Britain turns ugly

Lenny

Dear Melanie,

This video – put together by a Palestinian Arab - offers some insight into the Hamas terrorist mentality amongst the Palestinians.

Assuming that this video is not staged and that the context is real, then it is important for the world to watch and understand what happens when religious extremists are in control.

You decide.

I have.

Lenny Kristal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9_LatFA_hA&feature=email

Nick Swan

Melanie,

I'm supporting your view on this and will tell anyone who cares to listen. Sanity will prevail, eventually.

best wishes

www.venerablebeads.blogspot.com

Anyone who doubts this should put on rubber gloves and read The Independent. The blatantly inflammatory, hate-contorted tone is amazing to behold. Truly terrifying; one realises what it feels like to be living in one of those truly notorious epochs, where reason is cast to the winds and the barbarians are given the keys. The direct results of this campaign of vicious propaganda are already being felt in Britain's Jewish areas. This newspaper, and the BBC, have blood on their hands.

culturewatcher

Interviewing a Fatah spokesmen on Newsnight, Jeremy Paxman asked him whether he was worried that Hamas was gaining the 'moral highground' in resisting the Israelis. That will be an organisation whose 'dawa' not only praises child suicide bombers, but has set up 'educational courses' to actively encourage them. Hamas external representatives have been issuing bloodcurdling threats against Jews in general. As you say, here an Islamist rent-a-mob is now threatening to murder people whose views on the present conflict are unknown. By some irony the head of MI5 simultaneously reassures us that the threat is under control. You couldn't make any of this up.

Anthnoy Taylor

I agree and am appalled by the BBC. I was present during the withdrawal in 1948 - the country was desolate - escept those parts cultivated by the Jewish inhabitants - and then of course the Arabs wanted it. Can only see mayhem ahead. And I mean in the UK!

trumpeldor

Indeed melanie

Many media should be indicted for bigotry

Growing muslim minority and remnants of christian antisemitism represent very powerful dynamics
In a healthy societies with moral values, the shock would be more subdued .
In a weak hedonistic depraved and feast loving societies,it is a roller coaster ride into oblivion

Adam Ant

"I know from the enormous response I have received to what I am writing that there is a terrifying increase in bigotry and quite hallucinatory hatred of Israel and the Jews now coursing through Britain"
Presumably a bizarre coicincental surge of irrationlity entirely unrelated to Melanie's defence of Israel's ignoring of any idea of a just war. Those 'anti-Semites' eh (bizarre how that particular form irrationality only seems to increase when Melanie writes her stuff (which, of course, disgusts many Jews - self-haters no doubt).

Roslyn Pine

The good news is that the majority of the comments on the article do not buy into her pernicious rubbish.
Come back to the Telegraph, Mark Steyn. We need you!

stanley Jerusalem

Roslyn Pine

"her?"

Pat Viliors

Where is world and UN condemnation for today's rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon? Where are the headlines citing Arab aggression? I don't see any... Maybe the media is waiting for Israel to respond before unleashing its customary anti-Semitic vitriol.

phil

Last night on newsnight Paxman whilst interviewing the Israeli from the foreign ministry ,shouted at him like a demented child, hectoring and demanding answers to loaded questions .He must know much of the truth of what is really happening,so once again he is putting on a show to appear a star to those that enjoy spectacles akin to the roman arena -All we want is the truth ,plain facts .I GREW UP IN AN ERA WHEN THE BBC MEANT TRUTH AND MORALITY THAT WE BRITS COULD BE PROUD OF.

Last night brought to mind the newsreel depicting the screaming by the nazi judge of those accused of hitlers assassination attempt ,and in case of any misunderstanding I do not accuse Paxman of being a nazi ,just of behaving in a disgusting manner to increase his ratings ,when his job is to produce a balanced set of questions for we viewers to make up our own minds .,why his victims turn up to be abused is beyond me ,happily Mark Regev is too intelligent for him and stands up to his childish behaviour ,but sadly Paxman pulls the plug when he is made to look a fool ,and we are forced to pay his salary !!

Ed

Stanley, I think Roslyn Pine is referring to mary riddell.

JJS

Melanie -- give us a list of editors and publishing execs by name (you have access to this kind of info, we don't) and I'm sure many of us will indeed take to our keyboards, etc. I certainly will.

Gillian2

Paxman has lost his credibility with his formulaic and dangerous hectoring. I am bitterly disappointed in him.

DS

Your the voice of thousands Melanie,God Bless you

Nicholas

Phil you don't accuse Paxman of being a Nazi but he is certainly a bully. The way that he and other media talking heads articulate emotion in their interviews is designed to demonstrate the "solidarity" of opinion which is such a characteristic of the Left. "Look at me, I'm giving the Israeli a hard time, I am one of you".

They may not be Nazis but they are certainly fascists.

Robert Edward

Mary Riddell's piece in the Telegraph oleaginous praise of Brown's supposed peacekeeping efforts points to the deeply ambivalent position of Downing Street - for whom she is a voice - which maintains official support for Israel's right to exist while offerring appeasement to the Islamic determination to destroy Israel and to wipe out Jews.

stanley Jerusalem

Dear Ed.
My ex-clients are normally more explicit.
I'm glad to 'hear' your assertion.

Ronnie

So its a case of, 'you'll have to change your foreign policy stance or we won't be able to hold back our (ie we'll unleash our) extremists.'

Is that not a case for a police investigation and possible prosecution? Even under our normal laws of incitement, conspiracy, breach of the peace etc.

George

Ronnie,
I think that you missed blackmail.

Mike

Moderator(s): You appear to have omitted publishing the following posted at 10:20am GMT to-day?

'Reading this latest from Melanie Phillips makes one wonder from where 'this incitement to violence' originates. As I've posted elsewhere, those who have such an extreme emotional, cultural and religious identification with one side (Israel)it never occurs to them to give any thought to any of the injustices and suffering imposed on the other by 4 decades of Occupation. It is this injustice that inflames world-wide public opinion, and generates the guilt and paranoia we see expressed here.

