Posted on 07/04/2006 9:38:46 AM PDT by LibWhacker
GAZA (Reuters) - Israel warned the governing Palestinian faction Hamas that the "sky will fall on them" if they harm a captured soldier after a deadline passed on Tuesday for the Jewish state to accept a prisoner exchange.
While Israeli tanks and infantry massed along the Gaza Strip's northern border for a threatened ground incursion, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the campaign to free Corporal Gilad Shalit could turn into "a long war."
Three Palestinian factions, among them the Hamas armed wing, pulled out of negotiations with Egyptian mediators trying to end the standoff over Shalit, a Hamas political leader said.
Israel rejected a 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) ultimatum set by the factions, which demanded that the Jewish state free 1,000 prisoners. Unless the demands were met, the factions said, "the enemy will bear full responsibility for future consequences."
Olmert said Israel would not negotiate with the militants, and the Maariv newspaper reported the government had given the army a green light to launch a deeper incursion into northern Gaza, though there was no indication when it might begin.
"This is a long war," Olmert said. "It requires lots of patience, sometimes endless restraint. We have to know when to clench our teeth and to deal a decisive blow."
Washington has been urging Olmert to show restraint and take steps to minimize civilian casualties.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to topple its three-month-old government, which the Jewish state and Western powers have pushed to the brink of financial collapse by cutting off aid.
The smallest of the three militant groups, the previously unknown Islamic Army, said there would be no further information released on 19-year-old Shalit, who was seized in a cross-border raid on June 25.
They sent conflicting signals about his fate.
"Whether he will be killed or not killed, we will not disclose any information ... Discussion is closed," said Islamic Army spokesman Abu al-Muthana.
But he later said: "We do not kill captives. Our Islam requires that we treat captives well and fairly." He declined to say whether Shalit was alive or dead.
Osama al-Muzaini, a Hamas political leader, said the militant groups have withdrawn their representatives from the talks with the Egyptian mediators.
He compared the fate of Shalit to that of Israeli airman Ron Arad, who has been missing since bailing out of his plane over southern Lebanon 20 years ago. There has been growing speculation Arad is dead.
"They (the militant factions) may kill him (Shalit), take him to another country or may hide him. All options are open," al-Muzaini said.
ISRAELI BUILD-UP
Palestinian security sources said Israel had increased the number of armored vehicles on the northern edge of the strip, which Israel quit last year.
A small Israeli force moved deeper into northern Gaza in search of explosives and tunnels but the army said it was not part of a broader incursion. Overnight, an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza killed one militant.
Israel has hinted it could assassinate leaders of Hamas, whose government is under an international aid embargo, if Shalit is not freed. "I want to stress, none of them will be immune," Olmert said.
Interior Minister Roni Bar-On told Israel Radio: "Hamas well understands ... that the sky will fall on them if they harm Gilad Shalit."
Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, does not want to lose face by freeing Shalit without getting something in return. Israel says it does not want to set a precedent that could lead to more abductions.
Hamas sources said Western diplomats, whom they did not name, had told the group that Israel had prepared a 13-man hit list headed by exiled leader Khaled Meshaal and including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar.
Israeli security sources said a commando raid to try to rescue Shalit remained an option but would be risky in Gaza's maze of alleyways. The last Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinians was killed in a failed rescue bid in 1994.
With any luck this will be Israel's war to end all wars. Wipe them all out now. But only if Kofi gives them the green light /sarcasm.
Aha! You had me until you put this in, LibWhacker!!
The war's not over one soldier. The war is over years of atrocities, of which the kidnapping of Cpl. Shalit was the final straw...and it's long overdue.
A long war? Longer than it is now, which is forever? Nothing is longer than forever. Their war will never end until the end of time when Jesus returns and shuts us all down, for once and for all.
He [Olmert] told the audience he has ordered the army to push forward with efforts "to strike terrorists and those who sent them and those who sponsor them," an apparent reference to Syria. "None of them will be immune."
Hang on. Between Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel, it's conceivable we could have one big battle in the M.E. very soon. I could throw in Afghanistan, but I don't know if they are technically the M.E. or Asia.
"Washington has been urging Olmert to show restraint"
Hypocrisy makes me sick...especially on the 4th.
I'll give you an Amen for that!
For a religion that denies individual freedom there often seem to be as many favors available as there are Muslims--which is to say WAY too many.
"Whether he will be killed or not killed, we will not disclose any information ... Discussion is closed," said Islamic Army spokesman Abu al-Muthana.al-Muthana? Any relation to al-Murtha?
I hereby demand that Israel and the U.S. give me money!
"We do not kill captives. Our Islam requires that we treat captives well and fairly."
(Koran 8:12) "Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them."
(Koran 5: 33-34) "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet and alternate sides cut off"
(Koran 22: 19-22) "But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling fluid will be poured down their heads. Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron."
(Koran 76: 4) "Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers chains, yokes and a blazing fire."
They must be part of that OTHER Islam we keep hearing so much about. You know, the GOOD Islam.
That murdered Israeli teenager is also part of this latest round of Palestinian atrocities, along with a 62 year-old Israeli...and Cpl. Shalit.
I'm convinced it's coming. I just hope it happens before the other side gets lots of nukes -- or any nukes (though it may already be too late for that).
Good Islam versus BAD Islam ping.
Joke, joke, joke.
"'...it's conceivable we could have one big battle in the M.E. very soon.'
I'm convinced it's coming."
The size of the battle depends on how long the US continues to thwart Israel from taking care of the problem...the longer it goes on, the larger and more encompassing the battle will be. Israel could take care of the problem right now withing a matter of weeks and at the same time put the fear of a real God in islam.
It's pitiful, isn't it? Those civilians voted Hamas in. Wipe out Hamas and those civilians, given a chance, will simply vote in another group of insane lunatics.
I know if I were prez, I'd give 'em the nod (and a slap on the back)and tell 'em to have at it!
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/734605.html
Hamas is claiming credit for a rocket that hit a high school. Israel had better nip this problem in the bud.
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