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FEMALE ACTIVISTS MOBILIZED

An Hamas granny may have blown herself to pieces, but, as Associated Press reports, Palestinian feminists still face many years of struggle before liberation is achieved:

A grandmother-turned-suicide bomber, a small army of women marching into a battlefield, thousands of veiled volunteers hitting the streets in an election campaign - the Islamic militant group Hamas is increasingly mobilizing its network of female activists.

Correction to my intro: the grandmother wasn’t blown to pieces. She was mobilized.

Yet the Hamas women, known as the Sisterhood, say such high-profile missions have not changed how the group is run: the men make decisions, the women have a supporting role, at best.

It’s so unfair. Why should men get to kill all the Jews?

But even in the rigidly conservative [ahem—ed] movement, whose manifesto defines women as “manufacturers of men,” some female activists are demanding a say in politics and in Hamas’ military wing, which has carried out scores of deadly attacks against Israelis in recent years.

Say it loud, sisters! Say it explosively loud!

A suicide bombing on Thursday by a 64-year-old grandmother who blew herself up [was “mobilized”—ed] near Israeli soldiers in Gaza was an exception, not the rule, said Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military wing. He suggested she was chosen because it would have been more difficult for a man to approach the target.

Mere tokenism. True equality will only come when the Sisterhood lies dead and bleeding all over the Middle East. Also, what’s with the sexism of that 72 virgins deal? (By the way, note the hilariously mild headline on this piece: “Hamas women seek bigger political role”.)

UPDATE. Oh, this is just lovely. LGF reveals that AP’s writer, Diaa Hadid, is Australian—and so hateful of Israelis she can’t stand to look at them:

The intensity of Hadid’s involvement over the last nine months has had a strong impact on her views. When she first arrived in the Middle East, Hadid expressed a desire to make more Israeli friends. Now she has trouble separating the personal from the political.

“I can’t look at Israelis anymore. I can’t separate your average Israeli citizen from the occupation, I don’t want to be friends with them, I don’t want to talk to them,” says Hadid.

Allowing Hadid to report from the Middle East is like allowing a Klansman to report from Alabama in 1963.

UPDATE II. Canada’s National Post on Hamas’s gran-based terror tactics:

The good news is that al-Najar was unsuccessful: She didn’t kill anyone except herself. And we suppose it’s also good news that Hamas is so short of recruits that they must now resort to brainwashed grandmas—much as the Nazis conscripted young boys and old men in the waning days of the Second World War.

The bad news is that—well, the bad news is that there are Muslims on this earth who think Allah wants them to turn grandmothers into walking bombs. It seems the harder Israel and the rest of the world try to give the Palestinians their own country, the harder they try to prove that they don’t deserve one.

Some grandmothers choose life.

Posted by Tim B. on 11/25/2006 at 10:52 AM
  1. I can hardly wait for AP’s piece on Hamas’ gay activists! But I guess I’ll have to wait for that next Saturday. Darn serials.

    Posted by andycanuck on 2006 11 25 at 11:11 AM • permalink

  2. An Hamas granny

    Hell’s Grannies returns!

    Posted by rinardman on 2006 11 25 at 11:39 AM • permalink

  3. I guess when you’re scrubbing out the gene pool, it makes sense to get the females as well as the males.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 11 25 at 11:58 AM • permalink

  4. lets hope for more Palestain mobilisation.

    Posted by Rob Read on 2006 11 25 at 12:16 PM • permalink

  5. Obviously this is the I-slamic worlds answer to re-cycling.

    They recycled an out-dated and non-producing bomb-guidance production facility.

    Posted by Rob Read on 2006 11 25 at 12:18 PM • permalink

  6. Damned Bushitler stealing the elderly’s Social Security checks. Force them to do desperate things.

    When will this end?

