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Gaza: secondary war being fought on the internet

As fighting rages in the Gaza Strip an unprecedented 'virtual war' is being joined in cyberspace.

A furious public information battle is taking place on sites ranging from YouTube to Facebook between the Israeli state and Hamas.

It is part of an attempt by Israel's political leaders to use the internet to spread their message and has seen the country's Army, the IDF, becoming the first ever national force to set up their own YouTube channel.

Almost 9,000 people have already subscribed to the IDF channel, launched on December 29, which shows constantly updated video footage of bombing raids from drones targeting Hamas infrastructure.


Video from IDF YouTube Channel "Terrorists from the Gaza Strip fire mortars from an UNRWA boys' school in Gaza on 29 Oct. 2007. Hamas and other terror organizations in Gaza make deliberate use of civilians living in populated areas as human shields."

The Israeli consulate in New York has also hosted what is likely to be the world's first ever press conference on Twitter.

Meanwhile, on social networking site Facebook, a battle has emerged between quasi-official pro and anti-Israeli posters. One group, 'I Support the Israel Defence Forces In Preventing Terror Attacks From Gaza,' set up on Monday by a former Israeli Army veteran, has so far accumulated 22,964 members. Counter-groups have been set up opposing it.

The Hamas web operation has also sprung into action online. The group has relied on shocking images of civilian casualties taken by local media workers to rally people to its cause. The images have also been placed on Islamist websites, along with messages calling for Israel's destruction.

Hamas-supporting hackers have launched their own guerrilla conflict, targeting Israeli-run websites of all descriptions with around 300 reportedly defaced or taken offline in the first weekend of the conflict alone.

Nevertheless Hamas has produced nothing to rival the organisation and sophistication of Israel's PR war. Explaining the focus on information, Israeli military spokeswoman Major Avital Leibovich said: "The blogosphere and new media are another war zone and we have to be relevant there."

Analysing the online blitz, Israel's media says the country's focus on using the internet to put across its side of the story can largely be explained by two factors.

It is claimed that, during the 2006 Lebanon War, Israel's inability to put across its 'party line' contributed to the immediate pressure it faced to abandon its operation.

It is also felt that Israel is particularly keen to use the internet as an alternative to more traditional sit-down interviews with international television stations and media outlets because many mainstream stations are slated as being unsympathetic.

Declaring that Israel was winning its online PR war, the English-language daily The Jerusalem Post said that its presence both online and in the international media had left Israel with vital breathing space in the international arena.

"Israel has no small measure of understanding and support and even approval from many countries," Dan Gillerman, former UN ambassador told the newspaper.

"Even in the UN I didn't see anyone happy to condemn us. Unless something very dramatic happens, such as a blundered hit that kills large numbers of civilians, then we will have enough time to do what we need to do."

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If anyone roams across Sydney as much as I do, then one would inevitably find oneself raising that hand, getting into that taxi and dreading that meter going up and up while he takes you to your destination.

But like many others, I've found that some of the best conversations I've ever had were with cabbies.

The last one I met was a Polish engineer who proceeded to explain to me how to pave the outside of my house from scratch, because the "professionals" don't know how to do it properly. He was unimpressed and blatantly questioned why I was studying law while stating that "engineers are respected a lot more in Europe than in the West". Honestly, he seemed far more educated than me.

Before him there was another driver who engaged me in a stimulating conversation about Indian poetry and literature. With another, I had an argument about raising children in different cultures.

The reason for this is one that we've heard almost too often - qualified immigrants come to Australia, their expertise is refused recognition, and they get stuck driving people around the city when their true skills obviously lie elsewhere.

We can't help these guys get a job. But next time you sit in a cab, don't be afraid to have a chat. You never know who you might be talking to.  

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4 mar

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www.twitter.com/ianaspin

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Re: Killing Indian Students: Australia's Favourite New Sport!- by Sean Maguire

How about the indian guy who slashed his wife's throat, is still australia to blame for?..may be , for accenpting them to move over!I am an immigrant myself but I love this country, there is no perfect place on Earth but australia is one of the best! - Michael

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This entire fiasco is an incredible over reaction. Australia is an easy target. Why? because we are honest, transperant and we talk about our failings. Is there aggression and iolence in Australia? Sure, like any country. But we face it head on and we work to eliminate it. What about the stories of the 100’s of thousands of Indian workers who are treated as slaves in the middle east and nobody says anything? What about the fact that India still has entrenched pedophilia in terms of child brides? What about the crushing poverty embraced by more than 60% of the Indian people while this nation runs around building nuclear warheads? A storm in a teacup, an over reaction, and a diversion from some the really bad issues facing India. What is really happening here is that students are being unnecessarily frightened. meaning they will miss out on what could be the opportunity of their lifetime. - Daryl
 
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I couldn't agree with Sean Maguire's article more on the recent Indian attacks. For all those who like the pretend the attacks are merely based on coincidence, try to imagine how we would react if the boot were on the other foot and an uncharacteristic number of Australia's had been murdered in India. Would you push for a travel ban? Would you be scared for your children in a seemingly hostile environment so many miles away?  - Kara Jensen-Mackinnon

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