QUOTE(SpaceCowboy @ Jun 27 2006, 10:29 PM) [snapback]216474[/snapback]
More Arab bravado and BS.
Lying is a way of life. Seriously!
Full Version: Israel
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More Arab bravado and BS.
Lying is a way of life. Seriously!
Palestinian support 'crashes' in Europe
By DAVID HOROVITZ
New public opinion surveys conducted among "opinion elites" in Europe show that support for the Palestinians has fallen precipitously, according to a leading international pollster, Stan Greenberg, who has been briefing Israeli leaders on his findings in the past few days. There has not necessarily been "a rush to Israel" but there has been a "crash" in backing for the Palestinians, he noted.
Greenberg, a key pollster for president Clinton who also worked with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, conducted the surveys for the Israel Project, a US-based non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel.
Greenberg told The Jerusalem Post that the shifts in attitudes reflected in the surveys were so dramatic that he "redid" some of the polls to ensure there had been no error.
He singled out France as the country where attitudes had changed most dramatically. Three years ago, 60 percent of French respondents said they took a side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and of that 60%, four out of five backed the Palestinians. Today, by contrast, 60% of French respondents did not take a side in the conflict, and support for the Palestinians had dropped by half among those who did express a preference.
Greenberg said the figures were still being finalized, and so did not go into further details. But shifts such as these, he said, represented "an incredible pace of change," with significant consequences.
Until recently, he said, "It was hard for Israel to communicate its interests in its own name" in Europe. "It was hard for Israel to be heard. Nowadays, it is heard on its own interests, such as Iran and Hamas." Much of the "old sense of hostility," had dissipated, he said.
At the root of the change, said Greenberg, was a fundamental remaking in Europe of the "framework" through which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is viewed.
Three years ago, he said, the conflict was perceived "in a post-colonial framework."
There was a sense "that Europe could cancel out its own colonial history by taking the 'right' side" - the Palestinian side. Yasser Arafat was viewed as "an anti-colonial, liberation leader." The US was seen as a global imperial power, added Greenberg, and the fact that it was backing Israel only added to the "instinctive" sense of the Palestinians as victims.
France, with the largest Muslim population - moreover an entirely Arab Muslim population - with the direct experience of Algeria and the most anti-US positions, was most prey to this mindset.
Today, by contrast, the Europeans "are focused on fundamentalist Islam and its impact on them," he said. The Europeans were now asking themselves "who is the moderate in this conflict, and who is the extremist? And suddenly it is the Palestinians who may be the extremists, or who are allied with extremists who threaten Europe's own society."
An increasing proportion of Europeans are concluding that "maybe the Palestinians are not the colonialist victims" after all.
Furthermore, the pollster said, the question of which side held "absolute," uncompromising positions had also shifted - to Israel's benefit. The sea-change in attitudes, he said, had been accelerated by the fact that former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who had been widely regarded as an ideological "absolutist," had surprised Europe with his disengagement initiative. And at about the same time, the Palestinians had chosen the "absolutists" of Hamas as their leadership.
An opinion poll for the Israel Project among "opinion elites" in the US released last month found that
By DAVID HOROVITZ
New public opinion surveys conducted among "opinion elites" in Europe show that support for the Palestinians has fallen precipitously, according to a leading international pollster, Stan Greenberg, who has been briefing Israeli leaders on his findings in the past few days. There has not necessarily been "a rush to Israel" but there has been a "crash" in backing for the Palestinians, he noted.
Greenberg, a key pollster for president Clinton who also worked with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, conducted the surveys for the Israel Project, a US-based non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel.
Greenberg told The Jerusalem Post that the shifts in attitudes reflected in the surveys were so dramatic that he "redid" some of the polls to ensure there had been no error.
He singled out France as the country where attitudes had changed most dramatically. Three years ago, 60 percent of French respondents said they took a side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and of that 60%, four out of five backed the Palestinians. Today, by contrast, 60% of French respondents did not take a side in the conflict, and support for the Palestinians had dropped by half among those who did express a preference.
Greenberg said the figures were still being finalized, and so did not go into further details. But shifts such as these, he said, represented "an incredible pace of change," with significant consequences.
Until recently, he said, "It was hard for Israel to communicate its interests in its own name" in Europe. "It was hard for Israel to be heard. Nowadays, it is heard on its own interests, such as Iran and Hamas." Much of the "old sense of hostility," had dissipated, he said.
At the root of the change, said Greenberg, was a fundamental remaking in Europe of the "framework" through which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is viewed.
Three years ago, he said, the conflict was perceived "in a post-colonial framework."
There was a sense "that Europe could cancel out its own colonial history by taking the 'right' side" - the Palestinian side. Yasser Arafat was viewed as "an anti-colonial, liberation leader." The US was seen as a global imperial power, added Greenberg, and the fact that it was backing Israel only added to the "instinctive" sense of the Palestinians as victims.
France, with the largest Muslim population - moreover an entirely Arab Muslim population - with the direct experience of Algeria and the most anti-US positions, was most prey to this mindset.
Today, by contrast, the Europeans "are focused on fundamentalist Islam and its impact on them," he said. The Europeans were now asking themselves "who is the moderate in this conflict, and who is the extremist? And suddenly it is the Palestinians who may be the extremists, or who are allied with extremists who threaten Europe's own society."
An increasing proportion of Europeans are concluding that "maybe the Palestinians are not the colonialist victims" after all.
Furthermore, the pollster said, the question of which side held "absolute," uncompromising positions had also shifted - to Israel's benefit. The sea-change in attitudes, he said, had been accelerated by the fact that former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who had been widely regarded as an ideological "absolutist," had surprised Europe with his disengagement initiative. And at about the same time, the Palestinians had chosen the "absolutists" of Hamas as their leadership.
An opinion poll for the Israel Project among "opinion elites" in the US released last month found that
- 80% believed that US should not fund the Palestinian Authority until its Hamas-led government renounced violence, recognized Israel and ended terrorism,
93% said Palestinian leaders must end the culture of hate that encourages children to become suicide bombers and
78% had a favorable view of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's "realignment" plan
Asked if they considered themselves supporters of Israel or supporters of the Palestinians,
58% in that survey said they backed Israel, while
10% said they supported the Palestinians. Another
33% said they supported neither side, were undecided or didn't know.
QUOTE
Israeli Forces Appear to Increase Pressure in Gaza
George Azar for The New York Times
Published: June 28, 2006
GAZA, June 28 — Israel sent troops into southern Gaza and its planes attacked three bridges and a power station early this morning in an effort to prevent militants from moving a wounded Israeli soldier they abducted on Sunday, Israeli Army officials said.
Israeli forces appeared to be stepping up the pressure on the Palestinians. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would not hesitate to use "extreme steps" in its effort to rescue the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19.
Israeli forces conducted an air strike on a Hamas training camp in southern Gaza. According to witnesses, Israeli troops also took over the old Gaza airport and moved toward Rafah on the road that marks the border between Gaza and Egypt while Egyptian troops watched.
As Israeli tanks took positions on the outskirts of the airport, more tanks and ground forces massed in staging areas along the northeastern and southern border fence with Gaza, especially around Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom.
Armored vehicles, including tanks and troop carriers, moved along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip on the road that leads deep inside Palestinian controlled territory, churning up swirls of enveloping dust, witnesses said. Mr. Olmert and the Israeli Army have said the operation was not an attempt to reoccupy Gaza but to rescue Corporal Shalit.
"All the military activity of last night, and which will continue in the next few days, is meant only to this end," Mr. Olmert said in a speech carried by Israeli television and radio. "We are determined to exhaust every possibility, so that we can realize the goal we have set ourselves."
(more)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/world/mi...artner=homepage
George Azar for The New York Times
Published: June 28, 2006
GAZA, June 28 — Israel sent troops into southern Gaza and its planes attacked three bridges and a power station early this morning in an effort to prevent militants from moving a wounded Israeli soldier they abducted on Sunday, Israeli Army officials said.
Israeli forces appeared to be stepping up the pressure on the Palestinians. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would not hesitate to use "extreme steps" in its effort to rescue the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19.
Israeli forces conducted an air strike on a Hamas training camp in southern Gaza. According to witnesses, Israeli troops also took over the old Gaza airport and moved toward Rafah on the road that marks the border between Gaza and Egypt while Egyptian troops watched.
As Israeli tanks took positions on the outskirts of the airport, more tanks and ground forces massed in staging areas along the northeastern and southern border fence with Gaza, especially around Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom.
Armored vehicles, including tanks and troop carriers, moved along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip on the road that leads deep inside Palestinian controlled territory, churning up swirls of enveloping dust, witnesses said. Mr. Olmert and the Israeli Army have said the operation was not an attempt to reoccupy Gaza but to rescue Corporal Shalit.
"All the military activity of last night, and which will continue in the next few days, is meant only to this end," Mr. Olmert said in a speech carried by Israeli television and radio. "We are determined to exhaust every possibility, so that we can realize the goal we have set ourselves."
(more)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/world/mi...artner=homepage
An early report, but the incursion seems pretty limited at this point.
QUOTE
Analysis: Kidnap shows Hamas tension
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
The kidnapping earlier this week of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has revealed the nature of the secret power struggle that has been raging among the top brass of Hamas political leadership ever since the Islamic movement won the parliamentary election last January.
Today it is evident that there are two major forces in Hamas - one headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and the second by Damascus-based Khaled Mashaal. Haniyeh represents the relatively moderate and pragmatic camp in Hamas, whereas Mashaal is viewed as a hardliner who is taking Hamas toward further extremism.
In many ways, the dispute within Hamas resembles the historic conflict between the 'old guard' and the 'young guard' in the rival Fatah party. But while the power struggle in Fatah has been over money and power, the feud in Hamas is over the movement's future political and military strategy.
Haniyeh and his aides insist they had nothing to do with the attack on the IDF post near the southern border with the Gaza Strip.
In private conversations with Fatah leaders, they revealed that the attack was carried out on instructions from the Hamas leadership in Syria and Lebanon. Although Haniyeh's men did not mention names, the Fatah leaders were quick to hold Mashaal responsible.
