Worldfocus

01/25/2009 :: 11:47:42 PM
Hans Beutel Says:

If I read these notes above, my mind get mixed up.
It seems like the bad people are always the Palestiniens and the peacefully people are the Iraelians. Did not Israel took the land from the Palestiens in the first place? I think so.
If you ask around nobody wants war. I was in the middle of second WW in Germany. I know what I am talking about. It is the war of fundamentalism the power. Thats waht it is. Why has Irael closed the borders. O yae, I know to stop the smuggle of wappens. This action of closing up the borders is an action of an inhuman one and is discusting. I would also send rockets over the borders to fight for my life. Both parties must sit down and discuss the possible solution. Where a will is, is also a way. No - fighting is much nicer!!

01/22/2009 :: 04:09:05 PM
elki Says:

World Focus.
Your 1/21/09 report video showing the media reports in the Gaza after the war was informative. Your showed an Arab woman compaining about her 12 year old son who had begun wetting himself as a result of Israeli bombing of Gaza.

I believe her.However, you did not report that Jewish teenagers in Sderot Israel, have also been suffering and wetting for 8 years now, as a result of the terror of the rockets raining in from Gaza.

01/07/2009 :: 10:12:42 PM
Mark Says:

Recognizing that what we see on the news differs depending on where we hear it, I am prompted by hope to report my own perceptions of this perpetual conflict between Israel and Islamic extremists. I realize that my perceptions are based on the news stories I have heard in the U.S.over the years and I request that worldfocus help myself and others by clearing up any misperceptions that I report inaccurately. 1)I almost always hear that Islamic militants started the conflicts and that Israel justifiably responds in self defense. Also it appears to me that Israel cannot end conflicts on it’s own. That extremists will not stop attacking without International pressure, peace keeping initiatives and actions. I believe that is Israels goal. To continue to use better technology to inflict greater damage and casualties on its enemies and their supporters until international pressure to stop the violence results in international peace keeping forces to stop the violence, death and destruction. Israel depends on these forces to end relentless attacks on Israel and it’s citizens. These peacekeeping forces appear to intervene to stop Israel from fighting back, but also stop extremists from attacking at the same time. Islamic extremists often break the ceasefires but Israel always backs what it says with what it does. This leads me to doubt that extremists can keep their word. So their words mean nothing. 2) Israel short term goal is to end the current attacks on its’ citizens and its’ long term goals include sustainable peace and the survival of the nation of Israel. The short term goals of Islamic extremists is to gain access to Israel. To provoke Israel into fighting back to gain International support and to inflame Islamic hatred in hopes of causing an escalation of violence until all of Islam joins the crusade against Israel. Islamic extremists would even welcome a nuclear war to achieve its’ long term goal of the complete and total destruction of Israel and its’ citizens. I feel like if I could ask these Islamic extremists what they want Israel to do, and they answered honestly they would say “DIE’. If Hamas truly wanted the killing to end all they have to do is stop attacking Israel and international pressure would force Israel to stop killing also. Israel can only justify its’ attacks as long as rockets continue to threaten its’ citizens. If the trend I have witnessed continues Hamas will proclaim victory when this current bloody conflict ends. This seems like pure stupidity to me. If the goal Of Hamas is truly to protect the good citizens of Gaza, then they have failed miserably. They have not protected its’ citizens but instead brought a terrible war to its’ defenseless innocent people. If the losers of this war are obviously the Innocent citizens of Gaza, including the incredibly tragic killing of some many women and children, who would be heartless enough to claim a victory? Not Israel. Their are no victors, only losers. Extremists seem unable to grasp this obvious fact, and continue to flaunt their ignorance with pride. In the presence of so much tragic and unnecessary death, it seems to me that ones conduct should be that of one at a funeral, not a football game. It has affected me deeply to see so many people celebrate the deaths so many innocent people, over and over again. Who can be proud of such a thing? That is why I support the actions of Israel most of the time. 3) In my life I have been shown many news clips of Islamic extremists stating that Israel must be destroyed. That the nation of Israel is an affront to God, and that it is Gods’ will that all true Muslims kill Zionists whenever possible. I have also witnessed numerous occasions when Islamic extremists have stated their intent destroy any nation or individual that does does not claim Islam as its’ faith. That if I do not embrace Islam and the values it presents as Gods’ will, than I must be killed in Gods name. I have not seen any Islamic people dispute these threats to the whole world. No one has come forward from the great Islamic faith to say “these extremist views do not represent true Islamic principles. We true believers do not murder in Gods name. Please believe we want to live in peace with all people of the world regardless of their religious origins and beliefs”. This silence from Islamic priests leads me to believe that that those who are devoted to killing in Gods name do not truly represent a small minority, but actually represent the majority of people of Islamic faith. That either those with opposing views do not not dare to speak openly, or that opposing views have not been reported in the the U.S. news programs. Perhaps those devoted to war in the U.S. have helped to make sure that that our news is biased so that their war industry can continue without interference. Please tell me what is true. If Islams holy war is as I have seen it, than the destruction of Israel is the beginning of the blood lust , not the the end. I too, must be killed in the name of God, along with any other non Muslim people on the earth. This is genocide. I have never seen or heard anyone representing Israel declare the intentions to destroy all of Islam or its’ citizens. They always speak of the need to protect its’ citizens from the attacks it currently faces. Islamic voices claim that Israel is intent on genocide but that’s not what I see. Only Islamic extremists are comfortable with proudly proclaiming their intentions of genocide. I Know of no other religion that would support the fanatical proclamations of such extremist views. Any other religion would be embarrassed to promote such unholy ignorance. Any other religion would would strongly deny any affiliation to such unholy intentions. Are we not all loved by God our father equally? Are we not all responsible to go into world and promote love tolerance and forgiveness to fulfill Gods will? Is that not the true meaning of a holy war? Is that not not what requires true courage and faith? It is with these actions that we demonstrate that we are Gods children and want our father to be pleased with us. That we have heard his words of love and will not forget to bring them into the world. I cannot in good conscience adopt the values that have been presented to me as Islamic values as my own. That would be a backward step for me, a giant step away from God. If my words have offended anyone than I regret what ever I have said that is not true. Consider it a call for truth and reason to correct all errors in our minds. May god offer us all the power of his love, and may we be wise enough to accept it. Amen. P.S. Please do not give out personal information about me to anyone. If I did not have to give you my email address I would not. There are those who would want to project their unreasonable hatred upon myself or anyone else who dares to speak their mind. There appear to be many who believe violence and murder can solve all their problems, bring them happiness and Gods approval. I doubt that printing this in its’ entirety would be productive. Perhaps someone from your staff would be willing to respond. I consider worldfocus to be the most unbiased source of information I have access to. Thank you