Winston Smith

The British Media is certainly to blame. It is undoubtedly pro Islam and anti Jewish.
Then again look at the Spectator. I've had countless comments deleted because they painted the Religion of Peace as not being so.
The Spectator continues to be no different to other media outlets in the UK and although I can say that it isn't pro Islam and anti Jewish I can definitely say that when it comes to freedom of speech and allowing people to speak the truth about Islam, it falls greatly short.
By understanding just what Islam really is all about will the people begin to see just why there is the problem there is with 'radical' Islam.
I can't even mention why as the Spectator will not post this comment for speaking the truth. It's that simple.

If you really want to get the true picture on Islam then you won't get it here or any British media outlet.
I strongly suggest jihadwatch.org

Believe it or not, this continuing ignoring of the causes of Radical Islam by the British Media & the Spectator will not make it go away. In fact by not addressing the causes openly and allowing freedom of speech the situation will get worse and worse.

Melanie does a great job in telling us of 'certain' issues amongst the Islamic population of the UK but due to media 'restrictions' I feel she can't really let loose on the real issues, for fear of attack from the government, Muslim Associations and of course ending up under 24hr guard because some fanatic has slapped a fatwah on her head.

People all over the world are speaking up about Islam, but you won't find this in any British Newspaper. This is why the Internet is playing such an important role in educating people.

ed

Not sure where this all comes from. And would Melanie please provide some evidence rather than wild accusations.

All I have seen on our media is repeated statements by Israeli officials. Constantly, on every network. There are no foreign journalists in Gaza so any Israeli claim about Hamas militants is impossible to verify. Take their claim that the UN school that was fired upon was 'booby-trapped' by Hamas. There was no way to verify this other than take their word for it. It now emerges that Israel has admitted to the UN that there were no such 'booby-traps'. As long as there are no journalists in the Gaza strip, all there will be is talk and accusations but no proof.

Oh, and as for the 'vast majority' being Hamas officials, does this include policemen and other civil servants (ie non-military) working in the area?? I presume not.

One other thing, try to show some regret at the loss of human life. And maybe accept that those that are firing the missiles might be at fault for the civilian casualties (rather like Hamas are at fault for Israeli casualties). Let's have no double standards please.

Shaun Harbord

"someone should take legal action against them for incitement to violence" - why isn' that someone you? If you are serious it surely should be you; and if you don't, you're not serious.

PJ

Phil,I turned Newsnight on just as Paxman was ranting and shouting at the Israeli he was interviewing and was disgusted to watch this man who seems to have become bloated with his own sense of self importance.
As with the recent Jonathan Ross
fiasco,Paxman should be made accountable for his behaviour.

Yaffle

I've been puzzling for some time why the 'Graph gives so much space to Riddell's sub-Grauniad witterings. In fact I'm starting to wonder if she's a real person at all, or just some weird holographic goad cooked up by the editors to get a reaction. Certainly her byline pic is distinctly odd.

MartinW

I agree with all you say about the media, which applies especially the BBC. I become more appalled by "the malevolent prejudices of the media" as one highly prejudicial report succeeds another. Ideally, legal action should be taken against the BBC over their journalistic bias and propagation of downright lies. One cannot praise too much the principled and honest reporting by Melenie Phillips and those few others who seek to portay the truth.

N. Simon

To JJS

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Tina

No, Mike, Hamas is not motivated by ‘injustice’. Hamas and all of its Islamist associates the world over are motivated by spite and hate for everyone and everything that is not Muslim because they see us as inferior to them, as Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astral illustrates here:

"Allah has chosen you for Himself and for His religion, so that you will serve as the engine pulling this nation to the phase of succession, security, and consolidation of power, and even to conquests thorough da'wa and military conquests of the capitals of the entire world.

"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesised by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam – this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe.

[You see, Mike, nothing to do with ‘injustice’, just murderous, spiteful hate.]

"I believe that our children or our grandchildren will inherit our jihad and our sacrifices, and Allah willing, the commanders of the conquest will come from among them. Today, we instil these good tidings in their souls, and by means of the mosques and The Koran books, and the history of our prophets, his companions, and the great leaders, we prepare them for the mission of saving humanity from the hellfire on the brink of which they stand."

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x_qbKrOF64w

Brigitte Gabriel summed it up in her book title on the Islamists’ destruction of Lebanon. It is “Because They Hate” – and nothing else.

http://www.amazon.com/Because-They-Hate-Survivor-Islamic/dp/0312358377

beloved

The goal, Mike, isn't "ending occupation." That phrase is for your consumption and misrepresents the facts. According to Hamas, Hamas' goal is killing Jews (i.e., genocide of Jews).

TT

Mike, despite your highly flawed "thinking" re "ocupation", have you ever heard Jews making threats of murder (etc) against civilian Muslims and/or Arabs, and children of these people wherever they are in the world? Huh? This sort of threat (i.e, the one that has been made against Jews -- and one that I don't observe you condemning)is unheard of, cowardly beyond belief, illegal, and totally lacking in morality and humanity. As for the supposed "injustices and suffering" you speak of, these are illusions based on propoganda that you seem to have swallowed hook, line, and sinker.

Archie

Pace Paxman: it has always been a constant source of wonder to me why people consent to be "interviewed" by this odious creature.

iaincats

I support you on this, Melanie. People seem to have forgotten what the Jews went through during the war, as well as the declared intention of the Iranian president to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. It seems he has many allies in UK politicas and in the BBC

steve

So were those of you attacking Jeremy Paxman also similarly upset when he hectored and badgered George Galloway on election night in 2005? Somehow I bet you weren't. Anyone can find bias in any media report if you already have a predetermined position on an issue. Perhaps to be helpful you could offer a list of news agencies and/or reporters that you see as objective in covering the current war.

andy c

Funny that the Israeli spokeeman on the 1 pm Radio 4 News dosnplayed the rocket attacks from Lebanon.

I guess Israel is happy to knock the stuffing out of the weak Hamas, but frightened of starting another war with the much better armed Hezbollah.

