IDF to remain in Gaza indefinitely (Until Qassam rocket threat eliminated)

Ma'ariv International ^ | 1 October 2004 | Amir Buhbut

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IDF to remain in Gaza indefinitely

CoS Ye'elon: We will not withdraw until the Kassam threat to Sderot has been eliminated. Plans to call up reserve units shelved for now.

Amir Buhbut

CoS Lt. Gen. Ye'elon

IDF CoS Lt. General Moshe (Boogie) Ye'elon has said that the IDF will remain in Gaza for as long as is neccessary. "Operation Days of Penitence was launched in oder to put an end to the Kassam menace, which has become intolerable, and until this is achieved IDF forces will not leave Gaza".

Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that the IDF was not out to exact revenge for the two girls killed by a Kassam rocket in Sderot on Wednesday, but to make sure such an incident is not repeated. "Our job is not to kill Palestinian civilians, but to ensure ours can sleep safely and go about their lives without having to constantly fear when the next rocket will hit them", he said.

On Thursday the IDF began a phased invasion of the northern areas of the Gaza Strip. The operation, codenamed "Days of Penitence"", was launched following the cabinet's decision to order the IDF to undertake a major operation aimed at stopping the incessant Kassam barrages on Sderot, following Wednesday's attack in which two children were killed.

Armor and infantry units have been transfered from Judea and Samaria to Gaza. Earlier Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the government may authorize an emergency call up of reserve units, if the IDF General Staff deems it neccessary, indicating that a major operation on the scale of Defense Wall is in the offing. No time limits have been set, and IDF troops will remain in Gaza as long as is required, despite the risk of conflict in densely populated bult up areas.

Infantry forces backed by armor have entered the towns of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Jebalya. IAF helicopted gunships are maintaining a constant air patrol over the operational zone. Troops have been ordered to "shoot to kill" every armed Palestinian they encounter.

The forces will remain in these areas until it is clear the Kassam menace has be rooted out. A senior IDF commander said “we will remain as long as necessary to stop the Kassams”. He added the operation had no time frame, but would be limited to “areas serving as Kassam launch bases”.

Residents of Beit Hanoun have already begun to take action against the Palesti nian Kassam squads, in order to prevent their town from being used as a launching site for Kassam rockets.

The current schwerpunkt of the operation is Jebalaya, a large and densely populated slum, and a hotbed of terrorism. Most of its residents are second and third generation refugees (of the 1948 War of Independence), who have been forced to remain refugees by the Arab world, which has refused to allow them to resettle in any Arab country.

(2004-09-29 00:30:14.0)

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The current schwerpunkt of the operation is Jebalaya, a large and densely populated slum, and a hotbed of terrorism. Most of its residents are second and third generation refugees (of the 1948 War of Independence), who have been forced to remain refugees by the Arab world, which has refused to allow them to resettle in any Arab country.

That includes Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority. The PA and the Arabs let their own people suffer so that they can breed terrorists to use against Israel and to use for political purposes.