Our news is lying to us about the Gaza conflict

[earth_as_one]

Does a lie become the truth if repeated on the news often enough?

A common misperception being propagated by the news media is that Hamas is to blame for the current violence in Gaza and that Israel had no choice but to defend itself by attacking Gaza.

For example:

US: Hamas to blame for Mideast violence
5 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Avoiding any criticism of Israel, the White House said Hamas rocket attacks were to blame for the escalating violence between the Palestinians and Israelis and blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement on a cease-fire.

A State Department official said Saturday the U.S. was working toward a cease-fire but provided no details on how this could be accomplished. The Bush administration does not talk to Hamas.

Department spokesman Sean McCormack said a truce was needed that would stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel.

McCormack said "it's obvious the cease-fire should take place as soon as possible," but it has to be sustainable and cannot allow Hamas to continue to launch rockets out of Gaza....

The Associated Press: US: Hamas to blame for Mideast violence

This is a typical statement being made right now regarding hundreds of people Israel has killed in Gaza in the last week in response to rocket attacks which hadn't killed a single Israeli in the previous six months:

Is Israel overreacting?

BOLTON: No, I don't think so. I think Israel has a perfectly legitimate right of self-defense. Hamas has been firing rockets from the Gaza Strip for years, even during a so called cease-fire that lasted six months until Hamas itself said they weren't going to carry it on. And when you have a right of self-defense, it's not simply a tit-for-tat right of self-defense, it's a right to eliminate the threat. If that's what Israel is in fact choosing to do, I think they're perfectly legitimate in so doing

FOXNews.com - Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton Gauges Global Impact of Gaza Crisis - Sean Hannity | Alan Colmes | Hannity & Colmes

The above propaganda is designed to obfuscate the facts in favor of Israel and creates this type of misperception:

Israel is justified in what it is doing. Beforehand, Hamas was firing rockets into Israel, as many as 600 a week. Now they are going to the international community complaining about Israel. Hamas remind me of a school bully who repeatedly punches his victim, then when the victim retaliates with a few punches himself to defend himself, the bully runs to the teacher crying because he got punched....

Not true. Hamas never fired a single rocket from June to November and only fired rockets since then in response to Israeli violence.

I agree Israel has a right to defend itself. But that's not what Israel does. Judge for yourself:

Its a fact that 80% of Gazans are dependant on international humanitarian food aid and that Israel determines how much enters Gaza. As per the terms of the truce, Israel agreed to allow the free flow of food and medicine to enter Gaza. Here is what Israel allowed:

Israel uses food as a weapon in violation of the truce and international law. Deliberately starving a civilian population is a crime against humanity, regardless of the military situation.

During the truce Israel continued arresting and assasinating Palestinians.

During the truce Israel continued its demolition of Palestinians homes, rolling annexation and settlement expansion.

Take July 2008 for example

Chronological Review of Events Relating to the Question of Palestine
July 2008

...Israeli troops killed an unarmed Palestinian near the border in the southern Gaza Strip, an IDF spokesman said. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed the victim had been one of its members. The head of Gaza emergency services identified the victim as Salim Jumaa al-Hamedi, 18. The death brings to 526 the number of people, nearly all Palestinians, killed since Israeli-Palestinian peace talks resumed in November 2007, according to an AFP count. (AFP)

Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians in Dura, west of Hebron, and in Nablus. (Ma'an News Agency)

Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets into Israel's western Negev region, hours after Israeli troops shot to death a Palestinian along the Israel-Gaza border. The rockets struck open areas, causing no injuries or damage. (Haaretz)

Hamas arrested three militants from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades immediately after they launched rockets at targets in Israel. Following the arrest, senior Hamas spokesman Moussa Abu Marzouk stated that his organization would uphold the ceasefire and attempt to stop the firing of rockets into Israel. (AFP, AP, Ma'an News Agency, Reuters, Ynetnews)

Israeli troops demolished two houses, razed land and arrested seven men in Hebron. (Ma'an News Agency, Reuters)...

