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by stop the killing
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 7:05 AM
What CNN never shows us.
, image/jpeg, x
www.fromisraeltolebanon.org
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by Nazi Hunter
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 12:32 PM
The site - which I've bookmarked because of it's stunning and shocking fotos of israeli destruction and mass murder in Lebanon, is down.
Last night - and today - the Hizbollah site is down.
Last night, none of the links on the anti-Zionist Counterpunch site worked.
Anyone else noticing similar coincidences?
.
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by Not CNN
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 2:34 PM
Can Bias Media Prevent the Next World War? by Abukar Arman (Wednesday July 26 2006)
"While ironically some media organizations in Israel continue to expose their government’s mortal schemes, and set-up forums for rigorous debates on the reckless nature of their governments actions - how they threaten both Israel and world peace and whether or not her heavy-handed reaction and collective punishment would constitute “state terrorism” and “crimes against humanity”- the American media, except certain flashes of symbolic comments made in the passing, are too timid to report, analyze, and objectively debate what’s at issue…"
Perhaps now more than any other time in human history, objective media is desperately needed--media to inform the masses; to provide voice to the voiceless; and to function as the objective counterweight that scrutinizes the powers that be.
We currently live in an era that can only be described as the most volatile in contemporary history; a time when extremism and terrorism, with all their methods and motives, are on the rise; when human rights violation and political polarization are rampant, and when respect for the international law that protectes state sovereignty is systematically corroding, and mainstream media is increasingly betraying the very objective that inspired the founding fathers to have “freedom of press” prominently enshrined in the US constitution.
Can today’s media guard the greater public interest and prevent the next ‘Iraq’, or worse, the next World War?
In his thought-provoking documentary Orwell Rolls in His Grave, producer Robert Kane Pappas, together with a lineup of media experts, activists, and academics make a compelling argument that clearly negates any claim of objectivity in most of what mainstream media does. Even more condemningly, they charge that media, by and large, has evolved as unconscionably biased enterprise that poses direct threat to the preservation of democracy (for it became demosticated and indeed coopted by the very powers that it was supposed to hold accountable in the first place).
At a time when media around the world, especially in least likely places such as the Middle East, are gradually reaching new heights in promoting unprecedented political openness, the quality of news coverage, programming, and the overall credibility of the American mainstream media is ironically ona declining trend as more and more media organizations are abandoning objective standards of journalistic ethos and becoming the “facilitators of venomous discourse” and the “purveyors of misinformation and propaganda”.
And nowhere does media bias manifest itself more than in the slanted reporting of the Israeli/Palestinian conundrum where reporting is, unfortunately, single-minded in perspective and predictable in conclusion.
In its report released on July 19th, 2006, the media watchdog FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) highlighted a closing editorial by (veteran media personality) Bob Schieffer of CBS Face the Nation three days ealier in which he did not even bother to project any semblance of objectivity. According to FAIR, Mr. Schieffer adapted a well-known fable “in an attempt to explain the causes of the current conflict—or rather, the lack of causes”.
Here is how he summed up the whole crises and its root cause:
“…when the war broke out in the Middle East, the first thing I thought about was the old story of the frog and the scorpion who were trying to cross a river there. The scorpion couldn't swim, the frog was lost. So the scorpion proposed a deal, ‘Give me a ride on your back, and I'll show you the way.’ The frog agreed, and the trip went fine until they got to the middle of the river, and then suddenly the scorpion just stung the frog. As they were sinking, the frog asked, in his dying breath, ‘Why would you do that?’ To which the scorpion replied, ‘Because this is the Middle East.’
In his one-sided editorial, Mr. Schieffer offered a metaphorical diatribe that erroneously labeles the Palestinian people as the “scorpion” in that tale of suicidal exploitation. To support his labeling, he echoed what FAIR refered to as “…the media’s conventional wisdom in portraying the Palestinian raid that captured the Israeli soldier as an inexplicable provocation”. In that groupthink mindset, the New York Times, in its June 29 editorial titled “Hamas Provokes a Fight”, declared that "the responsibility for this latest escalation rests squarely with Hamas," adding that "an Israeli military response was inevitable." But neither Face The Nation nor the New York Times is alone in this crusade of disinformation.
The mainstream media seems to be credulously content with the official Israeli version which asserts that on September 2005 Israel unilaterally handed over "what the Palestinians supposedly wanted", as Mr. Schieffer put it…and that on June 25th, 2006 Israel was flagrantly provoked by an attack carried by a terrorist organization sworn to annihilate the state of Israel who killed two of its soldiers and abducted a third, hence Israel’s legal and moral right to do what it did, and pledges to continue to do so till their soldier is returned.
While it is true that Hamas (also Hizballah) is in the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations and that members of its armed wing have taken an Israeli soldier hostage while killing two others, that hardly gives the full picture. What’s often omitted or underreported is that there are over 9000 (including 1/3 of the elected members of the Palestinian parliament) who, according to the Mandela Center for Human Rights, also include 342 juveniles are held by Israel.
In fairness to the mainstream media, the events they report are often accurate…however, the chronological sequence of these events (that often support one version of the narrative) and indeed the starting point are, at best, conveniently selective. Having said that, seldom (if at all) does mainstream media report the daily life of the average Palestinian man, woman, or child in West Bank and Gaza, and what Israel does in its freehand daily provocations that make life unbearable and often trigger knee-jerk, counter-productive reactions that only perpetuate the all too familiar violent tit-for-tat culture.
Among other forms of torture, terrorization, and provocation, the Israeli Air Force, for example routinely used the sonic boom torture in which they lower the altitude of their F16 fighter jets to fly close to the roofs of buildings and home. The Sydney Morning Herald and other media sources report a rise in miscarriages, premature births and stillbirths since the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The paper also reports that the sonic boom torture is also used at night when people are asleep to induce terror. “The sound is akin to that of a large bomb, and it can produce panic attacks, shock and nosebleeds (on children)” the report says. "The sonic booms, combined with all the other stress, have a bad effect on the health of pregnant women," added Dr Adnan Radi, a senior obstetrician of Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
The media failed to adequately scrutinize the wisdom in Israel’s “inhumane” act to impose extra judiciary economic suffocation aimed to collectively punish the Palestinian people for electing Hamas. In January 2006, Israel decided to withhold the Palestinian monies they collect through taxation- $55 million a month essential to pay the salaries of civil servants. This, despite Hamas’ dramatic change per its modus operandi since it finally decided to partake in the Palestinian elections and uphold a self-imposed cease-fire for 17 months…never mind the day before this new crises exploded, Hamas has signed an agreement with Fatah to form a joint government that recognizes Israel (implicitly).
Once again the media failed to prevent this whole escalation by turning a blind eye to the early reports that Israel was planning months earlier to deliberately provoke Hamas (also Hizballah) into a fatal military confrontation- something that Alex Fishman, an Israeli senior security analyst and Professor Tanya Reinhardt of Tel Aviv University, and others have charged.
