Posted on 06/28/2006 9:58:19 PM PDT by Moose Dung
Israel has expanded its military operation against the Hamas-led government in the Palestinian Authority by embarking on mass arrests of senior Hamas officials before dawn Thursday.
Israel Defense Forces troops launched early Thursday a major arrest operation against Hamas officials, detaining 64 of the ruling militant group's ministers and parliamentarians in the West Bank and 23 military operatives.
The arrests took place in Ramallah, Qalqilyah, Hebron, Jenin and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian reports. Soldiers carried arrest warrants signed by judges that were issued following cooperative preparatory work by the state prosecution and police.
A Hamas official called the arrests an "open war against the Palestinian government and people," and said that Israel must be prepared to pay their consequences.
Included among those arrested were Finance Minister Omar Abdel Razek, Minister Samir Abu Aysha, Jerusalem Affairs Ministers Khaled Abu Arfeh and Naef Rajoub, brother of senior Palestinian minister Jibril Rajoub.
In Ramallah, troops arrested at least two cabinet ministers and four lawmakers, all from Hamas, in a raid on a complex of buildings, Palestinian security officials said.
Earlier reports that deputy prime minister Nasser a-Shaer was arrested were later proven incorrect.
Labor Minister Mohammed Barghouti was stopped on his way to his village, Kabur, just north of Ramallah. Military jeeps stopped his car, ordered him out of the vehicle and took him away, the officials said.
In East Jerusalem, lawmakers Mohammed Abu Tir, Wael al-Husseini and Ahmed a-Tun were arrested.
Also, the Hamas mayor of the West Bank town of Qalqilyah and his deputy were detained, security officials said.
An IDF spokeswoman said troops had carried out an operation in Ramallah but declined to give details, saying the military operation was still underway.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
dung.
Yup. they could use an extended vacation.
Hope they squeeze the truth from these filthy vermin.
Instead of Cabinet meetings, they'll hold cell-block meetings.
BBC will claim this will now lead to another (drum roll please........) HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.
The differences between Israel and the U.S. are political correctness and national unity in times of war.
Too bad Israel revoked the death penalty.
bttt
Gitmo is too nice for these vermin. Parchute them onto Antartica.
Tony...the only "innocent civilian" killed, is an 18 yr old Israeli Yeshiva student. And all I hear is crickets...
Israel is widely hated in the Arab world, so this lesson should teach them fear.
Example #43,598 of "Why You Shouldn't Screw with Israel"
I concur.
This will surely bring peace. Not!
Could the Palestinians be any stupider? 89 to 1? Amazing.
Weren't there any martyr's in this group of 89? Nope, that is only for 15 year old Saudi's. The only group stupider.
This is very bad. Unless Israel has specific intelligence to show these folks were involved in the abduction, this should be illegal and Israel should face international sanctions. I would've thought Israelis would no better than to engage in such mass arrests. It would seem both sides want all out war.
Hang one of these jerks every 1/2 hour until the soldier is released.
If the soldier is harmed, bulldoze Gaza strip and dump the 'Palestinians' in Syria.
F the world reaction. Enough is enough.
From Sept. 29, 2000 to June 27, 2006:
Israeli Dead: 1013
Palestinian Dead: 3969
That's a 4:1 ratio. It's unconscionable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.