Hamas Ignores the Cease Fire Agreement Continues Attacking Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

      Five IDF soldiers were injured last night due to a mortar bomb exploding in a tunnel dug in Khan Younnis in southern Gaza.  One was seriously injured of the 5.  

In due process, 3 Palestinian terrorists were killed.  " “Their activities breached the understanding with Hamas since Operation Pillar of Defense and they implemented activities against Israel by building the tunnels.  Hamas is in control in Gaza and it is their responsibility to prevent terrorism of any kind. "  

Rockets have been fired lately from Gaza after several months of quiet.  It could be a relatiation to the peace talks that Fatah's Abbas is involved with and the releasing of murderers by Israel in compliance to Abbas's demands.  What Hamas has been doing is stockpiling mortars, rockets and missiles and building tunnels.  

A tunnel used by terrorists had been found and is now blown up.  

Resource:  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/five-idf-soldiers-wounded-near-khan-younnis-2178

Increasing Rockets Fired Into Israel
Another kassam rocket was fired into the Shaar Hanegev region of southern Israel yesterday by Hamas terrorists.  It landed about a meter from a home and damaged it.    Rockets falling into southern Israel has increased in the past few weeks.  The air force is responding. 

Resource: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4094568,00.html

Retaliation Attack For Hitting Ashkelon

400 rockets and mortars, supposedly shot by small militant groups that Hamas has no control of have been shot at Israel since Operation Cast Lead 19 months ago. A big one hit Ashkelon causing a retaliation by Israel on Gaza.

Israel killed an important Hamas commander, Issa Batrun, age 42. He was a senior rocket maker. 11 were injured in the attack, 8 Hamas members and 3 civilians.

This may stir up the hornet's nest now. Hamas is already threatening Israel for the attack. My advice is that they shouldn't have allowed other militant groups free reign to attack Israel. Also, they're arming the smaller militant groups, so, in other words, they're one and the same group. They're all out to attack Israel.

Before this happened, members of Bracha and members of Iraq Buren threw stones at each other on Friday. This was in Judea/Samaria or the West Bank. It was the Palestinians from Iraq Buren that started it first. Why is the unknown factor. Friday is the Sabbath for Arabs. I'm surprised they engaged in this act. On this day most all Jewish women are busy preparing for the sabbath that commences on Friday night. Who has time for such devilment? Well, they found about 30 Palestinians who were involved.

What had happened on Friday? The UN let known its ruling that Israel had to end the Gaza blockade and needed to allow a fact finding committee on their raid on the flotilla. Isn't that just like them? And they wonder why it's hard to speak with Israelis. I can't believe this U.N.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100731/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100730/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictwestbankclashes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100730/wl_nm/us_rights_israel

Aftermath of Gaza Flotilla

Nadene Goldfoot

I wrote on the 27th about the Gaza flotilla that was coming with 9 ships and about 800 people supposedly with supplies for the Gazans that they really were not in need of. The people on the ships were supposed to be pacifists. It was actually coming to cause media damage to Israel in some way, and Israel was aware of that.

Yesterday the media certainly did go against Israel in a way they had not expected. I tried to think of how I would have handled this, and feel that Israel did what they had to do.

Gaza is controlled by Hamas terrorists, though the newspapers now call them a group. They most likely terrorized their people to vote them into power and certainly have terrorized Israel for over 3 years now by shooting missiles into Israel and constantly saying that they will not make peace with Israel but intend to destoy Israel.

Because of this, Israel has had to stop all ships from going into Gaza with supplies as they usually carry weapons for them. Gaza has more goods in it than most USA towns. They are well supplied. All sorts of relief agencies have been servicing Gaza. The only shortages there are would be in the line of cement for tunnels for receiving contraband like missiles and other weapons.

Every ambassador of the many countries represented on the flotilla were notified of Israel's ruling and what would happen if they disregarded their expectations. They were all warned of the reprocussions. The flotilla people were warned and told that they could bring in the goods but that they had to go to Ashdod's port first for a security check. Israel even had a tourist guide book about Gaza ready to give to them. I have a copy of it, and it is humorous but appropo. Israel had tents ready in Ashdod ready to receive these people. They knew that about 350 of them were Turkish. If I could know about this flotilla and all the problems surrounding it here in Oregon, certainly the ones involved knew as much as I did.

The flotilla was expected to arrive on Saturday, on the Jewish Sabbath, but was held up in Cyprus. From 9 ships it was pared down to 6. Yesterday, on the 31st, they were outside of Gaza in international waters when Israeli soldiers were dropped from a helicopter on the ship with all the people.

Now Turkey is acting so surprised, and of course condemning Israel, which was the original intention. Truly, they were not surprised at all, except they may have been surprised at how successful they had been. They got the negative publicity about Israel that they wanted.

