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Last update - 10:16 27/02/2008 The breakthrough that did not happen By Amira Hass Tags: gaza, israel, IDF For an entire day, the Israel Defense Forces raised the level of hysteria in Israel by announcing they were preparing for the possibility that thousands of Gazans would try to break through the checkpoints. It is easy now for the army to say that the breakthrough did not occur only because of the warnings that Hamas would be held responsible for the blood that would be shed. But anyone who is attentive to the Palestinians as an occupied people rather than as "an intelligence objective" (which openly provided the information that women and children would demonstrate against the siege on Monday), was aware they did not have a plan to topple the barriers at the Erez and Karni crossing points. The well-publicized army preparations had a racist subtext: Look how Hamas is prepared to send children and women to absorb the bullets. In other words, Hamas is indifferent to people's lives and can also set them in motion like pawns. But even the youngsters who two days ago threw stones at the Erez checkpoint walls, thus putting themselves in danger of being shot at and hit by the IDF, and who were arrested, did not do so because someone had "sent" them. In contrast to Israel, the Palestinians do not have compulsory military service. Everyone who puts himself in danger of dying in what appears to him and his society as the national struggle against the occupation, does so not because "the state" obliges him to do so and sends him but rather because that is what he chooses to do. A young man from Beit Hanoun told me on the eve of the "breakthrough" that wasn't: "We know the army will shoot to kill, and that is why no one will take the risk." Only on Saturday, his relative, Mohammed Za'anin, aged 22, and two of his friends had been killed by an IDF missile. The IDF, of course, claimed they had been armed. An independent examination revealed that the three friends from their high school days - one a student, another a policeman and the third a bank employee - had gone out to smoke a narghile together and to prepare a late lunch for themselves and some friends in a hut in the shade of a field, about 1.2 km from the border. Advertisement It is not only the events of Monday that prove the hysteria was premature. Day after day, the checkpoints in the heart of the occupied West Bank prove that the Palestinians are forgoing, meanwhile, the option of a popular unarmed struggle against the siege. They wait in their masses for their turn to cross over, obediently - but with controlled and growing anger. They do not remove the hundreds of roadblocks that the IDF has set up between the villages and at the exits to the roads. That is because they are not suicidal. The Palestinians do not need warnings or reports to know the Israeli soldiers shoot the unarmed as well, and they also kill women and children. The correct question is not whether and how the Palestinians are prepared to be killed but rather to what extent we Israelis are prepared to kill. The question is, if and when the Palestinians decide to claim their right to freedom of movement and to break through checkpoints en masse, will the order be to shoot at them with guns? First at their legs and then at their heads? Women, elderly people and babies? Or perhaps with cannons? And how many soldiers will not obey the order? Two, three or hundreds? Is there a quorum for the number of people who can be killed in one go, at the road blocks, that will extricate Israeli society from its indifference and its denial? Five or six? Hundreds of dead? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Born to bear arms Many children of expatriates return to Israel to serve in the IDF Doctored death? An Independent expert says IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura.   1.   AMIRA How do you know? They never ever tried it. 10:37  |  PETER SM 27/02/08   2.   Cold Blooded Murder 10:41  |  Walid 27/02/08   3.   Non-violence not an end in itself 10:41  |  Truth 27/02/08   4.   They DO suicide bomb...peaceful struggle `d be suicide? Do it!!! 10:54  |  Alain 27/02/08   5.   WALID.This is not happenning in a vacuum but with regular Qassams 11:05  |  PETER SM 27/02/08   6.   Amira Hass Is Legitimising ArabPal Terror In Particular 11:13  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08   7.   "TRUTH"Overwhelming majority of Pal targets Israeli civillians 11:15  |  PETER SM 27/02/08   8.   Nelson Mandela would agree with Amira 11:32  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   9.   