Comments on: Bomb A Ghetto, Raise A Cheer — The Video http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/ Max Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and blogger whose articles and video documentaries have appeared in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Nation, The Huffington Post, Salon.com, Al Jazeera English and many other publications. He is a senior writer for The Daily Beast and a writing fellow for the Nation Institute. His book, Republican Gomorrah: Inside The Movement That Shattered The Party, is in stores now. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:14:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: elyakatz http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14687 elyakatz Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:40:38 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14687 BS"D Sofia, HAMAS, THE GAZA WAR AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=378&PID=0&IID=3026 and NGO campaigns on Israel´s Gaza policy http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/analyzing_the_ngo_campaign_on_gaza_beyond_the_rhetoric_ The only reason Israel must keep her borders closed to Gaza, which she has a perfect right to do, as well as monitoring the Egyptian/Gaza border as well as the waters off of Gaza is due to the massive smuggling of weapons on the part of Hamas...which are used to target Israeli civilians. Those Arab nations who want peace with Israel, have peace. BS”D

Sofia,

HAMAS, THE GAZA WAR AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW

http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=378&PID=0&IID=3026

and

NGO campaigns on Israel´s Gaza policy

http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/analyzing_the_ngo_campaign_on_gaza_beyond_the_rhetoric_

The only reason Israel must keep her borders closed to Gaza, which she has a perfect right to do, as well as monitoring the Egyptian/Gaza border as well as the waters off of Gaza is due to the massive smuggling of weapons on the part of Hamas…which are used to target Israeli civilians.

Those Arab nations who want peace with Israel, have peace.

]]> By: Jason Bosch http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14458 Jason Bosch Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:09:33 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14458 Hi Max, thanks for the video and all that you do. I also interviewed people at the Pro-Israel rally and counter protest that day in Denver. My video is not a good but is a little revealing. This was my first time trying something like this plus I was so full of emotion that it was difficult. I seriously felt ill. You can watch my video at http://www.argusfest.org I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Hi Max, thanks for the video and all that you do. I also interviewed people at the Pro-Israel rally and counter protest that day in Denver. My video is not a good but is a little revealing. This was my first time trying something like this plus I was so full of emotion that it was difficult. I seriously felt ill. You can watch my video at http://www.argusfest.org I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

]]> By: mattberkman http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14456 mattberkman Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:22:16 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14456 Max, I appreciate what you do. Keep up the good work. Matt Max, I appreciate what you do. Keep up the good work.

Matt

]]> By: sofia http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14455 sofia Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:04:29 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14455 Max, great text and video despite the sadness of watching rational people becoming barbaric and shouting out hate-slogans. But it´s important to be registered and you did. Congratulations. Elyakatz, I-ve already left a comment on your blog, but just in case... About Israel´s right to self defense, you should read a text by Michael Neumann, "Hamas and Gaza". He concludes that "Israel's (..) must defend itself at the least cost to others. It should keep its families from harm by giving the Palestinians complete control of their external borders and allowing the creation of a Palestinian state. After this, if Israel is attacked, it can respond. Before, its response is not legitimate self-defense but continued aggression. " You can read the whole article at http://www.counterpunch.org/neumann01132009.html Other interesting texts: http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11568 ("Always a fighter, always a terrorist" - Amira Hass) http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2009/01/legal-aspects-of-operation-cast-lead-in.php ("Legal Aspects of 'Operation CastLead' in Gaza", by Amos Guiora) http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html ("Why do they hate the west so much, we will ask?", by Robert Fisk) http://www.counterpunch.org/finkelstein01132009.html ("The facts about Hamas and the war on Gaza", Norman Finkelstein) http://www.counterpunch.org/loewenstein08172005.html "The shame of it all: watching the Gazan Fiasco", Jennifer Lowesntein.) Last but not least, there´s a book by Yoram Binur, an ex-IDF and journalist who spent a year living in the occupied territories and working in Jerusalem disguised as an arab. The title is "My enemy, myself". Max, great text and video despite the sadness of watching rational people becoming barbaric and shouting out hate-slogans. But it´s important to be registered and you did. Congratulations.

