I'm also tired of the Israeli press releases posing as news reports in the AmeriKan papers.
"Gaza restrictions cost many their livelihoods, UN reports" by Ethan Bronner, New York Times | August 20, 2010
Oh, I'm sure it's top of the line journalism, blah, blah, blah.
Also see: How Israeli propaganda shaped U.S. media coverage of the flotilla attack
Israel's Defense Attorneys
Their opening argument:
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza — Kamal Sweleim’s family has owned a farm in this northern part of Gaza for six decades. For most of that time, it was a mix of citrus orchards and plump cows, and the family made a handsome living selling its products to Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank.
But 10 years ago, when the second Palestinian uprising broke out, spreading violence in Israel’s streets, Israeli tanks started repeatedly tearing through the family’s fields, chasing militants. Last year, during the Israeli war in Gaza, the Sweleims were ordered to move out, and their trees and wells were bulldozed.
Yeah, it happens ALL the TIME and other than the few-and-far-between one-day wonders NOTHING EVER CHANGES!
Palestinians continue to be GROUND into the DIRT by Israel as they steal land, increase settlements, and talk to themselves!
A once prosperous clan with good ties to Israel, they now rent a tiny house, living off cousins and international welfare.
It JUST GOES to show that there is NO DEALING with the ZIONIST GOVERNMENT of ISRAEL! Even when you are NICE and one of the "good" ones you GET SCREWED!
It is JUST a MATTER of TIME and part of the PLAN for a Greater Israel.
“Don’t remind me of what we used to have,’’ Sweleim said as he stood near his desolate fields surrounded by destroyed houses. “My father would never believe where we have ended up.’’
A UN report issued yesterday says the Sweleims are part of the 12 percent of the population of Gaza — 178,000 people out of 1.5 million — who have lost livelihoods or have otherwise been severely affected by Israeli security policies along the border, both land and sea, in recent years. These include the establishment of “no-go zones’’ and frequent incursions and attacks.
And NOT a PEEP from the U.N.!
The report estimates that the restricted land constitutes 17 percent of Gaza’s total land mass and 35 percent of its agricultural land. Israel also restricts Gazan fishing to 3 nautical miles offshore.
They plan on taking ll of it after either driving Palestinians off it or exterminating them if they won't leave.
Catches are greatly reduced, leading some fishermen to take a long, risky sail into Egyptian waters to buy fish from fishermen and return home to sell it.
The study, issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, says that anti-Israeli militants operate from the border areas in question, planting explosive devices, firing at Israeli military vehicles across the border fence, and shooting rockets and mortars at civilians.
They always have to say something so Israel won't get mad.
But it argues that Israel has an obligation under international law to protect civilians and civilian structures and to take greater precautions.
Yeah, right.
So, uh, where are the sanctions?
If were a Muslim country they would be slapped on so hard your head would still be spinning as I type this.
It also notes that Israel has never clearly told those living in the area where they may and may not live and operate.
No, because if you never establish borders or peace you can still steal and settle land.
“The Israeli military has consistently failed to provide the affected population with accurate information about the main parameters of the access regime being enforced, particularly in the farming areas, and to a lesser degree in the restricted fishing areas,’’ it said.
It added that Israel “has failed to physically demarcate the restricted areas in any meaningful way, even though it carries out land incursions into the restricted areas three to four times every week and naval forces continuously patrol the coast.’’
Which reminds me: what of that FLOTILLA INVESTIGATION, MSM?
And notice how the ISRAELI VIOLATIONS mean NOTHING to the U.N.!
Last year, the Israeli air force dropped leaflets telling Gazans they could not come within 990 feet of the border. But in reality, the report says, the restricted area is about 3,300 to 4,950 feet.
And if you come in between the two Israel will kill you and claim you were planting a bomb, had a rifle, blah, blah, blah.
Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military, said Hamas, the Islamist group that has ruled in Gaza for the past few years, knowingly endangers the civilians living near the border by sending militants there.
Yeah, well, whatever, NYT:
"Since fighting subsided in January, Hamas militants have held back from firing rockets, respecting an unwritten truce with Israel"
The removed Israeli government graph: 'Monthly distribution of rockets hits.'
On the 4th November, the day when Americans were watching the results of the Presidential election, the Israeli army broke the ceasefire by raiding the strip.
--MORE--"How many more lies can they tell in service to Israel, huh??
“What is foremost in our minds is protection of our civilians who live within range of the border,’’ she said when asked about the new study. “If your choice is to operate terror, you have to bear the consequences.’’
Yup, the ENTIRE WORLD (including me) NO LONGER CARES what LIES come out of Israeli mouths!
The United Nations says its report is based on more than 100 interviews and focus group discussions carried out in March and April and complemented with quantitative data. It estimates that damage done by Israel to border farms and property over the past five years amounts to about $308 million.
Well, looks like the PALESTINIANS have some MONEY COMING their way!
Fruit trees, greenhouses, sheep and chicken farms, and water wells account for most of this.
The loss to fishermen over the same period was put at $26.5 million.Why is the word CRIMINAL entering my mind?
--more--"