Ever since he entered office, Haniyeh has been working hard to persuade the international community that there is no reason to fear Hamas's presence in power. In a series of interviews with the Israeli and foreign media, he even went as far as talking about the possibility of accepting a long-term truce with Israel.
Unlike Mashaal, Haniyeh has also been keen on maintaining good ties with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and most of the Fatah leadership - a fact that has angered Mashaal and other Hamas leaders abroad. Despite the tensions between Hamas and Abbas's Fatah party, Haniyeh has refrained from criticizing the PA president. Fatah, for its part, has also avoided attacking Haniyeh in person.
Two months ago, when Mashaal openly accused Abbas and Fatah leadership of conspiring with Israel and the US to bring down the Hamas government, Haniyeh was said to be unhappy with the accusations. He reportedly told Fatah officials that he totally rejected Mashaal's allegations.
Mashaal's remarks drew sharp criticism from Fatah, whose leaders accused him of serving as a puppet in the hands of Syria and Iran. Still, the thousands of Fatah supporters who took to the streets to protest Mashaal's accusations stopped short of blaming Haniyeh for any wrongdoing.
Last month, following Abbas's decision to hold a referendum on a controversial document drafted by some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Haniyeh endorsed a conciliatory approach while Mashaal categorically dismissed the document as a plot designed to topple the Hamas government.
Mashaal reportedly instructed Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to do their utmost to foil Abbas's planned referendum. But Mashaal's orders have since fallen on deaf ears, especially after Haniyeh preferred to negotiate a compromise with Abbas over the prisoners' document.
Haniyeh's strategy over the past few months has been to avoid resuming terror attacks on Israel. That's mainly because he wants to succeed in government and to prove to the world that Hamas is capable of running the day-to-day affairs of the Palestinian public. To the dismay of Mashaal, Haniyeh has even stated in public that he was not opposed to Abbas's desire to resume peace talks with Israel.
(much more)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid...icle%2FShowFull
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
The kidnapping earlier this week of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has revealed the nature of the secret power struggle that has been raging among the top brass of Hamas political leadership ever since the Islamic movement won the parliamentary election last January.
Today it is evident that there are two major forces in Hamas - one headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and the second by Damascus-based Khaled Mashaal. Haniyeh represents the relatively moderate and pragmatic camp in Hamas, whereas Mashaal is viewed as a hardliner who is taking Hamas toward further extremism.
In many ways, the dispute within Hamas resembles the historic conflict between the 'old guard' and the 'young guard' in the rival Fatah party. But while the power struggle in Fatah has been over money and power, the feud in Hamas is over the movement's future political and military strategy.
Haniyeh and his aides insist they had nothing to do with the attack on the IDF post near the southern border with the Gaza Strip.
In private conversations with Fatah leaders, they revealed that the attack was carried out on instructions from the Hamas leadership in Syria and Lebanon. Although Haniyeh's men did not mention names, the Fatah leaders were quick to hold Mashaal responsible.
Ever since he entered office, Haniyeh has been working hard to persuade the international community that there is no reason to fear Hamas's presence in power. In a series of interviews with the Israeli and foreign media, he even went as far as talking about the possibility of accepting a long-term truce with Israel.
Unlike Mashaal, Haniyeh has also been keen on maintaining good ties with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and most of the Fatah leadership - a fact that has angered Mashaal and other Hamas leaders abroad. Despite the tensions between Hamas and Abbas's Fatah party, Haniyeh has refrained from criticizing the PA president. Fatah, for its part, has also avoided attacking Haniyeh in person.
Two months ago, when Mashaal openly accused Abbas and Fatah leadership of conspiring with Israel and the US to bring down the Hamas government, Haniyeh was said to be unhappy with the accusations. He reportedly told Fatah officials that he totally rejected Mashaal's allegations.
Mashaal's remarks drew sharp criticism from Fatah, whose leaders accused him of serving as a puppet in the hands of Syria and Iran. Still, the thousands of Fatah supporters who took to the streets to protest Mashaal's accusations stopped short of blaming Haniyeh for any wrongdoing.
Last month, following Abbas's decision to hold a referendum on a controversial document drafted by some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Haniyeh endorsed a conciliatory approach while Mashaal categorically dismissed the document as a plot designed to topple the Hamas government.
Mashaal reportedly instructed Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to do their utmost to foil Abbas's planned referendum. But Mashaal's orders have since fallen on deaf ears, especially after Haniyeh preferred to negotiate a compromise with Abbas over the prisoners' document.
Haniyeh's strategy over the past few months has been to avoid resuming terror attacks on Israel. That's mainly because he wants to succeed in government and to prove to the world that Hamas is capable of running the day-to-day affairs of the Palestinian public. To the dismay of Mashaal, Haniyeh has even stated in public that he was not opposed to Abbas's desire to resume peace talks with Israel.
(much more)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid...icle%2FShowFull
Extremists vrs moderates again.
Good luck to the Palestinian moderates. Every time Israeli moderates win Israel just ends up back at square one with more terror and less land.
QUOTE(beasty @ Jun 28 2006, 12:06 PM) [snapback]216576[/snapback]
Good luck to the Palestinian moderates. Every time Israeli moderates win Israel just ends up back at square one with more terror and less land.
Them Arabs just don't know how to give up.
QUOTE(SpaceCowboy @ Jun 28 2006, 10:18 AM) [snapback]216577[/snapback]
Them Arabs just don't know how to give up.
It sounds like "BOOM" when they do.
QUOTE(beasty @ Jun 28 2006, 12:19 PM) [snapback]216578[/snapback]
It sounds like "BOOM" when they do.
When they arn't kidnapping someone. MSNBC say the Pals claim three more kidnappings. Very brave. A-holes.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid...rticle/ShowFull
Syrian leader was at the site during sonic booms
By YAAKOV KATZ, JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP
[Print this Article] [EMail this Article] [Subscribe] [SMS Alerts] [JPost Toolbar] [JPost ePaper]
Talkbacks for this article: 20
IAF planes flew over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's palace in the city of Latakia in northwestern Syria early Wednesday morning, officials revealed on Wednesday evening.
The IDF said the flyover, carried out by four planes flying in a low-altitude pattern, was a part of an overall IDF operation aimed at pressuring the Syrian leadership to expel Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mashaal from Damascus.
According to Israel, Mashaal has been calling the shots out of the Syrian capital and orchestrated the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Earlier, Justice Minister Haim Ramon said that Mashaal, was a target for assassination due to his ordering of the kidnapping of Shalit.
"He is definitely in our sights ... he is a target," Ramon told Army Radio. "Khaled Mashaal, as some who is overseeing, actually commanding the terror acts, is definitely a target."
Interior Minister and former Shin Bet head Avi Dichter said that the only reason Mashaal is not in an Israeli jail is that Israel, as an enlightened nation, has placed certain restrictions upon itself.
Mashaal is allegedly responsible for the attack Sunday in which two soldiers were killed and a third kidnapped, Ramon said. Israel launched a ground offensive into the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday in an effort to force the kidnappers to free the soldier.
Israel tried to kill Mashaal in a botched assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997. Two Mossad agents injected Mashaal with poison, but were caught. As Mashaal lay dying in a Jordanian hospital, King Hussein of Jordan forced Israel to provide the antidote in return for the release of the Mossad agents.
Binyamin Netanyahu, who was prime minister at the time, was also forced to release Hamas's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin form Israeli prison. Yassin was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza in March 2004.
Ramon, who said Mashaal was the equivalent to Osama Bin Laden, called on the international community to force Syrian President Bashar Assad to expel Mashaal from Damascus, where he has operated freely for years.
After the assassination attempt, Jordan's relationship with Hamas deteriorated and Mashaal was expelled to Qatar, where he lived before moving to Damascus.
Syrian leader was at the site during sonic booms
By YAAKOV KATZ, JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP
[Print this Article] [EMail this Article] [Subscribe] [SMS Alerts] [JPost Toolbar] [JPost ePaper]
Talkbacks for this article: 20
IAF planes flew over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's palace in the city of Latakia in northwestern Syria early Wednesday morning, officials revealed on Wednesday evening.
The IDF said the flyover, carried out by four planes flying in a low-altitude pattern, was a part of an overall IDF operation aimed at pressuring the Syrian leadership to expel Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mashaal from Damascus.
According to Israel, Mashaal has been calling the shots out of the Syrian capital and orchestrated the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Earlier, Justice Minister Haim Ramon said that Mashaal, was a target for assassination due to his ordering of the kidnapping of Shalit.
"He is definitely in our sights ... he is a target," Ramon told Army Radio. "Khaled Mashaal, as some who is overseeing, actually commanding the terror acts, is definitely a target."
Interior Minister and former Shin Bet head Avi Dichter said that the only reason Mashaal is not in an Israeli jail is that Israel, as an enlightened nation, has placed certain restrictions upon itself.
Mashaal is allegedly responsible for the attack Sunday in which two soldiers were killed and a third kidnapped, Ramon said. Israel launched a ground offensive into the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday in an effort to force the kidnappers to free the soldier.
Israel tried to kill Mashaal in a botched assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997. Two Mossad agents injected Mashaal with poison, but were caught. As Mashaal lay dying in a Jordanian hospital, King Hussein of Jordan forced Israel to provide the antidote in return for the release of the Mossad agents.
Binyamin Netanyahu, who was prime minister at the time, was also forced to release Hamas's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin form Israeli prison. Yassin was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza in March 2004.
Ramon, who said Mashaal was the equivalent to Osama Bin Laden, called on the international community to force Syrian President Bashar Assad to expel Mashaal from Damascus, where he has operated freely for years.
After the assassination attempt, Jordan's relationship with Hamas deteriorated and Mashaal was expelled to Qatar, where he lived before moving to Damascus.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jun 28 2006, 12:53 PM) [snapback]216580[/snapback]
Israel tried to kill Mashaal in a botched assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997. Two Mossad agents injected Mashaal with poison, but were caught. As Mashaal lay dying in a Jordanian hospital, King Hussein of Jordan forced Israel to provide the antidote in return for the release of the Mossad agents.
