More Missile Attacks from Gaza on Southern Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
Five rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel Thursday, Israel time, which would be Wednesday our time.    They were the far reaching kind which exploded in and near Ashkelon, Portland's sister city, which is much farther away from the border.  One struck near Be'er Sheva. 

A rocket struck the general area of Sderot, Israel from Gaza terrorists on Friday morning, Israel time.  Since Israel is about 10 hours ahead of us in the future, that would have happened by our time Thursday night.

Israel has warned constantly that anytime they are attacked to expect a retaliation.  You'd think that would halt their attacks, but it hasn't.  "The IDF will not stand any attempt to hurt the citizens of Israel and IDF soldiers and will continue to take resolute and forceful action against any attacks that employs terror against the state of Israel.  Terror organization Hamas is the address that bears the responsibility."  

The IDF reportedly struck 3 different targets; Hamas training camps in Gaza.  Its aircraft hit sites of terror activity in southern Gaza and another terrorist site in northen Gaza, and that accurate hits on target were reported.  Then a spokesman for Hamas blamed Israel for "the escalation in the region." 

Two terrorists were killed in the targeted IDF strikes Thursday morning.  Arabs said that 20 civilians were also hurt in the overnight IDF raids.  IDF said that "additional explosions were caused because of weapons stores near the terror activity sites that were hit."  IDF regrets casualties among uninvolved persons but once again, the responsibility rests with Hamas.  It's they who choose to operate from within the civilian population.  What they are doing is using civilians as human shields. 

Terrorists from Gaza fire rockets, missiles and mortars to kill, maim, destroy and frighten.  Whether they are successful with each firing or not in killing, their first goal, is not a consideration in retaliation.  Israel is not playing a game of: " you killed one of ours so we'll kill one of yours."   They do damage and disrupt the mental and physical lives of the people.  They know what the consequences of attacking Israel means.  They make their own choices.   

12/9/11 4:11pm "Barrage of Rockets Fired from Gaza into Southern Israel
from embassy of Israel
13 rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel in last 24 hours, threatening the lives of more than a million Israelis.

Residents of Southern Israel have remained on high alert since the attacks began on Thursday. A "Code Red" alarm has been sounded throughout the region.

The rockets have mostly fallen on the outskirts of towns, causing no damage or injuries at this time. The Iron Dome missile defense system has also been successfully deployed.

Resource: Artuz Sheva  news@israelnationalnews.com  by Gil Ronen "Gaza Arabs: 1 killed, 20 hurt in overnight air raids."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/world/middleeast/israeli-planes-attack-gaza-targets.html

What's Happened to Christians in Bethlehem and Gaza ?

Nadene Goldfoot
Bethlehem is only 5 miles or 8 kilometers from Jerusalem.  Even so, it happens to lie in the Central "West Bank" or as we continue to  call it, Judea and Samaria-the original names of the land.  The Arabs now claim the city as a Palestinian city.  The population is mainly Arab Muslim today.  80% of the population used to be  Christian before 1994, made up mostly of Christian Arabs.  It was in 1994 that the Palestinian Authority was established who took control over these people.  Today the population of Christians is less than 20%.  Now it has become the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestine National Association.  It has become the hub of their Arab culture.  They have taken over the tourism that comes there because of it being one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. 

In 1948 Bethlehem had a population of 10,000. and 7,500 were Christians, 2,500 Muslims.  From 1948 to 1967 it was under Jordanian rule.  In the Six-Day War it was captured by Israel.  In 1968 it had a population of 32,000. 

For Jews, Bethlehem is important as Rachel's Tomb is at the Northern entrance of the city.  It is an important Jewish holy site.  This would also bring tourists who wish to pray there. 