ah! Amira! 11:42  |  adam harishon 27/02/08   10.   WHAT DOES G-D REQUIRE OF PALS AND STRANGERSRS 11:43  |  Bill 27/02/08   11.   The correct question is ? 11:57  |  Joe Sittizen 27/02/08   12.   FERIMAN .Mandela would? Does he know you speak for him? 12:02  |  PETER SM 27/02/08   13.   No state, no loyalty describes Gaza to a T 12:43  |  MaryRose 27/02/08   14.   Wishful thinking 12:43  |  Said 27/02/08   15.   Peter SM 12:47  |  Walid 27/02/08   16.   A feeble attempt to justify 13:26  |  Mark Lincoln 27/02/08   17.   # 12 Peter SM 13:27  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   18.   Peter is selective 13:31  |  Joshua 27/02/08   19.   Joe Sittizen 13:36  |  Walid 27/02/08   20.   Reply to Nick Ferriman 13:41  |  Barry 27/02/08   21.   amira as is normal puts the cart before the horse 13:46  |  victor hardman 27/02/08   22.   Said 13:49  |  Walid 27/02/08   23.   # 7 Peter SM 13:50  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   24.   Said,Arab wish list can`t include dissolving Jewish state 13:51  |  Sam 27/02/08   25.   Amira: Israelis are not soft enough 14:03  |  Boris 27/02/08   26.   Palestinan rights 14:19  |  Charlie 27/02/08   27.   Haaretz Voice of Israel`s destruction 14:21  |  Lisa 27/02/08   28.   #10 Bible Bill 14:24  |  Baal 27/02/08   29.   # 20 Barry 14:31  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   30.   to nick ferriman 14:43  |  adam.harishon 27/02/08   31.   The Movement is Unstoppable 14:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   32.   Dear Nick 15:07  |  Barry 27/02/08   33.   For most of us, are palestinians human beings,? 15:15  |  ana 27/02/08   34.   Replace ?peace? with strength and determination. 15:20  |  Jean Van Daem 27/02/08   35.   A downhill slide 15:37  |  Prof. David 27/02/08   36.   Jean Van Daem as Israel`s new protestant saviour 15:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   37.   #24 Sam 15:43  |  Boycott 27/02/08   38.   #25 Borris, Amira says Yours is Too Hard! 15:45  |  Magnify 27/02/08   39.   adam harishon on typical anti-semitic propaganda 15:52  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   40.   Yaakub Sullivan full of it 16:01  |  Suzanne 27/02/08   41.   bush said (and i believe everything he sais) 16:36  |  triska TORONTO 27/02/08   42.   What would we do without AMIRA? 16:38  |  Gil 27/02/08   43.   Boycott- The wall is defence,not final settlement 16:40  |  Sam 27/02/08   44.   What would we do without AMIRA? 16:41  |  Gil 27/02/08   45.   Said, best posting yet. 16:42  |  Abu Yusuf 27/02/08   46.   PREVENTING DEMO "By All IDF Means" is COLONIAL CRIME #2 16:44  |  ALL 4 PEACE 27/02/08   47.   PREVENTING DEMO "By All IDF Means" is COLONIAL CRIME #3 16:46  |  ALL 4 PEACE 27/02/08   48.   Walid, hate teaching is the issue 16:51  |  Abu Yusuf 27/02/08   49.   32. dear barry. i hope u don`t offend self if i 16:56  |  triska TORONTO 27/02/08   50.   "Innocent" Palestinian policeman 17:05  |  Victor 27/02/08   51.   very true... 17:13  |  ravi 27/02/08   52.   Israel BROKE a BARRIER that SEPARATES HUMANITY from PARIAH STATES 17:24  |  Normalcy vs Zealotry 27/02/08   53.   PREVENTING DEMO "By All IDF Means" is COLONIAL CRIME #1 17:28  |  ALL 4 PEACE 27/02/08   54.   # 30 Adam Harishon 17:37  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   55.   Truth#2 - there was never a 100% unarmed group 17:39  |  William 27/02/08   56.   Palestinian rights 17:42  |  William 27/02/08   57.   try the other shoe on Emira 17:46  |  Sham Onu 27/02/08   58.   Walid#23 - response to Said 17:47  |  William 27/02/08   59.   # 32 Barry 17:48  |  Nick Ferriman 27/02/08   60.   Boycott#37 - The answer is simple 17:53  |  William 27/02/08   61.   You are exactly wrong, Amira Hass 17:59  |  jj 27/02/08   62.   COURAGE NEC PLUS ULTRA 18:15  |  Mohamed Malleck 27/02/08   63.   TO THE CONTRARY 18:16  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   64.   ANOTHER WILD IMAGINATION FROM ME 18:16  |  indrajaya 27/02/08   65.   Abu Yusuf 18:22  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   66.   Suicide is just what the "Palestinians" need 18:23  |  Eliezar 27/02/08   67.   #40 Susan and Yaakov Sullivan bashing 18:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   68.   #14 Said another arab zionist apologist 18:31  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   69.   William - A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE 18:32  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   70.   breakthrough 18:38  |  goldie klugman 27/02/08   71.   