If HAMAS is a Terrorist Organization, What Does That Make Israel?

(SALEM, Ore.) - The term 'terrorist' group ranks among the most overused descriptions in existence for a political enemy. حماس Ḥamās, an acronym of حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamat al-Islāmiyyah, meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement", is the only political group that stands fast for Palestinian human rights-in the face of Israeli occupation^[1].

The classification of this elected political group as a "Terrorist Organization" by the U.S., European Union, Israel, Japan, and Canada, is strictly a matter of political convenience and there is no factual basis for the term in this case, unless it is equally applied to Israel, which stands in violation of a long list of war crimes in two conflicts, according to the United Nations.

In the 1990's, at the request of western diplomats, the political bureau of Hamas stated that the group is: "a Palestinian national liberation movement that struggles for the liberation of the Palestinian occupied territories and for the recognition of Palestinian legitimate rights."

It is a fact that militarily, or sometimes with brute strength and heavy construction equipment, Israel has been taking possession of Palestine steadily and sometimes in bursts, since first arriving here in 1947.

Israel's actions frequently are condemned by the world community, but the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has the perpetual blessing and endorsement of the U.S. government and has avoided answering to war crime charges, though Israeli officials are mindful when passing through certain nations that they would be arrested in some cases and held for an International Tribunal.

The map tells the entire story of Palestine and Israel, and for some will explain why a group like Hamas puts its foot down over the seizure of land and elimination of its own people. It is extremely important to comprehend that this land was, in spite of propaganda to the contrary, indeed Palestine. It is also important to note that prior to the formation of Israel, the cultures and different religious faiths co-existed.

With Israel, everything comes back to the murderous injustice they faced due to the ambitions of Adolf Hitler. The celebrated "return to Israel" in 1947 and 1948 that happened greatly due to the aid of the U.S. and Great Britain, is very much in their eyes, as well as those of large percentages of Christians, a Biblical prophesy. But it has led to what many see as an attempt to drive Palestinian people into extinction. Many live in conditions that are unimaginable, in refugee camps, and it is all because of the fighting that Israel's existence has represented to the Middle East.

Jewish people were subjected to a horrible fate during the Third Reich; an unforgivable genocide that claimed six million, but other civilian losses that fall under nationality, rather than religion, compete with and actually dwarf the number of Jewish people lost.

It should be noted that of the Soviet civilian losses, approximately one million people were Jews executed by the Nazi's. But these other numbers, so large and equally important, are rarely if ever mentioned when observing the Holocaust. This is what has brought harsh criticism from people like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who does not dispute the losses of Jewish people, but wants to see the tribute include all of the tragically lost 32,244,100 to 49,579,600 civilians who died as a result of WWII.

Two decades before WWII, the western powers tricked Arabs into helping the allied cause, and then abandoned a treasured promise to honor Arab nations. This is history that Palestinians in particular have never forgotten.

Arabs were promised by Lawrence of Arabia during World War One, that if British forces were aided in taking control of Jerusalem away from Turks, that the Arab world would be left alone afterward to govern their own affairs. The Arabs joined forces with the British and took Jerusalem away from the Turks who were part of the German Axis, helping greatly in the strategic plan to win the war.

It took only a short time for British honor to take a dive though, and The 'Balfour Declaration' changed the course of the world, leading us to where we are today.

As our writer Dr. William Cook explained in his article, A Tale of Lies, Deceit, and Terrorism: the Birth of Israel: "The Balfour Declaration in 1917 gave the formal approval of the British government to the establishment of ‘a Jewish homeland’. Profound issues of legitimacy have always been present in the Israel/Palestine Conflict." ^[2]

Alan Hart, Salem-News.com writer who covered all of the relevant world news in the 1960's and 1970's for ITN and The BBC, wrote in the article, Israel and the 'De-Legitimization' Oxymoron: "The only real relevance of the Balfour Declaration is in the fact that it was an expression of both the willingness of a British government to use Jews for imperial purposes and the willingness of Zionist Jews to be used. The truth is that Britain had no right whatsoever to promise Zionism a place in Palestine, territory the British do not possess." ^[3]

According to the document written by Azzam Tamimi for the political bureau of Hamas, the group, "regards itself as an extension of an old tradition that goes back to the early 20th century struggle against British and Zionist colonialism in Palestine." Between Israel's basis that its residents are "The Chosen People"-Zionism; and the broken promise of Sir Lawrence to allow autonomy to the Arab nations, it is little wonder that a fiery spirit still exists.

