Man frets over brothers in Gaza
By JOE GORMAN / Tribune ChronicleArticle Photos
GIRARD - Mousa Kassis has two brothers in a war zone, and while he talks to one daily, he has not been able to reach the other.
Kassis, who came to America from the Middle East 31 years ago, was watching television coverage of the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip from his Girard home Saturday afternoon, something he says he now does 24-7.
He said his brothers, Nabiel and Sam Zahkaria, still live in Gaza in the town of Beit Lahia. Kassis said he is able to communicate with Nabiel, who has a cellular phone. But he has not heard from Sam, whose land line was cut shortly after Israel began their attacks just before the New Year for what they said was retaliation of rocket attacks by the terrorist group Hamas.
And without any knowledge of where his brother may be, all he can do is pray.
''We don't really know where he is,'' said Kassis, a member of St. Mark's Orthodox Church in Liberty, noting that Sam and Nabiel live only 10 minutes apart. ''We just pray for his safety and his kids' safety.''
After several days of aerial bombardment, ground troops of the Israeli Defense Forces moved into the Gaza Strip Saturday. The Israelis have taken some criticism because of the high number of civilian attacks and casualties.
Kassis said he had been talking to his brother Nabiel moments before he sat down with a reporter Saturday. He said his brother told him about sheltering from attacks in a mosque, but the Israelis have been targeting them, Kassis said he was told
''He said the bombardment is everywhere,'' Kassis said. ''They're shooting at everybody.''
Kassis said he wants the U.S. government to pressure the United Nations to force Israel to accept resolutions to end the occupation of the territory he calls Palestine by the Israelis and resolutions calling for a separate Palestinian state.
He said the attack is not a surprise because he reasons the Israelis could do it now and not suffer severe consequences because of the transition between President Bush and Barack Obama, who will take office next month.
He said the ferocity of the attack is a tactic by the Israelis to scare the civilian population into fleeing so they can go after members of Hamas who stay behind to fight.
Still, Kassis said there is a chance for peace, if the Israelis allow the Palestinians to have their land back.
''They could live in peace with each other,'' Kassis said. However, he said what he terms the occupation of Palestinian land will make the problem worse.
''As long as there is occupation to the land, then violence will breed violence,'' Kassis said.
Despite the years of bloodshed, it is possible for both groups to live together, he believes.
''Arabs in general are good-hearted people, and they will forgive,'' Kassis said. ''Forgiveness is their trait.''
Kassis said he sees younger Arab Americans getting involved and learning about affairs in the Middle East.
''They think, that as the world has evolved, that we shouldn't have wars,'' Kassis said.
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Billdog
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01-05-09 2:05 PM
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And I'm all for the new administration turning its back on these morons in the middle east JoeCool. The US needs to let these buttholes do their eval and stop letting them in our country. They open stores and pray on the poor and unfortunate, they charge high prices to those that cannot get what they need anywhere else because they have no transpertation, and sell their youth alcohol for their own gain of future dependence on the substance. I wouldn't miss any of them if they left our country tomorrow.
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JoeCool
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01-04-09 9:04 PM
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Sadly, while I agree w/Grump on current support, I believe it is just a matter of time when the US turns it's back on Israel. With the new administration coming in, I have no doubt this about face will come soon.
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JoeCool
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01-04-09 9:00 PM
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Well, zipper, if we had been lobbing hundreds of thousands of missles into that (alleged) terrorist state for 7 years without any aiming or warning, many from the tops of hospitals and other innocent civilian sites, I would say we kind of asked for it. I'd say we poked the sleeping tiger a few too many times. Read the Bible - it'll tell you how it all ends.
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zipcityboy
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01-04-09 8:20 PM
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What if a terrorist state killed some 500 persons in the Mahoning Valley, including just about all the police in Warren, Niles, Girard and Youngstown; it also bombed half our churches, schools, hospitals and prisons. Then it invaded and murdered hundreds more children, women and men. This after turning our community into a starvation compound and open air prison. What would we do? Say thank you? What did our ancestors in 1776 do when confronted by tyranny? What did the starved residents of the Warsaw ghetto do when attacked by the Nazis? Wake up folks, especially Christian ones. Ever hear of the Golden Rule?
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OldManGrump2
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01-04-09 7:54 PM
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Karrilyn - I'm sure my feelings are shared by the vast majority of true American citizens when it comes to those Arab terroist Hamas types. They should all get on a jet and head back to their homelands in the middle east to join their Hamas brothers in Israel's destruction of Gaza and Hamas militants.
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Handala
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01-04-09 7:37 PM
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JoeCool:Mousa is the lead cheer leader for the Palestinian cause in the area.He organizes protests an such!Hmm?
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JoeCool
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01-04-09 5:23 PM
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Seriously, how do stories like this make the paper? Does someone call and say, "Hey, do a story on me because I have family over there and I'm worried" Or does the media decide which side they want to join and seek out stories to help persuade people? Just curious how this works.
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Karrilyn
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01-04-09 3:23 PM
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Grump, your comment was rude and inconsiderate. Grow up, if you don't have anything nice to say then be quiet.
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pahootaman
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01-04-09 2:33 PM
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This situation is a whole lot more complicated than one side throwing rockets at the other, and the other retaliating. Might want to read up on the history of the conflict. Hopefully Mousa's family in Gaza will be fine. It's hard to tell whats going on, on the ground since there's a media blackout.
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Handala
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01-04-09 1:42 PM
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Easier said than done Billdog.THEY won't be satisfied until the green umma of Islam (flag) which reads "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah" flies over every Nation!Hmm?
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Billdog
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01-04-09 11:57 AM
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I say the US should stay out of this 3000 year old quagemire. These groups fight for nothing more than desert sand. Let them level their mud huts and the rest of the world can more on.
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Handala
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01-04-09 10:13 AM
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Speaking of children:Are you aware of Hamas encouraging children to perform "Shahada" (Death for Allah)?Dressing little children in mock jihadist bomb vests in death garb!Instilling the rewards of heaven for mass murder?Hmm?
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JoeCool
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01-04-09 10:09 AM
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How long would the US allow Mexico to launch rockets into Texas? It's about time. I also remember the good-hearted Palestinians dancing in the streets on 09/11. They were warned to get out, which is more than what the peace-loving Hamas group has given the Israelies over the last 7 years. Gaza is a dump - level it once and for all.
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MYVIEW
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01-04-09 9:46 AM
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"Racial Profiling again!! We should not judge a whole race and country for the evil acts of a few. Somehow this world needs to learn love and compassion for all of GODs children.
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Handala
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01-04-09 9:32 AM
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I have "OLD MAPS" that show Palestine prior to Ottoman EXPANSIONISM and before Diaspora as Judea.In fact, if Mr Kassis looks in the back of his Coptic Christian Bible he can see it also.But now that he has swore an oath of allegiance to the United States I think he might find an 1810 map of tiny United States and the plight of the American Tribes interesting.Hmm?
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