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"this global warming is kinda neat!"

No shoveling, huh? LOL!

Israel Today - December 27, 2002 - 22 Tevet, 5763

After a brief Christmas pullback, the Israeli army has returned to Bethlehem and imposed a curfew. Jeeps patrolled the streets and Palestinian residents were ordered to return to their homes. Israeli officials said the curfew was imposed because terrorists in the Bethlehem area are planning attacks. Israel reoccupied Bethlehem a month ago, after a suicide bomber blew up a bus here in Jerusalem killing 11 passengers, including children on their way to school.

The Bethlehem incursion followed a series of incidents, in which six armed Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops. Two bystanders were also killed. This morning, soldiers found the body of a gunman from the Islamic terrorist group Hamas who was shot dead near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. The army said troops spotted the man as he was planting explosives.

Earlier, Israeli undercover troops killed a wanted Hamas terrorist in Ramallah. The army said troops tried to detain two wanted men in a car when one of them opened fire. "The force returned fire and killed him," an army spokesman said. The second fugitive was arrested. In Nablus, two Palestinian gunmen were killed. And in Tulkarem, an Israeli undercover unit killed a member of the notorious al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a militia linked to Yasser Arafat`s Fatah faction. As we reported yesterday, an Islamic Jihad terrorist was also killed in the town of Kabatiya near Nablus.

The army described the spate of shootings as "counter-terrorism operations." But Palestinians accused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of trying to win votes ahead of elections next month. "The escalation of violence by Sharon is aimed at creating a volatile atmosphere which he believes will serve him in his election campaign," said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is trying to ease fears concerning the possibility of a coming war with Iraq.” The nation has been bombarded by media reports of an impending conflict, possibly involving non-conventional weapons. “From a knowledge of the facts, I say there is no reason for the citizens of Israel to lose any sleep,” Mofaz said. “The army and security services are prepared to face any possible eventuality. Israel is better prepared than any other country to face any developments.”

According to a new poll out today, 61 percent of Israelis believe a US attack on Iraq would be good for Israel. The survey was published in Israel`s biggest newspaper “Yediot Ahronot.” A poll in the Hebrew daily “Ma`ariv” showed that 53 percent of Israelis believe Iraq will strike at Israel if attacked by the US, while 32 percent said they do not expect an Iraqi attack. Only 21 percent believe Iraq would attack Israel with chemical or biological weapons.