Indrajaya - you are mistaken 18:42  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   72.   Eliezar 18:44  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   73.   Said, I agree 100% 18:45  |  Israeli 27/02/08   74.   Yaakov Sullivan - and Norman Finkelstein 18:51  |  Stephen Connor 27/02/08   75.   Amira Hass and Gideon Levy are Frauds. Proof is here 18:53  |  Ken Jurist 27/02/08   76.   response to Walid- understanding Israelis 19:00  |  Israeli 27/02/08   77.   Amira-Israel hater deserves one way ticket out of Israel... 19:03  |  Misha 27/02/08   78.   Haas is a biased blindfolded opinionist 19:10  |  Paolo Ortenzi 27/02/08   79.   Racist to suggest that Hamas is indifferent to innocent lives? 19:14  |  Natallie Durson 27/02/08   80.   Yaakov Sullivan 19:26  |  Said 27/02/08   81.   Abu Yusuf 19:28  |  Walid 27/02/08   82.   Yaakov Sullivan 19:33  |  Said 27/02/08   83.   William 19:45  |  Walid 27/02/08   84.   Dear Nick 19:57  |  Barry 27/02/08   85.   Israeli 20:08  |  Walid 27/02/08   86.   Israeli , Said and Walid 20:14  |  Danite 27/02/08   87.   Said #68 20:15  |  Danite 27/02/08   88.   Said and his extremism 20:30  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   89.   Hearing voices like Amira`s//// 20:30  |  Joe 27/02/08   90.   South African analogy 20:30  |  Esther 27/02/08   91.   One fears in others what sees in oneself 20:37  |  Scharker Yid 27/02/08   92.   There hasnt been a breakthru yet, Hass still hates Jews 20:38  |  better then Hass 27/02/08   93.   re #1 `They never ever tried it` 20:51  |  Colin Wright 27/02/08   94.   Gil, Amira doesn`t promote government propaganda 21:03  |  Dutch 27/02/08   95.   Give Olmerts house back first 21:04  |  Seth 27/02/08   96.   Yaakov Sullivan An out of the closet Satmar 21:08  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   97.   Horror: Islamics DELIBERATELY TARGET Jewish Mothers & BABIES 21:10  |  Linda Rivera 27/02/08   98.   # 8 The truth from Nick Ferriman 21:14  |  Janice 27/02/08   99.   #49 Triska with anti Jews like you who needs an enemy 21:15  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   100.   #67 Yaakov, Suzanne is right youshould be ashamed of yourself. 21:20  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   101.   67 21:21  |  Oht Azoy 27/02/08   102.   #76 Durson what racism Jew Eating Rabbits on tv 21:22  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   103.   #29 - To Nick Ferriman 21:23  |  Maurice 27/02/08   104.   #82 Said Yaakov`s sect believes in Israels non existance 21:26  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   105.   #28 BAAL 21:34  |  Bill 27/02/08   106.   What are you smoking, Amira? 21:37  |  Lee 27/02/08   107.   Ah Yaacov`s all for intimidation 21:46  |  Jacob Blues 27/02/08   108.   Jacob Blues Blots Out the Rest of the Picture 22:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08   109.   It misses the point 22:04  |  Dave Duncan 27/02/08   110.   The breakthrough that was not supposed to happen 22:14  |  Tosefta 27/02/08   111.   The breakthrough that was not supposed to happen 22:37  |  Mark Lincoln 27/02/08   112.   63 Stephen Connor,non violence is not a panacea for all ills! 22:38  |  lakshmi 27/02/08   113.   Walid- you obviously only want to talk and not to listen 22:48  |  Israeli 27/02/08   114.   DUTCH Amira promotes Hamas propaganda 22:55  |  Gil 27/02/08   115.   directly because of people/articles like you pals will never matu 22:57  |  ralph 27/02/08   116.   #88 the extremist pot calling the kettle black 23:07  |  McQueen 27/02/08   117.   AMIRA HESS 23:12  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 27/02/08   118.   Israeli 23:25  |  Danite 27/02/08   119.   Jacob Blues "dont you get it"? 23:27  |  Danite 27/02/08   120.   You see Amira how with a little warning lives have been saved 23:33  |  Saul 27/02/08   121.   Amira, Re National cpnscience 23:36  |  Dutch 27/02/08   122.   About Yaakov who is confused and does not know what he is doing 23:38  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   123.   FERRIMAN.NOBODY stopped the Pals accepting Partition except Pals. 23:40  |  PETER SM 27/02/08   124.   Janice, what is it about the rule of law 23:42  |  MaryRose 27/02/08   125.   Danite surely you Jest Yaakov King? hahahah 23:43  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08   126.   92#your talking nonsense and you know it 23:46  |  kay 27/02/08   127.   Amira Hiss blatantly lies 23:50  |  Free Gilad Shalit 27/02/08   128.   LAKSHMI (#112) has brought Martin Buber to her Aid 23:54  |  Gil 27/02/08   129.   