More Mortars Bursting

Nadene Goldfoot

Tit for tat, and so the war goes on.  This time the Military Branch of the Islamic Jihad took responsibility for a barrage of 5 rockets that were fired into southern Israel around Ofakim Wednesday evening from Gaza.  When it's early morning here it's evening there.  One landed south of Ashkelon and three in Be'er Sheva.  Also, rockets landed in the Eshkol Regional Council. 

A rocket hit a car in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and injured a little toddler's hand in it.  Rocket fire continued late Wednesday night.  Two rockets landed in Sderot, which is very close to the Gaza border. 

In retaliation, Israel hit  storage buildings for weapons in both north and south Gaza. and they also hit tunnels used for sneaking in weapons. 

Why the barrage this time?  The Jihad group was angry because Israel got one of the terrorists named Ismael al-Asmar, 34 years old.  This is turning into a Hatfield-McCoy situation.  X shoots at Y and Yshoots back and X shoots again because Yshot back.  The difference is that Israel can pinpoint their target and the terrorists terrorize by shooting rockets and missiles into a populated civilian area.  If they didn't have bomb shelters to run to in a matter of seconds more would be dead and injured.  As it is the hospital will be full of terrorized people.  The terrorists know they can expect retaliation after they have attacked Israel.  Israel is never sure when missiles will rain down and must stay close to bomb shelters. 

All Israelis in the southern area were told to stay indoors.  A community had to cancel a music festival.  Then two more mortar shells were fired into the Israeli territory.    The Iron Dome did stop a Grad rocket.

The terrorists reported that two of their men were dead and 20 were injured.  They have an awful lot of Muslims compared to the Jewish population, and they don't seem to mind dying when they can go out as a marytr which earns them 72 virgins.  Jews have no such reward.  They just want to live. 

Resource: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barrage-of-rockets-hits-southern-israel-idf-kills-islamic-jihad-member-in-gaza-1.380503

http://www.jpost.com/

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=235309

The Barzilai Medical Center of Ashkelon, Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

Ashkelon is Portland, Oregon's sister city and the Barzilai Hospital there has been close to being hit several times.  It's Israel's front line hospital on the Gaza border.  They take in patients that are Jewish and Muslim, terrorists and whoever manages to get there in need. That's what all the hospitals in Israel do.   The hospital services 502 square miles.  The residents in this area are 500,000.  It has 500 beds and a level 2 trauma center.  It's Israel's foremost center for trauma care and nurse training. 

The hospital has been treating many patients, especially since 2006 with all the missile attacks since then.  They continue to be able to deliver the best medical treatment to all injured soldiers and civilians and also  provides  professional expertise, compassion and care.  They do need our help all the time as the world economy has almost stopped the flow of monetary assistance from around the world.  World-wide propaganda against Israel hasn't helped, either. 

The Israelis have suffered a great deal in the Gaza border area of southern Israel.  In 2006 there were 1600 Kassam missile attacks.  The hospital had 1400 patients with acute and post traumatic stress disorders and diseases then.  Each year they treat 100,000 emergencies. 

They have had a 150% constant occupancy each year.  Their cafeteria is regularly converted into hospital bed spaces.  That's not surprising.  When I was in the hospital in Haifa in 1981, (I had fallen and crushed my elbow) I was out in the hallway naked with an IV dripping down my arm.  It was that full.  It was Haifa's army hospital.  Luckily later I was moved into a large ward full of women.  It was 6 weeks later when we had the Lebanon war and I couldn't even see my doctor then to talk about taking out the screws from my arm as they were going to be extremely busy. 

Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in the world.  They go back 4,000 years.  In 1955 the modern city was founded by South African Jews when their town of Afridar merged with Migdal, a former Arab town.  Their national park has Greek and Roman ruins and the remains of ancient synagogues.  There is also a Roman tomb decorated with frescoes, the ruins of a Byzantine church and a wall built by Crusaders in the city.  They have a population of about 120,000. 

Ashkelon is also distinguished by having the world's largest water desalination plant.  Baltimore, Maryland is also another sister city with Ashkelon. 

