearer home for me than Spain. We had MANY years of internal terrorism in Britain from factions in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland itself suffered from terrorism from both the IRA and Protestant 'paramilitary' (i.e terrorist) groups. In mainland Britain, the terrorism mainly came from the IRA and related groups. Fortunately, the British government did not bomb Belfast - or Dublin; and eventually peace was reached after long negotiations including some very nasty groups on both sides. (N.b. I am referring to relatively recent history, not to 19th century British treatment of Irealnd, which was indeed brutal.)

[pelsar]

65. what do you think...

should the UK have attacked Germany after they stopped all of the air attacks during the battle of Britan?....i dont think germany was really threatening Britan after that.....

in answer to you question..l cant say i know enough about the history of spain and the basque to comment on it

[cali]

9. seems to me you're talking out of

your rear end and attacking someone who's been thoughtful and fair in this forum, and who doesn't support Israel's occupation or the attack on Gaza, and you call here a "mouthpiece for israeli death machine"?

Disgusting crap from a spewer of hate.

[azurnoir]

10. No really she isn' ta mouthpeice I have ever seen her justtify

any of Israels actions nor have I seen her justify Hamas actions either

[Howardx]

11. does she post anywhere but i/p?

not that ive noticed, what does a brit need to be on an american political message board only commenting about israel for? mouthpiece.

[cali]

13. why yes she does post outside

I/P. And if she's a mouthpiece, genius, why is she condemning Israel?

[pelsar]

14. a little ethnocentric?

whats wrong with having a view from those in England?.......

[LeftishBrit]

17. Just do a fucking search!

And thanks to Pelsar, Cali and Azurnoir - who have all actually bothered to read my posts instead of doing a kneejerk response!

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pelsar]

27. wow...hey cali...happened again to you...

you've been accused so much of being an israeli propagandist, perhaps i should give you some lessons..at least it will make you more credible

[cali]

31. yep.

I don't call Israelis filthy nazis so I'm not a good little peace loving pro-palestinian anti-zionist poster. At least that's clearly how some see it

[azurnoir]

33. well she used to be and then she changed

sort of like a butterfly

[cali]

36. uh, wrong

I've never supported anything but what I support now- the end to the occupation and settlements and I've never supported Israel's military actions against Palestinians. I do support a two state solution. Now please stop making shit up.

[azurnoir]

39. Sorry that is my memory of you

well my main memory of you is dogging Tom Joad but if I am wrong I am sorry

[cali]

no problem

and I did criticize what Tom wrote. There's a reason he's not longer here, and it's not me, it's what he posted. You genuinely have empathy for the civilians on both sides- as can be seen in this thread by your response to the kid who got injured. Some people are just filled with hate- for one side or the other. They're the people I have a problem with.

[azurnoir]

43. on the propagandist thing

I have a question if you'll answer it
are you just here to give an opinion or are you trying to influence the way people think about Israel and this is not an either or

[cali]

29. yes indeed.

everyone who disagrees with a totalitarian little hater like you is simply a propagandist. You are poisonous and a hater. I won't speak for pelsar, but I can tell you without doubt that I don't propagandize for anyone or anything.

keep it up. keep up the hate. it's all you have.

[azurnoir]

25. Yes she does and she was quite unabashed

in her support of Obama pre-election and now

[Howardx]

28. so?

big deal, she supports the death machine thats all i need to know.

[cali]

35. ack. do you have an honest bone in your body

You accused her of not posting anywhere but here. Caught in your stupid assumption, you move the goalposts to "prove" that LB is a supporter of "the death machine".

[azurnoir]

37. Howard she isn't she really really isn't

she is almost unclassifiable she does not whole heartily support either sides extremists. She just does not bad mouth anyone either that I think is the Brit part of her

[Howardx]

38. like i said

im done discussing it, ive read her posts for years and have formed my opinion. i dont post here much anyways unless theres propaganda to be countered so you all will be able to continue your i/p sewing circle unaffected.

[Howardx]

40. there you go

now its all scrubbed clean. this forum is pathetic.

[pelsar]

41. good to hear....

you've got your opinion and there is no need for any additional information..... tolerance of others is obviously not a value you think very highly of.....

[Crunchy Frog]

63. Actually, she posts a lot in the Skeptics forum, and the Health forum.

And probably in other areas that I don't frequent so much.

