Israel-Palestine kerfuffle

[Larry]

Wanted to post this new item, and I suspect that there's going to be followups. (Of a lethal nature.)

Yahoo: Israel hammers Hamas in Gaza offensive

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel launched a major offensive against Palestinian militants in Gaza on Wednesday, killing the military commander of Hamas in an air strike and threatening an invasion of the enclave that the Islamist group vowed would "open the gates of hell".

The onslaught shattered hopes that a truce mediated on Tuesday by Egypt could pull the two sides back from the brink of war after five days of escalating Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli strikes at militant targets.

Operation "Pillar of Defence" began with a surgical strike on a car carrying the commander of the military wing of Hamas, the Iranian-armed Islamist movement which controls Gaza and dominates a score of smaller armed groups.

Within minutes of the death of Ahmed Al-Jaabari, big explosions shook Gaza as the Israeli air force struck at selected targets just before sundown, blasting plumes of smoke and debris high above the crowded city.

Panicking civilians ran for cover and the death toll mounted quickly. Ten people including three children were killed, the health ministry said, and about 40 were wounded. Also among the dead were an 11-month-old baby and a woman pregnant with twins.

Lots more at the link, going into all kinds of issues, like the new government in Egypt.

Gee, the hits just keep on coming, don't they? Riots in Greece and Spain. Fiscal cliff. Sex Scandal. Just what we need is some shooting in the Middle East.

[visionary]

I was tempted to start a thread about this all day, but I wasn't sure I wanted to see the responses.

I'm somewhat depressed but not surprised by our support for this mess too.

[Rdskns2000]

1000 years ago- same story just different type of weapons. 1000 years from now, some story just different type of weapons. There will never be peace there.

[zoony]

Gee, the hits just keep on coming, don't they? Riots in Greece and Spain. Fiscal cliff. Sex Scandal. Just what we need is some shooting in the Middle East.

And to top it off, my in-laws are coming for thanksgiving.

[Larry]

I was tempted to start a thread about this all day, but I wasn't sure I wanted to see the responses

I was rather surprised you hadn't.

And yeah, I get the whole "depressed but not surprised" thing, too. (Actually, I get that a lot).

[thebluefood]

And to top it off, my in-laws are coming for thanksgiving.

And Prom's tomorrow and I have a pimple on my nose!

But seriously, this is horrible. I'm a supporter of Israel, but this offensive seems completely out of line. I have a feeling Netanyahu has opened up a can of worms here. He's been rather hawkish in rhetoric and now it looks like he's in for a nasty fight (though it does look like this was in retaliation for previous strikes).

[GhostofSparta]

We got no money, no jobs, are pets HEADS ARE FALLING OFF! And now this!

[Park City Skins]

I was tempted to start a thread about this all day, but I wasn't sure I wanted to see the responses.

Bet yours wouldn't have had kerfuffle in the title.

*

As for what's going on over there right now.......sigh.

[mikered30]

Here is a video of the air strike:

[thebluefood]

Here is a video of the air strike:

Well damn...pin perfect strike.

[brandymac27]

Unfortunately, I don't see this situation ever getting any better. Like someone else said, same **** different day.

[Larry]

One of those things that just kind of leaped off the page, when I read it, was a comment by some Israeli official. Seems that this latest thing started kind of like this.

1. Some artillery rounds from Syria landed in Israel.
2. Israel retaliates by firing on Syria.
3. Hamas begins firing artillery at Israel.
4. Israel retaliates by firing at Gaza.

Now, I read a quote from some Israeli official, talking about item 1, saying something along the lines of "we don't think they were fired at Israel intentionally, but we retaliated anyway".

Just one of those things that I file under "because this is the Middle East".

[mboyd784]

Israel is a precious flower.

[twa]

One of those things that just kind of leaped off the page, when I read it, was a comment by some Israeli official. Seems that this latest thing started kind of like this.

1. Some artillery rounds from Syria landed in Israel.
2. Israel retaliates by firing on Syria.
3. Hamas begins firing artillery at Israel.
4. Israel retaliates by firing at Gaza.

Now, I read a quote from some Israeli official, talking about item 1, saying something along the lines of "we don't think they were fired at Israel intentionally, but we retaliated anyway".

Just one of those things that I file under "because this is the Middle East".

a possibly errant shell was countered with a warning shot and followed by a Syrian promise it would be taken care of....it happened again....Israeli tank fire took care of it since they couldn't/wouldn't

[Kilmer17]

It's been a year already?