Complications from Hizballah, just as Israel considers an operation in Gaza. "Lebanese army finds seven missiles pointed at Israel," from Agence France-Presse, December 25:
Lebanese security forces found seven missiles directed at Israel in southern Lebanon on Thursday, an army official said.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the missiles were Katyusha rockets, and may have been ready for an imminent launch.
"The army has found seven missiles in the coastal region between Naqqura and Tair Harfa directed toward Israel," the official told AFP.
"We are investigating whether they were prepared for launching or for use at a later stage. The expert is dismantling them now," the official added.
The area where the missiles were found is a stronghold of the Shiite Hizbullah terrorist group and lies less than five kilometers (three miles) from Lebanon's border with Israel.
Israel and Hizbullah fought a devastating 34-day war in the summer of 2006 which killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
During the war, Hizbullah fired over 40,000 missiles at Israel. The group has been accused by the Jewish state of using the time since the end of the conflict to rearm.
Last month, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told parliament that the Shiite group is three times stronger now than it was in 2006.
Update: YNet News now reports that Lebanese forces discovered eight "Grad, Katyusha-type rockets with activated timers set for late Thursday night."
Lebanese security forces found seven missiles directed at Israel in southern Lebanon on Thursday, an army official said.
That means there are only, what? Maybe 40,000 more to find?
yes it would be great to find the other 40,000+. perhaps they should start looking in all the hisbullaha apartments and homes. thats over hundreds of thousands of potential rocket launch pads.
Please don't exaggerate, PMK and desidude. We're talking of only 39'993 more missiles, maybe.
free speech; that is until the next shipment from Iran comes in.
Oh wait! They are a peaceful people, Right!
what are the un troops doing is this part of world? cant they prevent this from happening? oh yeah the UN are part of the problem.
Lebanese army finds, defuses Katyusha rockets aimed at Israel
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I have to confess, at this point my expectations are so low, that my first thought was mild surprise that the Lebanese army would actually bother to defuse the rockets.
more:
Israel and Hizbullah fought a devastating 34-day war in the summer of 2006 which killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
.......................
What rot--this makes it sound as though Israel just went on a vicious rampage against Lebanese civilians, for no reason at all. Many of the Lebanese killed were not part of the Lebanese army, it is true--they were non-state Hizb'allah Jihad fighters. The fact that some civilians were killed is entirely attributable to Hiz'ballah setting up in civilian areas. The IDF does all that it can to avoid civilian casualties.
I hear Jimmy Carter said that Hizbullah needs protection from Israel, which is why it has all those rockets.
O Little Town of (PA run) Bethlehem -Today:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230111687771&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Hello,
I am a a newbee here, and would like to ask the obvious questions here. Some of the arabs lost their property to the creation of Israel, and they have suffered because nobody else wants these people.
Why will Israel not simply acknowledge that they were in the wrong to some of them and just pay them some compensation, rehouse them, give them jobs and get on with it.
Once these have been sorted , apologise to Hamas, Hizbollah for some of their dead, pay some compensation to them, build some schools, books, roads, & infrastructure to help them to get Gaza and the the rest of the arab terrority up and running and sort it.
I mean what is the alternative, they get bigger and better rockets, Israel retaliates, but it's never ever going to end is it?
For the sake of a few jobs and some billions of dollars given to a few poor people; it seems such a small amount to me , when compared to the trillions lost by greedy nasty bankers all over the world.
Is this really such a big deal?
Again, what is wrong with an Israeli tit-for-tat policy wrt to random missile attacks, esp. when past policies just don’t work? I.e., for every missile fired into an Israel town an Israeli missile is fired randomly into a Gaza Strip town. Yes, I know the liberal world will jump up & down like a bunch of irate monkeys but tit-for-tat is a fair and easily understandable deterrent. I suspect the missiles into Israel would stop very quickly.
It looks like there is a new troll in town
keeping low,
Others will give more competent responses to your comments, but I'll take on a couple:
-- "Some of the arabs lost their property to the creation of Israel, and they have suffered because nobody else wants these people."
The Arabs who left at Israel's formation did so because other Arab nations told them they should. The Arabs who ignored those warnings stayed, and they and their offspring participated and prospered (and still do) in the democratic society that Israel built in a trackless desert.
Why does Israel owe anything to those who left?
