Tag Archives: terrorism

Car Ramming from Islamic Terrorism Explodes as it Approaches its Second Anniversary

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On July 14, 2016, as the residents of Nice, France celebrated their independence day, radical Islam destroyed the holiday celebrations as a truck rammed into the French crowd, killing 85 people.

nice truck
Car Ramming attack in Nice, France July 14, 2016
(photo: Reuters/ Eric Gaillard)

While people of Europe are no longer shocked by terrorism, coming as it has not long after attacks in Brussels, Paris and Istanbul, the nature of the car ramming seemed new.

Such surprise is only because the United Nations and the press have ignored the tactic for two years while it was employed by Palestinian Arabs against Israeli Jews.

The Call for Global Car Ramming

On September 24, 2014, the spokesman for ISIS, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, made the following call:

““If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of his allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him…. If you are unable to do so, then burn his home, car, or business. Or destroy his crops.”

The speech went on to call US President Barack Obama a “mule of the Jews,” which must have excited Palestinian Arabs, who were the first to pick up this latest challenge to global jihad.

Palestinian Arabs Car Attacks

On October 22, 2014, a 21-year old Palestinian Arab from the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel rammed his car into a crowd of Israeli civilians waiting for the light rail. A three month old baby girl in a stroller and a 22-year old woman from Ecuador who had come to Israel to convert to Judaism were killed. The “moderate” Fatah movement headed by acting president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, praised the attacker “The Silwan branch of Fatah honors the heroic martyr Abdel Rahman al-Shaloudi [martyr], who executed the Jerusalem operation which led to the running over of settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem.” Hamas and Islamic Jihad also praised the attack.

Just the day before, the UN admonished Israel for actions in Area C of the West Bank/ east of the Green Line, even though the Oslo II Accords signed by the Palestinian Arabs and Israelis, clearly and specifically stated that Israel had complete responsibility for the area. After the attack, The UN would fail to call the act “terrorism” or make any statement calling for solidarity with Israel.

Further, mainstream media like the New York Times would barely cover the incident.

That formula – Palestinian Arab terror, UN remaining silent on the “terrorism” and supporting Israel’s fight against terror, UN condemning Israel for “occupation,” and the under-reporting by the press – would continue to repeat itself.

Two weeks later, on November 5, 2014, a Palestinian Arab rammed his car into pedestrians in central Jerusalem. and another Palestinian Arab rammed his car into three Israeli soldiers.

The “Stabbing Intifada” as it became known had scores of stabbing attacks, but also many vehicular attacks including:

