I’m reading a lot of outrage from people who object to seeing dead Syrian children in their Facebook/Twitter feed, and I understand their point of view, but I don’t share it.
Over 250,000 Syrians have been killed since 2011, most of them by the Assad regime. The world has done nothing to protect civilians in Syria to allow them to stay in their homeland. Calls made by Syrians since October 2011 for a No Fly Zone have gone unanswered.
Such powerful images affect world opinion – we know this because Europe increased its rescue operations in the Mediterranean after terrible images of refugee bodies appeared throughout European media. Such images also affect individuals into caring more about the Syrian crisis and donating. I know this because since the photo of 3-year-old Elan al-Kurdi went viral, several Israelis have asked my how they can donate to Syrian refugees.
Unfortunately, people need to shocked into action and images do this. A lengthy article (for example, this great one ) about the Syrian refugee crisis are read by few, but images are shared and seen by many.
If the image of little Elan saves future lives or alleviates the suffering of Syrians, it is our duty to bear witness and make others do so as well.
—- If you want to help Syrians inside Syria and Syrian refugees, please consider donating to these two excellent Syrian aid NGOs, which have done great work for years now. Their work is based on dedicated volunteers, and hence the overhead costs are very low.
Donations can be made from Israel too, as they are registered outside of Syria. If you want to donate to an international NGO, please consider donation to Doctors without Borders who operate hospitals in Syria and rescue refugees at sea
Yesterday, an ultra-orthodox Jew stabbed six people who attended the Jerusalem Pride Parade. The man was released just a few weeks ago from an Israeli prison after spending ten years for stabbing three people are the 2005 Jerusalem Pride Parade. This follows years of homophobic comments from rabbis, ultra-orthodox and Jewish Home (nationalist-religious party) members of Knesset and repeated blocking of pro-LGBT rights legislation by Netanyahu’s coalition.
Then this morning, we found out that overnight, settlers threw Molotov cocktails on Palestinian homes in Douma, near Nablus, injuring four members of one family and killing an 18-months-old baby, Ali Dawabsheh. His mother and four-year-old brother are still in critical condition in an Israeli hospital. The settlers spray-painted a Star of David, “vengeance” and “Long live the King, the Messiah” in Hebrew. This is the third attack with Molotov cocktails on a Palestinian home during the night in the past year and a half. The purpose of these attacks is clear- to burn to death families while they sleep.
Following these attacks by Jewish extremists, Israeli ministers rushed to condemn the attack, but those condemnations ring hollow. The government constantly caves under pressure from radical settlers who resort to violence even against Israeli security forces. IDF soldiers routinely observe violent attacks against Palestinians and their property and do nothing. The chance that a Palestinian complaint about settler violence will lead to an indictment is just 7.6%. Hundreds of “Price Tag” attacks (the name of attacks on Palestinians and their property) have been carried out by settlers in the past few years and only in very rare cases are the perpetrators caught and brought to justice. This is simply not a priority for this government. Extremist Rabbis who issued public calls to use violence against Palestinians and “cleanse” the Land of Israel from them are not facing incitement charges.
How a Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Betzalel Smutrich (Jewish Home party) chose to respond to the murder in Douma: “The murder in Douma deserves every condemnation and denunciation. It is bad because it’s bad and it’s bad because it’s harmful [to Israel’s/settlers’ image]. The IDF must prepare for the riots that will develop. They must prevent a wave of murderous Palestinian terrorism.” In 2006, Smutrich organized a “Beasts’ Parade” in front of the Jerusalem Pride Parade and in 2005, during the Israeli Disengagement from Gaza, he and four other far-right Israeli were caught with 700 liters of gasoline and oil and was suspected of planning to carry out terror attacks.
When the Israeli Minister of Justice posts on her Facebook (during the war in Gaza) that all Palestinians are legitimate targets, including children and women, it is clear that the problem is much deeper and goes much higher than just a few (hundreds/thousands) extreme settlers.