On June 8th the Israeli Army assassinated Abu Samhadana, a senior appointee of the Hamas government, and intensified its shelling of civilians in the Gaza Strip. And according to Professor Reinhardt, “Governmental authorization for action on a larger scale was already given (to be carried) by 12 June, but it was postponed in the wake of the global reverberation caused by the killing of civilians in the air force bombing the next day (Israeli killing of seven members of a Palestinian family picnicking on a beach and wounding 30 others including 13 children)”.
Could a similar manipulation of truth be underway vis a vis the invasion of Lebanon?
Well, according to Gerald Steinberg, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University, the current conflict was being cooked for several years. "Of all of Israel's wars since 1948, this was the one for which Israel was most prepared…By 2004, the military campaign scheduled to last about three weeks that we're seeing now had already been blocked out and, in the last year or two, it's been simulated and rehearsed across the board” he said. “More than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving PowerPoint presentations, on an off-the-record basis, to U.S. and other diplomats, journalists and think tanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail. Under the ground rules of the briefings, the officer could not be identified," he added.
While ironically some media organizations in Israel continue to expose their government’s mortal schemes, and set-up forums for rigorous debates on the reckless nature of their governments actions - how they threaten both Israel and world peace and whether or not her heavy-handed reaction and collective punishment would constitute “state terrorism” and “crimes against humanity”- the American media, except certain flashes of symbolic comments made in the passing, are too timid to report, analyze, and objectively debate what’s at issue…
Could syndicated columnist Gwynne Dyer be right-- does one have to be a Jew in order to scrutinize the state of Israel since all else must face the detrimental risk of being labeled “Anti-Semitic”?
Whatever the case may be, lives are being lost from all sides, moderates are being radicalized, oil prices continue to skyrocket, and humanity is on the verge of yet another suffering of mass scale.
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by More on REAL media bias
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 2:45 PM
CNN reporter admits: I transmitted Hizballah propaganda
I was in Germany last week to speak at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry; while there I caught enough of CNN to disgust me utterly, and I posted about it here. Now, in "CNN's Robertson Now Admits: Hezbollah 'Had Control' of His Anti-Israel Piece," Rich Noyes explains what was wrong: CNN has allowed itself to become a propaganda arm of Hizballah.
Better late than never? On CNN’s Reliable Sources on Sunday, CNN’s senior international correspondent Nic Robertson added all of the caveats and disclaimers that he should have included in his story last week that amounted to his giving an uncritical forum for the terrorist group Hezbollah to spout unverifiable anti-Israeli propaganda.
Back on July 18, Hezbollah took Robertson and his crew on a tour of a heavily damaged south Beirut neighborhood. The Hezbollah “press officer” even instructed the CNN camera: “Just look. Shoot. Look at this building. Is it a military base? Is it a military base, or just civilians living in this building?”
In his original story, Robertson had no complaints about the journalistic limitations of a story put together under such tight controls, and Robertson himself at one point seemed to agree with the Hezbollah propaganda claim that Israeli jets had targeted a civilian area: “As we run past the rubble, we see much that points to civilian life, no evidence apparent of military equipment.”
Challenged by Reliable Sources host (and Washington Post media writer) Howard Kurtz on Sunday, Robertson suggested Hezbollah has “very, very sophisticated and slick media operations,” that the terrorist group “had control of the situation. They designated the places that we went to, and we certainly didn't have time to go into the houses or lift up the rubble to see what was underneath,” and he even contradicted Hezbollah’s self-serving spin: “There's no doubt that the [Israeli] bombs there are hitting Hezbollah facilities.”
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by shetizdayen indeebay
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 2:50 PM
, image/gif, x
We've also noticed that 'toady' and his fellow censors have found a way to disable the graphics so that pics don't show. Whatch it above.
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by wrong
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 4:33 PM
Sure I am, a lot. And not just here, and not just on Indymedia, either. I'm more prolific than ever. I'm just not bragging about it, that's all. There's no need to fuel a personality cult by signing every piece. It's not about me, anyway. It's about getting the truth out. The beauty of the internet is that it was designed to survive a nuclear strike. Taking down one site, or even many sites, can't stop a message from getting through. It just routes around the damage, that's all. I'm using guerrilla tactics, just like Hizbullah used the first time they defeated Israel, and just like the ones with which they will defeat Israel a second time, and if necessary, a third, fourth, fifth, or however many it takes. The battle is not for space on any particular server, but for the space between humanity's ears. In there, our side is winning, hands down. Israel has only one friend left, America, and that wont last forever. Israel is its own worst enemy. All they have to do is be themselves, do what they do, act like they act, and they win more converts to our side. There used to be, for example, Lebanese who supported Israel. Even Iran once supported Israel. Not anymore. Those days are over. Sooner or later, Israel is doomed, and the sooner the better. Oh how the mighty have fallen, etc.
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by Desmond
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 5:17 PM
1 Israel Is Illegally Occupying Palestine Under UN Resolution 242, Israel is required by international law to withdraw from all the territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem. The United Nation's General Assembly has repeatedly condemned Israel's occupation of the territories as illegal (see UN resolutions 338, 1397, and 1402, among others). Israel's continued occupation of Palestine, sanctioned and maintained by the US, is one of the most serious obstructions to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. "You must end the illegal occupation."
Kofi Annan, addressing Israel in a meeting of the UN Security Council, March 12, 2002
Key Articles:
We Bought and Paid for Carnage of Palestinians by Robert Jensen Professor of Journalism, University of Texas at Austin
America can Persuade Israel to Make a Just Peace by Jimmy Carter Chairman of the Carter Center and former US President
US Aid to Israel: Feeding the Cuckoo by Paul de Rooij Economist living in London
Thou Shalt Not Kill by Steven Feuerstein Founder of Jewish peace group Not in My Name
Heavy Words or Heavy Actions: Stop US Military Aid to Israel by Frida Berrigan Senior Research Associate with the Arms Trade Resource Center, a project of the World Policy Institute
The Strategic Function of US aid to Israel by Stephen Zunes Associate Professor, Department of Politics, University of San Francisco
2 Israel Systematically Violates the Human Rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories Each day, Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza violate articles of the 4th Geneva Convention on Human Rights, an agreement that governs wartime rules of engagement and to which Israel is a signatory. Palestinian homes and agriculture fields are routinely demolished to make way for illegal Israeli settlements. Israeli soldiers regularly arrest and detain--often for years-- Palestinians without due process. According to Amnesty International, members of the Israeli security forces regularly use torture and prolonged incommunicado detention against Palestinians.
