In a scathing article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on May 20th, entitled: The Truth About Hamas and Israel, the IDF Spokesperson, Brig. General Ronen Manelis, summed up the method of Hamas’s “war” against Israel and reminded the vast readership of the paper of the goals of this terrorist group: “Their [i.e., Hamas officials’] modus operandi is simple: Lie. Their lies support the stated goal of Hamas: the delegitimization and destruction of Israel.” He accused the Hamas terror organization, which has been ruling Gaza since 2007, of orchestrating “theatrics” for an international audience – theatrics which resulted in the deaths of dozens of “Palestinians” during the violent weekly, Friday demonstrations along the Gaza border fence. And, the worst thing about it is that the leftist media bought the narrative, hook, line and sinker. There was international outrage, calls for probes by the U.N. Human Rights Council (there’s a misnomer if there ever was one) and calls for setting up an international force that would protect (can you believe it?) the population of Gaza.. There were gatherings and events all planned to voice complaint against Israel for the deaths of alleged “innocent” victims of the Gaza fence uprisings. Then, Hamas itself revealed that 50 of the some 60 “Palestinians” killed were Hamas members. Islamic Jihad added 3 of its members to those who were killed. One would think that the bottom fell out of the arguments of those who condemned Israel and that they realized that the vast majority of the “innocents” were, in fact, active members of terrorist organizations, armed with weapons, hunting slingshots, explosives and “kite bombs”, who mixed in with the crowd and stirred them on. But, that wasn’t the case. 

Michael Oren, Israel’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, recently stated: “There’s a war being waged and we’re not even on the battlefield.” He added: “Hamas can’t cut through the fence, so it wants to get people killed in order to delegitimize Israel. And the press plays into that, the press enables Hamas to win.” And, much to our regret, in words of Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus, the head of the IDF’s internationl media department, regarding the fight for international public opinion, Hamas won an “overwhelming victory, by [a] knockout”. Conricus continued: “Hamas wanted the casualties, Hamas wanted people to die. Hamas wanted the pictures of the wounded and the overflowing hospitals and everything else…It’s been very difficult to tell our story”, adding that some of it is his fault.

If that wasn’t bad enough, along comes the article by Thomas L. Friedman, in the New York Times of May 22, 2018, entitled, Hamas, Netanyahu and Mother Nature. I could discuss the inconsistencies and errors, prejudices and presumptions contained in the article, which was simply another in a seemingly endless series of articles getting on Israel’s case. But, rather than do so here, I refer to you to a somewhat lengthy, but nevertheless informative, criticism of Friedman’s latest condemnation of our country and government, appearing in Israpundit. This will give you an idea:

But even compared to his past inanities, [Thomas Friedman’s] latest column, “Hamas, Netanyahu and Mother Nature”, is a real doozy—a “masterful” blend of personal bile and bias, liberally laced with logical inconsistencies, factual inaccuracies and even blatant non-sequiturs.

….

Friedman has of course, been long been captive to the seductive deception of two-statism. At the base of this dogma is the belief that, among the Palestinian-Arabs, there is a leader sufficiently reasonable to cut a deal acceptable to Israel and sufficiently authoritative to ensure its implementation.

Accordingly, in order to sustain their political credo, (or rather, “cult”), two-state adherents have to conjure up imaginary Palestinian-Arabs and an imaginary Palestinian-Arab society, significantly different from those that actually exist on Planet Earth.

It is difficult to refrain from commenting myself on statements that are based on historical error and misinformation in Friedman’s article. But, since others have done so, I will forego it at this point. Many years ago, before immigrating to Israel, I enjoyed reading The New York Times, which tried to live up to its slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” But, news that is distorted is not “fit to print” and should not be treated as news at all. With ethical considerations no longer part and parcel of a reporter’s responsibility, allowing him/her to “make”, rather than “report”, news. So maybe the slogan should be changed to “All the News That Fits We Print”. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that this is not my opinion only, but the opinion of all those who really want to know what is going on, factually, not fictionally. 

The “Palestinians” want Israel to answer for the Gaza incidents before the International Criminal Court, totally ignoring their own responsibility for the deaths of their own citizens. Israeli farmers are planning to retaliate and will seek to hold Hamas legally and criminally responsible for the destruction of Israeli fields, property and produce, resulting from the “kite fire bombs” that the “Palestinians” sent over the Gaza fence. The destruction of Israeli fields and vineyards from the “kite terror” is now a daily event and a genuine concern. Israel is totally justified in defending its borders against infiltration, whether against one or against a multitude. But, as Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated: “History has shown us time and again that what is right is not what is popular.” 

