Edhat Reader
There’s a rally happening now (Saturday, Dec. 2) at the Santa Barbara Courthouse calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Looks to be about a hundred people or more gathering for a rally then a march through Santa Barbara, sponsored by the Central Coast Antiwar Coalition.
“The Coalition calls on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and City Council to pass resolutions in support of a ceasefire,” according to a statement from the Antiwar Coalition.
Sophia Halima Fadila is a Palestinian resident of Santa Barbara who was born near Jerusalem. Fadila said, “We reject the resolution that county supervisors passed on November 11, 2023, to declare support for Israel. The supervisors passed this resolution, reportedly without any Muslims on hand, during Israel’s relentless bombings of Gaza’s hospitals, health clinics, apartments, and escape routes. These bombs, some of them weighing 2,000 pounds, turned Gaza into a graveyard for children.”
Omar Figueredo, organizer with the Central Coast Antiwar Coalition, added, “The county supervisors do not speak for us. We do not stand with Israel in its genocidal campaign against Gaza. We stand with those who yearn for liberation from occupation and who support peace and justice in the Middle East and at home.”
Speakers include an indigenous person reading a land acknowledgement, Halima Fadila, former San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon, congressional candidate Helena Pasquerella, and Marcy Winograd of CODEPINK-Santa Barbara.
ALEX – the “self restraint” you ask for goes both ways. Time to end the pointless back and forth here. What it boils down to is that I cannot accept the further loss of innocent lives and the maiming of children, even as a means to the end we both agree on. That’s where we differ and we’re not likely to agree any further.
DISCLAIMER: What Hamas did was terrible.
This mob moved into downtown residential areas where they got to intimidate local Jews with their pro terrorist message.
ERIC – how is showing support for the thousands of innocent deaths in Gaza, over SIX THOUSAND being CHILDREN, “pro -terrorist?” Why do you support the continued bombing of children? And no, it’s not “just what happens in war.”
I believe giving aid and comfort to the enemy is treason.
RUBAIYAT – the women and children of Gaza are not “the enemy.”
Moron alert….
Dude..sorry I called ya a moron. I don’t want to be that person that gets here and is mean
My mean comment was for sacjon by the way.
SZQ – Thanks for outing yourself. Way to go.
You mean support for an organization that terrorized Palestinians as much as Israelis, murdered any dissenters, took all the humanitarian aid and poured it into weapons development. Fired thousands of rockets at indiscriminately at civilian targets. Then sent troops to rape, murder and kill innocent civilians. This last they filmed and celebrated with great glee. Especially the naked concert goer whose corpse they paraded in the streets while cheering. Then they use Gazan civilians they won’t let leave and use as human shields so any strike against them results in casualties. That IS what happens in THIS type of war. And it will sadly be necessary to cut this cancer out of the Middle East. It’s no surprise the local communists LOVE Hamas. The communist cries out in pain even as he strikes you.
ERIC – where did I say I support Hamas? The constant demonizing of anyone that speaks up in support of the lives of thousands of innocent Palestinians is absolutely tiresome. You’re really stretching and it’s not OK.
Believe it or not, a human is capable of feeling and expressing empathy for innocent people being bombed to death AT THE SAME TIME as condemning terrorists and having those same expressions of empathy for the civilian deaths on the other side.
This is not what many seem to think here: You’re either Pro-Israel or Pro-Terrorists. WRONG.
“Believe it or not, a human is capable of feeling and expressing empathy for innocent people being bombed to death AT THE SAME TIME as condemning terrorists and having those same expressions of empathy for the civilian deaths on the other side.”
Sure, you’re capable of it. You just aren’t doing it. You crying about how tiresome it is that people expect you to include the October 7th massacre in every discussion of the current conflict is an abandonment of what you say people can do, above.
You’re literally complaining about being expected to include all of the timely and relevant information related to people murder six weeks ago and people who are currently being held hostage. What a terrible burden on you.
Beyond that, by the way, exactly who don’t you include ALL CASUALTIES when you throw out that 15k number?
As I said, you perpetuating that number without including that there are literally thousands of Hamas military casualties is a total failure and is you, again buying in to Hamas propaganda.
If you want to include ALL CASUALTIES, as you are doing, then you need to include the 1200 October 7th casualties including military personnel killed defending civilians. You need to include the IDF KIA, the Israeli police KIA, and the Arab-Israeli non Jewish citizen military KIAs.
But you don’t. Why is that? Do you think that Hamas KIAs should be talked about and the IDF KIAs should not be talked about? Do you think that a Hamas fighter’s death is more tragic than an IDF fighter’s death?
I think you are biased in ways you aren’t even aware of, and it’s coming through.