3 Israel is an Apartheid State Israel has developed an elaborate system of racial discrimination, embedded in its legal system, rivaling Apartheid South Africa's laws. These laws include the Law of Entry, the Law of Return, the Citizenship Law, the Military Service Law, and a host of legally sanctioned, discriminatory rabbinical rulings. Palestinians are denied various welfare benefits, access to many jobs, and the leasing of homes and land controlled by government bodies. Electricity, sewerage, and roads are provided free to Israeli households, whereas many Palestinian communities in Israel, and especially in the Occupied Territories, have existed for decades without adequate services. Laws governing land ownership such as the Law of Acquisition of Absentee Property and the Law for Acquisition of Land blatantly discriminate against Palestinians. Indeed, land ownership in Palestine is more unjust than it ever wasin South Africa; at the height of apartheid, black people nominally `controlled' 13 percent of the land, whereas in Israel the Palestinians control only 2 percent of the land. "I am a black South African, and if I were to change the names, a description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and West Bank could describe events in South Africa."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Blockades which allow settlers free movement but restrict Palestinians have lost 100,000 workers their jobs. The Israeli government issues identification cards and car number-plates, color coded, which restrict travel for non-Jews. Palestinians in the West Bank are routinely prevented from travelling to the Gaza Strip because they have to travel through `Israeli' territory. No significant industry has been permitted to develop in the West Bank or Gaza. Consequently, Palestinians are concentrated in the lowest paying jobs and form a super-exploited labour force for Israeli capital. The occupied territories import 93% of goods but export a mere 7% of what they produce. Palestinian exports to Western Europe are banned so as not to compete with Israeli exports. Ninety percent of Palestinian workers must travel to Jewish towns for employment.
4 US Military Aid to Israel Violates US Law The US Arms Export Control Act (AECA) strictly forbids the government from giving military assistance to any country that violates internationally recognized human rights. The State Department's 2001 human rights report states: "Israeli security units often used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators including live fire ... impeded the provision of medical assistance to Palestinian civilians by their strict enforcement of internal closures, which reportedly contributed to at least 32 deaths. Israeli security forces harassed and abused Palestinian pedestrians and drivers who were attempting to pass through the more than 130 Israeli- controlled checkpoints ..." Under the AECA, "the President is required to report to Congress promptly upon the receipt of information that a substantial violation of AECA may have occurred." The US government is fully aware of the Israeli army's human rights violations, as the above quote from the State Department shows. The US government has eroded its own credibility as an impartial mediator by continuing to arm Israel without restriction and allowing these weapons to be used against civilian populations in violation of US law.
5 US Military Aid to Israel threatens US Security and Global Stability US funding of Israel's human rights abuses fuels resentment towards the US. While the rest of the world strongly condemns Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories, our government provides the political, diplomatic and material means for the occupation to continue. Such actions by the US government provoke anti-US sentiment throughout the world, ultimately jeopardizing the safety of people living in the US. The US can build its own security only by gaining the trust and respect of the international community.
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by you got that right
Thursday, Jul. 27, 2006 at 7:05 PM
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by Spain to Iraq
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 9:13 AM
"All the worlds a battlefield"
Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq." In the message broadcast by Al-Jazeera television, Ayman al-Zawahri, second in command to Osama bin Laden, said that al-Qaida now views "all the world as a battlefield open in front of us."
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by Danus
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 2:01 PM
This is a weekly summary of israeli war crimes committed in Palestine for the week ending 26 July 2006, 2mins, english audio: iwc26jul.mp3 MP3 at 2.1 mebibytes PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 29/2006 20- 26 July 2006 Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Launch an Unprecedented Media Campaign in the Gaza Strip · 41 Palestinians, 23 of whom are civilians, including 9 children, 3 women and two disabled persons, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip. · 9 of these civilians from 3 families were killed in 3 separate attacks. · 151 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 24 children, two women, two journalists and two paramedics, were wounded by the IOF gunfire. · IOF launched a series of air strikes on a number of houses in the Gaza Strip. · 6 houses were destroyed and dozens of others were severely damaged. · IOF threatened and warned Palestinian civilians by phone to destroy their houses if they helped Palestinian resistance activists. · IOF conducted 28 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and invaded al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City. · IOF razed 207 donums[1] of agricultural land in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. · IOF razed areas of land in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City. · IOF destroyed a house in Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya. · IOF arrested 78 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. · IOF destroyed the governmental compounds in Nablus. · OF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip; Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border has been closed; IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested two Palestinian civilians. · IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank. · Israeli settlers have continued attacks Palestinian civilians and property in the OPT; two Palestinian civilians were wounded. Summary As the international community has remained silent, IOF have continued to wage a full scale offensive on the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. During the reported period, IOF have waged a media war against Palestinian civilians. They have dropped leaflets in streets and on roofs of houses, phoned civilians threatening to destroy their houses if they helped Palestinian resistance activist, and ordered a number of Palestinian resistance activists through phone calls on their mobile phones to evacuate their houses, which would be destroyed. IOF have further continued to attack journalists in an attempt to prevent them from reporting on Israeli practices in the OPT. They have also penetrated the broadcasting waves of a number of local radio, and broadcast warnings and threats to Palestinian civilians. Israel seeks to legitimize collective punishment against Palestinian civilians by claiming in its media that it does not target unarmed civilians and that it warns them before attacking any building belonging to them or located near them. PCHR, monitoring with utmost concern the developments of this offensive, calls upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and United Nations, to immediately intervene to force IOF to stop this offensive and allow the passage of foodstuffs, medical supplies and fuels into the Gaza Strip. PCHR warns the international community of the policies of collective punishment and reprisals practiced by IOF against the Palestinian civilian population, especially the destruction of electricity sources and the denial of passage of foodstuffs and fuels into the Gaza Strip, which will lead to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Attacks in the OPT are not merely violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, rather they constitute a war waged by Israel against Palestinian civilians. This war has included the destruction of the civilian infrastructure, including an electricity generation plant and a number of bridges, and imposing a strict siege on the Gaza Strip - all border crossings have been closed the movement of persons and goods to and from the Gaza Strip has been prohibited. This war waged by Israel is a war against civilians, in disregard for international humanitarian law. Israel has been encouraged by the US support and the European silence to launch more attacks against Palestinian civilians and then against Lebanon. The outcome of crimes committed by IOF since 25 June 2006: o 157 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 33 children and 8 women, have been killed by IOF. o At least 700 Palestinian civilians, including 158 children and 21 women, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire. o At least 170 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip. o Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed. o The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked. o 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed. o Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed. o Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 8 ministers and 26 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council have been arrested. o The Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus has been destroyed. o Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses. o IOF intelligence have warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked. Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (20-26 July 2006): Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 38 Palestinians, including 21 civilians, in the Gaza Strip. The victims included a mentally disabled person, 8 children and 3 women. In addition, a child, a dumb person and a resistance activist died from previous wounds. Nine of the victims are from 3 families and were killed in 3 separate attacks: a woman, her two children and their uncle were killed in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City on 21 July 2006, when IOF shelled their house; an old woman and her grandchild were killed in Beit Lahia on 24 July 2006, when an IOF aircraft fired a missile at their animal cart; and a woman and her two children were killed in Jabalya on 26 July 2006, when IOF shelled their house. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed, when IOF shelled al-Nada tower buildings, west of Beit Hanoun. A child was also killed, when IOF shelled al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis. Another child was killed in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. IOF have moved into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, killing 17 Palestinians. In addition, 146 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 33 children, two women, two paramedics and two journalists, were wounded by IOF gunfire. Thus, the number of Palestinians killed by IOF since the beginning of "Operation Summer Rains" on 25 June 2006 has increased to 149, including 77 civilians. These civilians have included 32 children and 8 women. In addition, 626 others, mostly civilians, including 163 children, 21 women, 4 paramedics and 4 journalists, have been wounded. IOF also launched at least 30 air strikes on a number of targets in the Gaza Strip, including 5 houses belonging to Palestinian resistance activists. These houses were destroyed, and a number of neighboring houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged. IOF intelligence officers ordered owners of these houses by phone to evacuate their houses. The targeted houses were not located in confrontation areas, or in areas used to fire rockets. They were distributed in different parts of the Gaza Strip. In addition, they were multi-story apartment structures. The destruction caused fear among the civilian population. These bombardments are a flagrant violation of article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prescribes that "it is prohibited for the occupying power to destroy private property of individuals, groups, state, public authority, or social and cooperative organizations except if military operations deem it an unavoidable necessity." The legal interpretation of this article sets the following criteria for targeting a civilian installation: - The destruction during military operations; - The installation poses a direct danger to soldiers of the occupying power; and - Destruction is the only remaining option to avoid the security threat. These criteria do not fit the cases in which IOF bombed civilian houses. In a further escalation, IOF fired dozens of artillery shells at al-Nada tower buildings, west of Beit Hanoun. A number of Palestinian civilians were killed or wounded and a number of flats were damaged. Residents of the building were forced to leave their flats due to the IOF shelling. It is worth noting that the number of towers buildings in the area is 26, each of which consists of 18 flats. At least 2300 Palestinians (468) families live in these buildings. In the West Bank, a Palestinian civilian was killed by shrapnel when IOF destroyed the Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus. In addition, 5 civilians, including two children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire. Incursions: During the reported period, IOF reoccupied some areas in the Gaza Strip. The widest of such operations was in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, which started on 26 July 2006. On 21 July 2006, IOF withdrew from al-Maghazi refugee camp, following a two-day incursion into the camp. During this incursion, IOF killed 17 Palestinians and wounded 125 others. They also destroyed 207 donums of land, 13 houses and the civilian infrastructure of the camp. In the West Bank, IOF conducted at least 28 military incursions into Palestinian communities, during which they raided dozens of houses, buildings and civil institutions. IOF raided houses and arrested 78 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 5 brothers. On Friday evening, 21, July 2006, IOF withdrew from Nablus following a 3-day incursion into the city. During this incursion, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including two civilians, and wounded 68 civilians, including 27 children and 3 journalists. They also destroyed the Palestinian governmental compound in the city. Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem. Gaza Strip Following an attack launched by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 near the Israeli-Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah, which left two IOF soldiers and two of the attackers dead and a third IOF soldier missing, IOF have closed all border crossings of the Gaza Strip: IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. PCHR has always warned following the agreement reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, which was brokered by the United States and the European Union, that IOF have complete, even though indirect, control over the crossing point. On 18 and 19 July 2006, IOF permitted reopening the crossing point partially, with the presence of EU observers and in agreement with the Egyptian side, for travelers wishing to come back to the Gaza Strip. IOF have closed commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. In addition, IOF have prevented Palestinian fishermen from fishing. IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank since Thursday morning, 20 July 2006. They have cancelled permits offered to Palestinians from the West Bank to enter JerusalemIOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to separate between the north and south of the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested two Palestinian civilians, and violently beat a third one. On 26 July 2006, a Palestinian patient at an IOF checkpoint near Qalqilya, as IOF prevented his evacuation to the hospital to be treated from an acute heart attack. Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF razed areas of Palestinian land in al-Sawhra al-Gharbiya village, east of occupied Jerusalem, to complete the construction of a section of the Wall in the area. IOF also razed dozens of donums of agricultural land in Jourat al-Shama'a village, south of Bethlehem, to construct a section of the Wall to the southeast of "Efrat" settlement. Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. During the reported period, two Palestinian civilians were wounded when settlers fired at them in two separate attacks in Housan village, west of Bethlehem, and al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. IOF also burnt trees in Abu Ghunaim Forest to expand "Har Homa" settlement, south of Jerusalem. The full report is available online at: html format: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2006/27-07-2006.htm pdf format: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2006/pdf/weekly%20report%2029.pdf Public Document For further information please visit our website ( http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR's office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr [at] pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 - 2825893). *Office Hours are between 08:00 - 16:00 hours (05:00 GMT - 13:00 GMT) Sun - Thurs. ----------------------------------- If you got this forwarded and you want to subscribe, send mail to request [at] pchrgaza.org and write "subscribe" in the subject line. ------ To unsubscribe, send mail to request [at] pchrgaza.org and write "unsubscribe" in the subject line. For assistance: info [at] pchrgaza.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] 1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters.
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by Critical Thinker
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 3:23 PM
This list is subject to amendments. B'Tselem's authoritative casualty list is the Hebrew language one. Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces in the Occupied Territories
Fatma Fadel Bashir Jadallah 65 year-old resident of Rafah, killed on 15.07.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a tank. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while was in her house about 700 m away from the border.
Mahmoud Husam Lutfi a-S'adi 18 year-old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp, injured on 06.07.2006 in Jenin Refugee Camp by gunfire and died on 15.07.2006. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed while sitting in a mourning-tent, during an attempt to arrest Zakariya Zbeidi.
Khalil Ibrahim A'bed Abu Magheseb 17 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, killed on 15.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a tank. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while intending an attack agaainst soldiers in Kissufin crossing.
'Omar Mahmoud 'Abd a-Rahman Yunes 32 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 15.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while hiding in an abandoned building.
Ra'id Hussein Ass'ad Nasser 25 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 14.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a tank. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while driving near Abu Holi checkpoint.
Sumayah Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 16 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house.
Ziad Salman Hassan Abu Mgheseb 27 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, injured on 11.07.2006 in Kissufim, Gaza district, by gunfire and died on 12.07.2006. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Palestinian police officer. Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while was in his post.
Tareq Faiz Isma'il Nassar 19 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while riding a car.
Hamzah Hassan Ahmad al-Jurani 22 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while riding a car.
Tammer Jamal Suleiman Mahareb 20 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" near Abu Holi checkpoint on Kissufin crossing.
Muhammad Khamis Ahmad al-Masri 21 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" near Abu Holi checkpoint on Kissufim crossing.
Ahmad Salem Ahmad Quar'a 20 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" near Abu Holi checkpoint on Kissufim crossing.
Basmah Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 17 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Iman Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 12 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Mahmoud Muhammad Khalil al-'Asar 15 year-old resident of a-Nuseirat Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while was 500 m' from Abu holi checkpoint with some friends.
Salwa Isma'il Rashid Abu Selmiyeh 42 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Yihya Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 9 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Nazmi Fathi Nazmi 'Abd Rabo ('Aziz) 22 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, injured on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter and died on 12.07.2006. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while trying to plant an explosive.
Jum'ah Ibrahim Muhammad Islim 23 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" near Abu Holi checkpoint on Kissufim crossing.
Nabil Muhammad 'Abd a-Latif Abu Selmiyeh 46 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Salameh Ahmad Ibrahim al-Bshiti 20 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in al-Qarara, Rafah district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while in the Palestinian police station.