With the commencement of the month-long Moslem celebration of Ramadan, which began this year on May 16th, violence along the Gaza fence has not diminished. The focus of world attention has shifted from Iranian involvement in Syria to violent clashes along the Gaza border fence. The weekly, Friday confrontations continue. The leadership of Hamas continues to send Gazans to confront the Israel Defense Force, which is determined to prevent “Palestinian” infiltration into Israel communities. And, of course, the leftist media continues to miss the mark and fails to understand that these demonstrations are not for the benefit of the Gazan population. The people are being used as “walking bombs” by the Hamas leadership in its goal to win the war of public opinion. The price: 50 Shekels (about US $14 or £10.50 or CAD $18.20). 

In his excellent article entitled Hamas: Fight to the last Gazan, Dr. Mordechai Kedar brings us full circle to the need to recognize the role that the media plays in encouraging “Hamas’ satanic plans”. As Dr. Kedar states, in part, in his article, which I heartily recommend that you read: 

“Every person killed is a public relations accomplishment for Hamas, every person wounded is a propaganda gain to mislead viewers in Europe and America who have no understanding of Hamas’ satanic plans to use the people of Gaza as live ammunition against Israel, knowing that they will be killed as soon as they try to break through the fence….Everyone in Gaza…now knows exactly what happens to anyone who comes near the fence. That makes the rioters themselves and the Hamas organization which sends them fully responsible for the deaths of these live bullets.

However, the foreign press is another responsible party of which the public must be made aware. Anyone who understands Hamas’ plans knows full well that without media coverage all the riots near and at the fence would not have occurred. After all, why would Hamas waste human ammunition unless it could make an impression on world opinion?

This is where Israeli idiocy steps in, as Israel allows foreign media to reach the immediate surroundings of  Gaza…[The] media act as tools of the Hamas terrorists, useful idiots who spread Hamas propaganda without charge.”

Why doesn’t Israel shut down, at least temporarily, the internet access which it supplies to Gaza? We provide the internet that allows Hamas to spread its propaganda. We supply Gaza with electricity, that allows Hamas satellite television broadcasting. Maybe the world outcry against depriving the “Palestinians” of access to media outlets would be considered a fate worse than death. 

Dr. Kedar closes his article on an optimistic note: 

“There   is no question that Israel will defeat Hamas, because Israel is fighting a just war and Hamas is a terror organization whose reign of terror over Gaza turns its population into disposable ammunition with its own evil hands. The fate of Hamas is not in doubt: It will be dumped in the ash heap of history, along with the other Arab dictators who were overthrown in the “Arab Spring.”  Hamas, the despotic and tyrannical terror movement, is no different than they, because it, too, is prepared to sacrifice the Palestinian Arabs down to the last man on the altar of its own survival.” 

In the meantime, the violence continues, also in places other than along the Gaza border fence. Staff Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky, a 20-year-old IDF soldier, who served in the elite Duvdevan unit, was critically injured a week ago Thursday, during an operation in a refugee camp near Ramallah. He was struck by a large marble slab thrown on his head from the third floor of a building. He died of his injuries two days later and was buried last Sunday morning. Despite the tragedy of his son’s death, Ronen’s father stated, in part: “Also in these difficult days I am content, because the nation of Israel has embraced my family with a strong embrace that I did not believe existed. Our great victory is that we will live full lives.” Ronen was a close friend of one of my youngest’s son’s friends. May the God of all comfort touch the hearts of his family and grant them all His abundant comfort.

Ronen’s death is a tough reminder of the fact that among the many tasks that the IDF has, one of them is to go into the refugee camps and other places in the administered territories to search for and arrest “Palestinians” wanted by Israeli authorities, some of them before they perform an act of terror. This is an ongoing activity for the unit, which operates on a moment’s notice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long. 

Then there are the rockets that Hamas fires off in the direction of Israeli civilian communities. They shoot the rockets. We retaliate. Two days ago, Hamas asked for a cease fire. We agreed. They immediately violated the cease fire. We struck back. Have you ever had a rocket land close enough to you to shake the foundations of your residence and your entire neighborhood? That is our reality. What would YOU do? 

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

The LORD your God is in your midst. A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)

[The] Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing,

Marvin