Israelis are shocked and wonder about their defense minister and if he did the right thing. I say he did. Israel could not let such a ship or flotilla come in with so many supplies without being checked for weapons. They are still being shot at with missiles and they're coming in somehow. After this incident another one was shot into Israel. A week before this they were shot at. They have continued to be shot at by missiles ever since the end of Operation Cast Lead. The only difference is that they have lesssened as they were coming in fast and furious before.

The question is how to stop a flotilla to check it. They had been told to go to Ashdod and before they even started, they had replied that they would not. In American movies we would have seen our Coast Guard out chasing the ships and board from their own ship. I suppose that would have had its own problems, so they chose a helicopter. These soldiers really were not prepared for this type of resistence. They were not armed for it at all. Paint ball guns were what they boarded with and a hand pistol. They were attacked, one thrown overboard, and they got scared when their own pistols were taken from them and they were shot, so they managed to fight back with their pistols. I believe it was 15 soldiers who had boarded and were attacked. One soldier was very seriously wounded and about 3 or 4 more were wounded in the attack. They feared they would be killed! That's not what they boarded for. So they shot back in order to live. They didn't shoot first. There was no reason to board and start shooting. Remember, the odds were 800 to 15.

It was a bad scene, somewhat like Mrs. O'Leary's cow that kicked over the lantern in the barn. I imagine there were some very naive people amidst that 800 who thought they were doing a good deed and also had no idea what was going to happen, but they should have. The Turkish organizers of this group knew what they were going to do and why. Turkey hasn't been friendly with Israel lately. They're going along with their Muslim neighbors in regards to Israel. I suppose this was their contribution to the cause.

What happened in Portland? Muslims demonstrated in our square downtown. I know they demonstrated in Turkey, and probably in other cities as well. They got what was most important to them. Again, Israel tries to protect its citizens and gets shot down for doing so. You know, all this wouldn't have happened if Gaza would make nice with Israel.

Ashkelon Under Attack Again

Nadene Goldfoot

Thursday evening in Israel the Gazan terrorists were at it again. They fired a rocket towards Ashkelon, Portland, Oregon's sister city. It exploded in some farming fields south of the city. The community was warned by a warning siren that went off. I wonder what had been planted there; onions? potatoes?

Earlier they had fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF force near the security barrier. IDF returned fire, but none were injured.

Before that terrorists had fired ten mortar rounds and three shells which had exploded next to a kibbutz in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council area. Three shells landed near the Kerem Shalom crossing where humanitarian supplies are shipped daily into the region. After the attack the Defense Ministry had to close the crossing. I'm sure the next news will tell how the Gazans are complaining that supplies are not coming in.

The IAF dropped 520,000 fliers over Gaza telling residents to stay at least 300 meters away from the fence and not to help the smugglers who are smuggling arms into Gaza.

Resource: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/SendMail.aspx?print=print&type=0&item=135422

Over 100 Rockets Hit Israel Since January 18, 2009

Today: Shabbat: 7 Rockets Hit

PS Sunday March 1, 2009 9:00am

Nadene Goldfoot

Hamas has fired over 100 rockets into Israel since January 18th, when we pulled out of Gaza. Today, which was Shabbat in Israel, 7 rockets hit Israel in the Ashkelon City area. One hit a school, but being Shabbat, no one was there. For tomorrow, it's a different story.

Egypt has been mediating but has gotten nowhere with Hamas.

In reply, Israel has held air strikes on their tunnels which bring weapons to them.

3/1/09 Billions of dollars have been pledged to rebuild the Gaza Strip of which Washington has pledged $900 million dollars. Arab countries in the past pledge but don't come through as in the U.N. pledges, making America paying the most.

In the meantime, the terrorists will not return one Israeli soldier held in captivity after being kidnapped which Israel wants back.

It's very nice of us to be so willing to rebuild Gaza, but why when they continue to fire rockets into Israel? Why not make it contingent on a real cease-fire for once?

Israel is very angry at over about 110 rockets falling into its land. Who is going to rebuild Ashkelon's school? USA hasn't offered that help. There will be a reprisal against all the rocket firing again, as the terrorists just don't get it. Israeli patience is waning.

Reference: South Africa: http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2477937,00.html
P.S. Another reference today: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090301/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians_27
Jewish Review: Portland, OR Newspaper page 3, March 1, 2009

Ashkelon Hit on Tuesday

Portland's sister city, Ashkelon, was hit, probably with a grad rocket today. It is only 7 miles from Gaza, that usually that is far enough away from the regular rockets fired from Gaza, which usually hit Sderot. Grads, made in Russia, can range farther. They have been getting into Gaza through the tunnels and through the Egyptian side.

Israel telephoned Gazans in Rafah and warned them of their possible air strikes. Benjamin Netanyahu, who probably will win in Israel's elections next week, visited Ashkelon and told them that they must topple the Hamas regime in order to stop the rockets.

