Palestinian shields foil Israeli strikes

[oberliner]

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip - Hundreds of Palestinians serving as human shields guarded the homes of two top militants Sunday, a new tactic that forced Israel to call off missile strikes on the buildings and re-evaluate a mainstay of its aerial campaign in Gaza.

In recent months, the Israeli air force has repeatedly struck the homes of militants after warning residents by phone to clear out. Israeli security officials said they did not know how to respond to the human shield tactic, but pressed ahead with other airstrikes Sunday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

[aquart]

1. Palestinians succeed relying on Israeli decency and humanity

Something they never show them when they blow up their children, markets, and buses full of people.

Thank you for bringing up this article.

[Boston Critic]

5. Yes, those who hate Israel...

... will fail to see this, but you are right. And when the Palestinians realize that Israel wants to avoid taking innocent lives, maybe they will dump the thugs they elected as their leaders and find someone who will actually end the terrorism, recognize Israel, and pursue peace.

[IntiRaymi]

10. Or, you mean when Palestinians realize that 2+2=5 ?

[Boston Critic]

11. No, when they realize that backing terrorists will never...

... get them the sovereign state they could have had years ago and claim is their dearest wish.

[IntiRaymi]

16. You sound like you're in charge of them

What gives?
Are they your children?

[Boston Critic]

32. Huh?

Asking the Palestinians do give up terrorist attacks is treating them like children?

What are you trying to say?

[Scurrilous]

2. Palestinian human shields give Israel pause

<snip>

"In perhaps the most effective act of nonviolent protest in the six-year Palestinian uprising, hundreds of Gazans forced Israel over the weekend to call off airstrikes on the residence of a militant leader by swarming the house as human shields.

In recent months, Israeli security forces have used telephone calls to warn Palestinian militants and others near alleged militant safe houses and weapons caches, giving them up to a half hour to evacuate. When militia leader Mohammed Baroud got the call Saturday, he enlisted neighbors to protect his house from the Israeli military. They've now set up a system of shifts to protect the house around the clock.

Palestinian leaders are hailing this as a moral victory that will be replicated. If so, it may herald a significant tactical shift from attacks by tiny secretive militant groups to nonviolent civilian protest, a change that will force Israel to adjust its strategy. It also underscores the difficulty of fighting militant groups embedded in a civilian population - whether it be in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Gaza.

"The Palestinians are creative and this is something amazing," says Maher Miqqdad, a Fatah spokesman. "Maybe in the past six years of the intifada, the focus was on military resistance. But we shouldn't deny the importance of peaceful resistance. There is an importance in increasing the peaceful struggle."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1120/p01s02-wome.html

[IntiRaymi]

3. A new and effective tactic is a beautiful thing to behold.

The palestinian leadership has realized that this war will not be won simple armed resistance. They must wrap themselves in the ideals of humanity.

[furman]

9. So you believe in providing cover for murderers?

How do you think the Palestianian terrorists would treat human shields in Sderot?

I wouldn't be surprised if your answer is different than mine would be.

[IntiRaymi]

17. Nonviolence is a beautiful thing.

Is that different from your answer?

[furman]

18. Yes, different than my answer. n/t

[IntiRaymi]

24. I got this sense, for a second

That you were interested in providing a justification for blowing up a building full of civilians, for the simple reason that they were shielding a 'terrorist' from the swift IDF justice that awaited him.

[pelsar]

42. Human Rights Watch disagrees......

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/11/22/isrlpa14652.htm



“There is no excuse for calling civilians to the scene of a planned attack,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Whether or not the home is a legitimate military target, knowingly asking civilians to stand in harm’s way is unlawful.”

[bemildred]

4. Now, if they will give up those stupid Kassams,

we might see some progress.

[Scurrilous]

6. Ynet update (11.20.06):

Gaza: Palestinians gather near building due to be bombed

"Dozens of Palestinians have gathered near a house belonging to a family in Gaza which was warned by the IDF that it is about to be bombed. This is the second time Palestinians have been using themselves as human shields in order to prevent homes from being bombed.

In another town in Gaza dozens of people have been camping out for three days in order to prevent the bombing the house of an activist in the Popular Resistance Committees."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3330645,00.html

[breakaleg]

7. I was shocked when the IDF held off last time they did this and I don't believe

that it will continue to work.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. What a sad state of affairs.

[Boston Critic]

14. Why would you be shocked?

The policy of Israel is to AVOID taking innocent human life. They've shown this again and again and again. This is merely the latest example.

It also demonstrates that the Palestinian terrorists are willing to risk the lives of their OWN civilians rather than cease their war of terror.

[Boston Critic]

12. So the lesson is...

the IDF should stop warning the Palestinians?

Then they could kill the terrorists without worry about the human shields.

[breakaleg]

13. Do you have something against passive resistance?

[Boston Critic]

15. I have something against terrorist attacks...

... please don't compare Palestinian terrorists to Ghandi or King. It's an insult to their memories.

