Italy-based group accuses Israel of poisoning Gaza land

soil poisoned? "The NWRC working group has analysed four craters: two of them were formed during the July 2006 bombings, the first one in the city of Beit Hanoun and the second one in Jabalia Camp, and the two others are a result of the January 2009 bombings in Tufah, the Gaza City suburb. "

Italy is one of the coalition forces country that invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Italy have been killing muslim and arab people there (mostly civilians) for the last eight years, withou ever being attacked or even threatened to. Hypocrites.

Yes allow an independent scientific analysis. It's just that simple. I also would like to know if the accusations are true. The Palestinians in Gaza are suffering, with or without poison, this is an undeniable fact. They are still denied basic food and other supplies, their houses are still in ruins and they are imporisoned. Everyone is watching how a million and a half are wasting away ! How are they supposed to believe in a democratic system when non of the so-called "democratic" states is helping them not even sympathizing with them, they are left alone to die a slow death. To succeed in winning people in the Arab Moslem World to believe in and practice democracy this is THE PROOF that "democracies" pay off !!!

If Israel is not fearful of the findings they should allow an independent team of researchers into Gaza to see if indeed the land is contaminated by Israeli weapons. If such a team is available and Israel refuses access to them the world will believe that the Italian team is indeed orrect and all the screams of "blood libel" on the part of Israel will do nothing to prove the Italian team wrong. Does Israel have the guts to allow this study? Or will they just keep throwing out the "blood libel" libel?

I wonder,when I read your posts,if you have not been mentally poisoned by your so called muslim partner. It seems to me that you have no mind of your own..that you have been brain washed and are in fear. Prove me wrong...start reading truthful information not propaganda garbage. You might learn some pertinent information that will set your mind free of all the manure that sits there. In a sad twisted way you have not found the right path but seem to be led by the enemy. So sad..so pathetic...

What laws would those be, Mr. Silver? I mean, you should be more specific here so that at least we would know that you know what you are on about! And what does your inane comment have to do with this article?

I suppose you mean the nails dipped n rat poison the Palestinian suicide bombers used on their explosives when they were busy blowing Israelis up on buses and in restaurants (before the security barrier went up).

"...as CJ wrote, why do you folks spout this stuff without taking a few seconds to check? Interpol has no powers of arrest and no force to carry them out." Why do you spout stuff about Interpol having no powers of arrest without taking a few seconds to check, clown?

How is this worse than the sowing of 1000s of cluster bombs on Lebanese soil one day before the ceasefire ?? David

Instead of all the huffing and puffing - which at any any does no good - just disprove it and be done with it. David

Fellow travellers crying innocent victims in this conflict is rather hollow. Peace means end of ALL demands not territory followed by millions of Arabs into Israel.

They can't even spell the molybdenum right. Sounds like a really well conducted study.

"Any munitions contain depleted uranium, other heavy metals or rare earth metals are borderline illegal since they classified as weapons of mass destruction" No, they are not classified as weapons of mass destruction. What planet are you on?

"Art. 23. In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden - To employ poison or poisoned weapons;" Common sense: It is NOT forbidden to use the chemicals found in the tests. Chemicals are required to manufacture weapons, and are NOT in breach of the Conventions. Poisoned weapons refer to the poison being what kills the people (i.e. mustard gas). Try being HONEST for a change, CJ.

What about blanketing a very small town in a small area with thousands of cheap rockets, made of corrosive materials? Could the problem-if it even exists-be the result of manufacturing and storing tens of thousands of low quality weaponry and metals, plastics and chemical explosives?

Thanks Pierre. As far as I can tell there is no verification of the original Swedish version of events. Channel 2 TV reported that in the 1990s, specialists at Abu Kabir harvested skin, corneas, heart valves and bones from the bodies of Israeli soldiers, Israeli citizens, Palestinians and foreign workers, often without permission from relatives. The Israeli military confirmed to the programme that the practice took place, but added: "This activity ended a decade ago and does not happen any longer." So it seems that the practice [disgusting all the same]was indiscriminate.

You must understand how many institutions, in Lebanon, in Iran, in England, and many other countries are trying to paralize Israel by using the democratic West court system against its own democracies. They found what they think is Achilles heal, and what they coundn't do by fornce in 61 years, are now trying legal gimicks. For radical Muslims, to lie is part of the struggle, or Takia. The Jews didn't learn that yet.

