Amerika the Terrorist

“JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's defense minister says an inquiry is being held into reports that a bomb planted by Israeli forces killed five Palestinian children in Gaza.

The death of five boys in the Khan Younis refugee camp renewed tensions ahead of a U.S. diplomatic push to stop more than a year of fighting.

At first both sides thought that the boys were killed by an unexploded tank shell they found on their way to school.

But reports grew of a booby-trap device left by Israeli soldiers to target Palestinian gunmen who use the area to fire mortars at nearby Israeli army posts and settlements.

Demands for an official verdict culminated in Israel's transport minister -- a member of the security cabinet -- calling for an inquiry. About 10,000 people marched in a funeral procession for the five children Friday, with other children carrying photographs of their dead classmates.

Gunmen fired rifles in the air and marchers shouted Islamic slogans. Masked men wrote slogans on the walls of a mosque, threatening Israel with revenge.

Idress Al-Astal, father of two of the dead children, said no investigation could bring back his sons. "God will avenge me," he told the Associated Press, breaking down in tears.

The boys who died were all related, including included two sets of brothers. They were named as Muhammad al Astal, 14; Omar al Astal, 13; Muhammad al Astal, 12; Aniees al Astal, 12, and Akram al Astal, 6.

"It's clear that this must be investigated thoroughly," said Transport Minister Ephraim Sneh, an ex-general and a member of the security Cabinet.

"Someone may have to be punished if he acted improperly or acted with negligence," Sneh told Israel Radio, but added that the context of the tragedy is that "there is a terrorism and guerrilla war being waged against Israel."

In a statement, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said the incident is being checked and the results of the inquiry would be presented to him. He expressed regret for "the tragic loss of innocent life."

Israel Radio quoted him as expressing sorrow for the children's deaths, Reuters reported.

The Israeli military did not comment.

Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo blamed Israel for what he told the AP was the "assassination of our children." He called on the United States and Europe to press Israel to pull its troops back from Palestinian population centers.

Palestinian Public Security Chief Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh said on Friday further investigation showed the children were killed when they hit a booby-trapped device planted by Israeli troops in an area that has been a flashpoint for violence.

"We had information from witnesses that they had seen an Israeli army bulldozer working near that area the day before," Majaydeh told Reuters.

"We urge an international investigative committee to look into the murder of the innocent children and to determine Israel's responsibility," he added.”

“Spock has a new name?”

“Matt is Spock ever since Matt decided to use his account. Spock is gone.”

“Israel must cease to occupy Palestinian lands or there will be no peace and more people will die!"
Wild Child
02:29:23 PM
04/10/01”

“And it will continue until Israel discontinues to be a secular state.”

“Wild child predicted 9/11”

“Nigal-
How about Isreal BECOMES a secular state?”

“It is a secular state. Just because it's leaders are Jewish doesn't mean they are observant. Kind of like our leaders who claim to be christian yet they do not observe.”

“If Israel is a secular state, why do they let the ultra-right wing religious Jews have so much say in the settlemens (read squats) on Palestinian land.”

“If Israel is a secular state, why do they let the ultra-right wing religious Jews have so much say in the settlements (read squats) on Palestinian land?”

“Separation of religion and state is one of the ESSENTIAL reasons for Amerika's success.

Without a secular state Amerika could very well have descended into a factionialized hodge-podge of warring states run by corrupt feudal lords.
Think of all those "Stan"s in southern Asia.

Class, repeat after me , "Less Religion Equals More Freedom"”

“My troll worked Saturday?”

“Your troll has a job?”

“Gear Slut- Just as because someone is a Jew doesn’t make them observant so too; just because a government official IS observant doesn’t make the whole government religious.

TT- I totally agree with you on separation of church and state in America. The only difference is that you think that keeps religion out of the government and I believe it keeps the government out of the church house. Either way it works great here. But this is America.”

“The Soviet Union was an example of a state that suppressed freedom by suppressing religion. China is currently suppressing religion because the Chinese government fears religion.

