Increasing Evidence That Israel Is Using White Phosphorus Weapons Over Heavily-Populated Gaza

White Phosphorus:
"White phosphorus ignites and produces layers of thick white smoke when exposed to oxygen, but phosphorous from an explosion will cause serious burns that can melt flesh to the bone and kill. Its use as an offensive munition is banned by the chemical weapons convention."
(From: www.guardian.co.uk/)

Increasing evidence from eyewitness accounts and people on the ground in Gaza is pointing to Israeli Forces loading its shells and mortars with the highly-incendiary chemical known as 'white phosphorus'.

International concerns for the safety of Palestinian civilians are "... amplified, given the technique evidenced in media photographs of air-bursting white phosphorus projectiles. Air bursting of white phosphorus artillery spreads 116 burning wafers over an area between 125 and 250 meters in diameter, depending on the altitude of the burst, thereby exposing more civilians and civilian infrastructure to potential harm than a localized ground burst." - (From: hrw.org)

In spite of these reports and video evidence, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) spokespersons are continuing to deny using the caustic chemical. They also continue to declare that they are following the guidelines put forth in international law regarding what materials/chemicals may be used, how they may be used and for what reasons - as it regards heavily-populated areas being targeted... like Gaza.

Recently, some Israeli officials have gone a bit further, in that they aren't denying using the disgusting stuff - something which they did in recent past military actions against Gaza - but they aren't admitting to it, either.

Only adding sociopathic insult to excruciating injury... Seeing various Israeli talking heads - such as the head of the Israeli Consulate here in San Francisco - calmly and without the tiniest hint of humanity, let alone any sense of regret - speak expressionless about the ongoing and growing Palestinian civilian deaths and injuries as well as the unpleasant results of "wayward" Israeli shells or Israel's intentional bombing of a known UN shelter... and, now, the shelling and subsequent fiery destruction of a UN compound that included food and other relief supply storage... who so blankly continue to claim that their actions are only taken in self-defense and that everyone should blame Hamas for all of the pain, suffering and death.

It boggles the mind that these apparently educated people are so caught up in their own bs party line that they are blinded to the simple fact that they are doing exactly what Hamas wants them to do... Injuring, maiming, terrorizing and killing countless Palestinian civilians in their mad drive to eliminate Hamas leadership... All the while remaining Unflinchingly Unapologetic.

Their military might just may, in fact, eliminate a handful of Hamas leaders. But, their complete and utter lack of genuine empathy or human compassion for the terrible suffering of Palestinian civilians will only inspire the survivors of this over-the-top offensive to line-up to sign-up and replace those Hamas members that the bombings actually killed.

This isn't cutting off your nose to spite your face... This is Blowing It Off... Along with blowing away any innocent persons who just so happened to be in the vicinity.

The "Chosen People"?... Hmmm, apparently, they never got the memo. Or, perhaps it got incinerated by some of their white phosphorus... along with the Messenger carrying it.

Peace... Please.
L.



(From: www.huffingtonpost.com)

Evidence Grows That Israel is Using White Phosphorus in Gaza
By Greg Mitchell.

For several days, charges that Israel has been using white phosphorus in its Gaza bombing have spread, unconfirmed but gaining some credibility as some human rights groups have weighed in. But today the charges are reaching critical mass in the wake of the bombing of the main United Nations compound in Gaza City.

This just in from Reuters:

A warehouse in a U.N. compound in Gaza that came under Israeli fire on Thursday was apparently hit by white-phosphorus shells, U.N. humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said. "The main warehouse was badly damaged by what appeared to be white-phosphorus shells," Holmes told reporters at a news briefing in New York. "Those on the ground don't have any doubt that's what they were. If you were looking for confirmation, that looks like it to me."

And update from BBC:

"Human Rights Watch says it has observed "dozens and dozens" of white phosphorus shells being fired by Israel at the Gaza Strip - a heavily populated civilian area where its use is prohibited."