Thanks Pierre. As far as I can tell there is no verification of the original Swedish version of events. Channel 2 TV reported that in the 1990s, specialists at Abu Kabir harvested skin, corneas, heart valves and bones from the bodies of Israeli soldiers, Israeli citizens, Palestinians and foreign workers, often without permission from relatives. The Israeli military confirmed to the programme that the practice took place, but added: "This activity ended a decade ago and does not happen any longer." So it seems that the practice [disgusting all the same]was indiscriminate.

with the Palestinian threat of terrorism in mind does not contaminate. It is the neutron bomb ! I predict that it will have to be used sooner or later. Lasers will also have their place.

...as CJ wrote, why do you folks spout this stuff without taking a few seconds to check? Interpol has no powers of arrest and no force to carry them out. To learn more about your mistaken characterization of President Obama and the EO for Interpol see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/world/31interpol.html Secondly, CJ punctured the rest of your wild claims with the following link: http://www.newweapons.org/?q=taxonomy/term/51 It would be delightful if you would man up, go read both of these sources, and then come back here and write about what you learned.

Let's see, Mr. Braham. You claim that there have been no complaints from Gazans about poisoning. Your claim is refuted. You then say "I'm talking about non anti-Israel web sites". So only complaints made on pro-Israel websites are valid? And you can just see those queueing up to pubicise complaints from Gazans, can't you? That the Gazans are oppressed is not enough for you, any complaints which don't come up on your list of pro-Israeli sites simply ... don't exist. Can you guess whose political philosophy that reminds me of?

You always change the subject when accusations are made against Israel. What does the charges against Israel have to do with the actions of suicide bombers?

The "news"and the consequent postings makes it obvious that the obsession with the State of Israel is indeed driven by certain groups to smear the image of the State and to portray their people as mass murderers. We do not hear those or in fact any group focusing on the real atrocities commited by fascist countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and many more. It has to be Israel. Is anybody still wondering why?

Like "home made" Qassams only have "home made" explosives and poisons, so it is OK if they kill you.

Thus they did not check in Serbia, Georgia or Sderot.

PART TWO: This is their web site http://www.newweapons.org/ where, most interestingly, you can also find the "Second Report of Italian Governmental Commission on Depleted Uranium related diseases in Bosnia and Kosovo" (where you may know Italian bombs fell incessantly for quite a long time). The pdf is in Italian, unfortunately, but what it basically says is this: "there seems to be a slight increase of cases of cancer among the Italian soldiers who were sent to fight in the ex-Jugoslavia but the data are not conclusive and at present it's impossible to make a firm statement." And just to give you an example of Italian reliability: incidence of Hodgkin linphoma in soldiers 1.6 x 1000 - standard incidence in civilian population 0.8 x 1000. But does the Italian government worry about its own soldiers? No sir, they finance a study on the Gaza soil!!! Give me a break!! Haaretz, please don't just bite to everything!!

In fact Arabs that live in Israel have the right to land ownership, to vote, to run for political office, to write in a free press etc, all these things were denied in SA. In addition many writers here who lived in SA at that time of apartheid and who now live in Israel have written on these boards that there are no similarities between the two. Just listing an anti-Israel site that attempts to focus on laws without context of the of the situation is meaningless. The obvious bias is palpable.

Is always easy to discriminate and Italy right now is become one of the most discriminatory country where doctors and citizens are requested to denounce irregulars citizens. Look at the operation White Christmas and the Lega Nord you voted these guys now you have to keep responsibility. This is one of the reason why I am ashamed to be Italian.

I am talking about Non anti-Israel web sights. Pro palestinian sights are a dime a dozen and serve no purpose,but to give joy to Paletinians and anti-semites.

Goldstone report is enough for you maybe is not the same for the people who received 8000 rockets in few years, moreover why no one of you complain against those who are bombing civilians in Israel. Of course from your point of view this is right they are the oppressed and they can do everything. I just want to remember the agreements made by Italian 007 with Fatah and PLO in order to avoid "incident" in Italy. Cossiga one year ago said he was proud of himself because he advise Gheddafi regarding the intention of US to bomb his house and we all know who Gheddafi is.