The dehumanization of Palestinians by Israeli government officials that is used to justify Israel’s subjugation of the Palestinian people under military rule and blockade is the root of the problem. The lack of action by the Israeli government and these terror attacks are the symptoms.
After the bodies of three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped by Hamas militants from Hebron were uncovered yesterday near Halhul, the occupied West Bank, racist attacks against Palestinians have been on the rise. Two protests, each attended by hundreds of people, took place in Jerusalem where mobs chanted again and again “Revenge!”, “Death to Arabs”, and “Jews are good [literally, “souls”], Arabs and sons of whores”.
Death to Arab chants in central Jerusalem yesterday. Some of the protesters attempted to attack a Palestinian worker of McDonalds
A new facebook page titled “The People of Israel Demand Revenge“, managed to gain over 32,000 “likes” in about 24 hours.Young Israelis post photos of themselves on this page calling for revenge against Palestinians. Among those young Israelis are soldiers, many of them from units that serve in the occupied Palestinian territories. All the photos in this post were taken from that facebook page. Expressing political opinion and taking photos inside army bases is strictly prohibited under IDF rules, which it the reason most of the soldiers covered or didn’t show their faces.
UPDATE, July 2, 2014, 10:14 AM: After gaining over 32,000 likes, the main facebook page was taken down. Three pages with the same name are still operating.
UPDATE, 21:55, July 2, 2014: See new photos at the bottom
UPDATE: July 3, 2014, 21:15: New photos added at the bottom from the facebook page “Death Sentence to Terrorists” that currently has over 13,000 “likes” and some new pages that replaced pages that were removed by facebook.
Soldiers from the Kfir unit, which operates almost exclusively in the occupied West Bank
“We too are fighters of the Kfir Division, Netzah Yehuda Battalion [entirely made up of Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews]… support a death penalty to all the terrorists who are acting freely in the State of Israel! WE CAME TO AVENGE”
Holding an FN MAG 58. The writing on the body: “Revenge!. 97” [the number of the Netzah Yehuda Unit]
Bibi [nickname for the Israeli PM Netanyahu]…. THE PEOPLE WANT REVENGE… (Netzah Yehuda)
A soldier inside an IDF base with a Kfir Division beret: “Besiata Deshmaya [God willing in Aramaic, written on the side of the page, indicating to the soldier is religious/traditional]. The people pf Israel demand revenge”
Wearing a Kfir beret: “The people of Israel demand revenge”
Next to the shoulder tags of the the Kfir Brigade and a general IDF beret indicating that the soldier was drafted in March 2014 (the November 2013 batch of soldiers received their Kfir berets last week): “Revenge” written in M16/M4 bullets.
Next to M4 rifles, Kfir Brigade shoulder tags and Kfir Brigade berets “Revenge” is written in bullets
A beret of the Israeli Police and unit pin of the Border Police, a unit of the Israeli police that Israelis enlist to at the age of 18 instead of IDF service. The unit operates in the occupied territories (especially east Jerusalem) and inside Israel as well, and is often involved in repressing protests.
“I TOO WANT REVENGE!!! This time we’re not letting it slide – hit them at full force! Jewish blood demands revenge!”
Wearing a beret of the Border Police with gloves, a coat and balaclava that are not supplied by the unit and must have been purchased independently. There are people who volunteer in Border Police, so it is possible he is not a soldier. The writing on the image: “Death to Arabs”. The sign he’s holding reads: “Death penalty to terrorists! and to the haters of Israel! [a common way to refer to leftists]. R.E.V.E.N.G.E!
Next to insignia of the Border Police and a gun “We demand R-E-V-E-N-G-E”. The drawing is the symbol of the Border Police Unit.
Wearing uniform of the Israeli Air Force: “The people of Israel want revenge! Blood for blood!!!”
A soldier in the Israeli Navy: “Besiata deshmaya. The people of Israel demand R-E-V-E-N-G-E!”