...Israel Radio reported that Israel planned to build some 1,800 new homes in two settlements in East Jerusalem. Some 900 homes would be built in the "Har Homa" settlement, and a similar number of new apartments would be built in "Pisgat Ze'ev," the radio said, adding that the Jerusalem municipality's Planning and Construction Committee had given preliminary approval to both projects. (DPA)

Arab States had asked the Security Council to re-declare Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory illegal and condemn new construction in East Jerusalem. Libya, a Council Member and the head of the Arab Group, submitted a draft resolution calling on Israel to immediately stop its settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalizad, said, "For us, the criteria for an acceptable resolution which can make it to the Council are that it is balanced," and that achievements or setbacks by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be reflected in the draft. (Haaretz)...

Does this sound like the actions of a country which desires peace? If you read this UN document you will get a much better understanding of this conflict and the level of pro-Israel bias and misinformation in our news:
http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/1ce874ab1832a53e852570bb006dfaf6/d33dd4a30c6fbe77852574c8006b6400!OpenDocument#Hamas%20arrested%20three%20militants%20fr

Even the BBC reported Hamas's attempts to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza and abide by its ceasefire agreement with Israel:

Friday, 11 July 2008
Hamas arrests Gaza rocket squad

Relatives mourn a Palestinian killed by the Israeli army as he infiltrated Israel

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a Palestinian militant group, says three of its members have been detained by the larger rival group Hamas.

The move comes after al-Aqsa militants fired two rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

The detentions are the first since Hamas, which controls Gaza, agreed a ceasefire with Israel last month aimed at easing an Israeli blockade.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has called for the release of its members.

Israeli police said the rockets fired on Wednesday landed in an open area and no-one was hurt.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said it launched the rockets in retaliation for the Israeli army's killing of an unarmed member of the group as he tried to cross the Gaza-Israel border...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7501025.stm

Does this sound like Hamas was trying to respect its ceasefire obligations?

The Hamas/Israel ceasefire finally broke down when Israel launched a raid into Gaza which killed half a dozen Hamas people in November 2008.

Gaza truce broken as Israeli raid kills six Hamas gunmen
Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem guardian.co.uk,
Wednesday 5 November 2008

A four-month ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was in jeopardy today after Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen in a raid into the territory.

Hamas responded by firing a wave of rockets into southern Israel, although no one was injured. The violence represented the most serious break in a ceasefire agreed in mid-June, yet both sides suggested they wanted to return to atmosphere of calm...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/05/israelandthepalestinians

What followed was a series of Israeli raids and attacks and Hamas rocket attacks.

At this press conference a UN Observer responds to leading question about Hamas responsibility for Israel's actions in Gaza:
YouTube - NO! Hamas is NOT to Blame! Karen Abuzayd United Nations (Short Version) (REQUEST)

A more complete version of the same press conference:
YouTube - NO! Hamas is NOT to Blame! Karen Abuzayd United Nations

Here is text version of the UN Observer's answer

UN official says Israel attacked during lull
By EDITH M. LEDERER – 5 days ago

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Palestinians in Gaza believed Israel had called a 48-hour "lull" in retaliatory attacks with Hamas when Israeli warplanes launched a massive bombardment of militant installations in the Gaza Strip, a U.N. official said Monday.

Karen Abu Zayd, commissioner of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which helps Palestinian refugees, raised the possible violation of an informal truce in a video press conference with U.N. reporters from her base in Gaza.

Israel's U.N. Mission referred any comment on the reported lull to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office in Jerusalem. Olmert's office did not answer telephone calls for comment early Tuesday morning.

Abu Zayd said Palestinians in Gaza were surprised when Israeli warplanes sent more than 100 tons of bombs crashing down on key security installations in Hamas-ruled Gaza starting Saturday morning because it was in the middle of the lull.

The offensive began eight days after a six-month truce between Israel and the militants expired. During that time, the Israeli army said Palestinian militants fired some 300 rockets and mortars at Israeli targets, and 10 times that number over the past year.

Israel had sent mixed signals on Friday regarding its plans for Gaza. Israeli defense officials said politicians had approved a large-scale incursion into the territory. But at the same time, Israel appeared open to international pressure against an invasion, prying open its border with Gaza to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid.

"What we understood here (was) that there was a 48-hour lull to be called, and this was called by the Israelis," Abu Zayd said. "They said they would wait 48 hours. That was on Friday morning, I believe, until Sunday morning, and that they were going to evaluate."

"There was only one rocket that went out on Friday, so it was obvious that Hamas was trying, again, to observe that truce to get this back under control," she said.

