Blogging the Conflict: June 20th - 21st, 2007

June 21st, 2007

Blogging the Conflict: June 20th - 21st, 2007

Aussie Dave

The IDF killed 2 terrorists in a gunfight last night - one an al-Quds Brigades commander, and one a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. You know, the terrorist group affiliated with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party. The same party which Israel Prime Minister Olmert has made clear he wants cooperate with, and whose “security forces” Olmert intends to strengthen further (update: Ha’aretz reports that both terrorists were from Islamic Jihad, even though palestinian witnesses claimed one was Fatah-affiliated).

The IDF also arrested 15 wanted terrorists in the West Bank overnight. Meanwhile in Gaza, an IDF soldier was moderately wounded by terrorists.

In other news, the UN Human Rights Council yesterday reinforced its uselessness by voting in favor of making Israel’s actions a permanent item on the council’s agenda, and Spanish league champion Real Madrid routed a mixed Israeli-Palestinian team 8-0 in a charity “Peace Match,” which is somehow appropriate.

Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)

12:00AM: A reminder of the palestinian society that has given rise to the likes of Hamas: Flashback to September 2001, and the Al-Najah University in Nablus held an exhibition to celebrate the Sbarro massacre in Jerusalem.

6:05PM: After earlier today stating their peaceful intentions (see 11:43AM update), Syria is now saying that peace with Israel is not possible with the current Hamas-Fatah split.

Which is interesting, considering the fact that the Syrians themselves contributed to this split via their support of Hamas.

3:10PM: While Israel intends to strengthen “Moderate” Mahmoud Abbas and his merry men, one of the armed wings of his party has made clear their intentions.

The Yasser Arafat Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah in the West Bank, has reaffirmed its continued resistance against Israel, while accusing the “weak” Israeli government of intensifying its actions against the Palestinian people in order to divert attention away from its “moral and financial corruption.”

In doing so, Israel is destroying the Palestinian people, the brigades warned.

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In a statement that Ma’an received, Abu Mahmoud considered the Israeli government responsible for the deterioration in the situation. He also threatened that the resistance would continue.

I do, however, agree with one thing these terrorists are saying:

He added that Israel’s military intensification comes at a time when the Israeli government is at its weakest and is suffering from “moral and financial corruption among its ministers”. He described the Israeli government “as the weakest one Israel has ever had.”

11:43AM: As Syria continues to support terror against Israel, their Foreign Minister (and Ariel Sharon lookalike) Walid Moallem has been quoted as saying that they are ”more than ready to renew peace talks with Israel, without preconditions by either side.”

10:33AM: Egyptian President Mubarak has invited Israeli PM Olmert, PA Chairman Abbas, and Jordanian King Abdullah to meet next week at the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Saeb “It was a massacre” Erekat is playing the “gives us a state or Hamas will win” card.

“We need to deliver the end of occupation, a Palestinian state. If we don’t have hope, Hamas will export despair to the people.”

As I have already argued, the goings-on in Gaza should warn against a palestinian state. After all, Israel left the area - no more “occupation” - and we have all seen the results.

Unfortunately, our leaders are notoriously slow learners, so I am afraid Erekat and company may get their wish.

Thursday June 21st

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11:16PM: 2 more Qassams have been fired into Israel.

9:48PM: Jordan’s King Hussein has reportedly told President-elect Shimon Peres that he hopes he keeps his vision for peace.

I just hope he keeps his vision. I mean, the guy is 84.

9:20PM: Palestinian terrorists have fired 5 Qassams at Sderot, bringing today’s tally to 8. So far, it seems that one person was lightly hurt, and 8 treated for shock in this latest attack.

9:17PM: Speaking of Arafat (may his name be forever cursed):

hyena Blogging the Conflict: June 20th - 21st, 2007

A Palestinian man wearing a Kefiyeh, a traditionsl Palestinian head dress, with a pin showing the late leader President Yasser Arafat, sits next to one of four lion statues at the Manara or Central Square in the West Bank city Ramallah.
Palestinian actor Ahmed Humani performs a scene in The Tiger, the award-winning play about late palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

9:05PM: Hamas are claiming that they have documents proving that Fatah’s Mohammed Dahlan assassinated Yasser Arafat.

Which is interesting, considering that last year, they accused Israel of doing the deed.

Ahem…apology?

8:46PM: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has criticized Hamas, saying that “there is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists.”

I just wish our government was saying the same thing about the PA.

5:28PM: From the Ha’aretz news ticker:

ticker Blogging the Conflict: June 20th - 21st, 2007

As opposed to the not-to-be-believed Hamas leaders, which are the vast majority (except when they say they intend to destroy Israel).

3:58PM: Israel has opened its border with the Gaza Strip to allow passage for trapped foreigners and palestinians needing urgent medical treatment, pursuant to orders from new Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

1:40PM: In the past hour, the terrorists managed to fire a Qassam at Israel. In response, the IAF struck a Qassam rocket launcher.

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An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.

Tags: Middle East Conflict

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