Elyakatz, I-ve already left a comment on your blog, but just in case…
About Israel´s right to self defense, you should read a text by Michael Neumann, “Hamas and Gaza”. He concludes that “Israel’s (..) must defend itself at the least cost to others. It should keep its families from harm by giving the Palestinians complete control of their external borders and allowing the creation of a Palestinian state. After this, if Israel is attacked, it can respond. Before, its response is not legitimate self-defense but continued aggression. ”

You can read the whole article at http://www.counterpunch.org/neumann01132009.html

Other interesting texts:
http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11568 (”Always a fighter, always a terrorist” – Amira Hass)

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2009/01/legal-aspects-of-operation-cast-lead-in.php (”Legal Aspects of ‘Operation CastLead’ in Gaza”, by Amos Guiora)

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html (”Why do they hate the west so much, we will ask?”, by Robert Fisk)

http://www.counterpunch.org/finkelstein01132009.html (”The facts about Hamas and the war on Gaza”, Norman Finkelstein)

http://www.counterpunch.org/loewenstein08172005.html “The shame of it all: watching the Gazan Fiasco”, Jennifer Lowesntein.)

Last but not least, there´s a book by Yoram Binur, an ex-IDF and journalist who spent a year living in the occupied territories and working in Jerusalem disguised as an arab. The title is “My enemy, myself”.

]]> By: microsmile http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14454 microsmile Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:51:02 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14454 If ICRC delegates in the field gather credible and precise evidence of violations, or if ICRC medical personnel corroborate reports by others, the ICRC would begin by discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices. We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports.”<a href="http://www.itexamguide.com/Cisco/642-586.html" rel="nofollow">642-586</a> If ICRC delegates in the field gather credible and precise evidence of violations, or if ICRC medical personnel corroborate reports by others, the ICRC would begin by discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices. We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports.”642-586

]]> By: elyakatz http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14451 elyakatz Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:53:49 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14451 BS"D ICRC's position on the use and/or abuse of phosphorous weapons in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, as of 17 January 2009 -- Quote: "'Does the ICRC consider white phosphorous weapons as they have been used in Gaza to be legal under international humanitarian law?' If ICRC delegates in the field gather credible and precise evidence of violations, or if ICRC medical personnel corroborate reports by others, the ICRC would begin by discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices. We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports." Link to entire article at the ICRC's site: http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/weapons-interview-170109 Ellie BS”D

ICRC’s position on the use and/or abuse of phosphorous weapons in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, as of 17 January 2009 –

Quote:

“‘Does the ICRC consider white phosphorous weapons as they have been used in Gaza to be legal under international humanitarian law?’

If ICRC delegates in the field gather credible and precise evidence of violations, or if ICRC medical personnel corroborate reports by others, the ICRC would begin by discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices. We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports.”

Link to entire article at the ICRC’s site:

http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/weapons-interview-170109

Ellie

]]> By: elyakatz http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14450 elyakatz Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:40:49 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14450 BS"D Reflux1, Do you get just as hopped up when Hamas sends suicide bombers into Israel and bombs Israeli buses, sending bolts and shrapnel into the brains of Israeli schoolchildren? The claims of white phosphorous bombs being used as weapons against innocent civilians in Gaza are disingenous. A few rebuttal links below: http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/01/gaza-jihad-fires-phosphorus-bomb-at-israel.html http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Media_War_Crimes.asp Cheers, Ellie BS”D

Reflux1,

Do you get just as hopped up when Hamas sends suicide bombers into Israel and bombs Israeli buses, sending bolts and shrapnel into the brains of Israeli schoolchildren?

The claims of white phosphorous bombs being used as weapons against innocent civilians in Gaza are disingenous.

A few rebuttal links below:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/01/gaza-jihad-fires-phosphorus-bomb-at-israel.html

