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Fireworks over Ramallah

Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:27 AM EDT

world-news, iran, israel, war, middle-east, hamas, lebanon, syria, hezbollah, plo, hizbollah, katyusha

By Yaakov

After the new version of Google Earth was released a few weeks back, I can now get high resolution images of the yishuv (settlement) in which I live. I can even make out the exact street and house. Amazing technology.

This also enabled me to measure the exact distance from my home to the center of Ramallah - approximately two and one half miles (well within Qassam-range, God forbid). Although it would be pretty difficult to walk it (being that there is my town's security fence, a valley, quarry and a pretty steep hill or two in between), the proximity gave us pretty good seats for the fireworks show that took place last night.

The fireworks display was not limited to Ramallah and Kalandiya. They were going up from Arab towns and cities all over the West Bank (some corroborating blog posts from other Jewish bloggers in the area).

So what event happened last night that was worthy of such widespread celebration among the Arab towns in the West Bank? They were celebrating the dozens of Katyusha missiles that landed in cities in Northern Israel yesterday. Missiles hit Nahariya (30 year old woman killed on her balcony, 30 others wounded), Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, Acco, Tzfat (70 year old woman killed). And two missiles were fired at Haifa, Israel's Northern city and port. In all over 70 missiles fired in a 24 hours period. (A little deja vu if you remember the celebrations going after 9/11).

If you will claim that Israel is dealing more punishment than it is receiving, that may be true. But there are some very distinct differences here:

Israel is not aiming indiscriminately at civilian targets with the intent to injure and kill civilians
Israel does not celebrate the civilian deaths that may inadvertently occur on the other side

That is right. Though it may surprise some of you, there were no fireworks going up in Tel Aviv and Be'er Sheva last night celebrating the bombardment of Hizballah headquarters in Lebanon or the death of a family in Southern Lebanon.

The citizens of Israel are behind their soldier 100%. We are not happy when civilians on the other side are hurt or killed. But we realize that when civilians on the other side rejoice at the death's Israeli civilians that this is not a war that will be won by sending back roses. I just read a blog post giving over some quotes from the US Civil War general W.T. Sherman (who basically razed the south during the final stages of the war). These statements could very well symbolize the attitude that may be necessary in order to emerge victorious (and not just against Lebanon). The longer Israeli thinking reflects the attitude that holding back will somehow discourage the enthusiasm of those who celebrate out deaths, the longer this will go on. This has been the way of the Israeli government over the past few years. Over the past three weeks, this attitude has begun to crumble. The sooner it is done away with, the sooner this will all end.

Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.

War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.

The object of war is a more perfect peace.

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Public Discussion (25)

Oluseye

The object of war is a more perfect peace? 60 years of War in your area is not about to give us even an imperfect peace, it seems.

That is right. Though it may surprise some of you, there were no fireworks going up in Tel Aviv and Be'er Sheva last night celebrating the bombardment of Hizballah headquarters in Lebanon or the death of a family in Southern Lebanon.

I have to agree with you on this one; the guys who celebrate the death of innocents do not deserve mercy. They're veritably evil. If only we had a perfect system to track out those guys, one by one.

In the obvious absence of that, I pray you Israelis not let this distort the big picture of the war, and indiscriminately kill or terrorise civilians while adopting the generalisation that " they support the killing of our innocents".

11 votes

#1 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:16 AM EDT

Yaakov

60 years of War in your area is not about to give us even an imperfect peace, it seems.

I would argue that there have not been 60 years of war. There have been sixty years of unending conflict, that only a few times erupted into war (but at the end of the war still left Israel's enemies with a desire for Israel's destruction). Although there has been constant conflict, I find it hard to say that there has been all-out war over the past 15 years. And I think that this may be part of the problem. As long as Israel holds back from seeking to utterly destroy Hamas, Hezbollah and their supporters, they will always be coming back for more.

5 votes

#1.1 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:40 AM EDT

DAWeb

I would say that this statement may have something to do with why after 60years of conflict/war we do not have an imperfect peace yet.

Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.

Just my two cents.

Yaakov, I do hope you and yours remain safe.

