Liveblogging the War: Tuesday July 18th
Aussie Dave | Jul 19, 2006 | 32 comments
Barrages of Katusha rockets rained down on at least 16 towns in northern Israel last night and this morning. Approximately 50 rockets landed in total, wounding over 30 people.The IAF has continued to strike targets in Lebanon, including a military base, bunkers in southern Beirut, a weapons cache, trucks used to carry arms in eastern Lebanon, and launching pads. In all, 50 targets were hit.
On the southern front, IDF troops have pulled out of Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, after a 2-day operation there. The IDF reported that soldiers had hurt approximately 20 terrorists during the operation. Meanwhile, terrorists in northern Gaza continue to fire Kassams into Israel.
In other news, 3 reserves brigades are being called up, and the Israel Navy has started to evaluate the idea of deploying guided missile vessels in Haifa Bay to provide a defense against Hizbullah rockets.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
Wednesday updates here.
12:05PM: Ha’aretz reports that the IAF destroyed two Hizbullah-bound trucks carrying weapons and ammunition from Syria.
11:30PM: Palestinians: The IDF fired near the convoy of UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.
Israel: Baloney.
11:15PM: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak:
No one is doubting the rights of the people to resist the powers of occupation but the resistances must make considerations of losses and gains‚Ķ the inflaming of the situation to make limited gains ignores the basic goal of the Palestinians which the establishment of an independent state..Palestinian and Lebanese resistance fighters obtained only limited gains and that the people were paying the price…
In other words, the man who leads the country to whom we have entrusted control over the southern border sees the likes of Hamas and Hizbullah as resistance fighters, and not as terrorists. And his only criticism is that they are making only limited gains compared to the losses being sustained – not that they are murdering innocent people.
11:05PM: Here’s one of the main causes of instability in this part of the world:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday promised a “rejoicing” for Muslims in the Middle East “soon,” the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.Speaking to university officials in the town of Mashhad, Ahmadinejad said the “volcano of rage” at the “arrogant powers” was “on the verge of eruption.
He needs to be dealt with. The question is when. And I would think better sooner rather than later.
10:50PM: Really cool: Israellycool mentioned on MSNBC (click on the Watch Video link).
The mainstream media are definitely realizing that blogs are players in the information war.
9:48PM: A distressing report.
The IDF has found that Hizbullah is preventing civilians from leaving villages in southern Lebanon. Roadblocks have been set up outside some of the villages to prevent residents from leaving, while in other villages Hizbullah is preventing UN representatives from entering, who are trying to help residents leave. In two villages, exchanges of fire between residents and Hizbullah have broken out.
I’m at a loss for words. Not that I’m surprised, but it is just a reminder that we are facing an enemy nothing short of evil.
9:33PM: A Kassam has landed in Ashkelon’s National Park, while another has hit a Kibbutz.
9:00PM: President Bush says that Syrian President Bashar “Dorktator” al-Assad is “not doing what he can to create stability.” I would go further and say that he is doing everything he can to create instability in the region.
8:50PM: I was supposed to be interviewed by Sky News tonight, but they just cancelled, stating that they have a lot of guests, and “there just isn’t room for everyone.”
8:45PM: The IDF claim that Hizbullah is smuggling weapons from Syria.
8:40PM: You can catch my interview with BBC Radio Five Live here (about 13 minutes in to the program).
7:00PM: CNN wage war on this blog: From a commenter:
You were mentioned on CNN this morning. they said to take the reports with a grain of salt. go figure.
I can see why. After all, I have the audacity to call a terrorist a terrorist.
6:55PM: Check out Zombie’s photos from the protest at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco on July 13.
6:50PM: My bandwidth troubles seem to have been resolved - for now. If you want to help out, feel free to hit the Paypal button in the right sidebar. But I would prefer it if you contributed to any of the following worthwhile causes:
6:43PM: Channel 2 have been asked to act less like Al Jazeera.
6:40PM: With the diplomatic clock ticking, Ynetnews reports that the Chief of Staff has ordered the IAF to destroy all Hizbullah positions on the northern border by Saturday.
