Palestinians brace for Israeli invasion

ap ^ | 6/27/06 | ap

[Flavius]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian bulldozers on Tuesday blocked roads in northern Gaza with sand piles, bracing for an Israeli invasion after the recent abduction of an Israeli soldier. ADVERTISEMENT

The bulldozers, operated by Palestinian militant groups, left small spaces in the sand piles to allow cars to pass slowly.

"We are ready to confront any stupid act that the Zionists might commit," said Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' military wing. "We are well-prepared and God willing, we are not going to welcome them with flowers."

Separately, the Islamic Jihad militant group called for a general mobilization of its fighters "in anticipation for the looming Zionist aggression." The group is believed to have several thousands armed members.

Israel has massed troops along the border following Sunday's abduction of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was seized by militants who infiltrated Israel through a tunnel.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert threatened to carry out a "broad and ongoing" offensive into Gaza. Israel has sent ground troops into Gaza just three times — all for brief periods — since pulling out of Gaza last September.

Palestinian militants released a statement Monday demanding the release of all female prisoners and Palestinian minors being held by Israel in exchange for information about Shalit.

Olmert has ruled out negotiations with militants and demanded Shalit's unconditional release.

Meanwhile, Israeli police said they were taking seriously reports that a Jewish settler was abducted by Palestinian militants in the West Bank.

Israel Radio quoted the man's relatives as saying he did not return home on Monday night. The report said the man had been hitchhiking.

In the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees claimed his group had abducted the settler. The PRC was involved in Shalit's abduction.

[Kenton]

Leave it to the Palisimians... starving to death, split into armed factions, no money to pay their security forces or garbagemen because they've elected a party of genocide to lead their "nation"... leave it to them to find a way to make their miserable lives even worse...

Hamas was boasting yesterday that they had developed chemical weapons to use against Israel if the IDF moves in to Gaza. And absent of anything short of an unharmed, unconditional return of the Israeli hostage, the Israelis are going in for sure.

I would imagine that the Israeli response to the use of chemical weapons would be downright apocalyptic.

[Gefreiter]

"...blocked roads in northern Gaza with sand piles..."

Well, you work with what you have, I guess.

[Flavius]

[goldstategop]

The PRC is an offshoot of Fatah. Fatah has been involved in more terrorism against Israel and in more murders of Jews than Hamas. And yet Israel clings to the puerile fantasy the PA is headed by a moderate. There is no difference of view on Israel's eventual fate between Abbas and Haniyeh than who should gets to rule over the spoils first. Both are terrorists. That is a statement of fact seemingly beyond the ability of the Jewish State's leaders with their tiny minds to comprehend.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[Gefreiter]

Um...yeeeahhh...sandy speedbumps. I'm skeptical.

But if it makes you feel like you're doing something, go for it.

[ZinGirl]

"We are well-prepared and God willing, we are not going to welcome them with flowers."

these people are so weird.

[Kenton]

"We are well-prepared and God willing, we are not going to welcome them with flowers."

They are not coming with watering cans...

[Proud_USA_Republican]

inbred savages. I hope Israel levels the place.