Once again, I’m NOT referring to Hamas deaths in my figure, which I only used ONCE. ONE TIME. I’ve avoided that in subsequent posts and maintain my opposition to the killing of innocent Palestinians. If I could edit my comments here, I would not have used the 15,000 figure, but rather the FACT that over half of that figure, in fact about 70%, has been confirmed to be INNOCENT men, women and children.
DISCLAIMER: What Hamas did was terrible.
If you aren’t able to recognize the suffering in Gaza and at the same time recognize the hate for ALL Jewish people that is coming from many of the Pro-Palestine activists then you are really blind. You think that boycotting Jewish owned businesses is “support for Gazans.”
Fuck that.
ALEX – I never said there’s no hate against the Jewish people. Not once. Nor did I say that boycotting Jewish businesses is support. Where did you get all this? Why are you making things up? I’ve solely and only maintained that people who support a ceasefire in Gaza aren’t “pro-Hamas.” That is all I’ve ever said about this subject. Nothing I’ve said is against the Jewish people, nor did I ever suggest that what Hamas did was ok.
You’re really falling into a weird line here.
And here is another falsehood:
“I’ve solely and only maintained that people who support a ceasefire in Gaza aren’t “pro-Hamas.”
Utter horseshit. In fact, many people who support a cease fire are pro-Hamas.
You’re falling for it.
ALEX – Yeah, you’re just wrong. On pretty much all counts of what I’ve said or not said. Just wrong.
BUT, I will concede I should have added a “most” – I’ll fix that now:
” I’ve solely and only maintained that MOST people who support a ceasefire in Gaza aren’t “pro-Hamas.”
As for me “crying” about Gaza, why shouldn’t I? What is your reaction to thousands of dead kids?
I get you want Hamas gone, so do I. Never said anything other than that. Where we differ fundamentally is over the cost of that wish resulting from the chosen means to attain it. I’m absolutely against the indiscriminate bombing of civilians. You’re not it seems. That’s really all there is to it. Nothing more to say. I’ve said my piece and as an intelligent person, I assumed (wrongfully) that you understood it, yet you still lambast me with your unfounded assumptions.
I can’t go into the Holiday season supporting the the maiming and killing of children. My conscious won’t allow it.
You ask why I keep pointing out the words you use? Because they use them falsely in order to push an agenda. Genocide, slaughter, and indiscriminate are powerful words and should be used honestly. You consistently fail to do that.
Again why do you include Hamas terrorists in your accounting of casualties in this conflict and not Israeli civilians or military?
Your bias is showing. Wether it is conscious or not, you clearly assign greater value to Gazans killed than Israelis. You only seem to be terribly upset when an Israeli kills a Gazan. You are only terribly upset when Israel bombs Gaza and apparently not at all when Hamas launches over eleven thousand rockets INDISCRIMNATELY (yes, the actual correct use of the word) at Israel, always attempting to inflict MAXIMUM civilian casualties. Where’s your call for Hamas to cease firing these missiles?
Where is your demand for Hamas to cease hostilities and give up their weapons so a functional non-terrorist government can serve the people in Gaza?
And yet you seem to be uninterested when Arabs kill Arabs. Please let me know when you will be attending a protest against any of the ongoing Arab mass murder of Arabs. Let me know when you will devote thousands of words and many posts to those deaths.
And yet you won’t.
Your bias is showing.
These individuals are mindless, clueless and misguided. I almost feel bad for them.
No mention of the horrific massacre by Hamas that started the whole thing.
JB96 – How many times to pro-ceasefire/pro-Palestinian supporters need to preface everything they say with a mention of the 10/7 attacks? Once an hour? Minute? Before every single sentence they utter?
Seriously, no one with a heart has ignored that horrific terrorist attack. How many times does it need to be mentioned though now after so many days of unrelenting bombing, destruction and mutilation and death of innocent women and children? When is it OK for you for people to just say, “Hey, the constant bombardment of children needs to stop” without the ubiquitous disclaimer: “Hamas did an absolutely horrible, evil and vile thing to over a thousand innocent Israelis and people of other nationalities….”
How many more children need to be dismembered and burned alive before we can ask for a ceasefire?
Also, once again, the “whole thing” started long before October 7, 2023…..
Oh now you want to go through the last couple thousand years of history to justify violence?
ALEX – Uh, I always have. Man, you should ease up with the constant unfounded assumptions. I’ve said from the get go this is not a simple issue nor is as black and white as many seem to think.
Sure bud. Your take is as simplistic as any out there. Hamas, Iran, the Anti-Semites of the world who are using this whole thing as a vehicle for their hate are working really hard to make people forget about the torture, murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent people on October 7th. The predominant rhetoric that I am seeing in these protests is not about peace it’s about payback.
When you express your irritation that people are taking these folks to task for trying to blot out what happened six weeks ago, just like they tear down the posters of the kidnapped kids, trying to blot them out as if they never existed, you’re falling for it.