  • September 13, 2015 stoning car: Jerusalem: Alexander Levlovich, 64, was killed while on his way home from a Rosh Hashana dinner when he lost control of his vehicle after it was struck by rocks. Two passengers were lightly injured.
  • October 1 drive-by shooting: Near Nablus in Samaria: Rabbi Eitam Henkin (31) and wife Naama (30) murdered in a drive-by shooting while traveling with their four young children (aged 9, 7, 4, and 9 months). Security forces arrested members of Hamas cell responsible.
  • October 11 thwarted attack. Maaleh Adumim-Jerusalem highway: Police officer lightly injured when he pulled over a driver acting suspiciously, and the (female) driver set off an explosive device. Gas canisters were later found in the vehicle. The terrorist was seriously wounded.
  • October 13 attack on bus. Jerusalem: Two terrorists, both residents of the adjacent Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, boarded an Egged bus in East Talpiot in southern Jerusalem, one armed with a gun and the other with a knife. Chaim Haviv, 78, and Alon Govberg, 51, were killed, and 15 wounded, several seriously. One terrorist killed by police, second apprehended. Richard Lakin, 76, who was shot in the head and stabbed in the chest, succumbed to his wounds on October 27.
  • October 14 attack thwarted. Jerusalem: Attack foiled by Border Police. Officers who boarded a bus full of passengers discovered a knife hidden under a seat. The owner of the knife had boarded the bus with a young child in his arms to allay suspicion.
  • October 16 attack thwarted. Jerusalem: Border Policeman foiled possible terror attack after detecting explosive device at a checkpoint at east Jerusalem’s Issawiya neighborhood, near the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus.
  • October 20 stoning car. South of Hebron (Al Fawar junction): Avraham Hasno (54) of Kiryat Arba run over and killed by truck after his vehicle was stoned. Earlier, an IDF officer was lightly injured in stabbing attack in Hebron.
  • October 20 car ramming. Gush Etzion junction: Two lightly wounded in car-ramming attack at bus stop at the Gush Etzion junction. The terrorist then drew his knife before he was shot and killed.
  • October 21 car ramming. Ofra (north of Jerusalem): An Israeli policeman was mildly injured in an apparent car-ramming attack when the driver crashed into a checkpoint, ignoring police warnings to stop. The driver fled.
  • October 21 attack thwarted. Maale Adumim (east of Jerusalem): Attack foiled when security forces found home-made explosive devices in a car. Two Palestinians were arrested.
  • October 21 stoning car, car ramming. Beit Ummar (north of Hebron): Five soldiers injured – after their vehicle was stoned, the soldiers got out to arrest the stone-throwers and were rammed by a Palestinian car. The attacking driver was shot and seriously wounded.
  • October 23 car bombing. Beit El (north of Jerusalem): Israeli couple and their three young children wounded in a firebombing attack on their car.
  • October 29 drive-by shooting. Shots were fired from a passing vehicle towards a bus stop near Jerusalem.
  • November 1 car ramming. In Hebron, three Border Policemen wounded in car ramming attack.
  • November 8 car ramming. Tapuah Junction (Samaria): Four Israelis were wounded, two seriously, in a car-ramming terror attack directed at a group of people at a hithchhiking stop. The attacker was shot and killed by security forces.
  • November 10 drive-by shooting. Otniel (Route 60): Rabbi Ya’akov Litman, 40, and his son Netanel, 18, were killed in a shooting attack while driving on Route 60 near Otniel, south of Hebron. His wife and four other children in the vehicle were lightly wounded by shrapnel and the resulting crash. A suspect was taken into custody.
  • November 19 drive-by shooting. Gush Etzion: Three people were killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a submachine gun at cars in a traffic jam at the Alon Shvut junction, south of Jerusalem. The victims: Ezra Schwartz, 18, of Sharon, Massachusetts, Yaakov Don, 49, of Alon Shvut, and Shadi Arafa, 40, of Hebron. Four others were lightly wounded. The terrorist was apprehended.
  • November 22 car ramming.  Kfar Adumim junction (east of Jerusalem): A Palestinian taxi driver tried to ram his car into a group of Israeli pedestrians. After failing to hit anybody, he got out of the car and attacked them with a knife. One man slightly wounded. The attacker was shot and killed.
  • November 23 car ramming. Northern Samaria: A youth (18) was lightly wounded in a ramming attack near Shavei Shomron. Later, a Palestinian tried to stab soldiers at the Samaria Brigade Junction and was killed.
  • November 24 car ramming. Tapuach Junction (northern West Bank): A Palestinian rammed a car into security forces, wounding three IDF soldiers and a Border Policeman who were at the junction assessing additional security measures to prevent terror attacks. The assailant was shot and apprehended.
  • November 27 car ramming. Beit Ummar: Six soldiers were lightly to moderately wounded when a Palestinian rammed his car into IDF troops at the entrance to the Beit Ummar refugee camp, south of the Gush Etzion junction.
  • November 27 car ramming. Kfar Adumim Junction (east of Jerusalem): Two soldiers were lightly to moderately hurt in a car-ramming attack.
  • December 4 car ramming. Ofra (northwest of Jerusalem): Two IDF soldiers were injured in a ramming attack. The Palestinian driver was shot and killed by soldiers on the scene.
  • December 6 car ramming. Jerusalem, Romema neighborhood: Three people were wounded in a car-ramming and stabbing attack. After hitting two people with his car, the assailant exited the vehicle and stabbed a pedestrian. The assailant was shot and killed by an IDF soldier at the scene.
  • December 10 car ramming. Between Beit Aryeh community and Luban village in the Benyamin region of Samaria: Ramming attack injured 4 soldiers, 2 lightly, one moderately and one seriously (20). The terrorist (a member of Hamas) was apprehended after a search.
  • December 11 attack thwarted. Halhoul Junction, near Kiryat Arba: A terrorist who attempted to run over IDF soldiers was shot and killed.
  • December 11 drive-by shooting. Gilboa (Jalame) Crossing: Shots were fired at soldiers from a Palestinian vehicle. Attacker was shot and wounded by IDF forces and later arrested by PA police.
  • December 14 car ramming. Jerusalem: Eleven to fourteen people were injured in a vehicular ramming attack at a bus stop opposite the Calatrava Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem, around 3 pm on Monday afternoon. The injured include two moderately, a 15-month-old baby who was seriously injured, and the baby’s mother. The terrorist (21, originally from the Beit Hanina neighborhood in Jerusalem, currently residing in Hebron) was shot and killed by security forces.
  • December 14 stoning car. Beit Aryeh – Luban: Three Israelis were lightly injured by a huge rock that crashed through the windshield of their car.
  • December 18 attack thwarted. Car ramming attack thwarted during violent riot near Ramallah. Palestinian assailant attempted to ram vehicle into security forces at Kalandia Crossing. Both assailants were shot.
  • December 25 attack thwarted. Silwad, near Ofra in the Benjamin region of Samaria: Attempted ramming attack by an Arab woman (40). The driver was shot and killed on site.
  • December 25 stoning car. Bethlehem: Palestinians threw stones at the vehicle of the Latin Patriarch, Fuad Twal, who was visiting Bethlehem on Christmas day.
  • December 26 car ramming. Hawara checkpoint: Soldier lightly injured in a ramming attack. Assailant (56) shot by forces; later died of wounds in Nablus hospital.
  • December 31 car ramming. Samaria (between Hawara and Tapuah on Route 60): Ramming attack – one soldier lightly injured; driver shot and killed.
  • January 2, 2016 drive-by shooting. Jerusalem – on the road to Gush Etzion: Shooting at passing cars; Arab Israeli lightly wounded.
  • January 5 stoning car. Highway 79, northern Israel – driver lightly injured when his bus was stoned.
  • January 13 stoning car. Benjamin region, near Jerusalem: Arab driver of Egged bus was lightly injured when the windshield was smashed by a rock and a bottle of paint.
  • January 24 drive-by shooting. Dolev (Samaria): A gunman opened fire at a vehicle driving near the community, firing 6 bullets.
  • January 31 car ramming. Route 443: A vehicle with Palestinian license plates attempted to burst through a checkpoint and ram into IDF soldiers manning the post. The assailant was shot and taken to hospital.
  • March 3 drive-by shooting. Rahelim (Samaria): Shooting attack on a police car; an officer was lightly wounded.
  • March 4 car ramming. Gush Etzion junction: An Israeli soldier was wounded when a Palestinian woman drove a vehicle directly into him. The driver was shot and killed. A large knife was found in the car.
  • March 8 drive-by shooting. Jerusalem: Two Border Police officers were wounded, one critically, when a terrorist on a motorcycle opened fire with an automatic weapon on Salah a-Din Street, near Damascus Gate. The assailant was shot and killed.
  • March 14 car ramming. Elias Junction (near Kiryat Arba): Two Palestinians attempted a car ramming attack, later opening fire on civilians and soldiers standing in a nearby bus stop, near the entrance to Kiryat Arba. Both assailants were killed by IDF soldiers. A soldier was slightly wounded in the shooting. Shortly after the first incident, another vehicular attack took place at the same stop. An IDF officer was lightly wounded and two soldiers were lightly injured by shrapnel. The terrorist was shot and killed.
  • April 14 stoning car. Hwy 431, between Ramla-Nes Ziona: A woman (24) was lightly injured by a stone thrown at her car.
  • April 19 bus bombing. Jerusalem: In the early evening, an explosion on a  bus and a subsequent fire led to the injury of 21 people, including passengers on a passing bus and in a nearby car. Two of the injured are in serious condition, 7 were moderately injured and 12 were lightly injured.
  • May 1 stoning car. Near Efrat (Gush Etzion): Palestinians threw rocks at a car in which a woman and three children were traveling. Two injured, including a young child.
  • May 3 car ramming. Near Dolev, northwest of Jerusalem: Three IDF soldiers were injured, one critically, in a ramming attack in the Benyamin region. The attacker was shot and killed by IDF forces at the site.
  • May 21 drive-by shooting. Gush Etzion: Shots were fired at a passenger bus, with no injuries. The bus sustained damage.
  • May 22 bus bombing. Hawara, Samaria: Molotov cocktail thrown at a bus passing through the village. The back end of the bus caught fire; no injuries reported.
  • May 22 stoning car. Highway 443, between Jerusalem and Modiin: Stones were thrown at a bus, causing damage but no bodily injuries to passengers.
  • May 24 stoning car. Jerusalem: Arabs threw rocks at a city bus, smashing the windshield. No one on the bus was physically injured.
  • June 1 stoning car. Maccabim, Route 443: A driver whose car was stoned lost control and hit a guardrail. The driver was lightly injured.
  • June 5 stoning car. Road 437 approaching Jerusalem: Massive stone-throwing at a bus resulted in light injury to the driver and damage to the bus.
  • June 6 drive-by, Route 465, Benjamin region (Samaria): Shooting attack – a lone terrorist shone a flashlight on cars coming around a sharp curve in the road, and shot at them. No one was injured.
  • June 21 stoning car. Route 443, between Jerusalem and Modiin: Palestinian terrorists threw stones at cars traveling on Route 443, a major artery between Jerusalem and the center of the country. One terrorist was killed, one injured and several arrested by security forces.
  • June 24 car ramming. Near Kiryat Arba: A female Palestinian driver rammed into a car at a hitch-hiking stop, lightly injuring two Israelis. A soldier at the scene shot and killed her.
  • June 26 stoning car. Aboud bypass road, Benjamin region: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli car. The woman driver was not hurt but damage was caused to the car. Security forces traced footsteps of two suspects leading in the direction of nearby village Dir Abu Mashal.
  • June 30 car burning. Nine Israel peace activists fled Ramallah after their car was set on fire by local Palestinian Arabs.
  • July 1 drive-by shooting. Route 60, Gush Etzion: A man was killed and his wife seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting in which the car ran off the road and turned over. Two of their children (13 & 15) who were in the car (out of 10 children) were moderately injured.
  • July 9 drive-by shooting. Tekoa junction, on the Tekoa-Efrat road: Shooting attack on an Israeli car. An Israeli man (30) was moderately wounded. His wife and five children who were in the car were not hurt.

The world did not pay much attention to the Israeli Jews being run over by Palestinian Arabs.  The situation was so pathetic, that the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, was left begging the UN Secretary General to condemn the various attacks.

“Once again, even after a Palestinian terrorist intentionally plowed his car into three IDF soldiers today, the UN hasn’t condemned the attack, nor the other recent attacks against Israelis… I am writing to you, for the third time in three days, to call your attention to a terror attack against Israelis, and to urge you to speak out.”

Eventually, the UNSG Ban Ki-Moon responded.  Not with condemnation of the Palestinian Arab terrorism, but of violence on both sides.  Not with support for Israel to combat the terror, but vilifying Israel for allowing Jews to live east of the Green Line.  Ban Ki Moon told Palestinian Arabs:

“I urge the youth of Palestine — as the future of your people and society — to turn your frustration into a strong, but peaceful, voice for change. Demand that your leaders act responsibly to protect your future. Demand progress for a political solution — from your leaders, from Israeli leaders, and from the international community.

I am not asking you to be passive, but you must put down the weapons of despair.”

Car rammings, drive-by shootings, stabbings and other attacks were merely “weapons of despair” for the head of the United Nations.  At least when it came to Palestinian Arabs attacking Israeli Jews.

Global Jihad

Hamas, the popular Palestinian political party, and leading terrorist organization is a chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The Brotherhood is a transnational movement that seeks to install sharia law throughout the Middle East, and is banned in several countries.

ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, al Shabab and several other Islamic terrorist groups also call for the implementation of sharia law.  They seek to cleanse the region of non-Muslim people and influence, similar to Palestinian Arab leadership that seeks a Jew-free state.

As reviewed in “Pick Your Jihad; Choose Your Infidel,” the rise of Islamic extremism is not new, as the mission of jihadists has been clearly broadcast for years – the destruction and annihilation of non-Muslim people within the contours of their desired caliphate.  The western involvement in the region make those perceived interlopers to be targets.  Israel will never be recognized.

The September 2014 Islamic terrorist call to attack “the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of his allies,” was quickly embraced by Palestinian Arabs, and has spread throughout Europe.

The world must not adopt the Ban Ki Moon-encouraging language to terrorists to not be passive.  It must admonish the United Nations call to integrate the terrorist group Hamas into a Palestinian unity government. Would the world condone ISIS becoming part of the Iraqi government?

Car ramming is a terrible tactic that murderers use to rid much of the world of non-Muslims.  The car, like Obama’s infatuation with guns, is not the source of the problem, but simply a crude implement for terrorists to advance their evil goals.

The world must stand for the rights of ALL people – including non-Muslims – to live freely and peacefully.

Related First.One.Through articles:

The Banners of Jihad

Why the Media Ignores Jihadists in Israel

The Big, Bad Lone Wolves of Terrorism

My Terrorism

Ban Ki Moon Stands with Gaza

Ban Ki Moon Has No Solidarity with Israel

UN Press Corps Expunges Israel

The Hollowness of the United Nations’ “All”

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The Dangerous Red Herring Linking Poverty and Terrorism

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There is a commonly held thought that if society understood the root cause of a problem, it would be able to arrive at solutions. Such reasoning implies that diagnosis is an essential part of solving the problem.

One of the major problems confronting the world in the 21st century is terrorism. Innocent civilians are being murdered and maimed in such diverse places as: Bangladesh; Turkey; France; United States; Nigeria; Israel; India; England and Libya. Stopping such violence is a global priority.

In attempting to stop the scourge, the United Nations and the United States made a common diagnosis and prescription for stopping terrorism: poverty leads to despair and violence, so solving global poverty would eradicate terrorism.

The problem with the diagnosis is that it has no basis in fact.

The United Nations on Poverty and Terrorism

The UN developed a global counter terrorism strategy which called on all of its member states to take a series of steps to eradicate terrorism. It stated:

“Affirming Member States’ determination to continue to do all they can to resolve conflict, end foreign occupation, confront oppression, eradicate poverty, promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development, global prosperity, good governance, human rights for all and rule of law, improve intercultural understanding and ensure respect for all religions, religious values, beliefs or cultures” would promote stability and end terrorism.

The UN repeated its call for economic opportunity for all as a cure for stopping the mass murder of innocents in its Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy:

“To reiterate our determination to ensure the timely and full realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Development Goals. We reaffirm our commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all.”

While no one would suggest that poverty is positive, it also true that pollution and disease are problems plaguing our global society. Yet the UN had enough sense to not include those issues in a document meant to specifically address terrorism (yet- is global warming coming?).

The Obama Administration was in sync with this line of thinking.

The United States on Poverty and Terrorism

In February 2015, after terrorists beheaded Christians on a beach in Libya, the US State Department’s spokesperson Marie Harf said that the root cause of extremism was poverty:

“the root causes that lead people to join these [terrorist] groups, whether it’s lack of opportunity for jobs…we can work with countries around the world to help improve their governance, we can help them build their economy so they can have job opportunities for these people….If we can help countries work at the root causes of this- what makes a 17-year old kid pick up an AK-47 instead of trying to start a business, maybe we can try to chip away at this problem.”

President Obama made similar remarks about Countering Violent Extremism at a summit at the same time where he said:

“we must address the grievances that terrorists exploit, including economic grievances.  As I said yesterday, poverty alone does not cause a person to become a terrorist, any more than poverty alone causes someone to become a criminal.  There are millions, billions of people who are poor and are law-abiding and peaceful and tolerant, and are trying to advance their lives and the opportunities for their families. 

But when people — especially young people — feel entirely trapped in impoverished communities, where there is no order and no path for advancement, where there are no educational opportunities, where there are no ways to support families, and no escape from injustice and the humiliations of corruption — that feeds instability and disorder, and makes those communities ripe for extremist recruitment.  And we have seen that across the Middle East and we’ve seen it across North Africa.  So if we’re serious about countering violent extremism, we have to get serious about confronting these economic grievances.”

obama-1
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism at the State Department in Washington
February 19, 2015. (Photo: Reuters / Joshua Roberts)

The United Nations and the Obama administration were lock-step in finding the root cause of terrorism.  Insanity had company.

No Connection Between Poverty and Terrorism

The UN and the Obama Administration have repeated this poverty propaganda without any evidence, or more specifically, despite the evidence.

Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 was from a wealthly family, as were many of the hijackers on the planes.

The terrorism that struck Bangladesh in July 2016 was perpetrated by wealthy men that attended elite universities.

This is often the norm.

The National Bureau of Economic Research did a study in September 2002 that found no connection between poverty and terrorism.  Among its findings was that racism and nationalism was behind the widespread support for killing Israeli Jewish civilians among Palestinian Arabs of all income levels.

A report by the Brookings Institute in 2010 authored by Corinne Graff noted that:

“since 9/11, terrorism experts have invoked empirical evidence that poverty does not correlate with a higher incidence of terrorist attacks and participation. The consensus appears to be that poverty does not motivate individuals to participate in terrorism, and that development assistance, therefore, has no place in a longer-term counter-terrorism strategy.”

The New York Times also came around to reporting this conclusion on March 27, 2016, in an article called “Who Will Become a Terrorist? Research Yields Few Clues.” The article discussed how there is little correlation between an a person’s education and poverty level with the probability he will engage in acts of terrorism. For example, the shooters in San Bernardino, CA in December 2015 were a middle class couple.

Yet the global body of the United Nations, and the most powerful democracy on the planet, the United States, are working on combatting terrorism with a flawed world view.

Ramifications

There are many ramifications of chasing a myth.  The implications are enormous when the subject is combatting global terrorism.

President Obama was correct when he called out the “warped ideologies espoused by terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIL” that use “their propaganda to Muslim communities, particularly Muslim youth” to advance a program to kill innocents. He is also correct that “Muslim communities, including scholars and clerics, therefore have a responsibility to push back” against these dangerous notions.

All citizens of the world have a similar responsibility to push back against the Obama administration and the United Nations that is pivoting the focus of counter-terrorism to economic development. The tactic to fight against twisted ideologies cannot be to give those communities more jobs and money.  Such thinking led the Obama administration to give the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, an estimated $150 billion and a legal pathway to obtain ballistic missiles, while keeping its nuclear infrastructure in place. The Obama administration logic that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be so happy to have the money and be embraced by the global community, that it will abandon sponsoring terrorism and its twisted ideology, has (yet) to play out.

Meanwhile, the world does little to combat the narrative and ideology itself.

In Gaza, the United Nations has allowed the Hamas government to ban the teaching of the Holocaust in UNRWA schools, and the teaching of global human rights.  Instead, UN Secretary General just talks about providing economic opportunity to Gaza.  When the UNSG said that he stands with Gaza, while never pushing to reform the thinking of the Palestinian Arabs, what message does he think he is conveying?

There was a thin line that separated the “Hope” that characterized the election of Obama in 2008, and the “wishful thinking” without basis in fact, that Obama’s detractors feared.  The trauma of global terrorism that has spread on his watch is anchored in a worldview that often denies uncomfortable truths and replaces it with a propaganda of his own.