"Then, everything got loose on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. We were all at work and very much surprised by this," Abu Zayd said.

When the Israeli offensive began, neither Defense Minister Ehud Barak nor Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made any mention of a lull.

Abu Zayd mentioned the lull when she was asked whether the population of Gaza was aware "that this was all commenced by the Hamas government unilaterally ending the cease-fire and firing rockets."

"I don't think they think the truce was violated first by Hamas," she said.

"I think they saw that Hamas had observed the truce quite strictly for almost six months, certainly for four of the six months, and that they got nothing in turn — because there was to be kind of a deal," Abu Zayd said.

"If there were no rockets, the crossings would be opened," she said. "The crossings were not opened at all."

The Associated Press: UN official says Israel attacked during lull

>>>

I believe the evidence shows Hamas does keep its word. Israel on the other hand provoked Hamas repeatedly by using food as a weapon and committing abductions, settlement expansion, assassinations, and finally raids into Gaza in violation of its ceasefire obligations.

 

[dancing-loon]

I have lost all respect for Israel, not that I had much in the first place! BUT, I did at times consider that I could be wrong and not know the real deal there.
Thanks, eao, for so thoroughly and objectively spreading the facts out for us.

 

[earth_as_one]

Thanks DL. Good to know other people exist besides those who blindly support death and destruction.

I hope that you don't believe all Israelis support what their government does in Gaza.

Students protest Gaza operation

Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem university campuses become sites of heated demonstrations for and against IDF's Operation Cast Lead. Haifa students call Barak 'child killer', lecturers face off with IDF officers. Three arrested in Tel Aviv

Ahiya Raved Published: 12.29.08, 16:12 / Israel News

Hundreds of Haifa University students took part in hot tempered demonstrations in the middle of the campus Monday.

On the one hand, Jewish and Arab students belonging to a leftist movement called for an end to the IDF's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, and under the slogan "Diplomatic Terror" yelled out nationalistic chants and "Barak is a murderer"

On the other hand, Jewish students gathered to support the Israeli operation and called out "Death to terrorists" and "Ismail (Haniyeh) is next".

Large police and university security forces separated the two groups, which occasionally got into heated arguments with each other, and objects were even thrown from one side to another.

During the protests, an argument broke out between left-wing lecturers and IDF officers studying at the university, who were dressed in uniform and carrying their weapons.

During the demonstrations, that were held with the University's permission, students associated with Balad, Hadash and the Islamic Movement waved PLO flags, red flags and posters denouncing the operation.

"In spirit and in blood we will save Palestine", "The defense minister is a child killer", and "Fascism lives on" are just some of the slogans shouted out by the students.

Reem Khazan, a political science student, told Ynet the demonstration was against "the killing in Gaza…If we want security for Sderot, there must be life in Gaza. Let them get out of there".

When asked why she and her comrades did not protest the continued rocket attacks on Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip, Khazan said, "You can't compare a Qassam to an Apache or the shelling that is going on now."

Leftist protest in Haifa. 'There must be life in Gaza' (Photo: Ahiya Raved)

Some 200 students gathered opposite the leftist protest, supporting the operation and countering the leftists' cries with calls in favor of the targeted killing of terrorists. The protestors als sang the national anthem and waved the Israeli flag.

One of the students said a great part of the protest was directed at the fact that Arab students were demonstrating. "It's inappropriate that students that study and live here protest on campus and support the Palestinians. If they want to identify with them, let them do so in Gaza."

The Haifa University administration told Ynet the demonstrations were held with a permit and according to the students' rights law. Nonetheless, the university expressed concern for the fact that many of the demonstrators present may have come from outside of the university.

The Haifa University's student union published an announcement supporting the IDF and the Gaza operation, alongside an expression of hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Haifa University President Aaron Ben Ze'ev said, "The composition of the population in the university reflects the composition of the population in the State. As in other towns, including mixed towns, there have been protests following the operation in Gaza.

"There is no reason not to protest here as well. The university allows demonstrations under the frame of freedom of expression and students' rights."

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv students also protest

Demonstrations from both sides of the fence were also held in Jerusalem on Monday. In the street leading up to the Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus some 200 Arab Israeli and Jewish left-wing students protested against the Gaza attacks.