Buddy, don’t lie about what I’ve said. I didn’t say that you are crying about Gaza. Nope. But you want that because you want to depict me as being heartless and fine with indiscriminate bombing of children, etc., etc..
I said that you are crying about your perception that people are demanding that you include October 7th in every conversation about the conflict.
You’re being dishonest here.
Additionally, I think that you are almost certainly a kind, intelligent and conference person. I applaud you for that.
At the same time, you are carrying water for Hamas propaganda. I’m not even saying that you are doing so intentionally but you clearly don’t have the desire or will to examine your own position and statements with objectivity.
Your decision.
~100/460,000 = 0.000217391304348%
Way to go everyone.
How about doing something meaningful with your time besides harassing citizens and “rejecting” the county resolution.
Happy Saturday 🙂
SBTONER – what’s the figure represent?
SBPOSER – a statistic is absolutely meaningless without a defined term and context. So again for the little guy in the back, what do those numbers represent? Do you understand what I’m asking?
STONER – Oh, my bad. I thought your comment about those figures “what we call a statistic” was in reply to this comment. The instant deletions and delay really mess with the flow.
Anyway, still curious what those numbers represent. What is the .0002% reflect?
The .0002% reflects how many people in SB actually have an issue with what is going on in the Middle East, to the point of coasting disruption and obstructing the citizens and our business.
Instead of preaching and protesting and causing a ruckus, I hear that both sides over there are taking volunteers.
Why not go over there if they are so passionate?
Oh, I see. Well, to be sure, there are a LOT more than 100 people in our county that “have an issue with what is going on.” I wasn’t at the event so I don’t know how accurate the comments about them disrupting and obstructing people any more than any other protest.
Is there more info somewhere else about this? Did anyone here attend or see this protest?
These people have horribly misguided. The only barrier to peace in the region is Hamas. It’s always been the case. All these pro Palestinian protesters have been blindly mislead to believe Israel is the enemy when in fact Israel is simply trying to eradicate a terrorist organization that has said it never wants peace, that kills its own people when they try to flee, who threatens repeat attacks of October 7, who uses its own people as human shields, who raped young girls, the list goes on. But yeah…let’s all be sheep and hold up “free Palestine” flags cuz it’s cool. Smfh. Pathetic
Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians, who could have chosen to build a tourist economy. Gaza is next to the Mediterranean Sea. Instead, Hamas decided to launch missiles and intelligence, and Israel, if anything, our board of supervisors, should stand behind Israel and get rid of Hamas terrorist organization
I am with you. This is SO rude to our wonderful. productive Jewish neighbors ors. Shameful!
You are spot on about the area as well. These people have received more aid than any people in the world, including from Israel. They choose to build tunnels and buy military equipment instead of helping their own citizens with better schools and infrastructure.
“These people have received more aid than any people in the world, ” LOL wow! Where do you get your news? That’s hilarious!
Can’t help but wonder how far these people in the US that support terrorists will go to help them. No need to feel bad for them “Coast.” Next, they just might be looking for our heads.
Couple questions for people who do not acknowledge history:
1-Where was the Palestine Country?…..Never was one.
2-What is Palestinian currency? …..Never had one.
3-Before Arafat, who led Palestinians? …..Never was anybody. They did not exist before Arafat.
Israel gave the Palestinian people the land and right to exist and all the Palestinians do is invest in weapons and tunnels development to annihilate and kill innocent Jews. They lob rockets from schools and hospital grounds and want total extermination of Jews.
All the Palestinian Terrorists have to do is free the (Innocent civilian) hostages that they have not slaughtered……..already….and Israel may ease up, but that is doubtful at this point.
Palestinian terrorists started this and Israel will end it.
It is surprising how people ignore history with false statements:
1. Where was the “Palestine country”.? There are historical references to the land of Palestine from pre-biblical times through the 20th century. Even the Old Testament refers to the “Philistines”, and the etymology traces through centuries. 19th – 20th Century Zionists published objective was to establish “a Jewish homeland in Palestine”.
2. The statement “Israel gave the Palestinian people the right to exist and the land” is blatantly untrue. In 1947, Israel drove 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland. Many took refuge in what are now known as the West Bank in Gaza, which were given to Jordanian and Egyptian control in a 1949 Armistice agreement. Israel gained control of the West Bank and Gaza by military force in 1967. Israel has militarily occupied and colonized the West Bank since then – in violation of International Law. Gaza has been under blockade since 2005 – essentially imprisoning millions of people, again in violation of International law. The nation of Palestine is recognized by 138 countries in the U.N. Israel is not one of them.
and you’re ignore history as well.
“Israel gained control of the West Bank and Gaza by military force in 1967” tell us what went on that lead to Israel gaining control of the West Bank in 1967.
