The AP can’t find the woman’s name, even though the Israeli press can. Her name was Shirel Feldman, and she was 32 years old. Her car was hit by a “crude, homemade” rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists. A man was hit by shrapnel. That would be sharp piece of metal and ball bearings, put in the rockets to create as much damage as possible. Seventeen rockets were fired at Sderot on Monday.
The AP headline and lead, though, are all about Israel “escalating” the “violence.”
Israel Hints It May Target Hamas Leaders
Israeli-Palestinian violence escalated dangerously Monday when Israel killed five militants in airstrikes and hinted Hamas political leaders could be their next target. A rocket fired from Gaza killed an Israeli woman, inviting a harsh response.The woman was the first Israeli to die in a Palestinian rocket attack since November.
Even before the fatal salvo, Hamas leaders feared for their safety. They turned off their cell phones, stayed out of official vehicles and reduced their movements as militant groups declared a state of emergency.
Notice the angle of the article: Hamas leaders fear for their safety at the hands of the vicious Israelis, who are rocketing them because “only” one Israeli has been killed by a rocket since November.
At sundown Monday, a Palestinian rocket hit a car and set it on fire in Sderot, about a mile from Gaza. The woman died en route to the hospital and two others were wounded in the attack. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Deaths in rocket attacks often trigger a harsh Israeli response.
Because gee, what other nation would get upset when its citizens were being rocketed on a daily basis?
I hate the AP. And while I’m at it, Steve Erlanger and the New York Times suck, too. Notice the moral equivlance of this headline. Because terrorists murdering Israeli civilians is just like the Israeli army taking out terrorists trying to murder Israeli civilians.
Israel and Palestinian Militants Carry Out Deadly Attacks
The Israeli Air Force continued its strikes in Gaza on Monday, killing four members of Islamic Jihad who the Israeli Army said were preparing to launch rockets against Israel, and one member of Hamas at what it said was a bomb-making factory.
Notice that the Times doesn’t name the victim, either. Shirel Feldman. Her name means “God’s song.”
Hamas is now saying that they’ll stop the rocket fire if Israel stops targeting their terrorists in the West Bank. Repeat after me, Hamassholes: No. Effing. Way.
I wish the IDF the best of luck in targeting Hamas’ leaders.
It is time for the IDF to give an ultimatum: The next rocket that hits an Israeli city, the IDF will start shelling their cities. Hillel Halkin in the NY Sun makes that argument this morning, as the only way to stop this.
I really can’t trust the AP, Reuters or AFP to accurately report about Israel. What really drives me up the wall is that these organizations continuously make excuses for evil barbaric behavior and they demonize Israel for protecting its citizens. What is wrong with them? They are acting like the propaganda arm of the PLO and Hamas instead of organizations dedicated to objectively reporting what is going on in Israel and the territories.
They will stop the official Hamas rocket fire. Other groups may continue, and Hamas will just continue stockpiling weapons, sending suicide bombers, digging tunnels, building rockets for others to use, etc.
You should try living in the UK, the entire press acts like the propoganda arm for palestinian acts of terror – first blaming Israel for creating the problem, then calling on both sides to act with restraint then finally accusing Israel of provocation when it targets hamas ‘officials’ – usually without any link to the initial terror attacks launched by the palestinians.
Also, for the record, Israel no longer ‘occupies’ Gaza – they gave it all back. Done. Once the Gaza residents had finished rampaging thru the beautiful greenhouses, gardens, synagogues and schools – they returned to their tired old refrain about getting rid of the occupiers. The Palestinans capacity to hate and lie is matched only by the world’s desire to believe.