Israel Launches Gaza Moat Plan

[Scurrilous]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20040617/wl_nm/mideast_gaza_moat_dc

<snip>

"Israel set in motion a plan Thursday to dig a moat along the Gaza-Egypt border, inviting contractor bids for the project meant to prevent arms reaching Palestinian militants through tunnels.

The Defense Ministry published the bid notice 11 days after the cabinet approved in principle a Gaza withdrawal plan, under which Israel would keep a narrow corridor on the Egyptian frontier pending possible security arrangements with Cairo."

<snip>

"The notice, in Israeli newspapers, did not give the width of the canal -- a figure crucial to determining whether any Palestinian homes along the "Philadelphi Corridor" buffer zone adjacent to Rafah refugee camp would need to be demolished.

It was not clear whether the moat would be filled with water, as Israeli military sources had suggested last month, or would be a dry moat."

[punpirate]

1. Maybe the headline should read...

... "Not Satisfied with F-16s, Helicopters and Advanced Armor, Israel Resorts to 12th Century Technology. Bombard Manufacturers Sought."

Sharon has lost his mind.

[Spinzonner]

2. What, no catapults ?

[Scurrilous]

3. Well...

...when Sharon says "I'm gonna get medieval on your ass," he really means it.

[havocmom]

4. If filled with water

one could imagain Gaza Gators would be the next phase.

[DLC]

26. You're on to something

Treat any Hamas member to a nice dip during the hot Gaza summer, complete with a concrete block tied to their ankle.

[denverbill]

5. One of the few actions Israel has taken that I can actually agree with.

And personally, I'd fill it with water.

[bemildred]

6. Fill it with bullshit. nt

[newyorican]

21. already full of it

:/

[donsu]

7. walls and moats and dragons and gargoyls

bullets and bombs and missiles and granades

that's what Israel is made of


sticks and stones won't hurt their bones

[DLC]

8. You need a screen to keep bugs out

The security wall has detered the suicide murderers. Have you heard about as many self-detonating killers going off in Israel lately? Didn't think so.

[Scurrilous]

9. Israel has a bug problem?

Forget the moat, give Tom DeLay a call.

[DLC]

10. A Palestinian terrorist infestation

Any way to keep them out and unarmed is all good. Pass the spray.

[Forkboy]

27. Is that you Herschel?

[newyorican]

29. Took the words...

right out of my mouth...

[newyorican]

25. What are a "bugs" relatives?

Are they also insects? Inquiring minds want to know...

[Darranar]

12. Um... how many have come out of Gaza in the past several years?

One, I think.

The Israel/Gaza border is well-protected. This is a totally unnecessary step.

[DLC]

13. Yeah, right

if Israel's security measures work well, they should be stopped. And if they aren't working well, they should be stopped. By the by, Kucinich is out of the way and we've got a real canidate with a chance to win. You on board?

[Darranar]

14. This is a NEW security measure...

if you're talking about the "security" wall, the question is not its security benefits but rather its position.

If you wish to discuss our "real candidate", I suggest going to GD.

[DLC]

15. Gotta be real

Some of the settlements are permanent and they'll be part of Israel. New or old, Israel has every right to secure itself fron vermen that want to destroy it.

[Darranar]

16. The current internationally-recognized border is the Green Line...

it will probably shift somewhat in the context of final negotiations, but Israel has no right to unilaterally declare that whatever they think the border should be the border is.

Until a new border is agreed upon, any security wall should be on the Green Line. This one isn't, hence my opposition.

[DLC]

18. Many settlements are permanent

and it's only practical to build the wall around them. As for international recognition, some countries don't recognize Israel. Reality over perception, I say.

[Darranar]

22. No settlement is permanent...

some settlements are likely to remain permanent, but that is a different matter.

Israel has the capability to remove any settlement from the West Bank or Gaza.

[Darranar]

11. I thought they were going to withdraw? n/t

[Scurrilous]

17. Me too....

..apparently Sharon 'envisages' the removal of all Gaza settlements by the end of 2005. 'Envisage' being the operative word here.

[DLC]

19. All in their good time

There's no pressure. Some housekeeping has to be done first, in any event.

[Darranar]

23. There SHOULD be pressure. n/t

[DLC]

20. "Museum chronicles Palestinian violence"

A new Israeli exhibit gives visitors a disturbing view of nearly four years of violence with the Palestinians: a female mannequin strapped with an explosives belt, alongside piles of confiscated weapons and documents showing how Palestinian militant groups operate.

The display, with grisly scenes of terror attacks and documents purporting to show that Palestinian officials are involved in violence, is a new element in an Israeli effort to fix the blame for nearly four years of conflict on the Palestinians.

Palestinians, who blame Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and harsh military measures for the bloodshed, denounce the display, saying it will only create more animosity.

The originator of the museum at the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, which opened this month next to an army base just outside Tel Aviv, says the exhibit shows that support for the militants runs deep throughout Palestinian society.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Israel%20Militancy%20Museum

A visit here might help some folks understand. I can't see how to start a discussion, maybe somone would like to post this.

[Darranar]

24. Click on the "Post" icon at the top of the forum page. n/t

[brainshrub]

28. This would never work because:

The water might be used by Palestinian terrorists to bathe, drink and irrigate crops. Furthermore, such a project would mean fewer swimming pools for the settlements.