Gaza bleeds under Israeli airstrikes
Safa, a young woman friend in Gaza City, shares her first impressions of this morning's airstrikes which killed more than 229 people and wounded at least 700 more. The "lull" is well and truly over. This is the most carnage in a single day of conflict for decades, according to local reports.
Gaza Today
I've never seen anything like this. It all happened so fast but the amount of death and destruction is inconceivable, even to me and I'm in the middle of it and a few hours have already passed. I think 15 locations were hit during the air raid on Gaza City. [some Israelis sources said 150 targets were struck] The images are probably not broadcast in US media. There are piles and piles of bodies in the locations that were hit. As you look at them you can see that a few of the young men are still alive, someone lifts a hand here, and another raise his head there. They probably died within moments because their bodies are burned, most have lost limbs, some have their guts hanging out and they're all lying in pools of blood. Outside my home, (which is close to the universities) a bomb fell on a large group of young men, university students, they'd been warned not to stand in groups, it makes them an easy target, but they were waiting for buses to take them home. This was about 3 hours ago 7 were killed, 4 students and 3 of our neighbors kids, teenagers who were from the same family (Rayes) and were best friends. As I'm writing this I heard a funeral procession go by outside, I looked out the window and it was the 3 Rayes boys, They spent all their time together when they were alive, and now their sharing the same funeral together. Nothing could stop my 14 year old brother from rushing out to see the bodies of his friends laying in the street after they were killed. He hasn't spoken a word since.
A little further down the street about an hour earlier 3 girls happened to be passing by one of the locations when a bomb fell. The girls bodies were torn into pieces and covered the street from one side to the other.
These are just a couple of images that I've witnessed. In all the locations people are going through the dead terrified of recognizing a family member among them. The city is in a state of alarm, panic and confusion, cell phones aren't working, hospitals and morgues are backed up and some of the dead are still lying in the streets with their families gathered around them, kissing their faces, holding on to them. Outside the destroyed buildings old men are kneeling on the floor weeping. Their slim hopes of finding their sons still alive vanished after taking one look at what had become of their office buildings.
At least 160 people dead in today's air raid. That means 160 funeral processions, a few today, most of them tomorrow probably. To think that yesterday these families were worried about food and heat and electricity. At this point I think they -actually all of us- would gladly have Hamas sign off every last basic right we've been calling for the last few months forever if it could have stopped this from ever having happened.
The bombing was very close to my home. Most of my extended family live in the area. My family is ok, but 2 of my uncles' homes were damaged, another relative was injured.
I don't know why I'm sending this. It doesn't even begin to tell the story on any level. Just flashes of thing that happened today that are going through my head.
The Arab League is summoning an emergency meeting to brainstorm how to respond to such bloodshed as the Israeli leaders threaten wider attacks.
When Izzy visited there in early November, the IDF tanks had rolled in and killed a dozen people, and everyone was glumly predicting more Israeli military action before January. And here you go.
According to the Financal Times, Ehud Olmert, the lame duck leader, is under intense pressure both from within the government and from the rightwing opposition to order a military offensive against Gaza.Until recently, the prime minister seemed reluctant to follow the advice of his hawkish critics, possibly out of concern for the expected high casualties and anticipating a negative response around the world.
Over the past days, however, Israeli political and military leaders have increasingly presented an attack on Gaza as inevitable. Gabi Ashkenazi, the chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces, said on Thursday that "this reality cannot be allowed to continue and we will need to use our full force to hit the terrorist infrastructure".
Israeli media reported yesterday that the army was preparing for a "limited" operation in the Gaza Strip, combining air strikes and small-scale incursions.
The conflict with Hamas has also increasingly come to dominate the early phase of the election campaign, which will last until polling day on February 10.