6:35PM: A family member has notified me that this blog was mentioned on television (MSNBC). Did anyone else see this?
6:26PM: Women’s liberation in Gaza: First democracy, and now feminism is taking hold.
About 100 veiled and heavily armed Palestinian women marched through the streets of Gaza City Tuesday.The militant women belong to a unit recently founded by the Popular Resistance Committees. The ‘Army of Suicidal Bombers,’ as it is dubbed, consists entirely of women.A message released by the PRC states that the objective of the new unit is to protect “Palestinian land.”The procession was led by the mother of Abu Yusuf Al-Kuka – a PRC founder assassinated by Israel two months ago. She was carrying an RPG missile launcher on her shoulder.A Spokeswoman for the unit said that the ASB was founded in order “to aid the men in their war against the enemy.”The militant women burned Israeli, U.S., British, and EU flags.In an unprecedented step they also defaced an Arab League flag, which they then proceeded to set ablaze.
6:22PM: The IDF has bombed 52 targets in Lebanon so far today.
6:18PM: The Post reports that 40-50% of Hizbullah’s military capability has been destroyed in the last six days.
6:12PM: Many other bloggers have already fisked this claptrap from the Washington Post’s Richard Cohen. And I simply don’t have the time to do it myself – although the urge is there (must resist). So here’s some links to some who have taken the time to respond:
If I’m missing any, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
6:00PM: More thoughts on our Foreign Minister’s hint that Israel would not object to an international force: after giving it more thought, I would be willing to go along with it, as long as the soldiers are returned and the attacks on Israel stop. But it can’t stop there. Hizbullah have to be completely dismantled and taken out of the picture. Ceasefires will not work. They only serve to enable the terrorists to regroup and replenish their weapons supplies.
The problem is, Livni does not see it this way:
Livni also indicated that Israel could agree to put off the disarmament of Hezbollah, provided that Lebanon immediately deploy its own troops along the border.
If Osama bin Laden and Al Qaida were firing the missiles, would anyone agree to allow them to remain, as long as Lebanese troops were deployed on the border? It does not make sense to me.
5:45PM: One person has been killed in a Katusha attack on Nahariya.
Please just take a step back for a moment and think about what is going on. On one side, terrorists are deliberately targeting population centers of innocent people and killing them. On the other side, a country is faced with the agonizing choice of fighting back (leading to an inadvertent – but probable – loss of innocent life), or absorbing the blows (which would undoubtedly lead to a greater loss of innocent life).
This is why I fully support Israel’s strategy at this point in time.
4:02PM: More promising news, further to my 3:50PM update: The rocket launched at Haifa was smaller in diameter than those preceding it. Which again might indicate that Hizbullah’s supplies have been depleted.
3:58PM: From the Ha’aretz news ticker:
Saddam warns Syria `not to go too far` with Iran alliance, blames Iran for crisis (DPA)
I guess Saddam hates Iran more than he hates Israel.
3:50PM: Israel radio reported that 6 rockets hit Haifa. The train depot was hit again during this latest attack.
In more positive news, the GOC Northern Command Major stated that the rocket attacks have begun to drop, which might indicate that our operations in Lebanon are having the desired effect. Let’s hope this is the case.
12:57PM: And rockets have struck Safed, with one hitting a gas tank.
12:55PM: Rockets are landing in Haifa
12:28PM: Our Foreign Minister has now hinted that Israel would not object to a temporary international force in south Lebanon.
Given the need to dismantle Hizbullah, and the history of the utility of international forces, I would object.
12:10PM: Gotto love those caption writers: This from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Israeli girls write messages in Hebrew on shells ready to be fired toward Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Photo: AFP
Nope. It’s English (albeit with bad spelling), and looks like Nazrala with love From Israel.
11:40AM: An Iranian parliament speaker has reportedly stated that no part of Israel is safe in this conflict.
10:52AM: Contrary to the previous update, another report indicates that the Iranian FM will be sent to Damascus (i.e. hasn’t been sent yet) for his own protection.