Palestinian medical officials said they had treated large numbers of casualties with unusual burns that were extremely painful to treat and could be consistent with exposure to white phosphorus (WP).

The Times of London reported earlier today:

"The Israeli military has denied using white phosphorus shells in the Gaza offensive, although an investigation by The Times has revealed that dozens of Palestinians in Gaza have sustained serious injuries from the substance, which burns at extremely high temperatures. The Geneva Convention of 1980 proscribes the use of white phosphorus as a weapon of war in civilian areas, although it can be used to create a smokescreen. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said today that all weapons used in Gaza were "within the scope of international law.""

In fact, the International Red Cross has stated that Israel is certainly using it and Israel's response was a non-denial, a spokesman explaining that the military "wishes to reiterate that it uses weapons in compliance with international law, while strictly observing that they be used in accordance with the type of combat and its characteristics."

Foreign press cannot get to bottom of it due to Israel refusing journalists' entry to Gaza.

The use of white phosphorus as an illuminating device only is okayed by international law but such use is extremely risky and banned for use in dense civilian areas. The fires it sets cannot be put out with the usual water or fire extinguishers.

Today, at least two United Nations officials have flatly declared that three or more white phosphorous shells were part of the attack today that set a UN building and compound ablaze in Gaza City. Here is just one of many press reports, just posted by The New York Times:

"A spokesman for the Relief and Works Agency, Christopher Gunness, said that the Israelis had been provided with the GPS coordinates of all United Nations facilities in Gaza. He said that two buildings were ablaze and that there were five fully laden fuel vehicles at the site....
In the attack on Thursday, Mr. Gunness said, the Israelis used phosphorous shells, according to Bloomberg. "The Israelis have shot three phosphorus shells against the compound, where hundreds of civilians are being sheltered," he was quoted as saying.

Earlier this week The New York Times reported on growing civilian charges of white phosphorus use:

Luay Suboh, 10, from Beit Lahiya, lost his eyesight and some skin on his face Saturday when, his mother said, a fiery substance clung to him as he darted home from a shelter where his family was staying to pick up clothes. The substance smelled like burned trash, said Ms. Jaawanah, the mother who fled her home in Zeitoun, who had experienced it too. She had no affection for Hamas, but her sufferings were changing that. 'Do you think I'm against them firing rockets now?' she asked, referring to Hamas. 'No. I was against it before. Not anymore.'
Also this week, AFP reported:

"Medics in Gaza say they have treated more than 50 people suffering burns caused by controversial white phosphorus shells, a claim backed up by a report of the New York-based Human Rights Watch. And two Norwegian doctors, recently returned from working in the Gaza Strip, accused Israel of using the territory as a testing ground for a new "extremely nasty" type of explosive."

Then there is today's report by The Times of London from correspondent Sheera Franklin in Jerusalem:

"Remnants of an Israeli white phosphorus shell, identified by the marking on the outer casing -- M825A1 -- have been found in the village of Sheikh Ajilin in western Gaza. Witnesses in Gaza said that the shell was fired on January 9 and was taken indoors as evidence. They recalled seeing thick smoke and smelling a strong odour in keeping with the garlic-like smell associated with white phosphorus.
Hebrew writing on the shell casing reads "exploding smoke" -- the term the Israeli army uses for white phosphorus. Doctors who examined the shell said that it appeared to include phosphorus residue. Residents said that they suffered burns on their feet when they walked where the shelling had taken place."

(From: democracynow.org)*"Medics and human rights groups are also reporting that they are seeing injuries distinctive of another controversial weapon, Dense Inert Metal Explosive, known as DIME, that was designed by the US Air Force in 2006."
Gives a new and very ugly meaning to the phrase: "Dropping a DIME."
L.

The Billboard of SHAME Invites You To: "Visit... WHERE?!"(You've Gotta See This.)

Skateboarding back from the San Francisco CalTrain Station to Market Street the other night - in the midst of crossing a street - something caught my eye.

From what I've observed, it seems that the majority of people on the street rarely Look Up...