Related First.One.Through articles:

Failures of the Obama Doctrine and the Obama Rationale

Obama’s “Values” Red Herring

The Invisible Anti-Semitism in Obama’s 2016 State of the Union

Liberals’ Biggest Enemies of 2015

Absolute and Relative Ideological Terrorism in the United States

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The US State Department Does Not Want Israel to Fight Terrorism

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On June 30, 2016, the spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, John Kirby gave his daily press briefing. He opened with a story about the terrorist attack against a young Israeli girl who was killed in her bed. Kirby appropriately described the “brutal act of terrorism,” however, his subsequent remarks went in a strange direction.

John Kirby
Spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, John Kirby

Consider which of these statements Kirby made on June 30 about terrorism:

  1. “reiterated our steadfast commitment to our partnership with [Israel], in the shared fight against terrorism.”
  2. “This incident during the Holy Month of Ramadan underscores the extremists’ complete disregard for human life and the harm that they continue to inflict on the [Israeli] people. Attacks like these are going to only deepen our support for the people and the Government of [Israel] and their efforts to bring security and stability to their country.”
  3. “we remain committed to supporting our [Israeli] partners in their fight against [Hamas] as we continue to work with [Israel] to bolster their efforts to end this wanton violence and to restore peace.”

Those are strong comments of support for the government. They are determined calls to fight against terrorism.

Unfortunately, the US Department of State did not make any of these comments about the terrorism in Israel. Only for other countries.

The first comment was about Turkey, the second about Afghanistan, and the third about Cameroon fighting Boko Haram.

When it came to terrorist attacks against Israelis, all the State Department could muster was that “there’s just absolutely no justification for terrorism.” Why would anyone even think there’s a justification for terrorism? Why make such a comment only for Israel? Why withhold voicing support to fight against the terrorists as Kirby immediately did for all of the terrorist attacks in other countries?

The World Doesn’t Want Israel to Fight Palestinian Arab Terrorists

This unwillingness to support Israel in fighting terrorists is similar to the Obama administration’s brother-in-arms, the United Nations, which repeatedly expresses its solidarity with countries in their fight against terrorism, but never stands with Israel in its efforts, as detailed in “Ban Ki Moon Has No Solidarity with Israel.”

Why doesn’t the US or the UN express support for Israel’s fight on terrorism? A few reasons:

  1. The US dislikes the tactic of terrorism
  2. The US ignores the stated goals of some terrorists
  3. The US ignores the wishes of the majority of Palestinian Arabs

The repeated comments by the Obama administration make clear that the United States abhors the use of terrorism against civilians, but considers the tactic in relation to potential goals of the groups. For example, the Islamic State/ ISIS wants to replace Iraq and Syria and much of the Middle East with a new caliphate. Boko Haram wants to create an Islamic State in Nigeria. The Kurds want independence from Turkey in their own country. These are goals that the Obama administration does not support so he voices his support to fight against terrorism in those instances because he does not support the terrorists’ mission. (Why Obama turns his back on an actual distinct ethnic group like the Kurds who seek independence, but rallies behind Palestinian Arabs who are part of the broader Arab world is a mystery to analyze another time.)

What angers many people in the pro-Israel community, is the willful ignorance of Obama and UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon about the stated objectives of Palestinian Arab terrorists. The Hamas Charter states clearly its goals for killing Jews and destroying Israel. The Fatah Constitution, which Obama likes to call “moderate,” calls for wiping out the “Zionist invasion.” These are not calls for an independent country alongside Israel, but replacing Israel.

But the US and UN do not want Israel to “fight against terrorism” the way that other governments do to protect their citizens, because they would like to see the establishment of a new state of Palestine. As such, the US condemns Palestinian terrorism (the UN almost never does), but will not advocate a forceful response to “end this wanton violence.”

Terrorism by a Community, Not a Small Group

The terrorism against Israelis does not sit in a small Gazan vacuum.

The majority of Palestinian Arabs want to see violence. A Palestinian poll in June 2016 showed that 65% of Palestinian Arabs supported the bus bombing in Jerusalem in mid-April. A majority of 54% supported the return to an armed intifada.

In the last election ever held by Palestinian Arabs, they elected the terrorist group Hamas to 58% of the parliament.

Additionally, an ADL poll in May 2014 found that almost every single Palestinian Arab – 93% – were anti-semitic.

How then does one deal with a hatred and terrorism that is supported so broadly among Palestinian Arabs?

If the elected leadership and the majority of the people support terrorism, should it continue to be called “terrorism,” or should it be called “war?”

Terrorism continues around the world and the Obama administration condemns it, but it refuses to support Israel’s active defense of its citizens, even while supporting every other country in the world in the same breath.

How should Israel supporters feel?

Related First.One.Through articles:

Select Support in Fighting Terrorism from the US State Department

US State Department Comments on Terrorism in Israel and the Territories

The US State Department’s Selective Preference of “Status Quos”

The United States Joins the Silent Chorus

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Ban Ki Moon Has No Solidarity with Israel

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All countries around the world are confronting terrorism.

The United Nations condemns this violence everywhere, and it can find solidarity with every country in the world as they fight the heinous acts –except for Israel.

Ban Ki Moon
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

When terrorism claimed the lives of people in the airport in Turkey on June 28, 2016, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he “stands firmly by Turkey as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.”

When suicide bombings hit Lebanon on June 27, the Secretary General said the “United Nations stands firmly by Lebanon as it confronts the threat of terrorism and other security challenges.”

When bombings killed people in Jordan on June 21, a spokesperson for the UNSG said Ban Ki Moon “reiterates his solidarity with the Government and people of Jordan.”

When terrorism claimed the lives of Americans in a nightclub, on June 12 Ban Ki Moon “expresses his solidarity with the Government and people of the United States.”

After terrorists struck Belgium in March 2016, the Secretary General noted “his solidarity with the people and Government of Belgium.”

After Boko Haram killed dozens in Chad in December 2015, the spokesperson for the UNSG said that Ban Ki Moon “reaffirms his solidarity with the people of Chad and reiterates the United Nations’ support for the Government in its fight against terrorism.”

After terrorists attacked Nigeria on November 15, 2015, the UNSG stated clearly that he “reiterates the UN’s support to the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism.”

When terrorist attacked France on November 13, 2015, Ban Ki Moon said “He stands with the Government and people of France.”

But not in Israel

But when terrorists killed Israelis on June 8, the Secretary General could not offer his solidarity. Instead, he stated how surprising it was that Palestinian Arabs could commit such an act. “The Secretary-General is shocked that the leaders of Hamas have chosen to welcome this attack and some have chosen to celebrate it.”

The fact that these attacks had been going on for over a year seemingly never registered for Ban Ki Moon. He must have opted to never read the Hamas Charter which calls for killing Jews. The Fatah Constitution, which repeatedly calls for obliterating the “Zionist invasion” still manages to surprise him.

But even an ignoramus should be able to muster the decency to stand together with a country under attack.  Regrettably, not an anti-Semitic ignoramus.

Related First.One.Through articles:

The United Nations’ Adoption of Palestinians, Enables It to Only Find Fault With Israel

The UN is Watering the Seeds of Anti-Jewish Hate Speech for Future Massacres

The United Nations’ Ban Ki Moon Exposes Israeli Civilians

The United Nation’s Ban Ki Moon is Unqualified to Discuss the Question of Palestine

The Only Religious Extremists for the United Nations are “Jewish Extremists”

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Republican Scrutiny and Democratic Empowerment of Muslims in Minnesota

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that America needs to be “very vigilant” in scrutinizing Muslims regarding matters of security, as it is difficult to separate Islam from radical Islam.  He told CNN that Americans “have to be very careful. And we can’t allow people coming into this country who have this hatred of the United States… There’s a sickness going on and you have to get to the bottom of it.”

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Donald Trump on CNN March 2016

For her part, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that America must “empower our Muslim-American communities, who are on the front-lines of the fight against radicalization.”

Are the two positions as far apart as they seem?

Republican Scrutiny

Trump has been accused of being an “Islamaphobe” for his position about Muslims and Islam. His call to place a temporary ban on all Muslims applying to enter the United States was roundly criticized by all of the other presidential candidates.  Trump argued that America needed more information and better background checks on people that might pose a threat to the country because “Islam hates us.“.

