Israel Shooting Embarrasses Palestinians

Israeli Utility Worker Wounded; Israel Says Incident Shows New Coalition Is Business As Usual

(CBS/AP)  Hamas militants shot and wounded an Israeli civilian near the main cargo crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Monday, embarrassing the Palestinians' new government and laying bare internal friction that could tear it apart.

Israel swiftly denounced the attack, saying it proved the new governing alliance between Hamas and the more moderate Fatah movement was flouting international demands to disarm, recognize Israel and accept past peace accords with the Jewish state.

The government also said the attack was the direct result of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's call when the new government took power on Saturday that Palestinians have the right to "resistance in all its forms," reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger.

"This terror attack is precisely what the new Palestinian government refuses to condemn, thus rejecting the conditions placed upon it by the international community," said David Baker, an official in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office.

The Israeli electric company said in a statement that one of its workers was shot and seriously wounded as he was working on a tower near the crossing.

"This is a direct result of the guidelines of this government. We will not recognize or deal with a government that openly supports terror," Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen said.

In other developments:

The shooting came as a senior Norwegian diplomat was in Gaza for the first meeting between a high-ranking Western official and Hamas government officials. Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen of Norway said before the attack that he hoped other states would follow his country's lead and recognize the new Palestinian coalition, installed on Saturday.

It may say sound odd, reports Berger, but Israel has finally declared the conflict in Lebanon last summer a war. Israel is reluctant to recognize wars it doesn't win. But under pressure from bereaved families, last summer's inconclusive conflict against Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon has been recognized as a war. The issue now is to give the war a name. There are three options: War of the North, Shield of the North War, and The Second Lebanon War. Critics say if Israel had crushed Hezbollah, the war would have been named a long time ago.

World leaders of Reform Judaism vowed on Monday to launch a new effort to garner greater support among Israelis — despite what they called continuing discrimination at the hands of the Orthodox religious establishment in Israel. The Orthodox rabbinate in Israel has strenuously resisted inroads by more liberal denominations, refusing to recognize their rulings or conversions as religiously valid.

Even before Monday's attack, Israel was refusing Israel to deal with the new Palestinian government, reports Berger — and a majority of the Israeli people seemed to agree: A poll found that only 39 percent of Israelis believe Israel should recognize the new Palestinian government, even though it does not recognize the Jewish state.

"We have every right to say, 'Listen guys, until we have recognition here, we can't sit down and negotiate seriously.' But that doesn't mean that Israel wants chaos on the other side," Israeli analyst Hirsch Goodman said.

However, an additional 17 percent said their government should engage only Fatah Cabinet ministers, for a total of 56 percent favoring some sort of dialogue with the Palestinian leaders. The poll had a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.

Continued

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© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 21 Comments

by randalds March 19, 2007 1:55 PM PDT

Of Israel will respond to this wounding of one man by helicopter missile strikes on the West Bank and in Gaza which will kill dozens. Funny when an Israeli is killed or wounded it's always "murderous" or done by "terrorists", but when Israel slaughters dozens in the occupied territory it's always "justified" or "retaliation". The Israeli government, just like the current US one, does not see Palestinians as human beings. To them they are some sort of sub-species, not worthy of caring about as much as "real people". Actually it's not just the Palestinians that both see this way, they look at Iraqis and Iranians and any other dark skinned people this way too.

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad March 19, 2007 2:33 PM PDT

I am tired of marginalizing all the other millions of good honorable people in the Middle East because Israel had it rough in Europe before I was born! So why must America support Israel blindly above all the rest of the people in the middle east, just because they do not play well in the sand box together? 50 years of American sacrifice is enough! America must become an honest broker in the Middle East or pull out all together! America can honor its commitments with our Allies but there must be a true unbiased commitment on America%u2019s part in the Region. There will never be peace as long as America intervenes on behalf of Israel at the expense of the Millions of other good people in the Middle East! All the parties involved will never come to agreement if we are constantly pulling their cookies out of the fire every time they get into trouble either! It is not anti Semitic to believe that there are other good people in the Middle East and they should have a voice! You can see by the AIPAC advertisement below this PAC is selling influence to American Elected officials. If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

Reply to this comment

by gunnerv1 March 19, 2007 2:50 PM PDT

I see that the JEW Haters are frothing at the mouth again! What is with you people? They are on our side, but of course, you are on the other side, the side that hates America and its allies and any good that they do anywhere in the world. Your time is coming, just wait, it ain't gonna be pretty.