Now as I always find it difficult to drink the notion that a serious scientific research is being carried out in Italy (and since I had never heard of NWC)I've tried to find out who these people are, who finances them and what their mission is. Here it is, fom their home page: Newweapons Committee is group of academics, researchers and media professionals focused on promoting risk assessment surveys on the effects upon individuals and population of the most recent kinds of weapons used in the course of wars. The group was born in the third quarter of 2006 after Israel-Lebanon conflict. The group is based on a consulting network of: - Doctors and Health Associations from Lebanon and Palestine who have produced the information and released it. There follows a list of Italian doctors and university academics. NOW: is theirs to be considered an independent and reliable study? END OF PART ONE

"Israel is my `homeland` should I need it. I`d rather it be law abiding and living in peace". (dont worry about it, they don't want or need you buddy) "You on the other hand try to justify the illegal acquisition of territory by war/force, illegal annexation, illegal settlements, breaking International Law". (have you done any research on the history of the theft and genocide of the land and aboriginals in australia mate? LOL)

"This so-called research is eerily reminiscent of ancient blood libels against the Jewish people, when rumors were spread about Jews poisoning wells," said Dr. Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress. "Today we are seeing a recurrence of all the worst excesses of anti-Semitism and diatribes that we perhaps naively thought had remained in the Dark Ages." "We are seeing a recurrence of all the worst excesses of anti-semitism." Only someone with a huge political agenda could distort the situation like that. Today there are no concentration camps. There is no inquisition. Instead Jews are represented at all levels in all walks of life. There is unfortunately still some prejudice among extreme right-wingers and extreme Muslims, but it's less than other prejudices such as Islamophobia. After that statement, I find it hard to believe anything else Cantor says on the subject of poisoning land.

http://www.newweapons.org/?q=taxonomy/term/51 It's so easy to check before spouting...

"CJ Your angels.." ...are who? False accusation is against the basic tenets of Judaism. "Ever considered protesting or is Israel the only problem in your life?" Israel is my 'homeland' should I need it. I'd rather it be law abiding and living in peace. You on the other hand try to justify the illegal acquisition of territory by war/force, illegal annexation, illegal settlements, breaking International Law.

What does one expect to find in bomb craters ? Chocolate cheese cake ??? Give me a break !!!

....please read my post # 34. With regard to strawberries from Gaza: In view of articles like this one, I would probably refrain from buying strawberries both from Gaza and from Israel (there is not that much distance between both places).....

Just a few days ago the Israeli Supreme court ruled that, despite their terror attacks,Palestinians can use a road that only Israeli number plated cars could use.That allowed Israeli Arabs but not non citizens to use the road. Apartheid?? Is that what hapenned in S.A.? Did you forget to mention that? Why? Why do you regularly beat the drums for Iran here? Do you want the Republican guard rapist murderers to have a nuclear bomb so they can terrorise the Sunnis? Interesting how you people avoid,like the plague, mentioning that the Sunnis are seriously opposed to a nuclear Iran.The Arabs did not take an interest in nuclear "research for peaceful uses" till Iran started. It spoils a good story and diverts attention from your obssesive hatred. PS No matter how much the Scandinavian states grovel,are in full on denial about what is happenning at home, it does not stop terror at home does it?

and blood contaminants on the shrapnell they used So whats your point? These "terrorists" are already being punished.They cannot travel outside their country to western nations or european nations. Their people are already being punished for the wrong doings via sanctions, blockades as well as other means of punishment. Now what about the side you so viciously try to protect with all your practiced hasbara?

more junk out of europe eh? wow, what a surprise. (by the way, interpol will potentially be able to arrest american officials for use of ordinance like these) as for me, I can't wait to see hamas' report on their war crimes charges, as accused by goldstone(d)and his band of jew haters...can you imagine? hamas investigating itself for practices that it encourages and teaches to 3 yr old kids? aint that rich...but here we are discussing common ordinance and the base metals used in them...I wonder if this italian NGO is looking into the US ordinance, russia's as used in chechnya, the british in afghanistan, the french, and every other army in the world. what a disgrace ...and haaretz seems to jump all over this crap..you really have to wonder why... if you ask me, haaretz has turned into a junk news portal...grandstanding, politically motivated, and self loathing pitiable attention seeking fluff..