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35 comments:
Unfortunately, from what I have seen in the U.S. media, the Palestinian suffering will be minimized; yes, there will be shots of the smoke from buildings and so forth, but the amount of human suffering will be presented in light of the "Israeli context." By this I mean, as I saw on CNN already today, that the situation will be presented as "the Israelis had to do it in response to the 100 mortars fired against Israel by the Hamas terrorists." They will (and already have) play up the "Israel left Gaza in 2005 but Hamas continues to mortar Israel" theme. Never mind that Gaza is a virtual prison guarded by the IDF. Never mind the hundreds, if not over a thousand since 2005, Palestinian lives that have been taken by the Israelis. Never mind the daily sufferings and deaths of the Palestinian people, at the hands of the Israelis. I have tried to post my comments on the CNN blogs where they pretend to welcome all comments, as of just now my comments are still being "moderated." Such is American journalism today, the stifling of dissent is unbearable here (I'm in America). Yes, some will get through now and then, and if a Hamas leader says something it might be aired, but always, always within the "Israeli Context." That's what I call it.
- Corey
Corey, the Palestinians had a chance for peace and their own nation over and over again but refuse to accept the right of the Jewish people to have their own homeland. You expect people to sympathize with people who educate their children with a hateful replica of Mickey Mouse and breed prejudice and contempt for human life including convincing their children to strap bombs with nails to their bodies. Do you really think in your wildest dreams that the world will sympathize with you considering this type of heinous behavior. Do you think that in a post 9/11 world the western nations care in view of the Palistinians seemingingly lack of care of sending their own young to be blown up into little parts. Me doth thinks you protest too much. You want to change something try peace love and understanding, then come to us with your protestations. You have obviously failed to learn the teachings of Gandhi and M L King.
It's clear to anybody who pays any attention at all that the Israeli's don't care about any life unless it's an Israeli life. It's also clear that the message of what's happening is controled by Israel and, yes, Israel is the bully here. I look forward to the day when we see Palestinian tanks patrolling Israeli streets, then we too can play word games and call "resistance" and act of "aggression."
Corey:
Let me see if I have your comments correct. White Europeans slaughter and otherwise oppress Jews for centuries culminating in the Holocaust. Then out of guilt, White Europeans decide the Jews ought to have a homeland, so what if that homeland was occupied by others, and so what if they did not agree, and were not consulted. After many Wars Israel becomes the oppressor. No country on earth except Israel can openly assassinate people with impunity, imprison indefinitely without charges, engage in mass punishment of an entire population, confide people into walled ghettos, destroy homes, and cultivated fields, drop thousands upon thousands of cluster bombs in civilian areas, control every aspect of Palestinian life, and generally punish the many for the actions of a few all without condemnation from the United States. The Jewish State is apparently of a mind that the only good Palestinian is a dead Palestinian! If they could require all Palestinians to wear a crescent on their clothing I'm sure they would. Can anyone tell me why Arabs should be punished for the transgressions of Europeans? You can't possible believe that all this violence is purely the responsibility of Hamas? What do you want them to do prostrate themselves and beg the Israelis to treat them as something other than subhumans? Why should they since "Big Daddy" the U.S. does not give one rats ass about the plight of Palestinians.
Gatlingun6
You know it utterly amazes me that Israel is accused of acts when the Arabs seemingly forget about the massacres perpetrated by themselves unto themselves. Do you forget that 50000 Shites were killed at the hands of the Syrians so called brothers. Far more death has been perpetrated by the Arabs against Arabs then in the 60 years that the Arabs have been trying to exterminate Israel. History is hard to deny. Who started the wars in 48, 56, 67 and 73, yet you claim you are victims, always victims... when Egypt controlled Gaza we did not hear how you wept about Nassar's treatment of the Palestinians. And Transjordan had an anti Jew policy. Let's go back into history and note that the Palestinians are really descendants of the Phillistines and Judea was renamed by the Romans to Palestine as a rebuke to the Jewish uprising. You feel that history only starts with you, but truth is that Temple Mount was built by the Jews. Again Peace was at hand but your own corrupt leaders kept it away from you. When will you show the strength to take account for your own actions instead of always being the victim. How much money was in your hands but stolen by your own leaders, hidden by them with the excuse that its the Israelis that make your life so hard. You wonder why this plea is not heard, because you have taken gold and turned it into excrement. No one will stand by you until you embrace peace and accept that you must live side by side with Israel. Until that time Palestinians will suffer unfortunately by the hatred of its leaders which they have indoctrinated into their people.