Ibrahim 'Ali Mustafa Qatush 15 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Hassan Yusef Muhammad Abu 'Obeid 18 year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Ibrahim 'Ali Ibrahim a-Nabahin 15 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Ahmad 'Abd al-Men'em Muhammad Abu Hajaj 16 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Salah Hassan Hammad Abu Maktomah 17 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 12.07.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Killed with five of his friends, four of which were minors, during the "Summer Rains" Operation, [while standing] 500 m' away from the Abu-Holy check point on Kisufim road.
Huda Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 13 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Hisham Radwan Hussein Abu Nserah 37 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 12.07.2006 in al-Qarara, Rafah district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Aya Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 7 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by shelling from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Nasrallah Nabil Muhammad Abu Selmiyeh 5 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 12.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Nine members of the Abu Selmiyeh family, parents and 7 of their children, all minors, were killed by missile-fire aimed at their house. According to the IDF, senior Hamas-members were hiding in the house
Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Shahin 29 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 11.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while driving in his car.
Walid Mahmoud Ahmad a-Zeniani 22 year-old resident of Gaza city, injured on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter and died on 11.07.2006. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Ra'fat Mussa Salman Salma 23 year-old resident of 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, killed on 10.07.2006 in 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Ahmad Fathi 'Odeh Shabat 16 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 10.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he approached the Qassam launcher.
Metwali Jamal Metwali al-'Arkan 20 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 10.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Muhammad Jamil Muhammad Khalifa 18 year-old resident of Khan Yunis Refugee Camp, killed on 10.07.2006 in 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Majed Mahmoud Muhammad a-Sheikh 29 year-old resident of Khan Yunis Refugee Camp, killed on 10.07.2006 in Erez Industrial Zone, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a tank. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while working on a factory's roof in the area.
Raji 'Omar Jaber Difallah 16 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 10.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he approached the Qassam launcher.
Ahmad Ghaleb Nimer Abu 'Amsha 16 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 10.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he approached the Qassam launcher.
Khaled Nidal 'Abd al-Karim Wahabeh 1 year-old resident of Rafah Refugee Camp, injured on 21.06.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination and died on 10.07.2006. Additional information: Killed at home by missile fire aimed at wanted persons riding in a vehicle on the street nearby.
Mahfuz Farid Saber Nasir 15 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 10.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he approached the Qassam launcher.
Ayman Walid Qassem al-'Akawi 18 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 10.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a tank. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" near Karni crossing.
Bilal Suleiman Salman Raba' 18 year-old resident of Rafah, killed on 09.07.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while IDF fire Missiles at a car nearby.
Hani Muhammad Yusef al-Qambaz 24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Nimer Fathi Sa'id Shalah 24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while he was near an armed people
Jaber Khaled Radwan a-Shantaf 25 year-old resident of Gaza city, injured on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter and died on 08.07.2006. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Jaber Muhammad Ahmad Rihan 45 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, injured on 07.07.2006 in Jabalya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a sniper and died on 08.07.2006. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Man who suffered from mental illness. Killed while was in the street during the "Operation Summer Rains".
Khalil Ibrahim Muhammad al-Hajar 22 year-old resident of Gaza city, injured on 07.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter and died on 08.07.2006. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Saleh Suleiman Khalil a-Jamasi 19 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Amneh Yusef al-'Abd Hajaj 48 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire . Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with her son and daughter during "Operation Summer Rains" when they were in their house.
Muhammad Farid Sha'ban Hajaj 22 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire . Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with his mom and sister during "Operation Summer Rains" when they were in their house.
'Imad Muhammad 'Abdallah al-'Athamneh 26 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 08.07.2006 in Erez Industrial Zone, North Gaza district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while was in the street during "Operation Summer Rains".
Rawan Farid Sha'ban Hajaj 5 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire . Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed with his mom and brother during "Operation Summer Rains" when they were in their house.
Ahmad Isma'il Mussa a-Sarsak 20 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 08.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Mesbah Faiz Mesbah al-'Attar 25 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 07.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Shadi Yusef Khamis 'Amar 23 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 07.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a sniper. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: A deaf person. Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while watching the incursion.
'Abd a-Nasser 'Issa 'Abd a-Salam Abu Hweidy 42 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 07.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Ahmad Fuad Sa'id Abu 'Askar 21 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, injured on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter and died on 07.07.2006. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Salatin neighborhood.
Tammer Fathi 'Abd al-Fatah Kandil 21 year-old resident of Nablus, killed on 07.07.2006 in Nablus by gunfire. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Was on Israel's wanted list. Killed while hiding on the roof of his house from soldiers who came to arrest him.
'Abd al-Jabber Munir Taleb al-Husari 29 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 07.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Anwar Isma'il 'Abd al-Ghani 'Atallah 12 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, injured on 05.07.2006 in Erez Industrial Zone, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a sniper and died on 07.07.2006. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while watching the incursion near Erez Industrial Zone.
Tha'ir Ta'meh Tawfiq a-Tanani 21 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 07.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a sniper. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while standing near his house.
'Amar Mustafa 'Abd a-Rahman Hanun 16 year-old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp, injured on 06.07.2006 in Jenin Refugee Camp by gunfire and died on 07.07.2006. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed while sitting in a mourning-tent, during an attempt to arrest Zakariya Zbeidi.
Wael Hisham 'Ashur Nasser 21 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 07.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while hiding in his car in a-Sultan neighborhood.
Mu'ataz Muhammad Sa'id al-Feiri 18 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 07.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a sniper. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while working in a land in al-'Atatrah neighborhood.
Na'el Jaber Muhammad Halawah 25 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Rif'at Jamal Khairi Nasser 23 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Sa'id Samir 'Omar Farwaneh 24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Ahmad Ibrahim 'Eid Naghnagheiha 16 year-old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp, killed on 06.07.2006 in Jenin Refugee Camp by gunfire. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed while sitting in a mourning-tent, during an attempt to arrest Zakariya Zbeidi.
Adham Saleh Hussein a-Diri 32 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Salatin neighborhood.
Muhammad Muhammad Sarhan a-Darimili 22 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Shadi Hamed Khalil a-Sakani 25 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Salatin neighborhood.
'Abd a-Rahman Hani Muhammad a-Najar 19 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he tried to open fire at soldiers in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Taher Amin Salim al-'Aamudi 23 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Ibrahim Muhammad Salameh Abu Rashed 19 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while was in his land.
'Adel Muhammad Mahmoud al-'Atleh 25 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Salatin neighborhood.
Muhammad Suleiman 'Ali a-Najar 24 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 06.07.2006 in 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Muhammad Maher Rabah Shahin 19 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" when he tried to open fire at soldiers in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
'Abdallah Muhammad Muhammad Salahah 24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Isma'il Sa'id Muhammad Abu Matar 18 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Muhammad Sabri Shehdeh Abu Tir 20 year-old resident of 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, killed on 06.07.2006 in 'Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Yunis district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Muhammad Anwar Muhammad Tafesh 19 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Ahmad 'Abdallah Muhammad al-Khaldi 20 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Bassem 'Awani 'Ali Rihan 20 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Jabalya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities.