"to fault the goverment of Israel is not antisemetism! I am sick and tired to hear that! Did USA poison the soil in Iraq? find me the prove!" Flo actually yes, we did. We used DU for armor piercing ammunition. The tanks remained in the cities. Not only did the children use these tanks as a play area, but along with rain draining off these tanks and vehicles soaked into the ground affecting the water tables, there were also Iraqis taking the contaminated metal from these tanks to use as scrap metal and making items used in peoples homes. You will be seeing a lot of sickness and cancer there in the next 10 or so years. Our soldiers are also becoming sick that were handling these types of munitions as well

them have been successful they got caught.How about a letter to the Red Cross to deliver? Then there are those who fill their heads with martyrdom and virgins both in the ME & Indonesia & Australia to kill Australians.Ever considered protesting or is Israel the only problem in your life?

An excellent posting, putting a very serious issue in the right perspective, thank you!However, you may want to check out The Guardian from 21.12.09.

Do you really want to compare the one-ounce rockets that the Palestenians fire and causes people to "faint" to the one-ton Israeli rockets that causes Palestenian skulls to "evaporate"?

An excellent posting, putting a serious issue in the right perspective, thank you! However, you may want to check out the "unverified claim" you are referring to in the your 6th line. Try googling it, you may be surprised.

The usual response to criticism of Israel: first whine: "blood libel and anti-Semitism" QED

The ones they're accused of, proven of course only with more accusations.

is significant.IF ALL of it gets into the water supply etc. Whats wrong with a bit of Arab elbow grease for a change instead of waiting for the world to do everything.If they can make Qassams they can make shovels and put contaminants in a plastic bag. Meanwhile you may want to look into what your friends have got up to over the last couple of hundred years the peace loving angels they are/were. War is hell your people should have thought of that thousands of missiles ago.

"..complain to Arab suicide bombers who put rat poison and blood contaminants on the shrapnell they used" Uh huh. Often talk to the dead do you? BTW what on earth has this to do with my previous post?

This blood libel nonsense is nothing but a ruse cooked up by Kantor who has used the same immlfammatory rhetoric before. The Committee should publish the results and prove the crimes the IDF has carried out against the Gaza civilian population. Then see what this Kantor will say in response.

The problem of long term effects of modern munitions is real, and not limited to Gaza. Nothing to make flippant jokes about, nor revert to the tiring accusations of anti-semitism . It needs be taken seriously, just like the cluster bomblets that still mutilate children in Lebanon, landmines that still kill in Cambodia or the birth defects from Agent Orange in Vietnam.

When a news item damages Israel, there are usually 'dependable' leftwing websites - like the BBC or The Guardian - that will carry it even if none else does. In this case Haaretz seems to have made a scoop. Or perhaps everyone else is just being a little more 'cautious'?

"One more point,there has never been any complaints of poisoning from Gazans." They do: http://www.apnature.org/inp/Upload/10142652_Environmental%20Report%20about%20the%20negative%20impact%20of%20the%20war%20on%20Gaza%20_English.pdf

If what you say is true thebn this italian claim MUST be false since we have not heard of any declinein infant mortality in GAza Nor has there been any report opf an abnormal number of deformities in new babies....that is up to now. I bet the Hamas boys will latch onto this and grab hold of any disabled or deformed children to create a claim. Just remember up until today Jan 5th 2010 there has not been reports of unusual deformities and many many new babies have been born since the Gaza war

I think that it is enough the Goldstone report. I?m sorry Dani, but you don?t know what you are saying, because in Italy we respect Israel like we respect other countries. I?m very happy to be Italian.

I think that it is enough the Goldstone report. I?m sorry Dani, but you don?t know what you are saying, because in Italy we respect Israel like we respect other countries. I?m very happy to be Italian.

The long winter days and nights in Norway and Sweeden have been unfriendlelly blamed for the Organs Recolts stories and other ditties. Now, Climate Change and others "promiscuous disorders" nonwithstanding, here comes the Hot Weather guys, with all their Italian Manhood, and defies that supposition. You see its all because Europe has become so stale, there is nothing interesting coming out of its Haute Intellect. So, keep calm, and let the Germans and Northern Saxons visit Italy, after all they,the Wine in Tuscany is just great with a piece of parmageani.