5 votes

#1.2 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:59 AM EDT

ajzzz

* Israel is not aiming indiscriminately at civilian targets with the intent to injure and kill civilians
* Israel does not celebrate the civilian deaths that may inadvertently occur on the other side

But they do fire indiscriminately regardless of civilians, and civilian deaths can always be averted.

1 vote

#2 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:44 AM EDT

Yaakov

ajzzz - if you are being fired upon by people who choose to surround themselves with civilians, both before, during and after their acts of violence towards you, then no - civilian deaths cannot always be averted. If you refrain from firing back at them so as to avoid civilian deaths on their side, then you are complicit in the civilian deaths that will occur on your side when they continue to fire.

8 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:06 AM EDT

ajzzz

You're not complicit if you choose not to kill innocent civilians, you don't have to support or condone terrorism at all. I'm not interesting in your "sides", be a human being, and acknowledge that Arab lives are worth as much as Jewish lives. How can you be better than the people who support terrorism when you don't?

1 vote

#2.2 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:30 AM EDT

DAWeb

Excellent point Yaakov. It is true that sometimes civilians are killed during wartime. When terrorists use them as human shields a decision must be made. Do we kill the terrorists and risk killing those they use as shields or do we let them go and allow them to kill countless more. I say you kill them when and where you have the chance. it is not a matter of valueing one life over another but of killing them for the greater good.

4 votes

#2.3 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:38 AM EDT

Yaakov

thanks daweb

ajzzz -

acknowledge that Arab lives are worth as much as Jewish lives. How can you be better than the people who support terrorism when you don't

Please reread what I wrote. I am not making any value judgements regarding Jewish vs. Arab lives. I am saying once more: if Hamas/Hizballah are shielding themselves with civilians while firing at Israeli civilians, Israel has a choice: fire at Hizballah which may very well harm Lebanese civilians - or - don't fire and sacrifice Israeli civilian lives. Israel has the responsibility to fire back. The onus is on Hizballah/Hamas not to use civilians as shields. If they make the decision to do so, it is their responsibility when they are hurt or killed.

4 votes

#2.4 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:49 AM EDT

ajzzz

Regardless of the fact this retaliation doesn't save Israeli lives.
a) If Israelis were being used as shields you wouldn't be willing to sacrifice them, you'd blame the IDF if they did.
b) You can't give a reason why Israel has the responsibility to fire back.
c) The civilians that get killed didn't make the conscience choice to be shields, Israel has a responsibility not to murder them.
d) The IDF kills more civilians than terrorists.

2 votes

#2.5 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:11 AM EDT

Yaakov

ajzzz -

a) If Israelis were intentionally being used as shields, I would definitely blame the IDF
b) Israel has a responsibility to fire back because Israel has a responsibility to protect and defend its citizens from those who threaten their lives and safety
c) I have no idea what the civilians choose. Presumably they do not want to be there. However, maybe they view their use as shields as their duty as part of the struggle. Either way it does not matter. In the end of the day, Israel has a choice: us or them. That the civilians on the other side are injured or killed is unfortunate and sad. But Israel is not their murderers.
d) That is because the terrorists are very good at surrounding themselves with civilians. Also, it depends who you call a civilian, and who a terrorist. Either way, once again, the onus is on those who put the civilians in a state of danger.

7 votes

#2.6 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:25 AM EDT

Mott

It's obviously a difficult issue. You have to value innocent life; whether it's on this side of the wall or the other. Personally, I think that the civilians need to step forward and refuse to be treated as shields if that's what's happening. If their leaders value innocent life to such a small degree, maybe it's time that they banded together and did something about their leaders.

2 votes

#2.7 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:18 AM EDT

lzhang

Regardless of whether Israel targets civilians directly, they do attack civilian infrastructure. The ramifications of this destruction will be affecting innocent Lebanese for years to come.

1 vote

#2.8 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:27 PM EDT

chill

Regardless of whether Israel targets civilians directly, they do attack civilian infrastructure. The ramifications of this destruction will be affecting innocent Lebanese for years to come.

This is the one point Yaakov never acknowledges. Electricity, Power supply, roads, bridges, etc. The impact on civilians is terrible and it is the same as if they were targeted directly.