It's a shame they didn't just shoot the mofo.
"Palestinians" are just stupid to keep on messing with Israel. The put me in mind of the Oakies that went to California during the depression. Alll they've done is breed more generations of stupid, worthless, unambitious trash people. It doesn'a matter much where they live, they're still the same worthless people.
QUOTE
Israeli tanks shell northern Gaza Strip after dropping leaflets warning Palestinians to leave Beit Hanoun ahead of next stage of IDF ground offensive
June 28, 2006, 10:10 PM (GMT+02:00)
Helicopters hovered overhead. Beit Hanoun is a main center of Qassam missile launchings against Israel. Leaflets dropped by the Israeli air force warned occupants to leave for their own safety ahead of “surgical attacks from ground and air.”
Wednesday, the Israeli government approved the next stage of Operation Summer Rain in Gaza. Fatah-al Aqsa Brigades warned that if Palestinians are killed in Israel’s Operation Summer Raid launched Tuesday night, its bombers will hit an already marked Israeli embassy overseas.
Prime minister Ehud Olmert said: “We must go on.” He rejected negotiations with any terrorist organization for the release of the abducted Israeli soldier. If he is not returned, “we will not shrink from extreme action,” said Olmert.
Tuesday night, an armored column rolling into the southern Gaza Strip for the declared goal of rescuing Israeli hostage Corp. Gilead Shalit, whom Hamas kidnapped Sunday, June 25, when it led an attack on an Israeli army post outside the Gaza Strip, killing two soldiers and injuring six. The troops seized the disused Dahaniya airport outside Rafah as its command post and recaptured the Philadelphi Gazan-Egyptian border strip. First a transformer station and two bridges linking Gaza City to the south were knocked out.
These actions aimed at disrupting the movements of the Israeli corporal’s captors with their hostage within the Gaza Strip and out through its southern exits.
Artillery fire persisted during Wednesday and a Hamas training facility near Rafah was bombed from the air.
The Israeli force avoided the town of Rafah and its refugee camps, operating on their outskirts.
The Israeli incursion followed the collapse of diplomatic efforts to negotiate the Israeli corporal’s release after the kidnappers’ representatives broke off contact.
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
June 28, 2006, 10:10 PM (GMT+02:00)
Helicopters hovered overhead. Beit Hanoun is a main center of Qassam missile launchings against Israel. Leaflets dropped by the Israeli air force warned occupants to leave for their own safety ahead of “surgical attacks from ground and air.”
Wednesday, the Israeli government approved the next stage of Operation Summer Rain in Gaza. Fatah-al Aqsa Brigades warned that if Palestinians are killed in Israel’s Operation Summer Raid launched Tuesday night, its bombers will hit an already marked Israeli embassy overseas.
Prime minister Ehud Olmert said: “We must go on.” He rejected negotiations with any terrorist organization for the release of the abducted Israeli soldier. If he is not returned, “we will not shrink from extreme action,” said Olmert.
Tuesday night, an armored column rolling into the southern Gaza Strip for the declared goal of rescuing Israeli hostage Corp. Gilead Shalit, whom Hamas kidnapped Sunday, June 25, when it led an attack on an Israeli army post outside the Gaza Strip, killing two soldiers and injuring six. The troops seized the disused Dahaniya airport outside Rafah as its command post and recaptured the Philadelphi Gazan-Egyptian border strip. First a transformer station and two bridges linking Gaza City to the south were knocked out.
These actions aimed at disrupting the movements of the Israeli corporal’s captors with their hostage within the Gaza Strip and out through its southern exits.
Artillery fire persisted during Wednesday and a Hamas training facility near Rafah was bombed from the air.
The Israeli force avoided the town of Rafah and its refugee camps, operating on their outskirts.
The Israeli incursion followed the collapse of diplomatic efforts to negotiate the Israeli corporal’s release after the kidnappers’ representatives broke off contact.
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
Look at this picture and tell me what you see:
Palestinian militants from the military wing of Hamas set up
an explosive device in preparation for a possible Israeli army
ground operation in Gaza Strip June 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ahmed
Jadallah (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES)
To many, this is just a perfectly innocent picture of Palestinian militants setting up explosives to blow up the Israeli soldiers they expect will soon pass by in search of their kidnapped comrade.
But, while there is a slight chance these explosives could take out an Israeli soldier, it is far more likely that history will remember the explosive charge shown in the photo only as one more atrocity committed by Israel in what will likely be publicized as "Jenin II." That's right, in all likelihood, after this bomb blows up -- this bomb we see being laid before our very eyes -- after it takes down all the nearby walls of surrounding houses, the worlds' photographers -- perhaps including Ahmed Jadallah himself -- will be brought back to this very same spot to photograph and report on the cruel war crimes committed by the Israelis as they massacred and wantonly blew up poor refugees' homes.
Palestinian militants from the military wing of Hamas set up
an explosive device in preparation for a possible Israeli army
ground operation in Gaza Strip June 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ahmed
Jadallah (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES)
To many, this is just a perfectly innocent picture of Palestinian militants setting up explosives to blow up the Israeli soldiers they expect will soon pass by in search of their kidnapped comrade.
But, while there is a slight chance these explosives could take out an Israeli soldier, it is far more likely that history will remember the explosive charge shown in the photo only as one more atrocity committed by Israel in what will likely be publicized as "Jenin II." That's right, in all likelihood, after this bomb blows up -- this bomb we see being laid before our very eyes -- after it takes down all the nearby walls of surrounding houses, the worlds' photographers -- perhaps including Ahmed Jadallah himself -- will be brought back to this very same spot to photograph and report on the cruel war crimes committed by the Israelis as they massacred and wantonly blew up poor refugees' homes.
QUOTE(judy @ Jun 28 2006, 08:51 PM) [snapback]216651[/snapback]
Look at this picture and tell me what you see:
Palestinian militants from the military wing of Hamas set up
an explosive device in preparation for a possible Israeli army
ground operation in Gaza Strip June 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ahmed
Jadallah (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES)
To many, this is just a perfectly innocent picture of Palestinian militants setting up explosives to blow up the Israeli soldiers they expect will soon pass by in search of their kidnapped comrade.
But, while there is a slight chance these explosives could take out an Israeli soldier, it is far more likely that history will remember the explosive charge shown in the photo only as one more atrocity committed by Israel in what will likely be publicized as "Jenin II." That's right, in all likelihood, after this bomb blows up -- this bomb we see being laid before our very eyes -- after it takes down all the nearby walls of surrounding houses, the worlds' photographers -- perhaps including Ahmed Jadallah himself -- will be brought back to this very same spot to photograph and report on the cruel war crimes committed by the Israelis as they massacred and wantonly blew up poor refugees' homes.
There's that.
It's ok. The NYT has already proved that "journalists" do not bear any of the responsibities of regular citizens.
QUOTE(Bart Katz @ Jun 28 2006, 09:10 PM) [snapback]216669[/snapback]
It's ok. The NYT has already proved that "journalists" do not bear any of the responsibities of regular citizens.
Of course not. They are far too important for that.
I hear Palestinians killed the kid. I suppose the soldier will be saved as a bargaining chip.
I think it's time to just drop all pretense and kill off Hamas. Then see if the next government is more agreeable.
I think it's time to just drop all pretense and kill off Hamas. Then see if the next government is more agreeable.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jun 28 2006, 09:38 PM) [snapback]216678[/snapback]
I hear Palestinians killed the kid. I suppose the soldier will be saved as a bargaining chip.
I think it's time to just drop all pretense and kill off Hamas. Then see if the next government is more agreeable.
Omert has said they will target the leadership. The Gaza withdrawal gives them some (political) room to get really tough. I'm hoping they do just that.
QUOTE(SpaceCowboy @ Jun 28 2006, 07:41 PM) [snapback]216680[/snapback]
Omert has said they will target the leadership. The Gaza withdrawal gives them some (political) room to get really tough. I'm hoping they do just that.
If the guys at the top are scared, the guys at the bottom may feel some pressure. If the guys NEAR the top are nervous too, so much the better.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jun 28 2006, 09:58 PM) [snapback]216681[/snapback]
If the guys at the top are scared, the guys at the bottom may feel some pressure. If the guys NEAR the top are nervous too, so much the better.
I bet that one sucker headed for the hills after the jets flew over his house.
And no air defense because I heard the Syrian air force was grounded when the rubber band broke.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jun 28 2006, 10:58 PM) [snapback]216686[/snapback]
And no air defense because I heard the Syrian air force was grounded when the rubber band broke.
That's what they get for leaving them rubbers out in the sun.
The balsa shortage hit them heavy too.
Did The Palestinians Fire WMD At Israel?
Reuters reports that Palestinian terrorists have claimed an attack on Israel that they say used a chemical weapon warhead
A spokesman for gunmen in the Gaza Strip said they had fired a rocket tipped with a chemical warhead at Israel early on Thursday.
The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the claim by the spokesman from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.
This follows the AAMB claim this weekend of WMD capability. The Israelis, however, can confirm neither the chemical attack nor any attack as described by the AAMB. So far, then, it appears that the terrorists have no WMD except in their own minds.
Hopefully, that remains the case. If they do start using chemical weapons in their attacks, the Americans should take a serious interest in how the Palestinians acquired these weapons, and where they originated. While Israel looks to Syria for the mastermind of the kidnappings and the attacks on their troops, the US may want to look closer at Syria as a repository of the missing WMD from Saddam Hussein's reign.
Reuters reports that Palestinian terrorists have claimed an attack on Israel that they say used a chemical weapon warhead
A spokesman for gunmen in the Gaza Strip said they had fired a rocket tipped with a chemical warhead at Israel early on Thursday.
The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the claim by the spokesman from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.
This follows the AAMB claim this weekend of WMD capability. The Israelis, however, can confirm neither the chemical attack nor any attack as described by the AAMB. So far, then, it appears that the terrorists have no WMD except in their own minds.