Israel cleaned after thousands of missiles fired at them from Gaza and Lebanon.

This just may be an attempt to attack Israel's stronger military. We have already seen the accusation of "disproportionate force" used politically. As a way to prevent Israel from using it's stronger military to win wars. This may simply be another way to prevent Israel from using the stronger ordinance it possesses. Of course the danger of both of these political attacks against Israel,,,to prevent the use of a stronger military... will be to apply the same logic against the U.S. or Britain military in some future conflict. Is this just a clever way to even the odds for a weaker enemy or a legitimate issue? War does have consequences and it is the horror of war that makes it something you want to avoid or at the least use as a last option. It seems the Palestinians want to attack Israel and avoid the consequences.

Of the talk back menagerie. The scientists involved in this work are of the highest caliber. That is probably why they do not intend getting drawn in to the usual smokescreen that emanates from the blowhards after stories like this hit the headlines, "anti semite!" blood libel!". This is rather different to the unverified claims about harvesting body organs. Heading the Italian team are: Paola Manduca, professor of genetics, University of Genoa Mario Barbieri, member of Cnr (Italian National Council of Research) Maurizio Barbieri, professor of Environmental Geochemistry at University of Rome La Sapienza, and head of the lab of ICP Mass Spectrometry, where the analysis was carried out. One can read the report here: http://www.newweapons.org/?q=node/110 Significant increases in birth defects recorded since Cast Lead seem to confirm the concerns of the scientists. It should also be noted that apart from the toxins delivered via IDF high explosives which threaten the next generation of Gazans as well as the current one, there is the long standing problem of Israels destruction of water treatment facilties and sewer systems in Gaza. This has two serious effects quite apart from the issue of raw sewage flowing in the streets. A lack of safe drinking water leading to increased illnesses but also the impoverishment of Gazan agriculture due to the deliberate spreading of raw sewage over agriculktural areas during Cast Lead due to IDF targetting of the water facilities. Additionally, due to the siege at sea by the Israeli navy, fisherman are restricted to fishing close to shore where the seas are known to be polluted so either killing or harming the fish. It really does seem evermore like the Warsaw ghetto, without the transports to death camps, but for how long?

Once heavy metals land in water resources the wells are poisened and the farmland is dangerous. Bombs are not made to be environmentally friendly. The Italians were just verifying the obvious.

and blood contaminants on the shrapnell they used

Israel loses credibility every time it gives the anti semitic knee jerk response. The organ harvesting case turned out to be true--just not racially based. Chances are the bombs do contaminate--but are accepted weapon. Why not admit the truth and suggest solutions for the problem rather than deny deny deny--then say ok but we are not criminals for doing it.

To the Talkbackers fuming against the Italian researchers I would suggest to engage the brain first. If they would go to the website of the Newweapons Committee (www.newweapons.org) they could see how samples were collected from various bomb craters in the northern Gaza Strip. The samples were analyzed using metal quantification by ICP/MS, which is a type of mass spectometry that is highly sensitive and capable of determination of a range of metals and several non-metals. The researchers called on the UN to carry out further investigation into the use of new weapons used in the Gaza Strip. Their data and samples can be checked by other independent labs. The accusations made by Moshe Kantor and Gerald Steinberg are ridiculous and rather pathetic. If "professor" Steinberg had showed an inclination to approach this scientifically he could have asked for the samples to be tested at an Israeli university. Now he just looks like a bigot.

What's next? Whining that weapons kill? How big is contaminated area huh?Do you know that sensitives souls?And for how long period of time?Your own car makes more damage to the environment than those bombs.Petrol,production of metal,electronic elements...willing to drive a donkey???? Not from Israel of course.

The signs of another outrages conspiracy are all over the place here but no one talks about it. The Mekong and Saigon Rivers have been turned into sewers ! Comrades, this crime cannot go unchallenged ! Anti-Semites of the world: UNITE !

to fault the goverment of Israel is not antisemetism! I am sick and tired to hear that! Did USA poison the soil in Iraq? find me the prove!