Hamas was elected by a majority of registered voters, yet denied the chance to exist in legitimacy. Members are keenly aware of Israel's continued illegal seizure of land that comprised Palestine only a few short decades ago. Other political groups representing Palestinians bow down to Israel's wishes, Hamas does not. This is defined as terrorism.

23 years ago Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi and Mohammad Taha of the Palestinian wing of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. This happened at the beginning of the First Intifada, one of the uprisings against Israeli rule in the Palestinian Territories, as Wikipedia explains.

In reality, the word Intifada means literally, "to shake off" and does not necessarily allude to military conflict.

Hamas became well known in Palestine by the mid 90's, for funding and operating schools, health-care clinics, mosques, day-care centers, youth groups and athletic clubs.

According to Wikipedia, "An estimated 80-90% of Hamas revenues fund health, social welfare, religious, cultural, and educational services."

The remaining 10% to 20% is largely dedicated toward the military, and there is a history of tragic suicide bombings that Hamas signed its name to. However, that ended a long time ago, and it needs to be stated. The first suicide bomb claimed to be the work of Hamas happened in April 1993, but Hamas ended these attacks in 2005 and had completely renounced them by April 2006, more than four years ago.

Taking that position, renouncing your own behavior; isn't the easiest thing for a political group often more associated with militant behavior, to do. Some would read it as a strong desire to move forward.

After Hamas was elected, violent fighting erupted between the group and Fatah. Hamas was able to retain control of Gaza; party officials were tossed from posts in the Palestinian National Authority government in the West Bank.

The next thing that happened: Israel and Egypt's decision to impose an economic blockade on Gaza.

Hamas ceased rocket attacks on Israel in June 2008, after reaching a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt. In spite of Hamas efforts to prevent them, other organizations continued to attack Israel. Then on 4 November 2008, two months before the end of the six-month ceasefire, Israeli Defense Forces illegally crossed the border into Gaza, killing seven members of Hamas.

This was the reason for the renewal of the Hamas rocket attacks that led to Israel's massive strike on Gaza. Israel's ensuing retaliation was one of the most severe in modern history, inflicted upon a civilian population.

Report: UN Vote to continue investigation of Israel for International War Crimes

In case you didn't know, the people of the Gaza strip are 100% walled in and surrounded by a sea on one side heavily patrolled by the Israeli Navy.

During Israel's attack in the winter of 2008/2009, more than 1400 people in Gaza were slaughtered by Israel's military in their open air prison with illegal weapons like depleted Uranium (DU), and white phosphorous; almost 400 innocent children among them.

In spite of the extreme brutality and objections from the UN and a whole list of countries and human rights groups, many Israeli citizens condone this attack called 'Operation Cast Lead' which by name alone, suggests nothing but a lashing of brutality toward an unarmed people.

In Gaza during this military attack that began in December 2008 and lasted until January 2009, between 230 and 280 schools were destroyed, and approximately 55 hospitals and medical facilities were specifically targeted. Hamas fighters were attacked and Israel placed major effort into killing as many as possible. Doctors in Gaza hospitals that managed to treat people during the attack, reported seeing no militants while treating hundreds for injuries that were in many cases, according to the physicians, "indescribable".

98 nations voted in the UN last February to follow up the Goldstone Report, which views Israel as a suspect in war crime allegations over the attacks on Gaza. The vote allowed the investigation to basically move forward.

The seven countries voting against it, were Canada, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Panama, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and, the United States^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10].

Statistically, Israel has killed far more Palestinians and continues to each day, while Hamas victims are comparatively few, though no less significant. The same holds true for political prisoners that the respective sides are holding. In his article, Erdogan; the New Hero of Islamic World, our writer Kourosh Ziabari in Tehran, cited figures that are alarming to humanitarian rights groups.

"According to the Gaza-based freelance journalist and photographer Sameh Habeeb, the Israeli forces launched a massive attack on Gaza's infrastructures in June 2006 after an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was incarcerated by Hamas. Shalit is the only Israeli prisoner being kept in the jails of Palestinian authorities while the Israeli regime is keeping 7,383 Palestinian prisoners, 340 of whom are Children." ^[11]

Through its funding and management of schools, health-care clinics, mosques, youth groups, athletic clubs, and day-care centers, Hamas has helped a great number of people over the years, yet it has not been allowed to assume its rightful place in the world.

