Right on!
Posted on 06/29/2006 6:02:25 PM PDT by Flavius
SRAEL arrested Hamas ministers and sent another column of tanks into the Gaza Strip yesterday as it desperately searched for a soldier abducted by Palestinian militants. Info-Graphic | Enlarge Map
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There are fears the worst hostilities since Hamas took office in March threaten to spread into a regional conflict.
Warplanes fired missiles and artillery pounded open areas in the Gaza Strip throughout the day in an effort to recover Cpl Gilad Shalit, 19, who has been held for five days.
Further raising tensions, the Israeli army found the body of Eliyahu Asheri, 18, a Jewish settler shot by militants who had threatened to kill him if Israel did not halt its invasion of Gaza.
His father, Yitro Asheri, from Adelaide, converted to Judaism 20 years ago and moved to Israel.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer last night condemned the terrorists' barbarism and offered the Federal Government's sympathy to Mr Asheri's family both in Israel and Australia.
Israel -- in a signal to Syria, which is home to exiled militant leaders of Hamas -- sent four fighter jets roaring low over the residence of President Bashar al-Assad before dawn.
Syria called the flyover a provocation and UN chief Kofi Annan called for restraint.
At least 30 tanks rolled into the northern Gaza Strip, where militants claimed they had fired a rocket tipped with a chemical warhead at Israel.
But an Israeli military spokeswoman said the army had not detected any such rocket.
Hamas Deputy Speaker Ahmed Bahar said the arrest of 30 ministers and lawmakers in the West Bank represented "an open war against the Government, the people and Palestinian legitimacy".
Among those reportedly detained were the Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer.
About 750,000 Palestinians were left without electricity and many lacked running water after an air strike on the territory's only power station cut the electricity supply and crippled water pumps.
Engineers said repairs could take six months.
In southern Gaza, where Cpl Shalit is believed to be held, Israeli forces moved into a disused airport near Rafah and set up an observation post as scores of Palestinians fled nearby homes.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that Israel would "not hesitate to take extreme steps" to recover the soldier.
"We decided to use extreme means to bring Gilad home and we have no intention of reoccupying the Gaza Strip," he said.
The shelling and the air strikes that knocked out power and destroyed bridges on main roads appeared to be an attempt to create public pressure on the kidnappers to release the soldier.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the bombardment of civilian infrastructure a "crime against humanity."
But Mr Olmert said Israel did not want to harm civilians and was acting solely to bring the captive soldier home.
Army radio reported a meeting to prepare for a summit between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas had been cancelled.
In Washington, a White House spokesman said Israel had the right to defend itself and its citizens, but also urged restraint.
Across Gaza there was sympathy for the militants, who demand the release of nearly 500 Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli jails in exchange for Cpl Shalit.
Time and again, Palestinians invoked the killing this month of eight Palestinian picnickers during Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza coast.
An Israeli military investigation cleared the military, but its finding is in dispute.
I'm not afraid. The catz aren't afraid. Israel isn't afraid, Bolivia isn't afraid, Montenegro isn't afraid(of Israel).... Who? exactly, has fears?
/johnny
Time and again, Palestinians invoked the killing this month of eight Palestinian picnickers during Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza coast.
I thought Hamas explosives killed the picnickers.
Passive voice. So much for active voice and facts...... Buncha loser lyin' passive voice pr!Cks.
/johnny
That can't be comforting. Maybe Israel has decided to take advantage of a historic strategic situation and rid themselves of these parasites while the US is in theatre in force and has a President with a spine. That has never been the case in any past time.
Liberals and the U.N. have fears.
Palis have fears.
Hamas leaders have fears
Syria has fears.
All the correct people have fears. ;)
Mexico doesn't have fear.
Canada doesn't have fear.
Jimmy, down at the local feed store doesn't have fear.
I can't tell about the NYT, or Washington Pest, or Ft. Worth Startlegram.
But I am detecting a pattern.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a rocket scientist. I'm a Freeping Cook.
/johnny
A journalist's fiction. There will be no regional war foremostly because Egypt fears it could end up with Gaza again.
Egypt has fears!
Go get 'em, Israel! Take 'em DOWN.
Things are gonna get pretty stinky real quick.
Palestine is about to find out what happens when you bring a knife to a gunfight.
Stupid bastids just wouldnt stop asking for it.
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