Reply to this comment

by susanhelit March 19, 2007 2:54 PM PDT

Israel isn't on our side! They're on their side, and quite happy to take our money, weapons, and all of our credibility when we support their terrorism, and oppose the terrorism of others.

Reply to this comment

by gunnerv1 March 19, 2007 2:57 PM PDT

RandalDS: have you ever been to Israel? The Jews are just as dark skinned as the rest of the Middle East. If you have been there (I doubt if you have ever left your on birth state) then by all means speak up. I know you haven't because you said so before. So if you haven't been there (and I have, and my service record will prove it) why don't you shut up so that those of us who do have something revelant to say about it, can.

Reply to this comment

by articulator March 19, 2007 3:23 PM PDT

This action seems very suspicious because, if it is true, it would completely undermine what the unity government is trying to achieve. To shoot someone not on Palestinian land without provocation has no basis for "resistance."

Reply to this comment

by randalds March 19, 2007 3:52 PM PDT

Posted by gunnerv1 at 02:57 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Gotta tell ya bro, you're getting more angry and troll like everyday. No I haven't been to Israel (though my wife has being the good Jewish woman that she is) and the vast majority of Jewish Israelis are white being as they immigrated from Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia and the good old US of A. I don't know who you met there, but since most of the human beings who live there are Palestinians you may have mistaken all of those browner people for Jews.

Reply to this comment

by agnim March 19, 2007 4:38 PM PDT

This is the usual silly whining and over the top accusation.
The world is not biting. LOL

Can any government prevent every last citizen from committing acts of violence?

It would be fair to say that almost EVERY LAST PALESTINIAN is p!ssed at their relentless Jewish tormentors; and anyone of them can fly off the handle at any minute, regardless of how peaceful ANY Palestinian government will be. LOL

Reply to this comment

by agnim March 19, 2007 4:45 PM PDT

"Israel Shooting Embarrasses Palestinians"

Rubbish!
This is just nonsensical propaganda.

The morons of our media are fueling the violence in the Middle East with these kinds of propaganda statements, which foolish make the Jews out to be special people; and therefore if even one of the 'chosen people' is harmed, then it is biblical brimstone and fire. Such rubbish.

One unfortunate Jew has been harmed by one loose maniac muslim who is p!ssed at the Jewish invaders. It's not the end of the world; not even the beginning of the end.

Reply to this comment

by zootallures2 March 19, 2007 5:05 PM PDT

Is it the Jews fault or the Muslim terrorists? Sounds as simple as a US election. Is it the Republicans or is it the Democrats?

You see, if the arguement ends, the Isreali and Palestinian elite will have to do the same as US rightwing and liberal elite.... GET A FREAKIN JOB!!!

Both sides are using their people as slave beggers for foreign aid for the masters of the governments. It is an old Middle Eastern practice gone corporate and high tech.

You get more money if you send a skinney starving child with one leg out begging or a poor Israeli utility worker.

It's a big scam!

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 March 19, 2007 5:14 PM PDT

RandalDS 74% of the population of Israel is of Jewish heritage of that 68% are third generation or more. It is one killing of one Jewish worker, arrest the Palestinian and move on. Get back to the Camp David Peace Accords agreement which is supported by a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Reply to this comment

by zootallures2 March 19, 2007 5:22 PM PDT

Nazrallah and Shimon Perez have secret meetings on bombing Lebanese children to make poster childs to steal charity. It's a scam!!!

An Israeli news channel had a mutiny and showed it in the backgroung screen while the ex-head of the Mossad was blabbing some more BS. They showed the phosphorus bombs behind Amir Peretz, while he was denying the use of them...LOL!

The elite running the world are barbaric psycopaths.

Reply to this comment

by randalds March 19, 2007 5:29 PM PDT

RandalDS 74% of the population of Israel is of Jewish heritage of that 68% are third generation or more. It is one killing of one Jewish worker, arrest the Palestinian and move on. Get back to the Camp David Peace Accords agreement which is supported by a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Posted by radiob at 05:14 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Well I haven't checked your stats so I certainly won't dispute them, however it doesn't change my main point to gunnerv1 that most of the Jewish Israelis are indeed white and certainly not dark skinned like the Palestinians as he maintained.

As for the Camp David accords, I couldn't agree more.

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 March 19, 2007 5:38 PM PDT

RandalDS some excellent reading is the Harry S. Trumans Institute and the Near East Consulting studies conducted in Dec. 06 and Feb. 07 that demonstrate that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want the Camp David Peace Accords to become a reality.If you need the links I can supply them.

Reply to this comment

by randalds March 19, 2007 5:41 PM PDT

RandalDS some excellent reading is the Harry S. Trumans Institute and the Near East Consulting studies conducted in Dec. 06 and Feb. 07 that demonstrate that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want the Camp David Peace Accords to become a reality.If you need the links I can supply them.
Posted by radiob at 05:38 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Thanks, I'd like those links. As for me I have to run some errands right now before my wonderful, light of my life, loving Jewish wife gets home. Simple minded small town boy like me I actually thought there'd be no difference between being married to a small town country girl and being married to a NYC Jewish girl! Oy what an education I've gotten! LOL!

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 March 19, 2007 5:43 PM PDT

http://truman.huji.ac.il/

http://www.neareastconsulting.com/surveys/peace/

Reply to this comment

by agnim March 19, 2007 7:25 PM PDT

Posted by radiob at 05:38 PM : Mar 19, 2007

The most important thing to a Jew is money.

And to the Jews in Israel the #1 desire is Land (Palestinian land) and money, not the silly notion of 'peace'. LOL

So all this talk about majority of Jews wanting Camp David Accord is just a smoke screen by the more intelligent Jews to suck even more MONEY and protection out of the lesser intelligent Americans whose minds are poisoned with the christian religious rubbish. LOL

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 March 19, 2007 8:09 PM PDT

Agnim Read the reports before judging their merit. The institutes are well respected in both camps. What would happen to the Palestinians if the Jewish people left and gave them back the land?You wish to dissolve the existence of Israel? Hypothetically your dream comes true, all Israelis leave and take all of their assets with them. In the process they close all sources of income they have created. The Palestinian economy based on Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers (which would leave) Exports - commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone with current unemployment at 50% that does what? Their main trading parter Israel has now left. Who ends up suppoting them? The World Bank? which the main contributor is the US. They like many middle eastern countries have not developed a technology based income or a industrial based income that is not reliant on Israel. Where is the money going to come from to develop their economy?

Reply to this comment

by karlimhof March 20, 2007 7:39 AM PDT

What would happen to the Palestinians if the Jewish people left and gave them back the land?

radiob

The question is without merit, except on some academic basis.

I really don't know why it's so difficult to understand - if you steal your neighbors land then imprison him on what's left - you have created a problem.

If you give him his land back, pay him repairations for the inconvenience - he probably won't talk to you for awhile but you have solved the problem.

The Palestinian people have existed on this land for thousands of years and their survival has been questioned only since 1948 - I don't believe they need israel to survive, and actually have survived in spite of israel. Much to the latters disappointment.

Reply to this comment

by karlimhof March 20, 2007 7:43 AM PDT

committee member Zahir Muhsein, March 31, 1977, interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw.)



Posted by singinrick


your reference is completely outdated: 1977 !
take a look in the mirror. have you changed since 1977?

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 March 20, 2007 1:33 PM PDT

karlimhof The response was into the statements of the land becoming one nation and the dissolvement of Israel. If Israel were to dissolve what would take place. As far as your comment about the Palestinians being self sufficent that is at odds with the facts. Unemployment is at 50% currently, they have no economic structure, returning the land will not give them a economic structure.Agriculture, and small business mainly family owned will not support them.A poverty rate of 60%. How would they survive???? Those are third world conditions!!!!!!!!!!!! No oil to drill out of the ground, no industry (that is not owned by the Israelis). Irrelevant they would not be self sufficient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply to this comment

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[randalds]

Of Israel will respond to this wounding of one man by helicopter missile strikes on the West Bank and in Gaza which will kill dozens. Funny when an Israeli is killed or wounded it's always "murderous" or done by "terrorists", but when Israel slaughters dozens in the occupied territory it's always "justified" or "retaliation". The Israeli government, just like the current US one, does not see Palestinians as human beings. To them they are some sort of sub-species, not worthy of caring about as much as "real people". Actually it's not just the Palestinians that both see this way, they look at Iraqis and Iranians and any other dark skinned people this way too.