    Posted by SMGalbraith on 2006 11 25 at 01:03 PM • permalink

  7. The women get 72 men with nice eyes.

    Posted by rhhardin on 2006 11 25 at 01:05 PM • permalink

  8. But, but, but, if more Palestinian women decide to, er, broaden their horizons, won’t this have an adverse impact on future martyr manufacturing?

    Seriously, this is just sick. I propose that we flood Palestine with leaflets pointing out that female martyrs will get 72 male virgins who look just like James Woolcott. That ought to put a stop to this business.

    Posted by paco on 2006 11 25 at 01:53 PM • permalink

  9. But, what about Jewish Hamas activists? Doesn’t Antony Loewenstein deserve a place?

    Posted by PW on 2006 11 25 at 02:19 PM • permalink

  10. Possibly Palestinian women are willing to blow themselves up to escape Palestinian men.  Seems reasonable.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 11 25 at 02:35 PM • permalink

  11. “if more Palestinian women decide to, er, broaden their horizons, won’t this have an adverse impact on future martyr manufacturing?”

    She’s already produced 48 grandchildren and is past child-bearing age. Hence, to the Hamas elite” she’s become expendable. Strange how you never see the Palestinian leaders or their families volunteering for this great honor.

    Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2006 11 25 at 03:22 PM • permalink

  12. via your mates at LGF: the journo is an Aussie with a few of her own Israel questions…
    http://www.reportage.uts.edu.au/stories/2002/international/israeljoe.html

    Posted by saint on 2006 11 25 at 03:24 PM • permalink

  13. #11: Hmmmm. Good point, Bruce. She reached the obsolescent phase of martyr production, i.e., she was fully depreciated with no residual value, therefore she decided to scrap herself. These granny grenades could be a big problem if this notion catches on.

    Posted by paco on 2006 11 25 at 03:30 PM • permalink

  14. Between their new brigade of splodyistas, and five year old martyrs in training, there ought to be a change in the “think of the women and children” (not to mention the grannies) branch of bleeding hearts.  Hamas has long pointed out that every body in Israel is a soldier or potential soldier, and is therefore fair game.  What’s good for the victims is good for the splodydopes.

    Posted by saltydog on 2006 11 25 at 03:36 PM • permalink

  15. She was mobilized in many, many different directions at the same time.

    Posted by Ernst Blofeld on 2006 11 25 at 03:37 PM • permalink

  16. Looks like Associate Press propagandists have also been mobilized by Hamas.

    Posted by ashoichet on 2006 11 25 at 03:45 PM • permalink

  17. #11 Strange how you never see the Palestinian leaders or their families volunteering for this great honor.

    Even more strange is how the exploding class never figures it out.

    Posted by rinardman on 2006 11 25 at 04:01 PM • permalink

  18. Even more strange is how the exploding class never figures it out.

    In modern societies, these are the people who code in C++.

    (``Strong typing is for weak minds.’‘)

    Posted by rhhardin on 2006 11 25 at 04:30 PM • permalink

  19. Even more strange is how the exploding class never figures it out.

    In modern societies, these are the people who code in C++.

    In other words, they should stop marrying their cousins.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 11 25 at 04:36 PM • permalink

  20. Hey watch it you HLL types.

    Posted by Rob Read on 2006 11 25 at 05:20 PM • permalink

  21. I think you stopped too soon Tim. A few paragraphs down is this:

    Such a day came earlier this month when Hamas gunmen were encircled by Israeli troops in northern Gaza. Hundreds of women, led by Shanti, marched into the battlefield. Dodging Israeli fire, they provided a human shield that enabled some of the trapped gunmen to get away. Two women were killed.

    So the women were relying on the “weakness” of the IDF (in trying to avoid civilian casualties) and acting as human shields for gunmen who don’t care about civilian casualties. Asymetric warfare indeed.

    Posted by PeterTB on 2006 11 25 at 05:21 PM • permalink

  22. Clearly, Fatima Omar Mahmud al-Najar is the Susan B. Anthony/Amelia Earhart/Rosa Parks/Betty Freidan/Gloria Steinam of Hamas.