Hooray for the truth. Thank you anonymous for saying what as a proud Arab American I have always felt. We have heard that today's bombing has resulted in the death of 225+ Palestinians yet how many have died by suicide bombings? This was said to be the worst day of killing in 60 years in Gaza and yet there is less death then the poor misguided youth indoctrinated by Hamas who give their life up for what...America would gladly work for peace if it had a partner in Gaza but all there is is hate and at the end more blood shed.I do not condone Israel's actions and have great pain to see Arab death but you must see that Hamas does not help but hurt the cause.
We must stop the blood shed. Stop the hatred, work for peace.
To the Poster who posted right after me: I suspect you are talking about the plan in the Oslo Accords, or some variation thereof that was offered to the Palestinians. Do you know what was in those plans? Do you realize that those "peace plans" that were offered to the Palestinians were, in effect, a rubberstamp of the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. In other words, the Palestinians were expected to accept these offers, even though these plans in reality only legitimized the illegal Israeli settlements, among other things, and changed very little on the ground. No leader in his right mind would have accepted legitimizing the occupation of his people's land, yet Arafat was roundly criticized for not accepting. Do you actually think Dr. King would approve of the Israelis demolishing Palestinians homes, confiscating and settling land that does not belong to them, cutting off the people of Gaza from food, water, and electricity, among so many other things??? If you believe that, then you know very little about Dr. King. I won't speak of Gandhi as I know less of him, but as an American I can tell you that there is no way Dr. King would approve of what happened today, nor would he approve of the suicide bombings. But, ask yourself, or do some research and discover how many Palestinians have died in comparison with the Israelis, then tell me who is the greater victim.
To Gatlingun6: Did you even read what I wrote??? Read it again, very SLOWLY, I have never advocated the things you think I am. Maybe you do not understand sarcasm or irony. But I suggest you re-read what I wrote. You are so far off base from what I wrote, its almost not worth replying.
-Corey
This is not about Israelis as the suffering party. It is about human rights abuses by the worlds fourth largest nuclear power who has been terrorising its neighbours for years.
This madness must stop.
no2wars.wordpress.com
Has everyone forgotten that it was the Bush Administration that pushed for open, fair, democratic elections and they got Hamas, but then they declared it a terrorist orgainzation---you cannot have it both ways.
Then the Israeli's started an economic blockade over the last several months that I think actually provoked Hamas into the rocket attacks that basically have created outside of noise from their launches, but little to no actual impact on Israeli's.
So Hamas has been set up and rocketed their way into the problem.
The Israeli response is in fact the IDFs attempt to negate a democratic election.
If this keeps up do not expect not to see rockets coming from the north in support of their brothers in the south.
Happy Hannukah.
The IDF is really more an occupational force than for defence. The whole nation is behind their push into Gaza (the Israelis had beaten their chests for over a month, had an incursion to crush a tunnel, kept the journalists out, refused to renegotiate the lull and would not lift the seige. So eventually Barak, their defence guy,got spooked because one of the longrange Katyusha rockets was fired and killed a 30 yr old ISraeli man 12 miles north of the Gaza Strip.) SHudder. This is the ratio an Israeli man is worth more than 200 Palestinian lives. SOme of it is posturing. The whole thing is monstrous. and predictable
I would like to ask a question with the understanding that it may offend, so I apologize in advance. I would like to know what responses would have been appropriate to the missile attacks against Israel that originated from Gaza. It seems that Israel was placed in a "no-win" situation - fail to respond, and it invites more attacks from other enemies. Respond, and we have what we have today. Was there a "measured" response possible? Or is this evidence of a massive failure of diplomacy?
Again, my intention is not to offend, but to learn, thank you for your insights.