Alastair Murray

Hi Melanie - thanks for telling it like it is! Some great articles, including Isi's in JPost, but the anti-semites will not hear either the truth nor the facts!
Islam is facing judgement and they are about to find that the wrath of our God will be upon them! And it surely is time! Israel will stand. The Jewish people, the most righteous of all Nations, will prevail. The "Light Unto Nations" you are. We love you and appreciate you.
Keep safe, these fanatics are everywhere! Bless you both!

Louise

By the "Israeli from the Foreign Ministry" I assume Mark Regev is meant. What a cool, cogent, unflappable speaker he is. At last, the bully boys of Al Beeb might have met their match. In my view, Israel could not ask for a better media spokesperson. Hopefully Mark Regev will be used as such irrespective of who Israel's Prime Minister is. More power to Mr. Regev. I think he should be cloned.

Peter Burman

Brilliant analysis. Thank you.

Inya

ed says: "Not sure where this all comes from. And would Melanie please provide some evidence rather than wild accusations."

ed, it comes from that disgusting letter to The Guardian that you have been referred to:

"Anger within UK Muslim communities has reached acute levels of intensity. The Israeli government's use of disproportionate force ... has revived extremist groups and empowered their message of violence and perennial conflict."

In other words, if you don't start telling the Israeli government what to do soon, there might be Islamic terror bombs let off in in the UK.

Dave Batista

What about decent british people who understand that Hamas are deplorable, opportunistic terrorists of the worst kind but also find the disproportionate actions by Israel disgusting in the extreme? Or are we not allowed middle ground in this?

YouCannotBeSerious

Ah here we go, the McCarthyite incitements on different viewpoints begin - the only surprise being that this took so long. Bravo!

Winston Smith

I second steve's comment(January 8th, 2009 1:24pm) on Paxman. Do those against him not realise that out of all of the journalists in the BBC, he is the only one with integrity? He is also the only journalist in the BBC who's standards and viewpoint are from the early days of the BBC, in that he is impartial. This is a must for all journalists to present a non biased report so that the public can make up their own minds. If the facts are presented then it really isn't too hard to find out who's right and who's wrong.
I recall Paxman grilling Islamists in the past as well as Politicians(what he's renowned for). Paxman is rightfully playing the Devil's advocate here and I commend him for that. A television host should always be the referee and favour neither side. They should always keep the equilibrium intact.
Paxman, I hasten to add is possibly the only reason I ever watch the BBC as all the other journalists are pretty much pants.

Roslyn Pine.

Yes, of course I was referring to the Riddell article.
It is utterly appalling and sick that the Telegraph, of all papers, should have published this.

Ayn

".....if you already have a predetermined position on an issue." Like you, perhaps, Steve?

Ayn

So, Andy, damned if they do; damned if they don't, Huh?

Ronnie

No andy c, Israel will not want to fight a war on two fronts. Who would?

Does that dissappoint you? Aren't things exciting enough for you at the moment or are you looking forward to an Iranian victory?

Jason

To Andy C, give it time. Israel is sitting on its hands at the moment, hoping that the rockets launched from Lebanon were an isolated incident. Believe me, if more rockets come from Lebanon, Israel will have no problem opening up a second front and smashing Hezbollah, just like they are currently doing to Hamas in Gaza.

Ronnie

Steve, I'm glad you mentioned that Paxman interview. I was thinking about it earlier today, a rare piece of political theatre.

Paxman was a disgrace of course and Galloway told him to f*&$ off, but took too long about it as usual.

None of it added one iota to our understanding of the world but that doesn't seem to be Paxman's job any more.

phil

I am relieved to see others have decided to tell Mike what a load of nonsense that he writes ,I was beginning to think no one else cared -he is full of bullfisk and has been here for years ,.no original thought just cut outs -I am fed up with him as I have tried to debate and discuss but to no avail -well done all .

Augustus

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

Not only a Bushism it seems, but plain speaking too.

Battling Brummie

I am happy to report Melanie that anti-Israeli sentiment appears to be restricted to the trendy parts of North and West London plus Pakistani and Bangladeshi areas. My impression is that the ordinary man in the street is entirely sympathetic to Israel's position.

logdon

Here are my views in response to an absurd article in the otherwise sober Telegraph by Mary Riddel. They were moderated and disappeared into the thin ether. I despair! Over thirty books on this very subject by well known and respected writers line my bookshelves. Everything I say is gleaned from and backed by their inestimable knowledge so why the coyness I ask myself? However I then read the Groundhog Day scenario which posits the view that if Israel caves in (yet again) it is in for a circular, never ending pattern of violence and hate until it's existence is no more, which backs up my assumptions.

What Israel bashers never tell us is of the ripple affect as the triumphant jihadists roll out the winning methodology upon the rest of us. Israel, as I've said before is point man in our defence against this catastrophe, our very own Naqba and if Israel goes it is only a matter of time before th e dominoes drop with Mark Steyn's America Alone left standing.

By moderating me the Telegraph completes this picture of a supine Europe not quite believing what is in store. They betray the bravery of the writers, many apostate Muslims who do put their heads above the pathetic parapet of MSM censorship to report the truth of the matter.

Unless we get a handle on this I'm afraid we're in for a rocky ride. Jews are now being openly assaulted across Europe and right here in Britain. Low grade Islamic backed violence is becoming routine in Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and France. Retaliation is also on the rise with what are basically mini race wars erupting in areas of high immigration. These are the foothill incidents, the warning across bow shots which should get our collective antennae twitching. Instead we sit on hands hoping it will all go away. A bit like the Israelis who would heed the siren songs of peace from the likes of Sarkozy and Blair.

It's a pipe dream. A fantasy and until our West, cosseted by sixty five years of relative peace wakes up, that peace will be rudely shattered.

