UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
This is what I know as of 7:00 pm local time (the explosion in Jerusalem was at about 3:00 pm): At least 30 are wounded in Jerusalem and there is one fatality, a 59-year-old woman. This is the worst attack in Jerusalem in about three years. PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has said he "resolutely denounce[s] this terrorist attack no matter who stands behind it," and the Palestinian Red Crescent has offered assistance to the Israeli wounded.
The bombing appears to be part of a wider escalation in the Palestinian war on Israeli civilians, and I expect there will almost certainly be a serious response by us. This morning, before the bomb went off, Islamic Jihad in Gaza struck the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod with a Grad missile, and an hour later sent a barrage of mortars into the western Negev and two more missiles into Beersheva. Yesterday, Gazans fired four mortars at Kibbutz Alumim and Kibbutz Sa'ad. The IDF fired mortars back, hitting Palestinian civilians as well as the attackers; exchanges of fire continued into last night. The IDF is reporting that the IAF struck and destroyed the cell that launched the Grad into Ashdod. More than sixty rockets have been fired by Palestinians into Israel since Saturday.
The firing of a weapon into Ashdod warrants special attention. Ashdod is a city of over 200,000 people, making it the fifth-largest city in the country, and it's all of twenty miles south of Tel Aviv. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said this evening, "we cannot tolerate attacks on Israeli citizens, not in the southern communities and not in Jerusalem," and Israeli politicians are calling for a response. Hamas officials insist that they are not interested in an escalation, but the attacks continue, possibly suggesting a break between the government and the military wing. Whether that's true or not, the situation is rapidly becoming intolerable from the Israeli perspective.
Deputy PM Silvan Shalom, speaking at the site where one of the Grads fell in Beersheva, said, "the period of restraint is over, we must do everything we can to strike out against those who wish to hurt the innocent...I hope it won't come to another Operation Cast Lead, but if there is no other choice we will launch another operation."
Expect an IDF campaign into Gaza, possibly soon.
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Mar '11
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
I will never believe in anything like a military or a political wing of Hamas, Hizbollah, the FARC, or the narco. I will not believe in the moderate Taliban, the political Taliban or the pragmatic Taliban. I like to keep it simple: these are insurgent movements; insurgent movements aim at taking power, by any means (as the '60s Black Panther slogan had it). Don't people watch the History Channel any more? I mean, the "political wing" of the Bolshevik Party in 1917 was led by Leon Trotsky, who was a famous pragmatic moderate politician. For God's Sake, people!
Dec '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
Judith, I hope you and yours remain safe during these trying times. The same goes to all of Israel.
I'm with Roque, at this point I really can't distinguish between a "military" member of Hamas and the rank and file. If Israel is provoked to respond--which she does so in an increasingly nervous and ineffective manner--I hope she responds with overwhelming force and drives Hamas into the sea.
Sadly, that will never happen.
Dec '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
**Double Post**
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 11:36amJun '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
A whopping the Gazans will never be able to forget, until there are no Gazans. The choice is getting simpler all the time. Them or us.
Feb '11
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
Expect an IDF campaign into Gaza, possibly soon.
Last time we married off a daughter, many of our guests received emergency call up notices at the wedding itself. That was for Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, when we didn't destroy Jenin.
Next daughter gets married Sunday.
Feb '11
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
Prayers from the Toad Pad to all the people in Israel. Shalom. Be strong.
Dec '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
I suggested in the Member Feed that Israel should require all foreign correspondents and diplomats working in the country to reside no more than 3 km from the border with Gaza. Then they can fairly assess how "harmless" or "ineffectual" Qassam and Grad missiles are.
I'd amplify that to include requiring foreign journalists and diplomats to travel within Israel only by bus and not by private automobile or limousine. Let them enjoy the thrill of wondering whether their journey will complete safely.
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 3:20pmJul '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
@ Judith: Expect an IDF campaign into Gaza, possibly soon.
Expect mindless American college students to haul out their Palestinian regalia and their anti-Zionist placards in anticipation of the festivities.
Mar '11
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
Stuart Creque: Israel should require all foreign correspondents and diplomats working in the country to reside no more than 3 km from the border with Gaza.
I'd amplify that to include requiring foreign journalists and diplomats to travel within Israel only by bus and not by private automobile or limousine. · Mar 23 at 3:16pm
Edited on Mar 23 at 03:20 pm
I second that! And I'd add:
The "human shield" fanatics, like Rachel Corrie, et al, should try plying their trade in Israel, for example in the cities most exposed to rocket attacks. Then, the "human shields" can just walk around at random in other Israeli cities, take buses, go to discos, eat out all the time at swank restaurants, and so forth. Then Hamas can kill a "human shield" or two (or three) before the "human shields" chicken out and leave the country for good.
Problem solved.
But that has as much chance of happening as a gay pride/woman's rights march on Mecca.
Aug '10
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
My highly sensitive antennae are not picking up the usual hysterical reaction to any military action by the IDF. Maybe there's too much else going on, in Japan particularly? Or perhaps the Lybian situation is making people recalibrate their positions? I'd like to think it's about the Fogels, but I know it isn't. On balance I think it's Lybia.
Re: UPDATE: One Dead, Dozens Wounded in Jerusalem; Gazan Rockets Hit Beersheva and Ashdod
Israel, mazal tov!