Corey, you failed to respond to the fact that Arabs have killed more Arabs than Israelis. Israel gave up Gaza. Nassar would not. Did you accuse Egypt of an illegal occupation... no. What about Transjordan occupying the west bank... did you accuse it (now Jordan) of an occupation... no. Israel is the size of Delaware facing 150 million Arabs yet you act that this country of 6 million is the perpetrator, when in fact it has tried for peace. As to the accords no, I am talking about the offer on the table when Bill Clinton's term was coming to the end. that offer included a right of East Jerasulem as a capital Arafat would not accept reparations guaranteed by the USA but wanted a return of the 600000 Palestenians and their descendents into the heart of Israel, some 3 million people. In other words to obtain an invasion which he could not get by violence. Why would Israels accept such an absurd demand. Really it amazes me the lack of back ground you have. As to M L King he would have opposed the Palestinian violence which has unfortunately beget the reaction from Israel. Every action you speak of was reaction to a terrorist attack. Martin talked of dining together at the table of brotherhood... where has the Palestinian leadership ever offered that potential. It trains the children to hate not love. Don't talk to me about Martin I know his speaches by heart... while he would call for the end of violence he would have viewed Arafat as what he was... a corrupt thief who stole from his people... his wife lives in utter luxury in Paris at a villa bought by Palestinian money. Your leadership has failed you. Take some time read about what was offered at Camp David, you obviously don't know. Lastly,remember Netanya and the explosion at the Park Hotel that killed 80 women and children? Yet the Israeli bombing has killed 9 women and 16 children. Neither is right but you talk disproportion...please... what was hit were security strong holds.
Is Safa's account from a blog or email? IS there some way to reach her? I have a friend in Gaza City that i have not been able to reach; I was hoping there might be chance that she knows or has heard of him and his family. I doubt he is going to be checking email now and the phones are still dead?
As I read this it makes me very sad, I am talking about the original post. At the same time I dont quite understand some of the comments and feelings. Can you name any other country that would gave missles fires at their citizens and not do anyting about it? I just dont understand how else to see these actions. Is it wrong that innocent children and poeple are dying, you would have to be an animal to think it is not. But at the same time how else can Israel respond? Should they sit back and let Hamas launch rockets? I might be naive, and this is just my humble opinion. What else can Israel do? How do these people feel when the suicide bombers kill inocent people in Israel? Do they condem it, or say another jew dead is a good day? The images are horrible as well as the stories of what is going on in Gaza, and I would be the first person to want to see this end. The is only one question I ask what can Israel do? Keep letting Hamas fire rockets out of hospitals, and usiing their own people as sheilds. When will the Palestinian people hold Hamas acountable. Enough is enough untill both sides look at themselves, this will never end.
Barak delivers his Christmas gift to Barack.
Hamas has adopted an impossible posture - They control a territory that depends on Israel for power, water, and food - they tear up every agreement and refuse to negotiate new ones. They leave no room for negotiation, no possiblity of co-existence, rather ally with Iran and declare their intention to kill Israelis and destroy their country. And yet they complain that Israel is 'unfair' to blockade them, and feel they have a god given right to fire missiles randomly into southern Israel. I fell terrible for the state of the people in Gaza, but I don't know what else Israel is supposed to do when Hamas is bombarding southern Israel. I saw someone blame Israel because they wouldn't renegotiate the truce - at least they agreed to a new one. What compromises has Hamas been willing to make - ever, on any issue.
To Peijin
Safa sent me her message early on by email, but sadly is out of contact now. Cell phone is out, too. Where is the neighborhood where your friend lives? The Islamic University was practically obliterated around midnight with numerous airstrikes, I learned, but few people were still there.
This is not pinpoint targetted killings.
Massive failure of diplomacy and vision is demonstrated by this airstrike and pending invasion, ms. anonymous
The lull was officially over, and Israel did not keep its part of the bargain.The siefe stayed in place. So the usual resumed. The Hamas leadership had kept missiles down, and no longer does.
It's politics as usual.
I see some people saying " the right of the Jewish people to have their own homeland" well what about the Palestinians' right not to be caged in and their land stolen? Many of the Jewish people who live their, their families came from Europe after WWII, now for some reason the Europeans weren't ready to give up some of their land to the Jews, so they took another people's land and expected everything to be alright. If anyone notices, especially the AP and cable news, they only have Jewish reporters reporting on this conflict, now I call that a conflict of interest. There is nothing wrong with Jewish people, but there is a problem with Israel. They are not special and don't deserve our (the united States) money or attention.
no2wars
I've been looking over your blog and while I admire that you are trying to tell the other side of the story but my first question for you is on this blog you said Israel was the fourth largest nuclear power in the world. Where did you get that information? As far as I know Israel has never admitted to having Nuclear weapons (nor have they denied it).