While this takes place, the U.S. government blocks world efforts to investigate Israel for war crimes. It all seems very contrary to the supposed democratic values of the west. Israel still maintains apartheid laws for Jews and non-Jews. Israel continues to steal land from Palestinians, shoot peace activists, farmers and fishermen, and it is hard to understand why the world simply allows it to go on, while denying the legitimate election of Hamas. It seems like dirty politics at best.

In conclusion, Hamas is or at least has been, a terrorist group; and I say that because of the suicide bombings that ceased in 2005. Those were acts of terrorism. But the clear and demonstrated efforts to reduce violence are part of the story, and never mentioned in U.S. media when Hamas hits the script. Honest news media would look at the bigger picture, rather than always parroting the Israel-friendly version. The use of illegal weapons in Gaza and the rampant killing of 1400 civilians in a single conflict, is worse than anything Hamas has ever dealt Israel^[12].

================================================

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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David Daring December 23, 2013 8:53 pm (Pacific time)

By all the information I have read over the years, Israel is obviously a terrorist state and has stolen land and terrorized Arabs with impunity. I lived in Lebanon for years and the way Israel attacked them was a war crime as well.

Pat Morrison March 26, 2011 12:51 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you Tim King for your bravery and honesty. And for getting the truth out SOMEWHERE in the US at least. Our MSM is certainly not going to print the truth about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Kudos to Salem News as well!

Tom February 13, 2011 4:49 pm (Pacific time)

Utter garbage !

Editor: Truth hurts there eh Tom?

Anonymous October 8, 2010 11:36 pm (Pacific time)

Damn, Tim King...You are almost singlehandedly holding off an entire company of rabid sociopathic Zionist apologists here. Good job, my friend. I wish I had known about this littel skirmish earlier, as I would have brought some of my ammo to the fight. Semper Fi, my brother. Great, article, by the way. It brings crystal clarity to the issues that Israel's propagandists have been muddying up for decades.

Nate July 16, 2010 10:50 am (Pacific time)

Really? You will assert what you believe to be true, but then you won't allow my counter-argument link to be posted? If you are so unbiased, why don't you allow my link to be posted?? There is NO excuse for that, you are pushing upon people what you want to believe without letting them decide based on other information. And no, I haven't let the "chosen people" go to my head. I, for one, don't particularly believe that. I am a religious Jew, but I certainly do not hold myself above others. Among my best friends is a Pakistani Muslim, and the majority of the rest are Christian, one of them the son of a pastor. So don't call me sheltered or say that I feel that I am better that others. You don't know me, and all I know is that you are withholding other information from your readers.

Tim King: Nate, I did not ditch your other comment. You sound like a cool person, I just wrote to you via email. Take a chill pill and tell me if you can see the story and YouTube I just sent to you; I seriously doubt you will be able to see it in Israel, which explains a lot.

Nate July 15, 2010 11:46 am (Pacific time)

Okay. Actually, Hamas's charter does not simply state to oppose Israeli occupation - it states that Israel needs to be utterly destroyed and all Jews killed, no matter what. Look that up. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT SAUDI ARABIA, TURKEY, etc., DON'T SEE HAMAS AS A TERRORIST GROUP!!! How ridiculous would that be if they asserted that? Palestinians also tend to blow themselves up, adding to their death count. Ahmadinejad does not ask for other Holocaust victims to be acknowledged! See here:

This article is factually wrong and completely biased. Do not justify Hamas, who have been killing -- murdering civilians for years.

Editor: Sorry, we operate in truth so you won't be very happy with what you see here. I actually took the time to explain the things about Hamas that no media mentions and you want to reinsert propaganda. Israel kills Palestinians and destroys and steals their property every day, Israel's criminal activity is far in excess of anything Hamas generates. And Hell no, I won't allow your ADL link to show up here, forget it. The ADL is another bigoted group that is anti-Arab and prejudice toward everyone who isn't a Jew. We place all people on one level, you have let that 'Chosen People' line to go your head.

