Posted on 06/30/2006 12:47:33 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
The unprecedented warning was delivered to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter as Israel debated a deal offered by Hamas to free Corporal Gilad Shalit.
It came as Israeli military officials readied a second invasion force for a huge offensive into Gaza.
Hamas's Gaza-based political leaders, including Mr Haniyeh, had already gone into hiding.
But last night's direct threat to kill Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state, sharply raised the stakes.
The bid to free Corporal Shalit was brokered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who last night warned Hamas it faced severe consequences if it did not curb its "extreme stance" and described the growing conflict as a lightning rod for Palestinian vengeance.
Jerusalem has made no official comment, but Egyptian state media said Israel had found the offer unacceptable. Israel has not spelt out the terms demanded by Hamas, but earlier this week it refused to buy into talk of a prisoner swap.
Thousands of Hamas supporters protested in Gaza City late on Thursday over the arrest by Israeli forces of up to 32 Hamas MPs on the West Bank that day.
A Hamas spokesman said the group would never recognise Israel, in spite of a deal its leaders signed this week offering implicit recognition of the Jewish state in return for easing an economic blockade.
Israeli fighter jets bombed 20 targets in Gaza, including the Interior Ministry, which it said had been used by militants to stage meetings, while artillery hit the northern strip with 500 shells in the 24 hours until yesterday morning.
Jewish settler Eliyahu Asheri, who was murdered by militants this week, was buried on Thursday as leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees pledged to seize more hostages in the West Bank. No further word has emerged about another suspected Jewish hostage, Noach Moskowitz, who Israeli police said was found dead hours after Mr Asheri's remains were found.
Much of Gaza, including two main hospitals, was without power and running water as a UN aid chief warned that the 1.4 million residents of the strip were three days away from a humanitarian crisis.
"They are heading for the abyss unless they get electricity and fuel restored," said emergency relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland, who urged militants to free Corporal Shalit and stop firing rockets into Israel.
Residents complain that sonic booms caused by Israeli jets traumatise children and that shelling confines families to their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed the military will do all it can to avoid civilian deaths if a full-scale assault is launched.
Mr Olmert said the decision to invade northern Gaza had already been delayed to allow Mr Mubarak's negotiations to continue.
The arrested Hamas legislators have been sent to security prisons and many will stand trial on terrorism offences. The detentions have hurt Hamas's already limited ability to govern and are likely to force a regime change.
Israel claims it has intelligence about the area where Corporal Shalit is held, but has been unable to pinpoint the exact location. Mr Olmert said the military would leave the strip if he was unconditionally and safely returned.
Egypt and the neighbouring Arab states of Jordan and Lebanon fear a war between Israel and the Palestinians could lead to uprisings within their own borders, which house many Palestinian refugees.
Gee, when you elect terrorists to run your government, sh^& happens.....
"Hamas's Gaza-based political leaders, including Mr Haniyeh, had already gone into hiding."
Proving once again they are COWARDS, unworthy of any dignity or respect.
High Stakes Poker
We'll soon see who blinks first.
Of course, dressing the li'l terrorists up as suicide bombers and taking them to an AK47- shooting street demonstration does not traumatize them at all!/s
Yeah, why can't they stand out on Main Street, Gaza, with pearl-handle revolvers, shooting at Israeli jets?
So was Hitler.
Show our government how it's done.
"Much of Gaza, including two main hospitals, was without power and running water as a UN aid chief warned that the 1.4 million residents of the strip were three days away from a humanitarian crisis."
Funny this...
But the term "Tough S**t" comes to mind when I read this...
You reap what you sow...
Pali's had the chance to organize thier own, free government, and instead chose a frenzy of killing and death.....
THEY are thier own worst enemies, and haven't missed a chance to be on the WRONG SIDE of every conflict sinnce Attaturk..............
Everyone has a line... at least those with a sense of self respect, and a strong sense of responsibility towards the protection of their nation and people. Clearly, that line was crossed, the "last straw" had dropped. Israel is no longer going to accept a constant state of terrorism. The PA had better realize that their very lives depend on rethinking their entire world view. Unless they do, a regional war will be the result, and they will be the losers.
Yes I think they already are... but most are too busy circling the wagons with the Times
Just do it.
...actually, why not a forced circumcision by a blind mohel using a rusty table knife, broadcast live of course, with a star of david flag in the background and yarmulka-wearing Israelis firing their UZIs into the air?
The Pallies had a golden opportunity to show the world that they were ready to have their own state, but they have blown it...big time.
They are already screaming genocide on DU! They disgust me. The Palestinians can do as much killing as they want blowing up bus loads of Iraeli citizens and not a peep out of them. But the minute Israel wants to take some action to protect one of their own they are genocidal maniacs! All they do is side with terrorists over and over again!
Rut-Row.
You think this is true? Haven't heard this anywhere else. Can't say I agree with this one.
Do you think it's dawned on the Palestinians that the only reason they are still alive is because Israel has decided not to kill them yet?
gonna go ????
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