GAZA: CHORUS OF HYPOCRITES

(From the Government Press Office: a scathing op-ed on international coverage of the tragic death of the seven members of a Gazan Palestinian family, by Ma'ariv Hebrew-language daily Editor in Chief Amnon Dankner, 12.6.06, p. A1,18. A bit long, but worth reading closely)

And Palestinian Media Watch has, what they charge is a falsified PA TV broadcast of the evacuation.

"It is still not at all clear what caused the deaths of seven members of the Palestinian family on the Gazan beach. They may have touched an old shell; they may have also stepped on a mine prepared by the Palestinians themselves against a seaborne infiltration of Israeli forces.

Yet, already, even before the matter has been fully clarified, that well-known international chorus is bewailing that moral image of Israel is in decline by these very acts that it has yet to be proven to have committed. This joy for self-flagellation and simultaneous dragging of the IDF through the mud alongside the hypocritical choir of condemnation by the Arabs' and their automatic supporters is daunting and reprehensible.

Even if it is eventually proven that that which killed and maimed on the Gazan beach was an Israeli shell, that was fired - of course - without the intention of attacking innocents, there is still no place for the moral indignation that represents - in actuality - a very faulty position, precisely from a moral point-of-view.

The State of Israel has every right in the world to aggressively defend its citizens from Kassam rocket fire. This right must permit it that which the IDF is doing - to shell open areas from which the Palestinian cells are launching the Kassam rockets. The Palestinians in Gaza can only make claims on themselves: We withdrew from the Gaza Strip, down to the last centimeter, in a painful, wrenching step; we shattered communities and families and we are entitled to demand complete quiet from the Palestinian side in Gaza. We are also entitled to respond with force when the lives of Israeli residents are put at risk and to try to remove the harrowing nightmare that is hanging over our heads day and night.

It is very easy to claim, as [Israeli author] David Grossman did here yesterday, that all of these military efforts are in vain because the Palestinian fighting continues. But if we do not take the steps that we are taking in the face of this aggression, would it be better? Will the Palestinians not be encouraged to continue with greater impetus and thereby claim many victims? The call to declare a ceasefire and sit down to unconditional negotiations without preconditions no longer sounds as good since the experience of those blood-soaked years after the Oslo accords. It has an anachronistic and irrelevant taste, certainly after the Palestinians crowned themselves with an extremist and uncompromising Hamas administration. To think that this would lead to quiet and bring a halt to the killing of Israelis is surprising in both its naivete' and its non-learning from experience. Once, my lot was with those who thought that if we would only be nicer, show more goodwill, be more humane and offer more concessions - everything would be just fine. But the lesson that we learned, and which cost us so much blood, is that this 1960's-flower-children-who-have-not-really-matured approach which thinks that if we just give peace a chance, it will crown us with garlands and we will be borne by white Hamas doves; if only we do not respond with force and do not stand for our lives, a warm sun of marvelous tranquility will shine upon us - is so stupid in the perspective of what we have gone through, that the brain bubbles with astonishment at hearing such things.

We are living on our swords in the face of a tangible threat that is being heard loud and clear from Gaza, Ramallah, Damascus and Tehran. We are fighting against those seeking our souls, who are killing and maiming us. As is the way of war, the defending sword, as it is being swung, does not always strike those who are actually guilty. But if we exaggeratedly flagellate ourselves due to a shocking television photo and if our hearts soften due to a pointed article in The Guardian or the moral condemnation of the Quay D'Orsai, we will also undercut both the will and the ability to defend ourselves.

There are no magic military solutions; this is true. But the conclusion that David Grossman drew here yesterday that in place of a non-existent military solution, there is a magic diplomatic solution, is also incorrect. There is the hard work of assertive self-defense replete with the military measures without which even David Grossman would not feel safe in his home. The perspective of time requires forbearance, restraint, determination and patience. And it is also not worthwhile to hastily cast guilt upon ourselves because we dare to stand up for what is ours and for our lives.

Train -vehicle collision: 5 dead, over 80 injured (update)

Ynetnews has video on the wreck near Netanya. Meanwhile, Israeli railways CEO Ofer Linchezski says,

"According to an initial probe carried out by a special investigative team appointed by me immediately following the incident, the train driver was driving at the proper speed and according to standard procedures."

Linchezski added, "A telephone call was received seconds prior to the accident. An emergency procedure was put into effect. Due to the close timing of events the train did not manage to stop in time.

"Our emergency procedure has limited capabilities."

Not unlike Israel Railways.

Topless cafe' in Jerusalem driving off customers

Table service in the Holy City. Wow. This is scandalous. I mean, such bustles have been out of style for, like, centuries... no wonder there's no clientele. Take a guess and comment where I shot this. G'wan.

Longer! Lower! Wider! The New BetbenderMobiles Have Arrived!