Reference: http://www.friendsofbarzilai.com/

http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?print=1&c=40986&a=125423

My personal experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdrQKcaLAU  sent by Jeff Morton

15 Rockets Fired After Cease Fire

Nadene Goldfoot

The Popular Resistance Committee of Gazan terrorists were resisting the cease fire order from Hamas on Monday because several of their senior members were killed in the last retaliating volley from Israel.  They know the outcome of their attacks:  when they fire into Israel, Israel will retaliate from the air.  This airstrike got the rocket launching devise.  Israel does not aim for people, but sites where the firing comes from in trying to stop it.  They have hit tunnels and such as well.

Israel's new Iron Dome protection capability was able to stop 4 out of 5 rockets fired, but that last one that got into Israel hit a young Israeli man, Yossi Shushan,  and killed him.  Another rocket was heading for Ashkelon but the Iron Dome stopped it. 4 of the 15 rockets landed in the Sderot vicinity and in the outskirts of Ashkelon.   A building was hit in this new volley.  The terrorists have resorted to firing a volley of many rockets like 7 in order to get some through the Iron Dome.  This is stopping quite a few of them.  Israel plans on procuring a few more Iron Domes by next year.  They have the capability to stop rockets fired into heavier populations so as not to waste them. 

Egypt did not recall their ambassador to Israel as they had threatened when several of their soldiers were killed in the shootout between the IDF and the terrorists in the first volley.  It took a lot of counseling to calm things down. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/gaza-rocket-fire-persists-despite-truce-israeli-aircraft-retaliate/2011/08/22/gIQA578gVJ_story.html

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=234914

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-defense-sources-gaza-terror-groups-changing-tactics-to-avoid-iron-dome-system-1.379914

Illegal Flotilla Due End of June
Nadene Goldfoot
15 ships are expected to come and provote Israel by trying to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip.  Israel has Gaza blocked because of their control by Hamas, a terrorist organization whose goal is to destroy Israel.  Hamas shells Israel, demonstrating that they are not peaceful, and that they are sticking to their charter which says they are out to destroy Israel.  Israel is making sure that any ships coming are not carrying weapons that would be used on Israel.

The ships are from the Turkish IHH organizsation.  They are also coming from the Hamas instigated "Free Gaza Movement."  The end of June is the expectation of when they will arrive. 

According to International Maritime Law, Israel is within their rights.  The law is that Gaza fishing boats can  be 3 km from the Strip but other ships can't be within 20 km of Gaza.  Israel is within the law to intercept and take control of any ship that declares their intention to sail to Gaza, even when they are not yet in an area that close to it.

The intention of this flotilla is to provoke Israel.  The U.N. Secretary has said that it is illegal.  The one last year was illegal also.  Gaza is not hurting for anything except possibly weapons to be used against Israel, and yet they have found ways to get those.  Trucks from Israel go in all the time with necessary supplies. 

One thing the people could do to make life perfect would be to vote in a group that is not Hamas and would have peaceful intentions wanting to be good neighbors of Israel.  Voting in a group bent on Israel's destruction is not a wise thing to do if they want Israel to lift any blockade.  Israel must do this for their own self preservation.  Groups that are sucked into the Gazan propaganda are only helping a side bent on destruction of Israel. 

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?ID=222998&R=R1

Ashdod, Ashkelon: Grad Rockets and Mortars Hitting Israel: Nine Palestinians Killed
Nadene Goldfoot
A Grad rocket rocket was shot into Israel landing near Ashdod today.    A rocket slamed into Ashkelon. 

All this happened in retaliation to Israel's retaliation for the 54 rockets that fell into Israel the day before.  Israel in turn killed 5 terrorists and accidently hit 4 civilians  of which 3 were under age 18.  Tuesday when they came across a  terror cell in Gaza preparing to launch a long range rocket into Israel.  The problem is that Hamas stations the attacks among civilian areas, in this case a house in Gaza. 

France is worried and has called on both Hamas and Israel to  show restraint.  This is after Hamas pummeled Israel with 54 rockets, mortars and missles, the most in a long time.  I suppose France would just take the beating or wait for the USA to come to their rescue.  It amazes me that these countries never think to tell Hamas to lay off. 

