NY Times Report on Tunnels is Out of Context

In "Fierce Focus on Tunnels, a Lifeline for Gazans," New York Times, January 10, 2009, reporter Stephen Farrell paints an heroic picture of Hamas terrorists using tunnels to smuggle goods and, dangerous, weapons into Gaza. The goods are sold on the black market, and the weapons are used to attack Israel.

The 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza regard the tunnels as a vital lifeline to the outside world, from which they are otherwise almost completely shut off by the Israeli military’s control of land, sea and air access to the north, east and west of Gaza. To the south, Gaza has been sealed off by Egypt.

No mention is made why Israel has that control. How about, Mr. Farrell, the need to stop terrorists from entering Israel proper from Gaza?

It's become obvious to the Israelis that the Egyptians, on whose side of the Gaza border the tunnels begin and where the smuggling starts, have done very little, if anything, to stop the smuggling of weapons, nor have they allowed food into Gaza through the crossing on their side.

Terrorists only let the press see what they want it to see. Glorification of their efforts will not bring peace.

Read the full article here.