A hearty shoutout to all and sundry new visitors to "At Level Ground" in recent days (perhaps, more properly spelled "daze," since I've been upgrading and futzing with the template on this blog far more than is healthy - my eyes are fast becoming 15" svga widescreen rectangles...).

Thanks also to all who have written in comments and suggestions for improvement (keep that card and letter coming...) They are, even if not posted, appreciated.

Now, who can tell me how to recover the archives to earlier posts, that no longer appear down there at the bottom rt of the page, beneath the links? Like, arrgh, ya'know?

Also, how can I update and add more pictures to the Flickr collage of my pics embedded over there, to the right?

And, since I'm being the techno-tard today, here's an interesting item from "Life in Israel" about posting straight from Word 2007 to Blogger.

Oh, also: "Neither Here nor There" has a post about higher-rez pics of Israel on Google Earth. No more posting in pj's, unless you enjoy that sort of thing.

New pics and updated podcasts are coming. Check back soon...

Sderot: schools closed after Kassam strikes school yard, injures Israeli

Sderot's beleagured Mayor Eli Moyal acceded to fearful parents demands, after Sunday morning's Kassam volley that wounded several Israelis, and told administrators to keep the schoolhouse doors shut.

Moyal, according to Ynet, said the move was not in protest of the IDF inability to thwart the near-daily rocket barrage:

"Four rockets landed in the Sderot area, one rocket falling inside an elementary school and another landing nearby. As a result, the building suffered damage. One man was lightly injured and was evacuated to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. Two other people were treated for shock on the scene of the attack."

And this, just in from the IDF Spokesman's office:

"The Chief of Staff has instructed Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi, deputy commander of the IDF ground forces branch, to head a special inquiry committee into yesterday's incident in which seven innocent Palestinian civilians were killed on the beach in the Gaza Strip.

"Initial investigation indicated that Israeli naval fire did not cause this incident. The possibility of land-based artillery fire is being examined.

"The IDF deeply regrets any harm caused to innocent civilians and has offered any medical assistance needed including hospitalization in Israel.

"The following is a summary of a briefing given on Friday, June 9, by the GOC Southern Command, Maj. General Yoav Gallant:

"I cannot say what caused this incident. We are looking into the different possibilities. Both naval and ground based means were used today. We have fired thousands of shells in the past and this has never happened before. We are investigating, but it seems that it was not caused by either air or naval fire. There may have been an accident which caused an artillery shell to fall off course, or an old unexploded shell which went off, or perhaps an explosive device which was tinkered with. We fired towards open areas and took the necessary distance precautions. We fired towards the ruins of Dugit and westward of them - an area which is routinely used for rocket launching. The Palestinian population was warned to keep clear of this area. If as a result of our activity innocent Palestinians were hurt, I am very sorry for it. We do not intend to harm civilians, and we have offered any assistance that we can.

"There was no firing towards a school.

"We have halted our artillery fire in order to check ourselves. As for aerial attacks, they will continue against anyone aiming to attack us.

"Rockets continued to be launched at Israel, and despite this regrettable event we will continue to do all that it takes to defend the citizens of Israel. The IDF today attacked two terror cells - one immediately after a rocket launching, the second as it was on its way for such a launching. The second was a Hamas terror cell which in the past days has launched a number of Qassam rocket that hit Sderot. Our activity is aimed to protect the citizens of Israel from harm. This activity will continue.

"If terror organizations continue to fire at our civilian population, we will have to respond severely. We are under attack, and will use any means necessary while taking the utmost precautions. Sadly, accidents do happen. We are investigating the grave incident on the Gaza beach, and if it was in fact caused by a mishap, we will take appropriate action. We expect to know more in the coming 24 hours."

This is the pallid update the IDF Spokesman's Office emailed and faxed reporters early Sunday morning, when, it seems to me, having worked extensively with the IDF spoks, they should be a heck of a lot more proactive, already be on-camera, radio and internet, getting ahead of the day's news cycle, and not dribbling out their response. Hope springs eternal...

Pal terrorists free kidnapped American student (updated)

(updated)

Members of an armed Fatah militia which claimed to have kidnapped an Israeli Saturday transferred the individual in question, a U.S. citizen, to the custody of the Palestinian Authority before dawn Sunday.

The PA security forces subsequently handed the American over to the Israel Defense Forces. Defense officials believe once the militants discovered the person was indeed an American citizen, they took steps to end the matter quickly.

"Apparently, the kidnappers did not want to end up like Zarqawi," a defense official said. (Haaretz)

Carl at Israel Matsav has a good wrap.

Meanwhile, 0730 Sunday morning here in Jerusalem's southern Gilo neighborhood, and, as I type these words, the familiar clatter of the police helicopter rattles overhead. The helo's pilot and swiveling camera slung in the pod underneath scan nearby Beit Jala and other villages searching for Palestinians trying to enter Jerusalem from the wadi (dry ravine) separating the two communities.