Resource: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=213329
http://www.jpost.com/
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=213293

Another Bigger Flotilla Planned for May

Nadene Goldfoot

25 nations are planning to take part in a 12 ship flotilla to Israel carrying construction material, electric generators and a desalinization plant. They plan to get there on the 31st of May to commemorate last year's flotilla of 6 ships.

That's very nice that they want to help out people who cannot afford much, but the question remains as to just what reason they are doing this. Do they realize that this is wartime between Gaza and Israel in that Gaza has vowed to destroy Israel and kill all Jews? It appears that these people do not respect Israel. Hamas refuses to recognize Israel or sign a peace treaty. They have kidnapped an IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit, and refuse to release him. Hamas has brought about the need for Israel's blockading Gaza. As long as they keep shelling and hating Jews, the blockade needs to continue.

However, if this group will allow their ships to be searched for materials Israel cannot allow to go through that will bring harm to its citizens and will go to the port requested, it is fine and dandy. However, the first flotilla was not compliant and that brought about the problem they incurred. It seems to me that if they were just doing a good deed they would have gladly allowed their ships to be searched, and at least 5 of the six did. It was the largest ship who resisted boarding and searching.

Last year's Turkish ship had connections to radical Islamist groups. They were connected to the Free Gaza Movement which is a pro-Palestinian Human Rights organization with activists that are backed by such people as Tutu and Noam Chomsky. al-Qaida and Hamas, terrorist groups, have a history of arms smuggling and that may be the flotilla's primary purpose. Thus the need for inspection.

It seems to me that Israel is bearing the heavy financial burden of Gaza even though they have pulled out completely for the sake of "peace," which they haven't received at all. They have been continually fired on with missiles and mortars. Do the organizers of this next flotilla ever think about this fact? I'm afraid that they certainly have and they are willing adjuncts in a war against Israel.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110207/wl_mideast_afp/israelconflictgazaturkeyeu
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/31/AR2010053103445.html
http://www.theage.com.au/world/facts-about-the-flotilla-and-gaza-20100601-wv8t.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0601/Gaza-flotilla-Why-the-blockade-makes-sense-for-Israel added 2/8/2011-Excellent by David Makovsky

Round Two: The Rachel Corrie is Coming

Nadene Goldfoot

The next Gaza flotilla ship, the Rachel Corrie, is supposed to come close to Gaza on Saturday morning. The ship's intention is to break Israel's naval blockade and is using the smoke screen of bringing goods for the Gazans. It's owned by the Free Gaza Movement and flies the Cambodian flag and is funded with money from former prime minister of Malaysia. All sorts of dignitaries are on board making up the 20.

Israel has told them that they don't want a confrontation just like they told the previous ships. If they sail to the port of Ashdod they will check it for weapons and deliver all the goods to Gaza and their representatives are welcome to go along through the crossings.

Of course the co-founder of this Free Gaza movement, Greta Berlin, has said they have no intention of ceding to Israel's request. Supposedly this ship has only 20 people on board. The ship is coming from Ireland. The US is now reacting by assisting Israel with other countries. No one wants to see a repeat of the attack from the Marmara which had hundreds of activists sponsored by an Islamic aid group from Turkey called "the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief. This group is known by its Turkish acronym IHH and they have ties with Hamas, a terrorist group who have taken over Gaza.

In the meantime, no one in the world is helping to free the southern Israeli citizens from the Gazan terrorists shooting rockets into their back yards. A week before the Gaza flotilla came into view, a rocket was shot into Israel. Another fell right after the flotilla was boarded. Thursday night saw rockets fired at the city of Ashkelon again, Portland's sister city. A Kassam rocket exploded later near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev region. Israel fired back and hit a group of Islamic Jihad terrorists as they were working on firing more rockets. They killed three of them. These rocket attacks from Gaza have increased since the beginning of the year. Israel's IDF then bombs weapons factories or tunnels under the Egyptian boarder. That's why they haven't let cement go into Gaza. It's used for these things. The war has not stopped; it has just slowed down a little. Now Israel is finding that trying to protect yourself from attacks is not understood or even popular among our freedom loving peers.

Resource: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/ from Arutz Sheva
http://www.jpost.com/