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Ear to the Ground

Israel Breaks Out the Iron Dome

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Posted on Mar 27, 2011
Wikimedia Commons

The Israeli city of Beersheba is highlighted on a CIA-generated map, with Gaza a potentially threatening presence to the west.

Following a recent spate of violence in the relentless Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel is trying out a new anti-rocket defense system known as Iron Dome to guard the city of Beersheba, according to The New York Times.

The New York Times:

Military officials said the deployment was accelerated because of the recent escalation in rocket and mortar fire by Gaza militants against southern Israel and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which have led to fears of an all-out confrontation. But Israeli officials warned that the system, known as Iron Dome, was still experimental and could not provide the country with full protection from approaching rockets.

The situation along the border remained volatile. On Saturday, Gaza-based militant groups met and agreed to restore an unofficial cease-fire, according to officials from Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. The cease-fire has largely held since the end of Israel’s three-week military offensive in Gaza in the winter of 2008-9. That war came after years of rocket fire against southern Israel.

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By Inherit The Wind, March 29, 2011 at 11:28 am Link to this comment

But most posts here criticize Israel for wanting to protect itself, as if self-protection is just another Israeli atrocity.

*************************
Yeah, that’s true.

See, the fanatics on both sides ALL look like idiots for refusing to see anything by Black and White.

Do Israelis need to defend themselves?  Sure!
Have Israelis committed atrocities? Undoubtedly.

Do Palestinians have a right to defend themselves? Sure!
Have Palestinians committed atrocities? Undoubtedly.

The problem with the fanatics is that they justify the atrocities committed by the side they support, claiming everything from “justified” to “Arab/Israeli propaganda”.

They also refuse to accept the other side’s right to self-defense and to live and raise their families.

It starts there.

But without breaking through the blinder-wearing fanatics on both sides, war has become perpetual.  Anyone seeking to end it is murdered by the fanatics on their respective side.

BOTH sides have fanatics “invested” in continuing this war between Israeli and Palestinian…and many posters here feed into that (Are you listening “Call Me Roy” and Robert?)

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rico, suave's avatar

By rico, suave, March 29, 2011 at 9:26 am Link to this comment

diamond:

“Imagine! Palestinians trying to protect themselves…”

Why do you believe I don’t want Palestinians to protect themselves from all those bad things Israelis do to them? Of course I do. What did I ever say to give you that idea?

But most posts here criticize Israel for wanting to protect itself, as if self-protection is just another Israeli atrocity.

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Robert's avatar

By Robert, March 28, 2011 at 7:54 pm Link to this comment

“This is a film about the one and only Shimon Tzabar, one of the very few honest Israelis..

*******

A truly remarkable human being, “one of the few honest Israelis”, who spoke out against Israel’s Zionism & its injustices against the Palestinians. As I watched this 26 minute video, I was truly moved by Shimon Tzabar’s decency & his moral courage. The Israelis tried to shut him up, so he decided to move to London and continued to write & speak out against Israel’s racism / treatment of the Palestinians.