Natalie July 14, 2010 1:32 am (Pacific time)

If there's ever a religious war on a global level, the only prevailing side would be atheists, celebrating their victory without any losses. No forced religion would be truly accepted. That means protests, more wars, more dead, and finally, "beer on the house" for everyone in the Atheists Club.

Anonymous July 13, 2010 6:12 pm (Pacific time)

DJ how much traction do you think you'll get with your opinion, especially considering that billions on the planet feel that they follow a true religion? Just because you have no belief, no one will pay attention to your opinion. Has that been a life long experience for you?

Tim to DJ: I want you to know this is the scumbag who said regarding the new Flotilla: "If the curent ship does not turn around there will be more pictures of the dead. These idiots are no different than the suicide bombers." Obviously he's uneducated and can't spell, but I can't overlook this kind of hatefulness over ignorance; and I wanted you to know. You can run his IP and see the crap he's been putting out. He's posted before under the name 'Sean' so that is probably it, but now he's taking the cowardly no-name road. I really have a problem with people who root for murder, and approve of genocide.

DJ to Anonymous (whoever you are): If all the billions you refer to followed one true religion I would feel a bit out of step. But they don't. Do you know how many hundreds of individual denominations there are just within evangelical Christianity--each believing they they have the true take? Then, of course, there's Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam (two major sectors there--at war with each other for centuries.) But the ranks of the rational non-believers have been expanding in numbers since Voltaire. The future belongs to those who are able to shake off any belief in an invisible man in the sky.

Anonymous July 11, 2010 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

To LION: It is historical record that the religion Islam was not started until the 8th century A.D. . The oldest people in the middle east may in fact be people from the northern european vicinity who migrated to the south during the last ice age or during any of the numerous cooling periods (mini-ice ages) and spread out over northern Africa and throughout the Mediteranean vicinity. I have read a number of theories on that possibility, and DNA may someday support it, or it may not. Some suggest that it was semites that settled the area, which at least in the last 4,000 years seems correct, but muslim's are simply new kids on the block. It appears very likely that the only way peace will come to that area is when there is only just one religion. I wonder which one that will be? We may witness a religious war on a global level. I wonder who will prevail?

DJ: The world will be a better place when none of them prevail. We don't need a global religion. Adults no longer believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. Time long past due to let go of the belief in an invisible man in the sky.

exilem July 11, 2010 5:59 am (Pacific time)

Tim, with Salem-News.com, is one of these rarefying Americans with spine and dignity. Which explains his courageous refusal to join the cretins' bandwagon of those who vilify heroic resistance. The USA and Israel have no credibility to define anyone as "terrorist" as they are themselves the epicenter of state-sponsoring of terrorism, wars of aggression and high crimes. Hamas is synonymous for heroism and strict moral standard, and one wonders how they do to not lose their humanity in the face of the savage, depraved cruelty they are exposed to. If the USA were to spend 70% of its budget to the same social and infrastructural services as does Hamas, the US-Americans would be in better shape. Instead, 70 percent of the US-Americans tax money goes to the Pentagon. Under the tragic auspices of a political class, of Congress, of the White House and of US' finances totally hijacked by Judeo-Zionists, the USA just days ago has had the highest single day augmentation of its abysmal debt, in a time in which the country is circling the drain, at risk of total disintegration. To continue the murderous wars against the Middle East is treason. To support Israel is treason. To have morphed the country into an entity drunk with wars and stupidity, was treason. And mind you, Resistance movements not very different from Hamas, will inevitably emerge in the USA, and they won't be "them Muslims" you hate so much, but just good humans with spine and dignity who can't take it anymore, and have decided to stick their head and act like humans. America needs to liberate itself from the Judeo-Zionist networked traitors, from the mega-rich thieves and from the corporate corruption. Failure to do so has already destroyed the country, free to you to decide that the USA is worth salvaging, and in my opinion it is immensely so, or to run away from it.

Debbie Menon July 11, 2010 4:19 am (Pacific time)

Kudos to you and God Bless you Tim King for your principled stand. I have faith in the American people to do the right thing, once they know the truth and the facts.

It has only been by the efforts of Israel who compromised Abu Mazen and his followers in Fatah by promising them money, support and the continued leadership of the PLO that they drove a wedge between Hamas and Fatah, and then used the media which they control to create the image of HAMAS as an illegal and “terrorist” minority which Palestinians in the guise of Abu Maze and the Fatah reject.

