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'Smashing a peanut with a hammer': Foreign journalists on int'l coverage of Gaza fighting
Polina Garaev
Published: 07.08.14, 00:21
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10 Talkbacks for this article
1. Attack Un school Terrible Error
Zechariah   (08.07.14)
Just like Friendly Fire killing your own troops the Soviets under Stalin did it alot even deliberately so killing of infants and children is Post Shoah Disgusting in the UN school situation in Particular .Hamas Hizbollah Syrians Iranians and ISIS would be horrifically worse and are but for the Shoah Survivalist state its Criminal Negligence .If Hamas or Salafi in Building Thats different tho Difficult .In Normandy Invasion USA and Britain Carpet Bombed the French City of Coen .Military not Skilled or Courageous enough to get through..
2. Peanuts
Bella ,   USA   (08.07.14)
Peanuts can kill for those with allergies
3. Poor ethical analysis is the problem
Dan   (08.07.14)
'In foreign eyes, it’s not the intent that counts'. In fact it's almost the only thing that counts, and Israel must educate the world if necessary: If in fighting off 10 would-be killers I kill 2 while they 'only' kill 1 of my children, they are the bad guys, not me. Thinking otherwise is the erroneous theory of 'consequentialism' which no ethicist supports. The Arab side is excellent at manipulating base instincts. Israel must (a) avoid providing fodder for such propaganda (b) provide all the facts about history, again and again, and (c) educate people about ethics. Hire a hundred ethicists, produce TV shows and articles, whatever is necessary to undermine false and uneducated nonsense.
4. This proves more than ever...
Vlad   (08.07.14)
The need to disengage from Europe and the United States and turn to China, India, Russia, and other Asian countries for trade. Make no mistake, public sentiment will eventually turn into sanctions, first in Europe, then in the US, where the younger generation is not supportive of Israel. Israel needs to weaken its dependence on trade with these places and transition to Asia and Russia.
5. Arguing with propagandists
(08.07.14)
The Arab side and their supporters know that Hamas is the aggressor, that Israel has the full right to defend herself and that according to natural morals and International Law, Israel is innocent and Hamas is guilty of war crimes. The reason they attack Israel is because Hamas and its supporters are using propaganda, lies and disinformation as part of their war. Israel should stop legitimizing these claims by arguing with them, but should end any cooperation with the Jihadists. Israel should push the Jihadists into a corner, for instance, violate Turkish sovereignty to support Kurdish forces fighting the IS. If Erdogan peeps, destroy his air force and sink his navy.
6. The fight for the hearts & minds of the EU ignorant public.
tiki ,   belgium   (08.07.14)
You want to win? Demolish the Iron Dome! Only that way you can win! Only tens of thousands of dead Israeli's will satisfy the European 'understanding of morality & proportionality. Seeing Palestinians celebrating with sweets & cookies about Israeli victims is something they can ''understand! Dead Jews is what they can relate to! Jews hitting back those that want to kill them is disproportional. So, the 'strategy of explaining about 'Israel the democracy, the one warning before shooting , the one providing tons of foods to it's enemy etc.etc. clearly doesn't work.....so stop trying! Start telling them that the words "NEVER AGAIN " are taken serious in Israel and no hollow phrases! Start telling them that they mean what they say when they say they will DEFEND their citizens till every price! Stop excusing yourself for wanting to survive the Palestinian/Muslim/Arab... and European wish for your demise. Stop begging for European 'approval and just hope that Israel will always be the 'victim of it's own success, with the likes of the Iron Dome, the IDF & the Jewish brain!
7. Two reasons why Israel's image is bad in Europe
European   (08.07.14)
#1 The Iron Dome does give Israel responsibility to proceed with caution instead of shooting and bombing around like crazy. #2 The carnage is a consequence of failed peace talks. Recent Israeli governments are perceived as rejecting the compromises necessary for a two state solution, thus creating a breeding ground for terrorists and indirectly but necessarily causing hundreds of civilian deaths.
