You know how I keep telling you that the media never acknowledges the deaths of Israelis the way it leaps onto the deaths of Palestinians? Well, take a look at this headline. Notice how the death is reported.

Israeli Soldier Killed in Gaza Operation

The “operation” killed the soldier, not “militants.” The headline should read “Palestinian Militants Kill Israeli Soldier.” But then, that would put the Palestinians in a bad light, and this way, the AP also gets to blame the IDF for the “incursion” into Gaza.

Israeli forces moved into the Gaza Strip early Thursday in a hunt for weapons and wanted militants, sparking a fierce battle with Hamas militants that killed one Israeli soldier. It was the first time a soldier has died in battle since November, the army said.

About 10 tanks and two bulldozers backed by helicopters moved before dawn about 500 yards into farming fields near the Bureij refugee camp Gaza, witnesses and the Hamas militant group said. Hamas said its gunmen detonated two large mines, injuring soldiers.

The army said one soldier was killed and two were lightly injured.

When gunmen approached the troops, Israeli aircraft fired on them and identified hitting them, the army said. Hamas said two Palestinians were injured, one seriously, a militant of the group.

The dead soldier has a name. He was Staff Sgt. Arbel Reich. Funny how the AP can never bring itself to name Israeli victims of Palestinian violence, yet every Palestinian victim is named, aged, and placed, as well as often having quotes from family members added to the story. Only the Israeli media manages to find out the names of Israeli dead. Why is that, I wonder?

The AP is full of sneer quotes in this one, too.

The army said Thursday’s operation was launched in response to “terror threats.” Military officials said troops were searching for wanted militants, weapons and other infrastructure used to attack Israel.

Ynet has a different description of why the IDF was in Gaza.

The IDF reported that the gunmen approached IDF ground forces, which had been operating in the area since late Wednesday night in order to uncover terror infrastructure.

Way to be unbiased, AP. Great reporting.

Not.

I have three pictures that are crying out to be lolcatted, but I’m not feeling particularly inspired.

The middle Gracie picture is Gracie leaping up in fear as an ant crawls up her hind leg. Yes, really. Gracie truly is that much of a chickenshit. I’ll send it about 100 pixels wider if I submit it, but I couldn’t stop laughing once I realized that she was running away from an ant. (Says the person who had one crawling on her throat two days ago and got all freaked out once she realized it was an ant crawling on her throat, not an itch.)