Gaza was taken over by the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas terrorists came into control in 2007, winning over Fatah, the original PLO of Arafat, the major Arab terrorist.  Gaza did have some 3,000 Christians living in this Muslim area, but since their takeover have seen their Christian materials burned, their people assaulted and killed.  In 2007 they numbered 2,000 among 1,3 million Muslims, being less than 1% of the population.  They were made up of Catholic Greek Orthodox and Evangelical Christians, with the Gaza Baptist Church.  It's membership numbered only 150-200 people.      In May 2009 Pope Benedict XVI visited Israel and was approached by Christians about it, but nothing was said.   Many "Palestinians" have entered the USA under Obama, but I have no idea if they were rescued Christinians or Muslims. 

Gaza remained under Egyptian control after 1948.  It was captured by Israel November 1956, but Israel returned it in March 1957 when Egyptians took control again but with the UN emergency Force along the border with Israel.  In May 1967 Egypt had the UN force withdraw leading to the 6 Day War after which Gaza came into Israel's control.   The 1967 census showed 352,260 in the Gaza Strip of whom 172,520 were considered refugees. 

Palestinian Christian Arabs came to Detroit, Michigan after 1948 and 1967's wars.  The majority of the Arabs in this large American city are Christians from Judea-Samaria.  The countries these Arabs came from were Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen mostly.  In the past, Henry Ford's automobile manufacturing used Lebanese labor there.

In January 2009 Obama issued an appeal for $613 million to aid Palestinians in Gaza.  Nothing was mentioned about rescuing Christians and getting them to the USA.  At the same time he issued a Presidential Determination for Unexpected urgent refugee and migration needed related to Gaza not to exceed $20.3 million.  Again, nothing I read showed preferring help for Christians who needed it over Muslims or in even immigrating to the USA. 

By law the USA cannot count people belonging to any religion, though our census was not shy about listing "Hebrew" on the census naming Jewish immigrants. 

Reference: Arutz Sheva, The forgotten Christians of the East by Caroline Glick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem
Standard Jewish Encyclopedia Bethlehem, Gaza
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=42133 Christians in Gaza
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/palestinians.asp
http://www.arabdetroit.com/arabamericans.php
http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/back802.html Muslim immigration

Italian from "Free Gaza Movement" to be Executed by Jihadists

Nadene Goldfoot
Vittorio Arrigoni, Italian pacifist and blogger obviously has thought the worst of Israel and of Jews for he joined the "Free Gaza Movement" who campaigned against Israel's blockade of Gaza.  They came on a boat bringing supplies in 2008 that Israel allowed into Gaza's  port.  These people never looked into why Israel was blockading Gaza nor cared that Gaza was shelling Israel constantly.  It was the "thing to do."

Evidently some of the Jihadist  Gazans decided they didn't like this Italian who came to  Gaza in 2008 and never left.  They said that he entered their land to spread corruption and they described Italy as the "infidel state."

This Jihad group is aligned with al Qaeda and has threatened to execute Vittorio who they have abducted in a few hours unless the Hamas terrorists release their group's leader, Hesham al-Sa'eedni.  We see terrorists threatening  terrorists.  They have posted a You Tube clip saying the execution will take place on Friday at 5pm (10am EST).

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is trying to get him released before it's too late as he realizes this is only harming his cause.   Abbas is of the PLO former terrorists called Fatah, and does not have much clout with Hamas terrorists, so I doubt if they will listen to him.  they continue to have the  power struggle that drove Abbas out of Gaza.  Vittorio's life depends on how Hamas either cares to be seen by the outside world or how he views his control over the Jihadist group. 

5:43pm  my time:  News just came in that his body has been found in an abandoned home.  Right now it is 3:46 am on Friday in Gaza.  It looks to me like they jumped the gun on their time for the execution. 

A kidnapping  happened once before when BBC journalist Alan Johnston was held for 114 days by an al Qaeda type group, the Army of Islam.  They released him in 2007.  He had been kidnapped by gunpoint on March 12 and released on July 4th. 

Resource: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110414/wl_nm/us_gaza_italy_kidnap/print
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Alan_Johnston
5:43pm: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110415/wl_nm/us_palestinians_italy_kidnap body found
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=702