Wearing a general IDF beret: “The people of Israel demand revenge”
UPDATE
Next to IDF dog tags and Air Force beret: “Besiata deshmaya. REVENGE. Let us [Air Force] say hi to Gaza on behalf of the people of Israel…”
Air force beret and belt, back of an IDF identity card: “The people demand revenge!”
“Battalion 97 [Netzah Yehuda, part of the Kfir Division] demands revenge!!”
Next to Kfir Brigade shoulder tags and a Kfir Division beret: “Let us eliminate the terrorists”
With a beret of the Golani Division, which is heavily involved in the occupied territories: “Bibi! The Golanchikim [soldiers who serve in the Golani division] want revenge!”
Wearing a beret of the Home Command Division, a division that is responsible for civil preparedness for war. This is a soldier from the Rescue Battalions, a combat unit within the division. The soldier is standing in an IDF base holding a shortened M-16 rifle with a 40mm grenade launcher. The writing on his body: “Revenge”
Berets of Paratroopers Division, Artillery Division and the Air Force, along with Tefilin, Jewish prayer scrolls, taken on what appears to be a bus seat: “Bibi, give [us] the order”
With a general IDF beret and beret insignia: “I too support revenge. The blood of our children is not worthless”
“The military [religious] prep-school Or Ezion [located in the occupied West Bank] too supports revenge”
“Bibi, let us eliminate the terrorists. Nezah Yehuda 97”
UPDATE, July 1, 2014, 20:16
With berets of the Kfir Division and Negev light machine guns: “Bibi, let us avenge. Netzah Yehuda”
Female soldier with a Home Command beret. Her dog tags are covered with insignia of the 846th Special Troops Battalion, “Samson’s Foxes”, part of the Givati Division. Wearing a different beret than your division is forbidden under IDF rules, but wearing a different dog tags covers is quite common and usually signifies that the soldier has an older brother or boyfriend who serves or served in the unit. On her hand: “death to terrorists!”
“Revenge” written in M-16 bullets. The pin and shoulder tags are of the 601 Battalion of the Combat Engineering Corps, the rifles are shortened M-16 rifles. The soldier who took the photo was drafted into the IDF in March 2014, this is because once the soldiers join their battalion they are given M4 rifles. A soldier currently serving in the Combat Engineering Corps identified the floor as one of the residence of recruits in boot-camp in the School for Combat Engineering base (BAHALATZ) in southern Israel.
Photo taken from a new page titled “The People of Israel Demand Revenge” that currently has only 432 likes.
“Revenge” written in bullets and shortened M-16 rifles. The quality of the photo is quite poor so it’s hard to tell which unit this soldier belongs to, but it appears that the hat bears the insignia of some C4I Corps battalion. The shoes in the photo are usually work by NCOs who’ve completed they’re obligatory IDF service.
Photo found on a recently created facebook page titled: “Bibi, the people of Israel demand revenge”
Next to Golani Brigade beret, shoulder tags and dog tags cover. The pin is work by soldiers from the 12, 13 and 51th battalions. The written message: “Besiata deshmaya. Mister Bibi, if it had been your son, Yair [Netanyahu’s older son], what would you have done? The people DEMAND R-E-V-E-N-G-E! We won’t give up! If need be, we will start a civil war and the power will be back in our hands!”
UPDATE: July 4, 13:07
“Revenge” is written. The soldier is wearing a Kfir beret and carrying an M4 rifle. Found on the facebook page “Death Sentence to Terrorists” that currently has over 13,000 “likes”
UPDATE, July 6, 23:27
“We want revenge” next to shortened M-16s with insignia of the 137 Air Defense Battalion.
After a passionate debate and a filibuster by opposition members of Knesset, the new amendment to the Prevention of Infiltration Law passed 30 to 15 early Tuesday morning. The new amendment, hurriedly drafted and passed by the governing coalition, will replace the 2012 amendment to the law, which was nixed by the High Court of Justice three months ago.
