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Last update - 10:48 29/12/2008
Wartime in Gaza: The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear
By Bradley Burston, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Gaza, Bradley Burston, Hamas 

Click here for more from Bradley Burston

It is, abruptly and again, wartime. Across the globe, the selective pacifists of the left and the recliner Rambos of the right are spoiling for their next battle, the war in Gaza.

They will fight one another in letters to Congress, in cable news sound bites, in raucous talk-radio phone-ins, in the virtual mega-heroics of the online battlefield of the talkback.
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They will fight one another in the United Nations as well, unashamedly one-sided in their concern for human life.

Herewith the first in a two-part guide to the 10 most gratuitous, least productive, most resolutely ingenuous claims likely to be hurled in an effort to attack Israel.

The first five are arguments of the anti-Israel left, claims which are, curiously, as tired as they are unflagging.

____________________

Leftist 1: Israel's true motive in bombing Gaza, is genocide against the Palestinian people and extermination of their right to statehood.
Israel's genuine interest in this campaign is strikingly similar to Hamas' interest in firing scores of rockets into Israeli population centers: Forcing a cease-fire on better terms than the one just ended.
For Hamas, this largely means easing Israeli economic sanctions against Gazans. For Israel, this centers on ending shelling by Qassam and Grad missiles and mortar shells. For both sides, this means a prisoner exchange, centering on Gilad Shalit and hundreds of jailed Hamas members.

Leftist 2: The Palestinians have no recourse but to defend themselves, and the makeshift rockets they fire are nothing compared to the world's most advanced warplanes and munitions, which the IDF is using against them.

The Human Rights Watch organization has been unequivocal in condemning the use of Qassam rockets as a direct violation of international humanitarian law and the laws of war. The firing of Qassams and mortars against civilian populations also
constitutes collective punishment
against hundreds of thousands of innocent Israeli men, women and children.

Moreover, the firing of Qassams began not as a response to the siege against Gaza, but as a marathon celebration by armed Islamic fundamentalist groups following Israel's withdrawal of its troops and settlers from the Strip. To purposely add insult to injury, Islamic Jihad and other organizations used the ruins of settlements as launch platforms.

Leftist 3: All that Hamas is asking, is recognition as the democratically elected government of Gaza, and an end to the Israeli economic embargo. Were they to attain these goals, there would be calm on both sides of the border.

It is both unrealistic and dangerous to believe that Hamas has abandoned its clearly stated and often reiterated goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in all of the Holy Land, including all land claimed, annexed by, or in any way occupied by Israel.

Beyond that, Hamas has strong alliances with the Egyptian opposition Muslim brotherhood, as well as working partnerships with the Iran-dominated Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

Israeli restraint, when practiced, has been met with contempt and additional Hamas and Hamas-tolerated strikes against civilian populations.

Leftist 4: The Israeli blockade against Hamas is state terrorism and any means to fight it are legitimate.

There is every reason to believe that Israel's economic siege against Gaza is misguided, but not for an essential cruelty, rather because Hamas taxes collected on the influx of goods imported through tunnels from Egyptian territory have subsidized and cemented Hamas rule.

Leftist 5: The world overwhelmingly sympathizes with the Palestinians against Israel, and unreservedly backs their struggle for independence.

In an era of global revulsion against radical Islamic terror, Hamas' protracted program of suicide bombings, drive-by murders and shelling of civilian populations, coupled with its refusal to renounce violence, recognize Israel, or accept past peace agreements, coupled with its ideology of militant jihad, have drained the Palestinians of international sympathy and have, in fact, legitimized Israeli arguments of military self-defense.

Nothing has been more instrumental in harming the cause of Palestinian independence than Hamas, with its brutal take-over of Gaza in a war with brother Palestinians, and its frank efforts to build a large-scale regular army force in the Strip.

In Part Two, in the coming week: The second five will be newer claims, the Alpha-male displays of the Israel-bashing right, the group which constantly berates the government and the IDF for not bombing Gaza into a parking lot, for not shooting and starving and freezing innocent civilians to death.

