Morale Remains High as Hizbullah Begins to Crumble

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews ^ | 7/31/6 | Yechiel Spira

[SmithL]

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains firm in his position, to continue Operation Change of Direction, intended to minimize the Hizbullah threat to Israel.

While agreeing to a 48-hour halt of aerial strikes, Olmert continues to exhibit an external calm, aware he enjoys broad cabinet support as well as overwhelming national support for the ongoing military effort.

Hizbullah continues to pound Israeli civilian population centers with rockets, but according to intelligence community reports and senior military commanders, the terror organization is beginning to show signs of weakening, signs that the constant IAF aerial bombardment of Hizbullah positions is taking its toll on the Syrian-Iranian backed insurgent army.

According to veteran northern correspondent Menachem Horowitz, who was a major voice of information during Israel’s presence in the Security Zone, dozens of Kiryat Shmona families began heading home yesterday, Sunday, realizing they have exhausted all alternative living possibilities, now bracing to endure the remainder of the war at home, on the frontline.

Sunday was one of the heaviest days since the war began some three weeks ago. While a number of people sustained moderate and light injuries, and dozens requiring treatment for hysteria, the miracles are continuing. Property damage is significant, estimated at NIS 50 million in Haifa alone, but the loss of life has been relatively low, primarily due to residents adhering to IDF Homefront Command instructions as well as the reality that many residents have opted to travel south, to leave rocket-struck areas.

Opponents to the counter-terror military operation are small in number. While daily demonstrations against the operation are held, mostly amounting to no more than several tens of participants, most of the country remains firmly behind the cabinet decision and the counter-terrorism effort. To date, only one soldier has refused to enlist, a reserve duty captain. Military officials report that many reservists who may not necessarily report to annual reserve duty are doing so now. Volunteers continue to report to their respective reserve duty stations, requesting to join the effort to eliminate the terror threat along Israel’s northern border, a threat that retired IDF Northern District Commander Major-General Yossi Peled blames on the governments which turned a blind eye to the ongoing Hizbullah preparedness during the past six years, since Israel unilateral withdrew from the former southern Lebanon security zone, under the administration of then Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Peled during a recent television interview stated there are politicians who must “be held accountable,” to answer the “difficult questions,” primarily, where were they while Hizbullah was arming itself and preparing for the next war while Jerusalem looked on?

While much of the international community was in an uproar following the IDF aerial assault on Kafr Qana Sunday, resulting in the deaths of tens of civilians, the United States is remaining firmly behind Israel and the ongoing anti-Hizbullah offensive, realizing the link between the current operation and the war against global Jihad and growing global Islamic fundamentalism. US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice issued a cautious warning to Israel following the Qana incident, but even while holding talks towards implementing a ceasefire, the White House is not demanding an immediate halt of the IDF offensive at this time.

A number of senior military commanders have explained that this battle is nothing less than a fight for Israel’s survival, a sentiment apparently shared by most of the citizens. The “homefront” according to General Staff officers has been “exemplary,” commending the approximately 2 million Israelis whose homes, schools, businesses and lives have been under constant Katyusha threat for some three weeks, but citizens remain optimistic and supportive in calls for the continuation of the operation to eliminate the Hizbullah threat.

Military and political analysts predict Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has only a limited window of opportunity left during which the IDF must accomplish its goal, signaling that in the next week-to-two, America will pressure Jerusalem to halt the offensive.

Olmert on the other hand continues to demand the unconditional and immediate release of three IDF soldiers being held by Hizbullah and Hamas as a prerequisite to any ceasefire, as well as Lebanese implementation of United Nations Resolution 1559, demanding the deployment of Lebanese army forces along Israel’s northern border as well as disarming Hizbullah gunmen.

Some analysts also point out that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has been conspicuously quiet during this time period, while prior to the start of the offensive, he did not miss an opportunity to boast his unilateral action which extricated IDF soldiers from southern Lebanon in May 2000.

Critics warned that his unilateral action would lead to the very situation that exists today, similar to warnings heard last summer when then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon destroyed the Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Samaria. The so-called “doomsday prophets” were shunned aside by supporters of the Disengagement Plan, including prominent politicians such as Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who today is a vocal proponent of Olmert’s military action, not addressing his remarks of last summer in which he was unwilling to heed warnings that the unilateral retreat from Gaza will result in rocket attacks in Sderot, Ashkelon and other areas, as is the case today.

[Rummyfan]

Pound those murdering animals into dust!!!!

[Concho]

Each and every last one of them.

[Ouderkirk]

the IDF aerial assault on Kafr Qana Sunday, resulting in the deaths of tens of civilians terrorists, soon-to-be terrorists, and progenitors of soon-to-be-terrorists

[pissant]

Bush is letting Ohlmert have free reign. Ohlmert better be sending over some top notch Bagels and hummus to the Prez. ;o)

[Uncledave]

Keep it up, IDF!!!

[Paradox]

Spock said "Only Nixon could go to China."

Maybe its the case that only a lefty Israeli PM could crush Lezbolla...

[MikeA]

Syrian-Iranian backed insurgent army

Here we go with the media's bland application of the label "insurgent" to describe terrorists again.

I'm glad to hear Hezbollah is weakening, but this could have and should have been done much faster with ground forces. I just don't trust Olmert. He's a lawyer and a politician micro-managing and over-ruling the IDF. He has no military background apparently. This worries me.

[calljack]

Bush is letting Ohlmert have free reign. Ohlmert better be sending over some top notch Bagels and hummus to the Prez. ;o)

Our history with the last president makes it unlikely that there will be any Hummus delivered in the White House.

[fish hawk]

There are no innocent!

[OPS4]

We are an outlet for the truth, right here at Freerepublic. It will be up to us to begin linking more to posts like this so people can get the whole story.

We are going to have to get to work as Freepers.
Chat rooms, forums, create our Blogs and link back here,
etc. We need to do this for the next election cycle and the war on terror.
Ops4

[paul51]

Keep at it Israel until the swamp is drained.

[goldstategop]

Little Ehud Barak, who thrust Israel into a position of extreme danger, should shut up and go away. He learned nothing from his mistake, for which Israel's boys are having to pay a high price to rectify.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

[Southack]

Dude...Olmert served and was *severely* wounded in 1973.

[pissant]

Can you splain?

[DoughtyOne]

The morale should remain high with the butt kissing and knob polishing Hezbollah is getting from the Western media.

[calljack]

Play on words

Hummus

Hummers

ect...

[DoughtyOne]

Perhpas the article was talking about Israeli morale... oh well.

[garyhope]

Hiz Bull S**t will, like all Islamofascist and Muslims, will never give up until you kill them all D-E-A-D.

"Kill em all, Allah can sort them out".

Works for me.

[pissant]

it went over me head....