[bluestardad]

I am tired of marginalizing all the other millions of good honorable people in the Middle East because Israel had it rough in Europe before I was born! So why must America support Israel blindly above all the rest of the people in the middle east, just because they do not play well in the sand box together? 50 years of American sacrifice is enough! America must become an honest broker in the Middle East or pull out all together! America can honor its commitments with our Allies but there must be a true unbiased commitment on America%u2019s part in the Region. There will never be peace as long as America intervenes on behalf of Israel at the expense of the Millions of other good people in the Middle East! All the parties involved will never come to agreement if we are constantly pulling their cookies out of the fire every time they get into trouble either! It is not anti Semitic to believe that there are other good people in the Middle East and they should have a voice! You can see by the AIPAC advertisement below this PAC is selling influence to American Elected officials. If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

[gunnerv1]

I see that the JEW Haters are frothing at the mouth again! What is with you people? They are on our side, but of course, you are on the other side, the side that hates America and its allies and any good that they do anywhere in the world. Your time is coming, just wait, it ain't gonna be pretty.

[susanhelit]

Israel isn't on our side! They're on their side, and quite happy to take our money, weapons, and all of our credibility when we support their terrorism, and oppose the terrorism of others.

[gunnerv1]

RandalDS: have you ever been to Israel? The Jews are just as dark skinned as the rest of the Middle East. If you have been there (I doubt if you have ever left your on birth state) then by all means speak up. I know you haven't because you said so before. So if you haven't been there (and I have, and my service record will prove it) why don't you shut up so that those of us who do have something revelant to say about it, can.

[articulator]

This action seems very suspicious because, if it is true, it would completely undermine what the unity government is trying to achieve. To shoot someone not on Palestinian land without provocation has no basis for "resistance."

[randalds]

Posted by gunnerv1 at 02:57 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Gotta tell ya bro, you're getting more angry and troll like everyday. No I haven't been to Israel (though my wife has being the good Jewish woman that she is) and the vast majority of Jewish Israelis are white being as they immigrated from Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia and the good old US of A. I don't know who you met there, but since most of the human beings who live there are Palestinians you may have mistaken all of those browner people for Jews.

[agnim]

This is the usual silly whining and over the top accusation.
The world is not biting. LOL

Can any government prevent every last citizen from committing acts of violence?

It would be fair to say that almost EVERY LAST PALESTINIAN is p!ssed at their relentless Jewish tormentors; and anyone of them can fly off the handle at any minute, regardless of how peaceful ANY Palestinian government will be. LOL

[agnim]

"Israel Shooting Embarrasses Palestinians"

Rubbish!
This is just nonsensical propaganda.

The morons of our media are fueling the violence in the Middle East with these kinds of propaganda statements, which foolish make the Jews out to be special people; and therefore if even one of the 'chosen people' is harmed, then it is biblical brimstone and fire. Such rubbish.

One unfortunate Jew has been harmed by one loose maniac muslim who is p!ssed at the Jewish invaders. It's not the end of the world; not even the beginning of the end.

[zootallures2]

Is it the Jews fault or the Muslim terrorists? Sounds as simple as a US election. Is it the Republicans or is it the Democrats?

You see, if the arguement ends, the Isreali and Palestinian elite will have to do the same as US rightwing and liberal elite.... GET A FREAKIN JOB!!!

Both sides are using their people as slave beggers for foreign aid for the masters of the governments. It is an old Middle Eastern practice gone corporate and high tech.

You get more money if you send a skinney starving child with one leg out begging or a poor Israeli utility worker.

It's a big scam!

[radiob-2009]

RandalDS 74% of the population of Israel is of Jewish heritage of that 68% are third generation or more. It is one killing of one Jewish worker, arrest the Palestinian and move on. Get back to the Camp David Peace Accords agreement which is supported by a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians.

[zootallures2]

Nazrallah and Shimon Perez have secret meetings on bombing Lebanese children to make poster childs to steal charity. It's a scam!!!