Previous blogs:

The Madoff betrayal: Life imitates anti-Semitism
Hebron, Feiglin, and the self-hating Jews of the right
The Jihadi as Nazi, from 9/11 to Mumbai
Thanksgiving in the Holy Land - Grace and 4 Questions
Debate over Museum of Tolerance - an exchange
Dividing Jerusalem, one bad wall at a time
Obama, and the first Arab prime minister of Israel
For Republicans, two words of advice and comfort
Dire fears for Obama in Rabin's long shadow
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Jewish community head: 'Chavez's government endorses anti-Semitism.'
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  1.   Anti-Israel Charges 21:00  |  P.J. Casey 27/12/08
  2.   Anti-Israeli chages 21:08  |  Mike 27/12/08
  3.   Better, But Drop the PC BS 21:32  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/12/08
  4.   Leftist 5: Alive and Well in Canada 21:33  |  Howard 27/12/08
  5.   #2, Tod 21:51  |  Maria 27/12/08
  6.   Do it. 22:04  |  thoughtfull 27/12/08
  7.   Hold on there 22:17  |  Colin Wright 27/12/08
  8.   collective punishment they all voted Hamas in 22:36  |  Larry Levine 27/12/08
  9.   Tod 22:45  |  al 27/12/08
  10.   Colin Wright So be also honest enough re consequences to Pals. 23:07  |  Rob 27/12/08
  11.   To #8 Larry Levine `they all voted Hamas in` 23:11  |  Colin Wright 27/12/08
  12.   Israel on the wrong path again 23:12  |  Abas 27/12/08
  13.   Selective morality 23:29  |  H50 27/12/08
  14.   A Special Place In Hell 23:31  |  Laura Mac Dougall 27/12/08
  15.   missing the big pic 23:58  |  caffer 27/12/08
  16.   to tod et al 00:07  |  caffer 28/12/08
  17.   This time around Bradley, Israel `ll not be seen as evil 00:12  |  Alicia 28/12/08
  18.   to al 00:13  |  muskens 28/12/08
  19.   What about Israeli leftists? 00:16  |  Gene 28/12/08
  20.   The bottom of line it not about Israel it is about entire world, 00:22  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 28/12/08
  21.   Howard #4 00:23  |  m 28/12/08
  22.   Israel deserves every charge and more 00:28  |  Ross 28/12/08
  23.   Israeli Bombs in Gaza = Genocide! 00:30  |  Maureen Ann 28/12/08
  24.   a gift multiplied 00:30  |  ozgal 28/12/08
  25.   mr.burston, 00:36  |  k 28/12/08
  26.   A response from leftist 6 00:59  |  Natallie Durson 28/12/08
  27.   The fact of the matter is that this is a 1400 year old war, 01:13  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 28/12/08
  28.   A bit of historic conscience, please 01:16  |  Motty Levi 28/12/08
  29.   Claims 01:23  |  Anthony 28/12/08
  30.   #3 01:26  |  Anthony 28/12/08
  31.   Re: #8/ To Larry Levine 01:26  |  Motty Levi 28/12/08
  32.   Et #1 Israel`s Reason for Not Wanting to be a Missile Target 01:29  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
  33.   Et #2, Human Wrongs Watch 01:30  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
  34.   Et #3, Hamas and the Palestinian Charters 01:31  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
  35.   Re: #7/To Colin Wright 01:41  |  Motty Levi 28/12/08
  36.   http://www.foxnews.com/js/photoPop.html?0 01:50  |  Here you go Brad. 28/12/08
  37.   Burston: I`ve read you for years and conclude that... 02:21  |  Yacov 28/12/08
  38.   Hmm.... interesting, so does that mean? 02:25  |  Teresa-Maria 28/12/08
  39.   Goals 02:33  |  nailheadtom 28/12/08
  40.   Well said Bradley 02:34  |  Bill 28/12/08
  41.   Larry Levin 03:02  |  JfromC 28/12/08
  42.   I`d Like To Say Congratulations... 03:04  |  Yosemite 28/12/08
  43.   response 04:20  |  Tyler 28/12/08
  44.   Et #4 The Siege 04:43  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
  45.   Et #5 World Opinion 04:45  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
  46.   yasher Koach bradley 04:53  |  shmuely 28/12/08
  47.   Logical fallacies or cunning truths? 05:04  |  BBSNews 28/12/08
  48.   Illogic about collective punishment 05:18  |  SB 28/12/08
