Could I get some feedback on this ?

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Tequila

Virtually every blog written by individuals who hold (or have held) public positions state that fact. A blog mentions outstanding accomplishments of the blogger and --at least-- lists her/his most prestigious positions relevant to the blog subject. It is accepted blog protocol for the blogger to advertise past and present acomplishments.
I have read El-Farra's simple profile: "I am a physician by training, a human rights and women's rights activist by practice, in the occupied Gaza Strip."
If I were writing El-Farra's blog "About Women, health, children and human rights in Occupied Palestine", I would want you to know that I bring a unique perspective and have something important to say.
In the blog sidebar, I didn't notice any prominent titles nor a listing of her CV credits, etc. (How refreshing.) Now, what if she were Vice President of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza?; or, perhaps, director of an organization with a name like "Gaza Projects for the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA)" ? And would it change people's receptiveness to her message if we knew that she receives funding from the corrupt PA?
What? She holds these politically appointed positions, and more?! What could be a blogger's reason for not mentioning her involvement? Maybe because MECA collects and launders money for pro-PLO and pro-Ba'ath Party groups. MECA also raises funds for Hamas-run facilities, among others, and stands accused of illegal activities with links to terrorism. When someone says that s/he's a doctor, people infer that this individual wants to help sick people get well. If a doctor works for militant political organizations, blog readers may suspect that there's some other agenda involved. http://www.stoptheism.com/Default.asp?M=1&T=135
Likewise, we are entitled to know about her prominent connection to Gaza's Red Crescent. This organization is also linked to non-humanitarian activities. http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/tr/amb_1_04.htm
http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/221
I did read several of her items and found many "discrepancies". I'll use the first post (on the Nabaheen teens) as an example. I tried to find a corroborating source for the article. Interestingly, all of the other (translated from Arabic) references stated slightly different info. from that in the blog. (Sure, errors happen. One may, however, imagine that the VP of the local Red Crescent could get the facts right if she so desired.) The names and ages given elsewhere are: Jihad and Ibrahim Nabaheen, aged 16 and 17, respectively. (Even the place where the alleged incident occurred is different than in the blog. And details from the Gaza sources admit to someone mysteriously " . . . thought to have been a member of a Palestinian resistance faction. The identity of the man remains unknown." )
In El-Farra's blog, the youths are referred to as 14 & 15. Why? Does that make them sound more innocent, perhaps? In my mind, 16 and 17 year olds are still teens, even if they are terrorists. So, again, why not trust us, the readers, to draw our own conclusions?
Is it because 16 and 17 year olds are considered to be more likely than a 14 year old to understand consequences of their actions? (Incidentally, there are even discussions on whether criminals of these ages may be tried as adults in US courts.)
Children raised in a neighborhood know where the danger zones lie long before they turn 16/17. And if they're from Gaza, they know not to approach the fence. It's more than likely that 16 and 17 year olds who infiltrated the area had a plan. (I'm not saying that I know what happened. Let's let the educated readers draw their own inferences based on fact.)

ADDENDUM: Having determined that the blog is propaganda -- from a discredited source who deliberately introduces inaccuracies and false claims throughout the entries -- it's over. It's good propaganda in one respect: it's quite subtle.
Here is an individual working for the corrupt PA regime (without mentioning that detail) and receiving funding as part of an infrastructure that excels in promoting horrific violence on many levels. There is no occupier in Gaza, but is El-Farra working toward a Palestinian state alongside Israel? NO?! In her own words: "We should all work hard until . . . the land of Palestine is shared between both the Israelis and the Palestinians in one Democratic state for all . . . and when the Palestinian refugees can experience their right of return."
Does she want to live in the State of Israel? No? Oh, I get it! The good doctor is advocating the demise of the one Jewish state and its takeover, G-d forbid, by the PA. People, please have the good taste not to post such material in "Israel travel".
I merely touched the surface in analyzing the above. Perhaps I ought to explain where the falsehoods lie in each entry. Alas, that would be INAPPROPRIATE in the travel section, and I wish to spare you all the aggravation. B'vracha L'Shlom Emmet! / With blessings for genuine, everlasting peace.

That's really sad...have you watched Turtles Can Fly? Reminds me of that and I still cry when I watch it again.

Wow, life is tough over there. All this security, territorial war, and religious differences is tearing the world apart. I hope that one day we'll see each other as one people, even if that means I have to sacrifice my own culture and traditions. It's terrible how we separate each other because of differences.

MikeInRI

Every death since 2000 rested on the head of Arafat who refused to take the Barak's peace offering at the 2000 Camp David Accords http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_David_2000_Summit There should be no celebrating of Arafat - he was a cold blooded killer.

Good Luck!!!

DagNaggit limpuladerfy II

its very sad!

