Israel to pay United Nations for damages

Mar 2009
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Undisclosed
Israel has agreed to pay $10.5 million to the U.N. for damages from their war on Gaza last winter. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has originally demanded $11.2 million, but upon discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack it looks like they settled on $10.5 million.

Thoughts? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126288034341119771.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
In my opinion had the UN been what it should have been Israel would not have had to "jump the reservation" on them to start with. But then I don't think the UN is worth 10 cents much less 10 million.:(
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
I hope the money will be put to use, helping the stricken victims of the tragedy.
 
Jan 2013
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Delaware
I'm sure most, if not all of that money will come in the next "aid package" we give them.
 
Mar 2009
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Israel has agreed to pay $10.5 million to the U.N. for damages from their war on Gaza last winter. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has originally demanded $11.2 million, but upon discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack it looks like they settled on $10.5 million.

Thoughts? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126288034341119771.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
Well if we look at trillions a la US style, 10.5 million has to be a trickle. I'm happy however as there has been real damage, even when this was also as a result of Hamas using the civilians as a human shield against Israel. Israel knew that their bombing was causing massive damage.
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Well if we look at trillions a la US style, 10.5 million has to be a trickle. I'm happy however as there has been real damage, even when this was also as a result of Hamas using the civilians as a human shield against Israel. Israel knew that their bombing was causing massive damage.

The Goldstone Report showed that there were horrible war crimes on either side.

:(
 
Dec 2009
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10.5 million compared to the billions of dollars of damage?

At least they have agreed to compensate.
 
Mar 2009
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10.5 million compared to the billions of dollars of damage?

At least they have agreed to compensate.
Right, but Hamas was guilty as well. I guess they must have subtracted the Hamas share from the total damages that they originally allocated to Israel? Darn, those guys are good with economics! :)
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Right, but Hamas was guilty as well. I guess they must have subtracted the Hamas share from the total damages that they originally allocated to Israel? Darn, those guys are good with economics! :)

Hamas launched two rockets into Israel, which didn't hurt anyone.

Agreed. 10.5 million is almost laughable. At least it's something though.

I certainly agree that it by no means covers the value of the many human lives detroyed. How can they bomb UN schools and get a fecking fine of $10.5 million?
 
Mar 2009
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Hamas launched two rockets into Israel, which didn't hurt anyone.
You mean it was a one-sided war, and Hamas only shot at Israel twice? Hamas was sitting back and doing nothing, except taking photos of the injured? :confused:
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
You mean it was a one-sided war, and Hamas only shot at Israel twice? Hamas was sitting back and doing nothing, except taking photos of the injured? :confused:

Well, as i said, there were war crimes committed by both sides, which is terrible. But much of it could be interpreted as self defence - if harsh self-defence. You should also understand that they didn't stand a solitary chance against Israel.
 
Mar 2009
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Well, as i said, there were war crimes committed by both sides, which is terrible. But much of it could be interpreted as self defence - if harsh self-defence. You should also understand that they didn't stand a solitary chance against Israel.
So why did they involve themselves then in a war with Israel, or was their action motivated by their suicide culture and the possibility of victims that they could readily display in their horror details? Israel had warned Hamas a number of times to stop firing at Israel, Hamas knew full well what the consequences were going to be Dec/Jan of last year.
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
So why did they involve themselves then in a war with Israel, or was their action motivated by their suicide culture and the possibility of victims that they could readily display in their horror details? Israel had warned Hamas a number of times to stop firing at Israel, Hamas knew full well what the consequences were going to be Dec/Jan of last year.

Probably to protest against Israeli settlements established in Palestinian territory. That's the basis for much of Hamas' violence. Think of Hamas as the crazy, religious fundamentalist, insensible, anti-worker, anti-union version of the PLO - only far more extreme.
 
Jan 2010
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Alaska
Hamas launched two rockets into Israel, which didn't hurt anyone.

Two rockets started the war? I don't think so. In the 2 years before the war, somewhere around 2,500 rockets were fired into Israel from the little piece of terrorist "heaven" called Gaza. Of course, Israel was not idle during this period and took retribution whenever the opportunity arose. There was a 6 month "cease fire", which really just meant the hostilities were stepped down but they didn't stop, but it did partially open the Israeli blockade which allowed Hamas to fortify Gaza. This was one of those times when 2 bad boys were facing each other and there was going to be a fight no matter what. You can only yank someones chain for so long before they come get you.

I certainly agree that it by no means covers the value of the many human lives detroyed. How can they bomb UN schools and get a fecking fine of $10.5 million?

The $10.5 million was to pay the UN for damage to UN property in Gaza and for the death of a UN truck driver, its not to pay citizens of Gaza or members of Hamas.
 
Mar 2009
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Probably to protest against Israeli settlements established in Palestinian territory. That's the basis for much of Hamas' violence. Think of Hamas as the crazy, religious fundamentalist, insensible, anti-worker, anti-union version of the PLO - only far more extreme.
But is the violence only against Israel? As any retaliance from Israel would directly affect the Palestinian people amongst whom the Hamas military are hiding out with? Surely they have to take responsibility for their share in the war and the direct affect it has had on Hamas' own people? The mere fact of them taking those gruesome photographs for display to the world (they must have taken it themselves as there were no media allowed in the war zone) must be a story of how far they are prepared to go and how quickly they had those photos available.
 
Mar 2009
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But is the violence only against Israel? As any retaliance from Israel would directly affect the Palestinian people amongst whom the Hamas military are hiding out with? Surely they have to take responsibility for their share in the war and the direct affect it has had on Hamas' own people? The mere fact of them taking those gruesome photographs for display to the world (they must have taken it themselves as there were no media allowed in the war zone) must be a story of how far they are prepared to go and how quickly they had those photos available.
In my heart I think they will always fight each other. Both sides have to be getting "something" out of it or they would not have kept it going for so long. Look at all the lives lost, and destruction that no one could afford. They grew up being taught to hate on both sides. So until someone can keep little children from being taught to hate I think the battles go on and on.

As usual I may be wrong. I know a couple of times I have been wrong in life.:p
 
Mar 2009
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In my heart I think they will always fight each other. Both sides have to be getting "something" out of it or they would not have kept it going for so long. Look at all the lives lost, and destruction that no one could afford. They grew up being taught to hate on both sides. So until someone can keep little children from being taught to hate I think the battles go on and on.

As usual I may be wrong. I know a couple of times I have been wrong in life.:p
Agreed, also they have fought one another for centuries and centuries. Right now the Palestinians are the weaker ones, but that has not always been the case in the past either. I would agree with the action of the American Government in that they completely kept quiet. We all know that the United States do support Israel, mostly because of Israel's very aggressive position against Islamic countries like Iran, and balance of power in the Middle East, but in this war it probably was the diplomatic thing for the United States not to take a position in the war publicply and openly.
 
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