That is interesting, because it would then seem like Iran believes they are a more likely Israeli target than Syria.
10:35AM: According to Al-Sharq al-Awsat, a London-based Arabic daily, the Iranian Foreign Minister was sent to Damascus to urge Hizbullah to curb rocket attacks against Israel, and to release our two IDF soldiers. If this is true, this move might be based on Lebanese criticism of Hizbullah.
10:20AM: According to a Yedioth Aharonoth survey based on a 513-respondent representative sample:
It looks as if Nasrallah is failing if he thinks he can break our spirit.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Hey, I was wondering if it’s worth tracking the number of Katushas hitting Israel on a daily basis?
A reduction in the number each day may be a good indication of a reduction in Hizballah capacity.
wow! Young israel girls writing messages on MISSILES? What are those israelis thinking when they let girls younger than 10 years old, write their own messages on missiles used to distroy and kill people, instead of teaching them tolerance sympathy and love? This is a great example to demonstrate how hatred is indecently planted in the souls of the innocent young. These acts are simply despicable and should not be passed unnoticed!
There is a change from times past. We were sorely anxious to be regarded well in the opinion of the world*. But now we have seen how the world heaps vitriol on us even when we defend ourselves after being attacked from territories we evacuated. There can be only one conclusion: the world hates its Jews even wounded in an unprovoked attack and trying to fight back after that; the world loves its Jews dead.
There is a change from times past. I would back then reply, “Yes, you’re right, it’s a bad thing to do, we apologize, we’ll take care it doesn’t happen again.” But now, seeing that we Jews will be hated no matter what we do, no matter how cotton-padded our gloves and surgical our strikes, I say: No more! We don’t care what you think! You who are still living in the 60′s, thinking you can kumbaya all world conflicts out of existence, just shut up! Begone, all you multiculturalists who say all cultures are good and valid except for Western culture, and all you indigenists who say all people are deserving of a homeland and state except the Jews! We’ve had enough of you all!
Let, therefore, the girls keep on painting messages on missiles, as long as they’re kept safe from the missiles of the other side, no matter what the world says. The world doesn’t know [insert here the word Bush said on the microphone].
* The LLLs and their governments (Frogistan, Liliputinia etc.) are meant, of course, not those who recognize the war for what it is (Freedom vs. Sharia globally) and stand by us.
Thanks for keeping us up-to-date. You are carrying through an incredible amount of work.
Anonymous, your analysis of the situation could not be more flawed. The problem is, you are equating a hatred of ISRAELI policies with a hatred of judaism itself. I disagree with many things Israel does, however I am not an anti-semite. By your standards nobody would be allowed to criticize anything Israel does because that would make them jew-haters.
Clearly there are zealous anti-semites throughout the arab world, but the majority of lebanese who are outraged at israel feel hatred towards israeli actions, not the jewish faith.
I would imagine the two separate (before this week) invasions and occupations of lebanon are to blame. Also, the Sabra and Shatila massacre (where israeli soldiers sealed off a camp and fired illuminating flares while thousands of refugees were slaughtered) has a bit to do with it.
It seems like Israel considers the phrase “jews will be hated no matter what we do” to be self-fulfilling prophecy. Everyone is going to hate us no matter what so we might as well make them hate us for a reason.
Israel has every right not to tolerate hezbollah attacks on its civilian population, but wanton destruction of every piece of valuable infrastructure in lebanon is not the answer. the leverage required to disarm hezbollah comes from the people of lebanon, not from artillery cannons. i would be willing to bet that relatives of the innocent civilians that have died from israeli air strikes is in full support of hezbollah, when before they were probably angered at hezbollah for dragging their country into a war with the regions most powerful military. every shell that misses its target of terrorists and brings down an apartment building serves as the ideal recruitment poster for scum like hizbollah. Israel’s policy of massive retribution is a flawed system. Killing one terrorist while killing 1 innocent civilian just makes more 10 would-be terrorists.
Prime example of israeli oy gewalt journalism… Why do they have to invent bad news?