Hopefully, that remains the case. If they do start using chemical weapons in their attacks, the Americans should take a serious interest in how the Palestinians acquired these weapons, and where they originated. While Israel looks to Syria for the mastermind of the kidnappings and the attacks on their troops, the US may want to look closer at Syria as a repository of the missing WMD from Saddam Hussein's reign.
Israeli arrest of Hamas raises concerns
Group of Eight industrialized countries calls on Israel to show restraint in Gaza, say diplomacy continuing to secure release of an kidnapped Israeli soldier
News Agencies
The Group of Eight industrialized countries said on Thursday the Israeli arrest of officials from the ruling Hamas party raised "particular concerns."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other G8 foreign ministers called on Israel to show restraint in Gaza and said that diplomacy was continuing to secure the release of an Israeli soldier, who was captured on Sunday.
QUOTE
"We call on Israel to exercise utmost restraint in the current crisis," G8 foreign ministers said in a joint statement. "
The detention of elected members of the Palestinian government and legislature raises particular concerns."Russia's foreign minister said he and his group of eight counterparts were "united" Thursday in their demand that the Israeli soldier held by Palestinian terrorists be released.
QUOTE
"We are united in the demand to free him as quickly as possible,"
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference at a Moscow meeting of top diplomats from the world's most industrialized nations. The foreign ministers also called on the Israelis and Palestinians to do everything possible to calm the ongoing crisis as Israeli forces pressed their military campaign in Gaza to win the release of the Israeli soldier held by Hamas gunmen.
"We confirmed our support for the 'Quartet'... and called on the parties to take all the necessary steps to calm the situation," Lavrov said, referring to the group of Middle East peace mediators - Russia, the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union.
Rice: Reasonable Palestinians involved in efforts
"With restraint, perhaps we can get back to a place where there can be hope for a peaceful resolution," Rice said during a news conference attended by the eight top diplomats along with representatives of the European Union and other groups.
Rice said "Reasonable Palestinians are also involved in efforts" To win the Israeli soldier's release. Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit was captured during a raid on a military outpost near the Gaza border early Sunday, sparking the latest crisis between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israeli authorities, meanwhile, have detained seven cabinet ministers and 20 lawmakers from Hamas in a clear attempt to use them as bargaining chips to win the soldier's release.
Israeli troops rounded up dozens of ministers and lawmakers from the Palestinians' ruling Hamas party
Thursday while forging ahead with a military campaign in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes buzzed the summer residence of President Bashar Assad of Syria, where Hamas' top political leader Khaled Mashaal lives.
The operations are meant to step up the pressure on Palestinian militants holding the Israeli soldier after Israel refused to negotiate a swap of the soldier for Palestinian prisoners, who are estimated to number about 8,000.
QUOTE
Israel’s Gaza Operation is put on hold Thursday – according to DEBKAfile’s exclusive sources by a deadlocked dispute between prime minister Olmert and defense minister Peretz
June 29, 2006, 8:19 PM (GMT+02:00)
The armored forces and tanks which rolled into southern Gaza Tuesday night have been stationary for 24 hours, only directing desultory artillery fire at empty ground in the north.
Amir Peretz is blocking a swift and expeditious offensive urged by the prime minister’ Ehud Olmert and the IDF high command to rescue Gilead Shalit, the Israeli corporal kidnapped by Hamas Sunday, June 25, and eradicate the Qassam missile infrastructure.
Yet the prime minister is hesitating to pull rank and pass orders to the army over the defense minister’s head
Peretz is clinging to a policy of “restraint and diplomacy,” despite the complete breakdown of mediated negotiations in the early hours of the abduction. The prime minister’s office and general command report that no serious diplomatic bid to negotiate the soldier’s release has been floated for 48 hours. None of the intermediaries report progress, even the live wire, Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman.
PMO officials and top commanders are furious with the defense minister and take strong exception to his assertion Thursday: “We stand at one of the most significant moments for setting new game rules between us and terrorist elements in the Palestinian Authority.” Terrorism is not a game, they say. Frustration with the defense minister was sensed in the speech delivered by the army chief Lt. Gen Dan Halutz at the passing out ceremony of fighter pilots. “Israeli citizens must never be hostages to rockets and the kidnappings of civilians and soldiers,” he said. “We dare not wait for casualties to justify a defensive operation. When someone wants to kill you, you must kill him first.”
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
June 29, 2006, 8:19 PM (GMT+02:00)
The armored forces and tanks which rolled into southern Gaza Tuesday night have been stationary for 24 hours, only directing desultory artillery fire at empty ground in the north.
Amir Peretz is blocking a swift and expeditious offensive urged by the prime minister’ Ehud Olmert and the IDF high command to rescue Gilead Shalit, the Israeli corporal kidnapped by Hamas Sunday, June 25, and eradicate the Qassam missile infrastructure.
Yet the prime minister is hesitating to pull rank and pass orders to the army over the defense minister’s head
Peretz is clinging to a policy of “restraint and diplomacy,” despite the complete breakdown of mediated negotiations in the early hours of the abduction. The prime minister’s office and general command report that no serious diplomatic bid to negotiate the soldier’s release has been floated for 48 hours. None of the intermediaries report progress, even the live wire, Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman.
PMO officials and top commanders are furious with the defense minister and take strong exception to his assertion Thursday: “We stand at one of the most significant moments for setting new game rules between us and terrorist elements in the Palestinian Authority.” Terrorism is not a game, they say. Frustration with the defense minister was sensed in the speech delivered by the army chief Lt. Gen Dan Halutz at the passing out ceremony of fighter pilots. “Israeli citizens must never be hostages to rockets and the kidnappings of civilians and soldiers,” he said. “We dare not wait for casualties to justify a defensive operation. When someone wants to kill you, you must kill him first.”
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
Stranger and stranger.
QUOTE
Hamas Praises Abduction but Denies Role
By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
(06-28) 12:24 PDT DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) --
Khaled Mashaal's aides praised the capture of an Israeli soldier as a daring operation but claimed Wednesday that the Damascus-based Hamas leader played no role in it. Israel sees him as the brains behind the abduction and threatened to try to assassinate him.
The accusations have placed Mashaal at the center of a debate over who runs Hamas, which has power centers in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Syrian capital — where its leadership is seen by some as the most hard-line.
Mashaal has not spoken in public since Sunday's kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit and is believed to have gone underground for fear of an Israeli attempt to kill him.
But officials close to him deny he gave the green light for the capture — even as they laud the operation.
"The resistance fighters have displayed moral and operational superiority over the Israeli army," aide Moussa Abu Marzouk told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. "They carried out an act that, I believe, the Palestinian people greatly appreciate."
Hamas has adopted the same line after each suicide bombing and attack carried out in its name over the past decade. Key political leaders have always insisted Hamas' military wing is an independent body they know nothing about and do not give orders to.
The 19-year-old Shalit's capture is no exception. Hamas' military wing was one of three groups that claimed responsibility, but Hamas officials have insisted they were not aware the operation was being planned.
"The military people, the resistance fighters and the mujahedeen are the decision-makers in everything that's related to the prisoner," said Abu Marzouk.
"It would be stupid for anyone to assume that anyone from outside ... or inside the Gaza Strip can talk to the military people," he added. "Their leadership is independent, their planning is independent, their decisions are independent."
(more)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../i122427D57.DTL
By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
(06-28) 12:24 PDT DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) --
Khaled Mashaal's aides praised the capture of an Israeli soldier as a daring operation but claimed Wednesday that the Damascus-based Hamas leader played no role in it. Israel sees him as the brains behind the abduction and threatened to try to assassinate him.
The accusations have placed Mashaal at the center of a debate over who runs Hamas, which has power centers in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Syrian capital — where its leadership is seen by some as the most hard-line.
Mashaal has not spoken in public since Sunday's kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit and is believed to have gone underground for fear of an Israeli attempt to kill him.
But officials close to him deny he gave the green light for the capture — even as they laud the operation.
"The resistance fighters have displayed moral and operational superiority over the Israeli army," aide Moussa Abu Marzouk told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. "They carried out an act that, I believe, the Palestinian people greatly appreciate."
Hamas has adopted the same line after each suicide bombing and attack carried out in its name over the past decade. Key political leaders have always insisted Hamas' military wing is an independent body they know nothing about and do not give orders to.
The 19-year-old Shalit's capture is no exception. Hamas' military wing was one of three groups that claimed responsibility, but Hamas officials have insisted they were not aware the operation was being planned.
"The military people, the resistance fighters and the mujahedeen are the decision-makers in everything that's related to the prisoner," said Abu Marzouk.
"It would be stupid for anyone to assume that anyone from outside ... or inside the Gaza Strip can talk to the military people," he added. "Their leadership is independent, their planning is independent, their decisions are independent."
(more)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../i122427D57.DTL
Right.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINIAN LAND
Land in the 20th and 21st Century doesn't work like land used to work, when all solid land wasn't claimed on this earth.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, Muslim land, Arab land, Jewish land, Atheist land, Caucasian land, Christian land, etc.
Land is either owned and/or governed. That is it. That is how land works. Land is just dirt, plain and simple.
Yes, the Palestinian region has existed throughout recorded history. Yes, there is a such thing as Arabs who are/were indigenous to the region, as well as Christians and Jews, etc.
But demographics change everywhere. Immigration is not a form of stealing. You can only steal land if it is OWNED.
The percentages of Muslims in the West has climbed in recent years. Nobody is accusing Muslims of stealing Western lands though because they are not.
The region of Palestine was last governed by the British before Israel was created.
Arabs and their mindless supporters tend to forget that it was the Brits who came up with the White Paper which limited Jewish immigration into the British controlled land of Palestine.
The Arabs, with the exception of the very few who owned land in Israel, have absolutely no claim to Israel. In fact, they have no claim to the West Bank, but it is open to negotiations. Just as Israel was when the Jews were successfully lobbying for it.