Why do the other Arab nations in the region not "want these people?" It is because they (so-called "Palestinians") are worth more to these nations as political pawns than as potential citizens. That is a cold, political calculation for which the Israelis cannot be held responsible.
-- "Why will Israel not simply acknowledge that they were in the wrong to some of them and just pay them some compensation, rehouse them, give them jobs and get on with it."
Because Israel was not, and is not, "in the wrong." Israel acts in its own defense. It owes no one an apology for doing so. In fact, it has lost some of that instinct for self-preservation in the last few decades, sacrificing land land it conquered in a defensive war with its neighbors.
Given its military capacity, it has exerted great restraint in its responses to continued aggression from its neighbors, and it has gone to great lengths to avoid "collateral damage" when it is forced to respond in its own defense.
The terrorist groups and Arab countries that surround Israel continue to express an explicit commitment to destroy it, despite any and all concessions, so what you are asking is for Israel to commit national suicide, and one cannot be surprised if they don't take you up on that.
I'll step back, now, and let others respond. I hope you will read their responses with an open mind. If your knowledge of the topic comes mainly from the "mainstream" media and/or the educational establishment, prepare to be shocked at the disparity between the politically-correct history of the region you THINK you know, and the historical facts.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year,
RSI
Keeping low--
Further to what Red State Infidel said: One issue with what you propose is that no amount of nation-building, philanthropic undertakings, tribute, or even apologies will be enough for parties that are committed to seeing Israel gone. Hamas and Hizballah have made no secret of their feelings there. The Palestinian Authority tries to talk a good game, but the armed wing of the ruling Fatah party, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, has continued to carry out operations (search our archives), and to arm and plot.
Secondly, the Arab world has been the beneficiary of the largest transfer of wealth in history through the flow of petrodollars. With those resources, those countries could have turned the "Palestinian" territories into little Manhattans or Monacos if they wanted, but only jihadist terrorism and the fomenting of hatred and bloodlust seem to get blank checks. For that matter, Israel has tried to win "hearts and minds," all for naught. Just one example: the Gaza greenhouses.
keeping low,
exactly what RSI said...
The non-existent Palestinians, created in Egypt in 1964,(Fakestinians) are probably the ONE and ONLY group of refugees to never get re-settled. Most others have been absorbed somewhere, but the Fakestinians are kept as a festering sore for the amusement of the Arab World, and one more excuse to bash Israel. With Trillions of dollars from oil, you would think their brothers in the KSA and the Gulf States would take them in, but they don't even want them.
Know Islam, Know Violence
No Islam, No Violence
It's that simple.
WHEW!!! Glad to see that UPDATE from 7 to 8 rockets. They're makin' GREAT progress.
Now, only 39,992 rockets left.
Should be any time now.
But surely, those are the ONLY ones aimed at Israel, so EVERYBODY EXHALE. You're SAFE now!!
That PROVES that Islam is "peaceful", SEE?!?
/sarc off
Anybody want to bet that there will NOT be rockets tonight shot into Israel? 'Cause I'll COVER that bet.
RSI, MJW,
Thank you for your your condisered replies. Humans have fought for thousands of years, and history shows that military empires rarely last more that a couple of centuaries.
We just have to read about the Roman, British and now the American empire starting to wane steadily and quickly.
We, British have already considered Iraq a lost cause, and no doubt America will follow suit soon.
Certainly it seems to me that ideological belief seems to be a far more important weapon than military in the longer run.
As RSI says, he does know what Israel's ideology is any longer, even though the young Israeli may not care about his country like his father/gradfather did, surely it cannot be beyond the wit of highly intellegent people of Israel to form a solution with the objective of peace, with a little bit of give and take.
Apart from land exchange, compensation, what about adopting some the cultural values of it's neighbours? Does Israel have a problem with these cultures?
The Arabs it seems have been some of the most successful societies in the history of mankind. They stand (with the remaining oil) to become the richest people in the history of the world ever and possibly forever.
Why would Israel not want to be friends with successful rich people? Isn't this what we all aspire to in the West anyway?
I have this nagging doubt in my mind that perhaps (and I am certainly willing to learn here)Israel isn't trying hard enough? A prime thought is "why surround yourselves with a wall if you want to make friends; is this logical"?
What am I missing here; is this really rocket science?
keeping low:
The Jews where in fact there long before the Arab and Muslim tribes who filtered into the area.