It really is funny how you shade your language to leave out that Israel occupied both Gaza and the West Bank after they fought a war against Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
If you want to talk about history, no, there has never been an independent nation of Palestine other than tribal areas which were constantly changing hands. You claiming that there are historical references to a “land of Palestine” doesn’t even come close. Does it even really matter?
Frankly, the history doesn’t matter. You will never, ever be able to replace what existed pre 1948. People who want to do that are completely deluded. Israel will not be destroyed, or wiped from the face of the earth, blah, blah, blah. Palestinians who were ethnically cleansed, and no, not every piece of land owned by an Israeli was stolen, though most of it was, some of it was in fact purchased, will never return to the homes of their grandparents.
Look, I’d love to be informed that the land and wealth that was stolen from my people was somehow magically going to be returned to me. It won’t. Not ever.
So everyone talking about this conflict would do the world a favor by shutting up about the “history” and instead face facts.
The people of Gaza deserve to live in peace and security. Just like the people of Israel. Hamas will almost certainly never allow that to happen. They will never give up power because their leadership is sitting on billions of dollars of stolen Palestinian money in Qatar. The only way for a lasting peace to have a chance is for Hamas to be hurt so badly that another governing entity can have a shot at making something out of Gaza..
The first part will happen. The second part is up to the people of Gaza and the regional Arab powers.
Two wrongs won’t right a wrong.
There aren’t 2 wrongs here. Only one wrong and a strong response against it.
TEAMAN – how on Earth can you possibly suggest the killing of innocent people is right?
Viva Palestina? Certainly, reasonable people can pray for peace and hostilities to cease. That a treaty be signed between Israel and a Palestinian authority yet to be determined.
In the meantime, Israel has a duty to track down those murderous criminals responsible for Oct. 7. Those captured should be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The thought that Hamas routinely uses women and children as human shields is outrageous. The use of schools, hospitals and Mosques as military facilities is a war crime under international treaty. The use of irrigation pipes as rockets, given to them by the UN, exemplifies their evil intentions.
The notion that our elected officials, in the form of County Supervisors, somehow endorse Palestinian atrocities would be laughable if it wasn’t so disgraceful.
Those unfortunate Palestinians who are now fleeing for their lives, chose Hamas, overwhelmingly to govern Gaza. This needs to change and an interim Palestinian government needs to be put in place which respects human rights and dignity and acknowledges Israel’s right to exist.
Those in this Country who advocate violence and intimidation in the name of Hamas needs to be tracked down by our FBI and prosecuted. The harassment of students or anyone else based on religious beliefs unacceptable. Any students found guilty of this should be expelled, students on Visa’s engaged in this should be deported.
Mossad will track the perpetrators of the Oct massacre to the ends of the earth and settle the score, as they did after the Munich massacre of 1972. I like that idea. As for Palestinian casualties in the current war, it is tragic, but what can one expect when civilians are used as shields? Hamas knew full-well what would happen, and did their atrocities anyway. Simply evil, no matter the history of the region.
Yes. Not only “they did it anyway”, but rather they did it because. The more innocent people die in Gaza the more Hamas believes they can maintain their hold on power and financial support from sympathizers around the world.
For Hamas, the civilians in Gaza are less than human, a means to an end, a page out of a PR playbook.
“For Hamas, the civilians in Gaza are less than human, a means to an end, a page out of a PR playbook.” – And the Israeli government’s position is any different?
LOL, Sac. Actually, yeah, the Israeli government through their policies, in this conflict, literally ascribes greater value to Palestinian Civilian lives than the government of Gaza.
The Israeli government makes efforts to minimize Palestinian casualties. Hamas does not and in fact operates using Gaza civilians as human shields.
US warship attacked in the Red Sea today.
It’s good to know that most Americans support the right side.
.00002% will not join the fight if it comes to that though.
ALEX – the “self restraint” you ask for goes both ways. Time to end the pointless back and forth here. What it boils down to is that I cannot accept the further loss of innocent lives and the maiming of children, even as a means to the end we both agree on. That’s where we differ and we’re not likely to agree any further.
DISCLAIMER: What Hamas did was terrible.
The irony of ironies is the reaction of the Left to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Clearly, some on the Left bigotry and racism towards Jews is very obvious and finally showing its true colors! Yep, Dems are turning on each other and it’s about time.
Statements made by a sitting member of congress, Jayapal-D yesterday, is revolting. To somehow excuse or trivializing rape of Israeli women by gangster Hamas fighters should be grounds for her immediate resignation!
No one should ever forget the protests and harassment of Jewish businesses by Leftist social warriors.
This is very simple. Being upset about the THOUSANDS (yes, ALEX, once again not all 15K+) of innocent dead Palestinians in Gaza and supporting a ceasefire so the civilians can be protected/evacuated as much as possible is NOT supporting Hamas, nor is it ignoring the tragic events of 10/7.
For those who can’t grasp that, I feel sad.