Religious values can be used to enslave or to free. Every religious belief system has its own talibans, Christianity included, as well as the environmental movement.

tom terrific (what a misnomer!) is only highlighting his own bigotry and intolerance with juvenile drivel.”

“Thanks gordon

Bigotry is such a nice word.

The environmental movement....a religious belief system......dribble right on in there for a lay-up!”

“Once again, Israel has not shown any sign of being a secular state judging by their activities.”

“GS, why do you say that?”

“The Israel government continues to submit to the will of the religious right in that country where settlements on land promised to the Palestinians are concerned. Any secular government would have kept their promises and moved the settlers out and pulled down those settlements just like in the Sinai.”

“I think Nigal may be referring to the establishment of a theological state of Israel after the coming of the messiah (no theological arguments here, please).

Israel is a secular state although they offer citizenship to any Jew who has not renounced their religion but non-Jews must undergo a naturalization process.

If Tom thinks that Israel could become secular like the US is, I think he is dreaming. I can't really imagine a state with Jews and Palestinians living under one government - the hatreds run too deep. I think a two-state system is the only practical solution, perhaps with a Berlin wall separating them. The whole settlement issue is so counterproductive to Israeli security. Why turn a 200+- mile border into thousands of miles and have to defend little settlements and the interlocking roads and other infrastructure? It's just not reasonable.”

““I think Nigal may be referring to the establishment of a theological state of Israel after the coming of the messiah”

Not exactly. I don’t think we have to wait for the Messiah to arrive before Israel starts doing what is right. What they are doing to the Palis is wrong, wrong, wrong and they will answer for it. My main point is that there is a distinction between Israel and Judaism.


“Any secular government would have kept their promises”

LOL! To assume that a secular government keeps it’s promises better than a true Jewish state is a bit of a stretch. If Israel was a wholly Jewish (observant) state the government would be keeping the Hallacha (laws) they are held to by their G-d and things would be much better than they are now. Yes, there are extremely orthodox Jews that miss the mark (heck, it was an Ultra Orthodox that whacked Yitzach Rebean years ago). Every religion has them.”

“The assassination of Rebean was truly a tragedy. He was their best chance for peace.”

“JALALABAD, Afghanistan (CNN) -- U.S. bombing raids aimed at remaining Taliban and al Qaeda forces early Saturday killed about 50 Afghan villagers near Jalalabad, witnesses and Northern Alliance officials told CNN.


Survivors said the raid struck before dawn Saturday in the villages of Talkhel and Balut near the remote area of Tora Bora. At least five others, including children, were injured in the raids, local officials said.”

“KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Northern Alliance says it will let rights group Amnesty International probe the deaths of several hundred captured pro-Taliban fighters who staged a revolt at a jail in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif.

The alliance has said probably all 600 prisoners, including Pakistanis, Arabs and Chechens, and more than 40 of its own fighters were killed in three days of bloody fighting, quelled with the help of U.S. air strikes.

Amnesty International has called for a public inquiry into events at the prison and the organisation said on Thursday it would consider sending an observer to investigate the deaths.

But it said a public inquiry was needed, saying the organisation was "ready to consider sending an observer to monitor an inquiry and to suggest forensic and other experts for it."

It said responsibility for an inquiry lay with the United States and Britain as U.S. special forces and other forces -- believed to be British -- helped alliance troops put down the revolt.

"It's the responsibility of the three parties involved to carry out the investigation," Amnesty spokesman Kamal Samari told The Associated Press. "We are prepared to help."

Calling for a investigation which was "fair, thorough and in line with international standards" Amnesty said evidence should be preserved at the battle site, and that any surviving prisoners should be protected. Hundreds of dead Taliban prisoners were seen with their hands tied behind their back and covered with dust, presumably from the bombs dropped by US jets.

The USA - proud to bomb people with their hands tied behind their back.”

“Good riddance!

Kill'em all and let God sort them out.

Oh...and I'm sure you're losing LOTS of sleep of those events, Mr.thebackpacker.”