Posted on 01/02/2006 11:09:49 AM PST by SmithL
The recent rampages of gunmen in the Gaza Strip - in which some Palestinian policemen who engage in criminal activity have been involved - are very worrisome. Over the weekend Palestinian police threatened and drove away European Union observers who sought to carry out their duties at the Palestinian-Egyptian border crossing at Rafah. The kidnapping of foreigners who have come to the Gaza Strip to help the Palestinians has become routine. The loss of a sense of safety first of all harms the civilian Palestinian population, casts a heavy shadow on the Palestinian Authority, and raises grave doubts about its ability to rule, to develop a civilian society and to establish a state.
Meanwhile Qassam rockets continue to be fired at Israeli communities and targets. Islamic Jihad claims it will stop adhering to the internal Palestinian agreement not to launch attacks on Israel. Since that truce was achieved, with Egypt's help, this organizations has carried out five suicide attacks in Israel, killing and injuring many Israelis. In addition, the organization has been responsible for launching numerous Qassam rockets. Those operating the launchers are trying, among other things, to hit Ashkelon and especially strategic targets like the main power station or desalination plants.
Certain government officials have already suggested cutting electricity to the Gaza Strip to plunge thousands of homes into darkness, to prove that Israel means business.
It is hard to expect a sovereign state to put up with Qassam rocket fire without striking back. The feeling in the Israel Defense Forces' top command and in the cabinet is that circumstances are dragging Israel into increasingly drastic reactions. Clearly there is no desire to reoccupy territories in the Gaza Strip, which Israel evacuated after many years of occupation. Israel has also refrained from operating massive ground forces in the Strip.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
FYI
Geeeengis Kahn didn't have all this trouble when the battles were over, what's up with that?
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