  49.   The Gaza battle 05:21  |  David R. Zukerman 28/12/08
  50.   #8, Larry Levine... 05:28  |  Silvienne 28/12/08
  51.   The Three Minute War 05:41  |  Yosemite 28/12/08
  52.   anti-israeli comments on gaza action 05:51  |  jerry lastow 28/12/08
  53.   Bradley Burston- Obsession over international opinion 06:13  |  Jake 28/12/08
  54.   Searching for a False Moral Equivalence Between Left & Right 06:56  |  SearchForNuance 28/12/08
  55.   Bullshit Bradley 06:57  |  Marilyn 28/12/08
  56.   Larry Levine 07:00  |  Marilyn 28/12/08
  57.   Brad of forked tongue? 07:07  |  Disgusted 28/12/08
  58.   #8, Larry Levine... 07:24  |  Silvienne 28/12/08
  59.   Shame on you! 07:51  |  Atoo 28/12/08
  60.   To Larry Levine 08:02  |  Hash 28/12/08
  61.   CONTINUE WAR TO CONTROL GAZA! NO PLACE FOR TERROR AGAIN))))) 08:21  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 28/12/08
  62.   Gaza is drenched in blood & Burston worries about Israel`s image 08:30  |  peacelover 28/12/08
  63.   I hope Obama cut your funding.. period 09:00  |  Omolll 28/12/08
  64.   Why is Israel reacting defensively? 09:16  |  Jean Van Daem 28/12/08
  65.   #12 "peacelover" 09:34  |  S 28/12/08
  66.   #10 SearchForNuance 09:47  |  S 28/12/08
  67.   Anti Israel 10:01  |  Ana 28/12/08
  68.   Bradley, would you answer ONE QUESTION, please....??? 10:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/12/08
  69.   Bradley Burston makes one mistake 10:08  |  Joe Moer 28/12/08
  70.   Marilyn and her ilk always blame Israel for having plans 10:12  |  x-ray 28/12/08
  71.   Immoral nation 10:12  |  Khaled 28/12/08
  72.   Ana pity many Palestinians are not against killing Jews 10:14  |  x-ray 28/12/08
  73.   Wonder what happened to my post? 10:22  |  Maureen Ann 28/12/08
  74.   Here is One More Charge 10:23  |  Shimon Cleopas 28/12/08
  75.   Overlooking the obvious 10:30  |  Paul 28/12/08
  76.   One question to Swiss Dino 10:30  |  MR 28/12/08
  77.   Israel is doing EXACTLY WHAT HAMAS WANTED 10:33  |  Rov 28/12/08
  78.   Israel is coming to the end 10:34  |  Faik Selim 28/12/08
  79.   # 37 Swiss Dino the answer is YES 10:47  |  CM 28/12/08
  80.   #37 x-ray. A little misunderstanding about the word - "planned." 10:47  |  Maureen Ann 28/12/08
  81.   Dino don`t be ridiculous 10:58  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/12/08
  82.   The fact of the matter is that this is a 1400 year old war, 11:04  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 28/12/08
  83.   Maureen Ann 11:12  |  x-ray 28/12/08
  84.   Write on, Jean Van Daem 11:20  |  observer 28/12/08
  85.   65 Margie in Tel Aviv 11:20  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
  86.   Bradley Burston: You worry of what you hear and 11:22  |  Akram Zekaria 28/12/08
  87.   The way forward 11:38  |  Colin 28/12/08
  88.   To # 58 Swiss Dino 11:45  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 28/12/08
  89.   x-ray, you are the clown 11:49  |  Marilyn 28/12/08
  90.   #63 11:58  |  Rab Burns 28/12/08
  91.   Natallie 12:09  |  Ehud 28/12/08
  92.   JUST A QUESTION 12:16  |  Paul 28/12/08
  93.   OPEN YOUR GATES, EGYPT! 12:27  |  observer 28/12/08
  94.   Here we go again 12:44  |  Cliff Love 28/12/08
  95.   Marilyn 13:02  |  Magpie 28/12/08
  96.   This bloody incident! 13:07  |  Mahdi 28/12/08
  97.   to Faik Selim 13:08  |  Simon_Of_Sydney 28/12/08
  98.   hamas 13:09  |  Vander 28/12/08
  99.   It is just another war criminal attitude, no wonder Israel! 13:13  |  Justice 28/12/08
  100.   Maureen Ann-#13-Bombs in Gaza = Qassams in Israel 13:20  |  Daniel Leopold 28/12/08
  101.   To Maureen Ann 13:31  |  Shimon 28/12/08
  102.   Isreal`s strike against hamas 13:40  |  Wayne Butler 28/12/08
  103.   Shimon & Daniel 13:47  |  Magpie 28/12/08
  104.   Mahdi-#96-Look who`s talking! 13:51  |  Daniel Leopold 28/12/08
  105.   Gone........ 13:54  |  William 28/12/08