In North: soldier trips as he tries to take shelter from rocket – hurts foot
A soldier serving in an artillery battery stationed on the northern border lightly injured his leg and was evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed.
The soldier tripped when trying to take cover from Hizbullah fire at the battery installment. The IDF is investing the circumstances of the incident.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3277846,00.html
Thank you for the link–and more importantly for all the work you are putting into keeping us updated on the war.
Daled
Cohen’s silliness has also been lightly fisked by Jonah Goldberg on NRO’s Corner. http://corner.nationalreview.com
In regards to your question on being mentioned on the news. The tech guy on CNN mentioned your site this morning.
Keep up the great work…we all really appricate it!
You were mentioned on CNN this morning. they said to take the reports with a grain of salt. go figure.
Geez, Dave, you’ll get more hits from a link from me than a mention on MSNBC. Nobody watches that station, really.
Your blog was mentioned twice on the Hugh Hewitt Radio Show in the United States. He did a special show on Shabbat, but I heard the archive yesterday (Monday). I don’t know about a one-off weekend show, but weekly that show probably has better ratings than MSNBC or CNN. ;o)
Right. We should feel sympathy, tolerance and love towards those who want our extermination…I don’t think so moonbats. Besides, I’m sure the girls feel incredible love as they write their tender messages. I know I would. I wish I could help. I feel deprived.
Love is a 2-way street
MidEast War: XIV
July 18, 2006 06:00 PDT Frequent updates. Scroll down for more stories. Previous coverage links in right sidebar. Links to Lebanese and Israeli bloggers covering the conflict are @ Truth Laid Bear, plus a map view with pointers to the…
I first heard of your blog today on CNN. Your doing a fabulous job of updating and giving us here in the US a different perspective! Israel deserves freedom from oppression and terrorism! Intolerance and hatred have no place in the world, and I hope that soon Israel will be free from all of it! My friends and I in the US support you; and have you and your countrymen in our prayers!
MidEast War: XV
July 18, 2006 12:00 PDT Frequent updates. Scroll down for more stories. Previous coverage links in right sidebar. Links to Lebanese and Israeli bloggers covering the conflict are @ Truth Laid Bear, plus a map view with pointers to the…
Since you’re so interested in tolerance your help is desperately needed in the Muslim world, where I see little tolerance on display in the areas of religion, women’s rights, human rights, and freedom. Obviously you are liberal. I wonder if they’d accept you and your beliefs?
Yes, let’s blame Israel for the demented, warped thinking of terrorists who can’t even build a viable society capable of supporting itself. Did anyone inform you that the terrorists aren’t letting civilians leave or let the U.N. in to help?(and I use the term help loosely)
Yes, and all those darling photos of Palestinian Children dressed up with toy guns or suicide belts is definately the “religeon of peace”
Or the video on Palestinian TV where young girls talk openly about how wonderful the paradise in the afterlife will be after they martyr themselves, right up there with Sesame Street.
Besides how do you know that they are not writing ” Hope this does not hit innocents, and BTW bad move on allowing terrorists to run your country”
or ” Why is it only terrorists purposely hide behind women and children?” We never saw Israelis or Americans strap babies and women to their tanks in order to get them killed so you can post photos on the media and cry how horrible it is.
I could go on an on.
Hezbollah and Hamas are honorable movements…..FOR ME TO POOP ON! Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
I urge any Israeli to video what the Palestinians are really doing to the Israeli people and post it for people to see. The media seems to show “Israeli oppression”, as if the Isarelis have not dealt with terrorist atocities from militants since its inception from people who are born to fight and hate. Why can’t they make something of their life — Israel gave them the infrastructure to do it!
I urge all Israelis to video what the Palestinians are really doing to the Israeli people and post it for people to see. The media seems to show “Israeli oppression”, as if the Isarelis have not dealt with terrorist atocities from militants since its inception from people who are born to fight and hate. Why can’t they make something of their life — Israel gave them the infrastructure to do it!