The word “terrorist” is simply a word, nothing more,and words are among the cheapest yet most effective commodity yet produced by man.

As Jeff Gates has described, modern warfare is fought by words, using Mossad principles of deception.

Few people will ever learn or hear in the US Mainstream Media that HAMAS is, indeed, the freely elected and ONLY legitimate government in and of Palestine, ALL of Palestine, not just the Gaza, to which they were driven by PLO and ghettoized by Israeli Military forces. The blockade, embargo and current murder campaign is designed and intended to discredit Hamas with the peoples and to destroy them as an effective Palestinian liberation movement, so that Fatah, the PLO and Abu Mazen may survive and live on as puppets.

If HAMAS is to thrive and survive as an Islamic political entity, purveyor of peace and protector of Palestine, the true representative of the Palestinian people, then it must rise above the enemy, the values and tactics of the enemy, the fundamentally inhumane aspects of warfare, and demonstrate the brotherhood and kinship of all man inherent in the Muslim Faith, and the teaching of the Prophet and release Gilad Shalit immediately and return him to his family with your blessing, without strings, without comment.

This will probably solve none of the problems which face Palestine, but it is in keeping with the Word of and the teaching of the Prophet and the spirit of Islam. It is therefore necessary. Let it be so!

What problems remain shall have to be undertaken and approached by some means other than by demeaning and lowering ourselves to the same immoral and ungodly level of the enemy.

— Debbie

Lion July 10, 2010 11:57 pm (Pacific time)

1. "stage 0" - 3000 year ago, all land was Israel's, with Jerusalem as the capital (mentioned many time is the Jewish Tanah but , alas, even not once in the Koran) 2. "stage 2" was declared by the UN for resolution and partition of the country into Arab and Jewish states. The Arab refused, started a war (with the aid of no less than seven Arab countries) and lost. Thank you for your biased article, it shows that there are still many brainwashed people in the world. Good luck to you, man. Don't forget to take the pill every morning, you seem to need it.

Tim King: So you're a Quran scholar and a faithful Zionist, nice! Makes you a real expert, right? You are the only person I've even seen move 2,953 years so fast. The map is accurate, you can try to lie but people know better; the encyclopedias and history books have recorded it all. Sure, this is a place that is historic to Jewish people, as it is to all of the major religions. This article is not biased, in fact that is the point smart guy. It is an unbaised (for once) look at Hamas, and the truth hurts, I know, but there is nothing you can do about it.

Ersun Warncke July 9, 2010 12:29 am (Pacific time)

If you want to quote from the Hamas Charter, why not the whole thing: http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/www.thejerusalemfund.org/carryover/documents/charter.html I am not super impressed by the Charter over all, but by point of comparison, it is probably more progressive and humanitarian than the platforms of either the Democratic or Republican parties in the U.S. For a wartime political party platform it is extremely restrained by comparison to the wartime propaganda in the U.S. or other European nations. I am not an expert on Israeli propaganda, but I am sure that it is totally magnanimous and respectful of Muslims and their religion, and never equates the colonial war of the Israeli State with any kind of divine mandate or God given right.

Gedalyah July 8, 2010 6:46 pm (Pacific time)

Really? Hamas is not a terrorist group? I thought targeting civilian targets and avoiding the military was a primary qualification for such a designation. But surely we need more hard evidence. Maybe the Hamas Charter (its constitution) can help us on this front.

"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors." -- HAMAS Charter.

Hmm, holy war.... I guess there might just be something to the whole 'Hamas is a terrorist group' thing after all.

Tim King: Are you going to tell me that the Zionists are any less of a religious extremist group? You guys are using the 'Chose People' thing to decimate a whole culture of people and there is no way God approves of the tactics Israel employs. I said in the article that Hamas is or was a terrorist group over the bombings; I suggest you try reading articles before commenting on them.

