Unconfirmed photograph of Tel Aviv bus bombing, 21 November 2012. (Photo: @Vostvitzech/Twitter)
Just after noon on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 a bus exploded in Tel Aviv near the office of Avital Leibovich, the official Israel military spokesperson. Israel’s Channel 10 reported 18 were injured and checkpoints have been erected near the site of the attack. Commenting on Twitter Leibovich said, “A bus explodes under my Tel Aviv office. Possibly due to a bomb or suicide bomber. Hearing the sirens of the ambulances.” Continuing, “Now hearing the sound of an helicopter circling in the air and police asking people to clear the scenes.”
The explosion comes after the release of a Hebrew video with Arabic subtitles five days ago by al-Qassam Brigades threatening to resume suicide bombings inside of Israel, if the siege on Gaza is not lifted. “We have missed the suicide [bombs]” said the video, continuing “wait for us soon in stores, buses and cafes.” At this time it is not yet confirmed that the bus bombing was carried out by an affiliate of al-Qassam Brigades.
Protest outside of al-Mukataa, the Palestinian Authority compound in Ramallah, 21 November 2012. (Photo: @occupy2gether/Twitter)
The attack took place while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Ramallah for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Haaretz reported that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire fell apart at the last minute yesterday over Israeli demands. Outside of the Palestinian Authority compound her visit was met with protest against Operation Pillar of Cloud and on-going U.S. support to Israel. Despite Clinton’s diplomatic efforts to reach an end to the fighting, journalists on the ground in Gaza reported last night heavy Israeli Navy fire. Gaza-based freelance journalist Lydia de Leeuw told Mondoweiss the blasts “shook the entire building” she was in every five minutes during the heaviest bombing.
according to my twitter feed gaza is exploding, and has been exploding for days, but massive escalations presently occurring. #GazaUnderAttack
Looks like many of you are going to have to increase the outpouring of morally outraged sadness if for some crazy reason this bus bomb doesn’t lead to peace.
Gaza people are “whipping boy” to achieve Palestinian (and Hamas) abject surrender to Israel without further resistance (or peace making or justice for Palestinians).
Wiki: “Whipping boys were generally of high status, and were educated with the prince from birth. Because the prince and whipping boy grew up together they usually formed a strong emotional bond, especially since the prince usually did not have playmates as other children would have had. The strong bond that developed between a prince and his whipping boy dramatically increased the effectiveness of using a whipping boy as a form of punishment for a prince. The idea of the whipping boys was that seeing a friend being whipped or beaten for something that he had done wrong would be likely to ensure that the prince would not make the same mistake again.”
The USA/Obama has much to answer for, what with elections at lest 2 years off.
This may be one of those occasions where the Times includes a map that shows Israel’s borders that go through, not around, Jerusalem.
Would the idf spokespersons office, and/or personnel, represent a legitimate military target? Of course it’s being represented as indiscriminiate by Israel. No mention of this office by the person just speakin on bbcR5.
OT, the current situation was one of the first topics on Prime Ministers Question time today. Ed Miliband came out and said the Labour Party was for the UN observer status upgrade, while Cameron waffled about more negotiations, tho not saying which way UK will vote. That probably means an abstention.