Some 100 Jewish students showed their support of the IDF's operation opposite the leftists. Dozens of police officers separated the two groups....

Students protest Gaza operation - Israel News, Ynetnews

 

[dancing-loon]

Thanks DL. Good to know other people exist besides those who blindly support death and destruction.

I hope that you don't believe all Israelis support what their government does in Gaza.

To be truthful, I have no real idea what the population in Israel thinks. The few that may actually go out and protest make no dent in the determination of the government.

There was a time in the States when Cindy Sheehan and other war protesters tried their best with demonstrations to sway the Bush policies. Never made one iota of difference. It is so disheartening.

Israel's aggressive politics have never wavered over the past 60 years, no matter who was in power. Their goal was and is more land.

You probably heard about this ship incident?
Israeli Navy Attacks Civilian Mercy Ship to Gaza (Cynthia McKinney on Board)

This is as disgusting and hateful as the US torturing their captives!

 

[diamond lady]

The truth is always on the side of the oppressed, never on the side of the oppressors
Always remember that

 

[earth_as_one]

The truth is always on the side of the oppressed, never on the side of the oppressors
Always remember that

How true. The oppressor has to lie to justify their actions, because what they are doing isn't justifiable.

 

[EagleSmack]

There was a time in the States when Cindy Sheehan and other war protesters tried their best with demonstrations to sway the Bush policies. Never made one iota of difference. It is so disheartening.

What is even more funny is that the people who eventually silenced Cindy Sheehan were the Democrats and Liberals once the Democrats swept Congress in the midterm elections. Per usual the Democrats lied to and used Cindy to get what they wanted and then pushed her aside. Did you know that Cindy ran against Pelosi? Why would she do that? She was betrayed by the Democrats that is why.

http://namaste_rich.gnn.tv/blogs/30..._Mercy_Ship_to_Gaza_Cynthia_McKinney_on_Board

This is as disgusting and hateful as the US torturing their captives!

:roll:

 

[earth_as_one]

ES: That's because American politics is usually a choice between "Heads I win" or "Tails you loose".

As far as Israel is concerned AIPAC pulls the strings of both Democrats and Republicans.

As far as US Middle East Policy is concerned, big oil pulls their strings.

I hope Obama is real change. He is an outsider and an outspoken critic of stupid wars.

 

[darkbeaver]

If you follow those strings you'll find an ancient cult of money grubbing filth living in a lake of blood. They are **** eaters, every stinking one of them. Someday we will hunt them to extinction, there is no other choice.

 

[Praxius]

Well it wouldn't suprise me that western media is kissing ass to Israel..... just look at how skewed they painted the picture of the Georgian conflict..... a conflict Georgia started..... and yet Russia was the bad guy?

Same thing here.... it doesn't matter about the little details of who started what.... Israel is always right, those poor poor people :roll: So of course all Israeli officials have to do is throw one poor excuse for their actions to the public, and the media sucks it up as fact.

Afterall, Christians have more in common with Jews then they do with Muslism, so it's not suprising at all that Israel would get above and beyond the benifit of the doubt.

Which actually reminds me a little of a guy I used to know in High School:

He'd always start some odd sh*t in class for his own entertainment and even when he's caught red handed, he put on the innocent face and go "What? I didn't do anything." ~ Case in point would be when he sat right in front of the teacher, she was dictating something to the class and suddenly he turned to the guy beside him and punched him as hard as he could in the arm.

Everybody heard and seen it..... *Thunk* "OW!!"

The teacher looked right at him, yelled his name, and he threw his hands in the air and said "What?! I didn't do anything! Holy crap this isn't fair!!"

Sounds a lot like a country we all know.....

 

[lone wolf]

Considering Izzy won't let the press in, how is the media going to gather any sort of real news?

 

[Tyr]

Afterall, Christians have more in common with Jews then they do with Muslism, so it's not suprising at all that Israel would get above and beyond the benifit of the doubt.

They all trace their roots to Abraham and from a theological standpoint, Christian, Muslim and Jew are pretty much born of the same religion.

When you inject politics and nationalities into the equation is where you get the "issues"

 

[Praxius]

Afterall, Christians have more in common with Jews then they do with Muslism, so it's not suprising at all that Israel would get above and beyond the benifit of the doubt.