Israel has many laws which openly discriminate against non-Jews. You can?t call Israel a democracy if it has one law for one person and a different law for his/her neighbor. Check out some of your laws which discriminate in favor of Jewish people and remember that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it?s a DUCK! http://www.divestmentproject.org/apartheid_laws.shtml

the home of Pope Pius XVII. Who didn't stop the Holocaust. Italy is full of anti semitics and israel should boycott Italy for telling the truth. That Israeli munitions used in the manner they were during Operation Cast Lead has poisoned the land. But it is perfectly alright because everyone else does it to.

Any munitions contain depleted uranium, other heavy metals or rare earth metals are borderline illegal since they classified as weapons of mass destruction much like anthrax only they cause slower deaths like cancer or birth defects. They are borderline since 1 bomb in area is within current legal guidelines but 2 or 3 used in small area would be illegal since the part per million will exceed legal limit. The GBU 28 bomb is a good example of this, it should be classified as a dirty bomb due to amount of depleted uranium it uses.

A new bunch of idiots 'made in Italy', called New Weapon committee, have discovered that pasta originated from China and not in their beloved land of the " leaning Tower of Pizza". And of course they are frustrated, understandably.Headlines are always welcome in Europe, arabia. The media right, wrong, maybe, who cares; so long as it sells papers. On the other hand, these savvy media wouldn't lower themselves in publishing front page the 4493 men, women, children slaughtered, maimed for life in the last 2 months only in the land of their beloved disciples of allah(documented)It's just not wordy of front page. La ' Dolce Vita 'was, is, and as always will remain the land of " Il Duce "

thank you so much. may h'shem bless you and all your family and friends and our beloved israel.

thank you so much. may h'shem bless you and all your family and friends and our beloved israel.

You don't need an additional Italian report about Israels crimes during the war in Gaza. Please analyze the Goldstone report and act accordingly, then you have sufficent reasons to accuse and condemn members of the Israelian government and staff of the IDF for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read comment #36.

Well said. Italian professors are not stupid.

"...what the americans nato forces in iraq.." http://www.newweapons.org/?q=taxonomy/term/51

"Does anybody seriously believe that its some kind of conspiracy and done on purpose just to contaminate soil?" No. Doesn't stop stuff from contaminating the soil though.. "..its Hamas responsible not Israel. No attacks against Israel then no bombs to destroy tunnels or arms dump" No land theft, no Hamas...

"Unfortunately I am Italian and I know exactly what I am saying." Don't be so harsh on your self! It's really OK to be Italian, so why do you think it's unfortunate?

By accusing any and every critic of Israel of being anti-semitic, Zionist groups have now reduced the phrase to being meaningless. Even Bibi's freeze has been termed anti-semitic. It used to be that if you accused someone of being anti-semitic then that was a serious accusation, but now it's just a way of saying 'I don't like your criticism of Israel because Israel can do no wrong'. Zionist groups are aware that their constant accusations of anti-semitism no longer instil fear and respect, so they've upped the ante and now gone for 'blood libel' instead. But already you can see that the same thing will happen with it. A serious academic report on toxic pollution left by Cast Lead may or may not be accurate. It's NOT a blood libel, and to call it that simply debases the term 'blood libel'.

Art. 23. In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden - To employ poison or poisoned weapons;

Idiots as usual,they don't know what are they talking about they are against Israel and in favor of Pals because Israel is viewed as an Imperialist power from left wings.Unfortunately I am Italian and I know exactly what I am saying.

i have send several response, but not printed do you select those that you print their response.now about this article why is everybody trying to fault israel on gaza war, what the americans nato forces in iraq and afganistan nobody have questioned their type of bomb been used in those places.they always want to use israel as scapegoat, may God judge them for their antisemitism.

Does anybody seriously believe that its some kind of conspiracy and done on purpose just to contaminate soil? Its possible that certain bomb blasts may damage soil in limit areas do to the components that go into making bombs but that doesn't make it an attempt to poison anybody and its Hamas responsible not Israel. No attacks against Israel then no bombs to destroy tunnels or arms dump Most likely its just another attampt to demonize Israel on false evidence it wouldn't be the first time. Lets have those reports made public and then have independent non politcal experts do their own tests see if they come up with the same results or if this political group. If there is lets see where the materials came from Israel or arabs who use Gaza as a big garbage dump or from the sewers. Plenty of ways to contaminate soil that don't involve Israeli bombs.