Before Trump made his comments, in September 2015, the US House Committee on Homeland Security released a report about jihadist operations in the U.S. Among the major takeaways of the report were:

  • “The jihadist threat in the U.S. homeland is high and has escalated dramatically this year
  • ISIS is fueling the Islamist terror wildfire across the globe at unprecedented speed
  • Islamist terrorists are intent on killing American law enforcement and military personnel, in addition to innocent civilians”

The report went on to highlight that the state with the highest number of potential jihadists – by a far margin – was Minnesota, at 26% of the total sample set. The report included a sample story about the growing threat of jihadists: “Abdi Nur, only 20-years old when he left Minnesota for Syria last year, is a prime example. Once in the conflict zone, he spent months persuading his friends in Minneapolis to join him.  His peer-to-peer recruiting nearly worked, as six of his friends attempted to leave the United States for Syria; they were arrested by the FBI this April.”

The newspaper Star Tribune wrote about a Republican reaction to the report: “Republican Rep. John Kline, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and long a hawkish critic of the Obama administration, said the report proves “homegrown terrorism remains a serious issue in Minnesota.” Kline said it also demonstrates the Obama administration “does not have a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS and Islamist terrorists.”

Ami Horowitz, a freelance reporter who often produces stories for Fox News, conducted several interviews in May 2015 with Somali Muslim Americans in Minnesota. In his interviews, seen here, Muslim Americans said they were happy and felt welcomed in America.  Yet despite those feelings, the Muslims would prefer to live in Somalia, not America. They further believed, that elements of sharia law, such as using the death penalty for anyone that insulted their prophet, should be practiced in the US.

Republicans like Kline and Trump directly pointed to “homegrown terrorism” stemming from the Muslim community.  They called for greater scrutiny of those communities to better protect Americans.

The Democrats seemingly suggested a different tactic.

Democratic Empowerment

The liberal senator from Minnesota had a very different reaction to the September House report of jihadists in his state.  The Star Tribune wrote: “In Washington, U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn, said the report “only underscores the urgent need for adequate resources to fight terrorist recruitment.” He noted the need to build stronger community outreach programs while refraining from stereotyping. “It’s important that we don’t indiscriminately target members of one community,” he said.”

Just months later, in December 2015, Hillary Clinton addressed a crowd in Minnesota about how to defeat ISIS.  One of her points addressed Muslims in America, where her “strategy is empowering Muslim-American communities who are on the front-lines of the fight against radicalization.  There are millions of peace-loving Muslims living, working, raising families, and paying taxes in our country.  These Americans may be our first, last, and best defense against home grown radicalization and terrorism.  They are the most likely to recognize the insidious effects of radicalization before it’s too late, intervene to help set a young person straight.  They are the best positioned to block anything going forward.

That’s why law enforcement has worked so hard since 9/11 to build up trust and strong relationships within Muslim-American communities.  Here in the Twin Cities, you have an innovative partnership that brings together parents, teachers, imams, and others in the Somali-American community with law enforcement, non-profits, local businesses, mental health professionals and others to intervene with young people who are at risk.

It’s called the Building Community Resilience Pilot Program, and it deserves increased support.  It has not gotten the financial resources that it needs to do everything the people involved in it know they can do.  And we’ve got to do a better job of supporting it.“

Democrats like Clinton and Franken suggested the solution to dealing with homegrown jihadists is to “empower” that same community that Republicans sought to scrutinize.  Their approaches were seemingly polar opposites.

Ignorance and Analysis

In reality, the concerns of jihadist terrorism for Republicans and Democrats are much the same.  Republicans feel that the entire Muslim community should be scrutinized as they are not confident in being able to distinguish between the “good” and “bad.”  The Democrats want to embrace the good, and get them to both reform and squeal on the “bad.”

Both the Republicans and Democrats advocate intelligence gathering.  Clinton wants to use people from within the Muslim community to do the work, while Trump lacks confidence in relying on the community for America’s safety.

Where Trump and Clinton divide is in their basic thoughts about Islam.  Trump seemingly believes that Islam is inherently intolerant of western values, so the peaceful Muslims are doing so in spite of their religion.  Clinton believes that there is nothing inherently anti-American about Islam, and there are just a small percentage of violent jihadists in the community.

In the end, both Trump and Clinton want to root out homegrown Islamic radicals.  Trump just wants to use law enforcement to handle the task and believes that Clinton’s approach allows the fox to guard the hen house.

Related First.One.Through articles

“Jews as a Class”

Political Pinatas: Populist Greed Meets Populist Anger

Half Standards: Gun Control and the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Deal

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The New York Times Wrote About Computer Hackers Charged by the US and Israel. Differently.

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On March 24, 2016 the New York Times wrote an article about Israel’s arrest of a computer hacker breaking into sensitive military computers. The next day, the paper wrote about the United States charging several Iranian computer hackers attacking the United States. Similar stories should get similar coverage, right?  Not when one party is Israel.

A comparison of the two stories can provide a primer for how the NY Times continues to portray Israel in a negative light:

  1. Use of Headlines.
  2. Using soft or harsh language.
  3. Quoting insiders and outsiders.
  4. Statement of fact versus charges.
  5. Providing background on fear of attacks.
  6. Pictures of targets (or none).
  7. Use of multiple reporters covering different sides of the story

Use of Headlines

The Times article on Iranian hackers attacking the US was titled “U.S. Indicts 7 Iranians in Cyberattacks on Banks and a Dam.”  The article clearly laid out that Iranians committed cyberattacks. No question.

The article about the Israeli arrest had a different approach to the headline: “Family Sees TV Talent Scout Where Israeli Authorities See Jihadist Spy.” In this case, there is a difference of opinion about the facts. Israelis perceive evil, while others see a normal working person.

The Israeli situation is not cut-and-dry. The US is cracking down on attacks, while the Israelis are arresting people who may simply work for a fun media company.

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New York Times article with headline questioning Israeli arrest

Soft versus Harsh Language

The article about the hacker against Israel describe a “young man” on an “innocent” mission. The age and supposed profession of the hacker was given.

The US story mentioned only the attackers’ names with no ages. The only color given for the individuals were their “online handles” including “Nitr0jen26,” “PLuS,”and “Turk Server,” making them all appear guilty.

Selection of Quotes

An often used strategy of twisting the narrative of a story is carefully selecting the parties who provide personal color to the events.

For Israel, the only quotes about the arrest came from Palestinians: a spokesman for the terrorist group Islamic Jihad, and the accused’s brother (I’m not making it up- his brother). The quotes include many denials, and accusations against Israel.

In the article about the US arrest, no Iranians were interviewed (nor any of the accused family members- imagine that). Quotes came from the indictment itself, Senator Chuck Schumer, and the head of the national security department of the Justice Department.

Guess which way the quotes tilted in each case?

Statement of Facts versus Charges

This subtle and directed approach is often used by the New York Times.

The article’s description of the Israeli arrest is couched in cautionary, inconclusive language: “according to Israeli authorities” or “”according to the charge sheet” and “the Shin Bet says,” are followed by statements.  The NY Times aim is to clarify that the charges against the hackers are not necessarily true.  Maybe cyberattacks happened, maybe they didn’t.  Maybe this is the person responsible, maybe he isn’t.  The paper is just reporting what they culled from Israeli authorities.

Compare that use of cautionary language to the article about the attacks against US targets.  Those attacks were all described as factual; there is no language that suggests that hacking attacks did not happen, the question is why the attacks happened.

For example, in the attack on the dam the Times wrote “It appeared to be an effort to take over the dam itself,” meaning, the attack is a fact, but it is unclear if the attackers wanted to fully control the entirety of the dam.  There was no caveat of “according to US investigators.”

Background

The US story included information about the recent US-Iranian negotiations around the Iranian nuclear power program. It stated that “the indictment appeared to be part of an American effort to keep Iran from shifting activity from its nuclear program to its growing corps of cyberwarriors.”

However, the article on Israel mentioned nothing about the current attacks by Palestinian Arabs against Israelis, nor the missile attacks and wars launched from Gaza over the past eight years.