Just watching this video, one can see all what Shimon Tzabar is talking about…Israel’s IDF confronting Palestinians in the most barbaric ways & much more.

~~~~~~~

Click on link to view video :


http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/dear-mr-tzabar-a-short-documentary-about-a-remarkable-man-an.html

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, March 28, 2011 at 6:09 pm Link to this comment

call me Roy,

There is no proof it was a Palestinian, although they clearly have motive.

The word on the street was an asian laborer who wasn’t paid 10000 sheckels.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/03/west-bank-palestinians-rise-in-settlers-attacks.html

Apparently, non payment to foreign guest worker is a big problem.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k+cOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO+i1s7PZME4Swq63ae3+FqNLQ1mYzHdix/LLbtr47kQXfYikZKqv4KRlRlSteS3V59uFMWf7mKk6zwjq17DqsuqHkQN44oOT39XW5RK8L6WpZqG58=

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By diamond, March 28, 2011 at 6:04 pm Link to this comment

“Imagine! Israel trying to protect itself against rocket attacks. It’s JUST NOT FAIR!!!”

Imagine! Palestinians trying to protect themselves against occupation, deliberate starvation and denial of medical aid as well as being gunned down from attack helicopters in the streets and kidnapped, held without charge and tortured for years and having white phosphorous bombs dropped on their homes, hospitals and ambulances and their children’s heads blown off by IDF shells as they cower in their bedrooms. It’s JUST NOT FAIR!!!”

You can’t come into a play in act three and pretend the other two acts didn’t happen, Rico. Only a fool would do that. Stop being a fool.

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By SarcastiCanuck, March 28, 2011 at 1:28 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Maybe Israel should just build a giant dome over the whole country.That would show those pesky Palestinians.

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rico, suave's avatar

By rico, suave, March 28, 2011 at 12:56 pm Link to this comment

Roy:

Well put. The family killed in their beds was a “spate of violence”. An Israeli attack on Gaza militants is a “crime against humanity.”

Word.

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Go Right Young Man's avatar

By Go Right Young Man, March 28, 2011 at 10:20 am Link to this comment

I’ve been watching and awaiting this missile defense system for nearly 20 months.  The hope is that an effective missile defense will mitigate Israel’s natural, and quite understandable, desire for retaliation. This may save many lives on all sides.

Those who believe this region is an Palestinian/Israeli issue will always misunderstand the numerous issues at play.

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By call me roy, March 28, 2011 at 9:00 am Link to this comment

A recent spate of violence? Oh, you mean like this?

Four-year-old Elad Fogel was stabbed to death in the attack. A Palestinian terrorist stabbed five family members to death in the settlement of Itamar early Saturday morning; three children, including baby girl, among victims. Later that day Palestinians handed out candy to celebrate the mass murder.
YNet News reported: Gaza residents from the southern city of Rafah hit the streets Saturday to celebrate the terror attack in the West Bank settlement of Itamar where five family members were murdered in their sleep, including three children. Residents handed out candy and sweets, one resident saying the joy “is a natural response to the harm settlers inflict on the Palestinian residents in the West Bank.” Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said he “clearly and firmly denounces the terror attack, just as I have denounced crimes against Palestinians. “We are against all types of violence,” Fayyad said during a tour in Bethlehem. “Our position has not changed. As we have said many times before, we categorically oppose violence and terror, regardless of the identity of the victims or the perpetrators.” IDF and security forces have been scouring the West Bank area since late Friday night, and have arrested 20 Palestinians from the villages of Awarta, Zababdeh, Sanur and Siliya. The IAF employed unmanned aerial vehicle in an effort to search for the suspects.

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rico, suave's avatar

By rico, suave, March 28, 2011 at 8:32 am Link to this comment

Imagine! Israel trying to protect itself against rocket attacks. It’s JUST NOT FAIR!!!

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By Prasad, March 28, 2011 at 7:42 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Palestinians shouldn’t support terrorism against Israel then only middle east will be peaceful. If they supports terrorists against Israel not only there will be no peace in between the two countries and also the entire region will be suffer for a long time.

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By Wikileaks for Nobel, March 28, 2011 at 7:33 am Link to this comment

The Israeli General said, “One cannot put a price on people’s lives.”

Unless, of course, they aren’t really people.  We know who he was talking about—and not talking about.

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By Steve E, March 28, 2011 at 6:40 am Link to this comment

Again, we get to steal your land and your existence and you will not fight back.

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, March 28, 2011 at 5:44 am Link to this comment

Whats next? flying saucers?

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By diamond, March 28, 2011 at 1:09 am Link to this comment

Yes, sort of like a condom for towns. Israel has now reached the kind of surreal lunacy that became so prevalent in the Nazi regime just before its downfall began. They won’t be missed.

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