Comments on: Death Comes to Beit Lahiya

By: Paul M

Paul M — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:54:53 +0000

Mira,

I assumed that it was just Hamas trying a little spin control. I think they were bright enough to figure out that their first response – blame Israel and fire rockets – wasn’t going to work and that the truth was going to come out soon enough, so Plan B was to admit it and present it in terms of ‘martyrs of the resistance’. What’s new?

By: wilczek

wilczek — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:42:02 +0000

Mira

You know attempting to rationalize extremists in this way will likely be an exercise in fultilty. Are we meant to thank them for their honesty, their forebearance this time?

By: Seymour Paine

Seymour Paine — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:31:16 +0000

This is also the clearest evidence I’ve seen of the convergence between the political and militant wings of Hamas, and it massively discredits that organisation, and supports the hand of those wishing to isolate it.

The idea that Hamas as a reputation that can be discredited is absurd; they are simply and only a fanatical, murderous, anti-Semitic organization which has massive support among the wonderful citizens of Gaza.

What Israel owes Gazans is beyond me.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:23:22 +0000

TheIrie, go to elderofziyon.blogspot.com and have a quick trawl. You will find that these events ARE NOT the exception but the norm. I’ve read about two or three dozen of these cases in the last year, possibly more.
Let’s get one thing straight. Hamas are a fanatical, fascist militant Islamic group dedicated to the extermination of Israel and all the Jews therein. How on earth do the silly lefties think they can be bargained with?

By: Mira

Mira — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:16:27 +0000

Who me? Why did Hamas admit it, then? Don’t you find it interesting? I realise that one reason might be that Hamas are in such a bubble that they doesn’t understand how badly the admission reflects on them (that might explain why they talk about “martyrs” and “holy war” rather than criminal irresponsibility). This would be in keeping with their wider sabotage activities. An alternative reason is that Hamas is split into officials who want to admit these things and those who want to hide them. In which case, more power to the ones who want to admit it. That’s my only point.

By: Joshua Scholar

Joshua Scholar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:03:10 +0000

The delusional wishful thinking never ends.

By: Mira

Mira — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:27:23 +0000

I find Hamas’s eventual admission the most intriguing thing about this story. Out of all the things you can reasonably condemn Hamas for you can praise those officials who made (muscled through?) the admission that the 7 deaths and 51 injuries in Beit Lahiya were Hamas militants fault – an admission which reflects badly on Hamas and gives mileage to Israel and supporters of Israel. It seems to me that this admission makes Hamas more of an organisation Israel can do business with than if they hadn’t made it.

By: TheIrie

TheIrie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:01:37 +0000

Couple of things. First of all, clearly, Hamas is 100% in the wrong here. This is also the clearest evidence I’ve seen of the convergence between the political and militant wings of Hamas, and it massively discredits that organisation, and supports the hand of those wishing to isolate it. I basically agree with David’s post, but for his conclusions. The only thing I would take issue with is that this event is the exception rather than the rule. Furthermore, there is a question of how representative the Hamas official is? I won’t presume to answer that, I merely ask the question. Anyway, I still believe the way to deal with Hamas is through negotiation, as I’ve always said, to strengthen the moderates, open a political, diplomatic path forward, and isolate the militants. But, yes, I re-iterate, this was a crime of the first rank committed by Hamas.

Less seriously, Joe says: “It was only the other day that TheIrie was insisting that Palestinian Terrorist do not use civilian infrastructure as shields against Israeli reprisal. Of cause at the same time he was telling me that ALL Palestinian civilian deaths are Israeli fault.” This is all completely untrue – I’ve never said either of those things. No doubt Modernity will provide the quotes to prove my point, so I won’t bother.

By: Joshua Scholar

Joshua Scholar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:57:47 +0000

“@modernity, in that case, since they are ruled by a theocratic mob who have no concept of democracy then let’s get up a coalition to invade Gaza and install democracy. They already have someone the West will talk to in Abbas so lets do it.”

Maven, you were being sarcastic of course.

By now it must have sunk in that the Palestinians have no concepts of democracy, responsible government, freedom. But they do believe that God will reward anyone who kills Jews.

The only solution is for God to come down, bring miracles and convince them that killing Jews isn’t a direct road to heaven.

We’re all waiting for that to happen and for peace to finally reign over the middle east.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:28:37 +0000

modernity:
What international laws would Israel be breaking if it declined to supply Gaza with fuel and electricity? Should the Allies have been required to supply Nazi Germany with fuel and other supplies so that it could continue its war of aggression? Hamas was elected by the Palestinians and, from what I read, Hamas is still very popular among Gazans. Shouldn’t we stop treating the Palestinians like children and require that they bear the consequences of their own choices?