# Israel does not celebrate the civilian deaths that may inadvertently occur on the other side

That is very true, and this is very troubling. To some degree it is a celebration after decades of subjugation and humiliation at the hands of a stronger power of a people deserted by the international community ... not to mention other Arabs. The misery that the average palestinian child lives in is difficult for most to comprehend. The disproportionate, collective punishment being inflicted by Israel only serves to ensure another generation of blind hatred.

Still you are correct it is distasteful and troubling.

1 vote

#2.9 - Sat Jul 15, 2006 4:01 AM EDT

chill

Yaakov, I do hope that you and your family and friends stay safe. While I often disagree yith you, you are a voice of reason in an area of madness.

1 vote

#2.10 - Sat Jul 15, 2006 4:04 AM EDT

Rob Ballew

Excellent article Yaakov, I think your take on this situation is important especially since many seem to be on the other side of this issues. You have helped me to learn and understand what Israeli's go through everyday. I pray for your safety and a quick resolution to this conflict.

9 votes

#3 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:08 AM EDT

Yaakov

Thanks Ballew74. I appreciate it.

5 votes

#3.1 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:26 AM EDT

Walt D

Good article, Yaakov. Lately Newsvine has been living up to its potential as an outlet for citizen journalism, with reports from you, the Egyptian, Simran and others worldwide "in the thick of things". I hope this trend continues and I hope you continue to give us a first-hand Isreali perspective on events.

10 votes

#4 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:21 PM EDT

Mike Dojc

Great article, Yaakov.

3 votes

#5 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:30 PM EDT

kevinb66

So what event happened last night that was worthy of such widespread celebration among the Arab towns in the West Bank? They were celebrating the dozens of Katyusha missiles that landed in cities in Northern Israel yesterday. Missiles hit Nahariya (30 year old woman killed on her balcony, 30 others wounded), Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, Acco, Tzfat (70 year old woman killed). And two missiles were fired at Haifa, Israel's Northern city and port. In all over 70 missiles fired in a 24 hours period. (A little deja vu if you remember the celebrations going after 9/11).

Excellent article and thank you for the first hand perspective. The quote above is not reported here in the United States, at least not that I've seen in either Chicago paper or any news broadcasts. We, for the most part, only hear about civilian casualties on the Arab side.

I'm glad the Bush Administration and the United States continues to stand firm behind Israel. My family and I wish all of you in that region come out of this safely.

5 votes

#6 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:16 PM EDT

the_leander

I've said all I'm going to say with regard the Israel/Lebanon conflict (actually, probably too much). So I will now only say, to all in the effected areas who read this, stay safe.

2 votes

#7 - Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:28 PM EDT

Raptor

So yaakov do you think this is start of another world war? If so then who will be hitler this time around?

1 vote

#8 - Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:47 PM EDT

Yaakov

If this is part of a global conflict in which most countries take one side or another, then it is not the start of it - the conflict is between the US/Europe/Israel vs. Arab World and if it will ever be known as a "World War", then something else (like 9/11 or one of the Persian Gulf wars) was the beginning, not this.

And just because something can be called a "World War", does not mean that there has to be a "hitler this time around". There was no such figure during World War I (nor was there one during the Cold War, which some refer to as WW III). I hope and pray that no matter what happens, that such a horrific genocidal figure never shows up again, on any side.

4 votes

#8.1 - Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:45 PM EDT

the_leander

Tbh I doubt Europe will play much if any part in this one unless it spreads into places like Turkey. Britain might have a bigger part, but most of Europe will happily sit on the sidelines and watch as America and Israel burn themselves out over this (if it goes that far).

I know it sounds cruel and heartless, but I honestly think that Israel may well have to fight much of this on ttheir own backs.

#8.2 - Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:52 PM EDT

Oluseye

US/Europe/Israel vs Arab World? Are you sure of this, or do you hope it would be so?

#8.3 - Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:15 AM EDT

Yaakov

Of course I am not sure. Look at the first word in my answer: "if"

1 vote

#8.4 - Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:51 AM EDT

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Fireworks over Ramallah

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