June 7, 2010
COMMENTARY: All Nations -- except Israel -- are Allowed to Defend Themselves
By Craig Hammond
Just six months ago Egypt blocked hundreds of foreign so called “peace” activists from entering Gaza. A few days later Egyptian officials tear-gassed another group of activists protesting Egypt’s construction of a new wall intended to curtail smuggling into Gaza.
Within hours, more than 300 pro-Palestinian protesters flocked to the border and hurled rocks at Egyptian security forces. The Egyptians opened fire on the crowd, injuring more than 30 and arresting a half dozen foreign activists.
While all this was taking place, Jordan was stripping the citizenship of nearly 3,000 Jordanians of Palestinian origin. To this day Jordan heavily screens Palestinians entering its country after it discovered weapons, explosives and rockets in the hands of a Hamas group inside Jordan a couple of years ago.
This week the Israeli navy tried to escort a flotilla, sponsored by a group known as IHH and claiming to carry food, medicine, construction materials and wheelchairs, to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection. Israel (just like Egypt) was simply trying to prevent rockets, missiles, explosives and other war material from coming in to Gaza that could be used to attack its people.
For many years, Western and Turkish authorities have accused IHH of having "working relations" with terrorist organizations. And according to a CNN World report on May 31st, IHH is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a hard-line Islamic political movement.
When the Israelis boarded the ship a naval officer was stabbed and others were attacked with knives and steel pipes. A battle followed leaving nine people dead.
Many nations have condemned Israel and some have recalled their ambassadors from Israel.
Why is it that Egypt and Jordan can vigorously -- and sometimes violently -- resist arms-smuggling terrorists from doing harm to their countries but Israel cannot? The answer is that other nations are allowed to defend themselves, but Israel cannot. Get used to it. It’s never going to change.
Craig Hammond is a former mayor of Bluefield, WV and host of Radioactive on WHIS (1440 AM) and WTZE (1470 AM).
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COMMENTARY: All Nations -- except Israel -- are Allowed to Defend Themselves
By Craig Hammond
Just six months ago Egypt blocked hundreds of foreign so called “peace” activists from entering Gaza. A few days later Egyptian officials tear-gassed another group of activists protesting Egypt’s construction of a new wall intended to curtail smuggling into Gaza.
Within hours, more than 300 pro-Palestinian protesters flocked to the border and hurled rocks at Egyptian security forces. The Egyptians opened fire on the crowd, injuring more than 30 and arresting a half dozen foreign activists.
While all this was taking place, Jordan was stripping the citizenship of nearly 3,000 Jordanians of Palestinian origin. To this day Jordan heavily screens Palestinians entering its country after it discovered weapons, explosives and rockets in the hands of a Hamas group inside Jordan a couple of years ago.
This week the Israeli navy tried to escort a flotilla, sponsored by a group known as IHH and claiming to carry food, medicine, construction materials and wheelchairs, to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection. Israel (just like Egypt) was simply trying to prevent rockets, missiles, explosives and other war material from coming in to Gaza that could be used to attack its people.
For many years, Western and Turkish authorities have accused IHH of having "working relations" with terrorist organizations. And according to a CNN World report on May 31st, IHH is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a hard-line Islamic political movement.
When the Israelis boarded the ship a naval officer was stabbed and others were attacked with knives and steel pipes. A battle followed leaving nine people dead.
Many nations have condemned Israel and some have recalled their ambassadors from Israel.
Why is it that Egypt and Jordan can vigorously -- and sometimes violently -- resist arms-smuggling terrorists from doing harm to their countries but Israel cannot? The answer is that other nations are allowed to defend themselves, but Israel cannot. Get used to it. It’s never going to change.
Craig Hammond is a former mayor of Bluefield, WV and host of Radioactive on WHIS (1440 AM) and WTZE (1470 AM).
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