Michael J

Please, what he writes is ridiculous on many levels. For starters, he continues to call Gaza occupied despite Israel relinquishing control well over 2 years ago. Secondly, he assumes that all Israeli soldiers are outfitted with sophisticated technology, a common misconception but a ridiculous one nonetheless. Thirdly, he assumes that these 'children' were only playing near the security fence - something that I personally consider unlikely as I am sure everyone knows the danger of just such a thing. Fourthly, he feels that soldiers should be able to differentiate simply children from 'militia men' - not terrorists. Fifthly, he assumes that 14-15 year old teenagers aren't ever terrorists, as if all teens that age are pure and innocent despite the relatively common instance of teenage suicide bombers and terrorists. That is my critique.

Gamla Joe

Since you wanted my comments on only the contents of the blog I will do my best to oblige.

My first thought was that this person uses to many commas and run on sentences. Sorry, but as a writer I notice these things.

Secondly blogers that copy and paste news stories bore me. If you want to talk about an event in the news post a link.

In my opinion blogging is about sharing your own view and describing events that you have seen.

I was far more interested when she talked about how she personally saw masked men and how difficult was it for her to get to her home after the rally.

Those are things that the news cannot report. If she would talk more about her own experiences and cut out reporting the news of the day in my opinion it would be a better blog.

Freedom F

This Dr. sounds to me, like he has a very high mental strain (obviously). He is writing to relieve the oppression on his soul. He writes in English (though it is not his native language) as a call to the international community. He writes of what he sees every day in his job.

When reading, I can feel his low energy. He is just putting one foot in front of the other each day. His head is down, he feels so much for his community. He isn't angry, I think because his emotion is so burnt out. He has no sense of control. He just keeps his feet moving each day. He does his job knowing that is the best he can do but believing it isn't enough. He has strong discipline and strong will non the less.

I think this man is a hero.

Oh, I just noticed, it is a lady. Sorry.

To Jdriven

I know a zinonist in Australia, whoâ€™s husband was in one particular war. He and his buddies went to a school orphanage. Some went upstairs and some stayed outside on the ground. Those upstairs through babies out the window, and the ones downstairs caught them on their bayonets.

zion has, does, and will in the future kill innocents without compunction. Your attempt to water down the atrocities of zion is transparent. Your attempt to twist both cause and effect of zionist occupation, laying down the blame on young children, is contemptible.

War leaves a mark on not only the innocent but also the oppressors. We can read frequently these days in the israeli and US press how the occupation has so embittered and twisted the zionist that they have real fear of loss of their identity as human beings.

Your response and attempt to deny your own role in this holocaust reveals a deep bitterness; and shows a nature out of touch with reality. Perhaps this is Godâ€™s mark on zion? The corruptors becoming corrupt?

Israel left Gaza, not Israels problem anymore. Funny how the Palestinians scream how they want Israel out, yet beg Israel to come back when it leaves. The people of Gaza are not running to Egypt, they are running to Israel

LadySuri

I am only a few sentences in and I am already confused. The blog is from Gaza with Love but it talks about being under occupation...when Israel withdrew years ago...so...???

The information is very, very sad. One thing I noticed the most (as I don't have time to read all of them right now, I will go back later) was the entry about the patients waiting to get medical care in Israel.

Personally, I don't know what to do about the issue. It remains a fact that Palestinians have in the past used medical guises to sneak bombs into Israel to murder people. For this reason, Israel is hesitant to let people in. However, these people need medical care. I think it's a terrible line everyone has to walk--it's incredibly sad, but I don't know what can be done about it.

I'm sorry I couldn't read more right now, I will go back later.

Peace

HopelessZ00

Comments on the blog...hmmm...anything written by a Palestinian will be deemed not true....when its written by human rights watch I've seen it deemed not true...or excuses made to how a child got killed. Or a group simple protesting harsh living conditions, or celebrating, with no weapons only signs and voices. And then the world hears about it and says oh my goodness that's so sad...and go on with their day because it did not touch their family. They could not feel it, when a child dies in Palestine part of the sadness is many don't mention the name of the child, it was just a Palestinian one. I'm sorry if I've ranted and did not comment on your blog in general, my heart is so very saddened and broken. May all the world one day wake up and realize that God is watching every move we make and in the end may God forgive us all. Peace!

Jdriven

As an 18 year old, new guy in Nam, I witnessed things my mind just wasn't prepared for.
One day we landed near an orphanage so my Commander could visit with the commander of the Arvn army. My crew chief and I left to guard the helecopter.
Seems like hundreds of these children rushed us trying to beg for c-rations. It was hard trying to keep them all back from the ship where they could steal ammo to trade to the gooks for food.
One kid about five came up with a hand grenade, holding tight with both hands. The pin was gone. My crewcheif went for the grenade and I tried to run all the other kids back by firing my weapon in the air.
When I turned around, He had the grenade and had cut the kids throat.
I was so shocked to see this I freaked and attacked him. About that time the officers all came out and saw what was happening.
They got things back under control and the commander of the 1ST Calvary Div himself took me aside and explained that the enemy uses children like this a lot and if we don't stop them they will do it again until they kill themselves and an American soldier too. Maybe me.
It's a hard lesson,but war is hard. War has no respect for age, as proven by the Muslims of this age. Children are being drafted and taught to kill as we speak.
Though it is too simple a question, but in all things , where are the parents? Where are the humanitarian leaders that would protect the children and innocent?
Where is the sanity? Look to God. He doesn't advocate the use of children as cannon fodder.