All of the great Jewish history resides in the Land that is known as Israel,its history is of Moses ,of Jesus Christ of Bethlehem, and Nazareth and the followers of the old and the new testaments that date back well over a thousand years before a self proclaimed 43 year old prophet named Mohammed suddenly began to spout the tenants of what would be known as the Quran and the Hadiths and Syra in the 6th century AD. Mohammed could raise but only around 150 followers to his new religion for nearly 13 years until he decided to leave Mecca for Medina and become a violent warrior to promote his new religion. It is the Muslims who are the invaders not the Jews, The name Palestine comes from the Roman invaders who occupied this land that is now Israel for centuriesand before the Roman it was the land of the Jews then. The palestinians are but relocated Arabs that have embraced Islam.
The question you might ask is: Why will not Jordan,Syria,Egypt,or even Lebanon accept these people?
"Why would Israel not want to be friends with successful rich people? Isn't this what we all aspire to in the West anyway?"
From Keeping low above
This is why it is very important to understand the religious and political ideology that is Islam. Their teachings tell them not to take as friends non Muslims,their religion teaches hate against the Jews (antisemitism). The quran and the hadiths are devoted to the destruction of Israel and Judiasm.
It is also be important to read the 36 articles of the Hamas Charter that are considered locked in stone and follow the teachings of the quran against the Jews. It is because of these teachings that their is realy never any peace between Israel and the Palestinians, there is only what is called a hudna.
The Palestinians with their Hamas group and Lebanonese with Hezbollah are the proxy warriors for the other muslims states such as Iran, and Saudia Arabia against the nation of Israel.
Keeping Low wrote:
Apart from land exchange, compensation, what about adopting some the cultural values of it's neighbours? Does Israel have a problem with these cultures?
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Perhaps Israel can adopt more of the rabid anti-semitism of its neighbors--there's a wonderful "cultural value"! This despising of Jews much pre-dates the foundation of Israel.
more:
The Arabs it seems have been some of the most successful societies in the history of mankind. They stand (with the remaining oil) to become the richest people in the history of the world ever and possibly forever.
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In what way would you consider Arab society to be "successful"? Surely not in human rights, or the rights of women, or scientific research, development of technology, or artistic creativity?
You say you are British--can you in any way compare the success of the Arab world to Britain and the rest of the English-speaking world--or, for that matter, to Europe? Do you consider Shari'ah law to be equivalent in any way to law as practiced in the West?
Yes--a number of Muslim-majority countries have a vast oil supply. This oil supply lay fallow until Infidels developed the internal-combustion engine, and lent their expertise to mining that oil. Even today most of the ME oil rigs are manned by staff from non-Muslim countries.
more:
Why would Israel not want to be friends with successful rich people? Isn't this what we all aspire to in the West anyway?
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Is this your view of the West? The glories of Western civilisation distilled into a sort of social-climbing cocktail party? Perhaps you should study the history of your own country a bit further.
Incidently, Israel has done a great deal in the past sixty years to "be friends" with their neighbors. Israel didn't build those walls because they didn't want to be friends with Arabs--they built those walls and checkpoints because so many of their Arab friends have been intent on acts of terrorism over the years.
Hamas alone killed nearly 300 Israelis in 58 suicide bombings between 2000 and 2004.
Here's a quote from a Hamas representative from a Rueters article from last year:
"We will not betray promises we made to God to continue the path of Jihad and resistance until the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine," Hamas said in a statement, in a clear reference to Israel as well as to the occupied West Bank.
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A bit difficult to be friends with those who seek your utter destruction. Israel is an Infidel state in the very heart of Dar-al-Islam. Most of her Arab Muslim neighbors will *never* accept her existence--no matter how much aid she sends to them, or how much nation building she attempts.
Keeping Low,
I highly recommend you read, very carefully, this essay by David Meir-Levi about the propaganda and lies spread about the 'birth' and recreation of Israel.
You can read it here: Big Lies.
If you have an ounce of decency and honesty about you, you will read the whole essay.
Does this answer all of your questions?
Does nobody watch my links?
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/
This is the truth about Israel and "palestine".
NO, Israel should not give up one more inch of land.
NO, Israel owes no one an apology.
"Apart from land exchange, compensation, what about adopting some the cultural values of it's neighbours?"
