[umsami]

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...?xid=rss-world

Quote:

The biblical city of Hebron burned late into the night Thursday, as militant Israeli settler youth went on a violent rampage through Palestinian neighborhoods, burning the property of, shooting at and beating random Palestinians they came across. The militants were reacting to an eviction earlier that day by Israeli security forces of settlers occupying a Hebron house whose ownership is in dispute. Initial indications were that the rioting settlers had injured at least 15 Palestinians, two or three of whom had suffered gunshot wounds...

There is talk of the possibility of another Baruch Goldstein-type massacre. I really really hope that they're wrong.

Quote:

But the extremists delivered on their promise to vent their rage on Palestinian innocents.

OK. I couldn't help posting this quote. It's so rare to see Palestinian and innocents linked in a US article.

Hope it resolves peacefully.

 

[Valkyrie9]

Sending good thoughts to Israel and Palestine and hopes for the innocents' safety.

 

[merpk]

The whole situation is beyond past control. Hoping the army/police can get a handle on this, but I don't have a good feeling about it.

I think the fear of a massacre is a bit exaggerated.

Though since the Palestinian Authority has its own police forces in Khevron and through much of the West Bank, there is concern that if they start firing, or if the rampagers start in with the PA police, this could very quickly turn into something other than what it is ... right now it's the rampagers 'revolting' against the government, and taking revenge potshots at Palestinians.

These kids are totally past the authority stage. And the media here is full of this, every day.

The evacuation of the disputed house was done in a total surprise move. If the government was going to put its foot down, it should have done it sometime ago and not let this shlep out the way it has. But all of this has built up to way beyond control.

It's ridiculously complicated, comes from a lot of situations combined that have built up since the summer of '05, and that the government has handled in its usual chaotic and totally bass-ackwards way.

This is not going to be pretty however it ends, but am hoping that the potshots at the Palestinians can be stopped before that turns into something else ... I didn't read the links in the OP yet, but I read yesterday that the Israeli police are coordinating with the Palestinian police, trying to head off any complications that way. Those complications would be ... enormously complicated.

 

[merpk]

Now that I've read the link, I found the final sentences annoying. The description of Netanyahu as some sort of anti-peace crusader is standard press demonization of Netanyahu (he is a bit of a whipping post for the press everywhere, but in Israel he's positively despised by the press).

It's Netanyahu that finally gave most of Khevron over to Palestinian Authority control in the first place eleven years ago. He negotiated those accords with Arafat.

The hysteria over Bibi (Netanyahu's nickname) begins in full force now, I guess. SSDD.

 

[merpk]

Hi. Back again.

The press here is reporting that it was quiet today in Khevron, and that the two Israelis who were charged with the shootings (two Palestinians were wounded) have turned themselves in to the police.

We'll see what tomorrow brings ...

 

[Valkyrie9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by merpk We'll see what tomorrow brings ...

May it be safe and peaceful. Sending good thoughts to you.

 

[umsami]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/...rom/index.html

Quote:

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday with sharp words for Jewish settlers who opened fire on Palestinians last week, saying their actions constituted a "pogrom."

Wow. Very harsh words. I hope it serves as a wake-up call.

I really really wish that the Palestinian government would be as vocal in criticizing their own constituents when they do wrong things. I think if they did that.. it could really move us closer to peace.