mark

It is called collective punishment of civilians. Israeli occupation is maintained by collective punishments of poor civilians.

hamarker

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3469659,00.html

there are a couple scenarios for this:
1. they were playing/wandering near the fence at night.
2. they were planning to place a bomb at night

the date the blog claims is to happen is in fact a day after the incident happened. they were not near the fence in the morning of 10 november(but they were probably discoverd in the morning of that day) but they were there at the night of the 9 of november. so it's not that easy to notice them and even if you use the binoculers she is talking about which help you see at night (called nightvision) that doesn't help in seeing exactly what they are carrying.

anyways I have no ideas what the orders are in accordance to opening fire in the Gaza strip at night or at day and specificly near the fence(I think some1 should search this), but things are hot there(the IDF is very uptight there and are alarmed of any activity near the fence and every1 knows that), these childrens are exactly as Mona says they are victims, of their society and of Israel that shouldn't have let the hamas get streangth their in the first place

I'm so sorry for them, they are truely not to blame it is us as humans all around the world which have been passing hate torwards others - teenagers as we see the most are the ones most influenced... this is our fault as man kind ppl should understand that ppl under the age of 20 or even 21 should not be recruited to make strong decisions(such as to follow orders and plant and risk yourself or not) and this goes to the IDF too not only to the terror groups recruiting youngsters(such as hamas in GAZA). I as an 18 y.o. knew so little about the world even though I traveled to 8 states until that age and read news and books, and listened to many POVs and talked with many groups in the society and listend to every political Idea and had debates in classrooms and in protests, and still as a soldier I knew so little as to what I know today - I think 18 is too young for soldiers I think also the other side which spreads its hate from the age of 0 until death should stop, those specific arabs do not really need the hate it only backfires on them. Israel's education is so different it consists of learning to treat ppl as equal no matter age, sex, religion or race or anything but that is not the education they get in the arab world and especially not in GAZA... I feel so bad for those teens I'm personally although I don't know the case am either way sorry for them, this life had so much more for them, then in their situation its awful, this should stop in GAZA already they should stop the missles,rockets, shooting,bombs, assaults, radical terror education, TV programs calling Israel little satan and US big satan(check youtube video from GAZAn TV) and after the stop they should go with AbuMazen torwards the peace talks and stop their violence there, then they will show they want to change their lifes for the good and to be better ppl and more human ppl because they are only hurting themselves/
I hope they weren't sent by any1 and if they were may he suffer all his life with guilt.
EDIT: BTW if these children would have gone to the egypt border - they would have been shot too.
Its a warzone their - Israel has to stop it and make peace only for innocent civilians - it knows many ppl there do not want hamas but what can it do when they control GAZA and keep attacking Israel - Israel has a many scenarios what to do - 1 of them is to get in Gaza and catch the hamas radicals.. but it involves a governments decision and such has not yet been made... I think Israel should enter and take over GAZA again because they are impossible with all the rockets and the assaults - they do not want peace and do not recognize Israel and the only thing they are doing is hurting their innocent society - which Israel can't accept into it's territory although that society has tried Israel can't accept them - I don't know why.

edit: Oh tequila if what you are saying is true than that only gives another reason for my opinion that they aren't changing after Israel left, and the world needs to stop what is happening there, yes I also read that she isn't a Dr. at all. I don't know why she had to lie or to streach the truth about what happened or even hide it. - but I do know there is hope for those children, we need to teach them that there is hope for them and not let the terrorist control them. This can I'm afraid and glad at the same time, only be done by the help of the arab countries which support them, I'm affraid because I don't know if they want it to stop and I'm glad because with their help there is hope that those ppl might change their ways or at least take down the terror regime there.

sparkle

daily abuse of palestinian human rights are now sadly commonplace.we are almost desensitised to it. daily there is yet another story of injustice,loss of life,loss of liberty without hope of a fair trial, homes destroyed people cast out as refugees with only the clothes on their backs.who outside palestine truly cares? the israeli militia do it because they can get away with it.there is no retribution,or justice.the lives of those two children are considered by their killers to be expendable, it makes me laugh to hear all the rhetoric about the sanctity of human life,and the importance of human rights by western leaders,or perhaps that only applies to everyone other than the palestinians.

Sawyer

Dribble. Mindless dribble.

diana

i read your blog.
if a soldier feels threatened by anything he will act. there were accidents, maybe you saw it on TV, where they caught a boy with a bomb on his body.
this is the reality, sad reality but still.
I don't think that a soldier would shoot a kid without shouting and warning him to stay back from the border, maybe he felt that his own life is in danger!
where were their parents?
stop blaming us for every thing!
you wanted Gaza, you got it! take your money that you receive from almost every Arab country and buy food instead of rockets!

lord-k

cool

B Ø¨ØºØ¯Ø§Ø¯

This is what I think :

Oprah needs to visit the West Bank & Gaza too !!

She's is going to Israel, invited by Elie Wiesel. She says she's going in solidarity with the terrorized Israelis!?!?

Ultra N

Ridiculous.

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