Tuesday, April 10, 2018

What's New


I tried. I honestly to goodness really tried to quit. I was going to leave blogging to younger minds with sharper insights. But, I made a mistake. I kept reading
Like today, I read that Israel shot and killed fifteen Palestinians who were demonstrating against the siege on Gaza and wounded a thousand.  The only way that Israeli troops could have hit that many was to have randomly fired into an unarmed crowd.

According to today’s newspaper

Israeli troops opened fire from across the border, killing at least nine Palestinians and wounding 491orhers in the second mass border protest in eight days. The deaths brought to at least 31 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since last week.[i]

Among those shot down was Yasser Murtaja, a well-known 30 year-old journalist, wearing a flak jacket marked “Press” while holding his camera. The IDF does not target journalists, Israel announced. No investigation will be allowed.  Hamas has declared that in spite of the risks, it will continue its protest until Nakba Day, May 15th,. the day Israel was declared a state and pushed 700,000 Palestinians into refugee camps.

“So,” my neighbor asks, “what does Hamas want that is worth the risking of their lives?”
They want a lifting if the siege, access to clean drinking water, electricity more than a few hours a day and the right to live in freedom without being bombarded by Israel every year or two among other freedoms that allow human dignity. All of which Israel remains determined to never allow.

So, what’s new?  The fact that this clash has been reported in the mainstream US media for a week now, that’s new.  And worth recognizing.

Thomas Are
April 8, 2018



[i] Hundreds Attend Funeral of Journalist, By Fares Akman, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sunday, April 8, 2018. P. A-3.

9 comments:

  1. Tom, glad you are raising your voice again. Don't go quiet into that good night...you have lots to shout and we're still listening. Hope you are resurrecting, body and soul...Prayers! Maybe there is encouragement that the US media is beginning to report the atrocities of Gaza and West Bank.

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  2. So glad to read your blog today, Tom. Thanks. Israel's aggression toward Gaza is unconscionable. They need to be called out. You did it.

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  3. Thanks Tom - love to hear your voice of sanity and respect for life!

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  4. I echo all above sentiments.

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  5. Welcome back!

    And protesting their right to return home of course.

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  6. Sad that your blog is needed. It seems all the media coverage on TV is about Trump, Trump, Trump and now Syria is about to be attacked by the USA. I wonder if Israel's govt. was involved in trying to drag the US into that war?

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  7. It's so wonderful to hear your sane voice/views again! Out of all of the horrendous things happening in Gaza, I agree with you that at LEAST most Mainstream Media is paying attention. Whether the world reacts and actually does something is another story...WELCOME BACK!

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