The previous amendment to the law permitted the detention of asylum seekers without trial for a three-year period in Israel’s Saharonim and Ktziot prisons. Under the new amendment, asylum seekers will be jailed for one year in the prisons, followed by additional indefinite detention in a specially constructed internment camp operated by the Israeli Prison Service.
Since the beginning of 2013, Assad’s forces have laid siege on the suburbs of the capital known as Ghouta, which was the target of a chemical weapons attack earlier this summer. Regime forces are stopping food and other goods from coming in and as winter approaches, activists are warning that the situation is about to get even worse.
The chemical weapons attack on the eastern and southern outskirts of Damascus (collectively known as Ghouta) have garnered a great deal of international attention over the past month. While pundits and experts discussed the imminent American-led strike on regime targets and later how to disarm the Assad regime of its chemical weapon stockpiles, however, few focused on the situation on the ground in the areas affected by the chemical attack itself (which are targets of daily artillery attacks and air strikes by the regime). These areas have been besieged by the regime forces since January 2013, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel that have resulted in the death of at least eight malnourished children and many patients who could have been saved had proper medical treatment been available to them.
Ghouta has been an opposition stronghold since the first days of the Syrian uprising. Many of the residents of Ghouta’s conservative Sunni working-class towns were displaced from southern and eastern Syria due to long years of drought and the government’s mismanagement of the drought crisis. During the initial, peaceful stage of the Syrian uprising, Ghouta witnessed large protests. Soon after the opposition began to arm itself in 2011, the towns of Ghouta were wrestled from regime control in 2012 and are now in the hands of the rebels. Civil society organizations sprung up to fill the void created by the government’s absence in the area.
A protest organized by three groups affiliated with the Israeli social justice movement (#j14) was held in Jerusalem on Saturday night (June 8). The protesters demanded a reversal of the decision to export most of Israel’s natural gas reserves with only 12.5% of the value of the gas going to the State in taxes. The protesters also voiced objections against the budget of the new government, which is expected to significantly raise taxes on Israel’s lower and middle-class, while at the same time cutting government services on which those classes rely. The protest, despite being peaceful and rather small (a few hundreds of protesters) was met with an unusually high level of random police brutality.
Elderly man checks the headlines in Tel Aviv, Israel – 2005. Photo by Shachar Abiry שחר אבירי on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Israeli media has undergone significant changes over the past few years. Growing economic strains have increased competition between media outlets fighting for a share of advertising revenue. However, because the market that media outlets operate in is relatively small many are experiencing serious financial problems. This includes the daily newspaper Maariv, which was recently sold to a right-wing publisher. As a result, many of the newspaper’s workers are expected to lose their job. A similar fate may fall upon employees at Channel 10 and the only left-leaning Israeli daily, Haaretz, which are also incurring heavy losses.
Financial troubles have the potential, therefore, to decrease the independence of reporters, who may be less willing to challenge the wishes of their editors or managers who are, in turn, accountable to the owners of media outlets.
Israel’s Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, who previously served as Israel’s Prime Minister (1999-2001) and IDF Chief of Staff (1991-1995), made a surprise announcement in a press conference today, saying he will be retiring from politics to spend more time with his family. Barak will continue to serve as Israel’s Minister of Defense until the next government is formed following the January 2013 elections. This is Barak’s second announcement of retirement from politics, the first one coming in 2001 after his defeat in the 2001 general elections.
Barak’s popularity has significantly diminished in recent years, after he split from the Labor Party, which he headed, to form a new party, HaAtzmaut. The split insured that Barak could stay in Netanyahu’s government after most of the Labor’s Member of Knesset (the legislature of Israel) wanted to quit the government. Prior to Barak’s announcement, his party, which has five MKs who all split from the Labor Party, was hovering around the 2 per cent election threshold.
The latest round of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants was covered around the clock in Israel. Media outlets largely adopted the government’s narrative and justifications for the offensive. Leftist Israeli bloggers and netizens, while criticizing the government throughout the operation, also attacked what they saw as a biased coverage of the events.
Human in the Muddle 