CIPORA GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. DANNY.

....please read my post # 34. And in view of this article, I probably wouldn't wanna taste from those strawberries....:)

The rights group are not it seems accusing Israel of deliberately poisoning Gaza. They are saying that Cast Lead has left a toxic residue that will cause birth deformities. This was true of NATO bombing in Serbia and it was true of bombing in Iraq. It would therefore be extremely surprising if it was NOT true in Gaza. What's really disappointing is to see people like Dr. Moshe Kantor rush to fling accusations of blood libel without any apparent justification. The man has just discredited himself and the European Jewish Congress. Once again, it's the Israel-can-do-no-wrong lobby charging blindly into action.

your pathetic attempts to bring war crime charges against israel are bound to fail. all modern armies use very similar and in many cases identical weapons. as for gaza's soil, israel has just the other day opened karni to allow exports of flowers and strawberries.

Israel is of course not the only country in this world, which isn't famous for using special precautionary measures when it comes to the use of weapons in densly populated areas.... ....I would bet that China and Russia aren't a lot better in that regard either. But then again, unlike Israel, they don't claim to have God's order to serve as a positive example to the rest of this world.....

....is simply not good enough. Let's have a totally independent UN commission looking into this thing, and then present their facts to the world. The only thing we know till today, is that the Israeli army has not gotten a reputation for taking special precautionary measures when it came to the protection of civilians in densly populated areas, be it in Lebanon or Gaza.... ....even many supporters of Israel probably won't deny that.

As a concerned Israeli, I would become very worried for one thing is certain, dust from du amunitiion won't stay inside Gaza. There are winds, there is rain - the air you breathe, the fish you eat might already be contaminated. The question is, for the sake of your future grandchildren can you afford to stay? Du dust not only causes cancer, it can also change the DNA... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8199922330478323814#

Could well be. One cannot discount said report offhandedly. Such reports have been bandied around in Iraq,Afghanistan,Serbia,Lebanon and Syria. Modern day weaponry as in the case of bombs do use heavy metals that when contaminated via the water table through soil etc can cause certain human ailments. In fact poisoning should not be used so lightly, rather because the areas that were bombed are so close to the civilian population. Good day.

As the same weapons are used in Afghanistan and Iraq,I suggest that they check these countries and if the same is found,then Italy is guilty of the same accusation. One more point,there has never been any complaints of poisoning from Gazans.

all of these metals are commonly used as allloys in metals. they have been in use for many decades. some are used in batteries. chances are some were used in missiles used by hamas and which were blown up by israel. cobalt is used submarines and in space vehicles. maybe the "scientists" were teleported to gaza. if hamas is so concerned with the environment, it should stop smuggling, storing and firing thousands of missiles. then maybe we could all have peace. otherwise, they will just have to understand that their aggression will be answered regardless of the efforts of european antisemites to disarm the jewish state.

...take a control sample from within Israel's internationally recognized border, and samples from the four craters outside Israel. Send them to the top four worldwide labs for testing and evaluation and of course Israel. Let them make their tests, and compare the four results with the Israeli conclusion. That should pretty much sew up the truth for everyone fair and square.

I think that all bombs should carry a government health warning written on them. Something like.... Please take note.."Bombs are dangerous and can seriously damage your health"

So you too think Israeli made weapons have been found in Serbia and Georgia, some media report the same.

Googling "birth defects in israel" [in quotes] You get 6 hits Googling "birth defects in gaza" [in quotes] You get 1,050,000 hits

just like the "diatribe of the Middle Ages." Israel knows the Palestinians in Gaza do not have advanced toxic weapons and could not contaminate Gaza with the toxins now found. So if Israel knows nottthhhiiinnnggg, where did the contaminants originate - American made bombs?

Seems the "dumb" part comes in when you start critiquing weapons as, "pollutants" but only do so as it regards Israeli munitions to the exclusion of anyone else. What's the alternative? Switch back to good, old-fashioned gunpowder? Bows and arrows? Oh, the poor birds, to be plucked of their feathers to make arrow fletchings! PETA would throw a fit! Are you playing dumb when it comes to understanding that this is a fruity way to delegitimize legal weapons? ...And again, only as it pertains to Israel.