ami-ra = phonetic Heb. for "my wicked people" (the Israeli Jews) 23:57  |  avigdor 27/02/08   130.   LAKSHMI (#112) has brought Martin Buber to her Aid 23:57  |  Gil 27/02/08   131.   Peter Sm and terror 23:57  |  Truth 27/02/08   132.   Hamas not interested in Pali State 23:58  |  fiona 27/02/08   133.   Robert/ Montreal 00:01  |  Danite 28/02/08   134.   Peter Sm go back in history 00:05  |  Truth 28/02/08   135.   free gild shalit evidence not slander state a credible source 00:07  |  Truth 28/02/08   136.   NV Resistance -Its worth a try 00:14  |  Mike 28/02/08   137.   #132 Truth re petersm and history 00:31  |  Labhras 28/02/08   138.   Fiona`a fancy and hatred 00:54  |  Truth 28/02/08   139.   Gil and nonsense 01:11  |  Truth 28/02/08   140.   Mike I agree with you 01:15  |  Truth 28/02/08   141.   Response to Danite 01:22  |  Israeli 28/02/08   142.   GAZANS DO NOT KNOW NON-VIOLENCE 01:23  |  BEAR K. 28/02/08   143.   WALID.My reply was in the context of your posting.No more. 02:35  |  PETER SM 28/02/08   144.   91 Scharker Yid,the Palestinians know what israel`s record is for 02:35  |  lakshmi 28/02/08   145.   Joshua and distorted territory 02:42  |  howiej 28/02/08   146.   It would be worth a try, but.... 03:39  |  Tom 28/02/08   147.   "Breakthrough" a credible threat! 03:44  |  Shlomo 28/02/08   148.   suicide only for hamas as would have no reason to exist cannot go 03:48  |  ralph 28/02/08   149.   AMIRA HASS - "NO BREAKTHROUGH" 04:25  |  PETER 28/02/08   150.   To Walid- who has said push the jews into the sea since 67? 04:32  |  Barry 28/02/08   151.   i approve of the murder of jews 05:35  |  Esau Sullivan 28/02/08   152.   i approve of the murder of jews 05:35  |  Esau Sullivan 28/02/08   153.   #111 - Mark Lincoln 06:14  |  GPS 28/02/08   154.   Robert/Montreal Are you sure Yaakov is Satmar?+ link 06:20  |  Ron 28/02/08   155.   #96 Yaakov is nor Satmar he is Catholic anti Semite 06:23  |  Ron 28/02/08   156.   Amira Hass 06:27  |  Siiri 28/02/08   157.   Amanda Hess & Gideon Levy 06:46  |  Ron 28/02/08   158.   "TRUTH"Qassam firing shows Pals CHOOSE to put their own in danger 07:49  |  PETER SM 28/02/08   159.   bad journalism 07:56  |  Bob 28/02/08   160.   # 68 yaakov sullivan 08:41  |  danny 28/02/08   161.   Barry 08:53  |  Walid 28/02/08   162.   "hass" = Heb. for hush, quiet 09:00  |  avigdor 28/02/08   163.   Israeli 09:11  |  Walid 28/02/08   164.   Haas - Your Very 1st Point is False 09:37  |  B`Galil 28/02/08   165.   Many US tax payers swear at the Bush Camp for supporting Israel 15:19  |  dutch 28/02/08   166.   To Walid 15:27  |  Israeli 28/02/08   167.   Not from WITHIN..... 18:22  |  Jeff 28/02/08   168.   MASSACRE OF PEACE MARCHERS 19:23  |  CHOSEN WORLD 28/02/08   169.   Amira`s naivete 21:16  |  yuval 28/02/08   170.   Amira Hass is a coward. Never joined a street demonstration. 08:21  |  avigdor 29/02/08   171.   face the music 12:21  |  BraverMan 29/02/08   172.   #168 Amira, A despicable man 14:47  |  Dutch 29/02/08   173.   hamas killers 21:45  |  Kathleen 29/02/08   174.   ignorance 08:39  |  ABD 03/03/08

Today Online U.S. calls for end to violence, return to peace talks Responses: 533 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing IDF operation Responses: 278 Barak: IDF has no choice but to continue Gaza offensive Responses: 208 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 196 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 114 More Headlines 08:41 IDF Gaza raid winds down, Hamas declares 'victory' 08:16 PM to tell Rice: Israel reserves right to act freely in Gaza Strip 08:21 Lebanon war lessons implemented as Ashkelon comes under fire 08:12 ANALYSIS: Hamas wants lull in Gaza, but only on its own terms 08:22 Minisister Ayalon to push for indirect truce talks with Hamas 08:28 Sisters' horrible deaths push Gaza family into media circus 08:34 Report: U.K. Jewish school's rank drops over Shylock protest 08:39 Barak, legal team to mull artillery use on civilian areas in Gaza 04:31 Sudanese refugees leave adoptive kibbutzim to earn money 00:40 Long-silenced Iranian Jews find their political voice in America 00:50 Israeli airlines worry that Gaza war will ruin Pesach travel 01:30 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for soldiers' well-being in synagogue 04:52 Police figures show rise in drug-motivated gas station robberies 22:07 Iran leader calls on Muslims to hit Israel 'in face' over Gaza op 22:32 Israel buys supply of pills to protect against nuclear radiation Previous Editions Select Day 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb

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