Will the Real David Please Stand Up?

Hamas fires rockets into southern Israel killing civilians — the act is called "terrorism." Israel blockades Gaza and cuts off food, medical supplies, and money then conducts an air raid on Gaza killing both police and civilians — the act is called "self-defense."

Did not the Irish resort to the same guerilla tactics in the face of a superior yet oppressive British occupation? Did not the Americans resort to guerilla tactics in the face of a superior yet oppressive British rule before they finally won their war of independence?

The underdog who wish to become self-ruling will always be called rebels. The guerillas who seek freedom from oppression will always be called terrorists.

Israel was under Philistine occupation when David fought Goliath. Israel was the underdog and the rebels. But God favored the oppressed and brought Goliath down. This time Israel has the upper hand militarily and economically mainly because of the military backing of world giant USA. Are the Palestinians now the oppressed, the underdog, David facing Goliath?

Israeli air strikes target Gaza

Palestinians say Israeli F-16 bombers have launched a series of air strikes against key targets in the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of people.

Missiles hit security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing at least 40 people, Hamas officials said.

The strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come after the expiry of a truce with Hamas.

Israel has threatened an offensive to stop the firing of rockets from Gaza.

There was no immediate word on the explosions from the Israeli military.

Read more...

Read Al Jazeera's version...

Read International Herald Tribune...

Who Has the Right to Violate Pakistan's Airspace?

Indian warplanes violate Pakistani airspace and Pakistani air force jets scramble to drive out their violating neighbors. But in the past several months, US drones have been constantly violating Pakistani airspace, bombing alleged terrorists and racking up the score on collateral damage, civilian casualties, and all Pakistan could do is whimper.

India is still smarting fresh from the Mumbai attacks. Yet Pakistan reacted quickly to the incursion but hardly to frequent US bombing. Whatever happened to national and territorial sovereignty? Is the UN still an effective organization to keep watch and police world peace? Or is it just a pushover in world politics and war? Who has the right to violate Pakistan's airspace?

Pakistan Says Indian Planes Entered Airspace

By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: December 14, 2008

LAHORE, Pakistan — Indian warplanes crossed into Pakistani airspace on Saturday over two parts of the country where the militant group accused of carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks is active, according to Pakistani officials, who said they scrambled their own air force jets to chase the Indian aircraft back across the border.

The incursions would appear to be an aggressive display by India, whose top officials describe neighboring Pakistan as the “epicenter of terrorism” and say Pakistan’s own intelligence service has long aided Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for the attacks in Mumbai last month, which sharply raised tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Pakistani officials trumpeted the airspace breaches in statements to the news media but said there was no cause for “alarm.” They also said they had contacted Indian officials, who confirmed the breaches as accidental. But Indian outlets also reported on Sunday morning that the Indian military had denied any improper flyovers.

Read more...