'Riddel, like the rest of the useful idiots writing handwringing and hollow peans to Hamas just does not get it. Sure they'll wallow in the inner glow of self righteousness coursing through their veins on completion of their pathetic little pieces but that smugness is so shallow, consisting as it does of mere rearrangement of the trigger words which pass for journalism these days when Israel comes up. I read of 'bestial slaughter' and all the other stupid and hysterical exaggerations, ramping up of what is at root Israel's resistance to annihilation. Right now the global jihad is in full swing, the aim being nothing less than world domination. Read the key Islamist pronunciations from Bin Laden to Qaradawi and the picture emerges. Islam must regain it's rightful place as the dominant global governing system and the shariah must be implemented as a world wide code of conduct before peace is gained. The Dar el Harb has to be subdued. Israel happens to be number one on the list, nestling as it does amongst the seething hotbed we call the Middle East and as such must be removed. After that will be Spain and the Balkans and within 50 years no more church bells in Europe as Muslims, aided by the massive expansion of their populations and our supine multiculturalism and political correctness take over. So, like the cliched domino stack, one goes and they all do. They, being us. So when I read the reams of lemming like stuff now being pumped out in the MSM, especially from Al-Beeb and Reuters I despair. However there is hope and it looks like Israel is ignoring the pleas for the puerile instant gratification of a short lived peace and is pursuing those who would seek it's demise with full and rigorous force. That force, unlike Hamas's murderous intent of killing all who do not agree is not aimed at civilians but the ones who despicably hide behind their women and children human shields. The starkness of the divide between the civilised and the barbarians could not be greater yet on and on these intellectual pygmies prattle on, putting their bets on a force which would make Hitler's machinations look like a teddy bears picnic. Maybe you should have a transfer system and send this woman packing off the the Indy where she belongs.

Michael B

A superb piece, incisive and probes to requisite depths. The MSM's reportage on Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, regimes such as Iran and Syria, etc. reflects, all too predictably and all too typically, a revulsion, an intellectual and moral mephitis.

simon bacchini

I too was appalled by Mary Riddel's article in the Telegraph. No mention is made in it of Hamas' attacks, its hatred of Israel and Jews enshrined in its charter, and its cynical use of civilians. This was pure, unadulterated intellectual dishonesty.
Of course, no mention either of Israel warning civilians of imminent attacks - unlike Hamas of course.
Like the French philosopher Bernard Henry-Levy (oops, Jewish surname: must be a child killer) wrote in an article published in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera yesterday, given the time that Israel has been suffering from rocket attacks at the hands of Hamas, what's surprising is not that it responded, but that it took it so long to do it.
Though I can, to some extent, understand Arab/Muslim hatred of Israel - especially given the diet of lies they've been feasting on for decades - what totally escapes me is the reason behind the same hatred as shown by the Left in Europe and elsewhere.

FFScotland

Melanie, please get your facts right before you accuse people of vicious misreporting. The UN did not say the vast majority of the dead were Hamas operatives. They did say that nearly one third of the dead were children. People blame Israel for deaths of civilians and children because Israelis did actually kill them with their weapons. This is a statement of fact, not a value judgment. You assert without providing evidence that Hamas is deliberately creating targets out of its own people to increase the death toll and then hold it against other people for not taking this "fact" into consideration

Now, there may be all sorts of compelling reasons to justify Israel's actions. The Spectator is absolutely the forum in which to make that sort of reasoned argument. But your article is simply a rant and a disgrace.

Emmet Sweeney

Refuse to pay the BBC tax. They can't jail us all.

DaveP

The vilest piece can be seen here.

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,477450,00.html

Its really time that prominent writers called for the restriction of Muslim immigration as a first step. Else we are looking at a sharia England in 40 years.

DaveP

Jews to 'Go Back to the Oven' at Anti-Israel Demonstration

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,477450,00.html

Towncar

Hat tip to Tina, who has the perspective.

Those who bemoan the dead in Gaza, whether they be civilian, child, Hamas or another walk of life, ignore the big picture. This scrap between Hamas and Israel is merely that - a skirmish. Hamas and its fellow organizations are motivated, worldwide, by simple hatred of all things not muslim. The dead in Gaza have one importance to the jihad - propaganda; they're far more important to the western press than they are to the jihad. The jihadis couldn't care less about those people. The supposition that Hamas and groups like them seek to live and raise their children in peace is to naively apply a western value where there is no corresponding muslim sentiment. Those defending Hamas' actions in provoking this latest rebuttal to their hatred and stupidity had better start considering what they will do when muslim violence escalates beyond obnoxious demonstators and becomes the early stages of civil war on the streets of Britain and Europe.

Margaret Muller-Johansson

DaveP, Sharia is already exsist some parts of England you don't have to wait for 40 years, they don't tell you the media I mean.

logdon

Here's a site which lists international jihad killing as an ongoing process.

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks

We never hear of this horror in the MSM, yet horror it is as the numbers of dead pile up like a charnell house of forgotten souls. Here's the list from the last eight days of our New Year. Nothing special to our media, hungry for any juicy anti Jewish/Israel tidbit but each and every Hamas/ Palestinian death is pored over like ghoulish soothsayers eying a dish of entrails. Added up it comes to 219 people dead yet no BBC or Reuters anguish to mark their passing. It's about half the deceased in Gaza but remember it's not in a war, just the same old same old.