Over 90% of the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza were born in the West Bank and Gaza, and have no property in Israel proper. Their grandfathers may have lived there, but so what? I used to live in Toronto, I don't anymore. In fact, in Toronto, the Kensington district used to have a Jewish majority until the late 50's. But the Jews moved to Northern Toronto. Nobody is making a claim that Kensington is Jewish land.
My house and property is not Jewish land. It wouldn't matter if everyone on my street were Jews. Land can be sold. And it can as easily be sold to anyone of any ethnicity.
The only solid earth on the planet today that is not accounted for besides the disputed West Bank is Antarctica which leads me to a solution to Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Looks like a snowy Tel Aviv before it was built in 1909, doesn't it?
The trick is to get the Palestinians to move their. They are easily tricked. Their leaders and especially the leaders of other Arab countries have duped them for years.
I'm not worried that they will read this because every Lefty knows that Palestinians are so hard done by that there is no way they have a computer or internet access, and even if they can get their hands on one, and assuming they don't destroy it, there is no way they can read English because their education has to be next to non-existent thanks to Jooooos not allowing them to have schools.
Back to the plan. Everyone knows that Arabs follow Jews wherever we go. The first thing is to build a small Temple in Antarctica. Then a rumour must be spread. "A lost tribe of Arabs have been found in Antarctica, and they have been living peacefully, but now the Jews have started to force them into the colder regions.
The Jews are planning on settling in Antarctica, the fifth largest continent on this planet, with an eye on New Zealand. And they discovered glaciers filled with oil."
The hard part will be transportation. But I have that covered too. Another rumour that someone has been found to be corrupt at El Al airlines. He is a Jewish airline security guard who feels that the Palestinians have been treated unjustly and wants to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to the Antarctic Arabs. So he smuggling Arabs in the cargo of the planes that fly to Antarctica. Of course, Israel will pay for the Arabs one way trip. It will take time. 200 Arabs crowded in cargo each trip. 15000 one way trips will do the job.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, but maybe they can successfully lobby for Antarctica once enough of them get there. And they can finally have a Palestinian governed land. Plenty of water too. 90% of the world's fresh water is in Antarctica.
The Bacon Eating Atheistic Jew
Land in the 20th and 21st Century doesn't work like land used to work, when all solid land wasn't claimed on this earth.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, Muslim land, Arab land, Jewish land, Atheist land, Caucasian land, Christian land, etc.
Land is either owned and/or governed. That is it. That is how land works. Land is just dirt, plain and simple.
Yes, the Palestinian region has existed throughout recorded history. Yes, there is a such thing as Arabs who are/were indigenous to the region, as well as Christians and Jews, etc.
But demographics change everywhere. Immigration is not a form of stealing. You can only steal land if it is OWNED.
The percentages of Muslims in the West has climbed in recent years. Nobody is accusing Muslims of stealing Western lands though because they are not.
The region of Palestine was last governed by the British before Israel was created.
Arabs and their mindless supporters tend to forget that it was the Brits who came up with the White Paper which limited Jewish immigration into the British controlled land of Palestine.
The Arabs, with the exception of the very few who owned land in Israel, have absolutely no claim to Israel. In fact, they have no claim to the West Bank, but it is open to negotiations. Just as Israel was when the Jews were successfully lobbying for it.
Over 90% of the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza were born in the West Bank and Gaza, and have no property in Israel proper. Their grandfathers may have lived there, but so what? I used to live in Toronto, I don't anymore. In fact, in Toronto, the Kensington district used to have a Jewish majority until the late 50's. But the Jews moved to Northern Toronto. Nobody is making a claim that Kensington is Jewish land.
My house and property is not Jewish land. It wouldn't matter if everyone on my street were Jews. Land can be sold. And it can as easily be sold to anyone of any ethnicity.
The only solid earth on the planet today that is not accounted for besides the disputed West Bank is Antarctica which leads me to a solution to Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Looks like a snowy Tel Aviv before it was built in 1909, doesn't it?
The trick is to get the Palestinians to move their. They are easily tricked. Their leaders and especially the leaders of other Arab countries have duped them for years.
I'm not worried that they will read this because every Lefty knows that Palestinians are so hard done by that there is no way they have a computer or internet access, and even if they can get their hands on one, and assuming they don't destroy it, there is no way they can read English because their education has to be next to non-existent thanks to Jooooos not allowing them to have schools.
Back to the plan. Everyone knows that Arabs follow Jews wherever we go. The first thing is to build a small Temple in Antarctica. Then a rumour must be spread. "A lost tribe of Arabs have been found in Antarctica, and they have been living peacefully, but now the Jews have started to force them into the colder regions.
The Jews are planning on settling in Antarctica, the fifth largest continent on this planet, with an eye on New Zealand. And they discovered glaciers filled with oil."
The hard part will be transportation. But I have that covered too. Another rumour that someone has been found to be corrupt at El Al airlines. He is a Jewish airline security guard who feels that the Palestinians have been treated unjustly and wants to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to the Antarctic Arabs. So he smuggling Arabs in the cargo of the planes that fly to Antarctica. Of course, Israel will pay for the Arabs one way trip. It will take time. 200 Arabs crowded in cargo each trip. 15000 one way trips will do the job.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, but maybe they can successfully lobby for Antarctica once enough of them get there. And they can finally have a Palestinian governed land. Plenty of water too. 90% of the world's fresh water is in Antarctica.
The Bacon Eating Atheistic Jew
QUOTE
Israel warns: free soldier or PM dies
Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov
July 01, 2006
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
The unprecedented warning was delivered to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter as Israel debated a deal offered by Hamas to free Corporal Gilad Shalit.
It came as Israeli military officials readied a second invasion force for a huge offensive into Gaza.
Hamas's Gaza-based political leaders, including Mr Haniyeh, had already gone into hiding.
But last night's direct threat to kill Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state, sharply raised the stakes.
The bid to free Corporal Shalit was brokered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who last night warned Hamas it faced severe consequences if it did not curb its "extreme stance" and described the growing conflict as a lightning rod for Palestinian vengeance.
Jerusalem has made no official comment, but Egyptian state media said Israel had found the offer unacceptable. Israel has not spelt out the terms demanded by Hamas, but earlier this week it refused to buy into talk of a prisoner swap.
Thousands of Hamas supporters protested in Gaza City late on Thursday over the arrest by Israeli forces of up to 32 Hamas MPs on the West Bank that day.
A Hamas spokesman said the group would never recognise Israel, in spite of a deal its leaders signed this week offering implicit recognition of the Jewish state in return for easing an economic blockade.
Israeli fighter jets bombed 20 targets in Gaza, including the Interior Ministry, which it said had been used by militants to stage meetings, while artillery hit the northern strip with 500 shells in the 24 hours until yesterday morning.
Jewish settler Eliyahu Asheri, who was murdered by militants this week, was buried on Thursday as leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees pledged to seize more hostages in the West Bank. No further word has emerged about another suspected Jewish hostage, Noach Moskowitz, who Israeli police said was found dead hours after Mr Asheri's remains were found.
Much of Gaza, including two main hospitals, was without power and running water as a UN aid chief warned that the 1.4 million residents of the strip were three days away from a humanitarian crisis.
"They are heading for the abyss unless they get electricity and fuel restored," said emergency relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland, who urged militants to free Corporal Shalit and stop firing rockets into Israel.
Residents complain that sonic booms caused by Israeli jets traumatise children and that shelling confines families to their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed the military will do all it can to avoid civilian deaths if a full-scale assault is launched.
Mr Olmert said the decision to invade northern Gaza had already been delayed to allow Mr Mubarak's negotiations to continue.
The arrested Hamas legislators have been sent to security prisons and many will stand trial on terrorism offences. The detentions have hurt Hamas's already limited ability to govern and are likely to force a regime change.
Israel claims it has intelligence about the area where Corporal Shalit is held, but has been unable to pinpoint the exact location. Mr Olmert said the military would leave the strip if he was unconditionally and safely returned.
Egypt and the neighbouring Arab states of Jordan and Lebanon fear a war between Israel and the Palestinians could lead to uprisings within their own borders, which house many Palestinian refugees.
(all)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...05-2703,00.html
Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov
July 01, 2006
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
The unprecedented warning was delivered to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter as Israel debated a deal offered by Hamas to free Corporal Gilad Shalit.
It came as Israeli military officials readied a second invasion force for a huge offensive into Gaza.
Hamas's Gaza-based political leaders, including Mr Haniyeh, had already gone into hiding.
But last night's direct threat to kill Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state, sharply raised the stakes.
The bid to free Corporal Shalit was brokered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who last night warned Hamas it faced severe consequences if it did not curb its "extreme stance" and described the growing conflict as a lightning rod for Palestinian vengeance.
Jerusalem has made no official comment, but Egyptian state media said Israel had found the offer unacceptable. Israel has not spelt out the terms demanded by Hamas, but earlier this week it refused to buy into talk of a prisoner swap.
Thousands of Hamas supporters protested in Gaza City late on Thursday over the arrest by Israeli forces of up to 32 Hamas MPs on the West Bank that day.
A Hamas spokesman said the group would never recognise Israel, in spite of a deal its leaders signed this week offering implicit recognition of the Jewish state in return for easing an economic blockade.
Israeli fighter jets bombed 20 targets in Gaza, including the Interior Ministry, which it said had been used by militants to stage meetings, while artillery hit the northern strip with 500 shells in the 24 hours until yesterday morning.
Jewish settler Eliyahu Asheri, who was murdered by militants this week, was buried on Thursday as leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees pledged to seize more hostages in the West Bank. No further word has emerged about another suspected Jewish hostage, Noach Moskowitz, who Israeli police said was found dead hours after Mr Asheri's remains were found.
Much of Gaza, including two main hospitals, was without power and running water as a UN aid chief warned that the 1.4 million residents of the strip were three days away from a humanitarian crisis.
"They are heading for the abyss unless they get electricity and fuel restored," said emergency relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland, who urged militants to free Corporal Shalit and stop firing rockets into Israel.
Residents complain that sonic booms caused by Israeli jets traumatise children and that shelling confines families to their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed the military will do all it can to avoid civilian deaths if a full-scale assault is launched.