Thankfully, I'm not part of that majority.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. "You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!", I said - to no one in particular - and burst out laughing. I felt it was my civic duty to photograph it and post it here in my Blog.

This is what I saw...




"Visit Israel * Different From The Israel In The News!"

Yes, that's right people of Earth! There are countless places in Israel where tourists can spend lots of money, do lots of shopping,... and not hear a single Israeli Bomb Dropping!

Now that you mention it... I hate it when my shopping excursions get interrupted by targeted air strikes and that annoying high-pitched whistle that precedes a direct missle or bomb hit...

It's really good to know that - in spite of the terrible suffering, thousands of injuries and violent, bloody deaths of over 400 men, women and children in Gaza...

There are still places where you can Get Your Party On In The 'Holy Land.'

Excuse me... I think I'm going to go throw up now.

Peace.
(Soon, I Hope.)
L.

"Why are 'They' So Angry at 'Us'(the U.S.)?"... Well... DUH!


(AFP Photo) A Palestinian mother and her 2 babies lay in the morgue in the Beit Hanoun hospital.


The recent Israeli "Military Offensive" (See "Massacre") in Gaza consisted mainly of shelling civilians... mostly women and children attempting to escape another unjustified, unsane and plain e-v-i-l Israeli massacre of Palestinians - a people whom the Israelis obviously don't consider to be human beings... (*based upon the ongoing and growing list of atrocities against/massacres of Palestinian civilians... After which Israeli "officials" always announce "an investigation into the terrible tragedy", which results in.... nothing, of course. And it never will. Israel sees nothing wrong with it's atrocities (see "phosphorus munitions used in beirut"). Israel's investigating itself for crimes against humanity (usually Arabs... Or, anyone who they percieve as standing in their way/standing up to them.) makes as much sense as when the White House had the CIA investigate the CIA for criminal activities, which led to findings of...Drum Roll, Please... "No Wrongdoing on the part of the CIA."... Gee! What a surprise! Not.)...

Hmmm.... What a coincidence!! (*I don't believe in coincidences.)
The Nazi's - whom the virtually the whole world recognizes as some of the most heinous criminals/murderers in modern history - had the same beliefs about Europe's Jews... and felt justified and remorseless about murdering them... just like Israel's government does about it's perpetual massacres of Palestinian civilians...

...O.K., say there was some mistake made....
Wait a minute... that's not possible... Israel is known to have some of the best-trained military personnel in the world... I could be generous and say, o.k., maybe once some crazy, unforseen procession of events led to one "accidental" tragedy... but, I've lost count of how many times this has happened.

These military personnel who are flying their state-of-the-art-of-killing fighter jets, helicopters; driving the tanks; participating in the shelling, etc. might tell themselves, "I am just following orders. My superiors told me to do it."... but that shite don't fly... and they've gotta know that for one simple reason...

..."I was just following orders." is the exact same lame ass attempt at an excuse the Nazi's gave for the vicious atrocities committed against/the unprecedented massacre of millions of European Jews.

That cowardly attempt at evading paying for one's heinous behaviour didn't fly at Nuremburg. It won't fly when the Israeli's finally face Justice. And I am absolute in my belief that it won't fly with The God of Abraham, either.

(*Think about it... if you were a kid growing up in Gaza... one who miraclously survived all the violence, or if you were a surviving parent or sibling or spouse of a victim... Would it be hard to encourage you to violence against Israel? Israel is likely planting the seeds for future terrorist acts by their own terrorist acts against them.)

My prayers go out to all victims (and their families) of Israel's illegal, immoral and over-the-top violence.
(And a pox on the perpetrators. May it be a Good lesson to them.)
-L.


From: The Guardian Unlimited


(*Oh, and a pox on this asshole, too.)AP Photo. John Bolton, United States ambassador to the United Nations, raises his hand to veto Arab-backed draft resolution condemning the Israeli military offensive in Gaza at Security Council meeting at the United Nations.

