Global Voices » Deborah Ann Dilley

Kurdistance: The Hypocrisy of Defending Turkey

Deborah Ann Dilley — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:23:54 +0000

As there is an increase of support for both Turkey and Palestine in the wake of the Israeli raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Kurdish bloggers caution against supporting a country whose human rights record leaves much to be desired.

Esra'a blogging for MidEast Youth starts this conversation:

I will first start by revealing that I completely sympathize with the Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom from Israeli oppression. It’s vital for everyone to join forces in exposing Israel’s crimes and systematic abuse. But I refuse to stand by other murderous governments just because they suddenly share this sympathy. Iran and Turkey are everywhere in the Arab media, praised as heroes, with Turkish and Iranian flags held high in almost every flotilla protest. This is disturbing for me, and I’m sure it’s even more disturbing for the millions of individuals who have suffered and continue to suffer under these regimes.

Let us not forget the number of people within Iran and Turkey who are also struggling for justice and human rights, namely ethnic and religious minorities who have been killed, kidnapped, tortured, and oppressed for decades, by the very people who are now being idolized as “peace activists.” Who is the Turkish government referring to when Erdogan says “human rights for all” and “thou shalt not kill?” Who? The gnomes in his garden? Or real people suffering in his name?

Aro from Kurdistan Commentary notes the hyprocrisy in Turkey's support of HAMAS:

Despite all this, what one could call hypocrisy, Turkey maintains its hostile stance towards Israel whilst conveniently ignoring its own domestic issues. They champion one militant group, Hamas, yet deny engaging their own home grown one, the PKK.

Aro continues in pointing out that “while one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter”

Turkey reacts with the charge of “state terrorism” at Israel for boarding a ship and subduing hostile crew members, leaving 9 dead. But what of the continued oppression of the Kurds? The most shocking policy that Turkey has pursued in recent years has been the imprisonment of children under anti-terror laws. Children of 14 and 15 years of age are being imprisoned for throwing stones at Turkish police and chanting slogans in support of the PKK, a crime under Turkish anti-terror laws. Yet Turkey complains about Israel shooting violent activists that support Hamas.

Much anger has been placed on the Middle Eastern community at large for supporting the Turks, from Behar blogging for MidEast Youth:

In the words of MLK, an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere, and as Edmund Burke himself once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” But how good can you be when you’re condemning one criminal act and not another?

I can understand if it’s the hypocritical state of Turkey that’s making these ridiculous claims about justice and human rights, but when citizens—especially Middle Eastern citizens—get all riled up about how heroic Turkey is and don’t even bother to recognize the suffering of their Kurdish brothers and sisters right next door…what does that say about the state of humanity? Has our humanity become so debased that we condemn certain acts of cruelty and oppression and not others? Is it not our duty as human beings to, at the very least, pay lip service to an injustice when we see it occur by condemning it with our tongues and hating it in our hearts even if we cannot physically change it with our hands, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself once said? If he were alive…if so many other great leaders were alive like Francis of Assisi or even Saladin, I don’t think they’d stand for it one moment longer. I think they’d speak out against all injustices everywhere all the time until change finally arrived for those people.

KB from Kurdistan Commentary notes along a similar line:

Why not use some of that outrage for the way Turkey mistreats the Kurds? Sure, the Gazans are in a desperate situation and what happened to the flotilla is atrocious. But why aren’t you sending aid to the Kurds? That is also ‘inhumane.’

Turkey: Can Turkish-Israeli relations be rebuilt?

Deborah Ann Dilley — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:52:56 +0000

As the world watched the events that happened on board the Turkish-led “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” it was also witnessing the deterioration of political relations between the governments of Turkey and Israel. Anger at the Israeli government is palpable in Turkey, and returning activists are being greeted by officials among hero fan-fare. As we evaluate the repercussions of these events within Turkey, the question must be asked: Can Turkish-Israeli relations be rebuilt?