Mr Olmert said the decision to invade northern Gaza had already been delayed to allow Mr Mubarak's negotiations to continue.
The arrested Hamas legislators have been sent to security prisons and many will stand trial on terrorism offences. The detentions have hurt Hamas's already limited ability to govern and are likely to force a regime change.
Israel claims it has intelligence about the area where Corporal Shalit is held, but has been unable to pinpoint the exact location. Mr Olmert said the military would leave the strip if he was unconditionally and safely returned.
Egypt and the neighbouring Arab states of Jordan and Lebanon fear a war between Israel and the Palestinians could lead to uprisings within their own borders, which house many Palestinian refugees.
(all)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...05-2703,00.html
QUOTE
Israel warns: free soldier or PM dies
Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov
July 01, 2006
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov
July 01, 2006
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
They might as well kill leaders as civilians. If only the leaders would stick to killing each other maybe the rest of the middle east could move on.
QUOTE(judy @ Jun 30 2006, 11:40 AM) [snapback]216938[/snapback]
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PALESTINIAN LAND
Land in the 20th and 21st Century doesn't work like land used to work, when all solid land wasn't claimed on this earth.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, Muslim land, Arab land, Jewish land, Atheist land, Caucasian land, Christian land, etc.
Land is either owned and/or governed. That is it. That is how land works. Land is just dirt, plain and simple.
Yes, the Palestinian region has existed throughout recorded history. Yes, there is a such thing as Arabs who are/were indigenous to the region, as well as Christians and Jews, etc.
But demographics change everywhere. Immigration is not a form of stealing. You can only steal land if it is OWNED.
The percentages of Muslims in the West has climbed in recent years. Nobody is accusing Muslims of stealing Western lands though because they are not.
The region of Palestine was last governed by the British before Israel was created.
Arabs and their mindless supporters tend to forget that it was the Brits who came up with the White Paper which limited Jewish immigration into the British controlled land of Palestine.
[b]
The Arabs, with the exception of the very few who owned land in Israel, have absolutely no claim to Israel. In fact, they have no claim to the West Bank, but it is open to negotiations. Just as Israel was when the Jews were successfully lobbying for it.
Over 90% of the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza were born in the West Bank and Gaza, and have no property in Israel proper. Their grandfathers may have lived there, but so what? I used to live in Toronto, I don't anymore. In fact, in Toronto, the Kensington district used to have a Jewish majority until the late 50's. But the Jews moved to Northern Toronto. Nobody is making a claim that Kensington is Jewish land.
My house and property is not Jewish land. It wouldn't matter if everyone on my street were Jews. Land can be sold. And it can as easily be sold to anyone of any ethnicity.
The only solid earth on the planet today that is not accounted for besides the disputed West Bank is Antarctica which leads me to a solution to Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Looks like a snowy Tel Aviv before it was built in 1909, doesn't it?
The trick is to get the Palestinians to move their. They are easily tricked. Their leaders and especially the leaders of other Arab countries have duped them for years.
I'm not worried that they will read this because every Lefty knows that Palestinians are so hard done by that there is no way they have a computer or internet access, and even if they can get their hands on one, and assuming they don't destroy it, there is no way they can read English because their education has to be next to non-existent thanks to Jooooos not allowing them to have schools.
Back to the plan. Everyone knows that Arabs follow Jews wherever we go. The first thing is to build a small Temple in Antarctica. Then a rumour must be spread. "A lost tribe of Arabs have been found in Antarctica, and they have been living peacefully, but now the Jews have started to force them into the colder regions.
The Jews are planning on settling in Antarctica, the fifth largest continent on this planet, with an eye on New Zealand. And they discovered glaciers filled with oil."
The hard part will be transportation. But I have that covered too. Another rumour that someone has been found to be corrupt at El Al airlines. He is a Jewish airline security guard who feels that the Palestinians have been treated unjustly and wants to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to the Antarctic Arabs. So he smuggling Arabs in the cargo of the planes that fly to Antarctica. Of course, Israel will pay for the Arabs one way trip. It will take time. 200 Arabs crowded in cargo each trip. 15000 one way trips will do the job.
There is no such thing as Palestinian land, but maybe they can successfully lobby for Antarctica once enough of them get there. And they can finally have a Palestinian governed land. Plenty of water too. 90% of the world's fresh water is in Antarctica.[/b]
The Bacon Eating Atheistic Jew
Yes, it was only days ago that an Israel supporter was upset about Palestinian claims that Israel has no right to exist. Yet here we see almost the same claim - that the WB, claimed in war, is open to dispute. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?
BTW, I support a two state solution, as does the government of Israel. Also, I can't stand the Pals, and admire Israel.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
How about the Israelis kill a 1000 militants every day he's held?
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle....&src=rss&rpc=22
Gaza militants demand 1,000 prisoners for Israeli
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian militant factions who captured an Israeli soldier demanded on Saturday that Israel free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and end an assault on Gaza launched to win the soldier's release.
A statement from the groups -- the second since Corporal Gilad Shalit was captured in a raid across Gaza's frontier on Sunday -- appeared to cast doubt on the hopes of mediators that diplomacy could soon get him free.
Israel has said repeatedly that it will not consider releasing prisoners in exchange for the 19-year-old tank gunner. Israeli officials were not available for comment.
"We are declaring to the public our just and humanitarian demands," said the statement faxed to news agencies by the armed wing of the governing Hamas Islamist group, the Popular Resistance Committees and Army of Islam.
It repeated an earlier call to free women prisoners and minors in exchange for information on Shalit -- the group has not said if he is dead or alive -- but also demanded the release of 1,000 "Palestinian, Arab and Muslim prisoners."
It said these would have to include all Palestinian faction leaders as well as humanitarian cases.
"Military Statement Number Two" did not specify that this would be in exchange for Shalit's release. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, said that was what it meant.
The crisis has sent Israeli-Palestinian relations to new lows and piled more pressure on the Hamas Islamist government, already straining under a U.S.-led aid embargo to get it to renounce violence and drop its vow to destroy Israel
Appearing to cast doubt on prospects for mediation, the statement insisted that Israel "end all aggression" in the occupied West Bank as well its operations in Gaza.
How about the Israelis kill a 1000 militants every day he's held?
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle....&src=rss&rpc=22
Gaza militants demand 1,000 prisoners for Israeli
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian militant factions who captured an Israeli soldier demanded on Saturday that Israel free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and end an assault on Gaza launched to win the soldier's release.
A statement from the groups -- the second since Corporal Gilad Shalit was captured in a raid across Gaza's frontier on Sunday -- appeared to cast doubt on the hopes of mediators that diplomacy could soon get him free.
Israel has said repeatedly that it will not consider releasing prisoners in exchange for the 19-year-old tank gunner. Israeli officials were not available for comment.
"We are declaring to the public our just and humanitarian demands," said the statement faxed to news agencies by the armed wing of the governing Hamas Islamist group, the Popular Resistance Committees and Army of Islam.
It repeated an earlier call to free women prisoners and minors in exchange for information on Shalit -- the group has not said if he is dead or alive -- but also demanded the release of 1,000 "Palestinian, Arab and Muslim prisoners."
It said these would have to include all Palestinian faction leaders as well as humanitarian cases.
"Military Statement Number Two" did not specify that this would be in exchange for Shalit's release. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, said that was what it meant.
The crisis has sent Israeli-Palestinian relations to new lows and piled more pressure on the Hamas Islamist government, already straining under a U.S.-led aid embargo to get it to renounce violence and drop its vow to destroy Israel
Appearing to cast doubt on prospects for mediation, the statement insisted that Israel "end all aggression" in the occupied West Bank as well its operations in Gaza.
I pray Corporal Gilad Shalit is still alive and well. Otherwise, I fear a leveling of innocence will soon be seen throughout the Gaza strip. I wonder if those tunnels to Egypt are still open though. These PALs strike me, more and more, as just plain hell-bent on self implosion/destruction. Tickled to see the Syrian's summer get-away cabana getting a few low window rattlers in the process. Might be time to send J. Carter over to pass out some "Duck & Cover" pamphlets.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jun 30 2006, 11:00 PM) [snapback]217062[/snapback]
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
How about the Israelis kill a 1000 militants every day he's held?
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle....&src=rss&rpc=22
Gaza militants demand 1,000 prisoners for Israeli
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian militant factions who captured an Israeli soldier demanded on Saturday that Israel free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and end an assault on Gaza launched to win the soldier's release.
Just goes to show what the Pals think the relative worth of Israelis and Pals are.
QUOTE
"Military Statement Number Two" did not specify that this would be in exchange for Shalit's release. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, said that was what it meant.
Oopsie. Heretofore this was claimed to be an unauthorized operation.
QUOTE
How about the Israelis kill a 1000 militants every day he's held?
Sounds good to me.
The Pal militants have a propensity to hang out in groups in the open. Good targets.
QUOTE(Arturo_Vandelay @ Jul 1 2006, 12:15 AM) [snapback]217068[/snapback]
The Pal militants have a propensity to hang out in groups in the open. Good targets.
I think maybe Israel should send in a team disguised as a CNN crew. Prolly knock off half their "spokesmen" that way.
QUOTE(SpaceCowboy @ Jul 1 2006, 12:19 AM) [snapback]217070[/snapback]
I think maybe Israel should send in a team disguised as a CNN crew. Prolly knock off half their "spokesmen" that way.
QUOTE
Israel’s Reluctant Journey from Hostage Crisis to War Confrontation in Gaza
DEBKAfile Special Report
July 2, 2006, 12:45 AM (GMT+02:00)
The ball landed squarely in the Israeli court Saturday night, July 1, after Cairo admitted its bid to negotiate an end to the Gideon Shalit hostage crisis had ended in fiasco six days after his capture. The IDF, whose armored forces are standing 3 km inside the southern Gaza Strip since Wednesday, June 28, and camped on the fringes of its northern sector, are awaiting their next orders. It is up to prime minister Ehud Olmert to tell the troops how to complete their incursion of the territory and approach their confrontation with Hamas.