Date Country City Killed Injured Description
2009.01.07 Pakistan Hungu 4 1 Four policemen die from burns and shrapnel during a Taliban rocket attack.
2009.01.07 Pal. Auth. Gaza 6 0 Three brothers are among six people shot to death by Hamas militants.
2009.01.07 Somalia Yubsan 1 0 A humanitarian worker and father of five is shot to death in cold blood by Islamic terrorists.
2009.01.06 Iraq Baghdad 4 6 Four Iraqis are taken out by roadside bombers.
2009.01.06 Thailand Pattani 1 0 An Islamic terror attack leaves a 47-year-old security man dead.
2009.01.06 Iraq Mosul 2 6 A Shahid successfully kills two civilians with a suicide bomb.
2009.01.06 Pakistan Mingora 6 0 Six local cops are kidnapped and brutally executed by Sunni radicals.
2009.01.05 Pakistan Quetta 2 0 Two Shia civilians are shot to death by Sunni militants.
2009.01.05 Thailand Yala 1 2 A villager is shot to death by Mujahid while standing with his neighbors.
2009.01.05 Thailand Narathiwat 1 1 Islamists shoot at a married couple with automatic weapons, killing the husband and injuring his wife.
2009.01.05 Thailand Narathiwat 1 1 Religious radicals gun down a 51-year-old cop.
2009.01.05 Pakistan Bannu 3 0 Three family men are abducted and executed by the Taliban.
2009.01.05 Afghanistan Kandahar 3 1 Religious extremists attack a police post, killing three local officers.
2009.01.05 Pakistan Swat 2 0 Two persons are murdered by Mujahideen in separate attacks, including a woman in her home.
2009.01.05 Afghanistan Kandahar 1 0 A pro-government mosque leader is taken out by Islamic gunmen
2009.01.05 Iraq Baghdad 3 6 Jihadis plant a bomb outside a soccer stadium, killing three Iraqis.
2009.01.04 Pakistan Di Khan 10 25 Islamic bombers blast at least ten people to death in an attack at a college campus.
2009.01.04 Thailand Pattani 1 1 Muslim gunmen murder a Buddhist man and injure his wife as they are riding in their vehicle.
2009.01.04 Iraq Baghdad 36 72 Dozens of women and children are blown to bits by a Shahid suicide bomber targeting a crowd of Shiite pilgrims near a shrine.
2009.01.04 Pal. Auth. Gaza 35 75 The Islamic terror group, Hamas, 'executes' thirty-five rivals and maims over seventy others over the course of several days.
2009.01.04 Pakistan Swat 2 0 Muslim fundamentalists abduct and brutally execute two police officers, beheading one and hanging his head from a pole.
2009.01.04 Pakistan Matta 3 0 Three persons are murdered by suspected Taliban gunmen.
2009.01.03 Iraq Baghdad 4 16 Shia pilgrims are among the victims of two Sunni bombing attacks.
2009.01.02 Iraq al-Yusufiyah 23 110 A Fedayeen suicide bomber wades into a lunch crowd at a reconciliation meeting between Sunni and Shia leaders, killing twenty-three.
2009.01.02 Somalia Mogadishu 9 0 Two soldiers and seven civilians are killed in an Mujahid bombing and the ensuing fire fight.
2009.01.02 Pakistan Swat 3 0 Three civilians are shot to death in two attacks.
2009.01.02 Pakistan Balogram 2 0 Two policemen are abducted by Islamists and gruesomely tortured to death.
2009.01.02 Pakistan Bajaur 1 0 Muslim terrorists shoot a tribal elder to death.
2009.01.02 Somalia Mogadishu 1 0 A local cleric is shot to death by al-Shabaab radicals in his home in front of his blind mother.
2009.01.02 Pakistan Mingora 1 0 A local dancing girl is quickly gunned down by Islamists after her husband kicks her out of the house.
2009.01.01 Somalia Baidoa 1 0 A member of a reconciliation committee is murdered by Islamic militia.
2009.01.01 Somalia Mogadishu 2 0 Two local officials are assassinated by Mujahideen.
2009.01.01 Pakistan Peshawar 3 6 Three policemen are killed by two Religion of Peace bombs.
2009.01.01 Pakistan Swat 3 0 Three people are shot to death by Islamic terrorists in separate attacks.
2009.01.01 Pakistan Bajaur 4 16 Four civilians are killed when Mujahideen fire rockets into an office complex.
2009.01.01 Iraq Mosul 3 5 A Shahid takes out three Iraqis.
2009.01.01 Somalia Afgoye 1 0 A journalist is killed during an attack by Islamic militia.
2009.01.01 Pakistan Swat 1 0 Militants drag a man out of his home and cut off his head in a public square.

That's 189 people

Leon

To Andy c. : don't worry, Andy, given Israel's geographic dimensions, it will take a very short time for Israeli airborne deliverers of justice to proceed from Gaza to Lebabollanon, and for its troops to set foot there too if the Israeli Government judges that it's necessary.

Mike

Moderator(s): Would you kindly review, and publish, the following post which was uploaded early this pm.

'Tina, beloved and TT'

I would like to ask you why you don't give any thought to what it must be like, what emotions it generates, what horrible acts start to appear justifiable, when you have a hostile foreign army control your borders and airspace and internal affairs for 4 decades, one which builds walls around you, imposes the most intensely humiliating conditions on your daily life, blockades your land so you are barred from leaving, and prevents you from accessing basic nutrition and medical needs for your children?

Martin

All this racial/religious hatred from all is disgraceful and irrelevant. This is about power, hiding behind religious identity.

Both Judaism and Islam are peaceful religions at the core of their teachings. You have to want peace before you get it.

However, how can anyone possibly contend that the constant stream of Israeli spokespeople on the BBC is pro-islam? Is it simply because they are showing only 90% Israeli propaganda rather than 100%?

Melanies views display the fundamentals of Orwellianism: everything she says is the opposite of the truth.

George Steiner

Let me suggest why the European left and intelligentsia act the way they do towards Muslims and Jews. It has to do with the now famous "strong horse and the week horse" of the arch Islamist Bin Laden. The European Jews are the weak horse and the Muslims in Europe are the strong horse. The Muslims act forcefully and confidently. The European Jews act feebly and self efaceingly. Since Europeans are by and large fearful people, they naturally look up to the “strong horse”.

Herbert Thornton

I have tried to draw attention to this at least twice, but have been ignored - and that is that among the chorus of anti-Jewish, racist frenzy that is appearing in the media, one British political leader is taking a notably different line - one that does not condemn Israel, that shows, if anything, sympathy for Israel, and that makes it clear that Israel faces an enemy that is also Britain's mortal enemy.

By way of example, what he has said includes this -

"...as nationalists and not imperialists, we recognise the right of every other people under the sun to seek to secure self-determination on a patch of earth that is their historic and spiritual homeland, and the duty of every government of such a nation-state to protect its citizens from terrorism or oppression."

and -

"....while we would oppose any move to entangle Britain in war on behalf of Israel, it is in our clear national interest that it should survive."

Guess who wrote that. In case you don't know, it was Nick Griffin.

Mark

Actually I don't have a problem with Paxman and others giving Israeli spokesmen a hard time. My problem is that they don't give the other side an equally hard time.