U.S. Vetoes Condemnation of Gaza Strikes


Sunday November 12, 2006 1:46 AM

AP Photo NYOH101

By JUSTIN BERGMAN

Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution Saturday that sought to condemn an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and demand Israeli troops pull out of the territory.

(*P)U.S.(*TULE) Ambassador John "Fcuk Diplomacy" Bolton said the Arab-backed draft resolution was ``biased against Israel and politically motivated.''

``This resolution does not display an evenhanded characterization of the recent events in Gaza, nor does it advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace to which we aspire and for which we are working assiduously,'' he told the Security Council.

The veto unleashed a flurry of criticism in the Middle East.

``This decision by the U.S. government gives unlimited cover to commit more massacres of innocent Palestinians,'' said Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government. ``This is a shame on the American administration, which says it is trying to promote human rights and democracy in the Middle East.''

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, however, the draft resolution would have aggravated the situation in Gaza because it contained ``inflammatory and unnecessary language.''

``We do not believe the resolution was designed to contribute to the cause of peace,'' she said in a statement.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev agreed the draft was one-sided. ``It's good that it wasn't accepted by the Security Council,'' he said.

The draft received 10 votes in favor and four abstentions, along with the U.S. vote against. Britain, Denmark, Japan and Slovakia all abstained. The U.S. is one of five permanent members of the council that have the power to veto resolutions.

It was the second U.S. veto this year of a Security Council draft resolution concerning Israeli military operations in Gaza. The U.S. blocked action on a document this summer after Israel launched its offensive in response to the capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas-linked Palestinian militants.

Palestinians strengthened calls for Security Council action after an early morning Israeli artillery barrage in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun killed 19 people Wednesday.

In an open session of the General Assembly on Thursday, Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour called the attack ``state terrorism'' and said the perpetrators should be held accountable under international law for war crimes.

Israel has expressed regret for the loss of life in Beit Hanoun but said it will continue operations to stop militants from launching rockets into Israel. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is scheduled to visit Washington on Sunday to meet with President Bush.

Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser warned in the Security Council meeting that the failure of the body to act on the draft would lead to more Israeli violence against Palestinians.

``Any lukewarm reaction or response on our part gives the impression we are shirking from our humanitarian responsibilities,'' said Al-Nasser, who sponsored the resolution on behalf of the Palestinians. Qatar is the only Arab nation on the council.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said the veto ``will only increase the anger'' toward Israel, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused the Security Council of ``turning a blind eye to Israeli acts in Gaza.''

The Arab League was planning to hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday to decide how to respond the latest Israeli offensive.

The draft resolution had been weakened slightly in recent days to help improve its chances of passage. A section was added demanding the Palestinian Authority take immediate action to bring an end to violence, including the firing of rockets into Israel.

It also called for the U.N. secretary-general to establish a ``fact-finding mission'' to probe Wednesday's attack in Beit Hanoun, a step below ordering a full investigation.

In addition, it backed off calls for U.N. observers to be placed on the Gaza-Israel border, asking instead for the ``possible establishment of an international mechanism for protection of the civilian populations.''

In his remarks to the Security Council, Bolton said the draft was still too one-sided. He said it compared legal Israeli military operations with the firing of rockets into Israel - an act of terrorism. He called the fact-finding mission unnecessary and said the text failed to condemn the ruling Hamas party's refusal to renounce terrorism.

Both Bolton and Deputy British Ambassador Karen Pierce voiced support for returning to the internationally backed ``road map'' peace plan, which has been stalled for years.

But Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, said the fact that the council allowed the draft to go to a vote showed the world's frustration with the U.S. not involving other members of the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators in recent decisions on Israel. The other members are the U.N., the European Union and Russia.

``They don't have a stake in the talks and they are more willing now to force our hand,'' he said. ``A lot of times the world has felt (the U.S.) has been too pro-Israel, but in this case, people are just fed up.''

---

Associated Press Writer Omar Sinan contributed to this report from Cairo, Egypt.