There are such videos… But people don’t like to post them. We are not bloodthirsty, we don’t parade with body parts… But, since you asked…
3 days in israel
http://stage.co.il/s/299562
WARNING! VERY GRAPHIC! Only for people with strong stomack!
“Why can’t they make something of their life — Israel gave them the infrastructure to do it!”
true, if by “gave them” you mean blockaded with a barrier, surrounded in barbed wire, patrolled with armed guards and then destroyed with shells. If palestinian rockets inflicted on israeli cities one tenth of the havok wreaked on palestinian infrastructure, israel would also look like a third world country.
To stop Palestinian terrorists from killing Israelis.
To stop Palestinian terrorists from killing Israelis.
To stop Palestinian terrorists from killing Israelis.
Because Palestinian terrorists were killing Israelis.
This is a pattern recognition test a 1st grader should be able to pass.
Shy Guy
Shy Guy,
This is what a first grader would understand, and what Israel should understand as well. The palestinians WANT THEIR OWN COUNTRY. You have not given it to them yet. And don’t try and tell me that what little land they have, cut into pieces with military checkpoints is a fucking country. Stopping terrorists from crossing into Israel is one thing, but putting military checkpoints all over what Israelis consider the “palestinian territories” is completely different. Watch the documentary “checkpoint” by Yoav Shamir (an israeli) and you’ll see what i mean.
Give the palestinians the autonomy they desire, and public support for the attacks will stop. Obviously there are the most extreme groups that may try and continue their attacks, but everyone will agree that those people can never be placated. By punishing the majority for the actions of a minority, you are simply serving as a recruitment aid for the most extreme groups. If a generation of Palestinian children can grow up with a contiguous piece of land that is free of an occupying israeli force, terrorists will struggle to recruit. Give them an opportunity to grow up seeing that israel can be a good friend that is listening to their needs, and we may be able to see some peace. You probably disagree with me, but what evidence can you use to support continuing with Israel’s current methodology? Any statement other than “terrorist attacks have continued to increase” would be completely false. Israel’s gravest threat is other states with weapons and armies that pose a true threat to her existence, such as Iran and Syria. Letting Palestinians have a chance to succeed, without imposing a unilateral peace agreement is the best way to worry about real threats.
I remember reading somewhere that one of the justifications used by terrorists for the indiscriminate murder of Israli citizens of any age was that even a newborn Israli was a potential member of the Israeli army and therefore a legitimate target. Your photograph of young Israeli girls enthusiastically dedicating artillery shells to their chosen enemies would seem to bear this out. Every Israeli citizen is a warrior in the cause of Israeli national security. However not every Lebanese citizen is a Jew-hating member of Hezbollah. Your war must stop now.
Cameron,
Do you even believe in Israel’s right to exsist? This is a fundamental question that should be asked of you if you feel you aren’t anti-semitic.
“You must stop your war now”?
Israel can’t stop the war. It’s not their war. They didn’t start it. It takes two sides to fight a war, and it takes two sides to end one. So, please take your anti-semetic rants elsewhere. I hate war as much as you probably do, but at least I recognize that sometimes the only thing some people understand is force. Remember the Nazis? If Israel stops now, Hezbollah will only be more emboldened and will still be plotting for Israel’s destruction. I don’t think the picture of the Israeli girls writing on artillery shells is a good thing, but I understand it. They have been threatened and they have been the subject of rockets by Hezbollah. Who could blame them for being mad at the people trying to kill them daily?
I believe that the end of “israel” is soon. The Arab people are not listening to their governments who are protecting israel (especially jordan and egypt) who are on the american payroll.
Open your eyes….no one hates you, they just want you out of palestine: the land your grandfathers hijacked in 1948.
I am a Yemeni Muslim, but you would never witness us going up to yemeni jews and beat them and kill them.
“isrealis” are generally russians, eastern europeans,westerners and the odd arab jew, so why can’t you go back to where you come from??!! Its that simple.
You obviously flunked history.
There has never been a “Palestine” country or people. Jews have lived in Israel for thousands of years. Arabs should go back to Arabia and all Jews should all go to their homeland of Israel.