Of course Hamas is now saying that they are innocent, though the rockets are coming from Gaza as usual. They're saying, It's not us, it's the other guys. We feel that they won the elections, they are in charge, and they are responsible for terrorist actions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090203/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_17

How Do I Explain Israel's Actions in Gaza?By Aron Moss

Rabbi Aron Moss lives in Sydney, Australia. He teaches Kabbalah, Talmud, and practical Judaism.

Question:
I am the only Jew in my office, so I face a daily barrage of questions about Israel's actions in Gaza. I don't know who appointed me as Israel's spokesman and I am not armed with the answers. Can you help?

Answer:
At times like this, each one of us becomes an ambassador for Israel. Even if you don't agree with everything Israel does, any decent person must stand up for Israel's right to self-defense.
We can leave the military and political issues to the experts, but we should all be clear on the moral questions raised by this war. Let's look at a few of the most commonly asked questions.

Q: How can Israel justify killing civilians if their intent is to crush Hamas?
A: The death of innocents is a tragic inevitability of war. Our hearts go out to all those caught in the middle. The sad fact is that the Palestinian people are being held hostage by Hamas. Just as it is clear that Hamas is morally culpable for any harm done to Gilad Shalit, the Israeli hostage that they hold, so too are they culpable for the fate of Palestinian innocents amongst whom they hide. A civilian who is killed while being used by a terrorist as a human shield is a victim of the terrorist, not the Israeli army, who does not target innocent civilians.

Q: Isn't Israel's response a bit disproportionate?
A: If Israel's purpose was to take revenge, then perhaps the question of "proportion" would apply here. But Israel is waging a defensive war. In war, you don't measure your response to the enemy by what they have done to you in the past, but rather by what needs to be done to stop them from attacking you. Israel must destroy Hamas' capability to continue shooting rockets at Israeli cities. Israel's actions are proportionate to the present and future threat, not just the damage done in the past.

Q: Doesn't Israel understand that they are just creating more terrorists? The anger and fury at Israel as a result of bombing Gaza will only make more people want to join Hamas.
A: Feelings of frustration, anger, fear and rage do not make you into a terrorist. A culture of death and an education of hate does. Israel doesn't need to do anything to create terrorists - Islamic extremism does that - but Israel must act to destroy those who threaten its people.

Q: Hamas indeed has a militant wing, but it also does a lot of good. They are responsible for social programs, educational projects and humanitarian work in Gaza. By destroying Hamas, Israel also destroys all the good they do. Aren't we demonizing a group that is not all bad?

A: If a serial killer also happens to volunteer for his local hospital, has donated money to an orphanage, and looks after his ailing grandmother, he is still a serial killer, and he and the threat he represents must be treated as such. The danger he poses far outweighs the concern for any good he may do.

Q: By using violence, how is Israel any better than its terrorist enemies?
A: That is as ridiculous as saying that a woman who fights off an attacker is no better than her attacker. Israel would not touch Hamas if Hamas would stop sending rockets and suicide bombers into Israel. Israel seeks to live in peace with its neighbors; Hamas and its allies seek to destroy Israel, no matter what Israel does.
There is a world of difference between the Hamas terrorists and the Israeli soldiers. The Hamas terrorist seeks violence as a way of life; his aim is to sow war and death. For the Israeli soldier, war is a necessity, and a moral duty, because Israel's citizens are being attacked and innocent lives are being threatened. The Hamas terrorist seeks to maximize civilian casualties; the Israeli soldier does everything in his power to minimize them.
The Hamas terrorist fears times of peace, because then he has no purpose. The Israeli soldier dreams of a time when peace will reign. Then, the Israel Defense Force will be made joyously redundant, as "one nation will not lift a sword against another nation, and they will no longer learn to wage war".

Resource: Chabad on line

What's It Been Like to Live in Sderot?

Sderot has been hit with rockets and missiles for the past eight (8) years. Eight miles away lies Sapir College where 8,000 students attend. They have 15 seconds; seconds, not minutes, warning to run for a bomb shelter. That's because of the close proximity to the border. Lately they have been shelled by 80 rockets in one day! You can't do anything but run like crazy in 15 seconds. The people in the area are suffering from PTSD. The government has been afraid to react, but finally did Saturday.

The so-called cease-fire was not doing a thing to stop the shelling on Southern Israel. It continued and then sped up once the period came to an end. All this time Southern Israel has been living under the conditions of never knowing when a rocket or mortar was falling, and it would happen.

The reaction of the Arab world is predictable. They are up in arms about Israel's attack at the strongholds of the Hamas terrorists. Yes, about 230 people were killed in the attack, a few of which are civilians. That's because they put their weapons in the middle of a population so that people would condemn Israel's attacks when they came. The bullies believe it's okay to attack Israel but get mad when they act to protect their people.

A government is duty-bound to protect its citizens. Peace means living without fear and bombing.

Below is the website for Road 90 where there are videos of what it's been like to live in Southern Israel. After registring (free) you will be able to see for yourself.

http://www.road90.com/watch.php?id=RqcRDjWhNF