An Extension of Turkish Foreign Policy

Israeli flags were burned in Istanbul, tens of thousands of Israeli tourists cancelled Turkish holiday reservations and a lawyer attempted to punch an Israeli cyclist off his bike today, as relations between the erstwhile allies plunged to depths not seen in decades.

writes James in Turkey. Turkish public sentiment and support of the people of Gaza currently runs high as noted in this tweet from freelance journalist Fredericke Geerdink:

flag seller #üsküdar used to sell only turkish flags, with or without portrait of atatürk. now he sells palestinian flags too. #turkey

It is important to note that the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was not sponsored by the Turkish Government, but the attack of the flotilla has now become an issue of national importance. Istanbul Calling explains this relation between the citizen-led flotilla and its effect on Turkish foreign policy:

Clearly, this rupture between Turkey and Israel has been long coming. As I've written before, Turkey has, for the last few years, pegged its relations with Israel to what happens on the Palestinian front (or, more specifically, on the Gaza front). Although technically not a bilateral issue between the two countries, the situation in Gaza has, in many ways, become the issue that defines the current relations between Israel and Turkey. In that sense, although the Gaza aid flotilla was organized by a Turkish NGO (the Islamist IHH) and was not sponsored by the Turkish government, it acted as a proxy for Turkish policy.

In fact a variety of Turkish bloggers and tweeters have asked the Turkish government to physically intervene by sending in the Turkish navy to protect the flotilla, such as in this tweet by Talk Turkey:

Why not Turkey send the Turkish Navy to protect the remaining ships traveling toward Gaza right now…

Questioning of Intentions

There have been significant reactions to the perceived lack of justification for Israeli aggression towards the flotilla. According to the Istanbullian:

There was no justification for the use of firearms against them. Especially on international waters… Facing knives and slingshots don't justify shooting on civilians, killing even sleeping people. Israeli forces should have waited until those ships are in Gaza waters. Then they should have forced the ships to reroute without boarding them. What Israel has done is definitely against international law and Turkey can easily win a case in international courts.

Idilx notes the following on Twitter:

Well then I guess #Israel set a precedent here. We are now allowed to shoot onto anything that we believe is smuggling arms. #flotilla

She adds:

Oooo an icecream van.. BANG BANG. Oooo a 4 year old with a bulge in his pants.. HE MUST HAVE A GUN.. bang! Idjits. #Gaza #Flotilla #Israil

Some Twitterers have questioned the reactions (and possible future reactions) from the Turkish government to the flotilla incident, from Talk Turkey:

Turkey to declare war against Israel? … Not far fetched … All of this is part of a bigger 'script'

And this one from fgeerdink:

turkish friend: ‘erdogan just orchestred this whole #flotilla thing to increase his popularity again' he's serious #conspiracytheory #turkey

In any case, the deterioration of relations also raises questions of safety, from Idilx:

Is #Turkey becoming a dangerous place for Jewish Turks? It seems that racists are everywhere and their idiocy is endless. So easily fueled.

Time will only tell what will happen between Turkey and Israel. The last word in this post goes to the blogger and columnist The White Path as he describes the differences in Turkish philosophy and Israeli philosophy:

When I asked that question to an Israeli hawk some years ago, I received a very revealing response: “Might,” he said, “makes right.” Well, that might be a popular belief in Tel Aviv and Occupied Jerusalem, but not here in Istanbul. In fact our creed tells us that the exact opposite is true: Right, sooner or later, makes might.
The hundreds of heroes who sailed to Gaza last weekend had this faith in their hearts. Here in Turkey, 70 million more stand by them. We mourn for our fallen, but also know that they did not die in vain. Their sacrifice unveiled to the world not just the suffering of the innocents in the Gaza ghetto, but also the brutality of the rogue state that imposes it.
Read my lips: This spirit is really not going to die. We Turks will continue to stand for what is right, regardless of Israel's might. None of her lobbying, bullying or killing is going to change that.

GV Summit: Day One Finished, Day Two Underway!

Deborah Ann Dilley — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:23:30 +0000

You may have missed out on the fumbling around with the translation headsets, but if you weren't able to join us for the first day of the Global Voices 2010 Citizen Media Summit in Santiago Chile, you definitely have not missed out on the global conversation!

Session notes have been posted on the summit blog (and we are encouraging post comments in order to keep those conversations flowing), photos have been posted on Flickr, and Twitter has been tweeting away about the summit……follow the hashtag of #gv2010 and you'll see more of the conference than if you were watching our livestream feed of the proceedings.