Anonymous July 8, 2010 6:17 pm (Pacific time)

Actually to gain better insight about Hamas and the Hez', go live among them for just one year. Then go live in Detroit or say Gary Indiana for just one week and see which place you prefer. My guess is none of the above, so count your blessing that you live in America, but be ready to defend yourself in the not too distant future. The Obama regime has begun the balkanization process and it can only end in one way. Of course the outcome is well known for it will be a repeat of history, except this time it will not be allowed to happen again. It's building up now, just go to some large inner cities and you can feel the hate in the air. It's like the Marion Berry scenario, even though he was a convicted felon, he was still voted into office repeatedly, even after he got out of prison. Suffice, you can not have meaningful communication with the type of people who would vote for him, or those of his ilk.

Anonymous July 8, 2010 4:12 pm (Pacific time)

marc and brandon..good points..I dont know about polls, but I do know the Palestinians voted Hamas in..whats has happened since then, not really sure..but, I can say, before the zionists invaded the area, there was more peace..It seems, that the zionists want terror and war, and when there is none, they will go there to make sure it happens. Maybe Hamas is reacting like all of us would..when we wake one morning, and there are bombs killing our children, maybe we all would get radical. Yes, the civil liberties to many in the middle east have much to be changed. But while you speak of those things, try looking at the gulf of mexico, and the G20 in toronto, and tell me its any different. Facist dictatorship, doing anything they can to control. Maybe Tim is just picking the lesser of the evils? And, maybe, if those of the zionist regime, and the U.S. regime, would be a light unto the world, instead of bombing every country out of existence, and doing so with lies, and mainstream media support, so they can have their new world order dominance, then none of this would be happening? Something to think about.

marc July 8, 2010 1:45 pm (Pacific time)

hamas wants just " liberate" Palestine from the israelis and the Jews . But they don't want to be " liberated ".

Brandon July 8, 2010 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

A great article, but still flawed. Needs better sources, referencing Wikipedia and your own website doesn't cut it, especially when there are so many good sources on this topic available (Foreign Policy Magazine for instance) Secondly, it feels to much like a whitewash of HAMAS' atrocities. They are brutal, authoritarian theocrats, and the fact that 80% of their funding is non-military and they were legitimately elected does not change that. (note: Fatah, who Israel and US look to as 'good guys' also have a record of terrorism, corruption and torture) I consider HAMAS a terrorist organization, just as I consider Israel a terrorist state and view both their conduct as reprehensible. Yet sadly, this radical terrorist organization seems more open to compromise and obeyed the ceasefire from 2006 onwards better than the First World democracy that's our 'closest ally' and 'shares our values' (according to McCain, Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, et al.) The West hates HAMAS, but empowers them. Military action does not erode legitimacy (particularly when the attack is seen as illegitimate) Recent polls show that most Palestinians would vote against HAMAS as they are fed up with their brutal ruling practices. Imagine how many more would turn against HAMAS if the occupation was ended. If the Palestinian people had true freedom, autonomy and economic prospects, HAMAS would have to become a legitimate political entity or wither and die. I'll get off my soap box now. Great article.

Toronto July 8, 2010 9:34 am (Pacific time)

If you wanted to see a terrorist group you should have been in Toronto during the G20 because the G20 Security Forces were Terrorists that day. If community standards mean anything then ours were destroyed and remade into those of the Nazis for a day.

Joe July 8, 2010 6:05 am (Pacific time)

Just a great fact filled article. There are those who "can't stand the truth" and will howl and attempt to "kill the messenger". Of the 13 Israelis killed, 3 were killed by friendly fire.
Switzerland, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and many other nations do not consider Hamas a terrorist organization. Can a legally elected government be declared "terrorist"? If so the US and Israeli governments might be in for big trouble.

Gaza = Warsaw.

Anonymous July 8, 2010 12:42 pm (Pacific time)

b r delmana

Anonymous July 8, 2010 11:41 am (Pacific time)

Thanks for the article Tim.. You know, its difficult for many to understand, or even have a heart for the plight the Palestinians are going thru. One day, all is well, everyone, including jews and Palestinians are getting along, then, a war starts (1948), and all hell breaks loose. Then, day after day, more and more of your homeland gets taken thru force. More war, more hatred, in a land that had peace. The reason I support your articles Tim, to be honest, is not so much the Palestinians (I know, shame on me), but I am looking at the same zionists (not jews), doing the same thing in our own country. They own DC, including the president, they own the media. They are doing the same thing to the U.S. as they are doing to the Palestinians, just doing it in a stealth manner. Incrumentally so most dont notice. They are ruining this country also. If you do research, you will find the zionist jews started around 1880, just a leg/arm of the Rothschilds. Netanyahu is no different than obama, they just follow the orders of their bosses. People find this hard to believe I know, but what do ya think people so powerful as the rothschilds have been doing over the last 200 years? Its obvious if you do just a little research. Total world domination, no borders, no firearms to fight back, no sovereignty, break the economy to come in with a world bank, and a total fascist dictatorship. Dont take my word for it, Im just an anon. Watch it unfold before your very eyes. Revelation 3:9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars.. ..these are the same people who had the Romans kill Jesus, just as they use the U.S. to kill their enemies..cowards and liars..