They all trace their roots to Abraham and from a theological standpoint, Christian, Muslim and Jew are pretty much born of the same religion.

When you inject politics and nationalities into the equation is where you get the "issues"

Well my comment was more so sarcasm, but in the last 8+ years, some governments have been pushing for this division between Muslims and the "Christian/Jewish" norm..... .to the point where the most ignorant are considering Islam a terrorist religion and a threat to all of our security.

In this, there is a very clear bias, both in the media/news and average public opinion and it seems that this is what is given certain nations/governments a green light to commit all sorts of inhumaine actions (All for the greater good we are told)

 

[darkbeaver]

"Our news is lying to us about the Gaza conflict"

That's a misleading header. We never had a free public press in the first place, ever.

 

[Tyr]

Well my comment was more so sarcasm, but in the last 8+ years, some governments have been pushing for this division between Muslims and the "Christian/Jewish" norm..... .to the point where the most ignorant are considering Islam a terrorist religion and a threat to all of our security.

In this, there is a very clear bias, both in the media/news and average public opinion and it seems that this is what is given certain nations/governments a green light to commit all sorts of inhumaine actions (All for the greater good we are told)

True enough. When are "we" in the west going to figure out that "they" (the Islamic world) just doesn't want us interfering in their affairs.

When are "we" going to be bright enough to realize most of the strife in the Middle East was caused (and continues to be caused) by us.

When Iran and Iraq fought their war in 80's, what would have been different if we would have just sat back and did nothing...? Nothing would have turned out any differently

but in the last 8+ years, some governments have been pushing for this division between Muslims and the "Christian/Jewish" norm.....

 

[Risus]

When muslims say that their goal is to have islam rule the world, and kill all non muslims (infidals), I have a problem with that and support all countries defending themselves from them....

 

[Zzarchov]

Not true. Hamas never fired a single rocket from June to November and only fired rockets since then in response to Israeli violence.

As a question on semantics, this is true. Hamas nor Gaza have fired a single rocket.

Likewise, neither the Israeli Knesset nor Israel itself have invaded, shot or in any way interfered with Gaza.

Sorry, I just find the semantics ridiculous. Though I'm not going to bother going into the rest of your points I'm sure they are (or are not, I'm not bothering to read them) very poignant and relevant, please continue.

 

[Praxius]

True enough. When are "we" in the west going to figure out that "they" (the Islamic world) just doesn't want us interfering in their affairs.

Probably around the same time we stop listening to countries like the US and Israel.

When are "we" going to be bright enough to realize most of the strife in the Middle East was caused (and continues to be caused) by us.

Probably around the same time we revolt and imprison our government officials and their media outlet puppets for their lies and propaganda.

There's no laws that strongly cover those areas? We'll make them.

When Iran and Iraq fought their war in 80's, what would have been different if we would have just sat back and did nothing...? Nothing would have turned out any differently

Not really.... a couple of flags would change around but their ways of life for the most part would still remain familiar.

People being imprisoned? Well the same thing would occur in our own countries if the roles's were reversed. Then again, it's easy to paint a picture in the media expressing an image that this crazy stuff can only happen over there because of their culture and beliefs..... further pushing those here into our own clouds of ignorance that it could never happen to us.

When in fact is is gradually happening everyday.

 

[Praxius]

When muslims say that their goal is to have islam rule the world, and kill all non muslims (infidals), I have a problem with that and support all countries defending themselves from them....

Not all Muslims say that.... that's a generalized perspective based on the entire religion due to a select few extremists.

It's no different then generalizing all Christians based on the KKK or those nut bags in Waco, Tx..... or those idiots who bomb abortion clinics..... or those perves who force their children to marry their cousins, etc.

And when you have an idiot like Bush shoot his mouth off and call for a "Holy Crusade" ~ Exactly WTF kind of reaction would you expect from Muslim extremists?

A Muslim car bombs a town square.....

A Christian Air Strikes a town square...... what the hell is the difference?

They all have their own reasons.

And yes, I have heard plenty of Christians through the years, including in these forums, who claimed that it's their God Given right to force others into their religion, one way or another.

Both religions seek an entire earth full of Christians/Muslims...... it's hypocritical to judge one over the other when both are painted with the same brush.

 

[Unforgiven]

You have to wonder about some of these extremists.