He is holding emergency conferences with security and military chiefs Saturday night on whether to approach the inevitable clash at once, or in stages; incrementally, or by a blitz operation entailing the reoccupation of all or most of the Gaza Strip.
Casualties on both sides are unavoidable.
Hamas is gearing up for action. Seven Fatah-al Aqsa Brigades factions have rallied to Hamas and are pledged to fight – not with RPGs or roadside bombs but by hurling themselves bodily against incoming Israeli tanks as martyrs.
The signal for war came Saturday night from Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He was urged by the Egyptians to state that diplomacy had run out of steam in the absence of a Hamas partner for dialogue on the fate of Gideon Shalit.
DEBKAfile’s sources disclose that Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his aides derailed their own mediation effort out of hubris, while Mahmoud Abbas is picking up the pieces in the hope of maneuvering Israel into doing his dirty work and toppling the Hamas regime.
In an interview Friday, June 30, to the Cairo daily al Ahram, Hosni Mubarak boasted he had brokered a deal with Hamas leaders on terms for the Israeli hostage’s release, but accused Israel of rejecting them. This was the reverse of the real situation. Mubarak had no clearance from Hamas before he went public, but Olmert was willing to listen. Egypt’s intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was supposed to travel to Jerusalem Saturday, July 1, to present the deal in detail.
DEBKAfile disclosed those terms that same day:
1. Gilead Shalit will be freed and handed to the IDF.
2. Israel will then pull its troops back from the Gaza Strip.
3. The 87 Hamas leaders Israel detained on the West Bank last Thursday, June 29, will be released.
4. Olmert will give Mubarak his personal guarantee to free groups of Palestinian prisoners at a suitable future opportunity as a gesture of goodwill.
After reading Mubarak’s al Ahram interview, Hamas leaders in Damascus and Gaza blew up. The Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, ordered the special emissary he sent to Cairo last week (as reported earlier by DEBKAfile) to notify the Egyptian president that Hamas utterly disowns his proposals for a hostage deal.
The Israeli corporal’s captors, a coalition of three terrorist groups, thereupon posted their new demand for the release of another 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, on top of the 450 demanded earlier. There was no offer to free Gilead Shalit. This reverse thoroughly confused the situation as presented in the media.
Olmert and Mubarak then found out from their intelligence agencies that Hamas had not let the grass grow under its feet. Taking advantage of the time gained by the hold-up in Israel’s advance into Gaza and Egypt’s mediation bid, Hamas used last week to recruit the seven armed Fatah suicide squads in the Gaza Strip and build a new alliance called “The National General Command of Asifa Palestine.”
The new grouping passed two resolutions.
1. Its members no longer recognize Mahmoud Abbas’s authority.
2. A concerted effort by all the allied factions will be mounted to fight Israeli forces if they deepen their incursion of the Gaza Strip.
Saturday night, July 1, the NGCAP announced its principle weapon would be suicide fighters. Israel military sources believe Fatah will have no difficulty in rounding up large numbers of recruits for a mass suicide assault.
In an effort to save his face, the Egyptian president made Abbas publicly state that night that the failure of Cairo’s mediation bid to free the Israeli hostage was not the fault of Egypt or Israel, but the lack of a responsible Hamas party to address.
DEBKAfile’s Palestinian sources report that Abu Mazen has calculated cynically that Olmert is in a fix: he can hardly keep on dragging out Operation Summer Rain any longer, and he will end up destroying the Hamas government on behalf of the Palestinian leader. This will not of course prevent Abbas from calling on the world to intervene and rescue the innocent Palestinian people from the Israeli armed forces.
Our political sources note that Israel’s leaders fell into the disastrous error of putting their trust in the Egyptian ruler instead of entrusting the IDF with a swift, comprehensive offensive to vanquish Hamas. The result of their dilly-dallying is that Israel is being dragged against its will into a far broader and more costly conflict whose outcome is incalculable against an enemy which has used the time gained to prepare for the fray.
Saturday too the Lebanese Hizballah placed its forces on the ready. Hassan Nasrallah, the terrorist group’s leader, explained that when the IDF attacks Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian organizations in Lebanon will be set loose against Israel’s northern border.
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
DEBKAfile Special Report
July 2, 2006, 12:45 AM (GMT+02:00)
The ball landed squarely in the Israeli court Saturday night, July 1, after Cairo admitted its bid to negotiate an end to the Gideon Shalit hostage crisis had ended in fiasco six days after his capture. The IDF, whose armored forces are standing 3 km inside the southern Gaza Strip since Wednesday, June 28, and camped on the fringes of its northern sector, are awaiting their next orders. It is up to prime minister Ehud Olmert to tell the troops how to complete their incursion of the territory and approach their confrontation with Hamas.
He is holding emergency conferences with security and military chiefs Saturday night on whether to approach the inevitable clash at once, or in stages; incrementally, or by a blitz operation entailing the reoccupation of all or most of the Gaza Strip.
Casualties on both sides are unavoidable.
Hamas is gearing up for action. Seven Fatah-al Aqsa Brigades factions have rallied to Hamas and are pledged to fight – not with RPGs or roadside bombs but by hurling themselves bodily against incoming Israeli tanks as martyrs.
The signal for war came Saturday night from Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He was urged by the Egyptians to state that diplomacy had run out of steam in the absence of a Hamas partner for dialogue on the fate of Gideon Shalit.
DEBKAfile’s sources disclose that Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his aides derailed their own mediation effort out of hubris, while Mahmoud Abbas is picking up the pieces in the hope of maneuvering Israel into doing his dirty work and toppling the Hamas regime.
In an interview Friday, June 30, to the Cairo daily al Ahram, Hosni Mubarak boasted he had brokered a deal with Hamas leaders on terms for the Israeli hostage’s release, but accused Israel of rejecting them. This was the reverse of the real situation. Mubarak had no clearance from Hamas before he went public, but Olmert was willing to listen. Egypt’s intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was supposed to travel to Jerusalem Saturday, July 1, to present the deal in detail.
DEBKAfile disclosed those terms that same day:
1. Gilead Shalit will be freed and handed to the IDF.
2. Israel will then pull its troops back from the Gaza Strip.
3. The 87 Hamas leaders Israel detained on the West Bank last Thursday, June 29, will be released.
4. Olmert will give Mubarak his personal guarantee to free groups of Palestinian prisoners at a suitable future opportunity as a gesture of goodwill.
After reading Mubarak’s al Ahram interview, Hamas leaders in Damascus and Gaza blew up. The Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, ordered the special emissary he sent to Cairo last week (as reported earlier by DEBKAfile) to notify the Egyptian president that Hamas utterly disowns his proposals for a hostage deal.
The Israeli corporal’s captors, a coalition of three terrorist groups, thereupon posted their new demand for the release of another 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, on top of the 450 demanded earlier. There was no offer to free Gilead Shalit. This reverse thoroughly confused the situation as presented in the media.
Olmert and Mubarak then found out from their intelligence agencies that Hamas had not let the grass grow under its feet. Taking advantage of the time gained by the hold-up in Israel’s advance into Gaza and Egypt’s mediation bid, Hamas used last week to recruit the seven armed Fatah suicide squads in the Gaza Strip and build a new alliance called “The National General Command of Asifa Palestine.”
The new grouping passed two resolutions.
1. Its members no longer recognize Mahmoud Abbas’s authority.
2. A concerted effort by all the allied factions will be mounted to fight Israeli forces if they deepen their incursion of the Gaza Strip.
Saturday night, July 1, the NGCAP announced its principle weapon would be suicide fighters. Israel military sources believe Fatah will have no difficulty in rounding up large numbers of recruits for a mass suicide assault.
In an effort to save his face, the Egyptian president made Abbas publicly state that night that the failure of Cairo’s mediation bid to free the Israeli hostage was not the fault of Egypt or Israel, but the lack of a responsible Hamas party to address.
DEBKAfile’s Palestinian sources report that Abu Mazen has calculated cynically that Olmert is in a fix: he can hardly keep on dragging out Operation Summer Rain any longer, and he will end up destroying the Hamas government on behalf of the Palestinian leader. This will not of course prevent Abbas from calling on the world to intervene and rescue the innocent Palestinian people from the Israeli armed forces.
Our political sources note that Israel’s leaders fell into the disastrous error of putting their trust in the Egyptian ruler instead of entrusting the IDF with a swift, comprehensive offensive to vanquish Hamas. The result of their dilly-dallying is that Israel is being dragged against its will into a far broader and more costly conflict whose outcome is incalculable against an enemy which has used the time gained to prepare for the fray.
Saturday too the Lebanese Hizballah placed its forces on the ready. Hassan Nasrallah, the terrorist group’s leader, explained that when the IDF attacks Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian organizations in Lebanon will be set loose against Israel’s northern border.
(all)
http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?
Don't buy it, Space. Israel -wanted- a reason to resort to armed force, and has once again given a handfull of rabid terrorists veto power over peace efforts.
QUOTE(Friend Judy @ Jul 1 2006, 07:16 PM) [snapback]217298[/snapback]
Don't buy it, Space. Israel -wanted- a reason to resort to armed force, and has once again given a handfull of rabid terrorists veto power over peace efforts.
I don't buy that interpretation. I think that Omert has pushed his disengagement plan in hopes of reducing incidents. Perhaps they do want to unseat the Hamas govt, I'll give you that possibility.
YMMV.
If Israel really wanted an excuse they get them all the time. Were it me I'd promise to kill 100 random Palestinians for every Israeli that dies. Hamas doesn't worry about Israeli civilians, why should Israel worry about Palestinian civilians?
QUOTE(Friend Judy @ Jul 1 2006, 07:16 PM) [snapback]217298[/snapback]
Don't buy it, Space. Israel -wanted- a reason to resort to armed force, and has once again given a handfull of rabid terrorists veto power over peace efforts.
Yeah, hey do that poopy all the time. Those Jews are the most agressive mother farkers on earth. The bastiges.