Muhammad Yusef Ibrahim Faza' 28 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Khaled Faraj Ahmad Nasser 22 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Salatin neighborhood.
Fadi Jihad Ahmad al-'Abid 21 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 06.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" in a-Samaraa neighborhood.
Muhammad Ahmad Salem al-'Attar 21 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 06.07.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while helped in planting explosives.
Rami Sayyed Sa'id Abu Hashem 28 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 05.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire . Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Palestinian police officer. Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while was in the police station.
Mahmoud Shahin Mahmoud Jaber Himur 40 year-old resident of 'Ein a-Sultan Camp, Jericho district, killed on 05.07.2006 in 'Ein a-Sultan Camp, Jericho district, by gunfire. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Was on Israel's wanted list. Killed while trying to flee from soldiers who came to arrest him.
Husam Mahmoud Mahmoud Hajazi 21 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 05.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities.
Fidaa Nimer Muhammad Abu Kandil 16 year-old resident of Jenin, killed on 04.07.2006 in Jenin by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while was planting explosives near the road.
'Abd al-Karim Jaber 'Ali Duraj 30 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 03.07.2006 in Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, by gunfire . Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains".
Isma'il Rateb Ahmad al-Masri 29 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 03.07.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed during "Operation Summer Rains" while standing near his house.
Sha'ban 'Abd al-Men'em Yusef Manun 33 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 02.07.2006 in Jabalya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: A Palestinian security forces.Killed while was in his post.
Muhammad Mahmoud Jaber Abu Hani 21 year-old resident of Rafah, killed on 02.07.2006 in Tall a-Sultan Camp, Rafah district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers who seized control over on the airport in Rafah.
'Arafat Suleiman Mussa al-A'bed 22 year-old resident of Tall a-Sultan Camp, Rafah district, killed on 02.07.2006 in Tall a-Sultan Camp, Rafah district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers who seized control over the airport in Rafah.
Muhammad Hussein Muhammad 'Abd al-'Aal 25 year-old resident of Rafah, killed on 30.06.2006 in Rafah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Was armed. Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a neighborhood in the city
Mahmoud Muhammad Yusef a-Zakari 21 year-old resident of Nablus, killed on 30.06.2006 in Nablus by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Was on Israel's wanted list. Killed in an exchange of gunfire with soldiers who came to arrest him. Another person on the wanted list surrendered, and a third was injured after refusing to turn himself in and attempting to flee.
Nahed Muhammad Hussein Mahani 34 year-old resident of Gaza city, injured on 20.05.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination and died on 28.06.2006.
Ayman Rateb Mesbah Khalil O'deh Jabarin 29 year-old resident of Ramallah, killed on 22.06.2006 in Ramallah by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Was on Israel's wanted list. Killed during an exchange of gunfire with undercover unti who came to arrest him.
Majzarah Sha'ban 'Abd al-Qader Ahmad Less than 1 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 21.06.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Died 12 hours after birth, as a result of shrapnel that penetrated to the mother's womb.
Da'ud Ribhi Mahmoud Qatoni 22 year-old resident of 'Ein Beit al-Maa Refugee Camp, Nablus district, killed on 21.06.2006 in 'Ein Beit al-Maa Refugee Camp, Nablus district, by gunfire. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers who came to arrest him.
Zakaria Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad 48 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 21.06.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Killed at home by missile fire aimed at wanted persons riding in a vehicle on the street nearby.
Fatma Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad 35 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 21.06.2006 in Khan Yunis by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Killed at home by missile fire aimed at wanted persons riding in a vehicle on the street nearby.
Samia Mahmoud Ziad a-Sharif 5 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 20.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Killed while was on her way to the grocery store besidde her house.
Bilal Jasser Hamis al-Hasi 15 year-old resident of Jabalya, North Gaza district, killed on 20.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Killed while working in a tunery nearby.
Muhammad Jamal 'Abed Rouqah 4 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 20.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter during the course of an assasination. Additional information: Killed while was on his way to the grocery store besidde his house.
'Imad 'Ali Hassan Yasin 27 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 16.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. He was the target of an assasination. Additional information: Killed while was traveling in a car.
Habib Hamdi Hassan 'Ashur 34 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 16.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. He was the target of an assasination. Additional information: Killed while was traveling in a car.
Salem Muhammad Salem Abu Zabeidah 22 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 15.06.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an attempt to plant explosives near the Gaza perimeter fence, north of Kissufim.
Muhammad Mahmoud Rajab Tanjarah 22 year-old resident of al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 15.06.2006 in Deir al-Balah by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed during an attempt to plant explosives near the Gaza perimeter fence, north of Kissufim.
Muhammad Subhi Naji Barghish 23 year-old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp, killed on 13.06.2006 in Jenin by gunfire. Additional information: Killed during an arrest operation in the city.
Ibrahim Ibrahim a-Da'alseh Muhammad 38 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Maher Ashraf Faruk al-Mughrabi 7 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Husam Isma'il 'Abd a-Rahman Hamad 37 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
'Adnan Da'ud Hassan Taleb 46 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
'Ali 'Ali Hussein al-'Umari 32 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Mussa Muhammad Mussa Nasrallah 21 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Shauqi 'Ali 'Omar a-Seikali 41 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Rafiq Muhammad Faraj al-Mabid 17 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Muhammad Hussein Faraj al-wadiyah 24 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed on his way to fire a Qassam rocket.
Hisham Rajab Muhammad al-Mughrabi 14 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Ashraf Faruk 'Ali al-Mughrabi 39 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 13.06.2006 in Gaza city by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed when the Israeli airforce fired missiles into a residential neighborhood in northern Gaza city.
Muhammad Bachar Mussa al-Masri 21 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 11.06.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed while he tried to fire a Qassam rocket.
Salem Muhammad Zaki a-Radi'a 20 year-old resident of Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, killed on 11.06.2006 in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Killed when participating in hostilities. Additional information: Killed on his way to fire a Qassam rocket.
Ahmad 'Ata Zaid a-Z'anin 21 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed on his way home, after driving an injured person to the hospital.
Khaled Yusef Ahmad a-Z'anin 44 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed.
Basel 'Ata Zaid a-Z'anin 27 year-old resident of Beit Hanun, North Gaza district, killed on 09.06.2006 in Jabalya Refugee Camp, North Gaza district, by gunfire from a helicopter. Did not participate in hostilities when killed. Additional information: Killed on his way home, after driving an injured person to the hospital.