A couple of highlights from yesterday include presentations from Rising Voices projects Ceasefire Liberia and Nomad Green, and the announcement of the winners of the Breaking Borders Competition!

Be sure to join us online today for Day Two!

Turkey: Inside the World Bank/IMF Meetings

Deborah Ann Dilley — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:17:30 +0000

Having obtained a press pass for the World Bank/IMF Meetings being held this week in Istanbul, Turkey; Erkan's Field Diary gives us a behind the scenes view of the proceedings.

Turkey: Lighting the Eiffel Tower

Deborah Ann Dilley — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:12:32 +0000

For the next five days the Eiffel Tower will be lit up in red and white in honor of the Season of Turkey in France. According to The Istanbulian “This nice gesture is a sign of historical friendship between two countries, emphasizing the fact that not all the French people are prejudiced and hostile against Turks.”

Turkey: The Turkish of Dr. Oz

Deborah Ann Dilley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:24:23 +0000

Talk Turkey commends Dr. Oz (of Oprah fame) for his ability to speak perfect Turkish while lecturing to Turkish medical students. “Sure he has an accent. Sure he sounds like a ‘foreigner' when he speaks Turkish. But the reality is; for a man born and raised in the U.S., he is to be commended. Let it be a lesson to transplanted Turks who insist on speaking English at all costs at home with their kids, and intentionally deprive them of growing up mastering a second language.”

Turkey: Kurdish Newspaper Confiscated

Deborah Ann Dilley — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:12:49 +0000

Children of the Sun reports that the July 8th issue of the Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat was confiscated by authorities after it published allegations of a 23-year old woman who was raped by men claiming to the be the police. Reportedly, there have been more than 10 complaints of police rape in Diyarbakir, Turkey since the arrival of the new police chief. “Kurds not only are not allowed to defend themselves they also cannot talk about the crimes committed against them by the fascist state's security forces.”

Turkey: Finding an Apartment as an Expat

Deborah Ann Dilley — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:07:05 +0000

Turkish Muse details her recent experience as an American trying to rent out an apartment in Izmir. “We were aghast. How could she ask for that much? That's ridiculous!, we thought. Then we were incensed. I immediately assumed she was asking for such a high amount — and in dollars, no less — because we were American. “

Turkey: Kurdish Freedom Movement Extend Ceasefire

Deborah Ann Dilley — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:23:24 +0000

Kurdish blogger Hevallo writes that “Kurdish political leadership Koma Civaken Kurdistan, (KCK) has announced that the ceasefire called by the Kurdish Freedom Movement to give the opportunity for solving the Kurdish Question in Turkey by political and peaceful means has been extended.” The original deadline was July 14th; it has now been extended to September 1st.

Turkey: Tick Encounter

Deborah Ann Dilley — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:18:21 +0000

“Did you know that for a couple of years now, there has been an invasion of infectious ticks in Turkey? They carry a disease that causes death after a couple of days of being bitten who’s origins have been traced back to Africa” writes Ignore Me If You Can as she shares the details of her own encounter with a tick.

Turkey: Google Sites Banned?

Deborah Ann Dilley — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:44:44 +0000

Turkey and My Foreign Perspectives reports that yet another lawsuit has been filed in Turkey that might result in the banning of another web service: Google sites. She adds “Do these silly courts not understand how they impair their people from becoming more educated and doing better business by blocking the very resources needed to build a better society?”

Iraq: Alcohol in Iraqi Kurdistan

Deborah Ann Dilley — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:33:27 +0000

“In Ankawa, the Christian quarter of Arbil, there are so many alcohol shops with fake beer brands made in Turkey. There are also real beer trademarks, but that's also from Turkey (Efes). In the ‘Muslim' part of Erbil (Hawler) you can also get alcohol, but it's mostly 'sealed' off with a small wall so that other people cannot see you drinking” writes Transnational Middle-East Observer in this photo post on alcohol in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Kurdistance: Launching the Arab Association for Kurdish Rights

Deborah Ann Dilley — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:46:45 +0000

On June 1st a new initiative was launched by the Alliance for Kurdish Rights, the Arab Association for Kurdish Rights. In their announcement, the organization is described thus:

We are a group of students, journalists, and activists from various Arab states who are concerned for and supportive of Kurdish human rights as well as the conservation of Kurdish history and culture. Due to injustices faced throughout the Middle East, many Kurds have found a home in neighboring Arab countries, where most Kurdish communities are entirely isolated. We are using this campaign in order to draw attention to not just their plight, but also to raise understanding of the Kurdish culture and allow them to be outspoken members of our communities.