Secondly, on your blog you made mention of the Egyptians refusing to open up their border in Gaza. Why is that not a bigger issue?
That's all for now.
It was just before noon when I heard the first explosion. I rushed to my window, barely did I get there and look out when I was pushed back by the force and air pressure of another explosion. For a few moments I didn't understand, then I realized that Israeli promises of a wide-scale offensive against the Gaza Strip had materialized. Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzpi Livni's statements following a meeting with Egyptian President Hussni Mubarak the day before yesterday had not been empty threats after all.
What followed seems pretty much surreal at this point.
6 locations were hit during the first air raid on Gaza city.
What did Olmert mean when he stated that WE the people of Gaza weren't the enemy, that it was Hamas and the Islamic Jihad who were being targeted? Was that statement made to infuriate us out of out state of shock, to pacify any feelings of rage and revenge? To mock us?? Were the scores of children on their way home from school and who are now among the dead and the injured Hamas militants?
The streets are strewn with their bodies, their arms, legs, feet, some with shoes and some without. The city is in a state of alarm, panic and confusion, cell phones aren't working, hospitals and morgues are backed up and some of the dead are still lying in the streets
And even after the dead are identified, doctors are having a hard time gathering the right body parts in order to hand them over to their families. The hospital hallways look like a slaughterhouse. It's truly worse than any horror movie you could ever imagine. The floor is filled with blood, the injured are propped up against the walls or laid down on the floor side by side with the dead. Doctors are working frantically and people with injuries that aren't life threatening are sent home. A relative of mine was injured by a flying piece of glass from her living room window, she had deep cut right down the middle of her face. She was sent home, too many people needed medical attention more urgently. Her husband, a dentist, took her to his clinic and sewed up her face using local anesthesia
We can rest easy, Gazans can mourn tonight. Israel is said to have promised not to wage any more air raids for now. People suspect that the next step will be targeted killings, which will inevitably means scores more of innocent bystanders whose fate has already been sealed.
It's almost 3 in the morning and the killing continues
This whole thing really reminds me of two children fighting. This group hates that group. They started it first. Each side trying to play the victim, while hurting the other. Israel has let this problem fester, and created it's own mess. Hamas is firing rockets to kill innocent civilians to provoke something. You have hot headed religious killers (Hamas) and cold blooded calculated killers (Israeli's). Well, until both figure out this isn't the way to live in fear, misery, and blood-you will be caught in perpetual hell. It might help if both sides started respecting the lives of others.
Which Jewish reporters by name are you referring to... You are simply expressing the same hatred. Israel is the size of Delaware. Palestine was never established as a nation. Rome renamed Judea and essentially it remained a part of the Ottoman empire until the Balfour mandate. If ever the land was taken it was from the ancient Hebrews, but that misses the larger point that for there to be peace the Arabs must accept Israel's right to exist w/o the requirement of an absurd right of return. W/o that fundamental understanding there will be no peace and only hardship for the Palestinians, the majority of whom would gladly agree to peace and live side to side. Its the hatred from the militants that want to keep the pot boiling and its sad.
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For EVERY missile shot into Israel at least ONE missile should be returned to the area as
close as possible to the shooter. Tit for tat. Every single missile should be returned.
Period. Treat them like adults, if they kill, they will be killed. That is the only way
they will learn. Screw public opinion, force them to see the truth, or let them be damned.
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
hope your kids grow up
to strap bombs on babies
to kill other children
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
form a terrorist country
then wish to be destroyed
by committing acts of war
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
blame your failings on the Jews
for a few more thousand years
they are Earth's scapegoats
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
give Israel away
to appease her enemies
dishonor America
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech, then there can be no real freedom.
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Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
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Help Stop Terrorism Today!