In parallel, police and civil guard volunteers patrol the bus stops along the periphery of the bluff, as another line of defense, along with the “security envelope” being constructed nearby to thwart suicide bombers from also gaining entry. I posted a few of my pics and a report of that project here. But hundreds of Palestinian day laborers, women and youths do so daily, anyway, easily bypassing the existing roadblocks.

Outside my apartment, a police car-mounted loudspeaker calls to residents to come and identify a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot.

And how is your Sunday morning?

But with an all-time record of 97 terror alerts charging the atmosphere, and the possibility that an IDF-fired artillery shell, and not a errantly “aimed” Kassam missile killed seven Palestinians on a Gaza beach Friday morning, security forces ratcheted up their stance and are setting up roadblocks along the entry points between Palestinian and Israeli areas, in and around cities and highways trying to foil terrorists.

A police spokesman says just now on Army radio that they have beefed up their No. 100 emergency hotline, allowing more Israelis to call in parallel to provide alerts.

Elsewhere, Palestinians in northern Gaza loosed close to 30 Kassams at Israel in the last 30 hours, with my beeper reporting just now of one Israeli sustaining moderate wounds from a volley aimed at nearby Sderot, just to the east, while others slammed down in a factory in southern Ashkelon, reportedly causing some damage but no injuries.

Educators in the hard-hit development town are threatening to close down schools, if the government and IDF do not provide an answer to the rockets.

Looks to be a hot day ahead...

Make sure to stop back later today; I'll post pictures from here, and from in town covering the security situation.

PM Olmert's daughter, protesters: 'intifada shall prevail'

At Ynetnews: PM's daughter protests Gaza killings

"Dana Olmert takes part in left-wing demonstration outside army chief's house; protesters call [IDF CoS Dan] Halutz 'murderer,' declare 'intifada shall prevail.' Meanwhile, human rights groups send letter to PM, defense minister, calling on them to stop war crimes in territories"

Out of the mouth's of babes, huh, Ehud?

IDF Fetish Toy: Sterling Silver Chess Set

Hey, you out there! You love Israel, right? Then dig this:

The IDF Chess Set Made From Sterling Silver

"A masterpiece unique artisan large 925 sterling silver (NOT silver plated) IDF (Israel Defense Force) chess set. Comprised of 32 highly detailed and outstanding IDF related pieces representing the various corps in the Israeli defense forces, 16 made of sterling silver (for the white pieces) and 16 made of gilded sterling silver (for the black pieces).

"The pawns are designed as soldiers, the rooks are shaped as missile boats, the knights are as mobile gun, the bishops are as patrol jeep, the kings are as combat pilot standing beneath his F-15 and the queens are as queen driving a Merkava tank (the tank is considered to be the queen of the battlefield)."

Did this ad nauseate you much as it did me?

So. Instead of pissing away – wait for it - $1650.00 smackers on ludicrously overpriced Israel fetish uber-schlock, go key-in some of that plastic-card green at the following sites instead, where it'll do real IDF troopers who are - even as I write this and you read it - placing themselves in harms way and grievious danger for Israel's sake, a hell of a lot more good:

The LIBI Israel Soldier's Fund
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Go there, and donate whatever you can afford - you know you want to - and the soldiers (and you) will be better off for it.

Al-Zarqawi: Paradise is Overrated

Do you like parody? I mean wicked parody from some other dimension? Like old National Lampoon when it rocked, back in the early 70's? Then go read Iowahawk.

"Now, back in the madrassa when we studied the afterlife, I always wondered what would be the last thing to go through my head. I'm pretty sure now it was one of Mahmoud's anklebones. And if you're wondering if it was painless? Imagine a full-frontal 800 degree root canal while listening to a Neil Young record. But hey, I figure no big whoop, just the admission price to heaven's eternal ho sammich.So Zarkman walks toward the light. No shit, it's a lot like 2001: A Space Odyssey, but in 3-D quadrophonic sensurround. And BOOM, plop, I'm in this gigantic white room, completely empty except for this hooded faceless guy and a totally sweet 47" plasma screen. " (warning: not G-rated, but so worth it)

Also, excellent background reading:
Newsweek Lutefisk Story Sparks Fury Across Volatile Midwest,
Peace Elusive in Strife-Torn Midwest

And finally, this, a brilliant body slam to the New York Times:
"New York, N.Y. - Like the corpses that lazily bob along in the nearby East River, life obeys its own pace in this isolated island community of 8 million in southern New York State.

It is an ancient pace, its cadence dictated by the steady whirr and click-a-clack of word processors, plied by the gnarled hands of skilled opinion craftsmen who once supplied nearly eighty percent of the world's refined punditry output.

To some ears, the din from the mighty opinion mills of this gritty Ink Belt town may be grating; but it has served as a siren call for generations of hungry immigrant OpEd workers."

Read it all.

Pre-Sabbath Israeli Food Porn

There. That got your attention. Have a sweet Shabbat, and a great weekend.