In other words, America was rational in trying to protect itself against Iran. Meanwhile, Israel’s arrest was seemingly made in a vacuum to “create frustration among Gazans,” as a quote said.

Use of Pictures

The story about Iranians attacking American targets included a picture of US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and one of the targets of the cyberattacks- a dam in suburb of New York City. The picture added to the significance of the story and fear of the attack.

The Israeli story featured no pictures. Hacking into the country’s airports and drones was not prominently featured with accompanying photos. There were no captions that highlighted Israeli’s fears.

cyber-web-master
New York Times Photo accompanying article:
Caption: “Cyberattackers attempted to gain control of the Bowman Dam in Rye, a suburb of New York, in 2013. The effort failed, but worried American investigators because it was aimed at seizing a piece of infrastructure.
Christopher Capozziello for The New York Times”

Use of Reporters

The long article by David Sanger about the US arrests did not rely on any other reporters. However, the Israeli article which was half the length of the US story, used two reporters: “Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem, and Majd Al Waheidi from Gaza.”

Such wonderful balance!

 

Newspapers can write up a story in any manner they see fit. It is not surprising that an American paper would side strongly in its reporting with the United States and against its foes. One would imagine that papers treat American allies in much the same manner.

Not the New York Times for Israel.

As seen above and analyzed often in FirstOneThrough, the New York Times skews its reporting against Israel and in favor of Palestinians.

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New York Times on US indictment of Iranian hackers

The articles from the New York Times:

Article on Israeli arrest of cyberhackers:

“JERUSALEM — The young man was on his way out of Gaza on an innocent-seeming mission: to scout potential contestants for his embryonic “Palestinians Got Talent” television show and meet the show’s West Bank staff in Ramallah. He had an Israeli permit for the journey.

But the Israeli authorities say the would-be impresario — Majd Oweida, 22 — had been doing something sinister: spying for Iranian-backed extremists.

They arrested Mr. Oweida at the Erez checkpoint last month, and on Wednesday they charged him in an Israeli court with, among other things, hacking into computers at Israel’s international airport and intercepting transmissions from the country’s military drones.

The charge sheet says he was recruited by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group about five years ago. He soon became the group’s cyber expert, the Israeli authorities said, and developed software that allowed Islamic Jihad to monitor road traffic and the movement of security forces in Israel; to view video images from Israeli air force drones in real time as they flew over Gaza; and to track flights in and out of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and see lists of the passengers on board.

According to Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, Mr. Oweida has confessed to developing the hacking programs and showing his Islamic Jihad handler how to use them.

Dawood Shehab, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad in Gaza, said the group knew nothing about Mr. Oweida or anybody else mentioned in the case.

“I believe there is exaggeration about his arrest,” Mr. Shehab said on Wednesday in a telephone interview. “All I can say is that Israel always uses cheap techniques and ways to use our young men and pressure them and create frustration among Gazans.”

Shin Bet, he added, “wants to prove to their people that they can do something, and the victim is usually our young people.”

Mr. Oweida’s brother, Amjad Oweida, 23, the executive director of “Palestinians Got Talent,” said his family was shocked by the charges and denied that Majd, the show’s general supervisor, had ties to Islamic Jihad or any other Palestinian faction.

“He is just a talented young man who can use and work on computers in a brilliant way,” Amjad Oweida said of his younger brother. “He cannot hack or do cyberattacks.” He added: “Majd did not work for Islamic Jihad or any other political party. He used to work for Palestine’s Talent Club to help talented people leave Gaza for TV programs outside.”

According to the charge sheet, Mr. Oweida met his Islamic Jihad handler, Ismail Dahdouh, by chance sometime in 2011 at Mr. Oweida’s father’s electrical appliance store, and told Mr. Dahdouh that he was looking for work. The charge sheet said Islamic Jihad started Mr. Oweida off as a sound engineer and host at a radio station affiliated with the group’s student union, and was soon asking him to develop hacking programs as well.

The first cybertarget, the charge sheet said, was a computer system that keeps track of movement on Israel’s roads; hacking that system allowed Islamic Jihad to spot where in Israel the rockets fired from Gaza had landed. About a year later it was the drones.

The authorities said Mr. Oweida told Mr. Dahdouh that he needed a frequency reader, a satellite dish with an Amos Satellite lens and a laptop computer for the project. Mr. Dahdouh obtained the equipment from the United States and smuggled it into Gaza through tunnels from Egypt, according to the court documents. Israel said that the frequency reader stopped being able to penetrate the drone systems’ transmissions sometime in 2014.

The authorities say Mr. Oweida is suspected of having broken into the airport system in part by stealing the identity of an American man who had access to the data. Mr. Oweida is also accused of hacking into the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza to obtain the Palestinian population registry for Islamic Jihad’s use.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, said on Wednesday that it had no information about the case.

Mr. Oweida was traveling with a group of other young Gazans working for the talent show when he arrived at the Erez checkpoint on Feb. 23. Two Israeli soldiers arrived and took him into custody.”

 

Article on US arrest of cyberhackers:

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Thursday unsealed an indictment against seven computer specialists who regularly worked for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, charging that they carried out cyberattacks on dozens of American banks and tried to take over the controls of a small dam in a suburb of New York.

The indictment, while long expected, represents the first time the Obama administration had sought action against Iranians for a wave of computer attacks on the United States that began in 2011 and proceeded for more than a year, paralyzing some banks and freezing customers out of online banking.

The indictment stops short of charging that the attacks were directed by the Revolutionary Guards, a branch of the Iranian military. But it referred to the seven Iranians as “experienced computer hackers” who “performed work on behalf of the Iranian government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”

Nothing in the indictment addresses the motives for the attacks. But intelligence experts have long speculated that the cyberactions directed at roughly four dozen financial institutions — including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Capital One and PNC Bank — were intended to be retaliation for an American-led cyberattack on Iran’s main nuclear enrichment plant. That attack, which employed the so-called Stuxnet virus, was revealed in 2010.

All of the Iranian attacks — which, the indictment said, included actions against the New York Stock Exchange and AT&T — were “distributed denial of service” attacks, often called DDoS attacks. In those assaults, the target’s computers are overwhelmed by coordinated computer requests from thousands of machines around the world. The targeted networks often crash, putting them out of service for some period.

 

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced an indictment against seven Iranians who are believed to have attempted to hack into several American banks and a dam in New York.

But the case of the Bowman Dam in Rye, N.Y., was entirely different: It appeared to be an effort to take over the dam itself. The attempt failed because the dam was under repair and offline, but in some ways it worried American investigators more because it was aimed at seizing control of a piece of infrastructure.

“The most likely conclusion is that it was a warning shot” from the Iranians, who were saying, “‘Don’t pick on us, because we can pick on you,’” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York.

But Mr. Schumer said that the lesson from this case was “not that we should not employ cyberweapons, but that we should be able to protect ourselves.”

It is doubtful that any of the named Iranians will ever appear in an American courtroom. In that respect, the indictment is similar to one the Justice Department issued two years ago against members of Unit 61398 of the People’s Liberation Army of China, which it accused of stealing data from American corporations. The Chinese have never been arrested.

But the administration argues that such indictments send a strong signal and make it difficult for those who are indicted to travel, for fear of extradition.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department indicted two other hackers who it said were members of the Syrian Electronic Army, which has supported the government of Bashar al-Assad, and it believes that it has a chance to gain custody of one of them. On Wednesday, the department obtained a guilty plea from a Chinese national living in Canada, Su Bin, whom it accused of mounting a cybercampaign to steal the designs of military aircraft from Boeing, on behalf of Chinese intelligence agents.

The Iran indictment comes eight months after the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six other nations, including the United States, which appeared to be putting Tehran and Washington on a track toward a more productive relationship after 35 years of enmity. But Iranian missile launches in recent months — also organized by the Guards — have led to calls in Congress for new sanctions.

The indictment appeared to be part of an American effort to keep Iran from shifting activity from its nuclear program to its growing corps of cyberwarriors, some of whom work directly for the government, while others, like those named in the indictment, seem to be contractors.