QUOTE(Brian_Lambchops @ Jul 1 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]217305[/snapback]
If Israel really wanted an excuse they get them all the time. Were it me I'd promise to kill 100 random Palestinians for every Israeli that dies. Hamas doesn't worry about Israeli civilians, why should Israel worry about Palestinian civilians?
So you are suggesting the government of Israel descend to the level of terrorists?
That's pretty stupid.
Not quite as stupid as:
QUOTE(Bart Katz @ Jul 1 2006, 09:30 PM) [snapback]217316[/snapback]
Yeah, hey do that poopy all the time. Those Jews are the most agressive mother farkers on earth. The bastiges.
But keep working at it. Maybe you can be as depraved as "hey," whomever that is.
QUOTE(Bee @ Jul 2 2006, 06:49 AM) [snapback]217360[/snapback]
So you are suggesting the government of Israel descend to the level of terrorists?
That's pretty stupid.
I suggest they're at war. The US "decended" to the level of the Germans, Japanese, North Vietnamese, British, Spanish, Mexicans etc when we were at war. We won, then had peace. That's the way it works. You win, then you have peace.
QUOTE(Brian_Lambchops @ Jul 2 2006, 10:31 AM) [snapback]217366[/snapback]
I suggest they're at war. The US "decended" to the level of the Germans, Japanese, North Vietnamese, British, Spanish, Mexicans etc when we were at war. We won, then had peace. That's the way it works. You win, then you have peace.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure even that would work, given the culture of martyrdom over there.
QUOTE(SpaceCowboy @ Jun 30 2006, 05:35 PM) [snapback]216980[/snapback]
Yes, it was only days ago that an Israel supporter was upset about Palestinian claims that Israel has no right to exist. Yet here we see almost the same claim - that the WB, claimed in war, is open to dispute. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?
BTW, I support a two state solution, as does the government of Israel. Also, I can't stand the Pals, and admire Israel.
Everyone conveniently forgets that Medina, Islam's second holiest city, was originally a Jewish "settlement".
QUOTE
The city of Medina, some 280 miles north of Mecca, had originally been settled by Jewish tribes from the north, especially the Banu Nadir and Banu Quraiza. The comparative richness of the town attracted an infiltration of pagan Arabs who came at first as clients of the Jews and ultimately succeeded in dominating them. Medina, or, as it was known before Islam, Yathrib, had no form of stable government at all. The town was tom by the feuds of the rival Arab tribes of Aus and Khazraj, with the Jews maintaining an uneasy balance of power. The latter, engaged mainly in agriculture and handicrafts, were economically and culturally superior to the Arabs, and were consequently disliked.... as soon as the Arabs had attained unity through the agency of Muhammad they attacked and ultimately eliminated the Jews.
Bernard Lewis, Arabs in History Pg. 40Do you think Medina has any Jewish settlements? Or for that matter any Christian settlements? There is no record of Mohammed ever being in Jerusalem, and yet the Palestinians claim the Temple Mount, Judism's most sacred site.
The Prophet Muhammad's pronouncement: "
QUOTE
Two religions may not dwell together on the Arabian Peninsula."
This edict was carried out by Abu Bakr and Omar 1, the Prophet Muhammad's successors; the entire community of Jewish settlements throughout northern Arabia was systematically slaughtered. According to Bernard Lewis, "the extermination of the Jewish tribe of Quraiza was followed by "an attack on the Jewish oasis of Khaibar." 
JUST HOW MUCH MORE LAND DO THE MUSLIMS NEED FROM THE JEWS?
Uh huh. And New York was originally a Dutch settlement. Should the Dutch reclaim it?
QUOTE(Friend Judy @ Jul 2 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]217413[/snapback]
Uh huh. And New York was originally a Dutch settlement. Should the Dutch reclaim it?
Don't forget the Indians.
QUOTE
Government set to discuss provision of electricity to Gaza
By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
In the wake of international pressure, the government was to vote Sunday on a plan to supply electricity from Israel to the Gaza Strip, in order to resume the power supply, which was halted following an Israel Air Force strike on a major Palestinian power station there.
If approved, the Israel Electric Corporation will erect special electrical lines stretching from Israel into Gaza.
Government sources said that Israel had been forced to provide power to Gaza through the Electric Corporation due to American and British pressure. Nevertheless, the move requires special government approval so that work can begin immediately.
The Gaza Strip requires 200 megawatts of electricity, half of which is provided by the power station, and half which is supplied by the Israel Electric Corporation. After the IAF strike, the power station's capacity was cut by half.
United States officials said Saturday that U.S. funds would be used to pay for the damage caused by the strike. The power station was insured by a U.S. government agency, according to The Boston Globe.
The U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministry departments that oversee foreign relations were unaware of the decision to target civilian facilities in the Strip, or the decision to attack the power station. Because of this, officials did not know that the station was insured by a U.S. government agency. Israel did not inform the U.S. prior to attacking the power station.
The power station in Gaza was built over a period of five years, at a cost of $150 million. In 1999, the Enron Corporation, along with Palestinian businessman Said Khoury, began working on the project. In 2000, Khoury's Morganti Group purchased Enron's share of the project.
The power station began operating in 2002, reaching full commercial capacity in 2004. The owners of the power station insured it, through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, for a sum of $48 million due to "political risks." OPIC is a U.S. government authority that insures U.S. investments in developing markets.
A spokesman for the agency said the insurance purchased by the Morganti Group covers instances of political violence, which include wars and acts of terror.
The plant supplies electricity to some 860,000 people.
(all)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/733394.html
By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
In the wake of international pressure, the government was to vote Sunday on a plan to supply electricity from Israel to the Gaza Strip, in order to resume the power supply, which was halted following an Israel Air Force strike on a major Palestinian power station there.
If approved, the Israel Electric Corporation will erect special electrical lines stretching from Israel into Gaza.
Government sources said that Israel had been forced to provide power to Gaza through the Electric Corporation due to American and British pressure. Nevertheless, the move requires special government approval so that work can begin immediately.
The Gaza Strip requires 200 megawatts of electricity, half of which is provided by the power station, and half which is supplied by the Israel Electric Corporation. After the IAF strike, the power station's capacity was cut by half.
United States officials said Saturday that U.S. funds would be used to pay for the damage caused by the strike. The power station was insured by a U.S. government agency, according to The Boston Globe.
The U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministry departments that oversee foreign relations were unaware of the decision to target civilian facilities in the Strip, or the decision to attack the power station. Because of this, officials did not know that the station was insured by a U.S. government agency. Israel did not inform the U.S. prior to attacking the power station.
The power station in Gaza was built over a period of five years, at a cost of $150 million. In 1999, the Enron Corporation, along with Palestinian businessman Said Khoury, began working on the project. In 2000, Khoury's Morganti Group purchased Enron's share of the project.
The power station began operating in 2002, reaching full commercial capacity in 2004. The owners of the power station insured it, through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, for a sum of $48 million due to "political risks." OPIC is a U.S. government authority that insures U.S. investments in developing markets.
A spokesman for the agency said the insurance purchased by the Morganti Group covers instances of political violence, which include wars and acts of terror.
The plant supplies electricity to some 860,000 people.
(all)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/733394.html
Small world.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid...rticle/ShowFull
Israel has not ruled out the possibility of releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Hamas legislator Salah al-Bardaweel said on Sunday.
But Bardaweel's comments stand in stark contrast to the unequivocal comments made Sunday in the weekly cabinet meeting by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Dan Halutz, and head of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, who all said that Israel would not release prisoners for Shalit because this would only encourage more and more kidnapping attempts.
<li> Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing, Izaddin al-Kassam, on Sunday threatened to attack infrastructure facilities inside Israel, including schools, hospitals and universities. The threat, the first of its kind since Hamas won the parliamentary election last January, was issued in response to continued Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip.
"If they continue with these attacks, we will strike at targets in Zionist territory that we have not struck until now," said the organization's spokesman.
The latest threat came as Egypt continued its efforts to resolve the crisis.
It also came as sources in the Gaza Strip revealed that the Palestinian Authority's security forces had, for the first time, begun searching for Shalit in Rafah and Khan Yunis.
The sources said that members of the Preventative Security Service and the General Intelligence Force had secretly deployed hundreds of their men in the streets to try to track down the whereabouts of the solider. They added that some of the security officers had been disguised as Fatah and Hamas militiamen.
Israel has not ruled out the possibility of releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Hamas legislator Salah al-Bardaweel said on Sunday.
But Bardaweel's comments stand in stark contrast to the unequivocal comments made Sunday in the weekly cabinet meeting by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Dan Halutz, and head of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, who all said that Israel would not release prisoners for Shalit because this would only encourage more and more kidnapping attempts.
<li> Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing, Izaddin al-Kassam, on Sunday threatened to attack infrastructure facilities inside Israel, including schools, hospitals and universities. The threat, the first of its kind since Hamas won the parliamentary election last January, was issued in response to continued Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip.
"If they continue with these attacks, we will strike at targets in Zionist territory that we have not struck until now," said the organization's spokesman.
The latest threat came as Egypt continued its efforts to resolve the crisis.
It also came as sources in the Gaza Strip revealed that the Palestinian Authority's security forces had, for the first time, begun searching for Shalit in Rafah and Khan Yunis.
The sources said that members of the Preventative Security Service and the General Intelligence Force had secretly deployed hundreds of their men in the streets to try to track down the whereabouts of the solider. They added that some of the security officers had been disguised as Fatah and Hamas militiamen.
QUOTE(Brian_Lambchops @ Jul 2 2006, 11:31 AM) [snapback]217366[/snapback]
I suggest they're at war. The US "decended" to the level of the Germans, Japanese, North Vietnamese, British, Spanish, Mexicans etc when we were at war. We won, then had peace. That's the way it works. You win, then you have peace.
That isn't true. We have a rather famous history of treating our prisoners of war far more decently than our enemies did.
To say different is a slap in the face to our history and our military starting with General George Washington.
One of the ways that we have always "won" is by never becoming the enemy.
That would be losing, not winning. Isrrael would do well to emulate that standard.
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