    All Palestinians - nay, everyone, is the better for her.

    Thanks to Diaa Hadid for putting this great pioneer into context. Before I read her wire copy, I was convinced that al-Najar was merely a venomous, souless psychopath.

    Now, I think she’s a venemous, souless, psychopathic feminist icon.

    Thanks, Diaa.

    Posted by SoCalJustice on 2006 11 25 at 05:26 PM • permalink

  23. “Hamas women seek bigger rapidly expanding political role.”

    Posted by blogstrop on 2006 11 25 at 06:22 PM • permalink

  24. Wouldn’t it be sinful for her to disrobe in public (an explosive entry)?

    Posted by egg_ on 2006 11 25 at 07:06 PM • permalink

  25. Slightly O/T: Shelly Gare [author: “The Triumph of the Airheads and the Retreat of Commonsense”] talking to “Frazzledy” Fran Kelly on ABC RN Breakfast mentioned that MoDo, while on a visit to promote her book “Are Men Necessary?”, came across as a “cokehead”, although she was a Pulitzer Prize winner ... incongruous to be an airhead and good wordsmith ...?

    Posted by egg_ on 2006 11 25 at 07:26 PM • permalink

  26. Well, looks like it’s time to update the general RoE for present and future engagements in the islamoworld.

    If they want to use women and children as weapons then they damn well belong on the universal “free to engage on sight” target lists.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 11 25 at 07:55 PM • permalink

  27. #9

    Doesn’t Antony Loewenstein deserve a place?

    He is one of the virgins.

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 11 25 at 08:26 PM • permalink

  28. #12

    Well spotted. The link is here and quotes the journo:

    “I can’t look at Israelis anymore. I can’t separate your average Israeli citizen from the occupation, I don’t want to be friends with them, I don’t want to talk to them,” says Hadid.

    Charles points out “This, of course, means she’s perfectly qualified to write stories about Israel for the Associated Press.”

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 11 25 at 08:33 PM • permalink

  29. Sounds like the Palestinians might have a use for Germaine Greer

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 25 at 09:38 PM • permalink

  30. I can imagine an upcoming edition of Oprah,
    ‘Sisters in the middle east being included in policy making’, woo, you go girls, woo.

    Posted by Nic on 2006 11 25 at 09:44 PM • permalink

  31. #27 Dan, I am so glad I don’t have a drink within reach.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 11 25 at 09:45 PM • permalink

  32. Funny, I never heard a word about the exploding Granny on the ABC’s main news broadcast!
    You rarely hear anything at all when Palestinians kill themselves or eachother in droves, but there’s much wailing and anguish as well as cold-blooded, opportunistic, fashionable point-scoring, when a wicked Israeli is responsible!
    When will Arabs wake up and realise that they’re just fashionable fodder for the shallow chattering classes?

    Posted by Brian on 2006 11 25 at 10:13 PM • permalink

  33. Did some more checking on that “Aussie” reprter.

    http://ngo-monitor.org/editions/v2n11/v2n11-2.htm

    “In addition, Ittijah has joined a number of Palestinian NGOs in rejecting anti-terror clauses in funding agreements, specifically USAID and the Ford Foundation.). In its January 16, 2004 newsletter, Ittijah backed the campaign of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), against USAID’s anti-terrorism clause that states that funds will not be used to “provide material support or resources to any individual or entity that advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in terrorist activity”.

    Nope nothing to see here move allong…


    http://www.reportage.uts.edu.au/stories/2002/international/israeljoe.html

    “Thanks to the work of Hadid and Ittijah’s contacts inside the West Bank, the media was able to skirt around an Israeli information blackout and gain news of killings taking place within the Jenin refugee camp.”

    Ok my crap detector is twitching.