I often find myself disagreeing with her, but I don't think that makes her some kind of "mouthpiece". Also, there are lots of Brits and people of other nationalities who post on DU.

If you think someone is a troll, you should alert on them, but accusing them of it in this fashion is unacceptable and in violation of DU rules.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Of course I'm a mouthpiece for the Israeli 'death machine' as you call it-

that's why I have signed pro-ceasefire petitions, and support so many militaristic organizations:

www.peacenow.org.uk

www.jfjfp.org.uk

www.bsst.org.uk

www.allmep.org

www.onevoicemovement.org


But I suppose 'all who are not with us are against us'. Where have I heard that before?

[pelsar]

16. dont confuse the issue....

you dared to condem hamas...tsk tsk tsk...thats like...well being a traitor for those who "believe"

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pelsar]

22. on the contrary....thats why its important to respond....

there are those...mainly the religious types..we find them in the far right/left camps..sometimes they hide out as "progressives" or conservatives but usually they show themselves with the massive intolerance for others.....

i guess this is one examples.....popup...say something that is akin to: your either for us or against us"...and then run away......

[cali]

20. you are a real piece of work

LB does indeed post in other forums. Get off your ass and do a search. She's posted quite a bit in GD and in GDP about Obama and the election and other issues. Your lies suck. And she is impartial. You? You're just a hater. If someone doesn't yell Nazi scum loud enough about Israelis, you consider them a "mouthpiece for the Israeli death machine".

Pathetic and disgusting.

[LeftishBrit]

21. Do a search for my posts on GD!

Not to mention GDP, and the UK forum.

Or do you think I've got some little green man from Mars there pretending to be me?

This is getting surreal!

[Douglas Carpenter]

26. to be fair LeftishBrit has made it quite clear that she opposes the current Israeli actions in the

Gaza. She has made that clear in any number of post.

As an unabashed pro-Palestinian supporter, I don't share many of LeftishBrits views on this conflict or her over-all analysis. But I have no reason to doubt her sincerity in opposing the current Israeli actions in the Gaza or her belief in the two-state solution.

If peace finally does come and the Palestinians do achieve self-determination and some measure of justice - it will only come and can only come with the support of a number of people who consider themselves pro-Israeli as well as those such as yourself and myself who consider themselves pro-Palestinian.

[LeftishBrit]

30. Thanks Douglas.!You've actually bothered to read my posts too!

[Howardx]

32. we disagree then

i think she gives lip service to "opposing the current israeli actions" as do quite a few people here "oh what israel is doing is bad but hamas....." heard it over and over.

[Howardx]

34. for the record

i wont be discussing this further so tilt at my windmill if you like but it wont be answered.

[HeraldSquare212]

23. Or they don't really want to stop them.

[azurnoir]

8. It is tragic that a child got hurt in this attack

hopefully he will recover fully

[High Plains]

42. Hmm, Israel's stated war aims don't seem to be working.

I thought this war was to stop the rocket attacks?

But it seems to only ensure that they will keep coming. Maybe Israel should quit murdering Palestinians by the hundreds and try to come up with an acceptable peace settlement. Just sayin'.

[oberliner]

48. Boy, 7, seriously hurt as Gaza rockets slam into Be'er Sheva

Two rockets fired by Gaza militants on Thursday hit Be'er Sheva, wounding five people, including a 7-year-old boy who was seriously hurt. One of the rockets struck a car.

A spokesman for the Magen David Adom emergency services said two people were seriously hurt and two were moderately wounded in the attack.

The Israel Air Force destroyed the launcher used in Gaza to fire the rockets into Be'er Sheva, and hit the squad that fired them, Channel 10 quoted the army as reporting.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1055759.html

[ORDagnabbit]

49. so whats that make...1 israeli boy to 400 Gazan kids?

[DCKit]

50. Injured, not killed.

I believe that makes it about 1:2,500.

This stupid shit has got to stop.

[oberliner]

51. Yes, I agree, it is tragic when a small child is seriously injured

Let's hope he pulls through.

[High Plains]

53. Unless he's a Palestinian?

[oberliner]

54. No matter who the child is

That so many Palestinian children have been killed in this conflict is beyond tragic.

[sixmile]

61. The gates of hell have been opened as promised

by Hamas toothless leaders. Look out below!

Shock. Shock. Shock. Treated for shock shock shock.