As a measure of the importance the administration placed on the indictment, it was announced by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, in a news conference in Washington with Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, where the indictment was handed up. It was unclear how long it had been under seal.

The Iranians named in the indictment included Ahmad Fathi, Hamid Firoozi, Amin Shokohi and Sadegh Ahmadzadegan, who went by the online handle of “Nitr0jen26.” Also named were Omid Ghaffarinia, known as “PLuS,” Sina Keissar and Nader Saedi, also known as “Turk Server.” Their whereabouts was not described, but some worked for a firm the indictment called the ITSec Team, and some for the Mersad Company, both described as security companies in Iran.

John P. Carlin, who heads the national security division of the Justice Department, said in an interview that the indictments arose from a new approach within the Obama administration. “Prior to 2012, we dealt with these cases as intelligence matters,” which were hard to bring to court, Mr. Carlin said, because the evidence was classified. “Now we are following traditional investigative rules,” he said, assembling data that can be entered into court records.

Iran’s computer networks have been a primary target of the National Security Agency for years, and it is likely that in penetrating those networks — for intelligence purposes or potential sabotage — the N.S.A. could have traced the attacks to specific computers, IP addresses or individuals.

But naming individuals, some experts suggested, could lead to retaliation. Jason Healey, a cyberconflict expert at Columbia University and the Atlantic Council, asked in a Twitter post on Thursday whether naming individuals, rather than governments, put cyberoperators for the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency “at risk for similar indictments.”

Related First.One.Through articles:

New York Times Lies about the Gentleness of Zionism

Every Picture Tells a Story: Arab Injuries over Jewish Deaths

The New York Times Refuses to Label Hamas a Terrorist Group

Framing the Israeli-Palestinian Arab Conflict: WSJ and NY Times

Every Picture Tells a Story: Versions of Reality

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Every Picture Tells a Story: The Invisible Killed Terrorists

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France Against ISIS

Every media outlet reported repeatedly about the devastation in Paris in November 2015. The terrorist attacks throughout the city killed 130 people going about their daily lives, and pictures filled newspaper pages of the bloody scene of the Batclan night club where most of the people were murdered. There were many other pictures and articles of the various innocent victims over the following days.

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Front page of the New York Times, November 15, 2015

In the following days the headlines of newspapers broadcast that France was attacking ISIS in retaliation for the attacks. Liberal papers like the New York Times editorial section even stated that “France rightfully attacked ISIS.” The papers reported 20 sorties.

Yet, where were the pictures of the dead ISIS fighters?  Where was the headcount of how many fighters were killed?

For all of the coverage about the terrorist attack and follow-up airstrikes, there was virtually no discussion of the deaths inflicted on the ISIS fighters in Syria or Iraq.

The pictures in the paper show the innocent victims of France. Nowhere does it show the images of what the French did in response.

The US Against Al Shabab

On March 8, 2016, the New York Times reported that the US struck and killed 150 fighters in Somalia, belonging to the terrorist group Al Shabab. The United States has been fighting against Al Shabab, an affiliate of Al Qaeda, for a decade.  While this group has not conducted any attacks on US soil against American civilians, a Pentagon spokesperson claimed that the group was planning a “large-scale attack” against US troops.

The US attack was the deadliest attack against Islamic militants in Africa.

There were no pictures in the newspapers to accompany the article.

There were no follow up stories.

Israel Against Hamas

Hamas has defined itself as opposed to the very existence of Israel.  They refuse to acknowledge any right or legitimacy of the Jewish State.  They repeatedly state in their charter and on their news programs that there can be no peace agreement with Israel, only jihad.

Hamas has launched over 10,000 rockets into Israel, since Israel left Gaza in 2005.  The group has instigated three wars and killed over a thousand Israelis.  Those Hamas wars have claimed thousands of Palestinian Arab lives as well.

However, unlike the invisible terrorists of ISIS and Al Shabab, the papers post the pictures of dead Palestinian terrorists.  Whether covering the front pages of the paper in the summer of 2014, or running long articles with several pictures of Gazans dying using the tunnel network, the paper relays the Palestinians in a sympathetic light.  The people of Gaza, who voted for and are governed by the terrorist group Hamas, are shown as victims time and again.

 

The United Nations often condemns Israel for “disproportionate” force in stopping Palestinian attackers actively involved in attacking people.  It did not condemn France  nor the United States for its actions against terrorists.

Maybe every day people can begin to condemn the media for disproportionate coverage of Israel’s handling its War on Terror.

Related First.One.Through articles:

Review of Media Headlines on Palestinian Arab Terror Spree

Every Picture Tells a Story: Arab Injuries over Jewish Deaths

Every Picture Tells A Story: Only Palestinians are Victims

Every Picture Tells a Story- Whitewashing the World (except Israel)

The Big, Bad Lone Wolves of Terrorism

The New York Times Refuses to Label Hamas a Terrorist Group

Flip-Flopping on the Felling of Terrorist Groups’ Founders

My Terrorism

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The United Nations’ Ban Ki Moon Exposes Israeli Civilians

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Five years ago, in March 2011, the world was a very violent place. The Secretary-General of the United Nations often spoke at length about the responsibility to protect civilians from violence. In some places.

When it came to Israel, after two Palestinian Arab men slaughtered five people in their beds while they slept, Ban Ki Moon uttered few words, and rather than demand better protection for civilians, he argued that the government should “act with restraint.”

Just four days before the massacre in Itamar, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said the following: “The Palestinian Authority continues to make progress in institution-building and the delivery of public services, which leaves it well-positioned for the establishment of a State at any point in the near future. Israelis should be comforted by the emergence of a reliable partner and neighbour committed to Israel’s right to live in peace and security, opposed to violence and terrorism, and able to deliver on the ground.”

More ignorant words may never have been spoken.

If the UN Secretary General was so impressed with the PA as a partner, why does he never call out the Palestinian Authority to stop inciting violence and protect people?  As seen below, he is comfortable calling on other ruling authorities to protect civilians.  Except Israel.

Quotes from Ban Ki Moon in March 2011

On Israel, March 12, 2011 (38 words): “The Secretary-General condemns last night’s shocking murder of an Israeli family of five, including three children, in a West Bank settlement. He calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and for all to act with restraint.”

  • There was no call for ensuring the protection of innocent civilians.
  • There was no calling out of the Palestinian Authority for incitement.
  • There was no call to contain Palestinian extremists to prevent the further loss of life.

That would only happen for other countries, where he would wax on about the obligation to protect civilians:

On Sudan, March 14, 2011 (161 words): ” He calls upon the leadership of the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to restrain the local communities in Abyei and to implement the short-term containment measures…”

On Libya, March 17, 2011 (208 words): “Resolution 1973 affirms, clearly and unequivocally, the international community’s determination to fulfil its responsibility to protect civilians from violence perpetrated upon them by their own government. The Resolution authorizes the use of all necessary measures, including a no-fly zone to prevent further casualties and loss of innocent lives”

On Syria, March 18, 2011 (104 words): “The use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators and their arbitrary arrests are unacceptable”

On Yemen, March 18, 2011 (111 words): ”  He reiterates his call for utmost restraint and reminds the Government of Yemen that it has an obligation to protect civilians. He calls on all to desist from any provocative acts that might lead to further violence..”

On Libya, March 23, 2011 (64 words): “…he reiterates his call for an immediate end to violence by all parties, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973, and for the responsibility to protect civilians.”

On Syria, March 23, 2011 (101 words): “He reminds the Syrian Government of its obligation to protect civilians”

On Ivory Coast, March 31, 2011 (175 words): “He urges all parties to abide by their responsibility to avoid harm to the civilian population. It is essential that all parties cooperate with the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. The Secretary-General reiterates that those responsible for inciting, orchestrating or committing human rights violations will be held accountable under international law.“

Ban Ki Moon
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

The UN Secretary General believes governments in the region should protect civilians, but Israel should rely on the Palestinian Authority for its security.  In March 2011, a family was butchered in their beds.