    Their own site.
    http://www.ittijah.org/about/about01.html

    A cesspool of shite.

    In August 2004, Ittijah achieved Special Consultative status from the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the first Palestinian NGO within Israel to gain consultative status with a United Nations council

    Awww how cute the UN loves them.

    I think any chance of her reporting in something other than a polemical style can be discounted.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 25 at 10:25 PM • permalink

  34. Oops sorry, forgot to mention she was media director for this group for a number of years.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 25 at 10:32 PM • permalink

  35. ‘“I can’t look at Israelis anymore. I can’t separate your average Israeli citizen from the occupation, I don’t want to be friends with them, I don’t want to talk to them,” says Hadid.’

    Typical of what you would expect from an Associated (with terrorists) Press employee.

    It’s Hardly surprising that they’re propagandizing for HAMAS.

    Bunch of scumbags.

    Posted by Dave Surls on 2006 11 25 at 10:48 PM • permalink

  36. “I can’t look at Israelis anymore. I can’t separate your average Israeli citizen from the occupation, I don’t want to be friends with them, I don’t want to talk to them,”

    Well, I’m sure that you can guarantee balanced reportage from this head hacker loving skank.

    Posted by bondo on 2006 11 25 at 10:49 PM • permalink

  37. Speaking of female activists, “All your bsae are belong to us

    H/T: Instapundit

    Posted by Achillea on 2006 11 25 at 11:22 PM • permalink

  38. And just three weeks ago Mama Moonbat was in Washington urging Americans to vote for Mercedes-Benz.

    Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2006 11 25 at 11:42 PM • permalink

  39. This is just a cheapskate way of getting out of paying aged pensions. I hope John Howard doesn’t read about it.
    Far more economical to use up the aged and the useless young. ‘Save the Heroes for the Kudos’. No suicide belts for them.

    Posted by waussie on 2006 11 26 at 12:27 AM • permalink

  40. I am woman, hear me roar
    In pieces too numerous to ignore
    And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
    no good for breeding anymore
    And I’ve been giving birth down on the floor
    But no one’s ever gonna want to reproduce with me again
    Oh yes I am dumb
    But it’s stupidity born of pain
    Yes, I’ve paid the price
    But look how much I exploded
    If I have to, I can kill myself
    I can put on a belt (belt)
    I am explodable (explodable)
    I am a Palestinian woman

    A suicide belt will no doubt break me
    ‘cause it only serves to make me
    More able to achieve my final goal
    And I come back in many more pieces
    Not a novice any longer
    ‘cause you’ve deepened the explosion in my soul

    I am woman watch me explode
    See me ‘sploding toe from toe
    As I splode my lovin’ arms across the land
    But I’m still an embryo
    With a long long way to go
    No longer just a walking tent

    Oh yes I am gullible
    But stupid is what stupid does
    Yes, I’ve paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to I can spontaneously combust
    I’ve stopped breeding (breeding)
    I am expendable (expendable)
    I am a Palestinian woman
    Oh, I am a Palestinian woman
    I am expendable
    I am combustible

    FADE
    I am Palestinian woman
    I am combustible
    I am no longer breeding
    I am expendable

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 26 at 01:09 AM • permalink

  41. Well done MM.

    Posted by Nic on 2006 11 26 at 03:53 AM • permalink

  42. #40,41, the really sad thing is that MM is probably bang on target with that.

    We can joke all we like about exploding grannies, but this exposes the moral vacuum that is islamofacism more than anything else

    The young can be easily led, but where is the supposed veneration for the elderly and the women. We all know about it, but that her children can celebrate this act saddens me more than anything else.

    They truly are Godless in their meaningless existences.

    No God has ever demanded a ‘sacrifice’ like this that I can think of.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 11 26 at 05:58 AM • permalink

  43. So, when a mohamma momma “mobilizes” into a million little pieces, is that an example of “distributed ops”?

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 11 26 at 06:59 AM • permalink

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