http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Media_War_Crimes.asp

Cheers,

Ellie

]]> By: edb http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14449 edb Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:50:35 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14449 Just to clarify, the ritual that the woman in the video was talking about where the father "slashed the daughter's face" is ashura. In the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh, Shia inhabitants have for many years made a superficial cut at the front of participants' heads (above the hairline, not in the face) to remember the suffering of Hussein, who was murdered at the battle of Karbala. This ritual of cutting is performed by supporters of the "secular" Amal movement and it is condemned by clerics and not practiced by the more religious Hezbollah. It is not a religious ritual but rather cultural-specific to certain towns in southern Lebanon. Neither women nor little girls participate, but young boys do. While the ritual might seem distasteful or even grotesque, it is not akin to slashing someone's face and nobody is in fact harmed or disfigured. In other words, lobbing of a newborn baby's foreskin is, clinically seen, a greater physical violation. Just to clarify, the ritual that the woman in the video was talking about where the father “slashed the daughter’s face” is ashura. In the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh, Shia inhabitants have for many years made a superficial cut at the front of participants’ heads (above the hairline, not in the face) to remember the suffering of Hussein, who was murdered at the battle of Karbala. This ritual of cutting is performed by supporters of the “secular” Amal movement and it is condemned by clerics and not practiced by the more religious Hezbollah. It is not a religious ritual but rather cultural-specific to certain towns in southern Lebanon. Neither women nor little girls participate, but young boys do. While the ritual might seem distasteful or even grotesque, it is not akin to slashing someone’s face and nobody is in fact harmed or disfigured.

In other words, lobbing of a newborn baby’s foreskin is, clinically seen, a greater physical violation.

]]> By: ewe http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14448 ewe Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:44:57 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14448 I am not fully informed about the issues but i will side with Professor Noam Chomsky and his beliefs. I think you are tremendously brave. I am not fully informed about the issues but i will side with Professor Noam Chomsky and his beliefs. I think you are tremendously brave.

]]> By: reflux1 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/comment-page-1/#comment-14445 reflux1 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:50:25 +0000 http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/547/#comment-14445 Elyakatz, you seem to be totally content excusing murder for the indefinite future because peace "aint happenin". How are humans supposed to rise above senseless killing with people like you totally dismissing the concept of peace. I also don't buy that Israel is the total victim, with a most modern military and the aid of the U.S.(which has helped block and stifle peaceful solutions for decades now). I am not saying that palestinians are totally innocent either, but again, killing by anyone, under any flag is still killing. Who is the real aggressor here? By collective punishment, I mean blockades of humanitarian aid, shelling urban centers with white phosphorous etc. Although war in and of itself could be considered collective punishment, i am talking specifically about the definition of collective punishment used in the Geneva conventions. How does shelling a hospital fit in with the attack against Hamas, and deterring its rocket firing capabilities? And I am supposed to buy that any nation, in self defense, in "war" has a right to punish the whole population? Not a chance. I do not excuse the U.S.'s misadventures in Iraq or Afghanistan. Because no one in or from Iraq attacked us on 9/11, it is simple to understand that we did not have a right to attack, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. I don't excuse any Hamas member shooting off rockets, but I still do not see how Israel is defending itself by shelling hospitals, showering white phosphorous in population centers, blockading humanitarian aid, and blocking rescuers from helping people already bombed. Or is that just arab propaganda?? http://uruknet.info/?p=m50583&hd=&size=1&l=e Elyakatz, you seem to be totally content excusing murder for the indefinite future because peace “aint happenin”. How are humans supposed to rise above senseless killing with people like you totally dismissing the concept of peace. I also don’t buy that Israel is the total victim, with a most modern military and the aid of the U.S.(which has helped block and stifle peaceful solutions for decades now). I am not saying that palestinians are totally innocent either, but again, killing by anyone, under any flag is still killing. Who is the real aggressor here?

By collective punishment, I mean blockades of humanitarian aid, shelling urban centers with white phosphorous etc. Although war in and of itself could be considered collective punishment, i am talking specifically about the definition of collective punishment used in the Geneva conventions.

How does shelling a hospital fit in with the attack against Hamas, and deterring its rocket firing capabilities? And I am supposed to buy that any nation, in self defense, in “war” has a right to punish the whole population? Not a chance.

I do not excuse the U.S.’s misadventures in Iraq or Afghanistan. Because no one in or from Iraq attacked us on 9/11, it is simple to understand that we did not have a right to attack, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. I don’t excuse any Hamas member shooting off rockets, but I still do not see how Israel is defending itself by shelling hospitals, showering white phosphorous in population centers, blockading humanitarian aid, and blocking rescuers from helping people already bombed. Or is that just arab propaganda??
http://uruknet.info/?p=m50583&hd=&size=1&l=e

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