News & views related to the war in Palestine …
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October 31, 2024
Palestine Open Thread 2024-263
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Ship traffic live via AIS:
Haifa – very light traffic
Ashdod – modest traffic
Eilat – empty
Suez Approaches – busy as always
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:34.7/centery:29.0/zoom:5
For an enterprising Barfly – one can search and find the location of the German ship Katherine (sp?) with the cargo of weapons
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 7:21 utc | 301
they’re all f*cking liars, mass murderers and war criminals, man.
‘we had no choice but to destroy the village to save it’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/31/bill-clinton-criticised-for-saying-israel-forced-to-kill-gaza-civilians
Bill Clinton criticised for saying Israel ‘forced’ to kill Gaza civilians
Arab and Muslim leaders call former US president’s comments ‘insulting’ and ‘counterproductive’.
Former United States President Bill Clinton is facing backlash from US Muslim and Arab Americans after saying Israel has been “forced” to kill civilians in Gaza and suggesting the country was in the Holy Land “first” – before the Palestinians.
Speaking at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Michigan, a crucial swing US state with large Arab and Muslim populations who the Democrats are trying to win over, Clinton said he understood people’s concerns about the bloodshed in Gaza, but said Israel had no choice but to inflict large civilian losses, even as it is accused of genocide in the International Court of Justice.
“Hamas makes sure that they’re shielded. They’ll force you to kill civilians if you want to defend yourself,” Clinton said…..
…Clinton also stirred controversy when he said Israelis were in the Holy Land “first”…..
Posted by: michaelj72 | Nov 3 2024 8:15 utc | 302
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 2 2024 17:48 utc | 220 “It is being reported that Russia and Syria are flying joint air patrols with helicopters in Syria now.”
Any reports on where this is happening? And the significance of it?
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 10:53 utc | 304
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 7:21 utc | 302
How does your comments about traffic in Ashdod, Haifa, Eilat compare to 13-14 months ago ? That is, what is the change?
And in regard to the traffic as measured by AIS, how many ships would now be turning off the AIS, in Ashdod, Haifa and particularly in Eilat these days? Any handy satellite pictures of the ports to compare to AIS data?
As to Suez, “busy as always”, traffic is down 60% over the last 8 months according to Egypt.
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/135085/President-Sisi-Suez-Canal-revenues-plummet-by-over-6-billion
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 11:09 utc | 305
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 6:20 utc | 298
I read the article. In it he says that “Hezbollah claim to have destroyed 34” tanks. If you split out your list “Posted by: Exile | Nov 1 2024 4:51 utc | 112” which now claims “253 destroyed (added 1)”, how many are from Hezbollah actions?
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 11:21 utc | 306
Posted by: UWDude | Nov 3 2024 3:47 utc | 285 “I would guess Iran has more than a million cruise missiles and drones by now.”
I would guess the number if far lower. Traditional cruise missiles in the hundreds and drones in the low single digit thousands. And those numbers include a mix of ones with varying ranges.
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 11:33 utc | 307
There’s a factor in support for Israel by politicians I’ve wondered about. Of course, their support is bought and paid for – either by extortion or campaign cash – but underlying all this I must wonder about their resentment of Israel. They yield to arrogance and insult ceaselessly to hold their positions – and that must grate on them. Makes you wonder if some events could bring that resentment to the surface.
Posted by: Eighthman | Nov 3 2024 11:49 utc | 308
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2024 6:13 utc | 296 “an inexperienced 20s-year-old naval trainee – who did not hold a prominent position or intelligence value..””
The guy is 38, not 20. And not a naval trainee. Otherwise a lot of confusing information. Some of that: He had been in the Lebanese Navy but was now a captain of civilian ship(s). He is alleged to head Hezbollah’s naval unit.
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 12:27 utc | 309
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 12:27 utc | 309
Where are you getting verified information in order to confirm who he is or is not?
Are you in possession of his personal information direct from the Lebanese state citizen database?
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 3 2024 12:30 utc | 310
Posted by: juliania | Nov 3 2024 5:04 utc | 289
“When, if ever, this state comes to be judged, am I going to be considered part of that entity?”
Juliania, as a former New Mexico resident myself, I found your question extremely interesting and very relevant. The state’s deep involvement with nuclear weaponry was one of the contributing factors to my own decision to leave not just that state but the USA. (Like you, I was an immigrant to the US, and became naturalized as a US citizen.)
Each of us must make his or her own choices in this regard. The beautiful way you have expressed the dilemmas we are faced with, both personallly and politically, and your eloquent description of the moral labyrinth that we are all are confronted with now, brought a measure of comfort to me in my exile, and I thank you.
Posted by: Mexicana | Nov 3 2024 14:09 utc | 311
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 3 2024 12:30 utc | 310 “Are you in possession of his personal information direct from the Lebanese state citizen database?”
Nah, but you could read his father’s statement for most of it.
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 14:40 utc | 312
Nah, but you could read his father’s statement for most of it.
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 14:40 utc | 312
If you could paste a link link to his father’s statement that would be great.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 3 2024 14:52 utc | 313
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Nov 3 2024 14:52 utc | 313
https://x.com/InfosLiban/status/1853055817039429836/photo/1
After translating enough of that I put it together with a lot of the other confusing stories. The pictures of him don’t look like he is 20. So the reports that stated he is 38 seemed more accurate. Given his father said he was in the business since 2013 so unless he started working at 9 he is not 20. The course sounds like refresher or continuing education? Which likely caused the confusion about being a trainee. Several reports say there were other people in the room when he was grabbed. They were told to “leave”. The sim card thing is likely because someone (the neighbors who were in room with him a the time he was grabbed) took pictures? of the room he was grabbed from and at least one of pictures show a bunch of sim cards.
There is a Lebanese TV news segment that looked like it was shot outside the building from where he was grabbed that also has some details but I did not save that link as I can’t load video into the GPT I attempt to keep track of this stuff.
Could be wrong but that’s my logic given what I have seen so far.
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 15:15 utc | 314
The Lebanese Merkava claim ED4 cited is for the period starting a few weeks ago, after the Likud starting throwing human waves of IDF conscripts and weekend warriors at the Fortress.
The Lebanese have destroyed beaucoup Merkavas since 2.Oct 2023. When the Lebanese first started de-militarizing the 50km zone south of Lebanon way back when…..then destroyed some 40 Merkavas. That’s one reason the IDF retreated out of ATGM range.
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 15:31 utc | 315
Re: Turning Off AIS ?
Ed4 – you don’t know much about shipping ?
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 15:34 utc | 316
Republicofscotland | Nov 2 2024 17:59 utc | 223
Finally I found some info from your entry – about the abduction of the man in Lebanon. I saw this reported briefly in MSM, but not since – and the israelis do not crow about the great daring abduction, and Hezbollah also does not say a word. I wonder what is behind it? was it a rescue of an important israeli informant or kidnapping of an important Hezbollah man to get information from him by torture.
Posted by: fanto | Nov 3 2024 20:18 utc | 317
Posted by: Exile | Nov 3 2024 15:34 utc | 316 “Re: Turning Off AIS ? Ed4 – you don’t know much about shipping ?”
I’ve got a canoe, that makes me an expert. But what is your point?
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 3 2024 20:35 utc | 318