Is this a guy a Yuletide joke?
keeping low:
Let me also suggest to start your journey of understanding the religious and political ideology that is Islam by going to a Barnes and Noble and request a copy of the Quran by N.J. Dawood which has been recommended in the past by Robert Spencer.
Robert Spencer and his staff as well as respected friends and associates would the first to recommend and incourage everyone to do you do your own research and do not rely fully on what we talk about on just Jihadwatch. It does take sometime to be able to reveal the window of what Islam really reflects in its fundamental teachings.
After a while you will clearly see how Muslims act out the teachings of the Quran,hadiths',and Syras'.
keeping low said "Apart from land exchange, compensation, what about adopting some the cultural values of it's neighbours? Does Israel have a problem with these cultures? The Arabs it seems have been some of the most successful societies in the history of mankind."
KL, and what exactly is there to be admired about the cultural values of their muslim arabs? sharia laws? honor killing? anti semitisim? intolerance of non muslims? the only people who NAZIS, and far leftists. Are they all to be admired for their values? In what ways you think arab societies are succesful? oil? Britian has oil as does russia, venuzuela, nigeria? and many other. are we all supposed to look up to these countries as good modern societies to emulate? No sir, some of these countries are dictatorships, many lack the most basic human freedoms. most of these islamic oil countries are hell holes that you don't want to live in for long.
I think our friend "Keeping Low" is being sarcastic. There is no other explanation to his comments and "questions". Unless, of course, he is a two year old and "keeping low" refers to his height.
Whenever I have doubts about Israel, I read Hamas and PA Charters...That gets me back on the right track...
From post above: Why will Israel not simply acknowledge that they were in the wrong to some of them and just pay them some compensation, rehouse them, give them jobs and get on with it.
This must be a joke...Just pay them enough jiza and they will become docile and peaceful...
I laughed so hard I fell off the chair.
I think it's slightly more complicated than that...
keeping low - Are you serious?
No, you're not, are you.
Maybe the question is: Are you being honest.
'Israel and Hizbullah fought a devastating 34-day war in the summer of 2006 which killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
.......................
What rot--this makes it sound as though Israel just went on a vicious rampage against Lebanese civilians, for no reason at all. Many of the Lebanese killed were not part of the Lebanese army, it is true--they were non-state Hizb'allah Jihad fighters. The fact that some civilians were killed is entirely attributable to Hiz'ballah setting up in civilian areas. The IDF does all that it can to avoid civilian casualties.'
Non-uniformed combatants. Illegals.
This never ceases to piss me off. And this was the Jerusalem Post. All of the news agencies around the world report like this. It makes you wonder if all of them answer loosely to the same parameters or source. I hate to think it. But there are no coincidents are there, only carefully managed precedents.
The question is: Why?
Please don't feed the trolls.
Thank you,
ABS
I have been overwhelmed at your comments and (for now) bow to your superior knowledge on this subject matter.
I will go and try research further on these matters, I have already started to learn (albiet somewhat biased comments of yours).
Interestingly even high politicans like Bush, Blair, Brown talk highly of the arabs and their faith.
I must admit to being confused.
I can understand Palestinians being mad at Israel. Afterall Isreal DOES occupy their villages and towns in the WB.
But what on earth are Hezbollah after? Israel no longer occuppies Lebanese territory. Have they merely turned into mercenaries for Iran's ayatollahs?
When Hizbollah was formed in the 70s it was a genuine Lebanese grasssroots Shia militia set up to defend the downtroden Shias from predatory Lebanese Sunnis, equally predatory Lebanese Maronites, bullying Palestinian refugees, Druze groups armed to the teeth, Syrians and others.
They achieved that goal standing up to allcomers in the region and finally even Israel in Olmert's ridicolously and ill-planned 2006 war. They won. What are they after now? Why lob Missilies at Israel that does their community no harm whatsoever? Surely it is in their interest to be friends with Israel and trade with them. I just dont get this one...
"But what on earth are Hezbollah after? Israel no longer occuppies Lebanese territory."
FYI Gorgi, Lebanon believes Israel is still occupying a part of Lebanon they call Shebaa Farms.
ALSO WHY DO ALL THE ARAB COUNTRYS CALL THE PALASTINE PEOPLE STATELESS WHEN ARNT MOST OF THOSE FROM JORDAN THE SAME PEOPLE
Boneshack,
"Big Lies"- Great essay, great tip.
Thanks