In particular they don't press home the hard questions and seem to give up when such interviewees seem genuinely or otherwise, linguistically challenged.

Winston Smith

Martin(January 8th, 2009 8:48pm)

"Both Judaism and Islam are peaceful religions at the core of their teachings."

I strongly and I mean STRONGLY suggest you read the Koran, Hadiths and Siras before stating that Islam is like Judaism.

This is what I mean. The West is completely ignorant to what Islamic teaching are all about and are too busy listening to left wing propaganda which of course paints the complete opposite of what Islam is.

steve

Towncar: So is the solution then to just completely ignore the dead civilians?

Margaret Muller-Johansson

Winston Smith, I think the west don't know about Christianity either, many westerners in modern days if you ask them what is your religion? they will tell you they don't have one, wich is sad because believing something is better then believing nothing, so those people who don't have a believe don't know much about other religions or cultures, therefore they are confuse.

Mark

STEVE You presumably think we should have something to say about dead civilians and of course you are right. One death in a situation like this is one death too many. I have heard Israel express sorrow and regret several times. I might add that have yet to hear Israeli deaths regretted by Hamas spokesmen but hope springs eternal.

However this is a sad old world and such deaths are also viewed in a political context. Since that is clearly the context in which Hamas wants them viewed, it is surely reasonable to discuss at least the extent to which Hamas is responsible.

Winston Smith

Margaret Muller-Johansson(January 8th, 2009 10:50pm)

People do know about Christianity but unfortunately the religion that was created after Christ. They do not take into account the teachings of Christ(which are Polar opposites to Muhammad's). It is the peaceful teachings of Christ that is Christianity and not the religion created in his name.
On the contrary I am not a religious person whatsoever. I am a very spiritual person and believe in the teachings of Christ. My laws in life are the Natural laws of common sense. I did not need the Bible to tell me that hitting another person is wrong(unless they hit me first). I also know a hell of a lot about other religions and cultures and yet I am not religious. I'm sorry to say but I disagree with your comment almost entirely.

Bob Smith

What is happening in Israel will soon be happening in the UK and Western Europe. It is simply called jihad. When you have a large enough Muslim population to hide enough radicals this is what you get.

What will be the UK response to rockets out of Muslim "no-go zones?"

Towncar

The death of civilians on the battlefield is always tragic, but, as I've pointed out, this is small picture, not big picture. Clearly Hamas is unconcerned for the collateral damage they provoke. When muslim violence escalates in Europe and the UK, resulting in dead civilians on the streets in those countries, perhaps the big picture will begin to make itself known to those incapable of seeing it now. Someone posted in another thread that this concern is irrational paranoia, because groups like Hamas or Al Qaeda could never achieve something like taking over the White House or Downing Street. That estimate of the jihad's ultimate strength is undoubtedly correct, but far short of such lofty goals, these groups will easily cause enough trouble that the shrewd response will be to slaughter them.

Alexander Cudsi

Melanie is ignorant or otherwise deliberately ignoring the Israeli Dahiyah military doctrine published in Israel on 2nd October, advocating that civilian areas be considered as military targets as a way of saving lives of Israeli soldiers and forcing the enemy to capitulate. If this is not a war crime, what is???

Miranda Rose Smith

The BBC and large sections of the British left wing and British intelligentsia want Israel wiped off the map. Do they realize that if, G-d forbid, Israel is ever destroyed, England is next on the Islamofascist hit list and they've pretty much signed away their right to complain about ANYTHING, I repeat, ANYTHING, that the Islamofascists may do to them or their loved ones-assuming they love anybody?

Karsten Duncan

I sent an e-mail comment to the Telegraph objecting to Mary Riddell's revolting article in much milder terms than I felt like using. My piece was not published, however, even on the website.

I believe - and have for some time - that Britain after 11 years of Labour is such nearer complete societal collapse than most people believe or imagine.

I am not Jewish, but I hope and pray there are those among Britain's Jews who are getting ready for the worst.

Read Dennis Wheatley's 1935 novel "Black August" - it could be a text-book for what may be coming.

Frank P

Michael B (8th Jan 4005pm) " an intellectual and moral mephitis."

I ventured "putrid miasma" on one thread a few days ago, but "moral mephitis"? - classy! An ace trumper, so to speak ...

Winston Smith

Karsten Duncan(January 9th, 2009 1:54pm),

It's funny what you say about the Daily Telegraph. I too replied. I did in fact twice and neither were published. I made the eloquent statement of what do the Daily Telegraph readers have in store next - Poly Toynbee, Yasmin Alibi Brown, Ken Livingstone and Robert Fisk?
I saw the decline in the Daily Telegraph over a year ago. As you may remember, one thing the Daily Telegraph had was an open comment section. AS soon as one person posted it was up remember? Do you not also recall that there were also comment sections on almost every Newspaper Article as well? This all came to an end after one post that was on the Government. There was so much anger from the posters against the government, I can't recall what it was about, but the Daily Telegraph ended up deleting all of the comments, around 150 of them and starting a clean slate. I remember how other websites commented on it such as the Libertarian Blog.
In a nutshell Karsten, the Daily Telegraph a bastion of conservatism is becoming like it's political party it supports and that is a Social Democratic newspaper that has more in touch with Socialism than Conservatism, hence why they posted the article by Mary Riddel. I no longer touch the paper and removed the Online paper link from my favourites menu. The government dictates what the Daily Telegraph says.

phil

Louise ,the other night the Israeli spokesman on newsnight was not Mark Regev-i didn•t catch his name ,but I suppose Paxman didn't relish another humiliation by Mark -he made Paxman look completely stupid last time.JP took his bat and ball home as fast as possible,beating speedy Gonzalez to the switch off button -I wish he got a chance with BOWEN a man that I regret censorship would not allow me to describe ,save to say he and the truth march on different paths -he is probably off somewhere drinking vinegar with olga guerin -where on earth do the BBC dig them up from ?

Herbert Thornton

Winston Smith - I've noticed this change in the Daily Telegraph too. I don't know whether there's any direct connection, but it seems to have coincided with the enfeeblement of the Conservative Party.