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by Not a one quip pony
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 3:40 PM
Here's what Israel and the U.S. (both rogue terror states) have wrought: he No. 2 leader of al-Qa'ida today warned that the terrorist group would not stand idly by while "these (Israeli) shells burn our brothers" in Lebanon and Gaza. In a taped message broadcast by al-Jazeera television, Ayman al-Zawahri, second in command to Osama bin Laden, said al-Qa'ida now saw "all the world as a battlefield open in front of us." The Egyptian-born physician said the Hezbollah and Palestinian fighting against Israel would not be ended with "cease-fires or agreements." "The war with Israel does not depend on ceasefires ... . It is a Jihad for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq," al-Zawahri said. "We will attack everywhere." Spain was controlled by Arab Muslims until they were driven from the country at the turn of the 16th century. Al-Zawahri wore a grey robe and white turban. A picture of the burning World Trade Centre was on the wall behind him along with photos of two other militants. One appeared to be a bearded Mohammed Atta, the Egyptian ringleader of the September 11 attacks. The other was Mohammed Atef, also known as Abu Hafs al-Masri, a former top lieutenant of bin Laden who was killed in a US airstrike in Afghanistan in November 2001. al-Qa'ida broadcasts are thought to contain coded messages to members. Three of images on the screen - that of al-Zawahri and the pictures of al-Masri and what was believed to be Atta - were Egyptian. The Arab satellite broadcaster did not transmit the entire tape, using instead selected quotes interspersed with commentary from an anchor. "The shells and rockets ripping apart Muslim bodies in Gaza and Lebanon are not only Israeli (weapons), but are supplied by all the countries of the crusader coalition. Therefore, every participant in the crime will pay the price," al-Zawahri said. The message was al-Zawahri's tenth this year. Bin Laden has issued five messages in a particularly active year of messages from the top al-Qa'ida leadership. "We cannot just watch these shells as they burn our brothers in Gaza and Lebanon and stand by idly, humiliated," al-Zawahri said. More http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article1200258.ece
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by Micheal Sewage
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 3:48 PM
Why would anyone care what Ohlmert or Bush the Chimp says?
The only thing we care about with respect to those terrorists is how do we fire them?
It will be a happy day when a laser guided bomb goes down their chimneys.
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by Candy in a candy store
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 3:51 PM
"The only thing we care about with respect to that terrorist is how do we find him? It will be a happy day when the US Miltary sends a laser guided bomb down his chimney."
You're right, ya know it?!! The whole world will breathe easier once all the US and Israeli terrorist psycho-scum have been vaporized
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by Brad Sellars
Friday, Jul. 28, 2006 at 7:21 PM
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/ap-report.html Deadly Distortion Associated Press Coverage of Israeli and Palestinian Deaths Preview Edition for American Society of Newspaper Editors Released Wednesday April 26, 2006 Download Report Press Release & FAQ Study Period: January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004 actual number of children killed Israeli children’s deaths were covered at a rate 7.5 times greater than Palestinian children’s deaths. Background In 2003, If Americans Knew1 began issuing report cards to media across the country on their coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We provide these reports to media outlets with the aim of assisting them in covering this topic accurately. In addition, we make the reports public, to help readers evaluate for themselves the reliability of their sources of information on this issue. This study of the Associated Press Newswire (AP) covers 2004, a year for which we have completed studies of The New York Times, and the major network television channels: ABC, NBC, and CBS. We chose to study AP because it is one of the major sources of world news for Americans. AP, according to its website, is the world’s oldest and largest news organization. Many newspapers depend on it for their international news. Method We recognize that reporting on Israel/Palestine is a controversial topic. Therefore, while there are many possible ways to measure accuracy, we chose criteria that are relevant, conducive to statistical analysis, and immune to subjective interpretation. We chose to focus on the reporting of deaths, because this allows meaningful statistical analysis that would be impossible in a qualitative study. This unambiguous measure allows us to determine whether AP demonstrates even-handed reporting, regardless of nationality or religious background. Fortunately, accurate data for both populations is available from the widely respected Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem2. We only included Israeli deaths directly caused by the actions of Palestinians, and vice-versa. This study of AP follows the conventions of our previous studies. Our decision to look at only headlines and first paragraphs was motivated by the goal of assessing the average reader’s experience and the prominence given to the coverage. (In addition, past studies indicate that the patterns found in headline- and lead paragraph-coverage tend to hold when the entire article is examined3.) We used the LexisNexis database to access all AP articles filed from Israel or the occupied territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) during 2004 that went out on the U.S. print wire. Findings: actual conflict deaths I. Coverage of All Deaths We found a significant correlation between the likelihood of a death receiving coverage and the nationality of the person killed. In 2004, there were 141 reports in AP headlines or first paragraphs of Israeli deaths. During this time, there had actually been 108 Israelis killed (the discrepancy is due to the fact that a number of Israeli deaths were reported multiple times). percentage of deaths reported by AP During the same period, 543 Palestinian deaths were reported in headlines or first paragraphs. During this time, 821 Palestinians had actually been killed.4 In other words, 131% of Israeli deaths and 66% of Palestinian deaths were reported in AP headlines or first paragraphs. That is, AP reported prominently on Israeli deaths at a rate 2.0 times greater than Palestinian deaths. In reality, 7.6 times more Palestinians were killed than Israelis in 2004. II. Coverage of Children’s Deaths 9 Israeli children’s deaths were reported in the headlines or first paragraphs of AP articles on the Israel/Palestine conflict in 2004, when 8 had actually occurred. During the same period only 27 out of 179 Palestinian children’s deaths were reported. (Children are defined by international law as those who are 17 and younger.) Additionally, Palestinian children made up a disproportionately large number of Palestinian deaths in general. Children’s deaths accounted for 21.8% of the Palestinians killed, while children’s deaths accounted for only 7.4% of Israelis killed during this period. actual number of children killed actual number of children killed 22 times more Palestinian children were killed than Israeli children. AP reported on 113% of Israeli children’s deaths in headlines or first paragraphs, while reporting on only 15% of Palestinian children’s deaths. That is, Israeli children’s deaths were reported at a rate 7.5 times greater than Palestinian children’s deaths. actual number of children killed Percentage of children's deaths reported, without repetitions Comparing running totals for actual deaths and reported deaths once again reveals that while AP’s reporting on Israeli children’s deaths closely tracks the reality, the reporting on Palestinian children’s deaths lags far behind the actual number, following a path similar to Israeli children’s deaths. This is in stark contradiction to the reality, in which Palestinian children were being killed at a rate over 22 times greater than Israeli children. In order to discover the impact of repetitions on the study, we examined AP’s coverage of children’s deaths without counting repetitions. We found that AP repeated two Israeli children’s deaths once, and one Palestinian child’s death three times. Hence, not counting repetitions, AP covered 88% of Israeli children’s deaths – a rate of coverage 6.5 times greater than their coverage of Palestinian children’s deaths (of which AP covered 13%.) III. “Clashes” – A Case Study of AP’s Diction Many qualitative observations may be made about bias in news coverage. One interesting aspect is the terminology used by a news source in reporting on this conflict. We examined AP’s usage of the words “clash” and “clashes”. Of all the conflict deaths AP reported in 2004, 47 deaths were stated to have taken place during a clash. Every one of those 47 was a Palestinian death, which suggests a more unilateral violence than the word is commonly understood to convey. deaths reported as a result of a clash Additional Notes: Context While gathering the data for this study, our analysts looked at hundreds of articles that AP published on topics relating to the Israel/Palestine issue, and noted a number of additional patterns that merit further examination. (The daily reports from the International Middle East Media Center, imemc.org, are useful in evaluating AP's coverage.) 