Editor Note: Phil Weiss and Scott Roth are in southern Israel today, following the story of the Israeli assault on Gaza. Roth has been tweeting during the trip:
Headed to the south of Israel now.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
People in Kiryat Malachi seem pretty relaxed.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
Some stores are closed but things seem pretty normal in Kiryat Gat.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
Woman from Perth, Australia in Kiryat Gat says there’s no fair coverage, everyone complaining about people dying in Gaza but not the rockets
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
Heard siren in Ashkelon followed by an explosion in the distance.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
2 assholes drinking beer and smoking cigarettes while they watch Gaza get bombed. Fun times! twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
The guy with the white T- Shirt came to the watch point to “see fireworks.” What a fun day!! twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the people hanging out to watch the Gaza bombing as sport are a bunch of virulent racist pigs.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
This guy with the pony tail told me “Arabs are less than dogs, kill them all.”What a nice day. twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
That smoke is from a bomb that just went off in Gaza. twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
Iron Dome interceptions right above us. Kind of scary. twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
The stench of urine and feces inside this bomb shelter in Sderot is appalling. twitter.com/scottroth76/st…
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 15, 2012
Ain’t technology and the social media wunnerful? Bigotry, racism, a lust for violence and hatred for all to see. Ambassadors for Israel.
Excellent reports, Scott, which include the kind of revealing details that I didn’t find in my New York Times this morning. But please be careful.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Pam Geller’s racist ad against Arabs is popping up all over Chicago in transit ads: http://www.bnd.com/2012/11/15/2395755/provocative-anti-jihad-ad-appears.html
Remember the gentle American folks who came out all in genteel picnic garb to watch the Battle of Bull Run from a safe hill?
Rabbi Eric Joffie on why Israeli military nihilism is progressive
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/a-call-to-u-s-progressive-jews-support-israel-s-get-tough-policy-in-gaza.premium-1.478056
And if progressive American Jews ask me why Israel can’t just muddle through, my answer is this: Israel came into being so that Jewish children would never again have to huddle together in fear, terrorized by enemies of the Jewish people, while their parents stood by helplessly. Helping those children is a progressive cause. And doing nothing for them undermines the sovereignty of the Jewish state and strikes a fatal blow at the very raison d’etre of Zionism.
Afraid of a few interceptions, are we? Oh puh leeez! Imagine phosphorous and 5 ton-bombs raining down. Gazans live with that and more!