Five years later, Ban Ki Moon continues the same pattern of not calling out the Palestinian Authority – which he still claims is a “reliable partner and neighbor” for Israel’s security – for inciting murder.  He excuses them with words that the Palestinians are “frustrated.”  He absolves their sins with silence.

Five years on, innocent civilians continue to be killed in the streets of Israel, and Ban Ki Moon continues to deny that Israel has the right and responsibility to protect its citizens.

Related First.One.Through articles:

The United Nation’s Ban Ki Moon is Unqualified to Discuss the Question of Palestine

The United Nations’ Remorse for “Creating” Israel

The Hollowness of the United Nations’ “All”

The UN Can’t Support Israel’s Fight on Terrorism since it Considers Israel the Terrorists

UN Comments on the Murder of Innocents: Itamar and Duma

UN Media Centre Ignores Murdered Israelis

UN Comments on the Murder of Innocents: Henkins

FirstOneThrough video of Itamar massacre: The 2011 Massacre of the Fogels in Itamar (Gorecki)

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Review of Media Headlines on Palestinian Arab Terror Spree

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On March 8, 2016, several Palestinian Arabs attacked Israelis in various locations in Israel. A particularly horrible assault occurred in Jaffa, where a Palestinian Arab man stabbed various civilians, killing an American tourist.

jaffa attack
Scene of Palestinian Arab terror attack at Jaffa Port, March 8, 2016
(photo: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

The headlines from major news agencies show a range of focus: some focus on the attacker being a Palestinian, others omit the fact completely; most focused on an American being killed, some papers ignored mentioning the many Israelis injured.

The more complete news accounts came from papers often viewed as slightly more conservative. The papers that whitewashed the Palestinian Arab attacker came from more liberal papers.

The Palestinian media center inverted the story completely, focusing on the terrorist that was killed.

Focus on American Killed and Israelis Injured by Palestinian

“Palestinian attacks kill American student, wound 12 Israelis” US News & World Report
“Palestinian attacks kill American student, wound 12 Israelis” Washington Post
“Palestinian Attacks Kill American Student, Wound 12 Israelis” .. abcnews
“Jaffa stabbing spree: Palestinian kills American tourist, wounds 10 others” Jerusalem Post Israel News‎

Only American Killed by Palestinian

“Palestinian kills U.S. tourist in stabbing spree on Tel Aviv boardwalk” Reuters
“American tourist killed as Palestinians unleash attacks in Israel” CBS News
“Palestinian kills US tourist in Israel” BBC News

American Killed and Israelis Injured – But Not by Palestinian

“US student dead and at least 13 others injured in attacks across Israel” The Guardian
“American fatally stabbed in Israel terror attack that wounds 10 others” CNN

 Only American Killed – not by Palestinian

“Vanderbilt MBA Student Killed Amid Stabbing Violence in Israel as Biden Arrives for Talks” NBC News
“American Graduate Student Killed in Stabbing Rampage Near Tel Aviv” New York Times
“American dies in Israel stabbing attack” USA Today
“U.S. tourist killed in knife attack in Israel, where survey illuminates deep divides” LA Times

The last two headlines could lead a reader to conclude that Israelis killed the American tourist.

Focus on Palestinians Being Killed

“3 Palestinians shot dead after multiple attacks kill tourist, wound 12” Maan News Agency (Palestinian NGO)

“Israel’s Killing of Four Palestinians Focus of Dailies“ Wafa, the Palestinian News Agency. Wafa led that the local Palestinian papers all focused on Israelis killing Palestinians, placing Israelis as the aggressors as opposed to defending themselves.

News reports are often crafted and biased.  They deliberately add and omit information and highlight certain aspects of stories.

Consider what narrative you read each day.  If you continue to only read from the same news source, your perception of the news will be unbalanced.

For most Americans, that bias has been liberal and anti-Israel, by measuring the circulation of conservative media (Washington Post 400,000; US News <1 million) versus liberal media (USA today 3 million; New York times 1.4 million).

Even in a clear-cut story of a terrorist stabbing a dozen civilians on March 8, 2016, one can see how the media directs a story.  In the more complicated Israeli-Arab conflict, readers are left at the mercy of biased journalists and editors.

Consider getting information from a different political perspective in addition to your favorite media site. Innocent victims of terror deserve more than what the popular USAToday opts to publish.

Related First.One.Through articles:

New York Times Lies about the Gentleness of Zionism

Educating the New York Times: Hamas is the Muslim Brotherhood

The New York Times’ Buried Pictures

Every Picture Tells A Story: Only Palestinians are Victims

Every Picture Tells a Story: The Invisible Murdered Israelis

Framing the Israeli-Palestinian Arab Conflict: WSJ and NY Times

Every Picture Tells a Story: Arab Injuries over Jewish Deaths

Every Picture Tells a Story: Versions of Reality

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Civil Death and Terrorism

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Many governments are trying to develop legal structures to prevent and punish acts of terrorism. Their proposals and actions would extend to those who have not (yet) committed terrorism in their countries, to those who join terrorist groups such as the Islamic State/ ISIS.

France has considered stripping a person of their French citizenship if they engage in terrorist acts, if they were not born in France and held a second passport. The United Kingdom is considering a law of stripping British citizenship for naturalized Britons (those not born in the country).

While western European governments consider different ways of inhibiting terrorism and would-be terrorists, rights groups have argued that these steps infringe on an individual’s freedoms.  The groups contend that a government should not take punitive actions against a person before they actually commit a wrongful deed.

The governments are seeking a middle ground: not incarcerating a person if they are not found liable of committing a crime, yet still punishing them from embarking on a path towards terrorism.  Indeed, prison takes away a person’s freedoms, while withdrawing citizenship removes a person’s rights. Placing a person in jail removes a potential threat; the softer stance of removing citizenship inhibits dangerous associations.

The governments’ course of actions are not without precedent.

Civil Death

The United States has a legal concept called “Civil Death.” A “civil death” essentially strips a person of their rights that are connected to the government. For example, a violent felon would lose:

  • The right to vote
  • The ability to hold public office
  • The ability to be licensed for a business (many businesses require licenses to operate)
  • Ability to enter contracts or sue in court
  • The right to obtain insurance or pension
  • Any and all property

These are no small matters. Such person would not be in prison, but remain very limited in the ability to live, work and function freely in society. The courts effectively rule that if a person has shown a willful intolerance and disdain for society’s rules and laws, they will no longer be protected by those same laws.

Israel has used a similar approach in its ongoing war against terror.

Israel

Israel has long struggled with how to deter terrorists.  The military reduces acts of terrorism through roadblocks, checkpoints, and barriers, but they do not inhibit a person from considering such action.  The difference is significant, particularly for people who are willing to kill themselves in the act of terrorism.  There is no jail sentence for a suicide bomber.

Israel has ruled that people who aid and abet violent acts can be found liable, or at least partially liable, for the criminal behavior.  Israel has used home demolitions of suicide bombers as a means of punishing the murderer’s family who knowingly enabled the act of terrorism.

demolition
IDF demolishing home of Palestinian Arab terrorist
(photo: Reuters)

Rights groups have condemned the Israeli policy.  They claim that such actions amount to collective punishment against ordinary civilians who did not participate in any crime.  That position, while used by B’Tselem broadly, is actually unclear.  Not only may the family members be aware of the planned attack, but if the terrorist was the owner of the house, then the government could claim that all such rights to property ownership were null and void the moment the owner committed the terrorist act.  As such, the home became government property, which it can handle as it sees fit.

The Israeli government is exploring other punitive acts that are similar to the actions taken by European governments, such as revoking work papers or residency rights for terrorists and those that assist them. Other penalties could be handed down for the “civil dead” should they be found guilty of crimes in the future:

  • Forfeit any chance for parole
  • Never be exchanged in a prisoner swap

 

Governments around the world are investigating ways to slow the tide of would be terrorists.  As they do, the various punishments of a civil death will likely be explored in the future.

Related First.One.Through articles:

Collective Guilt / Collective Punishment

UN’s Confusion on the Legality of Israel’s Blockade of Gaza

Alternatives for Punishing Dead Terrorists

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