Children are put on the front lines

Dear Editor: “Journalists ignoring Middle East situation” by Frank Martens (Herald, Oct. 26).

Contrary to Frank Martens’ claims, what’s been taking place for close to a year now along the security fence that divides the Gaza-Israel border, are violent terror riots, not peaceful protests.

Organized, incited and financed by the Hamas terror group, Palestinians armed with assault rifles, IEDs, grenades, arson balloons and kites, knives, sling shots, cross bows and more, have sought to break through the barrier to infiltrate Israel with the intent to maim, murder and massacre innocent Israeli civilians.

Many IDF soldiers have been injured, and a 21-year-old soldier named Aviv Levi was killed by a Gaza sniper in July.

Most recently on Oct. 12, the Israel Defense Forces said several Gazans planted a bomb by the fence separating Israel and Gaza. After it exploded and blew a hole in the fence, some 20 Palestinians rushed through and ran toward Israeli soldiers stationed in a sniper’s nest. One of the seven Palestinians rioters killed was shot while attacking soldiers with a knife. Two weeks prior to that, more than 100 bombs and grenades were thrown at IDF soldiers.

Mr. Martens should be asking why Palestinian leaders put their children on the front lines of a closed military zone where terrorists are committing attacks, day in and day out.

To portray the violent terror riots as political protests and to describe the rioters as “protesters” is a flagrant distortion of the truth.

Mike Fegelman, executive director HonestReporting Canada