[breakaleg]

19. So now you've mastered the technique of putting words in others' mouths.

Congratulations.

[msmcghee]

20. I guess I never heard of Ghandi or King . .

. . doing a sit-down resistance so that criminals and thugs who purposely target babies and innocent civilians with deadly explosives could escape to do it again.

The disconnect with reality here is astounding. How far some can go to characterize base terrorism and killing civilians as a some kind of "noble struggle for freedom".

Fortunately, the vast majority of Dems and liberals don't share this strange desire.

[IntiRaymi]

21. A point I'd like you to make.

"Fortunately, the vast majority of Dems and liberals don't share this strange desire."

Prove this.

[msmcghee]

22. I have read the position statements of most . .

. . Dems that currently hold office in congress and all the Dem Leadership. Most express unqualified support for Israel's fight against terrorism and continuing moral and financial support for Israel.

A small number (4 or 5) are somewhat vocal in their support of Palestinians, although they condemn terrorism - and some don't say much..

None, support terrorist causes nor apologize for terrorist attacks - like many in this forum. None.

Those legislators were elected by millions of Dem voters throughout the US.

So, how many of those position papers have you read?

Any other points you'd like me to make?

[IntiRaymi]

23. Fine by me.

As long as 'terrorist' is not a code word for anyone that supports the palestinian cause.

[Boston Critic]

35. As long as the "palestinian cause"...

...isn't a code word for anyone who supports terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians.

[IntiRaymi]

38. Why don't you define the Palestinian cause for me.

I'd hate to step on a semantic minefield...

[Boston Critic]

34. Read the Democratic platform...

... for starters, and then look at the Democrats who actually get elected and what their positions are.

Hint: they're not lauding Palestinian terrorists (except for Cynthia McKinney and she was booted out -- twice.)

[IntiRaymi]

39. That might start changing.

Who knows?

[breakaleg]

25. Perhaps you can show me where I quoted Ghandi and King? It seems

Boston Critic also is unable to point out where I said that.

My point was quite clear, so if you can't understand it, then it's by your choice.

Don't misquote me. It's not a "tactic" to accuse someone of saying something they didn't and then criticize them for it. It's just stupid and a waste of everyone's time.

[msmcghee]

27. You asked if the poster had something against . .

"passive resistance".

Ghandi and the King are known for pioneering the use of passive resistance to reach their political goals. I figured you knew that.

[breakaleg]

29. I was merely pointing out that after so much outrage about the terrorist methods

used by Palestinians against Israel, here is a time when they fought back passively, or non-violently. I should think this would be an improvement. I should think Palestinians critics would be pleased by this turn of events.

If not, then perhaps the issue isn't with their violent resistance, it's the fact that they have the nerve to resist at all.

Again, don't fucking misrepresent what I say.

[msmcghee]

30. Pathetic. n/t

[Boston Critic]

36. Sheesh

I figured anyone using the term "passive resistance" in a political context would be savvy enough to know that.

[lumpy]

26. And I suppose it is OK for babies and innocent

civilians to be killed with deadly bombs if it isn't done purposefully, although it is a fact that most likely they will be killed and described as collateral damage. It is a fact that Palestinian babies and innocent civilians have been killed by bombing and raids. I believe that the attacks on Lebanon prove that there is little concern for the lives of children and innocent civilians.

[msmcghee]

28. Thank you for your opinion. nt

[Boston Critic]

37. In fact it shows the opposite...

... if you actually knew anything about what really happened there.

[Boston Critic]

33. Why do you run away from your own statements?

You're the one calling defending terrorists "passive resistance."

[Scurrilous]

31. In pictures: Palestinian 'human shields'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6166998.stm

[IntiRaymi]

40. this means that Israel will stop making the phone calls.

It is the only way Israel has for avoiding this sort of thing in the future.
Either that, or just going ahead and blowing them up - I am sure that many here would cheer such an action.

[Eugene]

41. OPT: Civilians Must Not Be Used to Shield Homes Against Military Attacks - HRW

OPT: Civilians Must Not Be Used to Shield Homes Against Military Attacks
22 Nov 2006 06:15:01 GMT
Source: Human Rights Watch

(Jerusalem, November 22, 2006) � Palestinian armed groups must not endanger
Palestinian civilians by encouraging them to gather in and around suspected
militants' homes targeted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Human Rights
Watch said today.

Calling civilians to a location that the opposing side has identified for attack
is at worst human shielding, at best failing to take all feasible precautions
to protect civilians from the effects of attack. Both are violations of
international humanitarian law.

-snip-

"There is no excuse for calling civilians to the scene of a planned attack," said
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Whether or
not the home is a legitimate military target, knowingly asking civilians to stand
in harm's way is unlawful."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/84c4570b73c48176db1ea750b01402de.htm