Osotan; July 8, 2010 10:24 am (Pacific time)

"hard core pro Palestinian anti-semite" !! Hell man, that's almost un-heard of in Salem!,you maight qualify for a government grant! I think you ought to go back to the kool aid factory Tim and let the "Truth" comment author take over. Obviously a hard core pro israel anti semite. A balanced view like that ought to be acknowledged even if it''s un-factual. Whoever wrote this has a right to their ..,what would you classify it as? I'd call it the "spade le' provocoteur" for lack of a better label. I think it's catagorically willful denial.Tim, I think you could get the author for slander over the "idiot" slur and racial profile the Palestinian hater accused you of. Let me know cause this makes me almost a hard core pro Palestinian anti semite.,on account of my association with your fine newsline and past BBQ's, and that is light years away from the truth.,just like the author of the comment to you. I love israel, it's just the shit they do to Palestinians and Jordainans and Lebanese and Egyptian and Syrian and Turkish and American people who are not combatants., the USS Liberty is a glaring example., and stealing the land they occupy in the very beginning is not a fixed place in history.,the story is still being written. I would like for there to be genuine peace in the world but it aint gonna be in the nuclear age till we straighten out our own act and investigate the real information as long as we can. Got that "hard core pro"?

I agree July 8, 2010 9:50 am (Pacific time)

"THE HOLOCAUST" does not ever take in the other Holocausts agaisnt women during the Inquisition, the nearly total anilation of the First Nations of Turtle Islad. It seems to me always that Jews and meda behave as if it was the only time humanity has been barbaric. I am from a Jewish family and we do not believe the Jews are the only victims ever and therefore they should be allowed to get away with such enormous horrible crimes. What if someone decided tommorrow that First NAtions of the Americas should have thier land back? WOuld that ean they could just take it back and kill and starve everyone who is already there? Many people have died in terribel barbaric catastrophies man has perpetrated unpon our own. Many. Even today. How barbaric is it that BP has destroyed our planet? How barbaric is it that women all over the world are still legally raped and murdered. How barbaric is it that girls are not allowed to be educated many places in the world? Why do we all have to live in the past with the Jewish Holocaust? And with the racism against only Black people in the States too. It's like no Italian kid in the Bronx can ever experience racism against him because he is dark and Italian. In a world of daulism if there is a good there has to be a bad. If white is purity then black is not. I think it is easy to see why the European slid into that ideology. BECAUSE THEY WERE BARBARIANS! CNN Did a study recently on racsim. They got 5 dolls ranging from white to black and they said to the little "white" kids which one s bad and which one is good. And they concluded that the little white kids were rascist because they chose white for good and black for bad. WHo the hell is that stupid. WHere di they find "white" kids. DId they og to a portuguese neighbourhood in Toronto? Are those kids white? and they didn;t give the little people the choice of not choosing and they didn't include that we live in a daulistic culture so if white is good then black is bad regardless of the colour of anyones skin. My point is while we need to learn from the past do we have to live in the past. OK you hurt them and they hurt you sometime ago Lets move on!

Anonymous July 8, 2010 8:46 am (Pacific time)

When the rubber meets the road in terms of the law, aiding and abetting those on the terrorist list will get you a trip to the slammer. One can couch the syntax, but it won't make any difference to a federal grand jury. I actually don't think that is fair, but if you look back in time saying during the FDR regime of the 1940's, offenders of similar laws got slammed big time, as I expect similar things to happen in the not too distant future. Large media organizations have legal staff, so that's why you don't see them writing similar articles, they understand the nuances and potential interpretations of statuatory laws in this area. By the way keeping score on who kills the most may provide an interesting comparison, but it does not excuse the relentless terrorist acts by those who commit them.