One phenomenon (observable at times also in the Spectator) is that the insertion in any posting of the second, fourteenth and sixteenth letters of the alphabet seems to invite automatic rejection.

Michael B

The tragic and sad thing, Frank, is that it's an apt - a supremely fitting - analogy and description, not exaggerative in the least.

phil

Herbert Thornton i KEEP BEGGING YOU TO USE 3 OR 12:)

Bill M

Ezra Levant makes some quick and salient points about critics of Israel's handling of its operation in Gaza here:

http://ezralevant.com/2009/01/reality-check-on-gaza.html

H.Thornton

Phil -

I would of course like to write something you would approve of, but try as I will, I can't fathom what you're getting at. Does "3 or 12" something to do with the Conservative and Liberal Parties?

Adam B.

Mike, why don't you admit that you don't believe Israel has a right to exist at all, in any circumstances? Why hide your agenda?

Mike

Adam B: I'll respond to this one more time and no more. Read my words.........ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST....IT EXISTS...FACT!

Now p..s off you 'orrible child, and let me get some sleep!

Adam B.

Interesting way of phrasing it Mike (and my, doesn't your mask slip when ticked off). You have said in the past that it exists, so you're not in favour of eradicating it, but you don't believe in its moral right to exist in the first place i.e. you would have been against its establishment. Why then should Israel listen to people like you!

Raibs

Apparently, Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview and was asked about Israel's occupation of Arab lands. His response was "It's our land". The reporter (CNN or the like) was stunned - read below "It's our land..." It's important information since we don't get fair and accurate reporting from the media and facts tend to get lost in the jumble of daily events.
"Crash Course on the Arab Israeli Conflict."
Here are overlooked facts in the current &n bsp; Middle East situation.
These were compiled by a Christian university professor:
BRIEF FACTS ON THE ISRAELI CONFLICT TODAY.... ( It takes just 1.5 minutes to read!!!! )
It makes sense and it's not slanted. Jew and non-Jew -- it doesn't matter.
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem. Israel became a nation in 1312 BCE, Two thousand years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BCE, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 CE lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.
10 The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab la nds to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey .
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
These are incredible times. We have to ask what our role should be. What will we tell our grandchildren about we did when there was a turning point in Jewish destiny, an opportunity to make a difference?
START NOW- Send this to 18 other people you know and ask them to send it to eighteen others, Jew and non-Jew--it doesn't really matter

Mike

AdamB: Treat a child as a child.

phil

Raibs I posted this a few days ago and it was taken up by a poster called Adrian ,he might be back to test you ,and a strange guy calling himself a jebusite disputing the origins of Jerusalem ,times like these unearth some odd people arguing about ridiculous points .:)

phil

Mike I can reccomend Benelyn .it will make you sleep until all this is over ,I offer a complimentary bottle to your mate fisk -ok two then .,and please no swearing at Adam b WHO IS WELL KNOWN AS A GOOD GUY .

Mike

phil: Of course he is....he's on your side and no doubt all the other Zionists would agree with you. Afterall only the good guys end up on the Mount of Olives.

Wyn

Bob Smith, Karsten Duncan, Towncar and others have it in a nutshell.They quite rightly do not believe that we are insulated here in the UK. We now have many places in this country where it is not safe for certain groups of people to enter.There are intolerant sections in our society today who have been allowed to flourish because our leaders do not have the will to deal with them.The few people who, years ago, drew attention to potential forthcoming problems were denounced as racists, therefore our own leaders have created a situation where we are hostage to fortune.Reading some of the comments on this site only illustrates the danger within.

Adam B.

Now Mike's making fun of the Mount of Olives - what a winner he is. Why don't you make fun of Mecca Mike while you're at it? Or is it only acceptable to make fun of Jewish holy places?

phil

Mike-I am not a ZIONIST and there lies your problem ,you do not know what one is ! - I have told you this before but I will do so again -it is the desire of some Jews to live in the land of Israel -WHAT NAME WOULD YOU GIVE A Catholic who is loyal to his country of birth and does not want to live in ROME -That's not too complicated is it ? I want to remain a Brit as I am sure does Mel .though I suppose I should let her speak for herself -What would you call fisk who lives in Beirut ? I have a name for him but it would differ from yours :)

Just between you and me if your man fisk ventured into Tel-Aviv you could be sure he would come out alive -I don't think I would have that luck in hesbollahland would I ?,and don't you worry either you could go there too(T.A. ) and live ,you would not have to be circumcised and you would enjoy a life in a land not full of hate .The chicken soup is good too .

phil

H.Thornton-herbert I responded earlier but looks like it got lost -it was supposed to be humorous and of course the - tory,s or lib/lab-you know I always bang on about changing you.) :)

Herbert Thornton

Bill M - Thanks for referring us to Ezra Levant's comments in his blog. There have been a fair number of replies to it & the last one, from Observer, has a link to a cartoon that sums up rather well what has gone wrong in Britain.

Phil - I'm still mystified by your reference to both 3 and 12.

phil

Herbert Thornton 3is C 12 is L

Herbert Thornton

Phil,

My 8:18pm posting was sent before your 7:35pm posting appeared. I continue to hope that you (and even, perhaps, Melanie) will be persuaded that 12, 12 and 3 are so enfeebled that they serve the purposes of Hamas whereas 2, 13 and 16 support Israel.

