IDF behaving as if there is no truce on horizon

ANALYSIS / IDF behaving as if there is no truce on horizon - Haaretz - Israel News

Interesting commentary from Ha’aretz today basically arguing that the media war is being lost by the IDF. One of the latest claims by Hamas of Israel perpetrating a “campaign to exterminate the Palestinian people” is being proved by scenes of four children killed yesterday in Beit Hanun.

Barak (not surprisingly) continues to claim only Hamas - whose gunmen operate among civilians - are responsible for the death of “uninvolved civilians.”

Amos Harel, however, veers off point toward the end of the article - first claiming a cease-fire makes sense (for, he argues, if someone is to break the ceasefire, better it be Hamas) - then falling back on that familiar “Hamas just wants time to re-arm” argument. Alas, so close…

West Bank Photo Journey Part Two: Hebron

This photoset was taken in the West Bank town of Hebron on Thursday, 17th April 2008. Words cannot do justice to the situation and the ‘facts on the ground’ for the over 150,000 Palestinians living under total military occupation and under constant assault and abuse by the 400 hardline settlers who have taken over every aspect of their lives.

In these cases, perhaps only photos - and a few words - can help convey the tense, volatile, and wholly appaling situation in Hebron.

The photoset is arranged with captions and should be viewed in a chronological order.

West Bank Photo Journey Part One: The Wall

This photoset was taken across various points along the West Bank border on Wednesday, 16th April 2008. Accompanying Abu Hasan (a Palestinian Guide and articulate activist for Palestinian rights) through refugee camps, decimated villages, and checkpoint after checkpoint - the shocking effects of Israel’s ’separation barrier’ comes into clear view.

In almost 90% of cases, the ’security fence’ does not separate Israeli from Palestinian (as has been purported by the Israeli government) but in fact succeeds in separating Palestinian from Palestinian - ripping many towns in half, illegally appropriating Palestinian land, and turning a large number of the West Bank border towns into filthy ghettos.

The only way to describe the gravity of this - is to see this for yourself. Hopefully these photos can help tell the story:

Israeli Deaths Matter More

Excellent article from Media Lens (a top site for a reality check on media bias) discussing the disparity in news coverage between the ongoing death toll in Gaza and limited Palestinian reprisal actions.

The BBC’s Double Standards

Another excellent article by the gang at Media Lens. If you have not spent much time on this site - you should!

Teenage Girl Killed in Gaza Raid

Israeli forces have clashed with Palestinian militants during a raid on northern Gaza, hours after rejecting a truce offered by Hamas.