Editor: Wow, that is one strange comment. SCREW false interpretations of terrorism and the branding of groups that represent the oppressed. I do not condone violence, but I respect people with guts and the ability to speak up. Life isn't about the nuance; life is too short for that. Life is about allowing people to live. I do not respond well to fearmongering

Even moire Concerned Citizen for Tru July 8, 2010 6:50 am (Pacific time)

It is not surprising that Zionists and their sympathisers are only concerned with human rights, human suffering, justice and truth... etc only when it affects Jews. We need to constantly remind them that they are alone and that there are other more worthy human beings on this earth. The above Zionist commented: Lies, lies all lies, and anti-Semites, anti-Semitism and terrorists, terror terrorising; “Even the UN agrees that there were no 1400 civilian deaths in Gaza” then quotes the UN at the end by saying: “The conflict left between 1,166 and 1,417 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed” WTF; let’s remember that 10 of the 13 Israelis were war criminals killed by other trigger happy Israelis. Let’s put a human touch to the statistics. Never forget, never forgive the Gaza massacre and Israeli war crimes: Palestinian family mourns 48 dead - 19 Jan 2009: http://bit.ly/9RNRXi

Ralph E. Stone July 8, 2010 6:08 am (Pacific time)

Yesterday's terrorists often become today's heroes. Consider Lehi, Hebrew acronym for Lohamei Herut Israel, "Fighters for the Freedom of Israel," an armed underground Zionist group in the British Mandate of Palestine, whose goal was to forcibly evict the British authorities from Palestine, allowing unrestricted immigration of Jews and the formation of a Jewish state. It carried out the November 1944 assassination in Cairo of Lord Moyne, along with several attacks on the British administration in Palestine. It was described as a terrorist organization by the British authorities and was banned by the newly-formed Israeli government under an anti-terrorism law passed three days after the group's September 1948 assassination of the UN mediator Folke Bernadotte. The United Nations Security Council called the assassins "a criminal group of terrorists," and Lehi was similarly condemned by the subsequent United Nations mediator Ralph Bunche.

Israel granted a general amnesty to Lehi members on 14 February 1949. In 1980 the group was honored by the institution of the Lehi ribbon, a military decoration awarded "for military service towards the establishment of the State of Israel". Future Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Shamir was among its leaders.

Maybe when a Palestinian state is established, Hamas will be likewise honored.

Layla Meinke July 8, 2010 5:39 am (Pacific time)

Wow, a sane and rational look at the world, bravo! You have to come out and say it, there is no sense in pussyfooting around this subject. It really is a simple case of caring about all human beings.

Concerned Citizen for Truth July 8, 2010 5:25 am (Pacific time)

This article is so ridiculous in its assertions that it is laughable that it was even printed. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion you are not entitiled to your facts and the so called facts in this article are just a bunch of lies that are repeated endlessly in the arab press and then picked up by idiots like Tim King. Even the UN agress that there were no 1400 civilian deaths in Gaza, that hamas's budget is spent predominantly on arms and funding its military including police. There is also no mention of the 9000 rockets they fired into school yards, hosptials and day care centers. Then there is the daily incitement that puts suicide vests on small choildren and indoctrinate them to be martyers and hate Jews. Womens right, forget that, free speech, no way, tolerance for gays, only if they are dead and on and on. Tim King can whitewash hamas but the world knows they are terrorrists and no matter how many lies people like king use to wash away the stench of their being killers of woemen and children, who hide in mosques and use children as shields, it won't work. Only the hard core pro Palestinain anti semites, such as king, insult us with these lies presented as facts to justify his warped opinion.

The world and palestinians will be better off without scum like hamas and yesterday's release of the results from palesininan polling data reflect that even palestinians agree that terrorism and hamas are not worth it. If only king and his kind would catch on instead of promoting hate everyone would be better off.

Tim King: Why don't you come clean and call yourself 'Concerned Citizen for Israeli Propaganda' because at least your entire writing wouldn't begin with a lie. The pieces to this story are referenced and you know they are. The UN states: The conflict left between 1,166 and 1,417 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed. Read it and weep, for the slaughtered people of Gaza. You guys and your false stories and claims. It wouldn't matter if this was written by Albert Einstein, you would say it isn't true, because the truth hurts.

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