Two Arab children, and yet those nearby still blame Israel — which, of course, is sending humanitarian assistance to the area. That aid, of course, won’t do a thing to change attitudes in Nazareth or elsewhere. The thousands of rockets that have fallen in Israel over the last few years — those are just fine. It is only when Israel counterattacks that any aggression actually begins.
I expect this propaganda line from the thoroughly propagandized Palestinians of Nazareth. However, while in Berlin this week I watched as much of CNN as I can stand, and of course I got it from them also. I normally don’t watch CNN, and what I saw of it in Germany reminded me of why. I saw a simpering commentator ask a correspondent in Beirut: “Have any historic sites there been hit — yet?” A Muslim professor in an American university — unfortunately I didn’t get his name — was allowed to rant at great length about the hypocrisy and mendacity of Israel and its targeting of civilians (which was supported by a blubbering family man who claimed to have witnessed such a targeted attack on a family with several toddlers). Simpering commentator asked the prof about Israel’s “claim” that Hizballah deliberately launched attacks from civilian areas; the prof sidestepped this and asked in response what he apparently thought to be an unimpeachable rhetorical question: “What is Israel going to do? Kill all the civilians who support a political party it doesn’t like?”
Another “expert” maintained that neither Lebanon nor Hizballah had done anything to warrant the Israeli response. Still another answered Simpering Commentator’s question, “What is the Israeli high command thinking?” by explaining that the Israeli leaders were not perceived as tough, and were trying to prove otherwise in order to outflank their political opposition.
And all that was CNN, which has the reputation of being a mouthpiece for Washington policy. It’s no wonder, with coverage like this, that the world is set against the Israeli anti-jihad efforts against Hizballah.
“10 hurt, 1 seriously, in Katyusha strike on Haifa,” from Haaretz, :
After a reprieve of nearly one day, Hezbollah renewed its rocket attacks on Haifa on Friday, firing seven rockets into the northern city.
One person sustained moderate-to-serious wounds, one was moderately hurt, one was light wounded and 15 people were treated for shock as rockets hit a central post office branch, a residential building, and a vehicle….
Also Friday, a United Nations observation post just inside northern Israel was struck during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants….
More than 30 Katyusha rockets on Thursday landed in Tiberas, Carmiel, Safed, Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona and Rosh Pina – a significant decrease from the more than 100 rockets fired Wednesday….
Hezbollah fired more than 100 Katyusha rockets at Israel on Wednesday, killing two brothers from Nazareth, aged 9 and 3, and sending 135 people to the hospital in Nazareth alone. The deaths bring the number of Israelis killed by Hezbollah rockets since the fighting began to 15.
Brigadier General Yuval Halamish, a senior intelligence officer, said that Hezbollah was firing from civilian areas. “The firing was from built-up areas, from towns and the outskirts of villages,” he said.
Commenting on the attack on Nazareth, an Israeli Arab city, Halamish said that while he does not think that Hezbollah aimed for Nazareth, it does not distinguish between Jewish and Arab towns. Indeed, Hezbollah rockets have hit many Arab and Druze villages.
Some friends and relatives gathering to mourn the Taluzi boys said that even though the brothers were killed by a Hezbollah rocket, they should be added to the list of Lebanese casualties.
“The Israeli government is to blame for the incident,” said a Nazareth resident near the house of mourning. “The Israeli aggression must stop.”
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Nazareth Mayor Ramez Jareysi after the rocket strike and offered him any assistance he needs. Olmert and Vice Premier Shimon Peres sent their condolences.
“The rockets don’t distinguish between Arabs and Jews, and Nazareth will receive assistance like any other town,” Peres said.