Israeli Ministers Approve Operations After Bombing

Reuters ^ | May 8 2002

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Israeli Ministers Approve Operations After Bombing

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli government's security cabinet gave the green light Thursday for operations against "terrorist targets" following a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed at least 15 people.

A government statement gave no details of what operations had been approved but said the security cabinet had empowered Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to decide what action to take.

At least 15 people were killed in addition to the Palestinian suicide bomber and 60 others were wounded in the explosion at a packed billiard hall in Rishon Letzion south of Tel Aviv Tuesday evening, police said.

"The ministerial forum for national security (security cabinet) convened tonight for a special session following the severe terrorist attack last night in Rishon Letzion and a series of other serious attacks thwarted by the security services," the cabinet statement said.

"The security cabinet authorized the prime minister and defense minister to decide upon operations against terrorist targets," it said.

[cmsgop]

"security cabinet had empowered Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to decide what action to take."

(Insert Evil Laugh Here)..hehe!

[Clive]

What time is sunrise in Gaza?

[goldstategop]

Its 3:13 AM Thursday morning in Israel. Sunrise is in 3 hrs.

[d4now]

May G_d bless and keep safe the IDF.

[dts32041]

Do we have any odds on the IDF snatching arafat and putting at a border someplace and telling him to walk and never return?

[Dale 1]

Israel should eliminate the term “occupied territory” in reference to Gaza. Expel all Pali’s and protect themselves at least at this one boarder. They should do exactly what Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, and other Arab nations did – expel the Palestinians.

[Edmund Burke]

Do you remember the scene from "The Ten Commandments" where after killing the egyptian, Pharoah (Yul Brynr) takes Moses (Charlton Heston) to the edge of the desert and gives him a walking stick and a gallon of water and tells him to hit the road and not come back?

[anniegetyourgun]

Here is the deal from yesterday:

Bush knows that talks cannot move ahead without different person/people leading the PA. Without that, talks would be a wasted effort. The American plan calls for structural changse that would lead to Arafat's removal from power. The Bush advisors have proposed the establishment of a temporary government within the PA until a constitution is drawn up and elections are held. No talks between Israel and the PA until those internal reforms are complete. Once they have been carried out, the President demands that the two sides talk toward final settlement.

[calebcar]

I think sending Tenet over is significant. The one (I think) decent artice I've read recently in the Times said that after Sept 11 Bush kept Tenet around because he had been one guy obsessed with OBL. He advocated toe strategy which was eventually used of supporting the insurgents against the Taliban. I hope he's organizing some covert other operations to replace Arafat.

[Dog Gone]

Hamas gave permission to Sharon to pick out some new targets that need to blasted. They are incapable of thinking that deeply, but that's what they did when they bombed the pool hall.

And that's okay. Bush and Sharon have already agreed to jettison Arafat. It's just a matter of how it is to be done. Sharon wants to put him on a plane to Timbuktu. Bush wants to castrate him but leave him in the area so he doesn't become a martyr. Hell, he may even become a champion of peace--it's pretty clear his mind is slipping.

I don't think Sharon plans a long incursion in response to the latest bombing. It may just be an airstrike or five in Gaza. That'd be my guess.

The real interesting part is going to be watching how Bush replaces Arafat as head of the Palestinians. That's obviously something he's been formulating for a couple of months now.

[ozdragon]

While i have no objection to giving Gaza a good dusting, i think a better stategy would be to have a massive airstrie against Hamas targets in Lebanon. Thats their HQ. That would put Lebanon and Syria on notice that the game has changed. Further, by leaving Gaza alone Israel creates a potential civil war amongst the Palis.

[tomahawk]

I hope you're right, but the reports of Bush being euphoric over a non-condemnation of yesterday's terror attack by Arafat makes me wonder.

[My Favorite Headache]

Quick! Get Geraldo over there to Hamas HQ for the inside shot!

[kazander]

Bush's remarks at the Jordanian King photo op, as usual, were taken out of context. Check out the actual remarks that are now posted at the whitehouse.gov/news site. What struck me as particularly noteworthy was the King's language discussing *both* Israel & the "palestinians". Usually, the Arab leaders, even in Washington, are fairly lopsided in their statements.

[OldFriend]

Tenet considers himself a personal friend of Arafat......that's enough for me to know that the man is going to be useless.

He should have resigned by noon on September 11th.

[StriperSniper]

King Abdullah wants one thing, to stay in power. He seems to think the best way to do that is keep the Palis out, and remain on Pres. Bush's good side. He is a smart man.

[Thane_Banquo]

A government statement gave no details of what operations had been approved but said the security cabinet had empowered Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to decide what action to take.

Looks like Sharon was given a green light by the cabinet. Let's hope so at least