The Alliance for Kurdish Rights is a project of the activists at Mideast Youth, and today I chatted with its Director, Esra’a Al Shafei, about this new venture.

The official launch of this Arab Association for Kurdish rights is today?

We launched it on Twitter last night, but the mailing list went out today. The response so far from the Kurdish community has been amazing.

A few years ago, the Alliance for Kurdish Rights had a petition supporting Kurdish rights, how is this new initiative different?

That petition was a specific one to unblock three websites, and it came from Middle Easterners in general as opposed to Kurds, but also Turks and Iranians. The three websites were prominent Kurdish news sites that people needed to stay in touch with their communities and with current Kurdish events that are never covered in local papers. To block them was a tragedy for many. Through that, we met a lot of Kurdish students and activists who really felt the need to join in and create something better. The Alliance for Kurdish Rights was launched a few years ago, but was hacked and we lost all data. If you remember, a Turkish flag replaced the index page and we couldn't recover the content. We started from scratch and relaunched late last summer. The participants were mainly Kurds. I got together a group of Arabs and said ‘we gotta help them out' but in a way that officially recognizes the effort…..so Kurds can realize that there are Arabs who believe in their rights.

You've said that the Kurdish response has been positive. Have they been posting their responses on the web? How has their support manifested itself?

Mostly via email. We have a lot of Kurds on our newsletter and they were replying to the email sent saying how this was the first time they have seen Arabs openly supporting Kurds in this manner. There was also this comment: “This initiative step should be appreciated. I, as a Kurd from Iraq, welcome warmly this huge step toward the recognizing the Kurdish rights and remove the decades long of suppression and assimilation. This will also improve bilaterial relations between Kurds and Arabs, and also with other communities. Good job. In Kurdish, destan xosh.”

Turkish hackers have been notorious for destroying Kurdish sites, I would expect that this new site would again make you a target. Are you prepared for another attack?

Yes we are prepared, we have daily backups and are servers are much stronger than before. We are now on a dedicated server and monitor our logs for each error or suspicious attempts for an attack. I mean, it won't be easy, of course there is no doubt that hackers tend to outsmart you pretty fast. In 2007, each time we relaunched again, the hacking would continue- literally within hours or one day. We had no one to help us handle it. We don't remember what was said in Turkish, but Turkish friends said the statements weren't kind, obviously. It wasn't the average nationalist statement, like “long live Turkey”, but things likening Kurds to animals who must be “sprayed to death.” This was two years ago but these brutal statements made us more determined to continue the efforts.

We are working now on a video page of Kurdish content, our own Kurdish video service to archive Kurdish videos, historical, cultural and otherwise. I always felt a responsibility to speak up for Kurds as an Arab. I was appalled at the lack of attention and sympathy they generated within the Arab world. I mean you are talking about a minority that suffered through genocide, severe discrimination, execution, humiliation, refusal to legal or ethnic recognition….

I met a lot of Kurds in the past who kept asking “where are the Arab voices on our behalf”? I had no answer, until now. So really, what I hope to offer is a really strong voice: an Arab one in favor of Kurdish human rights, one that can change the current relationship (or lack thereof!) between Kurds and Arabs. I know this is already happening. The responses from Kurds from Syria or Iraq saying things like, “I have new-found respect and appreciation for Arabs, even if not all of them were responsible for our suffering.” There were racist tensions between Kurds and Arabs in the past. We are answering some crucial questions.

Have you had much Arab feedback? And are the Arabs that have responded living in the Middle East or in the diaspora?

In the Middle East, mostly Iraq. We have a few members already from Iraq; two of the articles were written by Iraqis.

How has this dialogue been carried out between these groups?

We have gathered members from 16 countries so far to serve as sorts of “spokespeople.” Their responsibilities include getting this message across to the Kurdish communities in their own countries. It was hard for many to reject because they are aware of the history. How can you justify genocide and hundreds of thousands people dying tragic deaths for decades on end? All the Arabs I know felt a deep sense of responsibility to speak up. This was their wake up call.

So you are encouraging the ones joining this to go out into their local communities to speak up?

Definitely. I want them to find the Kurdish communities. And as Arabs I want them to lift a hand, express interest in who they are, in their work, recognize their ethnicity, and express their willingness to coexist.

This is definitely a first but a major first step. In a perfect world how would you like to see this project expand?

Well I am a big fan of interactive and dynamic media. I want to see programs by Arabs that discuss Kurdish issues, and then joined up by their Kurdish friends, hence us giving away Flip cameras to make this possible. But we also want to note that Kurds don't only exist in the areas where most originate, many have moved to neighboring countries where they are equally ignored and sometimes discriminated against.

What would you say about this project to those that aren't Arab or Kurdish?

I'd tell them that there are things that frankly only we can solve as members from the region. If a Kurd was abused in an Arab country, or in the name of Arabs (forced to convert his/her ethnicity), whose responsibility is it to stand up for this injustice? Ours, no one else's.

Turkey: Prime Minister Storms out of Davos Hearing

Deborah Ann Dilley — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:41:56 +0000

A funny thing happened at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed off the stage after a verbal scuffle with Israeli President Shimon Peres. The initial incident stemmed from Prime Minister Erdogan not being allowed enough time to respond to Peres' comments on the current war in Gaza. Reactions from the Turkish blogosphere have been varied: some gave the Prime Minister a “hero's welcome” when he returned to the country, some wonder how this will effect Turkey's foreign and domestic policies, and some just think that it was bad behavior.

A Hero's Welcome
Many Turkish bloggers posted photos of Turkish citizens celebrating the reaction of Prime Minister Erdogan at the Davos Forum, and crowds of people went to the airport to herald the his return. Erkan's Field Diary notes the euphoria best:

As of tonight, Erdoğan becomes a political legend….
Whatever the diplomatic consequences of Erdoğan's reaction (or whether it is right or wrong) in the Davos panel, he becomes a legend for masses.
Thousands are driving to Atatürk Airport to welcome PM Erdoğan's arrival at the moment…. Now I hear that subway services are extended to 3 am so that people can go to airport…
Apart from hard core anti-AKP citizens, and retired diplomats whose minds belong to Cold War era, who immediately reacted negatively, we try to understand the situation.
* at one level, it is a matter of pride. Turkey's PM stood against disrespect.

Foreign/Domestic Policy Implications
The Republic of Turkey has always had good relations with Israel, and still does even after the diplomatic outburst, but the situation has lead many to wonder whether this means a major divergence from former foreign policy positions, and what this means for domestic policy. The White Path weighs in:

The last time I saw such a tense public sentiment was the early 1990s, when Bosnians were subjected to “ethnic cleansing” by Serbian nationalists. The situation in Gaza was more complex, to be sure, but it was perceived in Turkey as something similar to the slaughter of Muslims in the Balkans.
Therefore, it wasn't a surprise to see the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan say harsh words against Israel. He was just mirroring the public sentiment. And this was more than populism, as some could ascribe to a politician who is on the eve of local elections. Mr. Erdoğan was sincere in his feelings. When he visited a group of wounded Palestinians that were brought to an Ankara hospital, people noticed tears in his eyes.
….
But while strong emotions are worthy of respect, diplomacy more so needs nuance and deliberation. And those are not the highest qualities of Mr. Erdoğan. He is rather known to be a man who minces no words and, as he put himself, who thinks “anger is a rhetorical art.” So, as he has done many times before on many other issues, including domestic ones, he sounded unbalanced — and even pro-Hamas. As Sedat Ergin, the editor-in-chief of daily Milliyet, put it in these pages yesterday, his whole Gaza rhetoric was “problematic.”

Talk Turkey, while encouraging others to watch the proceedings to see the whole context of the argument leading to the walkout, did point out how comments made by the Prime Minister of Turkey in response to the current war in Gaza show some hypocrisy in Turkey's current policies:

But the real issue was the criticism of Israel's killing of children recently. Israel, on the other hand, claims that if terrorists are targeting you on a daily basis, it leaves you with no choice but to hit back.