Bloodshot, can you name any wars in history which were environmentally friendly? Or do you hold Israel to some brainless standard which you apply to no other countries?

Can anyone remember at the end of the Gaza war how Israel allowed thousands of dollars of flowers out of Gaza to go to Europe? I have been to Gaza and I wish the whole of Israel were fertile like Gaza is.Now the same group could have checked the soil in the last 9 years to see if Gazan rockets spoilt Israel's land.

As a concerned Gazan. I would not take chances and leave asap

The rush to accuse Israelis and Jews of all sort of absurd things (for the last 1000 years actually) is like a plague in Europe and the Arab world. Exactly, if it easy to verify, why don`t they first bring real proof before they accuse and denigrate Jews and Israel. You obviously miss the point entirely. The aim is to cause Israel damage at any cost, including truth, morality and justice. Hey, why let small details like the truth stand in the way of good ol Israeli bashing?

We all know that all weapons in the past were healthy for everyone involved.

If the palestinians wouldn't have wantonly destroyed the greenhouses that were left as gifts for them upon Israel's departure from Gaza, perhaps the fallacious worry about poisoned land wouldn't be of any concern.

Had you been more objective , you would have checked the organization's website on other reports. They have previously reported on Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Lebanon, etc.

I agree with number 7. Lets progress this through the courts if it a libel. Independent testing of samples which are taken from Gaza. I suggest this is done by the UN, and independent lab and an Israeli lab so that we can cross tabulate the results. If they prove that the Italian tests are false, then prosecute. If they back up the Italian tests. I don't know where from here. Maybe prosecute Israeli commanders who allowed this situation to take place. Fairs fair. It is just the testing that needs to take place to get to the truth.

Read other reports from www.newweapons.org and stop playing dumb people, unless you are certified as dumb. This is serious people, new weapons - while more accurate in short term - are causing serious genetic disorder issues. Report extract: In September 2009, Fallujah General Hospital had 170 new born babies, 24% of whom were dead within the first seven days, a staggering 75% of the dead babies were classified as deformed. This can be compared with data from the month of August in 2002 where there were 530 new born babies of whom six were dead within the first seven days and only one birth defect was reported.

I hope yes, bc if your posts are serious, both of you ain't too sharp. If, as I suspect, you're plaing dumb- I'd suggest you cut it out.Mocking the situation does neither side any good.

Many of the newer high tech weapons contain depleted uranium and other heavy metals that can poison the land if enough used. Smart weapons have electronics that contain rare earth metals that cause cancer and birth defects, that when explode spreads the fine dust over a large area. A good study should indicates an anomalous presence of toxic elements in the soil from these weapons. The IDF and US military would like these kind of stories to go away since these weapons are key to new type of warfare.

Why not? And tungsten and Molybdenum residues are Poisonous? Probably broken light bulbs have more of them...

Gaza has the highest birth rate in the world. I'm so confused....

such an accusation is made is to poison the minds of people who read these articles.

Poisonous weapons are legal. The problem is something different.

the courts. do not let them off.

To say that it is reminiscent of a past libel has absolutely nothing to do with whether it is actually true. A factual rebuttal would be more desirable.

Same old, same old. Seems like it will never end from the Europeans!

total amount of munitions exploded on its soil as Cast Lead exploded on Gaza. The "Italian New Weapons Committee" had 8 years to study Sderot, but I don't recall hearing from them. How about a deal? Gaza doesn't send any pollutants to Sderot, and Israel doesn't send any back to Gaza. Comprendo?

So, now modern weapons are supposed to be composed of green, environmentally friendly materials? Explosives from sunflower seed extract? Shrapnel from biodegradable compressed squirrel feces (sorry PETA)? Computer components from organically grown pomegranates? Silly people look for any excuse to place Israel in the worst possible light. What a crazy world.

"its seriousness should be self-evident from the publication itself." So, if I publish a lie in 'respected journal' it becomes a truth? How very convenient, Mr.De Ponte

I do not understand the rush of blood to call this blood libel . It should be easy to verify the findings by an independent laboratory if the Italian one is not. After all we are talking about specific measurements of toxic elements if they exist. The comment from NGO watch is baffling in the extreme.