For a follow-up to our Intifada story, it seems that the IDF has entered Nablus for some reason. (No word as to why on the IDF website so far. I'll post details as soon as they do, in English.) Generally, these types of operations are intended to destroy weapons storehouses, and to otherwise incapacitate terrorist infrastructure.
How are these operations depicted in the media?
Well, we're told that Palestinian doctors have stated that a 16-year-old was killed, the presumption being that said 16-year-old was just standing around. The fact of the matter, though, is that it's not uncommon for teenagers to have weapons in that region. And, when a teenager holding a weapon is killed, the militants around him immediately strip him of his weapons and march his body around, instantly declaring him a civilian casualtyâall facts to the contrary notwithstanding.
The media? Well, they don't question a single thing they're told by the Perpetual Underdogs, who've never missed a chance to miss a chance. The IDF, on the other hand, is harangued, accused, and obstructed at every step of their operation.
Is that how the media practices impartiality these days?Nablus:
An Israeli soldier takes up position behind an army bulldozer during a military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Israeli soldiers take up a position near a building destroyed earlier by Israeli bulldozers during a search operation for wanted militants in the West Bank town of Nablus, Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. According to witnesses and hospital officials, a 16-year-old stone-thrower was killed with a live bullet during the operation that was aimed, the army said, to arrest two wanted militants belonging to the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that were in the building. The Israeli army said troops came under fire and they fired back, injuring at least one Palestinian. The owner of the house said no one fired at the force and only stones were thrown. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
Palestinian medics evacuate a sick resident as Israeli army soldiers take up position next to a building destroyed earlier by Israeli bulldozers during a search operation for wanted militants in the West Bank town of Nablus, Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. According to witnesses and hospital officials, a 16-year-old stone-thrower was killed with a live bullet during the operation that was aimed, the army said, to arrest two wanted militants belonging to the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that were in the building. The Israeli army said troops came under fire and they fired back, injuring at least one Palestinian. The owner of the house said no one fired at the force and only stones were thrown. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
Israeli army jeeps drive past a building destroyed earlier by Israeli bulldozers during a search operation for wanted militants in the West Bank town of Nablus, Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. According to witnesses and hospital officials, a 16-year-old stone-thrower was killed with a live bullet during the operation that was aimed, the army said, to arrest two wanted militants belonging to the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that were in the building. The Israeli army said troops came under fire and they fired back, injuring at least one Palestinian. The owner of the house said no one fired at the force and only stones were thrown. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
An injured Palestinian youth is taken away from the scene after he was wounded during an Israeli army search operation for wanted militants in the West Bank town of Nablus, Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. According to witnesses and hospital officials, a 16-year-old stone-thrower was killed with a live bullet during the operation that was aimed, the army said, to arrest two wanted militants belonging to the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that were in a residential building. The Israeli army said troops came under fire and they fired back, injuring at least one Palestinian. The owner of the house said no one fired at the force and only stones were thrown. (AP PHoto/Nasser Ishtayeh)
Israeli soldiers take up position at a building destroyed earlier by Israeli bulldozers during a search operation for wanted militants in the West Bank town of Nablus, Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. According to witnesses, a 16-year-old stone-thrower was killed during the operation that was aimed to arrest two wanted militants belonging to the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that were, according to the army, in the building. The Israeli army said troops came under fire and they fired back, injuring at least one Palestinian. The owner of the house said no one fired at the force and only stones were thrown. (AP PHoto/Nasser Ishtayeh)
A militant from the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades takes cover as he fires at Israeli troops during a standoff at a fugitives' hideout Saturday in the West Bank town of Nablus Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. Doctors said a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed and twenty were wounded in the clashes. The standoff began early Saturday when troops surrounded a four-story apartment building where the army said two Palestinian fugitives were hiding. Troops called on the fugitives to surrender, but by mid-afternoon, they were still inside the building.(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
(Majdi has posted a zoomed-out version of the same photograph to the wire)
A militant from the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades takes cover as he fires at Israeli troops during a standoff at a fugitives' hideout Saturday in the West Bank town of Nablus Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. Doctors said a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed and twenty were wounded in the clashes. The standoff began early Saturday when troops surrounded a four-story apartment building where the army said two Palestinian fugitives were hiding. Troops called on the fugitives to surrender, but by mid-afternoon, they were still inside the building. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
An injured Palestinian boy is carried to an ambulance as clashes broke out during a military operation by Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. Israeli soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian and wounded five others in a clash in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Palestinian medics said. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
An Israeli soldier takes up position during a military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Israeli troops take up position during a military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Israeli troops enter a building during a military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Palestinian medics evacuate a sick resident during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Palestinian medics evacuate a sick resident during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus August 26, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
A medic carries a child as he takes him away from the scene of a standoff between Israeli troops and militants at a fugitives' hideout Saturday in the West Bank town of Nablus Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. Doctors said a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed and twenty were wounded in the clashes. The standoff began early Saturday when troops surrounded a four-story apartment building where the army said two Palestinian fugitives were hiding. Troops called on the fugitives to surrender, but by mid-afternoon, they were still inside the building. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Tags: abed omar qusini nasser ishtayeh al aqsa AP REUTERS #Intifada
If he was wrapped in a Hamas flag, then this confirms that he was not just an innocent bystander. This also confirms that there were guns in the house, and they would have been used by the terrorists (as the one photo shows a Hamas terrorists shooting at Isreali soldiers).