November 16, 2006
Notwithstanding their preposterous excuses, everyone knows that israel committed a war crime when it killed 18 Palestinians as they slept in their homes in Beit Hanun, last week.
But, virtually unreported in the mainstream media was the historical, religious, and military significance of the other war crime israel committed that day . . .
In a statement to the U.N. Observer website, the imam of the An-Nasr Mosque in Beit Hanun, Sheikh Sihda Abu Zreyk said that the mosque, which was established in 1240, was completely destroyed during the Israeli operation.
The mosque was built after the Um An-Nasr war with the Crusaders between Gaza and Askelon [now, Ashkelon], the imam explained.
The targeting of places of worship during military operations is considered to be a war crime according to the 16th article of the Geneva Convention.
Of course, israel will claim that it was a technical error, just like they do every other crime.
But, besides their track record for lying, NO ONE - especially, not israelis - CAN MISTAKE THE COORDINATES OF AN 800YR OLD RELIGIOUS LANDMARK.
It is crystal clear to me that destroying the ancient mosque was israel's PRIMARY MILITARY OBJECTIVE and that the loss of Palestinian lives was just a fringe benefit for them.
The mosque was strategically important in at least two ways.
(1) Just days before being destroyed, it had provided sanctuary for Palestinian men fleeing from israeli assault, and israelis wanted it gone;
By late Thursday the Israeli army believed dozens of armed gunmen were in the 700-year-old Nasser mosque in the town centre. Tanks surrounded the building and loudspeakers broadcast messages for the gunmen to surrender.
and (2) from a political and religious perspective, its destruction brings Zionism one step closer to their obsession with a 'promised land' - free from any trace of Islam.
And what better place to start than the mosque built just after the Muslim victory over invading Crusaders?
If ANYONE out there still believes that israel is, in any way, shape, or form, 'defending its security' - you can WAKEUP NOW.
israel is leading what can only be described as Zionism's own un-holy war against Islam.
israel doesn't want peace - it wants a land without people for a people without land, and it's prepared to destroy everyone and everything in order to make it.