Frank P

Michael B (6.19pm)

Oh I agree, I agree - my remark was entirely laudatory I assure you, not a scintilla of irony, though considering the seriousness of the issue, perhaps the coarse quip at the end was a little - er - shitty? :-)

phil

Herbert Thornton:)I always appreciate your support

DaveP

Just so that Muslim apologists cannot claim that the Arab woman in Florida yelling at Jews "Go back to the ovens"

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,477450,00.html

is not just a lone abberation, here are some more

In yesterdays anti Israel demonstration in the Dutch capital the crowds shouted: "Hamas, Hamas, gas the Jews! Hamas, Hamas, Gas the Jews!".

http://www.schlijper.nl/

and

Los Angeles pro-jihad rally: "Long live Hitler," "Put Jews in ovens"

Watch starting at 4:30 as young Muslim demonstrators shout praise of Hitler and call for Jews to be used as "fossil fuel," while other demonstrators nearby laugh.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024341.php#comments

What our politicians and the media fail to realise, is that the existential threat we face from Muslims is not the Jihadi terrorist one, but the fact that Muslim populations will grow to such an extent, that sharia will be enacted in parliament by a Muslim majority. The Muslim population has to be just 30%, for that to come about.

phil

Mike I will answer the first part its because I am a proud and grateful Brit .The rest of your post is off the wall -way beyond me ,but nothing new when you do not want to answer me .AS for fisk he is writing the worst incitement I have ever seen in the independent ,one punter even admitted he had an IRRATIONAL HATRED FOR JEWS TODAY .that is the sort of reader he attracts .low class uneducated racists and most cannot even write in the Queens English .The man knows no shame and his views are beyond disgusting but sadly in these strange days he has an audience -I just wish we could see him in debate with someone like Mel ,he would fall like a pack of cards because those who speak untruthfully cant even remember what they have said .Isuggest you leave those remarks about ADAM b out of it ,too distasteful for me .

Mike

Peter: Many thanks for taking time out to find my post of last evening.

Michael B

Frank, yes, thx, I understood the intent.

Gooder

Mike, you say: "intensely humiliating conditions on your daily life, blockades your land so you are barred from leaving, and prevents you from accessing basic nutrition and medical needs for your children?" Do you have any idea how many Palestinians are treated by Israeli hospitals and Doctors? Even now, at the height of the war, Palestinians are allowed into Israel for urgent treatment. Last time I checked, Gaza shared a border with Egypt as well. Now why do you think they won't let the Gazans through? Israel has ever right to erect a border between its sovereign territory and that of another state/territory. Would you criticize the US for erecting a wall on the US/Mexico border? Israel has made it extremely clear to Hamas: abandon terrorism and we'll open up the borders. Easy, isn't it?

Mike

Gooder: I wish it was all that 'easy'. No....I don't know how many Palestinians are treated by Israeli Doctors. Do you have the numbers treated by territory....ex West Bank and Gaza over say the last 12 months? Also I'm not a little puzzled how 'urgent' cases in Gaza, 'at the height of the war,' are transported into Israel and treated in an Israeli Hospital.

Can we deal with these queries first please?

Adam B.

Moderator, I find Mike's comments (Jan 11th, 7.30am) about me to be beyond acceptable. He can say what he likes about my politics, but not about the subject he brings up, or my family. Disgusting really.

Adam B.

Mike, shame on you for your comments. Utterly disgusting.

Robert Fisk

[[ Why do they hate the West so much, we will ask ]]

"So once again, Israel has opened the gates of hell to the Palestinians. Forty civilian refugees dead in a United Nations school, three more in another. Not bad for a night's work in Gaza by the army that believes in "purity of arms". But why should we be surprised?..."

to read more:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html

Adam B.

Moderator, are mike's commenst acceptable? Please see my post of 13 jan 12.12am

Pete Hoskin

Adam B: apologies; looking back I can certainly see how Mike's comment could cause offence. I have now taken it down.

Mike: see above. The comment's been taken down to prevent further offence to Adam B, and in the interests of keeping the debate as friendly as possible.

Mike

Moderator(s). Would you kindly review, and publish, my response to AdamB posted sometime between 08:00am and 09:00am today.

Mike

Peter Hoskin: It's a pity you haven't been able to uncover my response to AdamB otherwise you would have seen that I viewed all the exchanges, starting with Phil's remark about the 'Mount of Olives', as 'tongue in cheek' and I continued in that vein. Now if AdamB is unable to handle some 'ribbing' then that is most unfortunate.....I experienced this reaction sometime last year......I should have known better. However, if this has led to some discomfort in his family then of course I apologise to them unreservedly. I shall now be much more careful with what I share with AdamB in the future. Hopefully he will do the same.
Further I regret any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Mike

Peter Hoskin: Thank you for publishing my 09:10pm. Hopefully this will put matters to rest.

Adam B.

Pete, thank you, it is appreciated.

Mike

Robert Fisk: Are you the same Fisk who on Alajazeera to-day said: 'The story, the real story, of Gaza is that those who are firing rockets into Israel, are not Gazans but people from that part of Palestine which is now Israel'.......or words to that effect?

You then went onto say that this is an untold story in the West, is untold in the Arab capitals, and is denied by Israel......as usual the Palestinians stand alone'.

Is it you?

phil

robert fisk or his impersonator -I prefer not to read pornogrphic literature

Mike

phil: A 'cut and paste'....... specially for you

'Robert Fisk has been described in the New York Times as "probably the most famous foreign correspondent in Britain." He covered the Northern Ireland Troubles in the 1970s, the Portuguese Revolution in 1974, the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War, the 1979 Iranian revolution, the 1980-88 Iran–Iraq War, the 1991 Gulf War, and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. He has received numerous awards, including the British Press Awards' International Journalist of the Year award seven times. Fisk speaks vernacular Arabic, and is one of the few Western journalists to have interviewed Osama bin Laden – three times between 1994 and 1997.

Fisk has said that journalism must "challenge authority — all authority — especially so when governments and politicians take us to war." He has quoted with approval the Israeli journalist Amira Hass: "There is a misconception that journalists can be objective ... What journalism is really about is to monitor power and the centres of power."

To refer to Robert Fisk as a 'pornographer' displays' either gross ignorance, or a mind warped by your own prejudices.

Stacey

To Reibs, you say there are 8 Arab nations. There is actually a lot more than that, there are 22 Arab countries.

Robert

To Mike, so what if Fisk won an award. And Arafat won the noble peace prize! So what!

Irina

Dear Melanie,

Thank you for the wonderful article.
I hope all Britain will realise it as you do.

Unfortunately the country is becoming more and more pro-Islamic. It's unrecognizable. The reason is simply because Muslims are becoming the majority. Why so many Muslims were allowed into the country? Where is British common sense?