  106.   Gone........ 13:55  |  William 28/12/08
  107.   hmmm 1st draft PR effort? 14:01  |  chris 28/12/08
  108.   Marilyn 14:23  |  x-ray 28/12/08
  109.   #101 Shimon. Please remember... 14:24  |  Maureen Ann 28/12/08
  110.   Strike hard 14:32  |  Observer 28/12/08
  111.   Bradley Burston strikes Gold you sum it up well 14:32  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 28/12/08
  112.   No fan of Hamas....But..are these the.. 15:18  |  ali 28/12/08
  113.   # 71 Khaled.....if the Pals are to get their freedom 15:19  |  Lynn 28/12/08
  114.   Truth about the left 15:29  |  ky 28/12/08
  115.   in 1967, Ben Gurion overtly stated 15:30  |  jc 28/12/08
  116.   Great videos 15:32  |  JSS 28/12/08
  117.   Israel`s aim is a Palestinian genocide and extermination 15:35  |  mehmet 28/12/08
  118.   #68 Swiss.....no, the anti-Israel charges 15:38  |  Lynn 28/12/08
  119.   Gaza 15:38  |  David Kalisch 28/12/08
  120.   Surprising artcle 15:40  |  Pete 28/12/08
  121.   Margie pushing ethnic cleansing again 15:40  |  Labhras 28/12/08
  122.   Elections?? 17:31  |  American 28/12/08
  123.   response from a leftist 22:40  |  David 28/12/08
  124.   #117 Mehmet 23:45  |  Moshe 28/12/08
  125.   Mehmet 4th try 00:45  |  David Israel 29/12/08
  126.   Swiss (Dino) 4th try 00:45  |  David Israel 29/12/08
  127.   P.S. 01:01  |  Jim 29/12/08
  128.   We`re not all brainless thugs 01:33  |  bint alshamsa 29/12/08
  129.   #108, x-ray, a question for you... 03:12  |  Silvienne 29/12/08
  130.   why is it "leftist" 03:53  |  deborah 29/12/08
  131.   Faik Selim from Ankara 6th try 04:28  |  David Israel 29/12/08
  132.   Not bad 04:35  |  Faramarz 29/12/08
  133.   Not bad 04:39  |  Faramarz 29/12/08
  134.   Margie in Tel aviv answer this. 06:20  |  Truth 29/12/08
  135.   # 131David 07:46  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 29/12/08
  136.   MehmetII, if your brethren had such weapons , israel and all the 08:16  |  jj 29/12/08
  137.   #109 08:19  |  Rab Burns 29/12/08
  138.   so much shame 08:37  |  Aviva 29/12/08
  139.   There is one worse 09:42  |  Bruce 29/12/08
  140.   arguments of the anti-Israel left? surely you jest? 09:45  |  eric 29/12/08
  141.   Silvienne and her body count 10:20  |  x-ray 29/12/08
  142.   Complain as you may, but Israel is finished politically 10:30  |  Dutch 29/12/08
  143.   #142 11:01  |  Mata Hari 29/12/08
  144.   Tod Zuckerman`s comments 13:06  |  Mike in NoCal 29/12/08
  145.   #38 Hmmm Interesting..Then Read 13:54  |  K 29/12/08
  146.   #132 & 133 Faramaz,,Please,oh please 14:13  |  Ross 29/12/08
  147.   To Tod 14:23  |  Guillermo Martinez 29/12/08
  148.   Silvienne 15:43  |  David Israel 29/12/08
  149.   #142 Dutch 17:49  |  k 29/12/08
  150.   #141, x-ray....oh please! 18:17  |  Silvienne 29/12/08
  151.   #148, David Israel, can`t understand why you live in my country.. 18:20  |  Silvienne 29/12/08
  152.   #39 Goals 19:22  |  mhung 29/12/08
  153.   Israel I stand behind you 100% 19:34  |  Janice Pfeiffer 29/12/08
  154.   DREAMS OF MOHAMMAD 20:09  |  DR. PATRICIA WOODS 29/12/08
  155.   Hamas--wipe them out 20:57  |  Jan 29/12/08
  156.   "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." 08:01  |  Dr. Elias A. 30/12/08
  157.   "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."#2 10:48  |  Dr. Elias A. 30/12/08
  158.   #155 ? change ?Hamas? into ?Jew? and you have what? 12:47  |  Eleonora 30/12/08
  159.   Charge n°6 : death tolls and other nasty figures 14:10  |  michel 30/12/08
  160.   #58 22:58  |  Tony Wilson 30/12/08
  161.   To Maureen Ann from Australia 02:03  |  Shoshana Thomasson 31/12/08
  162.   Larry Levine #8 is correct, of course 12:08  |  Omri 31/12/08
  163.   ISRAEL BLOCKADE OF GAZA 04:08  |  ALAN KRUGER 07/01/09
  164.   @23 `real problem is demographics!` 06:50  |  Brutus 12/01/09
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