Israel's destruction of school with U.S. curriculum shocks Gazans

[DogPoundPup]

ATATRA, Gaza Strip — When President George W. Bush visited the West Bank a year ago, Palestinian militants in Gaza vented their anger by ransacking the American International School here, smashing windows, stealing computers and torching a small fleet of buses.

It was just the latest episode in a decade-long string of bombings, kidnappings and lootings at the elite private school, which isn't connected to the U.S. government but has an American-style curriculum and coed, English-only classrooms, which have made it a favorite target of Islamic extremists.

On Jan. 3, the school finally was destroyed, but not by Islamist extremists. An Israeli airstrike flattened the two-story building and sprayed shards of steel and stone over the manicured lawns and soccer field. The night watchman was killed. Books, computers, science equipment and art supplies were crushed beneath the wreckage. Within moments, Gaza's perhaps most pro-Western institution — a symbol of possibility in a sealed-off, war-torn land — was gone.

snip~
Days after the airstrike, Israeli bulldozers and tanks returned to the campus and plowed over the basketball court and the jungle gym, school officials and residents said.

entire article: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/60940.html

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Well at least Israel's ensured its basketball dominance over the Gaza

Militants were probably using the jungle gym as a training exercise, too.

:sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

2. I have long argued that Israel's right to exist must be recognized -- but now I am wondering.

Given what has been done by Israel in recent years, and especially the recent war crimes in Gaza, I am reevaluating my position. Not that that will make any difference in what happens; but I am wondering whether I should start suggesting that Israel should be accorded any right to exist.

[GoesTo11]

3. What countries should have a right to exist?

Palestine? The US? Russia? Germany? Japan? Britain? Iran? Iraq? Saudi Arabia? Syria?

I suggest conceding right to exist, and focusing on how to better co-exist.

[bemildred]

5. Everything has exactly the same right to exist.

On the other hand, nothing lasts forever, all things are ephemeral.

"Time is a dressmaker, specializing in alterations."

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. As a jew (ethnically), I wish the world just gave us Bavaria or something

The creation of the state of israel was easily the WORST idea of the 20th century

[Behind the Aegis]

7. The creation of Israel was the worst idea of the 20th century?

Statements like that demonstrate the abundance of ignorance and malevolence toward Israel by those unfamiliar with the history of the 20th century.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. Because if the jews went to Bavaria...

the world would be talking about Prussian and Saxon suicide bombers, and there would have been all sorts of wars. Instead we have a bunch of fuckers all ready to end civilization just to control some worthless sand and olive groves because they read about some magic dudes in some old books.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Yes, that's how it would have transpired.

:eyes:

I still suggest you consult a history book or dozen. You will find plenty of WORSE decisions in the 20th century than the creation of Israel.

[iconicgnom]

13. You think that the ethnic cleansing of Bavaria would be better?

[LeftishBrit]

15. Worst idea? What about two world wars?

Even during the establishment of independent states at the end of the British Empire, far more deaths and 'ethnic cleansing' resulted from the partition of India and Pakistan, for example.

I am not at all sure that a Bavarian homeland - especially at that time - would have had any more peace with its neighbours than the existing Israel; and it would not have been a very suitable location for the Mizrachi Jews. But let's even suppose that Bavaria should have been given to the Jews - it wasn't; and we have to live with the world as it is.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. The wars of the 20th century ended - this one never will

until the entire region is a glass parking lot

[hack89]

17. The Great Leap Forward? Two word wars? Communism?

they caused the deaths of millions of innocents - there have been about 65,000 Arab deaths since 1948 due to conflict with Israel.

Get a grip - or at least a basic grasp of history.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. What astonishing ignorance and hatefulness.

Are you familiar with Tibet? How about Cyprus? You spending any time reevaluating the right to exist of China and Turkey? Some how I fucking doubt it!

[Shaktimaan]

11. why?

because you disagree with this particular episode of the conflict?

Why is it that I only ever hear people question the right of Israel to exist? Germany might drag us into two world wars killing millions worldwide and no one has cause to dream up actually denying it a right to exist. But Israel kills 1000 people during the course of a long term war and suddenly everyone starts seriously weighing the question for them.

So I have to ask you, why Israel? There's plenty of bloodthirstier nations out there... like America or Britain. There's certainly countries with less of a legitimate claim to the land they rule... like Jordan.

I just love it. There's 22 Arab dictatorships on Earth and one Jewish democracy. Which one should be denied a right to exist? Hmmmmm? Obviously Israel. :sarcasm:

[LeftishBrit]

14. It does exist. Denying it the right to exist NOW would mean the death or expulsion of its citizens

Or are you merely suggesting forcible regime change - as in Iraq? We know what happened there.

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. After everything else, they're actrually surprised at that?

A nice touch, such a thorough destruction shows great pride in the job being performed: Days after the airstrike, Israeli bulldozers and tanks returned to the campus and plowed over the basketball court and the jungle gym, school officials and residents said.

[azurnoir]

12. Boy that will really teach

those Palestin er Hamas right

Actually Livni dropped the we're fighting Hamas not Palestinians fig leaf yesterday with this statement

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Tuesday that Israel will no longer show restraint against Palestinian attacks from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050188496&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull