israeloutlook.com

A friend of mine lives within shouting distance of Palestinian villages in the West Bank.

A few days ago, I was sitting in his barber chair having my head shortened, when he told me that you can hear the Palestinians celebrate when Hizbullah rockets hit Israel.

I said, “You mean, THAT is the reason why I keep hearing fireworks every night?” (I’m not so far from the Palestinians myself.)

“Yup,” he responded. “That’s the reason.”

You’d think that I’d get used to this. You’d think that I would be immune when Arabs celebrate the death of Israelis. But, I’m not.

A friend of mine lives within shouting distance of Palestinian villages in the West Bank.

A few days ago, I was sitting in his barber chair having my head shortened, when he told me that you can hear the Palestinians celebrate when Hizbullah rockets hit Israel.

I said, “You mean, THAT is the reason why I keep hearing fireworks every night?” (I’m not so far from the Palestinians myself.)

“Yup,” he responded. “That’s the reason.”

You’d think that I’d get used to this. You’d think that I would be immune when Arabs celebrate the death of Israelis. But, I’m not.

Read Full Post »

You know what would really be ironic?

…if we found out that the 57 Lebanese civilians in Qana were killed by Hizbullah missiles.

Wouldn’t that be ironic?

Israel attacked the building a little after midnight. The building collapsed seven hours later.

Why?

Here is what the Israel Defense Forces had to say:

Eshel refrained from specifying what had caused the structure to collapse seven hours after it was hit, but senior IAF officers said Sunday night that the explosion could have been caused by an unexploded missile or by a Hizbullah-planted explosive device.

You know what would really be ironic?

…if we found out that the 57 Lebanese civilians in Qana were killed by Hizbullah missiles.

Wouldn’t that be ironic?

Israel attacked the building a little after midnight. The building collapsed seven hours later.

Why?

Here is what the Israel Defense Forces had to say:

Eshel refrained from specifying what had caused the structure to collapse seven hours after it was hit, but senior IAF officers said Sunday night that the explosion could have been caused by an unexploded missile or by a Hizbullah-planted explosive device.

Read Full Post »

Here’s a news report that I would have loved to have read:

Elements of the Lebanese armed forces stormed the Hizbullah command and control center in southern Beirut. General Ahmed Jabouri said today that, while the fighting is fierce, they are making progress. He went on to say that it was an important first step in rousting Hizbullah from their bases in the south.

In related news, the Lebanese Air Force struck the Hizbullah stronghold of Majdel Zoun. Hospitals in nearby towns report a massive influx of civilian casualties…

Here’s a news report that I would have loved to have read:

Elements of the Lebanese armed forces stormed the Hizbullah command and control center in southern Beirut. General Ahmed Jabouri said today that, while the fighting is fierce, they are making progress. He went on to say that it was an important first step in rousting Hizbullah from their bases in the south.

In related news, the Lebanese Air Force struck the Hizbullah stronghold of Majdel Zoun. Hospitals in nearby towns report a massive influx of civilian casualties…

Read Full Post »

All of us here in Israel have been wondering why Israeli combat units are suffering such high casualties. We have started to understand that the reason is civilians.

Take the town of Bint Jbail. (I don’t want it, so you can have it.)

Why didn’t the civilians of Bint Jbail leave town when Israel asked them to? Why are they still there?

Before attacking this crucial stronghold, Israel blanketed the area with leaflets warning them to get out, and giving them days to do so. They didn’t.

All of us here in Israel have been wondering why Israeli combat units are suffering such high casualties. We have started to understand that the reason is civilians.

Take the town of Bint Jbail. (I don’t want it, so you can have it.)

Why didn’t the civilians of Bint Jbail leave town when Israel asked them to? Why are they still there?

Before attacking this crucial stronghold, Israel blanketed the area with leaflets warning them to get out, and giving them days to do so. They didn’t.

Read Full Post »

If you are a U.N. peacekeeper in Southern Lebanon, you need to make sure that terrorists aren’t using you for protection. You also might want to make sure that you aren’t involved in supporting terrorists by passing on intelligence to them.

You need to be very, very careful of that.

Because, it might be that your liaison officer will be so frustrated with you that he won’t pass on information that will save your life.

I don’t know how those four U.N. peacekeepers died. If it was deliberate, those who decided to kill them should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

If you are a U.N. peacekeeper in Southern Lebanon, you need to make sure that terrorists aren’t using you for protection. You also might want to make sure that you aren’t involved in supporting terrorists by passing on intelligence to them.

You need to be very, very careful of that.

Because, it might be that your liaison officer will be so frustrated with you that he won’t pass on information that will save your life.

I don’t know how those four U.N. peacekeepers died. If it was deliberate, those who decided to kill them should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Read Full Post »