More Rockets And Rejoicing From The Palestinians
With palestinian terrorists so far today firing more than 40 rockets at Israel – including some landing just 40 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, and another inside Ashdod – the palestinians continue to play the double game of crying over targeted IDF strikes and rejoicing over the injuries and fear suffered by Israeli civilians.
For instance, the Palestinian Times website has posted this video of Israelis fleeing to bomb shelters, with the caption “Video posted on YouTube shows how the fear of the Zionist usurpers of Palestinian resistance missiles, and they fled to shelters.”
They also boast some Israelis have been killed, including a rapist (at least according to the auto-translation!) and “usurper Zionist settlers.”
Palestine Today features the above video, as well as photos of Israeli children and others finding shelter.
In contrast, while the vast majority of palestinians killed have been confirmed terrorists, pro-Israel websites do not express any joy over the deaths of Gazan civilians. In fact, in this important post explaining IDF pinpoint strikes, the IDF Spokesperson characterizes palestinians civilian casualties as a “sad fact” that we try to avoid.
I think the two sides’ respective reactions to news of civilian pain and suffering is very instructive of who has the moral high ground, as well as why peace in this region is so elusive.
Update: From the Globe and Mail:
With every blast that propels another rocket from Gaza toward Israel, a loud Palestinian cheer goes up.
They cheer outside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City as a rocket blasts off from a location uncomfortably near the hospital itself, even as the people gathered there await the inevitable retaliation from Israel and the arrival at the hospital of new patients.
They cheer at the Hamas border post near the Erez crossing separating Gaza from Israel when a rocket is launched 200 to 300 metres away, even though Hamas itself is not firing any rockets and officially opposes the launchings.
(Hat tip: Victor)
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: Aussie Dave
We know who has the moral high ground in the eye of the Almighty, but there is little evidence of any moral high ground in the minds of the people below. The Second Psalm may be even more relevant now than when it was written.
Israel has rockets too – use them!
Yep. Massive MLRS launches on their population centers. Should have done it decades ago. Return to sender.
And a few 2000 lbs bombs on those big-size targets wouldn’t hurt, either. Long overdue, with interest.
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
Say it now…
Of course, Sliverschwantz is blaming the Israelis. Gazan terrorists attack Israel, Israel retaliates, it’s Israel’s fault.
That little turd is beyond despicable.
[...] to the suffering of ordinary Israelis having rockets rained down on them.They are actually enjoying it.Today’s first example of this comes courtesy of the Palestine Press News Agency, which has [...]
IMHO Israeli rockets are not the best response. My recommendation would be artillery. It is cheaper and more accurate. It can also be sent in response a lot quicker than an airplane can be checked out, fueled, loaded with appropriate ordnance scrambled and flown to where the rockets are being launched.
If a few gun batteries were on duty around Gaza, they could start returning fire while the Gazan rockets were still in the air. If every town and village in the vicinity of Gaza had a few 8 inch howitzers, the reservists in those towns could start returning fire within a few minutes.
Prompt and overwhelming return fire would cut down on some of the celebrating and might even reduce the number of rockets that can be successfully launched.
Mark, your argument that artillery is more accurate than laser-guided rockets/bombs seems counter-intuitive to me. Isn’t one of the main arguments used by the IDF in differentiating their methods with those of the Palestinians is the effort to miminimize civilian casualties?