Wednesday
Jan072009
Inconvenient (Rocket) Facts: Israel Gets Caught Out by the BBC
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8:08
In an illuminating interview with the Israeli Ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, the presenter of the Today programme put the following to him: there were 362 rocket attacks into southern Israel during the cease-fire of June-December 2008, but only 42 were launched between June and 4 November. On that day, Israeli forces entered Gaza and killed six Hamas activists.
Prosor was clearly caught out by the numbers and fell back on general rhetoric about "terrorism".
The exchange can be found later via the BBC Today website. The interview is just after the 1 hour, 50 minute mark in the programme.
Prosor was clearly caught out by the numbers and fell back on general rhetoric about "terrorism".
The exchange can be found later via the BBC Today website. The interview is just after the 1 hour, 50 minute mark in the programme.
tagged BBC, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Palestine, Ron Prosor in Middle East & Iran
BBC, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Palestine, Ron Prosor in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (15)
Only 42 rockets? It's a violation of the cease-fire.
But what were the pre-ceasefire numbers?
Probably a lot higher -- you're right. But a cease-fire is a cease-fire. Were these rockets launched by renegade members of Hamas who wouldn't follow orders from the top? I don't know.
So was Israel more or less secure from rocket fire during the cease-fire?
I would say no.
The numbers of rockets decreased sharply between June and November 2008 but Israel was less secure?
It's still a cease-fire. What justification was there for rocket attacks at Israel? If one side is fired upon, then the other side reserves the right to fire back. If a kid is roughing up another kid, is it wrong for the kid to hit back at the assailant in self defense?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rocket_and_mortar_attacks_in_Israel_in_2008
November 12-19th
In this week 62 rockets and 26 mortars were fired from Gaza into Israel. The results of these attacks were that 16 people were wounded, 13 from shock and 3 from light wounds.
keep digging dave
Won't go over the old debate of who started what when --- Israel was carrying out raids into Gaza even during the cease-fire as well as refusing to lift the blockade which was promised in the June 2007 agreement, and your wiki stats point to the Hamas escalation after the 4 November Israeli raid that killed 6 Hamas activists. Was just pointing out that Israel suffered far less from rocket attacks, both before June 2007 and after 4 November when there was an effective cease-fire....
Was just pointing out that Israel suffered far less from rocket attacks, both before June 2007 and after 4 November when there was an effective cease-fire….
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Okay. I was just focusing on the issue -- who violated the cease-fire. I think the claim that Israel was more secure due to a reduced # of attacks is not the issue.
With respect, I think security --- for Israelis and for Gazans --- is the fundamental issue!
You're right, but security rested on the cease-fire.
Read my other post on US military action over the last 20 years. Anything Israel does pales in comparison. A small, isolated country that has to endure the Arab world's threats, suicide and rocket attacks, and other discriminatory practices -- i.e. not allowing Israel to join the Asia Group. Outright Arab racism.
And the Arab posters on here use 'Jew' 'Zionist' and 'Israeli' as if they are interchangeable terms!
Never let the facts get in the way of a good grand-narrative, eh dave?
Methinks that the decision to launch a raid on the Nov 4th was no accident, either.
Israel's own graphs show rocket and mortar fire fell to almost nothing from the start of the ceasefire - until the November 4 raid. Israeli intelligence attributes those few incidents to Islamic Jihad, who were brought into line by Hamas, even as Israel never lifted the blockade like they promised.
Regarding the November 4 raid, Israel claims Hamas was preparing for an attack on Israeli soldiers. Well Israel was planning to attack Gaza before the ceasefire was even in effect. The resumption of rocket fire from Gaza was a necessary part of this plan, it is the centerpiece of their propaganda effort. The residents of Sderot and Ashqelon remain pawns in this deadly chess game.
Israeli soldiers are pawns too. Four Israeli soldiers were injured in this provocation, and for what? They can't neutralise a tunnel without putting their boys in harms way? Israeli soldiers are being killed in friendly fire incidents in Gaza because their fire is so undisciplined and indiscriminate, a result of the IDF's deliberately vague and fluid rules of engagement.