01/07/2009 :: 05:44:44 PM
Mihal Says:

Both producers really echoed the pain of this situation and its hopelessness. In Israel we are appalled at the action we are taking but need to destroy the weapon supplies of people who are determined to wipe us out.
All aid routes have been used to smuggle arms. Peace talks and ceasefires are used as times to build up stocks or arms against Israel. Only the dangerously naive could let this continue.
Hamas supporters will need to recognise that a 2-state solution is the only solution if there is ever to be a calming of tension in the area. As long as they are determined to have all of the land and reject statesmanship then Israel will have to do everything in its power to protect its borders, people and way of life.

01/07/2009 :: 03:27:50 AM
A. Salfiti Says:

Prevention of another holocaust? Of course. But it’s okay if Israel is the offender. The Palestinians have been living their own little holocaust for over 60 years!

01/07/2009 :: 12:36:36 AM
Doron Says:

Dear World Focus,

The events at the UNWRA school today are tragic. But they are not made any better by Mr.
the distortions of UNWRA’s Andrew Whitely. Israel asserted that it fired in response to
mortar fire from the school; Mr. Whitely ruled out this possibility. How can he be
certain? UNWRA has a history of employing and sheltering Hamas operatives, and its
schools teach the most extreme form of Hamas propaganda. Its entire structure is set up
for the perpetuation, and not the resolution of, the Palestinian refugee issue.

Mr. Whitely was followed by Dr. Erik Fosse on the situation in Gaza hospitals. He did not
assign any blame to Hamas, only to the “siege”. Since Hamas took over Gaza, it has spent
all its resources on building up armed militias, and neglected hospitals and schools. It
has a huge role in the hospital situation. Ironically, most medicine coming into Gaza
still comes from Israel. Until recently, Egypt kept its Rafah crossing tightly shut, and
even now is allowing only a trickle of medical supplies, and not even all the material at
the Rafah border crossing.

Fosse was followed by former CIA officer Pat Lang. Mr. Lang pooh poohed the whole Israeli
op, saying if Hamas could fire even one rocket at the end, Israel’s op was a failure. In
response to a leading question from Martin Savidge, he concurred that the operation was
badly thought through, and a mistake.

Yet neither Mr. Savidge nor Mr. Lang offered any alternative action that Israel should
take to stop 80 rockets a day! I have no doubt that if Mr. Lang was in charge, and 80
rockets were being fired a day into a US border city, he would have authorized a military
operation against the source - irrespective of whether it is densely populated, or the
rockets might not totally cease. Especially if the movement starting the fire was
dedicated to the US’ destruction and the murder of all its citizens.

Israel could not simply sit by as Hamas fired so many rockets. Tragically, there have
been civilian casualties, and this will delight Hamas, but not Israel. If Israel succeeds
in degrading Hamas’ rocket sources, and reduces rocket fire, then it will be a partial
military success, even if it loses the propaganda war. In any event, Israel is a country
that is never allowed to win, and can do no right in the eyes of the UN and the Muslim
world. Given those restrictions, its focus will remain survival -and the prevention of
another holocaust.

01/06/2009 :: 09:31:46 PM
r. bocklet Says:

Again, you’re making my point on World Focus. Time is allotted equally, but we see graphic, dramatic, disturbing images of suffering children in the shifa Gaza hospital vs. strong Israeli national reservists training to attack the enemy. Human viewer emotions will be much more moved by the innocent victims of the Israel “onslaught” than soldiers training for combat. Notice, Hamas never shows you (media) their soldiers, rockets, arms supplies, rocket launchers etc. it’s just the innocent victims and you accommodate them. The visuals you provide TV viewers is p.r. gold to Hamas. And, remember, Hamas has been branded by the US, Britain, the European Union and the free world as a terrorist organization which you’re helping with your reports. You must know this. Ask the Israelis, you speak to them every day. Moderate your coverage of Gaza. There’s plenty else going on in the world to cover, like the economic crisis and Africa, to keep you busy.