8. To: No. 7
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (08.07.14)
1. Iron Dome is the product of Israeli technological prowess. It has saved a great many lives. I realize that, being a European, you probably prefer a great big pile of dead Jews -- Europe is, after all, one giant Jewish cemetery -- but Israel is a sovereign state, with an affirmative duty to protect and defend its citizens against terrorist attack. That the terrorists choose to cache their weapons in schools, mosques, hospitals and civilian areas only serves to turn those schools, mosques, hospitals and civilian areas into legitimate military targets. Israel's obligation is to the security and safety of the citizens of Israel. Hamas' responsibility is to the security and safety of the people of Gaza. Hamas are war criminals for deliberately targeting Israeli civilians. Because Hamas deliberately and with malice aforethought put the people Gaza in harm's way makes Hamas guilty of crimes against humanity. Israel's duty to defend its citizens is paramount, and is a higher duty than the safety of the civilian population of Gaza. 2. The "palestinians" had their chance in 1947. They rejected statehood, and chose to go to war instead. They lost. End of story. They turned down an opportunity for statehood on two additional occasions including an offer which would have given them 95 percent of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a capital. They rejected it in favor of starting an intifada. The fact that it was a poor choice that completely backfired does not mean that Israel has to resubmit the offer. Israel is not going to do that. But before urging Israel to give up nonsovereign land acquired in the course of fighting a defensive war, why not see how much progress you will make urging Poland to restore East Prussia and the Polish Corridor to Germany. Try convincing the French that they really ought to give Alsace and Lorraine back to Germany. Suggest that Croatia return Istria to Italy. If that floats, convince the Americans to give up Ramstein AFB in Germany, and to return Okinawa to Japan. You don't reward the aggressors with territorial concessions. See how well it worked in Gaza? And now you suggest that Israel should reward a terrorist rabble by giving it a country in Israel's heartland. Right. Convince the Europeans to restore the 30% of sovereign territory stripped from Germany following World War II. Enough with the platitudes -- show us concrete actions. How about giving the Basque a state, too? And the Bretonais. And the Moravians. And the Roma people. That's just fact, no matter what spin you, as a craven European, may choose to apply.
9. Owing them nothing
Alligator Tears ,   Rome, Italy   (08.07.14)
Europe is for the underdog... seems that might apply to everyone else except Jews.. Every country occupied by Germany during the World War approved of an applauded the decrees against the Jews. and assisted in rounding them up, killing them etc.. :Let them yell and scream. Israel and the Jews owe them zero
10. Shema Israel, you'll have peace when Hamas...
Simon ,   New York   (08.07.14)
...turned the rockets into ploughs How come those terrorist-loving, Hamas sympathizer Europeans don't shed a tear, don't demonstrate and do not show an iota of dismay, disgust and shock when 1600 civilians were killed in Iraq just las month? They vent outré their anti-Semitism on the streets of Europe, but conveniently ignored the 1800 people killed in the last 15 in Syria by fellow Arabs. Is this a double standard, selective humanism or sick psyche? 3000 people were recently killed in Nigeria and the peaceniks are silent. Was there a DisUnited Nations' evolution condemning the massacre of thousands of Christians in Iraq by the ISIS islamo-fascists? Europe does not want Israel to win. The Palestinians started the war they can not win and the Israelis were forced to go to war they don't want. I dare anybody whose mind has not been poisoned with love for the peace loving Palestinians to pause in between 2 anti-israel demonstrations and honestly answer a few basic questions about this miserable, hard-working, peace loving Palestinians: 1. When was Palestine founded and by whom? 2. What were its borders? 3. What was its capital? 4. What were its major cities? 5. What constituted the basis of its economy? 6. What was its form of government? 7. Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat? 8.. Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation? 9. What was the language of the country of Palestine ? 10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine ? 11. What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese Yuan on that date. 12. And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur? No, No, This are not questions, asked by Israeli Biblical scholars. I will leave it to you, fellow Europeans, sick minded Americans, perfidious Brits and ungrateful Africans to find out who first challenged your intellectual (dis)honesty. My advice for the Israelis: Do not end the war with peace talks. War can not be won with peace conferences.
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