Isn't Turkey being hypocritical as it fights its own war on terror with the PKK, the militant faction of the Kurdish independence movement?

Then again, there's a big difference when it comes to indifference of killing innocent civilians versus killing innocent civilians who happen to be children.

Narrator discusses the silver lining for Turkey in this diplomatic situation:

The only silver lining regarding what happened in Davos last week is that President Obama may now start seriously considering Turkey as the country that he will pick to make a major speech addressing the Islamic world. The reason is simple. After the drama in Davos, Turkey has won the hearts and minds of 1.3 billion Muslims. Erdoğan's behavior made him an instant global hero in the eyes of all Muslims, who were bitterly frustrated with the Israeli onslaught against Gaza that ended up killing 1,300 people, half of them innocent civilians. As of last week, the Palestinian cause and Turkey became one — and all of this is thanks to the larger than life personality of Prime Minister Erdoğan. Whether the pro-Israel lobby likes it or not, President Obama is sophisticated enough to recognize these dynamics in selecting the country where he will make his speech to the Islamic world.

Bad Behavior
While many Turks celebrated the Prime Minister's actions, others condemned him for what they saw as bad behavior. From Internations Musings:

Turkish PM Erdogan doesn’t like critical journalists. People know that in Turkey and some European countries - especially after Erdogan’s bargaining and blackmailing last week in Brussels regarding the EU accession talks. But yesterday, while talking at a forum in Davos, people around the world could observe a statesman who lost his temper again when he left the stage, full of anger, after he was denied more time to speak about the crisis in Gaza. The moderator was David Ignatius of the Washington Post. Witty, smart and provocative. And he, Erdogan, has to deal with that. Nit-picking journalists are everywhere. How does he think to survive when Turkey joins the EU? There is nothing wrong with showing your emotions but there is definitely something wrong with insulting countries and presidents of countries that are supporting you. And of course he showed the same old rhetoric all over again: ‘they didn’t show respect for me’ and ‘I defend Turkish honour’…in my opinion you don't defend your honour by putting someone else down.

Carpetblogger comments on how the Prime Minister's behavior was a disservice to Turkey and the role that it could have had in negotiating peace in the Middle East:

A Turk gesturing on behalf of oppressed Palestinians is about as politically courageous as an American advocating for a “democratic transition” in Belarus: There's absolutely nothing at stake and everyone gets to feel good about themselves. Turkey has no aggrieved Palestinians occupying valuable political real estate. There's no chance of instability on its borders. And, it has a population (definitely not a tribe) that needs no excuse to wave flags and express outrage at perceived slights. We don't see any downsides to Erdoğan's outburst except, oh, perhaps a missed opportunity for Turkey to serve as a levelheaded mediator in the conflict, something that could actually help the Palestinians! Maalasef.

Did Prime Minister Erdogan react in a way that will benefit Turkey and its role in the Middle East? It is a good question, and one that might be answered in the next few months, or it just might be a situation that becomes an interesting anecdote in the annals of diplomatic disagreements.

More on Global Voices Online:

Egypt: Erdoğan, Leader of the World

Palestine: French Blogger Weighs In On Gaza

Deborah Ann Dilley — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:39:02 +0000

French blogger Jeremie Berrebi, writing from Israel, posted yesterday a long blog post “Gaza/Israel : Why it is starting again” on the Gaza attacks seen from Israel and his analysis of the reasons behind the Israeli air strikes:

Depuis [la rupture de la trêve], ce sont plusieurs centaines de missiles qui sont tombés sur des villes israéliennes (on parle ici de cibles civiles) au cours des derniers jours. Des missiles plus sophistiqués qu'il y a 6 mois ont même été lancées sur des villes qu'ils n'avaient pas la possibilité de toucher avant. Oui, vous avez bien lu….des centaines de roquettes Qassam ont été tirées sur de VRAIES VILLES qui ne font même pas partie des territoires soi disant “disputés” par les Palestiniens modérés.

Since the truce ended, several hundred missiles have fallen on Israeli towns [we are talking about civilians here] during the past days. Those missiles are much more sophisticated than six month ago, and have been aimed at town that were not within their reach before. Yes, you are reading that hundreds of Qassam missiles have been fired at REAL TOWNS, that are not even located on the so called “disputed territories” by moderate Palestinians.