April 14, 2009, - 11:16 am
No Tears (or Wine “Blood” Drops) for Exploded Palestinian Fishing Boat
By Debbie Schlussel
During the Passover Seder, when Jews recite the names of the Ten Plagues, they spill wine or dip their fingers in wine and make a drop on their plate to symbolize the blood of the Egyptians as they suffered each plague. We do this because even though our enemy was vanquished, we’re not supposed to celebrate their suffering, and we recognize their tragedy.
But that was the Egyptians. You’ll forgive me if I shed no tears and spill none of my wine for the Palestinian fishing boat which blew up as it prepared to attack the Israeli Navy. If only the boat riggers and explosive engineers were aboard. Sadly, they were not. I think I’ll spill some wine “blood” over that.
A Palestinian fishing boat from Gaza, floating illegally near the Israeli coast, exploded Monday morning when hit with IDF artillery.
IDF sources estimated that the booby-trapped boat was activated by remote control and meant to explode near an Israeli Navy vessel or a coastal community.
A naval patrol followed the boat for about an hour and spotted no people on board. As it was several hundred meters off the Gaza shore and heading north the boat exploded. . . .
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi said that the boat was loaded with a large amount of explosives.
According to the general, a nearby naval ship suspected the boat after it left the allowed area for fishing, but refrained from getting too close out of fear that the boat was booby-trapped. When the ship was within 600 meters of the Palestinian boat, artillery was fired at it, at which point the explosion occurred.
Several attempts to launch terror attacks from Gaza via the sea have been recorded in the past.
About four years ago a Palestinian man spotted swimming towards Israel was shot dead by Israeli patrol. A knife and a grenade were found on his body, and an inner tube floating nearby was found to be carrying a Kalashnikov rifle, five magazines, four grenades and a bullet proof vest.
In November 2002 four navy commando fighters were injured after a boat bomb blew off near an Israeli Daboor (navy patrol boat) off Gaza shore. The boat was believed to be headed for Israel.
Two months later, in January 2003, a raft exploded near a Daboor in the same area, causing no injuries.
Imagine if people were doing this off the American coasts. Would we call these people our “peace partners” and engage in negotiations with them?
Hell no.
Nice shot. That guy has some talent!
samurai on April 14, 2009 at 11:30 am