1. There appeared to be differentiation in the amount and type of contextual information provided regarding the people killed and the circumstances of their deaths. While Israeli deaths were often depicted as innocent victims of Palestinian aggression, Palestinian deaths seemed more often to be portrayed as a necessary result of conflict. 2. We noticed that several pertinent subject areas had been minimally covered by AP. For example: * Palestinian prisoners. Torture in Israeli prisons is listed as a concern in the first paragraph of Amnesty International’s report on Israel covering the year 2004.5 It was first exposed by the London Times in 1977 and is continually noted by the US State Department, numerous human rights organizations and others.6 Over 9,000 Palestinians are currently incarcerated by Israel (over 4,000 have not had a trial),7 with the number of Palestinian political prisoners per capita among the highest in the world.8 Torture of Americans of Palestinian descent was detailed by Foreign Service Journal in 2002.9 Yet, apart from four stories on a prisoner hunger strike, we could find only two stories that described Israeli prison conditions for Palestinians. Only one AP headline from the area mentioned torture – and this one was about Lebanese, not Palestinian, prisoners. * Israeli Refusers. During 2004 numerous Israelis refused to serve in the Israeli armed forces in the occupied territories.10 By year’s end there were 1,392 such “refuseniks” and 37 had gone to prison. This movement was a topic of increasing discussion in Israel and the subject of numerous news reports. Yet AP had only one story on this. * Nonviolence movement. Palestinian resistance efforts have included numerous nonviolent marches and other activities, many joined by international participants, Israeli citizens, and faith-based groups. This nonviolence movement has been an important topic in the Palestinian territories, with growing numbers of people taking part – in 2004 the Palestinian News Network reported on 79 major demonstrations that were exclusively nonviolent. Yet, we did not find any reports in which AP had described a Palestinian demonstration or other activity as nonviolent or utilizing nonviolence. 3. We noticed significant stories that, perplexingly, were sent only on the Worldstream wire, disseminated internationally, but that were not sent to U.S. editors. For example, on May 11, an AP story reported: “The Geneva-based Defense for Children International and Save the Children, based in Sweden, said that as of May 2004, 373 Palestinians under 18 were being held in Israeli detention centers and prisons. At least three of the detainees are under 14...The groups charged that the treatment of Palestinian child prisoners by Israeli authorities amounts to a pattern of violence that has gone unchecked for years...” This story was not sent to U.S. newspapers. It is unclear to us why this story would be considered newsworthy for readers in other parts of the world but not for readers in the U.S., Israel’s primary ally. A study comparing AP reports sent to U.S. papers to AP reports sent to international papers might be of interest. Previous studies have shown newspaper coverage often to be significantly more distorted than the pattern we have found for AP,11 and we wonder if AP’s system for alerting newspapers to the top stories of the day may play a role in this differential. We urge newspapers and AP itself to examine this system. We hypothesize that such an investigation would reveal increased distortion. Conclusions We are concerned about the results of this study. As the primary newswire, newspapers across the country rely on AP. Since most newspapers cannot afford to send their own correspondents abroad, AP is often one of only a few sources of international news. We believe the readers of these papers, as well as all Americans, are entitled to full and accurate reporting on all issues, including the topic of Israel/Palestine. Given that AP had ample coverage of this issue (over 700 news stories on deaths alone), it is troubling that so much critical information for American readers was omitted. Further, our findings suggest a pattern of distortion in AP coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict inconsistent with normal journalistic standards. Such a pattern of distortion, in which readers were given the impression that the Israeli death rate was greater than it was, and that the Palestinian death rate was considerably smaller than its reality, may serve to misinform readers rather than inform them. In particular, our study shows immense distortion in the coverage of children’s deaths. By covering such a large proportion of Israeli children’s deaths in headlines or first paragraphs and such a low proportion of Palestinian children’s deaths, AP’s coverage obfuscated the fact that in actuality over 22 times more Palestinian children were killed than Israeli children. Now that AP has been alerted to the distortions in its Israel/Palestine coverage, we encourage it to undertake whatever changes are necessary to provide accurate news coverage of this vital issue. It would be valuable to examine AP’s structure of reporting from the region, its editorial direction from the international desk in New York, and the specific mechanisms AP has in place, if any, to ensure that bias does not intrude on its reporting on this issue. Finally, in the interest of full and accurate reporting, we urge AP to inform its readers of the findings of this study. In addition, we encourage AP to report the strategies it intends to use in remedying the significant flaws this study has discovered in its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Summary of Data 2004 Israeli Palestinian Actual Number of Deaths (All Ages) 108 821 Deaths Reported 141 543 Percentage of DeathsReported 130.6% 66.1% Ratio (Israeli % : Palestinian %) 2.0 : 1 Actual Number of Children's Deaths 8 179 Children's Deaths Reported 9 27 Percentage of Children's Deaths Reported 112.5% 15.1% Ratio (Israeli % : Palestinian %) 7.5 : 1 End Notes 1. If Americans Knew is dedicated to providing full and accurate information to the American public on topics of importance that are underreported or misreported in the American media. Our primary area of focus at this time is Israel/Palestine. For more information contact 310-441-8580, contact@ifamericansknew.org, 914 Westwood Blvd., #235, Los Angeles, CA 90024. 2. For more information about this organization, visit their website: www.btselem.org. 3. See our New York Times report for a sub-study of entire articles. 4. 4 These numbers do not include Palestinian civilians who died as a result of inability to reach medical care due to Israeli road closures, curfews, etc. The figure for Palestinian deaths is extremely conservative, since it is difficult for B’Tselem to report on deaths in the Palestinian territories. Palestinian medical organizations report a higher number for this period. For example, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (www.palestinercs.org), internationally respected for its statistical rigor, reports that 881 Palestinians were killed during this time. 5. Amnesty International Report 2004. 6. London Sunday Times, June 19, 1977; The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel; Israel and the occupied territories, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004, US State Dept; Human Rights Watch briefing to UN Jan 2004; “Prison Tactics A Longtime Dilemma For Israel, Nation Faced Issues Similar to Abu Ghraib,” By Glenn Frankel; Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, June 16, 2004, Page A01. 7. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been arrested since the start of the September 2000 Al-Aqsa intifada. As of April 2006, 9,400 Palestinians remain jailed in 30 prisons throughout Israel. 8. “The Politics of Prisoners,” Bex Tyrer & Tone Anderson, The Alternative Information Center. 9. “Arab-Americans In Israel: What ‘Special Relationship’?” by Jerri Bird, Foreign Service Journal, June 2002 10. Courage to Refuse, “Combatants Letter”. 11. For example, a six-month study of the San Francisco Chronicle showed a 30:1 differential of Israeli children’s deaths to Palestinian children’s deaths; a six-month study of The Oregonian by AUPHR showed the paper’s headlines had reported Israeli children’s deaths to Palestinians children’s deaths at a rate 44:1.
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