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USpace
:)
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To the Anonymous Poster at 11:54 p.m.:
I failed to neglect that more Arabs are being killed by Arabs, than Israelis? Is that what we are talking about here? I thought we we're talking about the attacks on Gaza. If you mean the conflict between Fatah and Hamas, that is one thing between the Palestinians themselves. I actually am not surprised that the Palestinian leadership didn't fracture even earlier than it did, given the Israeli oppression they are under. Sooner or later oppressed populations turn on themselves: Divide and Conquer it is called, here in America. Actually I have read the plans Clinton proposed at the Camp David meetings in 2000, so don't talk to me about what I know or don't know. Any objective reading of that plans shows that far more concessions were expected of the Palestinians, than of the Israelis. Of course, given the power of AIPAC here in America, that was to be expected. Go and read again, this time read the actual plan and not the AIPAC summary of it.
You said "every action you speak of is a reaction to a terrorist attack." Did it ever occur to you that maybe that every "terrorist" attack against Israel is a reaction to its illegal occupation?. Even the U.N. acknowledges the illegality of Israeli actions, but thanks to America, there is no one to force Israel to comply with the law. And what do you mean by "your leadership has failed you"? If you are talking about President Bush, yes, he has failed me and all other Americans. Don't you even talk any further about Dr. King and what he stood for. You may have his speeches memorized but unfortunately you do not understand the meaning of his words. And that is my final comment.
- Corey
A nation-- a peopole--whtever.
Israel is a bloody bully. ANd hypocrite
I'm confused by what was meant when she said: "they -actually all of us- would gladly have Hamas sign off every last basic right we've been calling for the last few months forever if it could have stopped this from ever having happened."
This is happening because of Hamas. Israel isn't attacking the West Bank. Hamas brought this on the Gazans. Why?
Corey, Corey Corey I am afraid you have missed the basic point again, 150 million Arabs, 6 million Jews in a state the size of Delaware. You just won't let the Jews have their small homeland you must have everything. You seem to misunderstand M L King too. he would never have insisted that the majority of 150 million get to force out the minority... please look at the fact that the African American has 15% OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION. In the federalist papers Madison and Jefferson warned of the excess of the majority... see Federalist paper 11and I believe 73. Do you want to live in peace or not? If so you have to let Israel be Israel... sorry but history is replete with revised land borders... if you don't want peace then you must recognize that ultimately when the world moves away from oil then the Arabs will lose whatever influence they have had in the greedy world of the Cheney years. At that point the Arabs will lose more than a state the size of Delaware, for at that point with global warming the Arab peninsula becomes a wasteland. But with peace we can work for a global understanding when water is more important than oil and all people's rights are paramount. Including little girls that want the right to marry who they love in Saudi Arabia ( not 8 year olds being forced to marry 58 year old men to erase their dad's debts), and little girls in Afghanistan who want to learn without the threat of acid being thrown in their face. In that world we can all say as the that great Arab writer Khahil Gibran said "so I be written in the book of Love". Please learn the lesson before it is too late. Your brother not your enemy... Salom... Shalom etc etc.
typo to most recent blog of 12/29 @ 8:35 am ... its federalist 51 not 11
Wasn't being responsible for the death of the Bee enough for you Jews!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uPEF7pdRD0
So now Jews are murderers? See how hate begets racism? Which Jews are you referring too or are you characterizing all? Did you accuse Assad for being a murderer when he killed 50000 Shites. Did you accuse Saddam Hussein of being a murderer when he gassed Arabs? Do you complain of the heinous acts committed in Saudi Arabia or by the extremists in Darfur where 3 million tribesman have been butchered and countless women have been raped. Where is your anger over these atrocities... strangely silent or is the truth is that the victims were not like you so they were infidels deserving of this fate? To be one of G-d's children you must decry your sins first before all others, but then that would require accountability which apparently AJ is unable to comprehend... may G-D forgive your sins and your hyprocrisy.
For clarity: I have never ever said that the Israelis should be chased out of the region by the Arab majority (their neighbors). You must have imagined that I said so, or misread my comments.
-Corey
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