An Israeli news channel had a mutiny and showed it in the backgroung screen while the ex-head of the Mossad was blabbing some more BS. They showed the phosphorus bombs behind Amir Peretz, while he was denying the use of them...LOL!

The elite running the world are barbaric psycopaths.

[randalds]

RandalDS 74% of the population of Israel is of Jewish heritage of that 68% are third generation or more. It is one killing of one Jewish worker, arrest the Palestinian and move on. Get back to the Camp David Peace Accords agreement which is supported by a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Posted by radiob at 05:14 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Well I haven't checked your stats so I certainly won't dispute them, however it doesn't change my main point to gunnerv1 that most of the Jewish Israelis are indeed white and certainly not dark skinned like the Palestinians as he maintained.

As for the Camp David accords, I couldn't agree more.

[radiob-2009]

RandalDS some excellent reading is the Harry S. Trumans Institute and the Near East Consulting studies conducted in Dec. 06 and Feb. 07 that demonstrate that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want the Camp David Peace Accords to become a reality.If you need the links I can supply them.

[randalds]

RandalDS some excellent reading is the Harry S. Trumans Institute and the Near East Consulting studies conducted in Dec. 06 and Feb. 07 that demonstrate that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want the Camp David Peace Accords to become a reality.If you need the links I can supply them.
Posted by radiob at 05:38 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Thanks, I'd like those links. As for me I have to run some errands right now before my wonderful, light of my life, loving Jewish wife gets home. Simple minded small town boy like me I actually thought there'd be no difference between being married to a small town country girl and being married to a NYC Jewish girl! Oy what an education I've gotten! LOL!

[radiob-2009]

http://truman.huji.ac.il/

http://www.neareastconsulting.com/surveys/peace/

[agnim]

Posted by radiob at 05:38 PM : Mar 19, 2007

The most important thing to a Jew is money.

And to the Jews in Israel the #1 desire is Land (Palestinian land) and money, not the silly notion of 'peace'. LOL

So all this talk about majority of Jews wanting Camp David Accord is just a smoke screen by the more intelligent Jews to suck even more MONEY and protection out of the lesser intelligent Americans whose minds are poisoned with the christian religious rubbish. LOL

[radiob-2009]

Agnim Read the reports before judging their merit. The institutes are well respected in both camps. What would happen to the Palestinians if the Jewish people left and gave them back the land?You wish to dissolve the existence of Israel? Hypothetically your dream comes true, all Israelis leave and take all of their assets with them. In the process they close all sources of income they have created. The Palestinian economy based on Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers (which would leave) Exports - commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone with current unemployment at 50% that does what? Their main trading parter Israel has now left. Who ends up suppoting them? The World Bank? which the main contributor is the US. They like many middle eastern countries have not developed a technology based income or a industrial based income that is not reliant on Israel. Where is the money going to come from to develop their economy?

[karlimhof]

What would happen to the Palestinians if the Jewish people left and gave them back the land?

radiob

The question is without merit, except on some academic basis.

I really don't know why it's so difficult to understand - if you steal your neighbors land then imprison him on what's left - you have created a problem.

If you give him his land back, pay him repairations for the inconvenience - he probably won't talk to you for awhile but you have solved the problem.

The Palestinian people have existed on this land for thousands of years and their survival has been questioned only since 1948 - I don't believe they need israel to survive, and actually have survived in spite of israel. Much to the latters disappointment.

[karlimhof]

committee member Zahir Muhsein, March 31, 1977, interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw.)



Posted by singinrick


your reference is completely outdated: 1977 !
take a look in the mirror. have you changed since 1977?

[radiob-2009]

karlimhof The response was into the statements of the land becoming one nation and the dissolvement of Israel. If Israel were to dissolve what would take place. As far as your comment about the Palestinians being self sufficent that is at odds with the facts. Unemployment is at 50% currently, they have no economic structure, returning the land will not give them a economic structure.Agriculture, and small business mainly family owned will not support them.A poverty rate of 60%. How would they survive???? Those are third world conditions!!!!!!!!!!!! No oil to drill out of the ground, no industry (that is not owned by the Israelis). Irrelevant they would not be self sufficient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!