Israel threatens Gaza offensive 'within hours'

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 7/16/05 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel could launch a ground offensive in the occupied Gaza Strip "within hours" unless the Palestinian Authority cracks down on Islamic militants there, a senior government official was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Israel Radio quoted Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim as saying tanks and troops that massed near Gaza over the weekend would begin a sweep of the coastal strip "within hours" if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas failed to meet the crackdown demand.

Abbas urged Hamas and kindred Islamic militants on Saturday to halt attacks on Israel and return to a ceasefire seen as key to securing an orderly Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as planned next month. He also blamed Israel for the truce's near collapse.

The Palestinian president's appeals came amid escalating violence and vows of revenge by Hamas over the killing of seven of its gunmen in Israeli strikes.

Calm in Gaza is seen as key to securing an orderly Israeli withdrawal from the territory next month as planned.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who ordered military actions against militants stepped up after a Palestinian suicide bombing and a rocket attack killed six Israelis last week, has vowed not to withdraw from Gaza under fire.

Israeli officials have said the army might carry out wide-scale raids and reoccupy Palestinian areas near the 21 Jewish settlements to be evacuated.

[Frank_2001]

Go get 'em, Israel!

[NormsRevenge]

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (C) attends Friday prayers in Gaza Mosque July 15, 2005. Israeli helicopters pounded targets in Gaza on July 15 after a deadly Palestinian rocket attack that sparked fierce internal fighting between militants and Palestinian police trying to stop further barrages. The Israeli air raids, the most intensive since a ceasefire was declared five months ago, caused no casualties, but two Palestinian bystanders were killed in the heaviest gunbattles in years between Palestinian security forces and Hamas fighters. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters)

[NormsRevenge]

Palestinians run away as a Palestinian police armoured personnel carrier burns during a gun battle between the Hamas Movement and the Palestinian police in Gaza City July 15, 2005. Israeli helicopters pounded targets in Gaza on July 15 after a deadly Palestinian rocket attack that sparked fierce internal fighting between militants and Palestinian police trying to stop further barrages. The Israeli air raids, the most intensive since a ceasefire was declared five months ago, caused no casualties, but two Palestinian bystanders were killed in the heaviest gunbattles in years between Palestinian security forces and Hamas fighters. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters)

[NormsRevenge]

fyi

[ncountylee]

Target Coordinates:

Latitude: 31° 30' North

Longitude: 34° 28' East

Designation: Free Fire Zone

[Codename - Ron Benjamin]

For full imagery impact they'd should be sitting on their hands.

[processing please hold]

Send 'em to hell Israel.

[tet68]

They should just drive them ALL from Gaza!

[Westlander]

Jimmah Carter needs to talk to these folks.

[SmithL]

Within Hours?

I shall expect good news when I get up in the morning.

[zerosix]

Precisely. Palestinian terrorists (Yassir Arafat and the boys) don't want peace - they want "Death to Israel."

Sharon and his backers are using clear logic in proving it to the world. Israeli soldiers forcibly removing settlers from Gaza, no matter how many Israeli citizens might get hurt, withdrawing to Israels acceptable (to the UN) boundaries, will not give the terrorists what they have been demanding since the 1967 War.

Militant Islamists want every Israeli gone, preferably dead.

[sheik yerbouty]

The IDF should smite the jihadists wherever they are to be found..

[lilylangtree]

For Pete's sake, don't threaten. Just do it without warning. Salute IDF!

[Now_is_The_Time]

Abbas urged Hamas and kindred Islamic militants on Saturday to halt attacks on Israel and return to a ceasefire seen as key to securing an orderly Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as planned next month. He also blamed Israel for the truce's near collapse.

What did the two-faced terrorist liar say out of the other side of his mouth? I pray the Israelis figure out soon that you can never to trust these Arab slime.

[claudiustg]

If the PA can't control Palestinians within the confines of Gaza, how can they be expected to control them in the wider area of the West Bank? Sharon has given the clearest possible demonstration of the intractability of the foe and of the PA's inability to govern.

[Honestfreedom]

Pleasant dreams but these days Sharon is more windbag than anything. You are just as likely to wake up and read that Sharon is handing over more areas to Abbas or freeing more murderers.

[claudiustg]

Tell that to Rantissi and Yassin!

[hipaatwo]

5.....4.....3.....2.....1